Soul Express CD Review

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This is an album I really, really wanted to own on CD. Thanks to Collecatbles stateside this is now possible. Warner over here in the UK have had two Blue Magic albums tabled for some time now and they keep getting put back. In fact, these have been in the pipeline so long Emperor Nero had teething problems when they were first due for release. All this shilly-shallying here in the UK has meant a stupid delay, and in the meantime Collectables have already released "Blue Magic" and "Magic Of The Blue" on CD. Tsk tsk. Anyway, onto this joyous album. In my humble opinion it is the best album Blue Magic released, and boy have they released some wonderful stuff over the years! I am a sucker for Philly Soul and with the Masters at hand on this set it is inconceivable to think that this album is anything short of an essential purchase.

The late, great Norman Harris and Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey are joined by Ron Tyson, Al Felder and Richie Rome on a solid 9-tracker of classic soul. You have probably noticed from the song titles that this album (what was side one at any rate) has a definite theme. Yes, all things spooky are on order, and the cover sports an amazingly clever piece of artwork. After all these years had I noticed that the trees had faces in the branches. I was never truly an observant person, as you’ve probably gathered! The group start of in a very impressive way with their gorgeous take on the Little Anthony & The Imperials 70s number, "The Loneliest House On The Block" – they indeed make it their own with more brass than the luscious strings of Thom bell, but still retaining that wonderful Philly flavour. This is an equal to the original, and if you are not familiar with the earlier version please check out the "On A New Street" album (another that begs for CD reissue.) Ted Mills’ vocals were always moresome, and this is the same for the light and breezy "Chasing Rainbows". This is classic 70s group soul at its very, very best.

The showstopper for me has to be the essential "Born On Halloween" – a classic in every sense of the word with sumptuous strings and rhythm guitar – complete with cackling witch! – married to the catchiest hook that your ears are likely to encounter. I dug this album out on vinyl last summer and my 3 year old daughter latched onto this song and merrily sung the chorus to herself for days on end. Yes, definitely Daddy’s little girl!!! "Haunted (By Your Love)" keeps the cauldron smouldering and continues with the cheerful and melodic "I Like You". Fans of First Choice’s "Got To Get Away From You" and "Armed And Dangerous" will lap up the racier numbers such as "Magic Of The Blue" and –albeit clichéd – "We’re On The Right Track". I smile when I hear these as we can see where the original Charlies’ Angels TV show got some of their musical ideas from! LOL.

"Stop And Get A Hold Of Yourself" has an introduction that reminds me of "If You Can’t Think Of Anybody Else" by the gorgeous Dianne Steinberg (oh, another screaming candidate for CD release, please). The rest of the song is brilliant, too. Margie Joseph is another fantastic talent who we should have more reissues from, and her work here on the lovely ballad "What’s Come Over Me" still sound as fresh as a daisy. Please seek out her Johnny Bristol-produced Atlantic set "Feeling My Way" on Japanese import if you can as that really is a great album too.

I hope that between Collectables and Warners here in the UK that Blue Magic’s entire Atlantic / Atco catalogue gets another raised curtain call on CD. They sure do deserve it. And while we’re at it, why not have us have a new CD from the guys too? In the meantime though, this certainly will suffice.
- Barry Towler