Reissues
Scroll down for reviews of the following:-
Main Menu mainmenu
Reviews Menu reviews
Interviews Menu interviews
More Reissues - reissues reissues2 reissues3
To be finalised
Scroll down for reviews of
: - Outta Sight Soul Essentials - the New York
Sound- Frankie Crocker; Miami Soul Sisters; Black Rhapsody – Little
Beaver; Hooked on the Blues; Lee Moses – Time and Place; Johnnie Taylor
– Live at the Summit Club; The Rich Records Story; ; East Coast Soul Connection; Marvin gaye – In our lifetime; The Dells –
The Very Best of, Standing Ovation; outta Sight Soul Esentials – Soul
Twins; Carla Thomas – The Queen Alone; Shaun Robbins Sunday Soul
selection; Joe Quarterman & Free Soul; Leroy Burgess – Throwback
– Harlem 79-83; Outta Sight Soul Essentials – Tears full of Soul;
Shirley Brown; Choice FM Carnival Classics; Wildstyle 25th
Anniversary Edition
To Come:
Choice FM Carnival Classics
Just great fun really, covering the whole gamut of Summer Carnival
Sounds Soulful, Reggae and Soca. No real
surprises but everyone likely to get you up and shaking!
Choice
FM Carnival Classics Tracklisting
- Arrow - Hot Hot Hot - Listen
- Bob Marley & the Wailers -
Sugar Sugar - Listen
- Maceo And The Macks - Cross The
Tracks - Listen
- Tom Browne - Funkin' For
- Commodores - Brick House - Listen
- Mac Band Feat. The McCampbell
Brothers - Roses Are Red - Listen
- Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel - Listen
- Cameo - Candy - Listen
- Slave - Just A Touch Of Love - Listen
- Central Line - Walking Into
Sunshine - Listen
- Earth, Wind & Fire - Boogie
Wonderland - Listen
- Rob Base and Dj EZ Rock - It
Takes Two - Listen
- Digital Underground - Humpty
Dance - Listen
- NWA - Express Yourself - Listen
- Rupee - Jump - Listen
- Junior Marvin - Police And
Theives - Listen
- Desmond Dekker - You can Get It
If You Really Want - Listen
- Toots And The Maytals - 54-46
Was My Number - Listen
- Jimmy Cliff - the Harder They
Come - Listen
- Dave & Ansell Collins -
Double Barrel - Listen
- Harry J & the Allstars -
the Liquidator - Listen
- The Upsetters - Return of
Django - Listen
- Apache Indian - Boom Shaka Lak
- Listen
- The Family Stand - Ghetto Heaven
- Listen
- Soul II Soul - Get A Life - Listen
- Cheryl Lynn - Encore
- James Brown - SexMachine (Part
1 & 2) - Listen
- Eveyln "
- The Emotions - Best Of My Love
- Listen
- Fatback Band - I Found Lovin' -
Listen
- Dennis Brown - Money In My
Pocket - Listen
- Janet Kay - Silly Games
Wildstyle
25th Anniversary Edition
“CD1 - Original
SoundtrackCD2 - BONUS DISK: Unreleased instrumental beats and loops, scratch
tool & Wildstyle lesson.
Plus 12” sampler MRB12037 feat. Instrumentals,
scratch tool and lesson.
Originally released in 1983, Wildstyle movie falls into the cult status league
of art house movies.
• The first and best hip hop movie soundtrack.
• When the brains behind Blondie and Chris Stein, teamed up with Fab Five
Freddy a legend was born...
• Worldwide sales exceed 100,000
• Tracks have been sampled by the likes of: Wiseguys, De La Soul, A Tribe
Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Beck, Cyprus Hill, DJ Shadow, Nas and Public
Enemy.”
Great film,
groundbreaking, and great to see it getting some profile, wow 25 years. Seems only yesterday queuing to see.
What is the
overriding thougtht on listening to this again is how fresh it still sounds,
and therefore how innovative it has been as a film. Ok it’s a bit dated and HipHopCulture
has moved on but it wouldn’t do any harm to move back to the Four
Elements which this film did a lot to stylise and portray.
Leroy Burgess – Throwback
“12
unreleased tracks from the legendary singer/songwriter/producer recorded in
late 70’s/early 80’s.Some are the original demo’s of tracks
he wrote for others like ‘Its So Easy (You
Can Do It –dino terell) ’, ‘Moment Of My Life’ (inner
life), and ‘Fly Girl’ (intrique) and ‘Youre My Number
One’ (change) which all stand up well against the released versions
because Leroy’s voice is so good. Of the 7 new songs the best are the
classic Burgess boogie tracks like ‘Scandal’, ‘Midnight In
The Streets’ , ‘Keepin On’, ‘Under Da Radar’ and
‘Hold up’ whilst ‘All Into You’ is am id tempo groover.
The live cover of the Isleys ‘Hello Its
Me’ is also interesting. This brilliant project is unmissable if
you are into Burgess, Boogie or early 80’s uptempo soul.”
