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Basement Tracks - Soul Ballads from the heart of Black America

Compiled and annotated by David Cole of the excellent In the Basement magazine this Cd contains some gems from the deep and sweet soul idiom, several of which are available on CD for the first time. The sleeve notes also are excellent and in keeping with what you would expect, such that it is difficult to add anything here!

The tracks are:-

'For your precious love' Linda Jones, the great Linda Jones with the awesome Precious love which if you know the track, you always have to wait for THAT ending. Would've been nice to hear something else from her though.

'Time is love' JJ Barnes, JJ for me is as good on his slower material, so if you're only aware of his more popular uptempo outings get a load of this one.

'I can't take no chances' Chosen Few, quite a lot of 70's group soul on this album starting with this harmonic track. Good backing vocals and stand out lead.

'Cowards way out' Lezli Valentine, sparse finger clicking 60's deep soul from All Platinum but in the style of say of a Sue outing (Baby Washington or Sylvia Robbins) from a couple of years earlier.

'Why you don't want me to be' Lee Moses, pleading heart wrenching deep deep soul.

'Hurry Sundown' Candi Staton, unmistakable vocals from Candi on this Sugarhill track, probably out of character for the label but certainly not for Candi. Dead slow and soulful.

'Think of the children' Satisfaction Unlimited, out of the Hot Wax label, sparse but building organ, and distant backing, tinkly piano but pleading meaningful lead. Nice track

'Let me keep on walking' Prophesy, smooth sweet soul akin I suppose to the Moments but possessing a beautiful falsetto lead..

'And I am telling you I'm not going' Chuck Jackson & Angie B - I love the rich baritone of Chuck Jackson, and i adore Angie Stone but I don't like this much I'm afraid.

'Love is God Almighty' Optimistics - More group soul from All Platinum on this Gospel dirge.

'You won't support me' Mill Street Depo. Wow, this is awesome, new to me and featuring, apparently, one Dietra Farr. This also I'm told just charted (R'n'B). Wonderful soulful vocal and what a name.

'Love stealing' Bobby Sheen - 1975 Chelsea outing, which also charted, deep but catchy.

'I can't make it alone' Laura Lee who can do little wrong and this is no exception. HDH I imagine but almost a Willie Mitchell feel to it.

'(I've been a winner, I've been a loser) I've been in love' Smith Connection - More group soul, this time from the Smith Family out of Music Merchant.

'Lets make love (At home sometimes)' Escorts, a George Kerr written and produced falsetto led sweet group soul, a track that I've always liked and it's good to see it here.

 'Leaving him tomorrow' Debbie Taylor, hard heating female Soul again from the mysterious Debbie Taylor

'Give it up' Benny Johnson, another relative unknown from the today label. Deep Soul at it's best.

'For you girl' Universal Mind, group soul ballad which is nice but didn't do too much for me.

'The meeting place' Wanda Robinson, I'm afraid this one for me doesn't fit and should have been left on the shelf, the other 19 tracks however are well worthwhile so I'm not gonna let this one stop me playing the album which is virtually ever present on the 'turntable' since it arrived.

 An excellent album with some of the Group Soul (Satisfaction, Escorts) or female tracks (Mill Street, Debbie Taylor, Lezli) being the stand out for me.