Life & Soul- CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION
We
have devoted this page to reviews of product from the re -issue label
Connoisseur Collection Ltd
Connoisseur
CollectionConnoisseur Collection
OV
WRIGHT - Giant of Southern Soul - VSOP CD 353
This is
a brilliant album spanning the years 1965 to 1975, and is the first CD release
for much of this material. You've got it all on here Soul Blues Gospel from
hard hitting raw Southern 60's to the mellower Willie Mitchell style of the
early -mid 70's, and OV's excellent and unmistakable voice is well suited to it
all.
You
can't really pick out favourites because everyone will have their own and it
will depend on your mood at any given time.
But
'You're Gonna Make me cry' will take some beating and if anything could be
classed slow and moody, black and bluest then this is it. 'Poor Boy' is a
magnificent slab of mid tempo soul with the girls coming on in. 'Eight Men Four
Women' was I believe a big seller and what lyrics - if only this type of thing
would sell now!
Interestingly
this album put together chronologically gives an insight as to how the 'Willie
Mitchell' sound evolved from it's hard Southern base through to the more
groovier, slick and professional sound it was. The beauty of the style whilst
being unique and instantly recognisable was the fact that it still allowed the
artist to express - and express is what OV does best!.
'Afflicted'
a bside and written by OV (one of the few) take it's lyrical style from Smokey,
it has it's humour but is delivered so painfully- wonderful!
'He made
woman for a man' is typical 70's Hi (even though it wasn't), excellent horns
and backing vocals.
Top
album that you can never tire from.
DENISE
LASALLE - I GET WHAT I WANT VSOP CD 332
This one
starts in uptempo vain with the excellent - I got what I want - a forerunner of
the UK Modern Soul Scene. Most of the rest however is hard slow deep and
soulful from about 1976 to 1981.
The
first three tracks come from 'Second Breath' album, the next four from 'The
Bitch is Bad'. 'Love me Bad' is a beautiful slow ballad with Denise's harder vocal
and pleading lyrics. ' Before you take it to the streets' is slightly more
uptempo. 'Love addict' brings the tempo higher with lyrics such that the title
would suggest.
Her next
album was 'Under the influence' and 4 tracks appear here and this compilation
generally picks out a) the best tracks from a soul perspective, and b) from
that builds an album that follows the same theme - with the most powerful cuts
both lyrically and vocally.
'Feet don't
fail me' is deep deep soul at it's very best. Personal circumstances (in a
general sense that is) also dictate on the next to ballads, really good tracks
and thinking back there was a lot of this style at or around that time.
Next
album 'Unwrapped' and two cuts here (only two showing the quality of the album
I guess). But 'Too little in Common to be lovers' would make it an album worth
buying for that alone.
The 'I'm
so hot' album only has one track, and 'Guaranteed' brings in three.
'Tighten
up your good thing' is a higher tempo - a bouncier track which John Ridley's
liner notes rightly says could get plays in the UK now.
A well
put together album bringing together a series of excellent cuts from the
excellent Denise Lasalle
INEZ
& CHARLIE FOXX- MOCKINBIRD - COLL 103
I am a
big fan of the Sue label, Baby Washington, Soul Sisters, Sylvia Robins and of
course Inez & Charlie Foxx. Nice packaging on this one and good to see the
CD decked out as a Sue 45 - nice touch. Now this album is typical Sue - hard edged
early 60's R'n'B - singers, shouters, copycats, rough and smooth. Of course
there's the dreaded Mockingbird but bypass that. There are duets here, those
that Charlie takes the lead and those with Inez.
The
Bluesy 'My momma told me' is excellent, as is the shouter 'Don't do it no more'
with that distinctive Inez voice. I wanna see my baby brings Charlie in on a
midtempo balled - we tend to overlook Charlie but his voice ain't at all bad.
'If I need anyone is again Charlie but the backing reminds me of, and may well
actually be, 'When you get tired of me' by, off the top of my head, Geraldine
Jones.
