The Twisted Wheel, Vol. 2: One More Time

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: 2000
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Rock

Review

A second volume of soul tunes popular with patrons of The Twisted Wheel, a vaunted Northern soul club in England. This above-par collection includes songs that left high marks on music surveys. The Shades of Blue's "Oh How Happy" busted the pop Top 20 in 1966 and didn't stop rollin' until it caught a flat at number 12. Written by Edwin Starr (formerly Charles Hatcher), one only has to listen to the German national anthem "Deutschland Lied" to see where he got the idea for the song; before anointing himself "Agent OO Soul," Hatcher did a lengthy tour of duty in Germany. The Intrigues' "In a Moment" was the Philly group's biggest hit, penetrating the Top 40 in 1969 and landing at number 31. Dance ditty "Get on Up" put the Esquires' name on marquees all over the Midwest and the East. Betty Swann's "Make Me Yours," the Packers' "Hole in the Wall," and the Precisions' Motown knock-off "If This Isn't Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)" should strike familiar notes to most soul aficionados. You can almost envision cool British gyrating to Jamo Thomas' "I Spy (For the FBI)," Donald Heights' "Talk of the Grapevine," and "Everybody Dance Now" by the Soul City. A keeper. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide