All CD's reviewed by Glenn Hoskins & Barry Towler
exclusively for RECORD CORNER, which is one of the leading
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DEXTER WANSEL The Very Best Of Dexter Wansel (Recall)
Contains all 4 albums: Life On Mars Voyager What
The World Is Coming To Time Is Slipping Away
This is what I call a best of!!! Two discs comprising ALL
four of the man's Philly albums in one convenient package
(although the graphic design leaves much to be desired ).
Although West Side have released these 4 albums on two separate
discs this CD really is value for money and also takes up less
space on that ever decreasing CD shelving space!!!
For my money Dexter Wansel is a musical genius
and still is in my book. His works with Juanita Dailey and
Rodney Mannsfield amongst others recently have been
milestones in '90s soul music. What we have on this double CD is
EVERY great Wansel song that was ever put out on the great, great
label.
The best album, I am sure, is 1976's epic Life On Mars
containing so many monster songs that it hurts. One Million
Miles From The Ground is my personal KILLER cut, followed
closely by the intense foot-tapper You Can Be What You Wanna
Be. The What The World Is Coming To album heralded the mighty
instrumental offering First Light Of The Morning with the
trademark cosmic Wansel-esque keyboards.
The Bunny Sigler and Jean Carn song Holdin' On
is the cream of the crop where that album is concerned. The
Sweetest Pain is THE Dexter Wansel recording; certainly his
most well known and is a close runner with the excellent New
Beginning. Voyager was a great set, too, with my favourite
being the memorable Let Time Be The Teacher laden with
strings just as all great Philly recordings should be. A late
release perhaps after Repertoire, The Right Stuff and West Side
have covered these sets already. Who cares? All four albums in
one package and that can't be bad, can it? Now what about Bunny
Sigler..?
VARIOUS ARTISTS - Philadelphia Uncovered (Philadelphia
International)
SILK I Can't Stop Loving You / DEXTER WANSEL The Sweetest Pain /
INSTANT FUNK So Glad I'm The One / JEAN CARN I Bet She Don't Love
You Like I Do / BUNNY SIGLER Come On And Dance, Dance, Dance /
MFSB Tell Me Why / O'JAYS Lovin' You / PATTI LABELLE I Can't
Forget About You / TEDDY PENDERGRASS Only To You / DEE DEE SHARP
GAMBLE I Love You Anyway / THE STYLISTICS You're Leavin' /
PHYLLIS HYMAN When I Give My Love This Time / DELLS Baby Don't Go
Away Mad / MFSB Summertime And I'm Feelin' Mellow / JEAN CARN Was
That All It Was ( full length mix )
Actually, this is a Passion Music release released under the
auspices of Ralph Tee and Richard
Searling so quality isn't an issue here, and with this
set of unadulterated and uncompromising REAL SOUL what grips me
is the inclusion of Silk's I Can't Stop (
Turning You On ), MFSB's Tell Me Why
featuring Carla Benson and especially Come
On And Dance, Dance, Dance by the powerful Bunny
Sigler the cream dance cut from 1976's My Music (
an album screaming for re-release ).
A song that I was personally unfamiliar with is Patti
LaBelle's GORGEOUS I Can't Forget About You.
The sleeve notes describe this track as one that will polish you
off. No understatement, either. Dexter Wansel is
responsible for this GEM and the song is being flogged to death
as I write this piece! Superb soul music from 1985.
The gorgeous Lovin' You from the O'Jays'
Let Me Touch You set is a masterpiece of soul
sophistication from 1987, and the '90s are included also with two
MONSTER songs from Phyllis Hyman and The
Dells with When I Give My Love ( This Time )
and Baby Don't Go Away Mad respectively. Songs like
these prove that even in today's cold, brash and disparate black
music climate quality soul can be made just as it used to be
years ago. I hope that there will be a follow-up compilation that
has been compiled with as much love and consideration as this
one. Well worth purchasing for the aforementioned songs and a
superb CD to pop in and let play. AWESOME.
