Cry to Me is a total classic…both the album (and the title track) peaked in the R&B and Billboard Hot Soul Singles charts. Cry To Me was produced by Floyd Smith and it features tracks penned by some of the most talented songwriters of the time…Sam Dees (Gladys Knight, Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin) wrote five of the tracks on the album and his arrangements provide the perfect backdrop for Loleatta’s emotive, dramatic and powerful vocals.Curtis Mayfield also contributes the magnificent Just Be True track and Jo Armstead (Ray Charles, Syl Johnson, Tina Turner) wrote the beautiful ‘Casanova’ song. Recorded in...
Bishop Rance Allen sadly passed away at the weekend aged 71. We have just discovered what is probably the last remaining stock of this classic album deep in the vaults of our storage facility. Say My Friend is probably the best album and certainly the most soul oriented album from the powerful voiced Rance and his Brothers. The Mizell Brothers produced it in 1977 and add their semi funky layered sound and each song has a positive message . Highlights are the string laden stormer ‘Truth Is Marching On’ , the great mid tempo two stepper ‘Reasons To Survive’ with...
Jarrod Lawson finally releases the follow up to his ground breaking epic 2014 self titled debut album. ‘Be the Change’ is very accomplished and mature album featuring eleven meaningful self written and produced melodic Jazz tinged Soul songs. ‘Be The Change’ glides effortlessly, the funky ‘Battlefield’ and ‘Why don't you call me baby anymore’ chug along, and the dreamy Stevie influenced ‘Universal Chord’ has a charm of his own. ‘I’ll be your radio’ featuring Moonchild, ‘Connected’ and more laid back ‘Soul Symphony’ are good mid tempo tracks and ‘Love Isn’t always enough’ a nice ballad. Best of all though is...
20 year old Georgie Sweet’s debut album ‘Misunderstood’ is a set that belies her tender age and fully deserves the plaudits that are being heaped on her and her first full length release. Take the cool swagger of Erykah Badu, the assured grace of Jill Scott and the unmistakable flavour of UK neo soul and you have an album that pleases across the board. Label mate Deborah Jordan has guided Georgie with her knowledge and wisdom and the similarities between the two are evident, but both possess their own voice. The delicate, jazzy ‘Sorry’, the scratchy, almost trip hop ‘Half...
The Mizell brothers produced some great jazz funk albums in the early to mid 70’s and were most associated with Donald Byrd and this classic 1975 album in particular. Their joyful heavily orchestrated backing tracks framed the lead instrument to create a total sound. Trumpeter Donald had recorded many great albums for Blue Note in the previous 10 years this one was probably his most accessible.The supporting cast of musicians incl Harvey Mason, Chuck Rainey, Skip Scarborough and King Erricson play note perfect. The uptempo ‘Change’ sets the tone, the beautiful mid tempo ‘Wind Parade’ , ‘Dominoes’ and ‘Places And...
Keyboardist and founder/musical director of the Atlanta-based afrobeat/funk ensemble Common Ground Collective Mausiki Scales' second solo album WestWest Africa features an array of guest names, including vocalists Julie Dexter, Brenda Moorer, and Akua Taylor. The project also showcases the musicianship of Russell Gunn, Morgan Guerin, Kebbi Williams, Quinn Masonry, Ra Flautista, Alex Jones, Ali Barr, Edgar Clark Jr., Reginald Starling, and Kenton Bostick. The album effortlessly blends Jazz Fusion with funk and African Rhythms, the funky 'The Solution' is a pounding slab of soulful funk, the Roy Ayers feel of 'Kaleidoscopic Universe' and 'When The Sun Comes Up' highlights the...
Terisa Griffin is another Soulstress with a strong voice. ‘Revival of Soul’ is a good album of down tempo Soul tracks focussing on her voice. ‘Save Me (a woman’s Testimony)’, ‘Tonight’s the night’, ‘Cotton Candy Kisses’, ‘Naked’, ‘Purple like the Moon’ and ‘Swimming Higher’ and ‘Talking about love’ are good original ballads. There are also good covers of Aretha’s ‘Oh me Oh My’ and Marvin’s ‘Distant Lover’. This is quality seductive Soul. BUY CD here Listen Save Me (A Woman’s Testimony) Intro Revival Interlude Tonight Is the Night Cotton Candy Kisses (Oral Pleasure) Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool...
Brit funk pioneers Light of the World return in a paired back form with a core line-up of Gee Bello (Vocals/Percussion), Nat Augustin (Vocals/Guitar) and Mel Gaynor (Drums) and ‘Jazz Funk Power’ loses nothing with this economy of numbers. The joyous opener ‘ Soul Reflections’ is an emphatic opener that blends the new with the vintage, the breezing, early 80s feel of ‘Heart To Heart’ contrasts with the slower, breezier ‘Summer Girl’ while the slick mid tempo ‘Saturday Night’ has a busy, bustling vibe while majoring in the celebratory nature of the album. The ballad ‘Head Over Heals’ is a...
Fantastic 1974 soul album, from the prolific songwriter, was made in the shadow of and musically the same vein as Marvin’s ‘Whats Going On’. Highlights are his original of ‘Love Love Love’, ‘After hours’ , ‘Heaven On Earth’ the fantastic title track and ‘I’ll Always Be Your Lover’, but this album is strong throughout. JR’s lyrics and vocals are great throughout and the arrangements and production compliment perfectly. It is a classic, up there with Lou Courtney, Leroy Hutson, Tom Brock and the other great albums we have reissued. This album should be in every soul collection. BUY CD...
Epic Millie Jackson concept album from 1974 about a three way love affair, recorded in Muscle Shoals. Her version of ‘if Loving You Is Wrong’ with the spoken word ‘Rap’ is 11 minutes of pure magic. Her vocals of Phillip Mitchell’s ‘I’m Tired Of Hiding’ and Bobby Womack's ‘ I’m Through trying to prove my Love To You’ are outstanding. But this is an album that you have to listen to as a complete set , rather than individual tracks. One of Soul Music’s all time greatest albums. BUY CD here BUY LP here Listen If Loving You Is...
