UNIVERSAL
RECORDS
We have devoted this page to reviews of product
from the Universal group of labels except Motown which appears elsewhere.
Scroll down for reviews of the following:-
|
Jazz Café – The Soul Mix |
The Trip – Tom Middleton |
|
KISS SMOOTH R&B |
Dusty Springfield Look of Love
- UMTV |
|
Kool and the Gang - Gangthology
- 635892 - |
Kiss presents Hot Joints -
Universal TV |
|
Patti Labelle - The Collection
- Spectrun112970-2 |
Modern Soul Connoisseurs -
Spectrum (UK) 544 973-2 |
|
Guy - Groove Me - The best of
Guy MCA US 088-112-980-2 |
Cameo Anthology - Mercury US
440 017 338-2 |
The Trip –
Tom Middleton http://www.familyrecordings.com/
This really is a breeze, good fun, well put together, bit of
everything. You can’t say I don’t
like this or that’s not soul, you just have to say wow how did he think of that
, why did that go there, I wouldn’t have thought of that. It spans Dance, Rock, Ragga, disco,
soul, jazz, soundtrack, world, electronica and many points in between, up and
over. Put aside your snobbery and
take it in – take it for what it is and just enjoy.
“New for 2004 is the next instalment of the trip, mixed this time
by tom middleton. This is a highly anticipated release and tom has pulled out
all the stops to create a psychedlic, tripped out mix of cool cover versions,
tv themes, spacey funk and more. Believe us when we say this is a special album
- we have heard it all. Be sharp as this is seriously limited edition.”
Title: The Trip - Tom
Middleton
CD1
1 Pearl and Dean
2 Star Wars
3 The Mohawks - Mony Mony
4 Spanky Wilson - Sunshine
5 James Brown - Sex Machine
6 Tom Tom Club - Wordyrappinghood
7 The Thompson Twins - Love Lies Fierce
8 Lizzy Mercier Descloux - Funky Stuff
9 The Shades - Upside Down
10 Pigbag - Papas Got A Brand New Pigbag
11 Sherbert - Roxanne
12 Senor Coconut - Smooth Operator
13 Usha Uthup - Chupke
14 Troubleman - Everything must change
15 Quantic Soul Orchestra - Hold It Down
16 Ray Barretto - Pastime Paradise
17 Montefiori Cocktail - Gypsy woman
18 Level 42 - Livin' it up
19 Horace Andy - Aint no sunshine
20 Sugar Daddy - Sweet Soca Music
21 Danny Breaks - The Jellyfish
22 Pointer Sisters - Don't It Drive You Crazy
23 McKay - Take Me Over
24 Shirley Ellis - The Clapping Song
25 Lenny Fontana - Spreadlove
26 Uncut - Midnight
27 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Don't Leave Me This Way
CD2
1 Close Encounters Theme
2 Ulrich Schnauss - As If You've Never Been Away
3 Asha Pulthi - Space Talk
4 Faze O - Riding High
5 Lewis Taylor - Lovelight
6 Common - The Light
7 The Style Council - Long Hot Summer
8 Ramp - Daylight
9 Harpers Bizarre - Knock On Wood
10 Dudley Moore - Trio Millionaire
11 Johnny Harris - Footprints on the moon
12 The Peddlers - On A Clear Day
13 Ramsey Lewis - Dear Prudence
14 Dorothy Ashby - Windmills
15 Shu Ri Kan - Last Warm Place
16 Amba - Astral Projection
17 Stanley Clarke - Concerto For Rock
18 Vladimir Cosma - Promenade
19 Vangelis - Creation Du Monde
JAZZ
CAFÉ
The Soul Mix
Inspired Release Date: 8th
March 2004
Cat No: INSPCD37
A pretty eclectic set
with a huge variety of styles from laid back middle of the road, through soul
old and new and into Mastes at Work remixes and beyond.
The middle of the road
material i can leave or it's barely jazzy and itcertainlt ain't soulful.
