**PRE ORDER THE LP DUE MID DECEMBER HERE**
A compilation of Webster Lewis’ Epic years works from 1976-1981, featuring an exclusive 12-page booklet written by Will Fox with insights from legendary jazz DJ Patrick Forge. Featuring the anthems Barbara Ann and El Bobo and rare unreleased takes Japanese Umbrella and Boston. Jazz-funk, disco, fusion and soul sounds from lesser known American producer, arranger and keys player Webster Lewis.
“Emblematic of the period where major labels had money to throw at productions helmed by session men, analogue studios were a sign of the times and high-quality musicians were in unfettered supply: such is Webster Lewis’ music. Luscious, well-produced and melodically sophisticated are adjectives that come to mind when describing his sound, stone-cold and funky tracks adorned with the tonal refinement of jazz and the undulating groove and emotive tug of soul. Compositionally, he would nod to his jazz background while harnessing the contemporary influences of the day, namely soul and funk, while flirting with the possibilities of fusion, Latin and Brazilian music. As a composer and musician, he was deeply underrated, recognised by those in the know—such as Herbie Hancock—but not to the wider listening public. He never truly found the contemporary audiences that perhaps he dreamed of, or even aspired to maintain, his legend built in retrospect rather than contemporaneously, so much so that there is a serious dearth of information about Lewis from this period. There is, however, an equal possibility that he was a man who preferred to live a life behind the scenes as a producer and arranger, someone who gave his most popular track away to Merry Clayton rather than capitalise on it himself, a discreet yet talismanic professional who preferred to get his work done quietly, supported by serious academic credentials. What is certain is the high standard of Webster Lewis’ output, his genius proliferating among cooler heads and savvy collectors, while the prices of his original albums slowly climb. May his music live on for generations to come.”se
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Listen below
Webster Lewis – Hideaway
Webster Lewis – Barbara Ann
Webster Lewis – Do It With Syle
Webster Lewis – Love Is The Way
Webster Lewis – Give Me Some Emotion
Webster Lewis – There’s A Happy Feeling
Webster Lewis – Touch My Love
Webster Lewis – Dancer
Webster Lewis – El Bobo
Webster Lewis – You Are My Life
Webster Lewis – Let Me Be The One
Webster Lewis – Japanese Umbrella
Webster Lewis – Reach Out
Webster Lewis – Boston
Webster Lewis – The Love You Give To Me
Webster Lewis – Love Won’t Harm No One