SMOKEY ROBINSON
Intimate (US Motown)
1) Sleepin' In 2) Easy To Love 3) Love Love Again
4) Intimate 5) I'm The one 6) Just Let Me Love You 7) All Of Mine
8) The Bottom Line 9) Feelings Flowing 10) Ready To Roll 11) Tu
Me Besas Muy Rico 12) Intimate (reprise)
Welcome back! Motown really do mean business with building up the
shattered company left in ruins by André Harrell
and his Urban orientated cronies. Smokey Robinson
has been lured back into the studio to help recreate the company
that we all knew and loved, and obviously the man himself has
firm opinions on the new stewardship and ethos of the label. The
end result is Intimate and reviewing this CD comes as
much as a pleasure in reviewing as in the first hearing of the
album. I can say that this has to be the man's very best set
ever, every track a winner, melodies strong; the voice instantly
recognisable, and the songs heartfelt and brimming with sensitive
lyrics and soulful overtones.
The man has been labelled as "the greatest living poet"
and nothing on here shakes that title at all, but adds esteem to
it. Berry Gordy, Michael Lovesmith, Michael Stokes
and Smokey himself are responsible for writing and production,
and it is so difficult to prise away a favourite or two, but I
must admit a penchant for the more midtempo numbers. These are
slinky, lowdown and awash with a sexy undertones that reach down
into the soul and pulls out all the stops where musicality is
concerned. Sleepin' In, the sexy and funky synth MONSTER
Intimate, All of Mine and GORGEOUSLY written The Bottom
Line are literally soul sophistication itself. Fans of Boyz
II men / Brian McKnight / Babyface / Jon B styled ballad
will adore I'm the One, a song given decent exposure
would give the man a serious US hit single, I'm sure. Smokey must
be in his early 60s now, but his voice has done nothing but
improve with age. There is absolutely no hint of deterioration
and his song-writing goes from strength to strength. My only hope
is that the gentleman bides with Motown and ensures that some
sanity and credibility is restored in greater measure for the
21st Century. Unmissable.
SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS
Reconcilation (US Zinc CD)
1) DJ Intros 2) Try 3) You Are the One 4) Thank
You 5) Reconcilation 6) Twenty Four & Back Again 7) For Old
Times Sake 8) Tell Me What You Thinkin' 'bout 9) Rainbow 10) Love
Will Change Things 11) Don't Be Afraid to Dream 12 ) Straight
Ahead 13) Reconcilation Blues (Interlude) 14) Sounds of Blackness
/ Take the "A" Train
As far as Sounds of Blackness is musically
concerning, I would say that this has to be their best offering.
The obvious dance / soul hits aren't there this time, though - so
don't go seeking Optimistic or similar as they simply
aren't here. What you will find is more on par with the more deep
and soulful efforts. There are some dancefloor-aimed songs on
this CD, but they tend to veer towards the teeny R'n'B / rap end
of the market. And you know as will as I do how I view such
things. Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I like my soul to
be soulful and aimed at the mature listener.
That aside, I'm sure the Spinners' It's a
Shame derived Try will fare them well on Urban
radio, but the songs I wish to draw attention to are the more
laid back and ballad orientated songs which, believe me, are
simply blinding. The first of these is the knee-trembling Thank
You with its sensuous lyrics and soulful duet. I guess that
if you, like me, adored their AWESOME Love Will Never Change
from their Time for Healing set then you will instantly
be sold on this and other cuts such as For Old Times Sake,
Rainbow and Don't Be Afraid to Dream.
Gary Hines and his mighty cavalcade are doing
extremely well without the mighty Ann Nesby and the likes of the
masterful Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis behind
them. Still, they have been doing the rounds since 1972 and they
know what they're in the business for. All types of music are
embraced by this unit in order to get their message across - the
old Philly adage was that "the message is in the music"
- and Reconciliation does just that. If they can record
a CD that appeals to the younger urban listener, AND appeals to
us Lowdown folks, then I am not complaining. A sterling
effort and 4 MONSTER cuts that are superb.
CALVIN RICHARDSON
Country Boy (US Universal)
I'll Take Her (feat. K-Ci Hailey) / Lovin' You
/Trust Me So Much / Vibe / Never Knew Love / True Love (feat.
Chico DeBarge) / Half Time Love / Looks Like (You've Been Crying)
/ Close My Eyes (feat. Monifah) / Nightmare (Her Love) / Coming
Home / Country Boy / Disrespectful Ghetto
Jazz FM and Richard Searling have been making a
lot of noice over this newcomer for Universal Records. Are they
right? Frankly, yes. I had feared that this set would be
quasi-country at best and horribly street R'n'B at worst, and so
it was a very nice surprise to hear the sheer depth of soul that
this young guy has in his voice.