Unfortunatley therefore in order the package sets out on the wrong foot so the
wonderful talent of Amy Winehouse excepted the second phase of tracks, the
classic soul, is where it begins for me. I mean you cannot, on a mainstream CD
anyway, go wrong with Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, Al Green, Stevie Wonder,
Commodores, Isleys, Diana Ross, although most individuals might select something
different if given the choice. Personally I'd go with Marvin, Isleys, Al Green
but I might have chosen differently for the others. An inspired track however
is Will Downing, great to hear a voice such as his getting some recognition.
To show even more
variety we move into Northern Soul, Californian Soul, Latin Jazz and French
kitch. All in my view coud have been avoided and better tracks chosen if the
compiler had stuck more firmly to the subject matter rather than try to include
any mix of sub genre. What Bardot has to do with Soul is beyond me even if
French Sixties seems to be ultra popular and collectible in Downtown New York,
doesn't make it soulful though. In fact it has the complete opposite effect
when measured against Marvin Gaye.
Sketchy CD 1 then but
CD2 brings the package to life. Sticking more rigidly to the Soul Mix of Jazz
Cafe style some great tracks MAW's exceptional remix on Benson's Ghetto,
staying with MAW and Nuyorican Soul. Popular jazzy modern soul of Incognito and
the Young Disciples, Roy Ayers and Omar, some great stuff. Also some good
female soul featured, Mica Paris, India Arie, the inimitable Nina Simone stands
strong. Some Eastern and some Chill but again I prefer one of the few pure jazz
artists Ronny Johnson
All in all some
exceptional tracks but I feel it trys too hard too fit in every nuance of Jazz
Cafe Society.
Press release below
An uplifting mix of jazz, soul and funk to
soothe your soul
Jazz Café – The Soul
Mix features the best in uplifting soul, funky grooves and swinging jazz from
past and present - guaranteed to lift your spirits and smooth away the winter
blues!
CD1 opens with Brit
Award Nominee Jamie Cullum’s funky take on the classic ‘I Get A Kick Out Of
You’ followed by best selling No. 1 artist Katie Melua and the unique talent of
Brit Award Nominee Amy Winehouse - three breakthrough artists with a cool,
contemporary take on smooth jazz. They are followed by the sweet soul sounds of
some of the greatest singers of all time, including Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin
Gaye, Diana Ross and Astrud Gilberto.
CD2 explores more
recent classics, including the ultimate uplifting soul-jazz track I Am The
Black Gold Of The Sun by Nu Yorican Soul. Also featured are the giants of the
acid-jazz scene including Incognito, Omar and Roy Ayers alongside modern-day
soul divas India Arie, Lizz Fields and Mica Paris.
Track-listing
CD1
1.Jamie Cullum - I Get A Kick Out Of You
2.Katie Melua - The Closest Thing To Crazy
3.Amy Winehouse - Take The Box
4.Diana Krall - The Look of Love
5.Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
6.Bobby Womack - California Dreamin'
7.Al Green - Tired of Being Alone
8.Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed Delivered
9.Commodores – Easy
10.The Isley Bros - Summer Breeze
11.Will Downing - A Love Supreme
12.Diana Ross - Love Hangover
13.Bobby Garrett - I Can't Get Away
14.Marlena Shaw - California Soul
15.Va Va Voom - Va Va Voom
16.Astrud Gilberto - Girl From Ipanema
17Brigitte Bardot - Je Danse Donc Je Suis
CD2
1.George Benson - The Ghetto
2.Nu Yorican Soul - I Am The Black Gold OF The Sun
3.Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine
4.Incognito - Don’t You Worry Bout A Thing
5.Omar - There’s Nothing Like This
6.Young Disciples - Apparently Nothin’
7.Dave Pike Set – Mathar
8.Thievery Corporation - Until The Morning
9.Bonobo – Terrapin
10.Mica Paris - My One Temptation
11.Lizz Fields - When I See Love
12.India Arie - Brown Skin
13.Nina Simone - Feeling Good
14.Nitin Sawhney - Migration
15.Ronny Jordan - So What
16.Ed Motta – Papuera
17.Zodiac - Café Style
Jazz Café – The Soul Mix is a must-have album and is THE essential
guide to uplifting cool jazz grooves.
