The ABC Rarities (1999)

About this title: Twenty-six song compilation of non-LP singles, rarities that only showed up on obscure reissues and various-artists collections, and material (both released and unreleased) from their sessions for their late-'60s The Versatile Impressions album. As a listen it's a little uneven, due in large part to the over-preponderance of standards from Versatile. None of this is on level with the best '60s recordings by Mayfield and the Impressions. Much of it, though, is the fairly solid sort of stuff that fans who care enough about the act to go beyond greatest-hits compilations will like to have. ... read more

Tracks:

1. Can't You See [Butler/Mayfield]
2. Live Is a Mystery
3. Emotions (Won't You Let Me Cry) [Mayfield]
4. You'll Want Me Back [Mayfield]
5. Never Too Much Love [Mayfield]
6. Never Could You Be [Mayfield]
7. (Man, Oh Man) I Want to Go Back [Krass/Mayfield]
8. This Must End [Mayfield]
9. I Need a Love [Mayfield]
10. You've Got Me Runnin' [Mayfield]
11. We're Rolling On, Pts. 1 & 2 [Mayfield]
12. Don't Cry My Love [Mayfield/Brown]
13. Just Before Sunrise [David]
14. East of Java [David]
15. Yesterday [Lennon/McCartney]
16. All My Trials [Traditional]
17. The Look of Love [Bacharach/David]
18. Thanks to You [Butler/Mayfield/Car]
19. Sermonette [Adderley/Hendricks]
20. Once in a Lifetime [Newley/Bricusse]
21. Puppy Love [Mayfield]
22. Bring a Little Water, Sylvie [Traditional]
23. Oo You're a Livin' Doll [Pate]
24. The Fool on the Hill [Lennon/McCartney]
25. Devil in Your Soul [Butler/Mayfield/Tho]
26. This Is the Life [Adams/Strouse]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.