BABY HUEY レコード& CD

Review: Chicago-born singer James "Baby Huey" Ramey's only full-length album, released posthumously in 1971, remains one of the sharpest hidden gems of psychedelic soul. Produced and completed by Curtis Mayfield after Huey's untimely death at age 26, the record bursts with raw, genre-melting powerifrom the explosive groove of 'Hard Times', famously sampled by A Tribe Called Quest and Ice Cube, to the deeply soulful covers of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Going To Come' and The Mamas & the Papas' 'California Dreaming'. Cuts like 'Mama Get Yourself Together' and 'Running' showcase Huey's towering voice, mixing gospel intensity with an almost proto-rap directness. Newly remastered from the original tapes by Chris Bellman, this reissue, pressed onto heavyweight vinyl, gives deserved clarity and warmth to Huey's powerful, forward-thinking music, reaffirming his lasting influence across hip-hop, funk, and soul.

Review: James "Baby Huey" Ramey's sole album remains a striking reflection of his talent and untimely passing. The Chicago-born soul singer, best known for his work with Baby Huey & the Babysitters, was in the midst of recording his debut when he tragically died from a heart attack in 1970 at just 26. The resulting albumiunfinished at the time of his deathiwas later completed by producer Curtis Mayfield and released posthumously in 1971. A blend of psychedelic soul, funk and rock, the album's standout moments include a sprawling, otherworldly take on Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and the deeply emotive 'Hard Times', which later found its way into the lexicon of hip-hop, sampled by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Ghostface Killah, and Ice Cube. The work's raw energy and emotive performances give it a timeless quality, a feeling of tragic grandeur heightened by Ramey's powerful vocal presence. Tracks like 'Mama Get Yourself Together' and 'One Dragon Two Dragon' are emblematic of the freewheeling creativity of 70s soul, blending jazz-inflected structures with funk grooves that seem to stretch toward an unknown, future-facing horizon. Despite its unfinished nature, it is an album that never feels incomplete, embodying a voice and vision that remains eternal in its influence. From his time performing around Chicago to his collaboration with Mayfield, Baby Huey's legacy continues to reverberate across generations.

Review: Powerful belters from soul supernova Baby Huey. The only solo 45s he cut for Curtom Records before he passed away aged only 26, this was released posthumously and OG copies regularly go for over 200 pounds. Now reissued on Soul Brother, the two sides give you the full fat Huey; "Hard Times" hits with a raw Lee Fields style gravelly, story-telling delivery while "Listen To Me" shows Huey's deft ability to band-lead an all-out rock jam. Raw and emotional, Huey left this world far too soon.