The compositions are, I found, hard to pigeonhole - the beats, in
places, remind me of modern street betas, and the guitar is
wholly in region of Tony Toni Toné; the vocals
a pleasant mix of Bobby Womack and Rome.
Odd combination, I agree, but the end result is pure MAGIC.
The K-Ci Hailey collaboration is a wonderful and
gritty belter in the best traditions of gospel tunes, fresh to
the ear and highlights how the ex-Jodeci vocalist
really can stretch his ample vocal chords.
My persdonal favourite is the ultra-soulful yet hard-edged Lovin'
You with a real Raphael Saadiq flavour. The
guitar riffs tops the track off superbly as does the soulful,
pleading and expansive vocals. The cover of Bobby Womack's
Trust Me So Much is absolutely superb, with Calvin
making it into a truly late '90s affair but with more than enough
of the original-isms of the 1985 original. Cuts such as Vibe
and Never Knew Love are awesome modern quiet storm
moments that ooze quality and style in great measure.
Motown's Chico DeBarge produces an odd, yet
intensely growing song True Love very much in the vein
of Stevie Wonder ala Music of My Mind
with an almost militaristic live drum roll. Superb stuff indeed,
but things do actually get better! Half the Time is a
mega-soulful contrast, again, in quiet storm mode. The icing on
the cake has to be the '60s jazzy orientated Coming Home
which has to be heard to believe. Richardson stakes out his
soulful territory very distinctly here, and I hope he returns
soon with more strong soul.
K-CI & JO-JO
It's Real (US MCA)
I was very surprised (in a nice way, of course) on their first
solo set away from Jodeci. For me, although not
in the sophistisoul league, it was still a step in the right
direction - off the street and into the classier part of town.
Their inclusion on the recent Life OST was a TASTY
forerunner for this CD, which is even more away from the street
into more gentle climes. The young chaps really have soulful
voices, both complimentary, distinctive and have that wonderfull
gruff gospel orientated rasp to it which is really a treat.
Jeff Redd has overseen this project, and the
cuts are more soulful than before, and should appeal to the more
upmarket listener. Fee Fie Foe Fum is a really
addictive, cacthy beat ballad that niggles into your brain,
presenting their rough vocal style neatly. Other worthwhile
outings include I Wanna Make Love to You with its more
"live" musical feel and the Tony Toni Toné
inspired I Wanna Get to Know You.
As far as the ballads go, How Long Must I Cry is more
traditional in its arrangement, and really prove the vocal worth
of the young brothers. They really do shine outside of the
contricting cage that is urban '90s R'n'B.
If you know Somethin' for the People and Eric
Benét's Act Like You Want It track then there
is similarity in the arrangement of Makin' Me Say Goodbye,
although it isn't quite in the same league. As mentioned before,
the New Classic Soul sounds of the mouthwatering Life is
included from the Eddie Murphy movie of the same
name. Perhaps this is the strongest track on this set, but
shouldn't be allowed to overshadow the other songs included in
this review. I wouldn't call this CD as essential but please bear
it in mind as I think that it merits serious attention. Check out
Girl with the Tony Rich flavours and I
think you'll be reasonably convinced.
OLU
Soul Catcher (US Gee Street, 1999)
1) Together 2) Day After Day 3) Sista Why 4) Don't
Cry 5) Long Way 6) Sweet Melody 7) My World 8) Baby Can't Leave
It Alone 9) High Desert Woman 10) A Change 11) Soul Catcher
If you are looking for something a little different, a
step to the left, but without treading into territory which is
too trendy for the serious purchasers, or too wacky for the
connoisseur, then please may I introduce to a new addition to the
soul world, Olu, and his intriguing set Soul Catcher.
Gee Street isn't the first label that springs to mind when
thinking of soul music, but nevertheless here they are and here
it is. The best possible way I can describe this set is rather an
amorphous mulch of styles that one can pick out Impromp2,
Nu Soul Habits and JK in a few places.
Interesting, isn't it?
Well, I for one am rather struck on a number of cuts starting
with the Impromp2 styled Together with its neat spoken /
semi sung vocal and soulful musical background. This really is a
choice tune without doubt - not for the soul purists perhaps, but
I seriously suggest that those ears too give it a listen.
