CRAIG CHARLES レコード& CD

Review: Craig Charles' annual "Funk & Soul Club" compilations are fast becoming as much of a Christmas tradition as turkey, dodgy decorations and ill-advised snogs at office parties. As with its predecessor, this sixth volume does a good job in showcasing the best in modern funk, soul, Afrobeat and heavy Latin jams, with a few stone cold classics thrown in (see the Mighty Ryeders' peerless "Evil Vibrations"). Look out for deep and heavy funk gems from the Bamboos, the New Mastersounds and Lance Ferguson's Rare Groove Spectrum, some suitably smooth fare from Courtney Pine and Omar, a scintillating, salsa-focused cover of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by Scotland's Grupo Magnetico, and a dash of dancefloor goodness from funk breaks scene stalwarts Smoove and Turrell.

Review: We can think of few finer stocking fillers for funk aficonados than this fifth Funk & Soul Club compilation from actor/comedian-turned-radio host Craig Charles. As with previous volumes, the Red Dwarf star and BB 6 Music host has included a mixture of original funk era cuts and recent revivalist gems. In the latter category you'll find a stellar instrumental cover of Rick James' "Super Freak" by The Traffic, the dancefloor-burning sound of Nicole Willis and the UMO Orchestra and the brilliant boogie revivalism of Australian singer Kylie Audist. In terms of deeper older selections, look no further than the 1973 jazz-funk re-make of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" by Brian Auger's Oblivion Express and the Afro-funk explosion that is "Nawa" by Ginger Baker & His African Messengers.

Review: Craig Charles' CD round-up of cuts that have done that business at his popular Funk & Soul Club events is becoming something of an annual tradition. This fourth volume in as many years is, predictably, stacked high with high quality fare. While there are plenty of straight-up funk and soul cuts - check The Traffic's killer cover of "White Lines", Brian Auger & The Trinity's 'Black Cat', and John Heartsman & Circles' tasty "Talking About My Baby", for starters - Charles's on-point selection also include nods to jazz-dance, Afro-funk, Latin beats, retro-futurist boogie-soul, and simmering torch songs (a sublime contribution from '80s star Lisa Stansfield).

Review: Self-proclaimed "complete package" Craig Charles (actor, poet, DJ, radio host, stand-up) seems to be enjoying life as Britain's most famous funk and soul fan. Here, he curates a second installment of his Funk & Soul Club compilation series. Predictably, there's plenty to tickle the fancy, from the reggae-soul-house shuffle of Lack of Afro's remix of Hidden Jazz Quartet's "High Heels", and the psychedelic funk madness of The Bongolian's "The Riviera Affair", to the celebratory release of Jessica Lauren Four's "Happiness Train" (featuring a brilliant vocal from old Jocelyn Brown), and a pair of ripsnorting cover versions (Cookin' On Three Burners' fantastic take on Numan's "Cars" and Hot Eight Brass Band's famous remake of the Specials' "Ghost Town").

Review: Having re-invented himself as the UK's favourite funk and soul selector via shows on BBC 6 Music, comedy actor-turned-Corrie cab driver Craig Charles brings his wildly successful Funk & Soul Club brand to CD for the first time. Pitched at newcomers rather than confirmed diggers, it features a mix of well known nu-funk floor fillers (The Apples' version of RATM's "Killing In The Name", Nostalgia 77's ubiquitous White Stripes cover), lesser-known cuts from modern soul 'names' (Speedometer, The Haggis Horns, The Bamboos), older gems (Al Wilson, Incredible Bongo Band), a dash of reggae and a few curveballs (Treva Whateva's long-forgotten banger "Singalong"). Good times guaranteed.