Soul Express Album Review

VARIOUS ARTISTS:
Disco Giants
Dutch Vinyl Masterpiece, 2007
Disc 1:
1. CHIC – You Are Beautiful 2. ONE WAY – Let's Talk 3. CHAKA KHAN – I Feel For You 4. TRAMAINE – Fall Down (Spirit Of Love) 5. MARY JANE GIRLS – Candy Man 6. CON FUNK SHUN – Burnin' Love 7. NETWORK – I Need You 8. THE QUICK – The Rhythm Of The Jungle 9. SELECTION – Got To Be Real 10. YVONNE GAGE – Garden Of Eve (long version)

Disc 2:
1. BB&Q – Dreamer 2. AURRA – You And Me Tonight 3. LOOSE ENDS – Nights Of Pleasure 4. ROCHELLE – My Magic Man (Magic Mix) 5. STEPHANIE MILLS – You Can't Run From My Love 6. JOHNNY KEMP – Just Another Lover 7. THE SYSTEM – You Are In My System 8. LEON HAYWOOD – I'm Out To Catch 9. FIVE STAR – Love Take Over 10. MAXX TRAXX – To Be With You


The good folks behind the Behind The Groove radio show are on my wavelength. We all have a mutual love and respect for 80s dance / club music. Most releases to date have been to my liking, and this has its high points. I would say it's fair to comment that this is a more commercial release than previous releases. There is something on here for everyone. Some tracks still sound as good to me today as they did when they first hit the streets, and some like “Let's Talk” by One Way sound hideously outdated, and serve as a warning to quality acts who try to sound too “of the moment”. Anyway, who wants to talk about it! Turn words into action, that's what I say! Chic's 1984 effort “You Are Beautiful” has been given a fresh makeover by Frankie Rodriguez, and it is very good, although there were far more stronger tracks on that album for these ears.

Back in the mid 80s it was not uncommon for quality records to chart. For instance when Chaka Khan was languishing at the top of the charts with the seminal classic “I Feel For You” we also had the likes of The Temptations with “Treat Her Like A Lady” and the Dazz Band with “Let It All Blow in the UK top 10 also. Oh, those were the days! Here is the 12” mix of “I Feel For You” which is great, though I still plumb for the 7” or album version! Con Funk Shun had a minor hit here in the UK in the summer of 1986 with the classic “Burnin' Love” - what a great tune, and, you know what? It is still as fantastic today. The full 12” mix is here for your delight. This is not purely nostalgia. You simply cannot lay a good tune to rest, its as simple as that.

Got To Be Real” by Selection is a new one on me, though was released back in 1982. I really like this groove. It has a late 70s flair and the swirling strings and funky groove can do little to disappoint. Disc Two opens with another dead-cert floor-filler in “Dreamer” by the BB&Q Band. This is another quality, timeless slice of 80s dancefloor friendly soul music. This, too, is the long vocal version courtesy of Shep Pettibone (remember him?). Yet more killers follow this monster. Aurra are included with their 1986 Summer jam, “You And Me Tonight” as is the UK's very own super-talented Loose Ends who have the beautiful “Nights Of Pleasure” - and the Nick Martinelli mix no less.

Stephanie Mills is another sure fire hit with her scratchy, brassy Mtume & Lucas produced stepper “You Can't Run From My Love” from 1983. Johnny Kemp released the 12” of “Just Another Lover” in 1986 but I always have preferred the original LP version – which has been brought out by the excellent Funkytowngrooves label here in the UK. Michael Murphy and David Frank of The System should be forced into the studio to make new music. Their ESP CD back in 2000 had some tasty moments, and hearing “You Are In My System” only makes me want their return even stronger than before. Come on, Science Lab boys, where are you? This song is still a killer, and credit to the guys for putting it on here.

Another goodie is Leon Haywood's 1983 jam, “I'm Out To Catch”. This is the type of groove that still sounds as fresh, yet a million miles apart from the work he was doing in the late 60s! What a talent to move with the times yet still maintain that quality. Superb! Many tracks will thrill, and will reignite happy memories. Some may be new to you. Others I never want to hear again(!) but what Behind The Groove do well is capture the era, and the longer they continue to do this the better! A quality double CD release.

-Barry Towler