Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller Present Soul On The Corner
(Various Artists)
Two dapper British gents on the cover, but the album's
filled with classic American soul – really great cuts from back in the day,
served up in an array of well-chosen tracks that really go past the obvious!
Both Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller (of Acid Jazz fame) put the set together –
but the real stars here are the classic singers and groups who make the music
so great – and who together represent a much hipper, more sophisticated version
of classic soul than the usual hits or oldies collection! A number of cuts here
are quite rare, and others are a mix of unusual songs by bigger names – mixed
with just a few tracks from leftfield to keep things interesting. Titles
include "Just To Be With You" by Bobby Dukes, "Finally Made It
Home" by Arnold Blair, "You & I" by Goodie, "How Could
You Break My Heart" by Bobby Womack, "Lucky To Be Loved By You"
by Willie Hutch, "Now That I Have You" by Tommy McGee, "Thirty
One" by Laville, "Oooh Baby" by Pamoja, "I'm Goin
Left" by Syreeta, "Shoes" by Brook Benton, "I Like The
Things About Me That I Once Despised" by Wayne Davis, "Lucky" by
Lewis Taylor, "Fan The Fire" by Earth Wind & Fire,
"Daylight" by Georgie Fame, "A Raggedy Ride" by Barbara
Acklin, and "Hit & Run Love" by Tommie Young. ~ Dusty Groove
Noah Preminger – After Life
An album of subtle majesty from tenorist Noah Preminger –
done with a sound that builds and flows wonderfully – partly from the guitar
work of Max Light, who may well be the lynchpin of the quintet! The switch of
guitar for piano gives the whole thing a different vibe – as Light's playing
has this strong sense of glow – which resonates between the bass of Kim Cass
and drums of Rudy Royston, to illuminate the strong trumpet of Jason Palmer
next to Preminger's tenor – both players with a measured sense of blowing that
comes of beautifully in the album's original compositions by Noah. Titles
include "World Of Twelve Faces", "World Of Growth",
"Senseless World", "Hovering World", "World Of
Hunger", and "Island World". ~ Dusty Groove
Cleopatra Jones Soundtrack (Various Artists) (1973)
One of the great Blaxploitationfilm scores of the ‘70s,
finally back on vinyl where it belongs! This 1973 feature introduced one of the
great characters in the whole genre, starring the indomitable, six-foot-two
Tamara Dobson as Cleopatra Jones, a taller, hipper, and blacker James Bond. In
this film, she thwarts a lesbian L.A. drug lord as played by Shelley Winters,
all accompanied by the musical efforts of what is pretty much a ‘70s
soul/jazz/funk dream team. On vocals, you had the leading male and female
lights of the Spring label, the great Joe Simon (performing the hit title
theme) and Millie Jackson . And on the instrumental side, jazz trombone giant J.
J. Johnson (in collaboration with the underrated Carl Brandt of Mod Squad score
fame). The result: a prime example of the symphonic funk that became the siren
song for Blaxploitation soundtracks throughout the ‘70s. For its first domestic
vinyl reissue, we’ve pressed up just 700 copies in red and blue starburst
vinyl, with original artwork intact...oh so tasty!
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