Arista レコード& CD

Review: As part of this year's Record Store Day festivities, Arista have got a real treat for fans of modern soul and disco. The A-side features a Mike Maurro remix of Breakwater's 'No Limit', a groovy and funky tune from their debut album. Maurro adds his signature touch of extending and enhancing the original elements, creating a dancefloor-friendly version that respects the original. The B-side features the rare 12" version, which showcases the band's tight musicianship and vocal harmonies. This record is a collector's item and a tribute to a classic song.

Review: Norman Connors 's 'She's Gone' and ''Mr.C' (the title cut from an album of the same name) have never been available on vinyl before but this year's record store day celebrations end that with a nice heavyweight pressing courtesy of Arista. 'She's Gone' is a timeless blend of soul and r&b that is much loved in the soul scene for its fresh composition and stirring, heartfelt vocals. The instrumentation too is next level and superbly fuses horns, strings, and rhythm instruments. Newly remastered but with a sympathetic ear for the original 80s sounds, this one will fly off the shelves.

Review: Whitney's 1998 album My Love Is Your Love is one of a few being reissued right now and on several different formats. This one is a teal blue vinyl version that looks as good as it sounds. The album was a first in almost a decade for Whitney and one that she used to introduce some subtle hip-hop elements into her work. It sold over 10 million copies worldwide and was a particular favourite in Europe with the title track being one of its biggest tunes.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Whitney's 1998 album My Love Is Your Love is one of a few being reissued right now and on several different formats. This one is a teal blue vinyl version that looks as good as it sounds. The album was a first in almost a decade for Whitney and one that she used to introduce some subtle hip-hop elements into her work. It sold over 10 million copies worldwide and was a particular favourite in Europe with the title track being one of its biggest tunes.

Review: Two Arista classics from 79/78 respectively, the cult (not to mention heavily sampled) charms of Pittsburgh soul queen Hyman are presented immaculately right here on this heavyweight vinyl double-A. "You Know How To Love Me", taken from the 79 album of the same name, is a straight up disco stomper that should be recognisable to all with its distinctive horn fill and rousing backing vocals while "Living Inside Your Love" (from her 78 album Somewhere In My Lifetime) is a slinkier, sultry affair with some sizzling scat vocal flare and harmonies that will have you weak at the knees. It's all love.

Review: Alison Limerick's 'Where Love Lives' is the sound of a generation, a reminder of one of the most vital cultural movements of the last 100 years. It is a perma-hit that unites all ages, colours and creeds, even now, 30 years after it first got hands in the air and tears in the eyes on dance floors of cult clubs around the world. To mark the occasion it gets a special remaster treatment and 12" release for Record Store Day. The Classic Mix - which is still the best - kicks off, followed by a big piano version from Mo Knuckles and a darker, more stripped back Cut To The Bone mix.

Review: During the "rare groove" boom in London during the 1980s, Linda Williams' 1979 album track "Elevate Our Minds" became something of an anthem. Curiously, it was never released as a single at the time, making this surprise 7" edition something of a bonus for those still searching for the track. It remains a fine song, with Williams' brilliant vocals rising above bossa-influenced beats, warm bass, luscious boogie orchestration and gentle Latin style horn lines. The flipside features "City Living", the title track from the very same 1979 LP that "Elevate Our Minds" was taken. It's far funkier and more elastic in feel, with horn arrangements and a chunky groove reminiscent of some Teena Marie tracks from the same period.