Review: Long-lost Tidewater soul classic 'An Extraordinary Dream' gets a welcome reissue here by Symphonical with input from the last surviving band member Larry Gray. This timeless love song was recorded in 1969 at Charlie McClendon Studios and was the first of two singles by Gray and his group, The Soul Seekers, which was made up of five Huntington High alumni who helped shape the region's musical scene. Led by Gray who was fresh from five years at Stax Records with Otis Redding, the group backed numerous touring acts and this single was produced under Wilson Harrell's Check Productions. It's a lovably forlorn and low-slung soul sound with heavy-hearted melodies, horns and aching vocals.
Albert Washington & The Kings - "I'm The Man" (2:40)
Albert Washington - "Case Of The Blues" (2:55)
Review: Kent Soul continue in their efforts to 100% faithfully replicate the works of old soul greats from the 60s and 70s, sustaining the everlasting flame of Northern soul and its various splinter hubs across the UK. Now Cincinnatian blues legend Albert Washington gets his due: a highly productive recording artist, active from the 60s all the way through to the 90s, Washington's 'I'm The Man' seizes the a short window moment in which a new spinster might be met with an opportunistic proposition after a bad breakup. "You don't have nobody to call your own / darlin', I'm the man / I share your pain, I do / I can make all your dreams come true / now, come on / yessir, you need me..."
Review: Surely even he has lost count of how many tunes he has sung on now, yet still Robert Owens remains the most in-demand vocalist in the game. His smoky tones feature on Nat Wendall's 'Easy' and they come with a brighter tone than usual next to the nice piano chords which are draped over upright beats. As well as an instrumental, Kaidi Tatham remixes with his brilliant broken beat style and sunny synth disposition, and he also adds his own spin to the instrumental. A timeless package.
Review: Ralph White's early ventures into disco are finally gathered in one place with the first official anthology of his 1978 recordings at Sydney's Albert Studios. Better known at the time as a session player and producer in the city's studio scene, White was tapped by M7 to craft four disco pieces aimed at an emerging dance market. Over just two days in the studio and a small group of local players - including a young Tommy Emmanuel - he recorded four standout cuts, together which remain some of the most refined Oceanian disco ever put to tape. Though the original 12"s saw limited success domestically, M7's distribution push into markets like Canada, India and Argentina helped cultivate a quiet cult following. Now remastered and housed in a deluxe spot-UV sleeve with inserts featuring new liner notes and White's biography, this reissue shines overdue light on a forgotten chapter in Australian dance music.
Review: New to the international scene but poised to break out, this talented artist brings out her first single. This 7" release from the American soul singer brings fresh energy to his hit single 'Falling For You'. On Side-A, the Georgie B remix takes the smooth, soulful original and turns it into an upbeat, funky dance track. The remix retains the song's classy, sexy vibe while adding a dancefloor-ready edge, making it an instant hit for those looking for a bit more groove. On Side-B, the original version of 'Falling For You' delivers a soulful, urban feel, with smooth r&b notes and a catchy dance groove. The horn section adds a rich layer to the track, reminiscent of Lisa Stansfield's signature sound, creating an irresistible blend of soul and rhythm.
Lonnie Dreams (Leroy's Latin Lament - Medley) (3:10)
The Way We Feel (0:54)
La FIesta (3:24)
Lament (2:28)
Smile Happy (7:20)
So (4:56)
Low Rider (3:12)
In Mazatlan (2:54)
Why Can't We Be Friends? (3:43)
Zorro (bonus track) (5:35)
Don't Let No One Get You Down (Unedited mix) (6:31)
Roam & Ramble (bonus track) (9:07)
Low Rider (9:28)
So (Unedited mix) (9:47)
Oatmeal Box (bonus track) (5:50)
Heartbeat (16:55)
The Making Of "Why Can't We Be Friends?" (22:54)
Review: This special Anniversary Edition celebrates the groundbreaking band War's 55th year with a remastered version of the original album by legendary engineer Bernie Grundman. The iconic, multi-million selling, Billboard 200 Top Ten original has plenty of seminal WAR classics such as 'Low Rider' and the title track 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' and next to this eon disc one is a second disc filled with unreleased tracks from the original sessions, along with unedited mixes that offer deeper insight into the group's creative process. Blending funk, soul, jazz, pop and Latin influences, this genre-defying band has remained a cornerstone of Los Angeles's scene for over five decades.
The Spinners - "Dont Let The Green Grass Fool You"
Syl Johnson - "Black Balloons"
Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson - "Soulshake"
Richie Havens - "I Can't Make It Anymore"
The Exits - "You Got To Have Money"
The Joneses - "Pull My String (Turn Me On)"
The Dells - "Run For Cover"
O.C. Smith - "On Easy Street"
The Radiants - "It Ain't No Big Thing"
Billy Stewart - "Summertime"
Brother To Brother - "In The Bottle"
Baby Huey - "Hard Times"
Johnny Williams - "Maggie"
Joe Simon - "When"
James Carr - "Pouring Water On A Drowning Man"
Roscoe Robinson - "That's Enough"
Blackrock - "Blackrock Yeah Yeah"
American Gypsy - "Golden Ring"
Jon Lucien - "Search For The Inner Self"
The Mist - "Life Walked Out"
Betty Davis - "In The Meantime"
Darrell Banks - "Beautiful Feeling"
Review: Paul Weller is perhaps one of the best non-soul musicians to ask to compile a rare soul compilation. Rather than documenting soul music as it proliferated in the 1960s, Ace Records' soul aim was to capture a genre, fashion and style as one man saw it in retrospect, in light of his involvement in the mod revival of the mid 1970s. Weller would later go onto form and front The Jam, but in late 1974, shortly before his involvement in the punk movement, he was about none of that business at all. Punk partly grew on febrile tissues of mod, which was in turn an offshoot of 60s soul; and it is true that we may hear a foetal form of the sound in the brasher cuts on this record, be it Billy Stewart's 'Summertime' or James Carr's 'Pouring Water'. Also clock Brother To Brother's 'In The Bottle', a super-early drum machine blues gem perfect for the house heads.
Review: Norwegian pianist and composer Bugge Wesseltoft, a jazz innovator known for the diversity of his sound, is back with 'Am Are,' which is an expressive exploration of many sonic textures and dynamic contrasts. This album showcases Wesseltoft's inspiring collaborations with a constellation of superb musicians who bridge generations and styles. From sparse arrangements to complex layers of dubs and loops, Am Are highlights the power of human connection through improvisational interplay. Wesseltoft's curated selection demonstrates his passion for projects that spark creativity and celebrate the beauty of musical communication and make another fine addition to his catalogue.
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