Alternatively is Sista Why which is very soulful indeed,
with a slinky jazz based background with soulful saxophone
(artist not listed!) and vibes aplenty. I can hear touches of JK
and Vertical Hold on Don't Cry which is
welcome, surely, and subtly funky without becoming
"street".
Personally, Long Way is my favourite track: the quiet
storm groove that really warms the heart and has every correct
element for a lowdown quiet storm thumbs-up track. The male
backing vocals on the song, and Olu's voice is absolutely superb.
I think that anybody with a soulful bone in their body will own
these tracks that I have highlighted. If this still hasn't swayed
you then cap it off with Sweet Melody which has shades
of Marvin's I Want You in there along
with the smooth vocals and summery keyboards. Different, fresh
and not unpleasing. Try it.
JEAN CARNE
Closer Than Close, The Best of Jean Carne (US PIR /
Right Stuff 1999)
1) Valentine Love 2) Free Love 3) If You Wanna Go
Back 4) Don't Let It Go to Your Head 5) There's a Shortage of
Good Men 6) Together Once Again 7) When I Find You Love 8) Intro
/ My Love Don't Come Easy 9) Was That All It Was 10) Sweet and
Wonderful 11) I'm Back for More 12) Love Don't Love Nobody 13) If
You Don't Know Me by Now 14) Closer Than Close 15) Ain't Now Way
Jean Carne. This name sumps up a whole host of
qualities that us soul / jazz lovers admire: class, durability,
reliability and conistency. Britain's very own and much respected
scribe David Nathan is responsible for this particular
compilation and although he has done an admirable job on here I
still believe that it could be a touch better. For instance I
would love to have seen Dreams of Tomorrow included from Dexter
Wansel's What the World Is Coming To set, but there
again as with all compilers the end result is usually personal
preference, so onto what we do have to enjoy - and there is
plenty, believe me.
Something, as they say, for everybody and covers her Philly sets,
her Motown album and her stints with Omni and Atlantic labels. My
personal favourites include the Philly classics Free Love,
The O'Jays sounding If You Wanna Go Back, the ever
popular Don't Let It Go to Your Head and the ultra-soulful
and summery My Love Don't Come Easy with the saxy intro
that sets the hypnotic escalating rhythm off perfectly.
Talking of classics, and rarities, her collaboration with soul
legend Al Johnson is included (do NOT miss his new CD My
Heart Is an Open Book). For the collectors there are two
tracks from her 1982 Motown set, Trust Me: If You Don't
Know Me by Now and the excellent Completeness - both Norman
Connors pieces. More up to date is Closer Than Close
which features Grover Washington, Jr. What a classy tune!
I wish that Heartache had been chosen from her 1988
Atlantic set, but Aretha's Ain't No Way has been
plumbed for which is still a mighty fine version.
Closer Than Close as a compilation is a very good musical
overview and hopefully bridges the gap as we await a new CD from
the lady, as it is long overdue in my opinion!
KUH
Precious (UK Expansion 1999)
1) Lover's Journey 2) Keep on Loving Me 3)
Dreaming 4) I Remember Your Love 5) Love Will Follow 6) I Cry 7)
I Pray 8) Silence 9) What a Fool Believes 10) Precious 11)
Moonlight 12) Spirit of Manila 13) Love Begins with You 14) Kuh's
Theme
Although a new name to us, this pretty young Lady is a
very big name in her native Philippines and begs for the
attention of the soul lover. Yes, that's right - and now she is
overture for exposure to a wider audience. This is being expertly
delivered via Expansion Records and with production coming from
the wonderful Attala Zane Giles who bought us
some expert and haunting ballad performances in the late '80s and
the early '90s such as Gladys Knight, Will Downing, Bert
Robinson, Vesta Williams and Meli'sa Morgan
among many others. This young lady is no exception.
Musically this CD is superb and the haunting style of production
is still there - although I must admit that while her voice is
very good I feel that a more jazzy approach may be applicable to
this Lady's talents. It does tend to get a tad lost amongst the
gorgeous lyrics and the spine-tingling arrangements. That is a
trifle when we sit and listen to mouth-watering delights such as
Lover's Journey or the dreamy Silence, which are
pure listening treasures.
The version such as Love Will Follow cannot beat the
original, but is handled far more expertly than Carl
Anderson or Jevetta Steele's versions
from back in '92. Although a superior version, still nothing can
touch the mega-soulful Kenny Loggins original.
Again, What a Fool Believes is masterful and soulful -
hats off to Kuh and Zane Giles on this one!
In all truth this is not a CD that you would want to miss. It has
a depth of quality in terms of musicality, production and lyrical
content that is oh-so-lacking ion this current climate. Expansion
can be justly proud of this ultra-soulful release of theirs - and
hope that we see more of the same in the coming months. Mandatory
sophistisoul.
STEPHANIE MILLS
The Ultimate Collection (US Hip-O)
1) The Passion & the Pain 2) Movin' in the
Right Direction 3) Home (Finale) 4) I Took My Strength from You
5) What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin' 6) Sweet Sensation 7) Never
Knew Love Like This Before 8) Keep Away Girls 9) How Come U Don't
Call Me Anymore? 10) The Medicine Song 11) I Have Learned to
Respect the Power of Love 12) I Feel Good All Over 13) (You're
Putting) A Rush on Me 14) Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)
15) Comfort of a Man
Covering her period from 1974 - 1989 this is a pretty
comprehensive set from Hip-O and David Nathan,
who was responsible for the excellent Phyllis Hyman
set last year. Until this set I had not heard The Passion and
the Pain and Movin' in the Right Direction from
1974 when Stephanie was merely 17 years old. The quality is
awesome and we are left wondering why we are deprived of such
young talent today. New jack '90s R'n'B divas please close the
door when you leave.
The supremacy of the Lady, her vocal skills and the quality songs
are followed on here through her somewhat dodgy Motown LP and
onto her excellent tenure with 20th Century Fox and Casablanca in
the late '70s and the early '80s. The Mtume/Lucas material
are second to none - tracks included here are What Cha Gonna
Do with My Lovin' (a true soul classic), Sweet Sensation
and Never Knew Love Like This Before.
Ashford & Simpson's Keep Away Girls
is as timeless, too, highlighting the golden era the late '70s
and early '80s was. David "Hawk" Wolinski's
Medicine Song is always a popular cut - a bit dated
perhaps, but worthy of inclusion. Better still is the Rene
& Angela cut I Have Learned to Respect the Power
of Love which has not dated one iota. Angela Winbush
pops up later, too with the excellent Something in the Way
(You Make Me Feel). From 1987's If I Were Your Woman comes
2 betters - I Feel Good All Over and the still-fresh
dance classics from Paul Laurence, (You're
Puttin) A Rush on Me in full-length glory. There is
something for everybody's taste here - a few rarities, some
classy gems and a few hits to boot. All we need now is a NEW
Stephanie Mills album.
JON LUCIEN
Sweet Control - The Best of Jon Lucien (US Razor &
Tie)
1) Dindi 2) Find Yourself a Lover 3) Would You
Believe in Me 4) Lady Love 5) Louella 6) Rashida 7) The War Song
8) Esperanza 9) Listen Love 10) World of Joy 11) Creole Lady 12)
You Are My Love 13) Motherland 14) Hello Like Before 15) Laura
16) Sweet Control (single edit) 17) Mother Nature's Son
Out of two Jon Lucien sets currently
available, we thought it best to highlight this set due to its
wider scope and variety. We have material here from his tenure
with RCA, Columbia and Mercury spanning 1970 - 1993.
The popular Jobim tune, Dindi, and Find
Yourself a Lover are lifted from his I Am Now set
that predates his 2 RCA sets and are released here for the first
time on CD - sounding very good, too. Would You Believe in
Me is a classic as are Lady Love, Louella, The War Song
and Esperanza and the awesome and untouchable Rashida
- my personal all time favourite Lucien cut.
From Minds Eye comes Listen Love and World
of Joy, which are essential. My favourite cut from Song
for My Lady has to be Creole Lady which is a
masterpiece - and is laid down here in all its glory! Also from
that 1975 Columbia set comes Your Are My Love and Motherland.
From Premonition is Hello Like Before and Laura
which are very good, too. The musical style leaps forward to
1991 with a rather shameful edit of the classy Jeff
Lorber produced cut, Sweet Control - taken from
the essential CD of the same name. To round off the CD is the
atmosphere and tropical Mother Nature's Son from the
1993 set of the same name, An essential set that is rather broad,
but I must also recommend his new set, By Request, and,
of course, the forthcoming Richard Searling compiled
UK RCA set which will be aimed purely at the connoisseurs among
us.
