NORTHERN
SOUL’S CLASSIEST RARITIES – VOLUME 6 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
It’s nearly
three years since Kent released the last volume in this respected series;
here’s another package full of ultra-rarities, collector’s pieces, unissued
gems and classic dancers. The eye-opener will be the previously unissued
version of I Only Cry Once A Day Now, a superb Gene Page arrangement known and
treasured as being by the Puffs but performed here by the mighty Fidels. Fellow
Los Angeles vocal group the Hyperions contribute the intensely catchy and
exciting Why Do You Wanna Treat Me Like You Do, while the very rare single
Dream Girl by the Lon Genes gives further kudos to that city’s soul reputation.
Difosco aka Dee Ervin recorded the ebullient Sunshine Love for another Los
Angeles imprint, Earthquake, and its standing among collectors continues to
grow. Here we finally put out the correct brass-filled version of Peggy Woods
great Modern Records tape not properly heard since its mid-80s discovery. That
much-travelled ambassador of soul, Sidney Barnes, has licensed to Kent not only
his early super-rare NYC song and production on Little Nicky Soul, I Wanted To
Tell You, but also two of his later under the radar creations on Andre Scott
and Jean Carter. Sid’s Detroit production partner and later superstar George
Clinton has one of his earliest works from his New Jersey days, Tamala Lewis
You Won’t Say Nothing, an established Northern Soul classic in Jackie Day’s
Naughty Boy, Johnnie Taylor’s Friday Night and Betty Turner’s The Winds Kept
Laughing. An even more established oldie is given an interesting new twist with
an earlier session of Maxine Brown’s One In A Million, a precursor to the
released version that is so loved; the subtle differences make it an aural
thrill. Jack Ashford’s Just Productions tapes have turned up an earlier version
of his Fly To My Loving Arms, simply called I Can Fly. The great male vocal
group sound of the Magnificents are first rate on this fabulous song. A Detroit
Emeralds LP-only track called Long Live The King has found favour with soul
fans recently and sounds vibrant here. The distinctive vocals of O.C. Tolbert
give Dave Hamilton’s Marriage Is Only A State Of Mind a soulful twist on a
recent tape discovery, and a pretty Carla Thomas recording (unreleased until
1992) called Little Boy is the perfect ender to this collection of treasures.
There are two majestic big beat ballads from Jack Nitzsche’s Los Angeles
vaults. The Nooney Ricket track is unissued and the terrific Daniel A Stone
take on Young Boy Blues has only been heard on an Ace CD before. Jock
Mitchell’s moody and mysterious Nomad Woman fits snugly between the pair.
Finally, Kent have two excellent early Chicago soul rarities from the Vows and
the Kittens who were stalwarts of that soulful city.
KEV BEADLE
PRIVATE COLLECTION – VOLUME 3 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
Beadle
returns to BBE with a 3rd volume of his much lauded ‘Private Collection’ album
series. Taking in a wide range of obscure jazz with a distinct nod to the
dance-foor, the frst two ‘Private Collections’ are already considered classics
by the jazz-dance community. Once again presenting a wealth of ultrarare sounds
previously only available to record collectors with very deep pockets, Vol.3
sees Kev inviting us to travel even deeper into the vinyl vaults. Quite a lot
has happened in the 3 years since ‘Private Collection Vol.2’ was released, not
least Kev’s announcement last year that he was hanging up his headphones. We
hope, selfshly, that his retirement won’t last, but either way, the news has
given this compilation some added signifcance for us. A founder of London’s
legendary Dingwalls and former Wag club resident, Kev has been at the very
centre of the UK’s jazz-dance scene for decades, locked in (friendly)
competition with the likes of Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, Bob Jones and
many others on a never-ending quest for that perfect track. As you might
expect, ‘Private Collection Vol.3’ contains its fair share of frenetic,
syncopated musical workouts to test the stamina of even the most dedicated
dancers, but the album also provides some moments of calm, some smooth Latin
grooves like Louis Hayes version of the Freddie Hubbard classic ‘Little
Sunfower’ as well as very rare, sought after recordings by Belair, Lee Willhite
and the Webster Lewis that have changed hands for big money in recent times
amongst the collectors. Whether you are a record collector or a jazz club
regular, this compilation represents a chance to fnally own more than a few
‘holy grail’ tunes without breaking the bank and a chance to relive those
special moments on the dance-foor. For the rest of us, this is simply a
glorious concoction of 70s and 80s jazz, rescued from relative obscurity,
painstakingly assembled and presented with a great deal of love.
i2 LOVE
MUSIC VOLUME 1 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
i2 proudly
presents Love Music, Vol.1 – featuring stellar performances from established
legends like Shalamar’s Howard Hewett with a brand new song ‘Because You’,
Atlanta based soul star Carmichael MusicLover and from the UK, The Sound
Principle. Added to this eclectic blend of talented vocalists are up and coming
future stars like Everett, who delivers soul hits ‘First Night’ and ‘Your Side
of Love’, UK R&B stalwarts Qanah and Chris Ballin. Hailing from Kansas
City, USA: Le Velle delivers a compelling call to action with his blockbusting
soul classic, ‘Bring Back The Love’ and another storming track ‘It Was Me’. For
lovers of soul jazz music JFly hits you with his seminal track ‘Love Song’. Soul
music of such consistently high quality is hard to come by, but i2 have united
the best of British with excellent offerings from the United States to create
an album full of pure gems. Live strings on ‘First Night’, ‘Because You Love
Me’ (featuring Phillippia) and ‘I Need Your Loving’ are testament to the
top-level production values on display throughout this outstanding compilation.
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