Hard
R'n'B again of hurt by love - reminiscent this time of Ike & Tina Turner.
There's
the gem of 'La de da I love you' sounding like 'where did our love go' - but a
magnificent cut.
'Ask Me'
is a cut worthy of mention, the response alternating between Charlie and the
backing singers and then the horns.
A lot of
the rest are Inez ballads with varying degrees of competence and you can
probably see that by the end of 1965 the sound was getting a bit stale, or at
least the spark and vitality of the earlier material was on the wane.
There's
a lot of tracks oh here and you're sure to find something to your taste if you
like early Soul
THE
DELLS - TWO ORIGINALS - NEW BEGINNINGS & FACE TO FACE VSOP CD 344
The
Dells really cannot do much wrong for any true lover of Soul Music. Their vocal
harmonies and in particular the two lead vocalists are always a pleasure and a
delight. I love them to death but I have to say that I seldom play their
records - why I don't know. It therefore is excellent that these albums are
readily available affording me the opportunity to listen to them again.
That
said these aren't the best things that the Dells have ever done, and in a
period when they were evidently trying to move with the times into Disco
related material dating from 1978 and 1979. However, there is sufficient here
to make them a more than worthwhile acquisition.
Super
Woman is a nice mellow funky toe tapper which with it's copy Funkadelic vocal
which was hardly original in it's day. The Parliament covers are also a mystery
and do not show the Dells at their best. But on something like 'Drowning for
your love' - typical Dells - there is no equal.
The
uplifting 'My life is so wonderful' is......well wonderful.
'Call
me', 'Cherish' and 'Tripped Slipped' are.. The Dells again at their slowest and
deepest. Excellent
Face to
face starts off in a disco groove which is quite good but it wasn't a standout
cut in it's day. For me it's the slower and harmonic ones that do it. The
'Sincerely' like opening 'Thought I could' is excellent - real early Dells
style.
'You
bring out the best in me' is a mellow groover. 'Plastic People' and 'Wrapped up
tight 'close the album with delicate vocal harmonies.
A worthy
release for Dells lovers - and that should be all of you!
JOE TEX
- VOL 1 - HOLD WHAT YOU GOT / THE NEW BOSS VSOP CD345
JOE TEX
- VOL 2 - I'VE GOT TO DO A LITTLE BETTER / THE LOVE YOU SAVE VSOP CD345
Now
there's a man, unique I guess. He could sing, he could rap/ monologue, he could
laugh and joke, he could perform, he could write and most of all entertain.
Even his little black pieces of round vinyl could make you smile with that
cheeky little laugh of his, or some amusing anecdote - even if you had heard it
before.
On
straight Soul numbers - Deep Soul numbers - he could move you like the best of
them. His up tempo material was danceable - there are even some Northern Soul
dancers among the more gritty Southern Soul sound. He was a forerunner of the
'rap' - the monologue story telling kind of rap taken on by the likes of Bobby
Womack and Millie Jackson. On some of his songs his tongue was firmly planted
in his cheek, on his mock Rock'n'Roll or C&W for example. Now these items
aren't particularly good Soul but taken for what they are they are good fun.
And it
only seems like yesterday - oh how time moves on - that we lost this great man.
Connoisseur
are therefore commended in their endeavour to make his back catalogue fully
available. These two CD's contain 4 albums worth of material, plus bonus
tracks, plus original sleeve notes, plus updated liner notes. Not Bad Eh!
Volume 1
from 1965 contains top 20 R'n'B in - You got what it takes - and - You better
get it - and also top 5 pop with - Hold what you got. All of these top quality
Soul items of the era and all allow Joe to show his vocal range. One Monkey is
fun packed almost Big Band. 'Are we Ready' is dreadful but as stated above it's
in fun - I guess it would've been fun to see Joe actually perform this.
Southern Blues Soul of Heep See Few Know, and There is a girl. This album runs
through Deep Soul, Rock'n'roll, Big Band, C&W and more - all in half an
hour.