A commendable
release and interesting product and wil be of great interest for old Soul fans,
however despite being a lover of 80’s Soul and Boogie, and its purely a personal taste thing, I simply just do not lik
ethis very much. I’m sorry to have
to say that an I realy don’t know why because it
has all the right ingredients but it just doesn’t do it for me –
it’s somehow just a bit too messy. Keepin on, which is stripped down just
a little is my particular favourite, or maybe You’re
my number one which stands the test of time much better.
1. Midnight In The Streets 2. Scandal 3. Keepin' On 4. Hold Up 5. It's So Easy 6. In
The Moment 7. Fly Girl 8. Moment Of My Life 9.
All Into U 10. Under Da Radar 11.
You Are My Number One 12. Hello It's Me
Sir Joe
Quarterman http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/joe_quarterman_and_free_soul_album.html
|
|
JOE QUARTERMAN & FREE SOUL
Re-mastered
and extended version of this great Classic Funk album from 1973.
‘I’ve Got So Much Trouble In My
Mind’ is of course a well known classic, but of an equal standard from
the original album are ‘Trouble With Trouble’, ‘The Way They
Do My Life’, ‘Find Yourself’ and ‘I Made A
Promise’.
Added here are the non
album singles ‘Thanks Dad’ , ‘This Girl Of mine’ ,
‘Get Down Baby’ , ‘Im A Young Man’ and the brilliant
and often sampled ‘Im Gonna Get You’, plus 3 tracks that were
unreleased at the time the best of which is ‘How High’. A Great album which now sounds incredibly fresh and punchy.
Unlike the Leroy
album, this is one I do get, a fantastic slab of funk, and is more than worthy
of attention. This style of music seems
to be breaking through to the younger student generation which hopefully help
garner some healthy sales. Sounding fresh, thoughtfu,
conceptual, individual and very very funky. I prefer the slightly
mellowed down with that strained voice but still ever so funky, tracks like
Trouble with Trouble.
Of
its time but still essential.
1. So Much
Trouble In My Mind 2. I Made A Promise 3. Trouble With Trouble 4. Way They Do My Life 5. Find Yourself 6.
Gonna Get Me A Friend 7. Give Me Back My Freedom 8. I Feel Like This 9. Live
Like Brothers 1.
Thanks Dad 2. I'm Gonna Get You 3. This Girl Of Mine
4. No 5. Get Down Baby 6. I'm A Young Man 7. How High 8. Let Me Be What I Am 9.
You Know It's Time
Shirley
Brown – Shirley Brown http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/shirley_brown_self_titled_album_cd.html
“Shirley Brown
was born in
In 1972 she cut ‘I Aint Gonna Tell’ on the Abet label (Mojo in the
In 1974 her manager
Albert King secured a deal for her on Stax’s Truth label. Her debut for
the company ‘Woman To Woman’ was a No 1 R&B hit and is one of
the most recognisable 70’s soul tracks with its monologue intro. After
Shirley’s album and two more singles were released, Stax finally closed
down in 1975.
Two years later Don
Davis signed Shirley to his fledgling Arista label where she cut this fantastic
album produced by Bettye Crutcher and Jeff Stewart in
The line up of
musicians includes some of the cream of southern soul ft Lester Snell on keyboards,
Booker T’s Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn on Bass and Willie Hall on
Drums with DJ Rogers on Background vocals on one track. These musicians provide
the sympathetic backing that Shirley’s voice soars above showing both the
power and at times the vulnerability of her voice. This is quite simply one of
the last great Southern Soul albums ever recorded before the dreaded
Synthesizers changed that sound forever.
In 1979 a re-launched Stax issue an album of unreleased material ‘For The
Real feeling’ , she cut a one-off single for 20th Century a year later,
and in 1984 recorded another of her best albums ‘Intimate Storm’
for Sound Town. After a few more one-off singles she signed to Malaco where she
has remained for the last 18 years recording a further eight albums.
We are proud to
present Shirley’s finest album on CD for the first time anywhere in the
world, re-mastered from the original master tapes and sounding better than
ever.
Laurence Prangell
Soul Brother Records
July 2007”
Well I would hazard a
guess that since I purchased this on issue in 1977, this album has received
more play than 98% of my collection. It was essential then and it is essential
now, its beauty, class and craft simply does not diminish, her notes are simply
spine chingling – Blessed and Love Somebody are is simply two of the tracks of all
time.
Nice one Laurence for
prising this out of Arista, essential.
1. Blessed Is
The Woman (With A Man Like Mine) 2. When You Really Love
Somebody 3. Said I Wasn't Gonna Give You No More Love 4. I Need Somebody
To Love Me 5. Givin' Up 6. Long On
Lovin' 7. Midnight Rendezvous 8. I'll Be Right
Here Lovin' You 9. Mighty Good Feeling 10. Lowdown Dirty Good Lover 11. Honey Babe 12. I Can't Move No
Mountains
Outta Sight Soul Essentials – Tears full of Soul
The much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Basement Tracks album
of 2002, Tears Full Of Soul is an inspiring double
album of heartache and heartbreak by Soul music’s finest balladeers.
