GRAPEVINEMUSIC GROUP

http://www.grapevine-soul.com/

CD's – Reviews here

Atlanta Soul – The Peachtree Records Story

Peachtree's output included various styles of soul, upbeat, funky, vocal harmony, sweet and deep, but essentially it was all hard and deeply soulful. This album for me is driven by the deep soul cuts, but that Atlanta feel can still be identified in the uptempo tracks.

The album begins, of course, with the track that was identified by, and gained prominence because of, the UK Northern Soul Scene. I remember back in the day – and you almost have to whisper this these days – it was commonplace to hear statements like 'I'll be dancing to Tainted Love till the day that I die'. Now for whatever reason no DJ would actually play that record today. On the other hand, James Fountain's Seven Day Lover was introduced to the scene, not everyone liked it because it was a departure from the norm, now it is almost universally loved, and still danced to, across the board, such is it's enduring quality. That even on issue it was not considered strong enough to be the A side, is also another story.

Mitty Collier's searing throaty gospel tones are represented on four tracks, Lovin on borrowed time, Share what you got, Your sign is a good sign and What Do you want. Three of these songs were penned by William Bell but it is the song Your sign is a good sign, one she penned herself, that I feel the most. No deep soul is complicated, it just hits you, but on this track she seems more relaxed, less strained, less forced, more comfortable, yet still deliciously soulful. That's not to decry the other three tracks of course.

The contrast in harmonic styles of Emory and the Dynamics are demonstrated with the uptown soul of Let's take a look at our life and the ballad It sure would be nice. The slower cut is a killer with a crystal upper range, mellow group harmonies, and a chopping sax. Subsequently the group became the Four Dynamics on a change in lead singer and cut Things that a Lady Ain't supposed to do and That's what the girls are made of. Again uptempo and slow but this time it is the upbeat track that is more suited to the new lead, the slower cut being a more traditional early vocal style (despite the fact that it came later).

Jimmy Church Shadow of Another Man's Love Thinking about the good times

Susie Rainey You hurt so good

Eddie Billups A soldier's prayer

Gorgeous George You can't stop a woman

James Fountain Burning up for your love

Bunny Sigler – Let me love you tonight - GVCD3005 – released Feb 24 2003

"We are proud to announce details of the brand new Bunny Sigler album which is due for release on February 24th. The album is produced by Sigler with Raymond Earl (of Instant Funk fame) and features "It Doesn't Have To End Like This" which has been remixed by Paul Mooney. A veteran singer, songwriter and producer, Sigler played a key role in the development of the successful Philadelphia Sound and recently received massive attention following the international chart-topping success of "Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland (of Destiny's Child fame) which uses a sample of the Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble song "Love, Need And Want You" - a hit for Patti LaBelle in 1984"

The enduring beaty of this album comes from the vocals and vocal arrangements of Bunny Sigler. All vocals and overlays are by Bunny and it still sounds as fresh and as sweet as ever, particularly in the upper ranges. Some tracks the stylish Bunny carries the track, on a few of the others it doesn't quite prove enough.

Bunny's main team for this project are himself, brother Jimmy, Instant Funk's Raymond Earl and Charles Emory (Bunny's nephew). The tracks all recorded in recent years, although some date back to the 70's such as Just let me love you tonight, a re-working. Some would appear to be demo cuts and showcases of Bunny's exceptional songwriting talent. That's not to say that Bunny's voice isn't sufficient to carry it but one or two tracks are unconvincing. There are also a couple of covers.

The opening track, the 'It doesn't have to end like' this sees Bunny in almost Marvin Gaye mould, beautiful song beautifully sung. I did however find the drum (machine) track particularly to the fore and irritating, and I couldn't get it out of my head through the whole album, and it is overly prominent in a couple of places. The reworked 'Just let me love you tonight' is a sweet love song and the vocal harmonies could be two different people but are both Bunny, sweet an d soulful indeed. 'Have I told you' vocal arrangements are totally different in that they are in harmony rather than complementary as in the previous track.

'He's trying to take you away from me' is one of my my favourites with strained vocals and pleading lyrics. 'I found somebody to love me' is also a great track finding Bunny in a different vibe with a heavier Raymond Earl bass and slow funk rhythm. The appeal of 'I don't have time' lies in the dated harmonies of the chorus.