The
second section starts with a rendition of the standard CC Rider. 'Stop Look and
Listen' is an excellent good time midtempo slab of Southern Soul with Joe and
the band in fine fettle. 'A woman can change a man' and 'What in the world' are
also superb and it's at this point that you realise that, despite being
successful, Joe never really made it as big as he should have. The backing on
this album only a few months after the first album is punchier. A couple of
covers - King of the Road and Detroit City - are good versions and the country
song is more serious than previously. 'I want to Do' of course being a big hit.
The four
bonus tracks are - Just out of reach - Release Me - Together again - Make the
world go away - all commendable additions.
Volume 2
from 1966 and 1967 starts where the last one finished of with the slow and
meaningful 'The love you save'. Then we get harder and funkier - Live for
yourself . Lyrically Joe is excellent throughout - I don't know specifically
which ones are his but you can kinda guess. He can be moving or amusing and
strangely both!
Funny
Bone of course is in the amusing section and 'Sweet Woman' is the moving kind
and 'I'm a man' and 'Sugar' are both. 'Hearbreak Hotel' is one of those that
with CD technology you can skip over.
The
second section - I've got to do a little bit better album - is probably the best
album of the 4 containing the classics 'Papa was to' and 'SYSLJFM'.
'A woman
sees a hard time' is searing deep soul at it's best. Excellent cut's in the
same vain are 'Taking care of a woman', 'The truest woman in the world', 'I
believe I'm gonna make it' and the magnificent title cut. These are the cuts
that make it a winner for soul fans who don't want the other 'entertainment'.
There's hard uptempo on 'Lying's just a habit'
Bonus
tracks are the stomping and wonderful 'Show me', the frantic 'I'm going and get
it', 'Woman like that yeah' and 'All a man needs'.
I guess
the next one up will be the classic and groundbreaking 'From the roots came the
rapper' - let's look forward to that.
MARVIN
SEASE - MODERN SOULMAN
Where
have I been? I must confess to not being that familiar with Marvin Sease and
his reputation for X Rated stage shows and the like precedes him. However and
notwithstanding that, this is a magnificent album. Sometimes you wonder, or at
least I do, where Connoisseur are coming from but in the main it is good
quality retro reissues, and then they throw something like this at you. I don't
know how many units of anything they sell or what they need to sell to break
even or profit each time but I hope this sells by the bucketload - and if a
label like this can bring an artist like this to the forefront, the others can
be and should be ashamed!
Marvin
has a silky smooth Tyrone Davis style vocal. Most of this is slow, mellow to
midtempo. The songs are good some with a gospelly flava, and are well produced.
To be fair there are a few tracks in the middle that go slightly awry when he
goes a bit funky.
There
are one or two real classy cuts and to categorise it as Deep Soul would not be
out of order. Teach Me and Heaven knows are excellent. Do you remember Roshell
Anderson - he reminded me a bit of him on the latter. (Whatever happened to
him?) . Are you still mine - isn't quite as strong but - You and Me picks it up
again with old style Rap intro.
Brother
to Brother is the man's side of Woman to Woman. I can't believe - is more
gospel in style and delivery, dirge slow and pleading lyrics.
Can't
believe I haven't been familiar with this - it is consistently good from the
older material to the new - this is taken from a series of 5 albums through the
nineties. I've learned lived and enjoyed this - More please.
And
everyone BUY this - top recommendation.
BLUES
& SOUL - THE SOUL YEARS 1966 - 1999
I can
do nothing but commend this compendium - reviews to Volumes 10-12 first,
followed by 4-9, then Volumes 1-3 reviewed -further down. This taken all
together is an exceptional set of compilations.
