Hi - Reliant Gospel - IceHouse - Ecko - Cotton Row - High Stacks - Cadre
Dewitt Johnson - Classic - Reliant Gospel
This is a compilation of songs by DeWitt recorded originally on New Birth and Savoy, and put out brJud and Rose Phillips.
It is virtually all own composition and such is the man's talent and recognition that many of them are regarded as Gospel standards. Most of the cuts are overtly which may not be to everyone's taste, but there is no doubting the quality of the voice.
Particularly strong is 'I've been touched', a slower item and reliant more on the voice, passion, delivery and message than a rousing gospel chorus. 'Shouting with the angels' is recorded live and comes across very anthemic, strong vocal again that builds with audience participation. 'Giving my life to God' is another powerful song complete with monologues and additions by The Voices of Bountiful Blessings'. 'God is working on your case' is probably as good as anything, strong cut again cut live with the Voices again adding their dimension.
'Look what you've done' is my pick, again slow, deep vocals and gentle harmonies weaving in, and building as only gospel can and does.
The songs are sung with conviction and commitment as you would expect on an album such as this. Whilst this album is not the kind of thing we normally review here, sometimes there are crossover cuts that are an exception but normally they are not so overtly Gospel as these, but that said we can all appreciate where it is coming from, the delivery and the performance. For without this kind of music an awful lot of what we have got would not be here.
OBK Now - Icehouse Records - www.icehouse records.com
Produced by Jud Phillips (who has worked with the liokes of The Barkays and Con Funk Shun) and Kent Kingins out of Memphis. OBK is/was Our Brothers Keeper an eight piece horn band.
When I saw this I built a great deal of anticipation for 'funky grooves, raw vocals, driving rhythms, signature brass....where celebration is the mood and solid songs rule.....' Plus also songs by Sir Mack Rice and the like.
However whilst the work is solid and I can easily see it being performed live, and if I did I'm sure I would enjoy it, I did not readily warm to it.
The band clearly do what they love and they do it well. It is pleasing to see some of the material covered is not as obvious as some like minded bands. (Some are though like Loiue Loiue).
I did particularly enjoy Cover My Tracks, a Mack Rice song, the vocal on this came through very strong. 'Better' is also a more soulful offering.
Memphis Rhythms - New Originals
From the same source I received this sampler album, most is not relevant to these pages so obviously I will concentrate on those that are as follows:-
Taylor & Martinez - The Unclean - Hi - this is featured below
Barbara Carr - Bohawk Grind - Ecko - A storming blues number but powerful southern soulful vocals, check www.eckorecords.com for more details, together with the likes of product by Charles Wilson, Ollie Nightingale and Bill Coday
Ruby Wilson - When a man is sleeping (A woman is thinking) - Cotton Row Recording - More storming vocals and again great Southern Soul........and a man wrote these lyrics! Well put together and great musicianship if a little heavy on the guitar.
Jackie Johnson - Here I am - High Stacks - A gorgeous piece of Gospel, mellow and building strongly but not overtly so, from Jackie's second album on the label
Dobie Gray - Right about now - Cadre CDMemphis - from the album Soul Days CDM0001 - The first album on the label by the well known Dobie, mellow adult soul.
Taylor and Martinez - Hi Records
This is a historic record in that it represents the first new release on the legendary Hi label. For the past 20 years it has survived on maintenance and licensing of the back catalogue, an indication of the quality and timelessness of the product from their hey day.
That this duo should be selected for the first release shows the confidence that the label has in them. Vocalist Charlotte Taylor and guitarist George Martinez also wrote all the material on the album with the exception of the cover of the standard 'Cry me a river'.
The duo are billed as being soul, blues, pop but for me they veer towards the Blues. I prefer the slower numbers where Charlotte's vocals are prominent such as 'Try', with a laid back Otis Redding style track - even lyrical similarities.
The musicianship is tight which is what you would expect from Memphis and George's guitar is varied and excellent and comes to the fore on various Blues styles - jump Blues of Way Down Yonder, slow Blues of 'When I'm Dreamin' -a good track with excellent vocal, and duetting with the harp on 'Wild for your love'.
Some tracks were mixed by the legendary Willie Mitchell and even though he is not the producer of the album (except on Cry Me) his mark is stamped. Somehow he can create 'space' on a track, it sounds less cluttered, clean and unmistakable. This was his hallmark from days gone by and it's clearly still here.
The personal anthem of the duo is 'Faith', lyrically fine and mellow guitar and laid back vocal over a sparse Willie Mitchell mix - nice.
Closes with the rockin' '88 miles to Memphis'
I understand that these two regularly play clubs around the Memphis area - Catch them if you can because I get the impression that they would be very good live.
I hope that this album signals the resurgence of the Hi label although personally I would have preferred something more in the Soul field - but that said there was an awful lot of Blues and Deep Soul material on the original Hi.