Soul Express Album Review VARIOUS ARTISTS: Nightime Lovers Vol. 4 (Dutch Vinyl Masterpiece, 2006) 1) Fool’s Paradise – Meli’sa Morgan (Frankie Rodriquez’ folish Re-edit) 2) Resue Me – Sybil Thomas 3) Tossing And Turning - Windjammer 4) Love’s Comin’ At Cha – Melba Moore 5) Clock On The Wall – Double Vision 6) You’re The One (You’re My Number One) – Katie Kissoon 7) Here’s To You – Thunderstorm 8) Hit On You – Roundtree 9) Dr. Jam (In The Slam) (Tony Humphries dub mix) – Men At Play 10) Hide And Seek – Five Star 11) Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love (Vocal Dance Mix) – Pink Rhythm 12) Running Gwen Pressley & Portable Patrol These folks keep on releasing material that has been criminally ignored on today’s scene. Not long ago we were deluged with 60s and 70s compilations, and we are now having more and more dodgy dancefloor material masquerading as soul, and no heed has been paid to the wrongly maligned 1980s club scene. Saying that, though, this has to be their weakest release to date with some poppy inclusions amongst the real gems. The gems are the most important things on here, and the contemporary remix of Meli’sa Morgan’s "Fool’s Paradise" is really top-notch. Twenty years after release not only does the lady look sexier than ever her voice is exactly the same and this particular song sounds as fresh now as it did then. A sure sign of a classic, and expertly handled here by DJ Frankie Rodriquez. "Rescue Me" by Sybil Thomas is another one to cheer about. Songs like this take me back and remind me how boring today’s dance scene really is (saying that check Vincent Montana & Double Exposure’s new song available on www.traxsource.com – ESSENTIAL!) Melodic, upbeat and hopelessly buoyant in spirit this is a shining example of real soulful 80s music. Oh, why did it have to end?! I was overjoyed with the inclusion of Windjammer and their 1984 classic "Tossing And Turning" – it really does not get better than this, does it? Melba Moore adds some more power with the excellent "Love’s Comin’ At Cha" which is produced by the masterful Paul Laurence. From this well familiar favourite I was introduced to a track from Katie Kissoon that was completely new to me. This really is excellent 80s soul dance in the Lillo Thomas / Kashif vein. The year is 1983, the label Jive (before it turned into a rap label) and production from the great Barry J Eastmond! Superb! Thunderstorm deliver the Leroy Burgess penned clapper "Here’s To You" from 1981 which is quite nice, but I fear the rest of the album simply does not appeal to me. Five Star, Men At Play and Pink Rhythm really do not inspire me at all but the aforementioned tracks are real dancefloor stonkers of the highest calibre. Miss this excellent volume at your peril. - 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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