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Groove On Down

This is one of the best retrospective compilations I have heard in a long while. By and large staying true to it’s theme and avoiding the dated sounding ‘disco’ of the day with a pick of tracks that would grace any dancefloor, even today.

An immense start with the McFadden Whitehead penned stormer by Melba Moore’s Standing right here sounding fresh as a daisy. Harvey Mason’s Groovin You has a nice groove but there are bits in it that remind me of the ‘whoop whoop’ era. Georgy Porgy is saved by the magnificent vocal of Luther Vandross. Even back then some 20 years or more ago it sounds unique articulate and soulful.

Don’t send me away by Garfield Fleming well known to the Modern Soul, Northern Soul and Boogie fans, the hook is memorable, the pace is quite downbeat but the quality of the rasping soulful vocals is excellent. Compare and contrast with James Perry (April Lady) again excellent vocals but much higher up the scale.

Hipnotic’s Are you lonely is in demand if you can find one on 12” – the key to all these tracks is the soulful vocals and this is driven by the hook but the lead is memorable too. Sligtly pacier is Goldie Alexander’s Show me your love which unlike some of the tracks on here was a minor hit and revels in it’s classic status, slightly more electro but again hook driven.

Another Carnival track and another club anthem and leaning a tad more towards disco is New Jersey Connection. Circle City Band’s Magic is another rare item on it’s first CD release. Next a Skate Anthem and being a skater I know this is getting plays on the London Skate scene, bit on the long side and oft sampled but a classic nonetheless.

Young and Co’s I like what you’re doing to me contains an irresistible groove but is perhaps a little to twee. Closing with the title track Groove on Down by Dunn Pearson, with a progression into major strings with a grooving chorus.

Altogether an excellent compilation hopefully illustrating that there is a huge amount of good soulful material from this era. Pretty much everything is well worth having although I care least for the last two tracks.

http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/god.htm

VARIOUS ARTISTS - GROOVE ON DOWN During the much derided 'disco years' of the late 1970's - a period remembered by many for glitterballs, Saturday Night Fever and commercial excess on the dance floor - a large, mainly Black and Hispanic contingent were grooving to an array of underground club cuts otherwise unheard by the vast majority. The tracks that these devotees championed at the time were marked out by their soulfulness and integrity - something that most mainstream disco releases of the day had long since abandoned. Over time and through constant experimentation this music would evolve, and by the early 80's it became what is now known as 'Boogie' - typified by a slightly slower groove carried on a heavier back beat. This compilation brings together some of the best tracks from this era - one of the most overlooked golden periods of Soul Music. Laurence Prangell April 2004 Soul Brother Records thanks :- Jason Stirland, Roger Williams, Les McCutheon, Ralph Tee, and all the DJs and journalists that have supported our releases. If you enjoyed this album also check out these two compilations of Boogie Classics produced by Leroy Burgess Track Listing

MELBA MOORE Standing right here 7.01 HARVEY MASON Groovin you 6.15 CHARME Georgy Porgy 5.58 GARFIELD FLEMMING Don't send me away 5.21 JAMES PERRY April Lady 6.02 HIPNOTIC Are you lonely 5.10 GOLDIE ALEXANDER Show you my love 6.24 NEW JERSEY CONNECTION Love don't come easy 6.29 CIRCLE CITY BAND Magic 6.37 VAUGHN MASON Bounce skate rock roll 7.30 YOUNG & CO I Like what youre doin to me 7.13 DUNN PEARSON Groove on down 8.10

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