Released in association with top Soul magazine In The
Basement, this majestic set represents the finest collection of classic and
rare downbeat Soul. It’s ten years since the
revered music journalist Dave Godin introduced a wider world to Deep Soul and,
overnight, popularized the genre. This sensitively compiled album is a fitting tribute
and will join its forebears in the timeless Soul archives.
Review – Apretty exceptional compilation, as always a few
personal favourites and hard hitters.
The first one that really, really grabbed me was Gloria 'Towanda' Barnes
- Old Before My Time, a pretty simply structured song and not full on
powerhouse ‘Deep’ but 7 minutes of lilting wonderness. This is
followed by Ray Gant & The Arabian Knights - Don't Leave Me Baby which is a
powerful strong ballad, full on production, pleading delivery and lyrics,
strings and chorus, great stuff indeed,
Jimmy James - I'm Glad is worthy of mention, which is possibly
unexpected simply because of his ‘image’, but this track has all
the right ingredients, moody, sweet chorus and great vocals. Of the sweet soul
tracks, I have a soft spot for Soul Generation - I Wonder What She's Doing
because the vocals are always so crystal clear.
Pat Dennis - It's So Easy has a certain simplicity for something so
intense. Though on
here Jimmy Briscoe & Little Beavers - Where Were You (When I Needed You)
runs it close.
On the male vocal, sort of classic deep soul, we have excellent
tracks by Lee Charles, Charles Brimmer, bobby Patterson and Lee Moses. Female
of course there is the inimitable and stunningly wonderful Linda Jones, I dunno
what it is about her, the material isn’t always brilliant but
there’s something about her vocal that makes it her own, and its hard to get through anything of hers with clear eyes!
And the Charen Cotton 45 - A Little Bit Of Love has
long been a favourite of mine. Jean Carn - Do My Best shows all the polish and
class that she later went on to exude.
Eleanore Mills – Telegram is a bit of a strong track too, moody
and lilting, interesting, not falling into any particular mould.
The Dynamics - Let Me Be Your Friend is probably my pick of the
male vocal groups, sensational.
Tommy Keith - On The Real Side is very
interesting, and good! A completley different take on a well
known song from its author.
The only ones that don’t do much/anything for me are Lezli
Valentine - Love On A Two-Way Street. The Carstairs -
Story Of Our Love I’m struggling with a bit, the
good bits are superb but there are bits where it goes right off in my
ears……….’scuse me that’s a bit Randy Jackson!
The rest are not bad at all, two solid Cd’s, two hours of
ultimate soulfullness, meandering between deep and sweet, male, female and
group, just sit back, take in, maybe not all will hit your personal high spot
but I guarantee most will
Tracklisting
Disc 1 -
- Jimmy
James - I'm Glad
- Odds
& Ends - Talk That Talk
- Brown
Sugar featuring Clydie King - Weep For Me
- Lee
Charles - I Just Want To Be Loved
- Black
Ivory - Time Is Love
- Gloria
'Towanda' Barnes - Old Before My Time
- Ray
Gant & The Arabian Knights - Don't Leave Me Baby
- Soul
Generation - I Wonder What She's Doing
- Pat
Dennis - It's So Easy
- Brook
Benton - You Were Gone
- The
Trumains - Girl Don't Let Me Down
- Lezli
Valentine - Love On A Two-Way Street
- Charles
Brimmer - Please Let Me Come Home
- The
Carstairs - Story Of Our Love
- Linda
Jones - I Can't Make It Alone
- Tommy
Keith - On The Real Side
- The
Dynamics - Let Me Be Your Friend
- Charen
Cotton - A Little Bit Of Love
Disc 2 -
- Marion
Jarvis - Hell Of A Fix
- (You're
Living) In A Dream World
- Val
Martin - What Can I Do
- Jean
Carn - Do My Best
- Positive
Express - Not On The Outside
- Bobby
Patterson -
- Lonnie
Youngblood - Girl I'm Gonna Miss You
- Communicators
& The Black Experience Band - One Chance
- Mark
Greene - I'm So Lost
- Jean
Knight - Don't Ask For 24 Hours
- Jimmy
Briscoe & Little Beavers - Where Were You (When I Needed You)
- Louis
Williams - I Care For You
- Eleanore
Mills - Telegram
- The
Barrons - I'm So Lonely
- Lee
Moses - I Can't Take No More Chances
- Susan
Philips - He's Gone
- First
Class - What About Me
- Dave
Baby Cortez - Unaddressed Letter
VARIOUS ARTISTS - SHAUN ROBBINS' SUNDAY SOUL SELECTION http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/various_artists_sunday_soul_selection.html
16 Great 70’s Modern soul classics heavily featured on Sean
Robbins Sunday morning shows.Inc the dancers Dells ‘Don’t trick Me
Treat me’, Grace Jones ‘Sorry’, Caroline Crawford ‘Nice
Feeling’ , Leon Thomas ‘Love Each Other’, Pulse
‘Sunshine’, Mac Davies ‘I’m Just In love’,
Anthony White ‘Yes You Need Love’, Dramatics ‘No Rebate On
Love’, Mary Mundy ‘You’re Putting a Hurt on me’ ,
Drifters ‘Put Your Little Heart Out’ , Tobi Kang ‘I Just Want
To Love You’ , Major Lance ‘Don’t you Know I Love You’
and Presidents ‘Its All Over’, plus the mid tempo madness of
Dynamics ‘We Found Love’, Ralph Graham ‘Aint No Need’
and Jean Plum ‘Here I Go again’. Classic
70’s Soul .Fantastic.
Review – To tie in with Shaun’s show on solar radio, and lovingly put
together by its sponsore at Soul Brother. Difficult
one this because I have a huge amount of respect for Soul Brother and
Shaun’s Aradio show which is very highly regarded in Soul Circles, and in
reality there is nothing particularly wrong with any of the tracks. They are all classic 70’s (what is
regarded as) Modern Soul, they are all eminenty soulful, and will satiate the
crossover/tent/whatever breed that exists in the
However I feel it nothing to get excited about, but this is more a
personal thing, the way my heads been going over the last year or so. Two years
ago I am sure I would have been positively raving about this. As I said individually it is pretty difficult
to criticise any of the tracks, and in a lot of respects it is great to have
these tracks available.
Highlights for me are the Dells, always will be I guess. Grace Jones pop soul ish catchy Sorry is quite pleasant. Ralph Graham’s Ain’t
no need is strong and ward, vocally great. And top track for me is the Dynamics
1. Sunshine - PULSE (5) 2. Love Each Other -
JOE QUARTERMAN & FREE SOUL
Re-mastered and extended version of
this great Classic Funk album from 1973.
‘I’ve Got So Much Trouble In My
Mind’ is of course a well known classic, but of an equal standard from
the original album are ‘Trouble With Trouble’, ‘The Way They
Do My Life’, ‘Find Yourself’ and ‘I Made A
Promise’.
Added here are the non album singles ‘Thanks Dad’ ,
‘This Girl Of mine’ , ‘Get Down Baby’ , ‘Im A
Young Man’ and the brilliant and often sampled ‘Im Gonna Get
You’, plus 3 tracks that were unreleased at the time the best of which is
‘How High’. A Great album which now sounds
incredibly fresh and punchy.
(I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind, I Made A
promise, The Trouble With Trouble, The Way They Do My life, Find Yourself,
Gonna Get Me A Friend, Give Me back My freedom, I Feel Like This, Live Now
Brothers, Thanks Dad Pts 1&2, Im Gonna Get You, This Girl Of Mine, Get down
baby pts 1 & 2, I’m a young man, How High, Let Me Be What I Am, You
know its time (cd only)
LEROY BURGESS - THROWBACK:
12 unreleased tracks from the legendary
singer/songwriter/producer recorded in late 70’s/early 80’s.Some
are the original demo’s of tracks he wrote for others like ‘Its So
Easy (You Can Do It –dino terell) ’,
‘Moment Of My Life’ (inner life), and ‘Fly Girl’
(intrique) and ‘Youre My Number One’ (change) which all stand up
well against the released versions because Leroy’s voice is so good. Of
the 7 new songs the best are the classic Burgess boogie tracks like
‘Scandal’, ‘Midnight In The Streets’ , ‘Keepin
On’, ‘Under Da Radar’ and ‘Hold up’ whilst
‘All Into You’ is am id tempo groover. The live cover of the Isleys
‘Hello Its Me’ is also interesting.
This brilliant project is unmissable if you are into Burgess, Boogie or early
80’s uptempo soul.
Midnight In The Streets, Scandal, Keepin' On,
It's So Easy (You Can Do It), In The Moment, Moment Of My Life, Fly Girl, Hold
Up, You Are My Number One, All Into You, Under Da Radar, Hello It's Me
Carla Thomas – The Queen Alone
A remastered version of The Queen Alone album and 5 bonus
unreleased cuts and atlternates. Whilst
I like carla Thomas on some material I find her vocals
a bit twee, yet on some I really like her delivery, such is the paradox. This album does both for me, hits some high
spots (Iwant to be your baby, for example0 but at times irritates (Take it to
my baby).
The cream cut is the gospel styled I’ll always have faith in
you, complete with monologue, closely followed by Unchanging love.
Of the bonus tracks, Me and My Clock is more old style
stax, and is the pick
Good to see Stax back, but this only ranks as Ok.
1. Any Day Now 2. Stop Thief 3. I Take It to My Baby 4. I Want to
Be Your Baby 5. Something Good (Is Going to Happen to You) 6.