Volume
10 1986 -1987 - BASY010
A
number of funk of the time items on here, from the controversial (visually)
Cameo to the computer generated Zapp and early Keith Sweat - to the more
commercial disco-y sounds of Gregory Abbott, and my what a good sound it was,
Ain't nothing going on but the rent. Good to see the Timex Social Club included
- at the time one out of leftfield. We can mellow out to the likes of Luther
and the excellent Melissa Morgan - Do me baby. There's out and out commercial
with the resurgent Diana Ross.
Class
abounds with Only Just begun by Glen Jones and Angel by Angel Winbush.
Plenty of femme soul with Stephanie Mills and Regina Belle.
Volume
11 1988 -1989 - BASY011
For
a lot of people all you would need to do for this compilation is to include
Will Downing. Say no more!
But
in addition we get Teardrops - Womack & Womack, Luther, and Brenda Russell
- Piano in the Dark and Karyn White. Mostly a bit downhill after that quintet
with the likes of Pebbles, Mac Band, Johnny Kemp and Miles Jaye and Regina
Belle have their second track on two compilations when in this company I would
have thought they only justify one entry. The Pasadenas were good then but very
dated now.
Gladys
Knight - although not one of her best - and Teddy Pendergrass restore the
quality. Al B Sure is also a goody.
Volume
12 1990 -1999 - BASY012
Unfortunately
the last album covers 10 years and as such the choice is spread far and wide.
It would have been nice to continue with annuals or two yearly but then it
would have been a massive set. Nonetheless there is some good stuff here but I
get the feeling there could have been much more. When you choose say 20 tracks
in a year it's a fair bet that you may disagree with a few but on the whole you
would accept. When choosing 10 over a decade there's bound to be disagreements.
Some
magnificent cuts on here like Omar - There's nothing like this and Optimistic
by Sounds of Blackness, Erykah Badu and D'angelo. There's so many different
styles on here. Commercial hip hop, New Jack Swing, spawning nineties R'n'B,
birth of Nu-Soul, Blackstreet (almost a genre on their own), British R'n'B.
Lazy
Summer sound of Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, and the storming dance of
Finally - Ce Ce Peniston. We have En Vogue, Brownstone and SWV for the female
R'n'B groups. Also staying with the girls, along with Erykah, we have Beverley
Knight and Aaliyah. Very nice also to see Charles & Eddie - Would I lie to
you.
On
the male side of R'n'B we have Warren G and Bobby Brown
Volume
4 1974 -1975 - BASY004
Continuing
this excellent series with all the top UK Soul hits of the day. This one brings
out the similarities (or otherwise) of George McCrae and the Hues Corporation,
and Johnny Bristol and Barry White. The continuation of the Philly Sound
getting more sophisticated with the Three Degrees and the Blue Notes and the
emerging Miami sound. Motown Funk of the Commodores and the classic post motown
Isleys. New releases played on the Northern scene - Miracles and Esther. The
ever excellent William Devaughn being the pick.
Volume
5 1976 -1977 - BASY005
Starting
with the immaculate Candi Staton and the popular 'deep soul' of Dorothy Moore,
this album needs no more! But despite my memory telling me otherwise there was
also some other excellent stuff - the cult Car Wash, the re- emerging James
Brown, the Northern popular Tavares, the funky Brass Construction and T
connection and the new 'disco' Johnny Taylor, the EWF influenced Emotions and
the odd ball Floaters - we all loved it, then we all hated it!
Volume
6 1978 -1979 - BASY006
Not
as strong this one I didn't think - never did like Herbie Hancock - I thought
it was you or Boogie oogie oogie - Taste of Honey or Reunited - Peaches &
Herb.......and still don't after the passing of time. There are however some
classic cuts like Chaka Khan, Chic and the ground breaking Rapper's Delight.
Some very popular chart soul here - Ladies Night and I will survive, Boogie
Wonderland and He's the greatest dancer. Much better though is Shame and Disco
Nights or the crazy P-Funk of Flashlight.
