Monday, November 17, 2014

NEW RELEASES: CARLA BENSON – YOU SHOULD BE HERE; BOBBI HUMPHREY - THE GOOD LIFE; PHILLY CREAM – GROOVIN’

CARLA BENSON – YOU SHOULD BE HERE

A sweet solo record from Philly singer Carla Benson – a vocalist you'll probably know best for her role in the Sweethearts Of Sigma trio, where she backed up countless soul singers in the 70s! The set's a new one, but has a nicely classic vibe – done in more of an 80s Philly modern soul mode, with production and arrangements by Butch Ingram that nicely match his other recent work for the Society Hill imprint. Carla's vocals are richly expressive – maybe more so now than ever – and the set is mostly mellower numbers and midtempo cuts, with titles that include "You Show Me", "I Dreamed A Dream", "You Should Be Here", "Autumn Leaves", "Outstanding", and "Ready For Love".  ~ Dusty Groove

BOBBI HUMPHREY - THE GOOD LIFE

First Time Ever on CD Release. Includes 4 Bonus Tracks Liner Notes by Alex Henderson Re-Mastered using the Original Master Tapes by Sean Brennan at Battery Studio s New York Bobbi Humphrey's major-label swan song eradicates the final traces of jazz remaining in her music's elemental makeup. Produced by Ralph MacDonald and William Eaton, The Good Life is a 1979 straight-up R&B record. Humphrey always embraced commercial sounds and sensibilities regardless of jazz conventions, but this music is simply too slick for comfort. Her skills as a flutist remain exceptional, which gives The Good Life the funky grooves and gossamer textures that buoyed her classic Blue Note sides. The Good Life is quite an unashamedly commercial album for Bobbi Humphrey as she has drops the high class approach of her earlier albums and opted for making a full-on in-your-face disco album. This is a big fat disco cliché, even right down to the electronic bongos, But my bet is you'll be so impressed that you'll make an easy move to get some of the Good Life. ~ Amazon

PHILLY CREAM – GROOVIN’

The wonderful return of Philly Cream – a group who made some great records at the end of the 70s, and who seem like they haven't missed a beat at all! The style here is really in the old school Philly harmony mode – maybe the modern soul variant, with some slight contemporary touches in the instrumentation – but an overall feel that has all the vocals coming together wonderfully! Old group member Art Austin is working here with younger female singers Simone Talley and Adrienne Aje – and the record has plenty of musical support from Ingram, with Butch Ingram at the production helm – in a similar mode to the other great recent sides on Society Hill. Titles include "Somebody Told Me", "A Beautiful Morning", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", "Slow Down", "Cowboys To Girls", and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".  ~ Dusty Groove



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