Apparently there's also going to be an "All Northern Soul" volume coming out later in the year, which should be good (I've been told it'll include Sylvia Shemwell's "He'll Come Back", which isn't really a "northern soul" sounding song, but I'm just glad I'll be able to buy it on CD).

As for this volume, it's actually looking pretty good. I'm surprised - in a good way - that they're including "It’s Starting To Get To Me Now" and "Stop And Get A Hold Of Myself" (they're the Irma Thomas and Gladys Knight songs I would have chosen). I do have to complain about the absence of Chris Bartley's "Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven", and I would have liked Dee Dee Warwick's "Don't Think My Baby's Coming Back" to be included... and I don't know why "Either Way I Lose" is included, it's not a very good song (it's not even really a soul song...)

Product Description
The songs of the late Van McCoy have been part of the soundtrack to everyone's life for more than fifty years. He became a hit artist in his own right in the mid-70s, thanks to `The Hustle', but it's his creativity as a composer/arranger in the 60s that has beguiled soul fans.

Universally-admired figures; McCoy has long been overdue for an appearance in Ace/Kent's ongoing songwriter and producer series. "The Sweetest Feeling" affords Van the kind of salute that talent of his stature deserves.

There will be a second volume of Van's songs and productions from Kent next year, concentrating primarily on the tracks that have filled Northern and crossover soul dancefloors over the past 40 years. "The Sweetest Feeling" is a more across the board affair that offers a spellbinding selection of sumptuous ballads, uptown and big city soul classics, national chart smashes - and, of course, more than a few of those tried and trusted Northern favourites.

Featured artists, including Jackie Wilson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Erma Franklin, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, Esther Phillips, Irma Thomas and Chuck Jackson, show that McCoy`s songs were invariably given the VIP treatment by the biggest stars in the soul firmament.

Van McCoy was only 39 when he died, leaving a catalogue of material that was as excellent as it was abundant. Very few soul songwriters have ever matched quality and quantity to quite the same lasting effect. The 24 songs featured on "The Sweetest Feeling" offer full proof of his all-around talents and will leave everyone eager for more.

1. I Get The Sweetest Feeling - Erma Franklin
2. I've Lost You - Jackie Wilson
3. For You - The Spellbinders
4. Gettin' Mighty Crowded - Betty Everett
5. When You're Young And In Love - Ruby & The Romantics
6. Either Way I Lose - Nina Simone
7. Baby I'm Yours - Barbara Lewis
8. Who's Gonna Pick Up The Pieces? - Chuck Jackson
9. Some Things You Never Get Used To - Little Esther Phillips
10. I Can't Stand To See You Cry - Jerry Butler
11. The Way To A Woman's Heart - Billy T Soul
12. Why Don't You Love Me - Teri Thornton
13. Stop And Get A Hold Of Myself - Gladys Knight & The Pips
14. It's Starting To Get To Me Now - Irma Thomas
15. Where Does That Leave Me - Nancy Wilson
16. The Spoiler - Oscar Weathers
17. Where Would You Be Today - Ilana
18. So Soon - Aretha Franklin
19. Giving Up - Donny Hathaway
20. Let Me Down Easy - GC Cameron
21. Nothing Worse Than Being Alone - The Ad Libs
22. Stay A While With Me - Sharon Ridley
23. A Love You Can Depend On - Brenda & The Tabulations
24. Lean On Me - Melba Moore

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037M5X2I/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0037M5X2I/?tag=imwan-21

So the product description is now up at amazon, and it looks like vol 2 won't be out until next year . I don't want to wait that long!

Moved product description into first post. — Linda

Shameless plug... I reviewed this set on my audioblog. Great set of some lost tunes.

http://www.record-racks.com/?p=116

I'm already strung out waiting for volume 2!

I have to say, I got over my qualms with "Either Way I Lose" after I heard Teri Thornton's lame "Why Don't You Love Me" - not remotely "soul". Not even MOR - just melodrama. And Melba Moore's screechy "Lean On Me", with its horribly dated production (and released 3 years after the timespan that the rest of the songs were released in).