British soul-pop outfit Herbie And The Royalists return to the spotlight with a long-awaited reissue of The Soul Of The Matter, a cult 1968 album originally released on the budget Saga label and now restored by Morgan Blue Town for release on May 29, 2026.
Long regarded as a hidden treasure of the late-1960s British underground, the album has circulated among collectors and crate-diggers for decades, prized for its combination of raw charm, ambitious songwriting, and stylistic range far beyond its modest production origins. Fronted by vocalist Herbie Hunte, the group blended blue-eyed soul, mod-era pop, early psychedelia, and baroque pop influences into a distinctive and emotionally direct sound.
Across its original tracklist, The Soul Of The Matter moves between infectious soul-pop, experimental arrangements, and cinematic instrumental passages. Early highlight “Baby I Love You” showcases the band’s immediate melodic appeal, while tracks like “Royal Suite” and “Lost Voyage” reveal a more expansive, exploratory side that helped the record gain cult status over time.
Despite its limited initial pressings, the album gradually developed a reputation as one of the most compelling low-budget British soul releases of its era—an example of creativity flourishing outside the mainstream studio system. Its rediscovery and reissue now offer a new generation of listeners the chance to experience its blend of sincerity, invention, and period atmosphere in high-quality form.
This new edition presents the album on 180-gram vinyl (and CD), complete with sleeve notes and restored audio, reaffirming its place within the canon of British ‘60s soul, mod, and underground pop culture.
For collectors and fans of lost-era discoveries, The Soul Of The Matter stands as both a time capsule and a reminder that great music often emerges from the most unlikely circumstances.
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