When Tomorrow Comes 7. I'll Always Have Faith in You
8. All I See Is You 9. Unchanging Love 10. Give Me
Enough (To Keep Me Going) 11. Lie to Keep Me from Crying 12. Me and My Clock [#][*] 13. Same Thing [#][*] 14. Your
Love Indeed [Alternate Take][#][*] 15. I Want to Know
[Take 2][#][*] 16. I Wonder About Love [*]
Outta Sight Soul Esentials – Soul Twins
rtist
J.J. Barnes / Debbie Taylor - Born Again /
Comin' Down On You - Soul Twins Volume 1
Castle Music Release Date 28/5/2007 Catalogue
Number CMQCD1501 Bar Code 5050749 415011 Format CD
Product Info
The fourth in the Outta Sight Soul series continues the
Patrick Adams has been a pivotal figure in the music business for
over 30 years scoring hits at Salsoul and Prelude with Jocelyn Brown, Fonda
Rae, Loleatta Holloway, Musique and Inner Life. He has received the ASCAP
Songwriter of the year three times and collected 32 Gold Records along the way.
This deluxe edition includes a 12 page fully illustrated booklet
with extensive liner notes.
Review – Whilst
this CD contains two albums, it is essentially comprised aroiund two great
album on Perception, produced, conceived and written by Patrick Adams. The artists are James Brown and Debbie
Taylor, but there are some bonus tracks by Black Ivory.
JJ Barnes is well known and loved in the
Debbie Taylor, also known in Northern Soul
Circles, delivers powerful vocals, which again is forefront in the production,
and it is on the deep ballads where she excels, with, for me Second to None,
hitting all the right spots, worth the admission money alone. The uptempos will be the better knownbut it
really is the ballads that make it worthwhile.
Male, female, now male group harmony –
Black Ivory deliver sweet sweet soul delivered to perfection – No
if’s is sublime.
Tracklisting
Disc 1 -
- J.J.
Barnes - Can't See Me Leaving You
- J.J.
Barnes - Time Is Love
- J.J.
Barnes - Good Men Don't Grow On Trees
- J.J.
Barnes - You're Just A Living Doll
- Wishful
Thinking
- J.J.
Barnes - You Owe It To Yourself (Part 1)
- J.J.
Barnes - You Owe It To Yourself (Part 2)
- J.J.
Barnes - No Ifs Ands Or Buts
- J.J.
Barnes - I Just Make Believe (I'm Touching You)
- Debbie
Taylor - No Ifs Ands Or Buts
- Debbie
Taylor - (I Just Can't Believe I'm) Touching You
- Debbie
Taylor - Too Sad To Tell
- Debbie
Taylor - Second To None
- Debbie
Taylor - Romance Without Finance
- Debbie
Taylor - Leaving Him Tomorrow
- Debbie
Taylor - No Deposit, No Return
- Debbie
Taylor - Eye Doctor
- Debbie
Taylor - Jeremiah
- Black
Ivory - Time Is Love
- Black
Ivory - No Ifs Ands Or Buts
- Black
Ivory - Wishful Thinking
Marvin gaye
– In our lifetime; 25th Anniversary Edition
This is a wonderful album, a much better album possibly than is
remembered. This package is here with
all its history, the original studio release, th
eoriginal unreleased Marvin Gaye approved album, the complete unreleased Love
Man Sessions, and outtakes and singles. So a period of some mystery and
acrimony is brought together, and it is interesting to compare the two. I think the studio album comes across a
little bit warmer, and the Odyssey mixes are sparser with the voice more
upfront and less of the at ‘Marvin’ feel, so I guess you could
deduce tahat the studio wanted to stay in the tried and tested Mrvin Groove,
whilst Marvin the artists wanted to move on.
Whichever your preference these cuts are quality and stand the test of
time.
There are some differences like Ego Tripping wasn’t on eth
studio album but came out as a single,Far Cry being on the album.
The Love Man Sessions are first class as well, and I particularly
like Life is now in session, or the funky I offer you nothing but love.
Disc: 1 1. PraiseListen
Listen 2. Life
Is For Learning Listen Listen 3. Love
Party Listen Listen 4. Funk
Me Listen Listen 5. Far
Cry Listen Listen 6. Love
Me Now Or Love Me Later Listen Listen 7. Heavy
Love Affair Listen Listen 8. In Our
Lifetime Listen Listen 9.
Nuclear Juice Listen Listen 10. Ego
Tripping Out Listen Listen 11. Far
Cry Listen Listen 12. Ego
Tripping Out Listen Listen 13. Ego
Tripping Out Listen Listen Disc:
2 1. Praise Listen Listen 2. Life
Is For Learning Listen Listen 3. Love
Me Now Or Love Me Later Listen Listen 4. Ego
Tripping Out Listen Listen 5. Funk
Me Listen 6. In Our
Lifetime Listen Listen 7. Love
Party Listen Listen 8. Life's
A Game Of Give And Take Listen Listen 9. Life
Is Now In Session Listen Listen 10. I
Offer You Nothing But Love Listen Listen 11. Just
Because You're So Pretty Listen Listen 12. Dance
'n' Be Happy Listen Listen 13. Funk
Me Funk Me Funk Me Listen Listen 14.