Volume
7 1980 -1981 - BASY007
What
a joy it was to here Joy and Pain again - remembered as being a class item and
it still is - head and shoulders above most everything. Jazz Funk in full swing
here with Tom Browne and George Duke. Disco still going crazy with The Gap Band
(remember?), Kool and the excellent Yarborough & Peoples. Smooth Soul with
Smokey and Luther and Randy. One track here is tops and I wouldn't have
remembered it as being one of the best of the year and that is The Four Tops -
When she was my girl
Volume
8 1982 -1983 - BASY008
The
brilliant Kenny Burke - a track that still sounds current and still gets played
even today. The Message - Grandmaster Flash needs no introduction and still
sounds as powerful as ever. This one includes the sex soul of Marvin Gaye and
Mtume. The much under rated Atlantic Starr with Circles is superb, as is Billy
Griffin
Volume
9 1984 -1985 - BASY009
This
is a good set also - as all of them are really - starting with The Temptations
- Treat her like a lady. Also excellent is Dennis Edwards, probably my
favourite on the album and it's good to see sides like this getting recognition
above the Sales driven items. Night Shift by the Commodores was..and is a top
cut. More quality by stalwarts Bobby Womack, Aretha , Maze and Isley Jasper
Isley. More disco with Diva Jocelyn Brown and Colonel Abrams, and the cool
sounds of Freddie Jackson.
Volume
1 1966 -1969 - BASY001 Volume 2 1970 -1971 - BASY002 Volume 3 1972 -1973 -
BASY003
Released
on 26 February 2001. Let's start with the official press release:-
Connoisseur
Collection Teams Up with Blues & Soul Magazine For The Soul Years.
Connoisseur
Collection, the long established reissue label, have teamed up with the UK's
longest running soul magazine Blues & Soul. The union will manifest its
self in the form of 12 individually released CD's titled Blues & Soul - The
Soul Years. The 12 CD's will be released over three months - Vol 1 (1966 to
1969) Vol 2 - (1970 to 1971) Vol 3 (1972 to 1973) February 26 Vol 4 (1974 to
1975) Vol 5 (1976 to 1977) Vol 6 (1978 to 1979) March 26 Vol 7 (1980 to 1981)
Vol 8 (1982 to 1983) Vol 9 (1984 to 1985) April 30 Vol 10 (1986 to 1987) Vol 11
(1988 to 1989) Vol 12 (1990 -1999) May 28 with a £9.99 -S.R.P (full
tracklisting available).
The
pairing of Connoisseur and Blues & Soul enables a massive amount of music
knowledge to be combined and spawning, possibly, the most comprehensive set of
soul music compilations released to-date.
Bob
Fisher, Managing Director of Connoisseur Collection, said of the venture,
"'Blues and Soul' enjoys a unique position in the UK magazine market being
one of the longest established specialist magazines around having been launched
in 1966 and this is the first time they have leant their name to a project of
this nature. Due to dramatic changes in the ownership of classic Soul record
label over the last few years acquiring the rights for compilations of this
nature has never been simpler. The series is based as much as possible on the
magazine readers year end polls of the last 33 years and as such reflects all
the genre's developments from Stax and Motown through Disco and Jazz Funk to
Rap and Hip Hop. Connoisseur Collection built its reputation on themed
compilation series and we're very proud to be able to continue that tradition
in partnership with Blues and Soul"
Bob
Kilbourne, Editor of Blues & Soul Magazine said "I'm genuinely
delighted for Blues & Soul to be associated with Connoisseur and Bob Fisher
in this exciting joint venture. It's been a long time coming - but well worth
the wait. Twelve truly representative compilations of the life and times of
Soul music covering four decades. If there is one soul compilation series I
would recommend to a visiting soul buff from Mars - this would be it."
These
are nicely packaged with excellent sleevenotes by the likes of the original
B&S stalwarts like John E Abbey and Dave Godin.
All
of the tracks are classics and well known by even a modest lover of soul but
there will be a merit to collect the whole series and have a formidable collection
of truly great items. This may sound silly but may I start with volume 3.
