Mixed Bag of Retrospectives Salutes McPhatter, Baker

Most of the CD reissue news these days centers on the ambitious, three- and four-disc sets saluting artists as varied as Barbra Streisand, Fats Domino and the Monkees.

Don’t, however, overlook the many single disc albums that are being rushed out to tempt pop fans during the holiday season. Two of the latest entries in Atlantic Records’ Remasters Series are devoted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Clyde McPhatter and LaVern Baker.

The problem with “Deep Sea Ball--The Best of Clyde McPhatter” is that the album doesn’t pick up the great R&B; tenor’s work until 1955, when he left the Drifters to pursue a solo career.

The Durham, N.C., native, who was blessed with one of the most captivating voices of the modern pop era, registered 11 Top 20 R&B; singles on his own while at Atlantic, all but one of which is included in this 18-song package. Among the tunes: “Treasure of Love” and “A Lover’s Question.”

But McPhatter did too much of his most stirring work with the Drifters--including the classics “Money Honey” and “Such a Night”--for “Deep Sea Ball” to be anything more than a supplemental collection.

Even though many of his Drifters recordings are included on the two-disc “The Drifters Greatest Hits, 1953-1958” album on Atlantic, a few could have been repeated here since the solo McPhatter disc only runs 46 minutes.

Baker wasn’t as memorable a figure in the ‘50s as McPhatter, but “Soul on Fire--The Best of LaVern Baker” may be a more satisfying collection than “Deep Sea Ball” because it does include virtually all of Baker’s R&B; hits from the ‘50s. The 20 tunes range from the novelty “Tweedle Dee” to the torch-like “I Cried a Tear” to the zesty “Saved.”

The Clovers, whose “Down in the Alley--The Best of the Clovers” album has just been released, hasn’t been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but it was another noteworthy Atlantic Records act from the ‘50s.

The vocal group, which was formed in the nation’s capital, reached the top of the R&B; charts in 1951 with its first Atlantic single, a sensual mid-tempo number titled “Don’t You Know I Love You.”

Though the Clovers’ 1951 “Fool, Fool, Fool” and 1952 “Ting-a-Ling” were also No. 1 records, the group’s most appealing singles didn’t come until 1954: the disarming “Lovey Dovey” and sly, witty “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ but Trash.”

The latter, written by Jesse Stone, was one of the most colorful singles of the period. It’s a story of a guy trying to impress a woman with his bankroll. Lead singer Billy Mitchell tells of the woman’s angry reaction to his come-on:

She turns around and with a frown

She said, “This ain’t no circus and I don’t need a clown.”