Lover's Plea Listen Listen
The Dells – The Very
Best of, Standing Ovation;
Richard Searling has assisted in putting together this fantastic
selection of Dells material. Everything
(in terms of style) is included, whether its doowap, or disco, up or downtempo,
popular or rare the absolute quality and perfection of the vocal arrangements
shines through. I don’t think that there will be anybody who has even the
smallest liking of soul music who would not be reduced to an emotional wreck on
some of these tracks.Stunning, Sublime, powerful male vocal harmonies, sweet,
gut wrenching, nothing more to say.
Disc: 1 1. Run For Cover 2.
Thinkin' About You 3. There Is 4. When
I'm In Your Arms 5. Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher And Higher 6. Make
Sure (You Have Somebody To Love You) 7. Believe Me 8. Wear It On Our Face (aka Wear It On Your Face) 9. Stay
In My Corner 10. Does Anybody Know I'm Here 11. Always
Together 12. Oh What A Night 13. I Can Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue 14.
Whiter Shade Of Pale 15. One Less
East Coast Soul Connection
Another great compilation of East Coast gems predominantly from
the period from the late 60’s to the mid &0’s, a diverse mix of
disco, funk and sweet soul, honed for the tastes of the UK marketplace right
now. A lot of tracks do keep cropping up especially on the limited number of
labels available, but there is more than sufficient ‘different’
material to satiate and make this a more than worthwhile expedition.
The labels of Today, All Platinum, Perception, DeLite and their
respecive families are being pillaged, but this is a professional and
thoughtful set, as are the others in the series it has to be said. These albums are offereing more than the
tried and tested so I hope they are successful.
The favourites for me tend to be the sweet and deep eg Black
Ivory, but I would wager that it the ‘crossover’ tracks that will
garner the most attention, like Reggie Sadler Revue, and Janice Saddler. Bunny
Sigler’s Take a little time is also a great track to surface. Sprinkled
with tried and tested popular tracks and a sprinkling of Northern this set is a
sure winner. Special mention for Hank Sample’s lovely liltin
1. Baby I Love You - Johnson, Benny
2. My Thing - Moments (1)
3. It's The Right
Thing To Do - Velvet
4. Love Makes The
World Go Round - Odds & Ends
5. Never Gonna Let You Go - Made In
6. Girl (I Love Everything About
You) -
7. So Long Sweet Girl - Reggie Sadler Revue
8. Love Me -
9. Be Real - Kay Gees
10. Takin' It - Kerr, George
11. Surrender - Black Ivory
12. Never Get Enough Of
Your Love - Street People
13. Way I Love You Baby - Continental 4
14. I Did Your Act - Whatnauts
15. Sweet Sweet Lady - Saunders, Larry
16. Take A Little Time - Sigler, Bunny
17. Loving You Comes Easy - Keith, Tommy
18. My Key (Is Always In the Mailbox) -
English, Barbara Jean
19. Little Bit Of
Love - Cotton, Charen
20. Forget That Girl - De-Lite-Ful
21. Me And My Gemini
-
22. Please Baby Please - Realistics
23. I Choose You -
Disc: 2
1. It Really Hurts Me Girl - Carstairs
2. Bottle - Brother To Brother
3. All We Need Is Another
Chance - Escorts (2)
4.
5. Kings And
6. My Favourite Song - Kay Gees
7. Bet You If You Ask Around - Velvet
8. Blues Fly Away - Whatnauts
9. My Baby's Coming Home To Stay - Saddler,
Janice & Jammers
10. I Wanna Give You Tomorrow -
11. Needing You Wanting You - Jackson, Chuck
12. Sorry That Number Has Been Disconnected -
Green, Marie
13. Dolly My Love - Moments (1)
14. Heaven Must Have Sent You - Continental 4
15. Let Her Go - Smith, Otis
16. Sweet Sweet Tootie - Youngblood, Lonnie
17. I'll Always Love You - Burkes, Felton
18. Keep Away - Appointments & Others
19. So In Love With
You - Sample, Hank
20. Oh Girl - Washington, Johnny
21. Some Day We'll Be Together - Street People
22. How Can I Get Away - Martin, Derek
23. Crying - Carter, Darryl
The Rich Records Story –
An extremely worthwhile and interesting archive of material from
John Richbourg’s Rich records, from the very early 1960’s through
to roughly mid 60’s. The featured
artists are principally Bobby Hebb, lattimore Brown and Jimmy Church, with a
few more joining in.
It’s soul music from it’s embryonic years, and whilst
Night Train to Memphis has a kind of R’n’B edge Bobby Hebb’s
vocals are too light to make it particularly soulful, given that its
essentially a country song.Bobby’s other tracks are better than this
though especially a powerful bluesy I found somebody, though the ballad Cherry
is pretty good too.
The next few tracks are powerhouse blues of Lattimore Brown - What
Have I Done Wrong, being the pick. The interseting think about the label is
that it touches on a variety of themes and genres, blues, southern soul,
Rock’n’roll, doowop, ballads, dance crazes, so it kinda
didn’t have a specific identity, and thus the tracks are wide and varied,
but there should be a seection that you would feel is strong. Only I Can Tell The Story by Lattimore is a wonderful ballad.
Jimmy Church up next for the best section of the album –
with rousing vocal and horns on You Can Make Me Do It, an upbeat and wonderful Faith In You, a punchy but messy Soul Shack.