Dusty Springfield The Look of Love -
Generalizing
is very dangerous as there are always exceptions but if I were to do so then I
would say that Soul music is something that came out of the US, and rarely does
anything derived from the UK come close. The second generalization is the
visual one, that of skin pigmentation, it is a black thing. That anyone could
be an exception to one of those rules is something, but to break through two is
remarkable. Even more remarkable is that Dusty consistently did it. There is
the odd track here and there by a white female that I would say is Soulful, but
there is only one artist that is, and that artist is and always has been Dusty
Springfield. No one else comes remotely close.
This
album is thus a joy.
Astonishingly
it is 5 years since she died. This album brings it all back, from the
early Bacharach David pastiches, to the hits, the US recorded taking soul to
soul land to the (comparative) new material with the likes of the Pet Shop
Boys.
Tracks
worthy of special mention are:
The
1970 penned uptempo Philly Gamble, Huff and Jerry Butler penned Brand new
me.
The
1968 Eddie Hinton opus Breakfast in Bed
Randy
Newmans wonderful loneliness ballad I think its gonna rain today. In fact
this is so wonderful I couldnt stop playing it. Dont play this whilst you are
alone or you will end up a tearful wreck
Son
of a Preacher Man was, is and always be a classic which has been with me since
I was 10 and at junior youth club.
Goffin
and Kings No Easy Way down.
In
1987 the Pet Shop Boys selected Dusty for What have I done to deserve this, its
Ok pop fare and then Dusty kicks in with that haunting chorus and it brings her
straight back, where had she been. Worth the money just for that one
chorus.
Just
a little lovin from 1968
In
the land of make believe and Just one smile from the Dusty in Memphis sessions.
A
remixed If it hadnt been for you.
You
will each know the classics or have your own particular favourite but pretty
much every one a gem.
Press
details
The Look Of Love
UMTV (Cat No.)
Released 1ST
March 2004
When It Comes To
Love There Is Only One Voice . . .
Dusty Springfield The Look Of Love is a double CD
collection of Dustys best-known love songs which includes all her top ten
hits. The 47 tracks here are taken from Dustys career, which spanned almost 40
years, a must-have for all fans and romantics alike.
For many of her fans, Dusty Springfield was THE
VOICE: her rich tone was unique and her deeply sensual expression was matched
by no one. When it came to love songs, Dusty simply had no peers. The Look Of
Love album starts - appropriately - with Dustys sublime rendition of Bacharach
and Davids The Look Of Love, and continues with some of her finest love songs
including Spooky, currently featured in a large TV ad campaign; If You Go Away;
Some of Your Lovin and I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten. This collection also
includes Son Of A Preacher Man from the classic album Dusty in Memphis, and the
Pet Shop Boys collaboration What Have I Done To Deserve This, both irresistibly
sensual tracks. In addition all the big hits are here including the Top 3 Hit I
Just Dont Know What To Do With Myself, the No.1 single from 1966 You Dont Have
To say You Love Me, the top 10 single All I See Is You plus Dustys first UK hit
single I Only Want To Be With You. A full tracklist is detailed below:
CD1
CD2
|
1. THE LOOK OF LOVE |
1. WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? # |
|
2. A BRAND NEW ME # |
2. SOME OF YOUR LOVIN # |
|
3. LOVE ME BY NAME |
3. CHAINED TO A MEMORY |
|
4. GOIN BACK # |
4. SPOOKY |
|
5. SANDRA (LIVE) |
5. LOSE AGAIN (LIVE) |
|
6. BREAKFAST IN BED |
6. A LOVE LIKE YOURS |
|
7. GO EASY ON ME * |
7. I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU |
|
8. I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
MYSELF # |
8. TIME AFTER TIME |
|
9. SECOND TIME AROUND |
9. THIS GIRLS IN LOVE WITH YOU |
|
10. I THINK ITS GONNA RAIN TODAY |
10. WELCOME HOME |
|
11. THATS HOW HEARTACHES ARE MADE |
11. I CLOSE MY EYES AND COUNT TO TEN # |
|
12. NEVER LOVE AGAIN |
12. ARRESTED BY YOU ** |
|
13. SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES |
13. JUST A LITTLE LOVIN |
|
14. ALL I SEE IS YOU # |
14. HOW CAN I BE SURE |
|
15. WHO (WILL TAKE MY PLACE)? |
15. YOUVE GOT A FRIEND |
|
16. IF YOU GO AWAY |
16. THEY LONG TO BE CLOSE TO YOU |
|
17. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THE REST OF YOUR
LIFE? |
17. YOU SET MY DREAMS TO MUSIC |
|
18. IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE |
18. ID RATHER LEAVE WHILE IM IN LOVE |
|
19. LET ME LOVE YOU ONCE BEFORE YOU GO |
19. LOSING YOU # |
|
20. SON OF A PREACHER MAN # |
20. ILL TRY ANYTHING |
|
21. NO EASY WAY DOWN |
21. IN THE WINTER |
|
22. DAYDREAMING |
22. IN THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE |
|
|
23. JUST ONE SMILE |
|
|
24. IF IT HADNT BEEN FOR YOU |
|
# DENOTES TOP 20 HIT |
25. YOU DONT HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME # |
It is astonishingly five
years this year since Dusty Springfield died tragically of breast cancer but
her legacy lives on as strong as ever. Dusty was one of the few artists who
managed to achieve a long lasting balance of both commercial and critical
success. Dusty won Best Female Vocalist in the NME readers poll for 4
consecutive years 1964-7 and in 1999, just ten days after her death, Dusty was
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Dusty was one of only a handful
of artists who was able to appeal to successive generations of fans: her second
biggest hit single came over 20 years into her career (What Have I Done To
Deserve This Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield, No.2 Hit single 1987).
Dusty Springfield The
Look Of Love is a must-have collection for anyone interested in this unique
artist.
KISS SMOOTH R&B
For
me Hip Hop is Soul, R&B is Soul, Urban is Soul, Soul is Soul but in this
fractious world of genres and sub genres often people who like say R&B
won't like or even know anything about Soul, maybe it's an age thing but Soul
will ultimately prevail. Now on this massively commercial album there is an
enormous amount of good Soul Music, and hopefully barriers will be broken.
Indeed who put them up in the first place, the very people who (and there are
signs) are starting to bring them down.
For the reason stated this site covers all of
these genres but is firmly placed in the Soul camp and from that perspective
such an album can only be welcomed and it should work both ways. There are some
of the great current voices on here D'Angelo, Jodeci, India Arie, R Kelly to
name but 4, so the Soul headz can be exposed to Urban. Fuse that with the edge
of some Urban beats and rhymes the Urban folk can dig deeper into soulful
roots. Hopefully anyway.
Kicking off with Beyonce's new one which is the
best of her bunch. Lemar's 50/50 is as good as you 'll get from a UK artist.
From the Soul crew Ashanti's voice has been
criticised but I kinda like it. She certainly has something in the material
that wins through. Quite a bit from the ladeez, the lovely Aaliya, Faith Evans
with the smooth pounding (sic) of Faith Evans, love like this (best track on
the set), Brandy, Mya, Destiny's. Hey there's loads and it gets better with
what became a soul anthem Sunshine Anderson and then India Arie (who I still
can't get over I saw as a backing singer!). I also will repeat again here
though it's elsewher on the site that I much prefer Kelly to Beyonce, here
Kelly does the mellow, floaty and dreamy Train on the track.
Talking of voices that will make it big time
Pharrell is featured, unfortunately ads only back up to the ever wonderful and
lazy style of Snoop. B2K following on from their predecessors in the style of
male vocal outfits JodeCi, Blackstreet and K-Ci and JoJo(who are all featured).
On the male front there is a great midtempo soul
dancer from Montell Jordon. Dru Hill doesn't always win me over but In my Bed
is certainly one of his better efforts.