'(They long to be) close to you' and 'Be my love' are the two covers and at this point on the album we go deep into middle of the road.

'Peace on the streets' has a very street, social comment lyric and was originally cut as a city funded project. I don't know what happened to the project but this upbeat funky commentary deserves to be heard – and not in Middle England! 'One step from your arms' is another dead slow ballad where the vocals shine through but it leaves you wondering what it could end up being like with a lush Philly arrangement. 'Here we go' has a kind of fresher funkier more contemporary feel to it.

All in all a worthwhile album with several standout tracks, great to see vocalists of this calibre still cutting it, but it's gonna be the sample for Nelly and Kelly that is going to pay the bills i would suggest, and that's a shame.

Tracks:- It doesn't have to end like this (extended), Just let me love you tonight, Have I told you, He's trying to take you away from me, I found somebody to love me, Spoil you too much, I don't have time, (They long to be) close to you, Be my love, Peace on the streets, One step from your arms, Give it to me all night long, Here we go, It doesn't have to be like this (radio edit.

George Jackson in Muscle Shoals GVCD3003 – released Dec 18 2002

"This long-awaited album is a unique collection of twenty previously unissued tracks by legendary southern soul singer and hit songwriter George Jackson. Produced by Jackson with Jimmy Johnson and the Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section at the world-famous Muscle Shoals Sound studios in Sheffield, Alabama. All tracks have been digitally remastered from the original analogue tapes by Paul Mooney at South Union. The eight-page booklet features biographical info and artist interview courtesy of John Ridley, Martin Goggin and Garry J. Cape"

Well I have to say that this project with Grapevine started off as being an introduction to Bunny's new album but hey this is a gorgeous album and is difficult to take off. It is rich, warm and Southern Soulful. Predominantly known as a songwriter but this man can sing too and is not as hard edged as some Southern singers. The tracks here were cut in the late 70's and early 80's at Malaco and as George says in the liner notes from an interview with Garry Cape ' This is real R'n'B – the real deal. They had guitars, the bass' the drums, the patterns, the background singers, lyrics. You got a groove.' That says it all really, a groove that emanates through this album.

'Help me I'm in need' starts with a mellow introduction over a laid back guitar and a crystal clear vocal. You can feel instantly why this would appeal to ZZ Hill. 'Sweet things' picks up the tempo, lyrically more uptempo as well with a less downbeat topic – midtempo groove and very danceable. 'If I could open up my heat' is a beautiful ballad, reminding me of Ollie Nightingale who i know has covered some of George's material but I am not sure about this one. 'Messing with my mind' has been covered many times probably the best known is Clarence Carter, just a great song, but coming over here very Stax – y, very Staple Singers. 'Can't let my family down' is at the upbeat blues end of the Sothern Soul genre.

Covering all the local genres 'Searching' is very country orientated. 'Love I thought I would never find love' is another uptempo song, very poppy hook and not particularly memorable. 'Cheating in the next room' is much more like it, slow, pleading, lyrically tortuous. It's funny but in George's phrasing and feel you kinda have a feeling for an artist that the song might be suitable for, like we've had ZZ, Clarence, I've mentioned Ollie Nightingale, this one Etta James (and it's probably easier if you know the right answer!).

Some of the cuts do actually feel and sound like promo cuts (Since you came into my life). Some are upbeat and almost disco (without the excesses) ('nothing but a good love'and 'weekend'), which isn't my preference either for George's material or Southern Soul in general. The slower bluesier tracks are the ones for me, either in the form of the (more) Staples influence in 'When love is for real', or the slow 'It takes a storm'.

We then get a series of storming tracks, and as I've alluded to George vocals are less gut wrenchingly soulful than some, but on 'Slippin on your mind','Unlock your mind', 'For the sake of you', 'I don't do windows' (a song for OV Wright), 'Make you mine' we get the whole gamut particularly on the lyrical front the hurt and the humour, great songs, beautifully constructed, the commercial (as much as this style is), the soulful.

Completely downbeat for the closing two tracks, pure out and out Blues in Down Home Blues, another one done by ZZ and others and 'A knight in shining armour.

A great album and I enjoyed it immensely. Maybe some of the tracks have been done in a stronger fashion but nonetheless check this out. Quality.

Tracks:-

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