We Belong Together by Brown, Dee & Lola Grant is pretty
standard and unoriginal duet. Living The
Blues by Johnette is actually pretty wonderful, great vocals and strong
song. John R himself features on a few
pretty ordinary tracks.
I Got That Feeling by Blakely, Cornell also is standard 60’s fare, but the
closing track by the well known JJ Barnes, has that distinctive vocal and
closes on a storming R’nB Won't You Let Me Know
1. Night Train To
Pretty excellent album with a range of
Miami Soul Sisters – Gwen McCrae, Betty Wright, Audrey Royal, Charmettes,
Diamonettes, Helene Smith, Kitty Love, Lynn Williams, Reid Inc and
Twans.
Betty Wright
features on two tracks but it is on the slowie He don’t ever Lose his
groove is exceptional. Betty Wright’s If you love me has always been a
favourite of mine which I have always thought was worthy of greater attention. Pure Love, a ballad, is typical of Betty at
her best, with those tones that only she possesses.
Audrey Royal’s
Playboy is typical ‘Northern Soul’, all of those kind
of ingredients, upbeat, girlie, sweet harmonies, hook.
The Charmettes
Surrendering my love and Diamonettes ‘Rules’ are
is slower and moodier.
Helene Smith is
known in the
Kitty Love’s You gotta change is a raucous rock and roller. Lynn Williams
is a slow southern soul styled ballad and ‘you are the greatest’ is
live,similar But lighter. Reid Inc brings in some
upbeat Miami Funk with sort of UK Crossover appeal. Twans closes with some
girlie Northern.
Black Rhapsody – Little Beaver http://www.henrystonemusic.com/
A series of Little
Beaver cuts on a relatively (these days) short album. All put together in
Beaver’s inimitable style. Here he lays his style on people who have
influenced him. If you are a fan of interesting and individual guitar this
album will be of interest.
My personal favourites are the funky Blues jam – Blues for
Mama. Hit me with Funky music also is full of expression. The reworkings of standards are also a
feature.
Hooked on the Blues http://www.henrystonemusic.com/
RAY CHARLES: In 1949,
while I was working in
JOHN LEE
HOOKER: Was born near
RED TAM: Came
into my
DON HOLINGER:
Was another great Blues singer from
PERCY WELCH:
Was another great Blues singer that I recorded in my small upstairs
LEE
“SHOT” WILLIAMS: Is a southern Blues style vocalist. He got the
nickname “Shot” from his mother because he liked to dress up like a
“big shot.” Born May 21, 1938 in
Henry Stone
Review
– an interesting bunch of Blues tracks out of the
Henry Stone stable. I find the Ray
Charles material particularly interesting, the vocals and the piano are
particularly deep and strained, and as bluesy as you get, there’s an
underlying mood to this session that I have not detected in Ray Charles before.
Red Tam, moving into the 60’s, has a distinctive
guitar sound but it is when his slow Blues meets 60’s soul with girlie chorus
it all comes together. Lee Shot Williams is well known in the UK through his
strong and powerful soulful vocals, so on The Love You save, it is Bluesy but
more Southern Soul, as deep as you like with some fine sax breaks as well.
Closing with two mournful tracks by the excellent soul
blues of Don Hollinger
TRACKLISTING
1. JOHN LEE HOOKER -Real
Real Gone
2. JOHN LEE HOOKER - Guitar Lovin' Man 
3. JOHN LEE HOOKER - My Baby Don't Love Me
4. RAY CHARLES ORCHESTRA f/ RUFUS BEACHUM ON GUITAR - Guitar
Blues
5. RAY CHARLES - Walkin' and Talkin' To Myself
6. RAY CHARLES - I'm Wonderin' and Wonderin'
7. RAY CHARLES - Why Did You Go
8. RED TAM - Red and White Blues
9. RED TAM - Red Tam Is a Lover
10. PERCY WELCH - Back Door Man
11. LEE SHOT WILLIAMS - The Love You Save
12. DON HOLLINGER - Let Him Go
13. DON HOLLINGER - I Been Hit By Love
Lee Moses – Time and Place
Product Info
Soul collectors thrive on mystery, but few of its classic
performers have remained as mysterious as Lee Moses. His original singles for
labels such as Dynamo and Musicor have become legendary among those in the
know, and now the secret is available to everyone, thanks to this definitive
collection of all his 60s and 70s recordings. And this stuff isn’t just
rare – it’s also magnificent soul, from the passion of ‘I
Can’t Take No Chances’ to the propulsive joy of the title track.
Review – a very good and surprising compilation put together
by Simon White assisted by among others Colin Dilnot., a datailed anthology of
his work, with supporting sleeve notes.
A voice that is well known in soul and funk circles but his gritty deep
soulful voice is legendary amongst Deep Soul connoisseurs.
There is a mix of work on theis compilation ranging from the mid
60’s to early seventies, from instrumental, through funk and soul but it
is on the Deep Soul items that he excels and is most memorable.
