R&B
CLASSIC SOUL VOL. 2 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
Great
gritty grooves from this wonderful series – a sublime set of R&B tracks,
but all chosen from the perspective of later soul music too! The tracks are a
nice change from the older style R&B compilations – as they all have a
great little groove, and plenty of elements that really point the way towards
60s soul – both in the instrumentation and the really great vocals over the
top! We totally trust the Outta Sight label for their choices in Northern Soul
– and with sets like this, we find we can equally trust their choices in older
music too – thanks to a sweet set list that includes "I Really Love
You" by Jeanie Allen, "Homework" by Otis Rush, "I'm
Shakin" by Little Willie John, "What Have I Done" by Jimmy
Rogers, "Just Like You Like It" by Clennt Gant, "What A
Mess" by Bobby Adams, "Gonna Catch Me A Rat" by Milt Trenier,
"I'll Have To Let You Go" by Sally Stanley, "Crap Shottin
Sinner" by Cile Turner, "Keep A Callin" by Paul Perryman,
"I Want You Here Beside Me" by Johnnie & Joe, "Oriental
Garden" by Ramona King, and "Lost In Sin" by Spirit Of
Memphis. ~ Dusty Groove
SUPAFUNKANOVA
VOL. 2: BADASS CLASSICS FROM THE DISCO BOOGIE ERA COMPILED BY DJs JOEY NEGRO
& SEAN P (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
A
fantastic explosion of funk, soul, and club – put together at a level that may
well even top the first Supafunkanova collection! As before, the cuts here are
all super-rare and obscure – but all kick heavy ass when it comes to tight
rhythms and catchy clubby grooves – never straight disco or mainstream boogie –
but borrowing plenty from the mainstream to turn out cuts with a really raw,
underground vibe! There's a slight touch of hip hop in the mix – more that old
school skating mode – and the whole thing definitely shows Joey's decades in
cutting great cuts for the dancefloor – and his big love of the best groups
from the hinterlands. Titles include "Drive Me Insane" by Airplay,
"Betcha Got A Dude On The Side" by Star Quality & Class,
"Cool Out" by Magnum Force, "Spunk In The Funk" by Blue
Denim Band, "Walk" by Sam Culley Band, "Sound Reason (Joey Negro
edit)" by Splash, "Making Love Will Keep You Fit" by Brenda
Harris, "I'm Burning Up" by Nick Allen, "Buckets O Duckets"
by JS Theracon, "Throw Down" by Larry Harris, "Big Fun" by
Contact, "Let's Get High" by Nice & Tight Band, "Easton
Assassin" by Sunburst Band, and "Super Stimulus" by
Stimulus. ~ Dusty Groove
LUXURY
SOUL 2015 (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
Live
like a prince, but on the budget of a commoner – thanks to this sweet Luxury
Soul collection, which offers up 3CDs' worth of killer contemporary soul – but
all for the price of a single disc! This volume continues the wonderful vibe of
the series – and provides a great overview of some of the best underground soul
of recent years – pulled from the Expansion family of labels, and some other
indies as well – and put together with a really great track selection overall!
Titles include "Think About Why" by Jarrod Lawson, "Feel"
by Victor Haynes, "It's All About You" by Marc Staggers,
"Pill" by Eric Roberson, "I Promise (MONEY)" by Angela
Johnson with Raul Midon, "Struggling" by Imaani, "Luther"
by Real, "Philly Line (Colin Watson Philly rmx)" by Soulution,
"Your Smile" by Neo feat Drizabone, "With Me" by Kloud 9,
"Perfect Love Affair" by Shaun Escoffery, "Someone Else" by
C Robert Walker, "It's Just Like Love" by Sheree Brown, "What
Took You So Long" by Tyrone Lee, "Just Can't Give You Up" by
Diplomats Of Soul with Noel McKoy, and "Dondi" by Ed Motta. 3CDs and
35 tracks in all! ~ Dusty Groove