Millie - Time Will Tell (Bonus Tracks) (Rmst) (CD)

All Music Guide

Mille (a.k.a. Millie Small) is best known for her early ska smash "My Boy Lollipop" (which sadly does not appear here) but she also recorded a wealth of fine ska, bluebeat and rock steady sides throughout the mid to late 60's. Time Will Tell matches her 1970 album Time Will Tell with a mix of tracks taken from various sources and dates. The album itself is a lighthearted romp featuring Millie's trilling voice and charming personality. Definitely not essential stuff but very pleasant nonetheless. The tunes are mostly perky love songs but one track sure to raise eyebrows is her rollicking version of Nick Drake's () "Mayfair". The extra tracks are more interesting if only for the variety of sounds and styles. The earliest tracks are 19623 duets with Roy Panton on a few peppy ska tracks, the two sounding like a Jamaican Shirley Lee. Her duets with Jackie Edwards from the mid60's sound like straight RB as do her solo tracks from the same era especially the cover of "That's How Strong My Lo...ve Is". She also tried girl group sounds on for size rocking the wonderfully titled "Mixed Up, Fickle, Lonely, SelfCentered, Spoiled Kind of Boy" like a pint sized Little Eva, sounding tough and sassy on the stomping "Peaches and Cream". The handful of ska tracks from the later 60's sound much like the material on the Time Will Tell record, hooky, tough and a load of fun. - Tim Sendra, All Music Guide Read more Less