CD2 kicks off on the smooth side of hip hop 50 cent ft Nate Dogg, Notorious
B.I.G, Jay Z and the king of the genre LL Cool J and later on the Fugees,
Wyclef.
Some tracks go back pretty much to New jack, like
Jodeci. Also the Whitehead brothers is a fine inclusion.
There's some massive hits in here to, dancefloor
smashes like Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul, Nelly &mpmp; Kelly, 2 play, J-Lo
ft LL Cool J, Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore and Eve. Mostly these will help sell
the album but most of those mentioned to have an enduring quality in this,
especially in the UK, fast turnover and soon rejected business.
All round a fine and varied set except for a few
duffers which I have cunningly not mentioned. The best Faith Evans, Montell
Jordan, D'Angelo, Blackstreet, Sunshine, Kci & Jo Jo.
|
1 Beyonce Me Myself and I |
|
Kiss presents Hot Joints - Universal TV
Released 24 November 2003
This contains all the top tunes of the year and is
definitely one of the best compilations of it's kind for some time. Indeed the
Kiss ones tend to be in general. Loads of tunes to get the clubs jumping, many
would already be rightly considered anthems.
Big names a plenty Eminem, Jay Z, LL Cool J, 2
Pac, Snoop and Dre, ODB and I'd put Eve in there too. The newer kids on the
block like UK playaz Big Brovaz, Ms Dynamite and Dizzee Rascal, and stateside
B2K, Lumidee, Bubba Sparx, Bon Garcon and just to name a few. The current top
names like Sean Paul and Black Eyed Peas in there too.
Starts off with the pounding In Da Club, biggest
of the year maybe. Pace continues with Jay Z and the excellent DMX. Ludacris
top track from the film 2 fast 2 Furious and newer vibes with Joe Budden. All
consistent top tracks and then Sean Paul.
We then mellow down a bit with the superb Cam'ron
ft Juelz Santana, bringing back the lazy summer vibe which continues with Wayne
Wonder and LL feat Amerie (that Rising to the top sample wins every time, yes
it's overused but what a vibe). And that laaazzee Snoop cuts it every time, on
Still Dre but especialy with Pharrell who is one of the most soulful of the new
voices around.
Still hitting big time and still one of the most
frequent requests is Blu Cantrell ft Sean Paul, Breath.
CD2 particularly but not exclusively features the
UK Massive Dizzee, So Solid, Mis teeq, Lisa Maffia, Brovaz
The best tracks for me, showing that there's still
some soul out there, are Truth Hurts, The Truth, Terri Walker's wonderful Ching
Ching (Lovin you still). And on a mellow hip hop front Spooks Faster than you
know.
Amy Winehouse is the oddball inclusion, still not
sure about that one but good to see it here.
If you want a comp for Christmas, or to get your
Christmas party pumping then this is it.
Tracks:
|
Disc: 1 |
|
|
1. In Da Club - 50 Cent |
11. Dy-Na-Mi-Tee - Ms.Dynamite |
|
Disc: 2 |
|
|
1. Be Faithful - Fatman Scoop |
11. Girlfriend - B2K |
|
|
|
Kool and the Gang - Gangthology
0635892 released 19 April 2003
Gangthology is designed as a career retrospective
to sit alongside the existing hits packages and to give a deeper insight into
the early funk as well as the later chart orientated disco era of the band.
Within this album we have the two Kool and the
Gangs, the original 1969 to 1978 version of street funk and jazz, and the 1978
to 1985 more commercial version with the addition of vocalist JT Taylor and
producer Deodato.
It is so easy to forget or at least be influenced
by later events. I mean the second phase disco era 'Kool' was professional
slick and spot on for the time, but listen back. I even have some of this stuff
on original vinyl but the older heavier street and good time funk is so
imprecise as to be precise, so unslick as to be slick, and so utterly joyous.