This
is 1972 - 73 when the Golden Age of Soul was over, it was a period of
transition and it was probably thought that this wasn't a particularly good era
for Soul. You briefly look at the track listing and initially think that
they're all well known, you may even have most of them. But look a bit deeper
and what do you see.
Probably
the one that started the Kenny Gamble - Leon Huff Philadelphia International
experience. The sweet soul of the Stylistics. The Motown 'changes' giving rise
to the Temptations, 'Folk Soul' of Bill Withers, the funkier edge of Miami, the
Chi-Sound rivalry to Philly, the 'love' era of Al Green, Barry White, Bobby
Womack, the emergence of the Hi Sound, the social comment of Marvin Gaye,
Esther Phillips, blaxpoitation and Curtis Mayfield.
It's
only when you think of all these things you realise what a time it was, and how
much was happening at the time. Personal favourites are Esther Phillips, Bobby
Womack and Al Green.
Volume
one covers what is popularly known as the Golden Age. We have the key Motown
figureheads of Tops, Tempts, Marvin Gaye, Stevie. Stax Atlantic of Percy
Sledge, Pickett, Aretha. Otis, Eddie Floyd. And the funk of James Brown. Nice
to see Darrell Banks which commercially wasn't as successful as some or most of
the others. Not much criticism here - you can always come up with a selection
yourself but this is as good as anyone could come up with. One small comment
though - surely there's a better Supremes track than Reflections.
Volume
2 shows quite clearly the transition between the 60's and 72. The demise of the
Motown beat and the replacement new vibe, and the HDH move to Invictus. Funk
continues with James Brown and Sly but wasn't funk more prominent that the 2
out of 20 tracks suggest. Some 'oddball items' in a sense but they were good
and successful like Patches and the Tams. Overall I don't think this Volume is
anywhere near as good as the preceding and succeeding volumes.
One
that stands the test of time is the Delfonics who I think were very underrated.
I remember seeing them way back at Baileys Cabaret Club in Bristol when they
were on for the whole week. I duly arrived on the opening Sunday night and was
blown away - a truly excellent performance. So I went again later in the
week,.... and again... but you can never replicate those kind of things can
you. They never reached the heights of that opening night.
All
round excellent stuff and when all together a good compendium of Top Soul
Sounds.
OPEN
THE DOOR TO YOUR HEART - THE BEST OF DARRELL BANKS - VSOP CD 284
Magnificent
album from a man who should have been one of the biggest talents to emerge from
the Sixties Golden Age of Soul if it wasn't for his mysterious and untimely death.
His voice sounds perfectly in place whether on a Deep Soul ballad or an uptempo
dance item.
All
the famous 'Northern' Dancers are here - Open the door to your heart, Our love
is in the pocket, Angel Baby, I'm the one who loves you, Somebody Somewhere
needs you. The latter being a particular favourite of mine. All of these
possess the unmistakable mid sixties Detroit feel and backbeat.
However
it is on the deeper material that he really excels, the beautiful lilting Here
Come the Tears, I'm gonna hang my head to cry, I wanna go home.
My
favourite perhaps is the midtempo I've got that feelin'
JIMMY
McGRIFF - DIG ON IT - THE GROOVE MERCHANT YEARS - VSOP CD 290
This
Album starts of in a typical Jimmy McGriff Funky groove - Groove Grease and the
Bird are typical of what you expect from him. Good stuff indeed.
However
I don't really see the point of doing covers, particularly covers of
exceptional items such as Shaft and What's going on, when it would be
particularly impossible to better the original - and also surely on a
compilation it should have been possible to come up with some better material.
Without
exception on here it is the original material that shines and usually it is the
funkier material. The album gets back on track with Dig on it, Blue Groove and
Fat Cakes
REUBEN
WILSON - GROOVE GREASE - THE GROOVE MERCHANT YEARS - VSOP CD 292
Strangely
and unlike Jimmy McGriff above the cover versions here seem to work. Inner City
Blues is transformed into a kind of funk that the original never had. There is
less original material than covers and I guess that tells a thing or two.
