Continuing the review recaps but this some of the non independent soul releases:
Bobby Womack - The Poets - Castle Music
This package consist of the three album trilogy by Bobby Womack from the early to mid eighties. These alums were pretty much a shining light for pure soul fans in this period. Unmistakenly Bobby Womack including all his usual trademarks, gruuff vocals, monologues, uptempo and slow these albums perked up a fairly stagnant period and were good enough to stand on therir own and make people take notice. Historically they will probably go down as being a landmark.
The Poet is a stunning album from the modern dance qualities of So Many Sides of You, a very topical Bobby Lay your lovin on me, disco fever of Stand up, and some great ballads, especially Where do we go from here. For me Secrets is the top track, it has anthemic qualities, it meanders and builds, with excellent backbeat and funky guitar and Bobby in full flow. Also contains a couple of Bonus acoustic tracks.
Poet 2 arguably surpassed its predecessor opening with one of the alltime top Slow Jams, Love has finally come at last. But It takes a lot of strength to say goodbye is more emotive. Both of these tracks are enhanced by the stunning vocals of patti Labelle. Indeed Bobby’s vocals and emotion on this album is as deep as you will find. Of the upbeat material Trying to get over you is class whereas the other tracks are a bit disco.
Someday we’ll meet again was released as an album, but given that Bobby had moved on, and it consisted of outtakes and other material from the Poet period it was known as Poet 3. These days with CD’s being longer than albums I guess they would have been included at the outset. These tracks certainly shouldn’t be regarded as outtakes because the quality is still there. I’m so proud for example is a quality slow jam. Someday we’ll all be free is lyrically strong. Falling in love again is a fast paced dancer
Release Date - 24/10/2005 - Catalogue Number - CMETD1217 - Bar Code - 5050749 412171 Format - CD
Ian Levine Presents Reaching for the best – The Story of Blackpool Mecca
This actually is a very good compilation, miing th eold, the new, the well known and less well known tracks given prominence by Ian Levine.
Two minor off the chests to start with I don’t like the way it jumps from an oldie stomper to a more modern track, personally I would have preferred chronilogical tracklist. Also several of the tracks have cropped up on recent compilations.
The groundbreaking and enduring tracks are all here like the Carstairs, Gil Scott Heron, Montclairs Voices of East Harlem and so on, and groundbreaking for different reasons, the Levine tailor mades as they became known like Weak Spot, Reaching for the best, and some out and out stompers like Landslide.
Just to pick out a few I particularly enjoyed right now (given the fact that I grew up through this era and a diet of Blackpool Mecca). Dreamin a Dream by the Crown Heights Affair which I haven’t played for ages and it sounded particularly good. From the same year was Pat Lundy’s shufler Party Music. In the context of reminiscing the Charisma band is probably my favourite of the whole package.
I’m so glad – Whatnauts ods early 70’s but is pure Northern Soul. Never did like (and still can’t get into) the leftfield Towaway Zone, give me the more straightforward commercial but nonetheless soulful Larry Saunders or Bessie Banks.
Disk 2 is marginally more esoteric starting with the wonderful Delilah Moore – It takes Love. More 75 to 77 disco with Carrie Lucas, Jeanne Napoli neithe particularly good in my view, but Street People is superb as is Whispers In Love Forever. Silent Majority is another favourite as is Charen Cotton.
Otis Smith to this day never lets you down, again pure Northern is the superb Sensations.
One of the better compilations currently doing the rounds.
Sisters of Soul - CMQCD903
Often unjustly overlooked in favour of their male counterparts, the soul sisters of the 60s, 70s and 80s have left a magnificent archive of peachy R&B sides. Some of the best and most sought-after are collected on this superb compilation, which stretches back to Aretha’s mid-60s spell at Columbia and forward to find the finest females from the Solar catalogue. Also included are UK rarities from Immediate, gems from the Invictus stable, and genre favourites by such heroines as Linda Jones, Debbie Taylor and Candi Staton.
Compiled by David Nathan with thanks to David Cole at In the Basement Magazine. Given the compilers who both a) have a great love of the female soul artist and b) are both extremely knowledgeable it is no surprise that this is an exceptional package.
From the opening bars of the initial track - a subdued, restrained, controlled and extremely soulful early Aretha to the closing harder, raggy, gospel blues Aretha and all points in between – this album delivers it’s subject.
Laura Lee always supremely soulful but sometimes a little overbearing but Her Picture Matches Mine is perfect, the whole production is in tune to Laura’s strong vocal. Thelma Jones is represented on two tracks – the wonderful Salty Tears and I’d rather leave when I’m in love.
One of my favourites is Shirley Brown with her rendition of Van McCoy’s Giving Up. Actually the album is littered with favourites, and for the most part, it is great to see them getting some coverage – Linda Jones, Brenda Holloway and Candi Staton.