The jazz inflected funk on the anthemic Kool and
the Gang sets the scene before kicking into the so good Funky Stuff. Listen to
it again it's all in there. Whether it's the jazzier groovier cuts like NT or
Street Corner Symphony or the more well known Jungle Boogie Open Sesame or
Hollywood Swinging these boys sure put it down. Mixing the Jazz and the funk
I've always loved the jungle boogie.
Tracks like Rhyme Tyme People gives props to Sly,
and whilst the Gang had a groove of their own there were JB's, P Funk in there
with a whole heap of Jazz, and the horns blow a plenty. Bass lines usually are
the bedrock of a groove and whilst that is the case the way the horns persist,
go away and come back in whether in the fore or behind, they have a groove all
of their own. Oddball cuts like Electric Frog with a bit of free form Funk also
cut it, and if they were on an obscure label by an unknown outfit they would
cut a storm on the deep funk scene.
In the disco era the cuts are so well known as to
be standards but nonetheless they are so smooth, Ladies Night, Steppin Out, get
Down On It, Fresh and Celebration, all sounds that you will here and dance to
on those revival nights.
The Funky Wild side is so powerful and so good to
hear again.
The Peaceful side is mellow, lazy and jazzy.
Breeze & Soul sets the scene and eases away the aches and pains of a hot
soul summer night. Nearly all of these tracks come in the earlier years, either
there wasn't the time or the market place for this as time went on and
popularity grew, but I bet it's this kind of stuff that the players are putting
down now. Certainly some more of this should be seeing the light of day in the
smooth jazz arenas these days. Stylish and paying homage to the greats such as
I remember John W Coltrane
Vocals are largely non existent but there is a
monologue (or duologue! To be precise) rap over Heaven Along. Sugar does have a
chorus and this is the nearest your going to get to getting down on this side.
Winter Sadness does have a 'proper' vocal over some tearful lazy beats.
Whiting H&G is also a fine mellow groove but
the highlights are Summer Madness and You don't have to change and if you
thought that a synth didn't have any 'feel' just check this, mellow but
building over a steady persistent groove. The latter having Something Sweet on
supporting vocals.
Take my heart, Too Hot, Jones v Jones are from the
later era and whilst mellow still really are of the disco era.
Tracks -
Wild CD Kool and the Gang, Funky Stuff, NT,
Street Corner Symphony, Hollywood swinging, Rhyme Tyme People, Electric Frog
Pt1, More Funky Stuff, Open Sesame, Come together, Ladies Night, Steppin Out,
Celebration, Get Down On it, Fresh, Jungle Boogie
Peaceful CD Breeze &mpmp; Soul, Sea of
Tranquility, Wichita Lineman, Lucky for me, I rememberJohn W Coltrane, Heaven
Along, Sugar, Whiting H&G, Summer Madness, Winter Sadness, You don't have
to change, Messenger of Wisdom, Free, Take my heart, Too Hot, Jones v Jones,
Wild & Peaceful
Patti Labelle - The Collection -
Spectrum112970-2 - released 3 February 2003
This collection will be most welcomed because of
the much indemand stormer Someone Like You from 1997. A cut that is getting
good plays in upfront Soul venues right now, including the building opening
monologue, which unfortunately is cut out when played. This album is worth it
for this track alone.
Another top dance track, from Beverley Hills Cop
Soundrack, is The Right Kinda Lover from 1994. This album starts in about 1986,
covers the MCA years and includes the smash with Michael McDonald and hits Yo
Mister and Oh People
'Let me be your lady' is also one of the best
cuts, a midtempo soulful ballad.
The slower material is great for the way it builds
and builds into peaks of soulful deliverance, such as Come as you are. I'm in
love is another top track with the voice somehow sweeter and higher.
Some material borders on middle of the road,
however usually the soulfulness shines through. Somebody loves you baby is a
fine quiet storm ballad.
Tracks:- I'm in love, Right kinda lover, Come as
you are, On my own (with Michael McDonald), Sleep with me tonight, Kiss away
the pain, Oh People, Need a little faith, Yo Mister, Somebody loves you baby,
Temptation, Crazy Love, Lady Marmalade (live version), Someone like you, Let me
be your lady, I don't like goodbyes/Over the rainbow (Live)
Modern Soul Connoisseurs - Spectrum (UK) 544
973-2
Amongst the glut of ever increasing compilation
albums which one is the best? Well this one would coming pretty close. Some top
Modern Soul room gems from the last few years and then some.