Most
of this album is quite nice and quite listenable to but it is never going to
set the world on fire. The album came out at a time when jazz funk was big and
this never really made it into mainstream and it is plain to see why.
I
like the rendition of I'll take you there
BITTER
SUITE - VSOP CD 309
SECOND
SUITE - VSOP CD 310
STREET
SUITE - VSOP CD 311
I
loved these albums when they came out. Jazz Funk was big at the time and the
cream was on these albums. It is a pity that the whole of the originals are not
on display here, for contractual reasons, I understand.
Every
track a on Bitter Suite winner and worth listing.
Hubert
Laws - The Chicago Theme; Rodney Franklin - In the Center; Ned Doheny - To
prove my love; George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair; Herbie Hancock - Just
around the corner; Stanley Clarke - Together again; Benny Golson - New Killer
Joe Rap; Hubert Laws - Family; Ramsey Lewis - You are the reason; Eric Gale -
Sara Smile; Sadoa Watanabe -All about love; Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess.
All
heavyweights here - 'To prove my love' is quality. George Duke is of anthemic
proportions, slight novelty of the Killer Joe Rap. I just love the mellow 'You
are the reason'.
When
I bought these on vinyl I always felt that Bitter Suite was the strongest of
them all. On reissue I feel thatSecond Suite stands the test of time and I
thoroughly enjoyed it. Charles Earland - Coming to you live still sounds
superb, as do Lonnie Liston and Herbie Hancock. The Japanese embracement of
jazz funk also still shines through.
When
these originally came out I seem to remember that Street Suite was relatively
harder to get hold of suggesting that by the time it came out the popularity of
Jazz Funk was on the wane and that the initial release sold more than the last
release. I don't know whether this is true or not but the third one is not as
strong as the other ones. Still contains some memorable material from Herbie,
Ramsey Lewis and Chuck Mangione.
SMOOTH
SOUL - THE UK CONNECTION - VSOP CD 312
Firstly
- cards on the table - I still find it very difficult to appreciate 'Soul' that
comes out of the UK. To me it is imitation. OK sometimes imitation can come
very close to the original and in rare cases it can surpass but for the most
part it pales into insignificance. For me that is UK 'Soul' - bit harsh maybe
but hey!
Consequently
most of this does not do much for me. Sinclair comes close, The Jones girls are
OK but I didn't like the almost two-step backbeat on You threw our love away.
However
Hil St Soul - For your love is excellent as is Chris Ballin - Full time lover,
Saving Graces!
PATTI
AUSTIN - THE CTI COLLECTION - VSOP CD 315
Patti
Austin's CTI material from 1976 to 1980. Patti has a beautiful voice and it is
said that jazz singing extends and stretches voices but Patti sounds
comfortable. She seems to 'extend' more on her pure soul output.
There
is plenty of good on this album - 'Body Language' and 'People in love' start
the album off well. It picks up with the midtempo 'I can't stop'. There are
however some fairly middle of the road ballads.
DENIECE
WILLIAMS - THE COLLECTION - VSOP CD 326
When
I reheard 'Free' I hadn't remembered that the backbeat was quite so crisp - unless
this is a new mix. Sounds very good and stands the test of time. Also includes
the 'hits' That's what friends are for and the disco Let's here it for the boy.
The
best of this album is good 'Soul' material but the worst is very middle of the
road. The dance, 70's disco cuts still sound quite good in a retro kind of way.
THE
ALPHONSO JOHNSON COLLECTION - VSOP CD 331
Hard
and heavy funky bass from Alphonso Johnson.
Al
Johnson writes most of the material and it is on the funky items that he excels
such as Scapegoat, Stump and One to One. The 'Rock-y' tracks do not work for
me. Clearly a top musician and writer and his work deserves this exposure.
Featured
artists include George Duke, Alphonse Mouzon, Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen,
Grover Washington Jnr and Narada Michael Walden
Visitors: