Take Care of Business: The Constellation Masters 1963-1966

• Artist: Dee Clark
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 11, 1998
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Subtitled "The Constellation Masters 1963-66," this picks up the second phase of Clark's solo career after his hit-making days at Vee-Jay. These sides find him moving in a more soulful direction, making hard Southern and Motown-inflected soul with the best of them on "Crossfire Time," "I'm Going Home," "Come Closer" and "That's My Girl." Although material like "Heartbreak," "I Ain't Gonna Be a Fool," "Warm Summer Breezes," and "I Don't Need (Nobody Like You)" were top-flight, Clark couldn't score a hit during his three years with Constellation chronicled here. But the lack of hits still yields a 17-track feast of brand-name mid-'60s Chicago soul music, played and sung with a professional flair that's unmistakably Dee Clark. Other highlights include "T.C.B.," "She's My Baby," "Hot Potato" and a live two-part workout on "Nobody But You" that makes a fitting closer to this set. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Crossfire Time	Horace Ott, Don Covay	Dee Clark	(1:55)
It's Raining	Naomi Neville	Dee Clark	(2:39)
Come Closer	Bob Gaudio	Dee Clark	(2:57)
I'm Going Home	Horace Ott, Don Covay, Alvin Lee	Dee Clark	(2:08)
That's My Girl	Dee Clark	Dee Clark	(2:34)
In My Apartment		Dee Clark	(2:55)
Heartbreak	Joe "Cornbread" Thomas	Dee Clark	(2:33)
Warm Summer Breezes	Cercie Miller	Dee Clark	(2:43)
I Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool	Dee Clark	Dee Clark	(2:28)
T.C.B.	L.C. Cook, Dee Clark	Dee Clark	(2:39)
I Can't Run Away	Jimmy Holvay	Dee Clark	(2:45)
I Don't Need (Nobody Like You)		Dee Clark	(2:16)
She's My Baby	Jimmy Holvay	Dee Clark	(2:27)
It's Impossible	Cercie Miller	Dee Clark	(2:21)
Hot Potato	Joe "Cornbread" Thomas	Dee Clark	(2:21)
Ole Fashun Love		Dee Clark	(2:16)
Nobody But You, Pts. 1 & 2	Dee Clark	Dee Clark	(4:52)

Credits

Tony Rounce (Sequencing), John Rewind (Pre-Mastering), Bill Dahl (Liner Notes), Brian Burrows (Design), Nick Watson (Digital Remastering), Tony Rounce (Compilation)