Also some crate digging unknowns like Matt Moultrie – Saddest Story ever told, Susan Phillips – Just How Long, Lezli Valentines – a version of the moments Love on a two way street.
The album spans the 60’s 70’s and 80’s, the latter represented by the Solar label, and contrary to public belief this contains some classic 80’s soul as eveidenced by Cat Miller.
A great album and if female soul is where your at there will be something here that is sure to grab you.
One Step Ahead - Aretha Franklin
Her Picture Matches Mine - Laura Lee
Salty Tears - Thelma Jones
Giving Up - Shirley Brown
You Really Didn't Mean It - Carolyn Franklin
Come Back - Freda Payne
A Quiet Place - Brenda Holloway
Ain't It Good Feeling Good - Elouise Laws
Who's It Gonna Be - The Honeycone
Not On The Outside - Linda Jones
Just How Long - Susan Phillips
Love On A Two Way Street - Lezli Valentine
Saddest Story Ever Told - Mattie Moultrie
Life Is But Nothing - P.P. Arnold
I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love - Thelma Jones
Be For Real - Cat Miller
Show Me Where You're Coming From - Carrie Lucas
Count On Me - Candi Staton
Too Sad To Tell - Debbie Taylor
Sending Out An S.O.S. - Retta Young
Little Miss Raggedy Ann - Aretha Franklin
Flying High - On the Real Side Vol II– The Modern End of Northern Soul
Released on 15 December 2003
A selection of, virtually, 70's 'northern' material. It might be Northern, Modern or Crossover depending on where you hear it! Basically it's midtempo soulful groovers. The set does what it sets out to do, though not quite as strong as Volume 1, I don't think. That said it includes some great stuff.
Elsewhere on the site you will find eulogies to the Whispers so it won't come as a surprise that the cream comes from them in Where there is love and the title track Flying High. I think I dissed Hot Wax in my review of the first album but there isn't a better piece of motownesque pop soul than Honey Cone's Better to have loved and lost. On my review of the Moments album elsewhere on the site I focussed on Rain in my backyard and I am pleased to see it featured here. One of the great vocalists is of course JJ Barnes and his voice fits perfectly on the easy paced Can't see me leaving you, which has a complex production but still sounds underdone. Take your time by the Festivals is gorgeous and warm in the finest male vocal group tradition. Check Yourself by IAP Co (Duprees) is a long time favourite and play out of mine and wonderful to see featured. Getting big plays out now I hear, as it's funkier edge is no longer frowned upon. Another one of my favourites (did I say this set was weaker than Volume 1 – perhaps I'd better have a rethink!) is the Joneses Pull my String (on my curried soul playlist). Strings were prominent into the 70's (eg Bert De Coteaux productions) and they excel and enhance the wonderful Bobby Sheen on Come on and Love Me. If you're not familiar with this it's definitely a grower.
We'll put Virgil Henry in this top bracket, because despite being a bit played out, it remains a great track. Same goes for Universal Mind because it stands the test of time and takes me back to the Blackpool Mecca
In the middle range is Street People with You're my one weakness, girl a great opener and Bert De Coteaux production. (Though personally I'd have chosen I wanna spend my whole life with you, and what about Break the chains by Inner Space for a piece of Coteaux). Gee baby by the Festivals is good but is the weakest of their two tracks. Melvin Davis and Eight Day flys the Invictus flag with You've got to crawl, sounding like the Chairmen!
The Moments also feature on two more tracks the very fine Key to my Happinesss and the oft played and tiresome Nine Times. If you remember when Eddie Parker was the most popular sound in the country and you still hark after that style of hard gritty vocal then New Sound is one you'll adore, though that style doesn't seem to feature very often these days.
A bit off the wall and not too sure about it is Mother Freedom Band and the lilting Beautiful Summers Day. Derek Martin features on Falling out of Love and Beautiful Woman and his inclusion will please many. Another Northern Stalwart from the All Platinum stable is Chuck Jackson's Love Lights, but is pretty standard fare. Again standard fare is Brown Sugar, although they are a very popular group. The Exciters have long had an affinity with the Northern Scene but frankly I don't like the track on here. More gritty vocals with Tyrone edwards Invictus outing.
Generally great stuff and I know it's the 70's but the Northern scene needs to progress and CD's like this will assist it to do so.
OV WRIGHT - Giant of Southern Soul - VSOP CD 353
This is a brilliant album spanning the years 1965 to 1975, and is the first CD release for much of this material. You've got it all on here Soul Blues Gospel from hard hitting raw Southern 60's to the mellower Willie Mitchell style of the early -mid 70's, and OV's excellent and unmistakable voice is well suited to it all.
You can't really pick out favourites because everyone will have their own and it will depend on your mood at any given time.
But 'You're Gonna Make me cry' will take some beating and if anything could be classed slow and moody, black and bluest then this is it. 'Poor Boy' is a magnificent slab of mid tempo soul with the girls coming on in. 'Eight Men Four Women' was I believe a big seller and what lyrics - if only this type of thing would sell now!
