THE
SWEET INSPIRATIONS – WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE
Heavenly
soul from the lovely Sweet Inspirations! The record was the group's first
secular album for Atlantic – after recording one gospel album, and doing the
backings on a number of fine Aretha Franklin sessions – and it's a gem of a
female soul record, with the same classic sound you'd hear on Aretha's Atlantic
late 60s LPs, but a different twist because of the girls' amazing talent for
harmony vocals. Tom Dowd produced the record with a sweet southern-ish sound,
and Arif Mardin provides some lofty string arrangements that take the girls'
voices to the heavens! Includes some fine numbers written by Cissy Drinkhard
Houston – like "I Could Leave You Alone", "You Really Didn't
Mean It", and "Where Did It Go" – plus pop numbers like
"Alfie", "What The World Needs Now Is Love", and "To
Love Somebody", all completely transformed by the group's style! ~ Dusty Groove
SLY & ROBBIE – DUB SESSIONS 1975-1985
Righteous dub from one of the most important rhythm duos
to ever work the Jamaican scene – drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie
Shakespeare – a pair who've appeared on countless records for other folks over
the years, and a handful of their own – really stepping out on a very dubby
space in this collection of tracks from the late 70s and early 80s! The music
has a nicely raw vibe – not unpolished, but just not as commercial as some of the
80s records issued under the name of Sly & Robbie – just core
instrumentation with a wicked bassy vibe – played along with Chinna Smith on
guitar, Tommy McCook on tenor, Bobby Ellis on trumpet, Jackie Mitoo on piano,
and Winston Wright on organ. Titles include "African Roots Dub",
"Top Ranking Style Dub", "Sly & Robbie The Kings Of
Dub", "Burial Dub", "Jah Jah Dub", "Peace
Dub", and "Liquidation Dub".
~ Dusty Groove
HUBERT
EVES – ESOTERIC FUNK
One of
the few albums we've ever seen by keyboardist Hubert Eaves – a great player
whose work crops up on some of our favorite 70s soul jazz and jazz funk sides,
but who rarely got a chance to lead his own group! Fortunately, he did get the
chance to cut this one – as the session's a real doozy – sweet mellow fusion,
handled very soulfully, with a kicked-back feel that's right up there with the
most righteous soulful fusion of the time. Players include Mtume, John Lee,
Reggie Lucas, Malachi Thompson, and Rene McLean – and Cheryl Alexander sings
vocals on the track "Under Standing". A great blend of laidback funk
and soulful grooves – in the manner of Bobby Lyle at his best – and titles
include "Slow Down", "Painful Pleasure", "Call To
Awareness", and "Flead Dancing".
~ Dusty Groove
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