Jean Carn - Jean Carn/Happy To Be With You (1976/1978)

EU Import

This import two-fer CD includes Carn's first two albums from her contract with Philadelphia International. This means that we've got MFSB backing her up on tunes written by Gamble & Huff and McFadden & Whitehead - what's not to like? Philly Soul so smooth that it even hit the jazz chart. Carn's voice is fantastic and is perfectly suite to the material. Why she wasn't more popular is beyond me. This 2004 reissue on the Edsel label sounds great, bringing Carn's strong, soulful voice to the fore and includes thorough liner notes and lyrics (which I usually don't expect in a budget two-fer reissue).

"Jean Carn's self-titled debut for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records could be subtitled 'Philly soul at its best.'" - Allmusic

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Jean Carn #122, Happy To Be With You did not chart
• Billboard R&B: Jean Carn #46, Happy To Be With You #55
• Billboard Jazz: Jean Carn #26
• CashBox: Jean Carn #127, Happy To Be With You #172

Tracks:  The first 9 tracks of this CD are the 1976 self-titled debut album. My favorites from that one are Free Love, If You Wanna Go Back, Time Waits For No One and Where Did You Ever Go which would have been a top ten ballad for Barry Manilow despite the fact that Carn's powerful performance is definitive. I usually skip Don't You Know Love When You See It.

The final 8 tracks make up 1978's Happy To Be With You album which leads off with a smoking dance track "There's A Shortage Of Good Men" which would make a great dance club pairing with "It's Raining Men." The best song, however, is Don't Let It Go To Your Head. The only misstep is the album closer, a slow jam cover of You Light Up My Life (which, admittedly, is better than Debby Boone's version, but still).

While the 1976 eponymous album might contain some better songs, the 1978 album is the more consistently good album. In other words, get a copy of this CD.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  None

Previously revisited for the blog:
When I Find You Love/Sweet And Wonderful (1979/1981)

Jean Carn - When I Find You Love/Sweet And Wonderful (1979/1981)

EU Import

In September 2014, this blog featured the 10 disc Philadelphia International Records: The 40th Anniversary Box Set. My most pleasant "new" discovery during that journey was the fantastic voice of Jean Carn, with whom I was previously unfamiliar. Further reading would indicate that I'm not the only one that missed Carn 35+ years ago, unfortunately. Carn enjoyed moderate success on the dance & R&B charts, but inexplicably never cracked the pop top 40. In any case, the aforementioned box set quickly led to the purchase of two Jean Carn discs, neither of which disappoints.

This import two-fer CD includes Carn's final two albums from her contract with Philadelphia International. This 2005 reissue on the Edsel label sounds great, bringing Carn's strong, soulful voice to the fore and includes thorough liner notes (which I usually don't expect in a budget two-fer reissue). The 1979 album has the characteristic disco sound of the time with just a touch of Philly soul thrown in. Which means it's right up my alley. It was also jazzy enough to spend 9 weeks on the Billboard Jazz LP charts, peaking at #28. The 1981 album is indicative of PIR's transition from disco to a timely, more modern R&B sound, so I don't like it is a much as its predecessor, but Carn's voice still makes this music a notch above her contemporaries.

Album chart peaks - When I Find You Love (1979):

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #28
• Billboard R&B: #42
• CashBox: #151
• CashBox Jazz: #22

Album chart peaks - Sweet And Wonderful (1981):

• US Billboard 200: #176
• Billboard R&B: #38
• CashBox: #103

Tracks:  The first 8 tracks of this CD are the When I Find You Love album. My favorites from that one are My Love Don't Come Easy, Lonely Girl In A Cold Cold World, and What's On Your Mind. My top track is the I-just-can't-help-but-dance closer, Was That All There Was, which is finished all too soon (do yourself a favor find a copy of the 6½ minute 12" version).

The final 8 tracks make up 1981's Sweet and Wonderful album. Top tracks are the beautifully arranged title track (a duet with Glenn Jones) and a choice cover of the Spinners' 7 minute slow jam, Love Don't Love Nobody. The remainder of the album is just okay - good, but not great; the generic material is simply too weak for a voice as good as Carn's.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None