A really fantastic collaboration between two pioneers of African music – and a set that nicely opens both into the jazziest side of their talents! Hugh Masekela blows flugelhorn, and Tony Allen handles drums and plenty of percussion – and although both artists sing a bit, the main focus here is really on the instrumentation – as half the album's tracks are instrumentals, and there's plenty of room for solos over the really great rhythms in the mix! The lineup of players is great, too – tight, but with some nice surprises – including tenor from Steve Williamson, vibes from Lewis Wright, and keyboards from Joe Armon Jones – on titles that include "Robbers Thugs & Muggers", "Agbada Bougou", "Obama Shuffle Street Blues", "We've Landed", "Slow Bones", and "Never". ~ Dusty Groove
Upbeat, positive grooves from the glory days of soul music – tunes from a time when things were changing up a bit – moving from the straighter styles of the Northern Soul years to the more sophisticated modes that would come to be known as "modern" by British fans in the 70s – but which, to us, just mean the kind of soul music that we've always found inspirational! Most of the music here is from the tail end of the 60s and start of the 70s – but there's a very forward-thinking vibe, and a great sense of energy that takes the righteous spirit of the times, and focuses it in some very personal directions. Titles include "Stop Steppin On My Dreams" by Jerry Butler, "It Hurts So Good" by Katie Love & The Four Shades Of Black, "Lucky Felly" by The Independents, "The Only Way Is Up" by Otis Clay, "We're Not Too Young To Fall In Love" by The Jacky Beavers Show, "Too Much Love Makin" by Gloria Scott, "Don't You Care" by Alice Clark, "Come Back (part 1)" by The Fantastic Puzzles, and "Now That You're Gone" by Sonny Turner & Sound Limited, and "You Girl" by Wendell Watts. ~ Dusty Groove
The title definitely gets it right – as Andy Williams was maybe the king of the easy listening vocal scene at the end of the 60s – a singer with a smooth style that was equally popular on record as it was on the TV screen! Yet Andy was also something very special, and very much unto himself – a crooner with links to the past, but with a warmth and personal approach that was much more down to earth – which made Williams such a great community-crossing artist at the time. This package is a great addition to his Columbia catalog – as it features 20 tracks on CD for the first time ever, 16 of which are previously unreleased – with lots of gems that are every bit as great, and maybe often more interesting than, some of Andy's biggest hits for the label. There's some great tunes here that get that wonderful Williams treatment – and titles include "Two For The Road", "On The Southside Of Chicago", "This Guy's In Love With You", "Bonita", "No One To Cry To", "A Question Of Love", "The Sinner", "Our Night To Howl", "Proud Mary", "What's The Matter Girl", "Too Young", "I Don't Know How To Love Her", "Through The Years", "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town", and "San Francisco". ~ Dusty Groove
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