IAN LEVINE'S SOLID STAX SENSATIONS (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
DJ and
record producer Ian Levine was one of the prime movers in establishing Northern
Soul as a youth cult in the UK in the early to mid-70s. His sets at Blackpool
Mecca's Highland Rooms were innovative and he was at the forefront of the
scene's musical development through the 70s. His Solid Soul Sensations for Pye
Records in 1975 set a benchmark for Northern Soul LPs and was a major seller.
Ian has applied that knowledge and taste to Stax's highly esteemed catalogue of
recordings and chosen 25 superb soul songs aimed primarily for the dancers. Big
spins from the 70s such as Barbara Lewis The Stars and Margie Joseph's One More
Chance have been combined with floor-fillers from today including Charlene
& The Soul Serenaders Can You Win and (Let Hurt Put You In The) Loser's
Seat by Joni Wilson (under the guidance of George Clinton). Although he
concentrated on producing in the 80s and 90s, Ian already knew many of the big
Stax sounds, such as Paul Thompson's Special Kind Of Woman and Ilana's Where
Would You Be Today through his own impressive Stax collection. Inevitably Ian has
come up with some leftfield numbers from Proud As Punch, the Cheques and Bobby
Whitlock and there is a super vault discovery from Sylvia & The Blue Jays.
The major players are covered with tracks from David Porter, Rance Allen, the
Dramatics, William Bell and Northern Soul's first superstar, Major Lance. ~ 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
BUDDY GUY – BORN TO PLAY GUITAR
New release coming July 31 from the great Buddy Guy. Track listing includes: Born To Play Guitar, Wear You Out feat. Billy Gibbons, Back Up Mama, Too Late featuring Kim Wilson, Whiskey, Beer & Wine, Kiss Me Quick featuring Kim Wilson, Crying Out of One Eye, (Baby) You Got What It Takes featuring Joss Stone, Turn Me Wild, Crazy World, Smarter Than I Was, Thick Like Mississippi Mud, Flesh & Bone with Van Morrison, and Come Back Muddy.
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