Kicking up with three, maybe four which would all
be considered a bit stale by the Modern Soul Crew, but all have 'crossed over'
big time into the Northern Rooms. All great stuff, Collins & Collins from
Philly and Top of the Stairs, Gloria Scott's Casablanca outing A Case of too
much lovemaking and Gene Chandler's B side Let me make love to you. The fourth
track is the wonderful Beloyd and Get into your life with a great 70's in
demand item.
Marvin Gaye material is still being unearthed or
coming to prominence, and what's more it is still wonderful and unmistakable.
This time with the easy grooving Come get to this. It's love baby by Timothy
Wilson is more from the 70's, again an easy groove but persistent beat and
soulful delivery. Tell me you love me by the late Lawrence Payton of the Four
Tops was cut for ABC. Bobby Hutton is another big artist on theses shores, with
his sweet soulful Chicago delivery and Wanting you needing you also cuts the
mustard.
Now if you want one reason for buying this album
then it is Booking up baby - Topics. In demand and cost prohibitive for most
people. Sit back, take it in, feel it. One of THE top soul sides, awesome is
used to describe too much these days, this is awsomely awsome. Wonderful.
Harmonies to die for.
How do you follow that, well Randy Brown's I was
blessed the day I found you does pretty well. Deep Soul with a groove.
More popular stuff that has 'crossed over' with
Gotta find a true love - Bottom &mpmp; Company. Choppier beats now with the
stepper I know - Mojoba. Another top cut, hence helping to define the album as
I did in the first sentence, quality all the way, If you want a love affair -
James, Jesse, which has reached anthemic proportions in some quarters. Great
great vocals.
Change of style with the quirky, jazzier delivery
on When I'm with you - Brenda Lee Eager. Into 80's disco territory with a
typical Kashif song by Howard Johnson, Keeping love new. No limit by Jean
Terrell comes from her 1978 A&M album. Staying with A&M just a bit
later is Booker T Jones, yes Booker T Jones with a sensuous vocal delivery on
Best of you.
Closing with three female 'deep soul' tracks and
it is great to be able to see material like this slipping in. It's difficult to
get away with a whole album of this heart wrenching stuff but it certainly
isn't out of place here. Barbara Brown's Pity a fool, Carolyn Sullivan's Dead -
Sullivan and Dee Dee Warwick's I haven't got anything better to do.
Guy - Groove Me - The best of Guy MCA US
088-112-980-2
Groove Me is the first comprehensive package from
the New Jack Swing outfit Guy. Guy were one of the biggest selling R'n'B
outfits of the nineties. This album includes all the early hits like Groove Me,
Round and Round, Teddy's Jam, Spend the night and Do me right as well as album
tracks.
The first 5 cuts on here are as good an
introduction as any to the New Jack phenomena of the early 90's. All top 30
R'n'B hits mostly top 5. Heavy popping basslines and good soulful vocals, led
here usually by Aaron Hall, but the mainstay and dynamic force of the group
was, of course, Teddy Riley. Albert Damion Hall being the other member.
Guy the first album was a phenomenal success
charting for 73 weeks, five at number one. This album gave us the stunning
ballad Piece of my love.
My fantasy went number one but this was Teddy's
solo cut from the soundtrack album Do the right thing on Motown.
The second album From the future came in 1990 and
from this single success continued leading with Wanna get with this. This was
followed by the first ballad single release Let's Chill which was to become the
groups highest pop placing. The album went platinum. Do me right featured the
hip hop of Heavy D, and some heavy funk on Dog me out. Lets stay together was a
ballad I suppose but it features a backbeat that would not be out of place
today in one of the UK's modern soul rooms. Tell me what you like is also a
great stepper, this came in the 'break' period.
