Soul Express Album Review  Buy this album from our CD Shop
MAGIC LADY Hot 'N' Sassy (Dutch Vinyl Masterpiece, 1982 / 2006) 1) Freaky 2) Sexy Body 3) Give It Up 4) Hold Tight 5) Stand Up 6) Shake 7) Get Off 8) Red Hot Stuff 9) When We Love Many a flag will be waving for the release of this much sought after album on CD. It is an album I have never really been overly excited about to be honest. Yes, there are some cracking tracks on it but haven't so many other 80s albums? For me the chief track had already been released on CD back in the '90s on Expansion's compilation “Soul Chasers”. There is, though, three other must-have songs on here; my favourite being a song called “Give It Up”. If you don't know this song then it's time you became acquainted with it. It's one of the best 80s midtempo numbers you're likely to hear. The brass and strings are great and Linda Stokes sounds fantastic. This album has been remastered from vinyl and the quality is very high, although “Hold Tight” does let its guard down from time to time but nothing that truly detracts from the quality. “Get Off” is more funkier and meatier than the other uptempo offerings and still sounds very good indeed. My final pick is the midtempo closing track “When We Love”. I can tell that this is from vinyl but this should not perterb many. The album is typical of Michael Stokes' early 80s productions; meaning that smooth classy ballads nestle nicely with boogie numbers. Michael himself plays keyboards, alongside another maestro who we all know and love – Greg Phillinganes. For me though the dancers – on this particular set at least - sound a little past their prime and too of their time. I believe ballads always stay the course over dancers at any rate, and they still sound as good now as they did back then. The fact that this album is now fantastically and lovingly packaged and at a sensible price is something to celebrate. The Vinyl Masterpiece label always deliver the goods as far as I am concerned, and they will always get an extra thumbs up from me as they deal with my favourite decade – the 1980s. Many ignore this classic decade, and usually at a cost. My only wish is that the original master tapes were used instead of vinyl. I have never been a fan of vinyl and now I've gone digital I really am sensitive to the limitations of the round, black plastic stuff. You won't want to miss this album and it's something that any discerning little boy or girl would want to find in their stockings Christmas! - Barry Towler Other CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2006 Albums of the Month in 2005 Albums of the Month in 2004 Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 Other CD
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