Fine, Fine, Fine

For some unexplainable reason Kent Records omitted "I'm Blue" which Salt N' Pepa rearranged into "Shoop." Fine, Fine, Fine was first released in 1965, reissued in 1987, and re-reissued on CD by Ace Records in the late '90s. Most of the Ikettes' funky, infectious singles are here, including "Camel Walk," "He Is (Fine, Fine, Fine") and "Peaches 'n' Cream." Their soulful Supremes imitation "I'm So Thankful," written by Marc Gordon and Frank Wilson, display a modest side of Ike Turner's hand-picked mini-skirted, rump-shakin' divas. They slathered soul sauce all over the Jaynettes' eerie "Sally Go Round the Roses," and the soulful, lamenting "How Come Nobody Loves Me" is a crusher. For the price, the 15 cuts -- boosted to 24 for the Ace version -- are a bargain. ~ Andrew Hamilton