NEW MUSIC RELEASES: George Benson – Walking To New Orleans; King Curtis - Soul Of King Curtis; Johnny Mathis – The Heart Of A Woman / Feelings

George Benson – Walking To New Orleans

Guitar legend George Benson pays tribute to the music of New Orleans – and also hearkens back to his earliest years in R&B, before he rose to jazz fame in the 60s! George sings as much as he plays guitar here – working in a tight combo that's heavy on soul styles – and most tunes are remakes of Nola classics, mixed with some other Chuck Berry songs, done in a more contemporary mode. The set's a fair bit grittier than most of Benson's recent recordings, and also has a tight horn section too – on titles that include "You Can't Catch Me", "Ain't That A Shame", "Blue Monday", "How You've Changed", "Walking To New Orleans", "I Hear You Knocking", and "Havana Moon".  ~ Dusty Groove

King Curtis - Soul Of King Curtis

Searing sax instrumentals from the great King Curtis – plus a lot more too – as this package not only brings together the King's records as a leader for Enjoy Records, but also digs up lots of performances as a sideman for that famous Harlem record label too! The grooves here are raw and ready, nice and tight, and done with a nitty gritty style that might have been funk if the cuts were recorded a few years later – but which definitely had a bit influence on countless soul instrumental modes to come, both in the rhythms and in King's wicked lead work on saxophone! The package features some of the best instrumental singles that Curtis cut for Enjoy Records, from his Soul Twist album and other singles – and CD2 also features material that Curtis cut for Enjoy as a soloist on records for other artists! CD1 features 18 tracks that include "Soul Twist", "Twisting Time", "The Monkey Shout", "Hot Potato", "Midnight Blue", "Beatnick Hoedown", "King Neptune's Guitar", "Wobble Twist", "What'd I Say (parts 1 & 2)", and "Big Dipper". CD2 features tracks that include "Our Love Will Never End" by The Avons, "I'm Gonna Catch You" by Curtis Carrington, "Madisonville USA (parts 1 & 2)" by The Strolls, "Chicken Scratch" by The Commandos, "I'll Be There" by Melvin Daniels, "Juicy Fruit" by Rudy Greene, "Fine Little Girl" by The Arcades, "Woman Woman Woman" by Sparks Of Rhythm, and "Korea Korea" by Bob Kent. ~Dusty Groove

Johnny Mathis – The Heart Of A Woman / Feelings

During the 1974 holiday season, Johnny Mathis could be heard at cosmetics counters nationwide. His song “The Heart of a Woman” was the theme for Helena Rubinstein’s Courant perfume and the title track of his latest LP. Now, The Heart of a Woman is finally coming to standalone CD in a deluxe, double-disc expanded edition from Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records, paired with 1975’s Feelings. The Heart of a Woman was more than a perfume tie-in, however. Johnny teamed with Motown’s legendary producer Johnny Bristol and arranger Paul Rise—plus session players like Dennis Coffey and Ray Parker, Jr.—for a set filled with Bristol originals which would inspire subsequent recordings from artists such as Boz Scaggs and Tom Jones. In addition to the title tune by Broadway’s Charles Strouse and Lee Adams (Bye Bye Birdie), the album also features a sensual cover of the Roberta Flack chart-topper “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and perhaps surprisingly, Johnny’s rendition of “Wendy” from the blaxploitation film Three the Hard Way! Feelings, produced by Jack Gold, notably introduced Mathis’ evocative version of Albert Hammond and Hal David’s “99 Miles from L.A.,” a song which the vocalist still performs in concert today. It also boasts David and Henry Mancini’s “The Greatest Gift” from The Return of the Pink Panther, and smooth interpretations of the standout ballad “What Did for Love” from A Chorus Line, Melissa Manchester’s enchanting “Midnight Blue,” and Neil Sedaka’s “Solitaire.” Nine fascinating period bonus tracks are included on this 2-CD set including two tracks produced by composer Roger Nichols and a rare session reuniting Johnny with producer-songwriter Jerry Fuller. Joe Marchese’s new liner notes draw on interviews with Mathis and Fuller, and Mike Piacentini has remastered at Sony’s Battery Studios. This set of amorous favorites from The Voice of Romance promises to go straight to the Heart.