In the year 2000 the group came back together with
Guy III. Why you wanna is a great pleading heartfelt soul ballad. Dancin was
the uptempo groove though. New Jack on the update- a great smoother groove.
Rescue me was released after what one must assume is the final break up.
Track Listing :- Groove Me; Round and Round;
Teddy's Jam; I like; Spend the night; Piece of my love; My Fantasy (Teddy Riley
featuring Guy); Wanna get with u; Let's Chill; Do me right; D O G me out; Let's
stay together; Teddy's Jam 2; Tell me what you like; Why you wanna keep me from
my baby; Dancin; Rescue Me.
Cameo Anthology - Mercury US 440 017 338-2 -
When Cameo's first album Cardiac Arrest hit the streets in 1977 the material
was pretty down to earth, good time, funk of the day. Heavy bass, funky
grooves, chanted choruses, tight, bringing in influences from the big boys of
the day like the Ohio Players. It lacked the brashness and individuality that Larry
Blackmon, the leader, would eventually develop. But hey the first three tracks
on here I love em. Moderately successful but sufficiently so for things to
develop further, and to pick up some work on the soundtrack to the cult movie
Thank God it's Friday. Some of the heavier funk heads out there would do well
to revisit some of these sides. These basic Funk rhythms and direction
continued into the next album 'We all know who we are', infectious instrumental
(track 5) and great vocals (track 6).
Next album was Ugly Echo and we're still only into
1978 but this gave rise to Insane and a slightly more individual sound, the
Cameo sound was starting to emerge. Then into 1979 which brought us Secret Omen
and two top ten R'n'B hits, I just want to be featured here with the full
12" version, and Sparkle, a great ballad.
Cameosis, the fifth album and we were getting the
Blackmon individuality, but structured disco beats and grooves, Shake your
pants being a hardcore disco groove of the day, but 'We're going out tonight'
showed they could still cut it as a vocal outfit in a thinned down line-up.
Both of these were R'n'B hits but such a contrast in styles. Albums were still
coming thick and fast with a second 1980 album, Feel Me. 'Keep it hot ' gave an
early sign of that 'Word up' style vocal. The title track is a superb ballad.
Now fully ensconced in the bands 80's purple
period Knights of the round table brought us Freaky Dancin, still very much a
disco groove and it was, clearly, the upbeat grooves that were getting through.
Now starting to touch the outer reaches of the pop charts whereas before they
had only been big r'n'b. 'Don't be so cool' which was only an album track is a
great track. Next came the album 'Alligator Woman' and Just be yourself, the
title track and Flirt, synths now abounded, the sound was more aggressive and
the lyrics more individualistic.
Style in 1983 was the first album on their own
label but the following brought us 'She's strange'. The title track No 1 R'n'B
and top 50 pop. Now Cameo were really starting to hit, embryonic rap, typical
Blackmon vocal, easy freaky vibe. Talkin out the side of your neck with bizarre
lyrics followed, not quite so successful but carried on the momentum, more funk
chanty in vocals and heavy guitar. Hangin Downtown once again is an excellent
ballad.
Into 1985 with the album Single Life, the beat was
groovier and gave us Attack me with your love and the title track paving the
way for what was next. The pinnacle was of course Word Up, a big hit, the cod
piece, hard core funk, maybe a last shout before the world of hip hop took
hold. The album also gave us the top three cuts Candy and Back'n Forth.
The group never really followed that, two albums
followed Machismo and Real Men Wear Black, the latter givingus I want it now,
but I guess he's already had it by then.
Track Listing:- Rigor Mortis, Post Mortem, Funk
Funk, Find my way, It's serious, We all know who we are, Insane
I just want to be, Sparkle, Shake your pants, We're going out tonight, Why have
I lost you version 2, Keep it hot, Feel me, Freaky dancing, Don't be so cool,
Just be yourself, Flirt, Alligator Woman/Secrets of time, Style, She's strange,
Talkin out the side of your neck, Hangin Downtown, Attack me with your love,
Single Life, Word Up, Candy, Back and Forth, Skin I'm in, I want it now.
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