Seventh volume of this ever popular series sees yet more unreleased gems come to light, including a fine version of Claude Huey’s ‘Why Would You Blow It’ by Isaiah Smith, Carolyn Crawford’s powerhouse ‘Ready or Not Here I Come’, the street corner feel of Harvey Scales’ ‘It’s Midnight’ and the sublime ‘Farewell My Love’ from The Performers. Little Nicky Soul’s ever in demand ‘You Said’ is a classic, Melvyn Hicks & The Versatiles ‘The Intruder’ is another incredible find that was thought to be acetate only while The Family Brick’s free flowing ‘I’ll Fly To Your Open Arms’ is another...
UK based, Ghanaian born singer-songwriter Myles Sanko follows up his superb 2016 album ‘Just Being Me’ with a new set that further enhances his reputation as one of the best voices on the UK soul circuit. As ever, the themes are of love and loss and longing with keen social observations along the way; there are comparisons with Gregory Porter, both vocally and musically’ and the uptempo opener ‘Where Do We Stand’ has that hard driving jazz laced soul feel. The pulsating ‘Rainbow In Your Cloud’ is a funkier, positive-message song, the soaring, ‘Whatever You Are’ is carried along by...
Tower of Power’s third album ‘Tower of Power’ from 1973 was the first with Lenny Williams as lead vocalist and band members Chester Thompson and Lenny Pickett, probably their best ever line up. It is one of their best albums and includes the brassy funky anthems ‘What is Hip’ and topical ‘Soul Vaccination’. There is also the Soul dancer ‘This time it’s real’ and the superb ballads ‘So very hard to go’ and ‘Just another Day’ plus the mid tempo ‘Clever Girl’ highlighting Williams excellent soulful voice. Great album. BUY LP here Listen Tower Of Power - What Is...
Schema records bring together Italian Jazz artist Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella for a mixed bag of Jazz, Latin, Soul , Electronic music and Hip Hop reflecting the current world situation ‘People need People’. Long time associate British singer Bridgette Amofah adds her delightful vocals to the lilting latin-esq ‘Imani River’, the more urgent House rhythms of ‘New World Shuffle’. Debo Ray has a sweet voice as illustrated on the moody ‘Mother of the Earth’ and down tempo ‘Hold on to your dreams’. The upbeat cleverly ‘Nigeria’ and ‘African Spirits’ mix jazz with house rhythms and the title track ‘People...
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson’s ‘Mahal’ is one of the most popular Jazz Funk albums from the late 70’s, this first time on CD sounds incredibly vibrant taken from the masters. His Uptempo version of Herbie Hancock’s ‘Butterfly’ is incredibly funky and intense. ‘Prance on’ was a huge club in 1978 and an anthem ever since. ‘Cyclops’ is featured in both its original bass heavy groove and the sped up 12″ disco version. ‘Amoroso’ is a really classy mid tempo track with a great groove. Classic Jazz Funk. BUY CD here Listen Butterfly Cyclops Emotions Prance On Amoroso Mahal Ecstasy Also...
Donny is rightly heralded as one of the greats, his soul drenched voice really touches you and his rhythmic keyboard playing is outstanding throughout. This is his debut album from 1970 and contains some of his finest work. The really groovy ‘The Ghetto’ has become a classic and really shifts along nicely. ‘Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)’ has a great groove and hookline that draws you in. The bluesier ‘Je Vous Aime ( I love You)’ , ‘I Believe To My Soul’ , ‘Trying Times’ and ‘To Be Young Gifted And Black’ highlights Donny’s soulful voice. An amazing debut album....
Released in January 1972 ‘Young Gifted and Black’ is rightly regarded as one of the Queen of Soul’s best and most successful albums. It includes the magnificent ballad ‘Oh my oh my’ , the superb floating mid tempo ‘Day Dreaming’ and ultra funky gem ‘Rock Steady’. Her gospel drenched cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Young gifted and black’ became an anthem for Afro American pride. Her version of the Gamble and Butler song ‘Brand new me’ is definitive and really swings along. Her uptempo take on the Bacharach David song ‘April Fools’ is uplifting and has become popular on the Modern...
Immaculately curated set of releases from the Colemine stable, this 22 track offering gives us a broad span of styles and moods, from the Budios band-like Ironsides' brooding 'Sommer' to the pleading Low Rider gem 'What's His Name' from Thee Sinseers. The other era sounding 'Standing With You' from the Reasonaires, the pulsating Afro-Funker (albeit with a bit of surf thrown in) 'Adonai' from Ikebe Showdown, the driving thumping dancer 'More Than A Memory' from Ben Pirani and the rubbery funk of The Winston Brothers' 'Winston Theme' further highlight how diverse the styles are under the broad umbrella of the...
Curtis Mayfield’s second solo album ‘Roots’ is from 1971. It has a similar feel to his fantastic debut ‘Curtis’. ‘Get Down’ and ‘Beautiful Brother of mine’ have his familiar heavy grooves. ‘Underground’ is an atmospheric and deeply funky mid tempo track. ‘We got to have peace’ has Curtis naturally optimistic message. ‘Now You’re Gone’ and ‘Love to keep in mind’ are beautiful string laden Chicago Soul. BUY CD here BUY LP here Listen Get Down Keep On Keeping Up Underground We Got To Have Peace Beautiful Brother Of Mine Now You're Gone Love To Keep You In My...
The ‘Prince of Sophisticated Soul’ Will Downing returns with another grown folks’ album in the form of ‘The Song Garden’. Immaculately produced smooth soul abounds on this, his first release in two years on his own Sophisticated Soul imprint. The infectious ‘Stand Up’ opens the set with an easy flowing vibe that rides on a driving B-line, the slower ‘Say Yes’ finds Will at his most romantic while ‘Chocolate’ ramps up the romance on a spoken word slow burner aimed at the ladies. ‘Love You Better’ is another mid-tempo ballad that contrasts with the soulful house groove of ‘Right Where...