My adorable one is a deep slow and impassioned plea, the earliest
track, but it is not until Bad Girl that the songs really start to hurt, with
really powerful vocal on a fairly upbeat, moderately funky item.. I’m Sad About It is simple in construction but powerful in delivery.
As we move onto the Dynamo label period around 1968 we start of
with an acknowledged deep soul classic If Loving You Is A Crime (I’ll
Always Be Guilty), lyrics following that tried and tested southern soul theme,
and vocal phrasing so strong that it just drips with emotion. What You Don’t Want Me To Be is eerie and haunting with the
plea overriding all the other things going on.
Free At Last is more straightforward but nonethless a pretty powerful
track.
Time And Place is an interesting track, a mellow funk groove,
great horns, punchy lyrics, sort of stax meets chess, lots of promise but
bizarrely it loses it on the chorus where it gets just a tad too messy.
On the funkier side the best cuts are the mid tempo How Much
Longer (Must I Wait?) and Would You Give Up Everything . The 6 minute interpretation of Hey Joe is
also a highlight.
A very highly recommended album which
will hopefully cross over to more thatn the usual afficiondos.
Tracklisting
- My
Adorable One
- Diana
(From N.Y.C.)
- Reach
Out I’ll Be There
- Day
Tripper
- Bad
Girl (Part 1)
- Bad
Girl (Part 2)
- I’m
Sad About It
- How
Much Longer (Must I Wait?)
- If
Loving You Is A Crime (I’ll Always Be Guilty)
- Never
In My Life
- Time
And Place
- I
Can’t Take No Chances
- Time
And Place
- Got
That Will
- What
You Don’t Want Me To Be
- Every
Boy And Girl
- Hey
Joe
- Free
At Last
- Would
You Give Up Everything
- Adorable
One
- The
Dark End Of The Street
- She’s
A Bad Girl
Johnnie Taylor – Live at the
Well I’m a great lover of live music, but not a great lover
of live albums, so I approached this with a degree of trepidation. But put
simply this is fantastic, full of emotion, full of guts, full of performance,
full of the man that is the Soul Philosopher Johnnie Taylor. The circumstances surround the performance
are intriguing, but I’ll leave that to the sleeve notes.
As live albums go this is tops, grabs you hard and you can really
feel it.
1. Introduction - Thomas, Rufus Listen 2. Take
Care Of Your Homework Listen 3. Little
Bluebird Listen 4. Steal
Away Listen 5. I
Don't Wanna Lose You Listen 6. Who's
Making Love Listen 7. Hello Sundown Listen 8. Steal
Away Listen 9. Stop
Doggin' Me Listen 10.
Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone Listen
Outta Sight Soul Essentials - the New York Sound – Frankie
Crocker
In general this is a fabulous album, is evocative and conjuresup
an image of back in the day.All ‘badged ‘ around the legend that is
Frankie Crocker, and I sure he probably did play these tracks back then, but
the only clues lie amongst several of the radio jingles and voiceovers. Of course I’ll credit to the compilers
and trust that the appropriate research was done, but I can’t help
thinking that certain of the tracks were hand picked for a current UK market or
interest.
Whatever, as I have said a) there are some great tracks and b) the
album hangs together so well. Covers a wide range of ‘soul’ from vocal groups like
the O’Jays, Chairmen. Moments, Whispers ,
a harder funky side in the Fatbacks and Rhythm Makers, through to disco of
Tracks worthy of special mention include a fabulous O’Jays
cut from 1974 Don’t you know a true love. The
Vigor label is a bit in vogue at the moment in the
And a couple of killer cuts are the Dynamics She’s for Real
and Gods gift to woman Let your heart be the judge.
Plus of course Frankie’s own Ton of Dynamite.
And on the downside Genya Raven’s Feel
the need is horrendous.
Track Listings
1. Don't You Know A
True Love - O'Jays
2. Soul On Your Side
- Rhythm Makers (1)
3. Feel The Need In
Me - Raven, Genya
4. Party Music - Lundi, Pat
5. Looking For A
Brand New Game - Eight Minutes
6. Give Me Just A Little More Time - Chairmen Of The Board
7. She's For Real (Bless You) - Dynamics (1)
8. Let Your Heart Be The
Judge - God's Gift To Women
9. Going To See My
Baby - Fatback Band
10. Ton Of Dynamite -
Crocker, Frankie 'Loveman'
11. Brother On The
Run - Pate, Johnny
12. Do What You Feel - Rimshots (1)
13. Fantastic Voyage -
14. Galaxy Of Love -
15. Forget That Girl -
16. Casanova - Coffee
17. Make It With You
- Whispers
18. You're My One Weakness Girl - Street
People
19. Tell Him For Me -
Williams, Louis
20. Can't See Me Leaving You - Barnes, J.J.
21. Pillow Talk - Sigler, Bunny
22. 3 Minutes To Hey Girl - Kerr, George
23. Love On A
24. Am I Telling You I'm Not Going - Jackson,
Chuck & Angie B
25. Moody's Mood For
Love - King Pleasure (2)
Visitors: