Monday, April 13, 2015

NEW RELEASES: UB40 - PRESENT ARMS DELUXE EDITION; ZULEMA - JUST CAN'T SAY GOODBYE: THE BEST OF THE RCA YEARS; BETTY WRIGHT - THIS TIME FOR REAL

UB40 - PRESENT ARMS DELUXE EDITION

This new 3-CD Deluxe Edition brings together, for the first time, UB40’s 1981 album Present Arms and its companion release from later that same year, Present Arms In Dub. The album comes complete with new liner notes by respected reggae writer, David Katz. Released in May 1981, the platinum-selling Present Arms spent 38 weeks in the UK album chart where it reached the No. 2 position. Present Arms In Dub was released in October 1981 and spent seven weeks in the chart. In addition this new deluxe edition includes a 12” version of the Top 20 single, Don’t Slow Down plus BBC Radio 1 session tracks and a BBC Radio 1 concert, Live from the Paris Theatre, both recorded in 1981. Present Arms is the second album to be recorded by UB40 and it spawned two Top 20 UK hits, One In Ten and Don’t Let It Pass You By/Don’t Slow Down. Like their debut album release, it concerned itself with many socially and politically charged themes, resonating with the politically uncertain times of the early 1980s when unemployment was rife and race riots afflicted many of the country’s inner cities. One In Ten was an undisguised attack on the Thatcher government of the period. ~ Amazon

ZULEMA - JUST CAN'T SAY GOODBYE: THE BEST OF THE RCA YEARS

Originally a member of the trio, Faith Hope & Charity for almost three years (1968-1971), the Tampa, Florida-born trained pianists solo career began at Sussex Records. A much-lauded appearance at the push expo in Chicago in 1972 brought Zulema critical acclaim and in 1974, she signed with RCA. Just Cant Say Goodbye-The Best Of The RCA Years includes mostly self-composed tracks from each of Zulemas three albums " four from her self-titled 1975 label debut (including her version of Michael Jacksons 1st solo hit, Wanna Be Where You Are, a top 60 R&B charted single); nine of the ten tracks on her sophomore set, R.S.V.P. (including the Leroy Hutson/Donny Hathaway song, You Had To Know and Van McCoys It Will Never Be The Same Again); and four from her final RCA LP, Suddenly There Was You. After several personally challenging years, Zulema returned to Tampa and was the resident musician at her local church and passed away on September 30, 2013. This reissue includes original notes from the 1996 compilation and a personal tribute to Zulema by Soulmusic.com founder David Nathan. ~ Amazon


BETTY WRIGHT - THIS TIME FOR REAL

Betty Wright has been of the most well known and respected female Soul singers in a career that spans over 45 years. Her breakthrough million selling hit from 1971 Clean Up Woman is an iconic Soul sister track. Betty recorded eight albums for the Miami based Alston label part of Henry Stones TK empire between.1968 and 1979. Soul Brother Records have previously reissued two, Danger High Voltage from 1974 and Explosion from 1976. Betty's 1977 album This Time For Real is one of her most consistent if possibly overlooked albums and opens with the highly regarded modern soul dance record That Man of Mine (credited on the 45 as Man Of Mine both on the original US release and limited edition UK release on Soul Brother for Record Store Day 2015). Also here is the popular rare groove track If You Abuse My Love (You'll Lose My Love), the lush ballad A Sometime Kind of Thing and more quality outings like Brick Grits on an album produced in an original style. Betty Wright is still very popular today and her comeback album with The Roots Betty Wright The Movie has raised her profile further. She has appeared with Jools Holland on TV and regularly performs in the UK. ~ Amazon


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