Atlanta – Hotbed Of 70s Soul – Various Artists

The GRC Records hub in Atlanta was a thriving source of incredible soul music. Unfortunately, due to the abrupt halt in operations caused by owner Michael Thevis' incarceration, much of this musical treasure trove remained unreleased.

However, the preserved tapes have revealed astonishingly high-quality discoveries, thanks in no small part to the presence of Sam Dees. Among the standouts is Miss Louistine's original rendition of 'Con Me,' a contender for Deep Soul Treasure status. Her interpretation of Dees' 'Extra Extra' exudes sheer joy in rediscovering a lost lover. 'Paperman,' a classic mid-70s Dees composition, finds its resonance in Wes Lewis's excellent rendition with Alpaca Phase III. Collaborating with GRC talent Joe Hinton, Dees contributed to the funkier 'Shouldn't I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong.' Hinton and Louvain Demps co-wrote 'Grant Me One More Day,' a beautiful track, while 'Depend On Me' is another gem.

A surprising revelation comes from Kenneth Wright, an elusive figure today, who crafted a reel of demo songs for GRC in the '70s. 'The Souls Of Black Folks' is a tour de force, featuring Wright's compelling vocals and an ethereal female vocal that elevates it to another level.

Detroit's Deep Velvet delivered the poignant ballad 'Is There Someone Else,' penned by Counts member Moses Davis, and their original recording of the uptempo 'I'm Tired Of Dreaming.' Joe Hinton and Marlin McNichols' composition, later issued as Pure Velvet on Osiris, adds to the musical journey.

The collection is rich with highlights, including two ballads from Lorraine Johnson, an unheard track, and an alternate version of 'Keep On Walking' by Detroit's the Steppers. Southern soul purveyor Joe Graham contributes two newfound songs, while Shirlean Fant's stellar performance on 'Sure Could Do With Some You,' a co-written piece, stands out.

The original version of Dee Dee McNeil and Dee Ervin's 'There'll Always Be Forever,' later a hit for Nancy Wilson, is beautifully sung by Lomita Johnson from the first Side Effect group.

Dorothy Norwood, King Hannibal, Jean Battle, Dee Ervin, and Dee Clark all offer excellent and historically significant tracks. Notably, a long-speculated unknown songwriter is revealed to be none other than Sam Dees.