Interestingly this album put together chronologically gives an insight as to how the 'Willie Mitchell' sound evolved from it's hard Southern base through to the more groovier, slick and professional sound it was. The beauty of the style whilst being unique and instantly recognisable was the fact that it still allowed the artist to express - and express is what OV does best!.
'Afflicted' a bside and written by OV (one of the few) take it's lyrical style from Smokey, it has it's humour but is delivered so painfully- wonderful!
'He made woman for a man' is typical 70's Hi (even though it wasn't), excellent horns and backing vocals.
Top album that you can never tire from.
DENISE LASALLE - I GET WHAT I WANT VSOP CD 332
This one starts in uptempo vain with the excellent - I got what I want - a forerunner of the UK Modern Soul Scene. Most of the rest however is hard slow deep and soulful from about 1976 to 1981.
The first three tracks come from 'Second Breath' album, the next four from 'The Bitch is Bad'. 'Love me Bad' is a beautiful slow ballad with Denise's harder vocal and pleading lyrics. ' Before you take it to the streets' is slightly more uptempo. 'Love addict' brings the tempo higher with lyrics such that the title would suggest.
Her next album was 'Under the influence' and 4 tracks appear here and this compilation generally picks out a) the best tracks from a soul perspective, and b) from that builds an album that follows the same theme - with the most powerful cuts both lyrically and vocally.
'Feet don't fail me' is deep deep soul at it's very best. Personal circumstances (in a general sense that is) also dictate on the next to ballads, really good tracks and thinking back there was a lot of this style at or around that time.
Next album 'Unwrapped' and two cuts here (only two showing the quality of the album I guess). But 'Too little in Common to be lovers' would make it an album worth buying for that alone.
The 'I'm so hot' album only has one track, and 'Guaranteed' brings in three.
'Tighten up your good thing' is a higher tempo - a bouncier track which John Ridley's liner notes rightly says could get plays in the UK now.
A well put together album bringing together a series of excellent cuts from the excellent Denise Lasalle
INEZ & CHARLIE FOXX- MOCKINBIRD - COLL 103
I am a big fan of the Sue label, Baby Washington, Soul Sisters, Sylvia Robins and of course Inez & Charlie Foxx. Nice packaging on this one and good to see the CD decked out as a Sue 45 - nice touch. Now this album is typical Sue - hard edged early 60's R'n'B - singers, shouters, copycats, rough and smooth. Of course there's the dreaded Mockingbird but bypass that. There are duets here, those that Charlie takes the lead and those with Inez.
The Bluesy 'My momma told me' is excellent, as is the shouter 'Don't do it no more' with that distinctive Inez voice. I wanna see my baby brings Charlie in on a midtempo balled - we tend to overlook Charlie but his voice ain't at all bad. 'If I need anyone is again Charlie but the backing reminds me of, and may well actually be, 'When you get tired of me' by, off the top of my head, Geraldine Jones.
Hard R'n'B again of hurt by love - reminiscent this time of Ike & Tina Turner.
There's the gem of 'La de da I love you' sounding like 'where did our love go' - but a magnificent cut.
'Ask Me' is a cut worthy of mention, the response alternating between Charlie and the backing singers and then the horns.
A lot of the rest are Inez ballads with varying degrees of competence and you can probably see that by the end of 1965 the sound was getting a bit stale, or at least the spark and vitality of the earlier material was on the wane.
There's a lot of tracks oh here and you're sure to find something to your taste if you like early Soul
THE DELLS - TWO ORIGINALS - NEW BEGINNINGS & FACE TO FACE VSOP CD 344
The Dells really cannot do much wrong for any true lover of Soul Music. Their vocal harmonies and in particular the two lead vocalists are always a pleasure and a delight. I love them to death but I have to say that I seldom play their records - why I don't know. It therefore is excellent that these albums are readily available affording me the opportunity to listen to them again.
That said these aren't the best things that the Dells have ever done, and in a period when they were evidently trying to move with the times into Disco related material dating from 1978 and 1979. However, there is sufficient here to make them a more than worthwhile acquisition.
Super Woman is a nice mellow funky toe tapper which with it's copy Funkadelic vocal which was hardly original in it's day. The Parliament covers are also a mystery and do not show the Dells at their best. But on something like 'Drowning for your love' - typical Dells - there is no equal.
The uplifting 'My life is so wonderful' is......well wonderful.
'Call me', 'Cherish' and 'Tripped Slipped' are.. The Dells again at their slowest and deepest. Excellent
Face to face starts off in a disco groove which is quite good but it wasn't a standout cut in it's day. For me it's the slower and harmonic ones that do it. The 'Sincerely' like opening 'Thought I could' is excellent - real early Dells style.
'You bring out the best in me' is a mellow groover. 'Plastic People' and 'Wrapped up tight 'close the album with delicate vocal harmonies.
A worthy release for Dells lovers - and that should be all of you!
JOE TEX - VOL 1 - HOLD WHAT YOU GOT / THE NEW BOSS VSOP CD345
JOE TEX - VOL 2 - I'VE GOT TO DO A LITTLE BETTER / THE LOVE YOU SAVE VSOP CD345
Now there's a man, unique I guess. He could sing, he could rap/ monologue, he could laugh and joke, he could perform, he could write and most of all entertain. Even his little black pieces of round vinyl could make you smile with that cheeky little laugh of his, or some amusing anecdote - even if you had heard it before.
On straight Soul numbers - Deep Soul numbers - he could move you like the best of them. His up tempo material was danceable - there are even some Northern Soul dancers among the more gritty Southern Soul sound. He was a forerunner of the 'rap' - the monologue story telling kind of rap taken on by the likes of Bobby Womack and Millie Jackson. On some of his songs his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek, on his mock Rock'n'Roll or C&W for example. Now these items aren't particularly good Soul but taken for what they are they are good fun.
And it only seems like yesterday - oh how time moves on - that we lost this great man.
Connoisseur are therefore commended in their endeavour to make his back catalogue fully available. These two CD's contain 4 albums worth of material, plus bonus tracks, plus original sleeve notes, plus updated liner notes. Not Bad Eh!
Volume 1 from 1965 contains top 20 R'n'B in - You got what it takes - and - You better get it - and also top 5 pop with - Hold what you got. All of these top quality Soul items of the era and all allow Joe to show his vocal range. One Monkey is fun packed almost Big Band. 'Are we Ready' is dreadful but as stated above it's in fun - I guess it would've been fun to see Joe actually perform this. Southern Blues Soul of Heep See Few Know, and There is a girl. This album runs through Deep Soul, Rock'n'roll, Big Band, C&W and more - all in half an hour.
The second section starts with a rendition of the standard CC Rider. 'Stop Look and Listen' is an excellent good time midtempo slab of Southern Soul with Joe and the band in fine fettle. 'A woman can change a man' and 'What in the world' are also superb and it's at this point that you realise that, despite being successful, Joe never really made it as big as he should have. The backing on this album only a few months after the first album is punchier. A couple of covers - King of the Road and Detroit City - are good versions and the country song is more serious than previously. 'I want to Do' of course being a big hit.
The four bonus tracks are - Just out of reach - Release Me - Together again - Make the world go away - all commendable additions.
Volume 2 from 1966 and 1967 starts where the last one finished of with the slow and meaningful 'The love you save'. Then we get harder and funkier - Live for yourself . Lyrically Joe is excellent throughout - I don't know specifically which ones are his but you can kinda guess. He can be moving or amusing and strangely both!
Funny Bone of course is in the amusing section and 'Sweet Woman' is the moving kind and 'I'm a man' and 'Sugar' are both. 'Hearbreak Hotel' is one of those that with CD technology you can skip over.
The second section - I've got to do a little bit better album - is probably the best album of the 4 containing the classics 'Papa was to' and 'SYSLJFM'.
'A woman sees a hard time' is searing deep soul at it's best. Excellent cut's in the same vain are 'Taking care of a woman', 'The truest woman in the world', 'I believe I'm gonna make it' and the magnificent title cut. These are the cuts that make it a winner for soul fans who don't want the other 'entertainment'. There's hard uptempo on 'Lying's just a habit'
Bonus tracks are the stomping and wonderful 'Show me', the frantic 'I'm going and get it', 'Woman like that yeah' and 'All a man needs'.
I guess the next one up will be the classic and groundbreaking 'From the roots came the rapper' - let's look forward to that.
MARVIN SEASE - MODERN SOULMAN
Where have I been? I must confess to not being that familiar with Marvin Sease and his reputation for X Rated stage shows and the like precedes him. However and notwithstanding that, this is a magnificent album. Sometimes you wonder, or at least I do, where Connoisseur are coming from but in the main it is good quality retro reissues, and then they throw something like this at you. I don't know how many units of anything they sell or what they need to sell to break even or profit each time but I hope this sells by the bucketload - and if a label like this can bring an artist like this to the forefront, the others can be and should be ashamed!
Marvin has a silky smooth Tyrone Davis style vocal. Most of this is slow, mellow to midtempo. The songs are good some with a gospelly flava, and are well produced. To be fair there are a few tracks in the middle that go slightly awry when he goes a bit funky.
There are one or two real classy cuts and to categorise it as Deep Soul would not be out of order. Teach Me and Heaven knows are excellent. Do you remember Roshell Anderson - he reminded me a bit of him on the latter. (Whatever happened to him?) . Are you still mine - isn't quite as strong but - You and Me picks it up again with old style Rap intro.
Brother to Brother is the man's side of Woman to Woman. I can't believe - is more gospel in style and delivery, dirge slow and pleading lyrics.
Can't believe I haven't been familiar with this - it is consistently good from the older material to the new - this is taken from a series of 5 albums through the nineties. I've learned lived and enjoyed this - More please.
And everyone BUY this - top recommendation.
BLUES & SOUL - THE SOUL YEARS 1966 - 1999
I can do nothing but commend this compendium - reviews to Volumes 10-12 first, followed by 4-9, then Volumes 1-3 reviewed -further down. This taken all together is an exceptional set of compilations.
Volume 10 1986 -1987 - BASY010
A number of funk of the time items on here, from the controversial (visually) Cameo to the computer generated Zapp and early Keith Sweat - to the more commercial disco-y sounds of Gregory Abbott, and my what a good sound it was, Ain't nothing going on but the rent. Good to see the Timex Social Club included - at the time one out of leftfield. We can mellow out to the likes of Luther and the excellent Melissa Morgan - Do me baby. There's out and out commercial with the resurgent Diana Ross.
Class abounds with Only Just begun by Glen Jones and Angel by Angel Winbush. Plenty of femme soul with Stephanie Mills and Regina Belle.
Volume 11 1988 -1989 - BASY011
For a lot of people all you would need to do for this compilation is to include Will Downing. Say no more!
But in addition we get Teardrops - Womack & Womack, Luther, and Brenda Russell - Piano in the Dark and Karyn White. Mostly a bit downhill after that quintet with the likes of Pebbles, Mac Band, Johnny Kemp and Miles Jaye and Regina Belle have their second track on two compilations when in this company I would have thought they only justify one entry. The Pasadenas were good then but very dated now.
Gladys Knight - although not one of her best - and Teddy Pendergrass restore the quality. Al B Sure is also a goody.
Volume 12 1990 -1999 - BASY012
Unfortunately the last album covers 10 years and as such the choice is spread far and wide. It would have been nice to continue with annuals or two yearly but then it would have been a massive set. Nonetheless there is some good stuff here but I get the feeling there could have been much more. When you choose say 20 tracks in a year it's a fair bet that you may disagree with a few but on the whole you would accept. When choosing 10 over a decade there's bound to be disagreements.
Some magnificent cuts on here like Omar - There's nothing like this and Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness, Erykah Badu and D'angelo. There's so many different styles on here. Commercial hip hop, New Jack Swing, spawning nineties R'n'B, birth of Nu-Soul, Blackstreet (almost a genre on their own), British R'n'B.
Lazy Summer sound of Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, and the storming dance of Finally - Ce Ce Peniston. We have En Vogue, Brownstone and SWV for the female R'n'B groups. Also staying with the girls, along with Erykah, we have Beverley Knight and Aaliyah. Very nice also to see Charles & Eddie - Would I lie to you.
On the male side of R'n'B we have Warren G and Bobby Brown
Volume 4 1974 -1975 - BASY004
Continuing this excellent series with all the top UK Soul hits of the day. This one brings out the similarities (or otherwise) of George McCrae and the Hues Corporation, and Johnny Bristol and Barry White. The continuation of the Philly Sound getting more sophisticated with the Three Degrees and the Blue Notes and the emerging Miami sound. Motown Funk of the Commodores and the classic post motown Isleys. New releases played on the Northern scene - Miracles and Esther. The ever excellent William Devaughn being the pick.
Volume 5 1976 -1977 - BASY005
Starting with the immaculate Candi Staton and the popular 'deep soul' of Dorothy Moore, this album needs no more! But despite my memory telling me otherwise there was also some other excellent stuff - the cult Car Wash, the re- emerging James Brown, the Northern popular Tavares, the funky Brass Construction and T connection and the new 'disco' Johnny Taylor, the EWF influenced Emotions and the odd ball Floaters - we all loved it, then we all hated it!
Volume 6 1978 -1979 - BASY006
Not as strong this one I didn't think - never did like Herbie Hancock - I thought it was you or Boogie oogie oogie - Taste of Honey or Reunited - Peaches & Herb.......and still don't after the passing of time. There are however some classic cuts like Chaka Khan, Chic and the ground breaking Rapper's Delight. Some very popular chart soul here - Ladies Night and I will survive, Boogie Wonderland and He's the greatest dancer. Much better though is Shame and Disco Nights or the crazy P-Funk of Flashlight.
Volume 7 1980 -1981 - BASY007
What a joy it was to here Joy and Pain again - remembered as being a class item and it still is - head and shoulders above most everything. Jazz Funk in full swing here with Tom Browne and George Duke. Disco still going crazy with The Gap Band (remember?), Kool and the excellent Yarborough & Peoples. Smooth Soul with Smokey and Luther and Randy. One track here is tops and I wouldn't have remembered it as being one of the best of the year and that is The Four Tops - When she was my girl
Volume 8 1982 -1983 - BASY008
The brilliant Kenny Burke - a track that still sounds current and still gets played even today. The Message - Grandmaster Flash needs no introduction and still sounds as powerful as ever. This one includes the sex soul of Marvin Gaye and Mtume. The much under rated Atlantic Starr with Circles is superb, as is Billy Griffin
Volume 9 1984 -1985 - BASY009
This is a good set also - as all of them are really - starting with The Temptations - Treat her like a lady. Also excellent is Dennis Edwards, probably my favourite on the album and it's good to see sides like this getting recognition above the Sales driven items. Night Shift by the Commodores was..and is a top cut. More quality by stalwarts Bobby Womack, Aretha , Maze and Isley Jasper Isley. More disco with Diva Jocelyn Brown and Colonel Abrams, and the cool sounds of Freddie Jackson.
Volume 1 1966 -1969 - BASY001 Volume 2 1970 -1971 - BASY002 Volume 3 1972 -1973 - BASY003
Released on 26 February 2001. Let's start with the official press release:-
Connoisseur Collection Teams Up with Blues & Soul Magazine For The Soul Years.
Connoisseur Collection, the long established reissue label, have teamed up with the UK's longest running soul magazine Blues & Soul. The union will manifest its self in the form of 12 individually released CD's titled Blues & Soul - The Soul Years. The 12 CD's will be released over three months - Vol 1 (1966 to 1969) Vol 2 - (1970 to 1971) Vol 3 (1972 to 1973) February 26 Vol 4 (1974 to 1975) Vol 5 (1976 to 1977) Vol 6 (1978 to 1979) March 26 Vol 7 (1980 to 1981) Vol 8 (1982 to 1983) Vol 9 (1984 to 1985) April 30 Vol 10 (1986 to 1987) Vol 11 (1988 to 1989) Vol 12 (1990 -1999) May 28 with a £9.99 -S.R.P (full tracklisting available).
The pairing of Connoisseur and Blues & Soul enables a massive amount of music knowledge to be combined and spawning, possibly, the most comprehensive set of soul music compilations released to-date.
Bob Fisher, Managing Director of Connoisseur Collection, said of the venture, "'Blues and Soul' enjoys a unique position in the UK magazine market being one of the longest established specialist magazines around having been launched in 1966 and this is the first time they have leant their name to a project of this nature. Due to dramatic changes in the ownership of classic Soul record label over the last few years acquiring the rights for compilations of this nature has never been simpler. The series is based as much as possible on the magazine readers year end polls of the last 33 years and as such reflects all the genre's developments from Stax and Motown through Disco and Jazz Funk to Rap and Hip Hop. Connoisseur Collection built its reputation on themed compilation series and we're very proud to be able to continue that tradition in partnership with Blues and Soul"
Bob Kilbourne, Editor of Blues & Soul Magazine said "I'm genuinely delighted for Blues & Soul to be associated with Connoisseur and Bob Fisher in this exciting joint venture. It's been a long time coming - but well worth the wait. Twelve truly representative compilations of the life and times of Soul music covering four decades. If there is one soul compilation series I would recommend to a visiting soul buff from Mars - this would be it."
These are nicely packaged with excellent sleevenotes by the likes of the original B&S stalwarts like John E Abbey and Dave Godin.
All of the tracks are classics and well known by even a modest lover of soul but there will be a merit to collect the whole series and have a formidable collection of truly great items. This may sound silly but may I start with volume 3.
This is 1972 - 73 when the Golden Age of Soul was over, it was a period of transition and it was probably thought that this wasn't a particularly good era for Soul. You briefly look at the track listing and initially think that they're all well known, you may even have most of them. But look a bit deeper and what do you see.
Probably the one that started the Kenny Gamble - Leon Huff Philadelphia International experience. The sweet soul of the Stylistics. The Motown 'changes' giving rise to the Temptations, 'Folk Soul' of Bill Withers, the funkier edge of Miami, the Chi-Sound rivalry to Philly, the 'love' era of Al Green, Barry White, Bobby Womack, the emergence of the Hi Sound, the social comment of Marvin Gaye, Esther Phillips, blaxpoitation and Curtis Mayfield.
It's only when you think of all these things you realise what a time it was, and how much was happening at the time. Personal favourites are Esther Phillips, Bobby Womack and Al Green.
Volume one covers what is popularly known as the Golden Age. We have the key Motown figureheads of Tops, Tempts, Marvin Gaye, Stevie. Stax Atlantic of Percy Sledge, Pickett, Aretha. Otis, Eddie Floyd. And the funk of James Brown. Nice to see Darrell Banks which commercially wasn't as successful as some or most of the others. Not much criticism here - you can always come up with a selection yourself but this is as good as anyone could come up with. One small comment though - surely there's a better Supremes track than Reflections.
Volume 2 shows quite clearly the transition between the 60's and 72. The demise of the Motown beat and the replacement new vibe, and the HDH move to Invictus. Funk continues with James Brown and Sly but wasn't funk more prominent that the 2 out of 20 tracks suggest. Some 'oddball items' in a sense but they were good and successful like Patches and the Tams. Overall I don't think this Volume is anywhere near as good as the preceding and succeeding volumes.
One that stands the test of time is the Delfonics who I think were very underrated. I remember seeing them way back at Baileys Cabaret Club in Bristol when they were on for the whole week. I duly arrived on the opening Sunday night and was blown away - a truly excellent performance. So I went again later in the week,.... and again... but you can never replicate those kind of things can you. They never reached the heights of that opening night.
All round excellent stuff and when all together a good compendium of Top Soul Sounds.
OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR HEART - THE BEST OF DARRELL BANKS - VSOP CD 284
Magnificent album from a man who should have been one of the biggest talents to emerge from the Sixties Golden Age of Soul if it wasn't for his mysterious and untimely death. His voice sounds perfectly in place whether on a Deep Soul ballad or an uptempo dance item.
All the famous 'Northern' Dancers are here - Open the door to your heart, Our love is in the pocket, Angel Baby, I'm the one who loves you, Somebody Somewhere needs you. The latter being a particular favourite of mine. All of these possess the unmistakable mid sixties Detroit feel and backbeat.
However it is on the deeper material that he really excels, the beautiful lilting Here Come the Tears, I'm gonna hang my head to cry, I wanna go home.
My favourite perhaps is the midtempo I've got that feelin'
JIMMY McGRIFF - DIG ON IT - THE GROOVE MERCHANT YEARS - VSOP CD 290
This Album starts of in a typical Jimmy McGriff Funky groove - Groove Grease and the Bird are typical of what you expect from him. Good stuff indeed.
However I don't really see the point of doing covers, particularly covers of exceptional items such as Shaft and What's going on, when it would be particularly impossible to better the original - and also surely on a compilation it should have been possible to come up with some better material.
Without exception on here it is the original material that shines and usually it is the funkier material. The album gets back on track with Dig on it, Blue Groove and Fat Cakes
REUBEN WILSON - GROOVE GREASE - THE GROOVE MERCHANT YEARS - VSOP CD 292
Strangely and unlike Jimmy McGriff above the cover versions here seem to work. Inner City Blues is transformed into a kind of funk that the original never had. There is less original material than covers and I guess that tells a thing or two.
Most of this album is quite nice and quite listenable to but it is never going to set the world on fire. The album came out at a time when jazz funk was big and this never really made it into mainstream and it is plain to see why.
I like the rendition of I'll take you there
BITTER SUITE - VSOP CD 309
SECOND SUITE - VSOP CD 310
STREET SUITE - VSOP CD 311
I loved these albums when they came out. Jazz Funk was big at the time and the cream was on these albums. It is a pity that the whole of the originals are not on display here, for contractual reasons, I understand.
Every track a on Bitter Suite winner and worth listing.
Hubert Laws - The Chicago Theme; Rodney Franklin - In the Center; Ned Doheny - To prove my love; George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair; Herbie Hancock - Just around the corner; Stanley Clarke - Together again; Benny Golson - New Killer Joe Rap; Hubert Laws - Family; Ramsey Lewis - You are the reason; Eric Gale - Sara Smile; Sadoa Watanabe -All about love; Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess.
All heavyweights here - 'To prove my love' is quality. George Duke is of anthemic proportions, slight novelty of the Killer Joe Rap. I just love the mellow 'You are the reason'.
When I bought these on vinyl I always felt that Bitter Suite was the strongest of them all. On reissue I feel thatSecond Suite stands the test of time and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Charles Earland - Coming to you live still sounds superb, as do Lonnie Liston and Herbie Hancock. The Japanese embracement of jazz funk also still shines through.
When these originally came out I seem to remember that Street Suite was relatively harder to get hold of suggesting that by the time it came out the popularity of Jazz Funk was on the wane and that the initial release sold more than the last release. I don't know whether this is true or not but the third one is not as strong as the other ones. Still contains some memorable material from Herbie, Ramsey Lewis and Chuck Mangione.
SMOOTH SOUL - THE UK CONNECTION - VSOP CD 312
Firstly - cards on the table - I still find it very difficult to appreciate 'Soul' that comes out of the UK. To me it is imitation. OK sometimes imitation can come very close to the original and in rare cases it can surpass but for the most part it pales into insignificance. For me that is UK 'Soul' - bit harsh maybe but hey!
Consequently most of this does not do much for me. Sinclair comes close, The Jones girls are OK but I didn't like the almost two-step backbeat on You threw our love away.
However Hil St Soul - For your love is excellent as is Chris Ballin - Full time lover, Saving Graces!
PATTI AUSTIN - THE CTI COLLECTION - VSOP CD 315
Patti Austin's CTI material from 1976 to 1980. Patti has a beautiful voice and it is said that jazz singing extends and stretches voices but Patti sounds comfortable. She seems to 'extend' more on her pure soul output.
There is plenty of good on this album - 'Body Language' and 'People in love' start the album off well. It picks up with the midtempo 'I can't stop'. There are however some fairly middle of the road ballads.
DENIECE WILLIAMS - THE COLLECTION - VSOP CD 326
When I reheard 'Free' I hadn't remembered that the backbeat was quite so crisp - unless this is a new mix. Sounds very good and stands the test of time. Also includes the 'hits' That's what friends are for and the disco Let's here it for the boy.
The best of this album is good 'Soul' material but the worst is very middle of the road. The dance, 70's disco cuts still sound quite good in a retro kind of way.
THE ALPHONSO JOHNSON COLLECTION - VSOP CD 331
Hard and heavy funky bass from Alphonso Johnson.
Al Johnson writes most of the material and it is on the funky items that he excels such as Scapegoat, Stump and One to One. The 'Rock-y' tracks do not work for me. Clearly a top musician and writer and his work deserves this exposure.
Featured artists include George Duke, Alphonse Mouzon, Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Grover Washington Jnr and Narada Michael Walden
Mark (Fish) Coddington label out of the Midlands is consistently finding top quality contemporary soulful sounds and getting them out through his label. In addition some of his artists are often seen showcasing some of the top Soul events in the country. It seems to me that Mark is out there and he knows the look and feel first hand of what the people want and what's going down. The basic of these components are always there but are added to sometimes by some additional remixes that divert attention into other popular genres, usually R'n'B.
You can never give any label a 100% seal of approval for every disc releases but if you pick up any FER release it's unlikely that you will go far wrong.
The Arock & Sylvia Soul Story - Various Artists - Kent Soul CDKEND 212
This album catalogues the story of Al Sears the man behind the above two labels. Comprehensive sleeve notes as usually associated with Kent, and a range of issued titles, obscure and popular, northern popularities, beat ballads, previously unreleased material and general historic fillers.
Most of the cuts date back to the early sixties and as an overview some of the tracks here are a throwback to the end of rock'n'roll doowop era, and some are forerunners of the emerging soul one. Very much a transitional phase I guess. I don't think this label has ever purported to be or seen as innovators and as such it was following the styles of the time.
On the 'Northern' side I just love Billy Washington's 'Later for Romance', a cut containing all the right ingredients and not particularly rare or expensive I don't think. Neither is 'Keep on' which was a big Northern record yet is peculiar in that it is acoustically led and it is the vocal which drives it on. His unreleased 'You're Supreme' is similar but not quite so frantic and is all the much better for it. Joan Moody's 'We must be doing something right' is another storming cut, but don't miss out on 'Don't do me that way' which has the familiar vocal but more midtempo. 'Lend a helping heart' sees Joan in a much more mellow mood.
Gene Burks 'Can't stand fooling around' is very much of the era, a bit Sue like, prominent horns, soulful vocal and Gene in fine voice and less 'hard' than on his better known 'You Got it'. The Larks 'For the love of money' contains great vocal interplay reminiscent of the doowop era with a great leads in turn, particularly the falsetto) and wonderful harmonies.
Diplomats, being a big name currently with 'Cards on the table' which is not featured here. The featured tracks are - 'I am a witness being' which is excellent group soul and the frantic and forgettable 'Hey Mr Taxi Driver' (nice sax break though!).
Corvairs are featured with 'A victim of her charms' but it's not really clear which 'Corvairs 'this was, not that it matters to me on this fine outing. Tutti Hill has two tracks (is she Al Sears daughter?, making that assumption but could be hopelessly wrong), the first being the great and original version of 'He's a Lover' popularised by Mary Wells, and 'Handful of memories'. Chet Poison Ivey's track 'Love' emanates from an acetate that was discovered. Compelling girl chorus on this.
Junior Lewis is featured on four tracks plus a duet with Marie Knight. The best for me is the ballad 'Which Way'. Garrett Saunders is very Chuck Jackson esque, in beat ballad mode. Competent but not one I particularly like. Sam Hawkins 'Just to make me cry' is almost Rock'n'Roll but with a wonderful falsetto a, agreeing with Ady's sleeve, Clyde McPhatter, soundalike
There are several 'Unknown' cuts featured 'Deep down inside' a hard hitting R'n'B item which would go down well in some circles, 'Tears on my face' a demo version of Junior Lewis, in a Jackie Wilson style, and 'Where the river meets the Sea'. I can see why because of the style why these are featured but neither of them does much for me.
DC Playboys featuring the great Van McCoy on vocals but 'Too Much' isn't too much to write home about I'm afraid.
Marie Knight is included with an alternative take to the awesome 'Come tomorrow'. Theola Kilgore with an extended version of 'As long as you need me' is featured here. 'The love of my man' I love and this ain't far behind .