Soul Express CD Review

I bought this CD blind and thanks to the rigmarole of moving home and what-have-you it sat sealed up for over a week in one of the myriad of boxes that littered our new home. In the meantime I was advised that the album was "rather disappointing". Thanks, I thought. When I set out to play it I was not expecting too much but in fact I was very pleasantly surprised. For my money this is one hell of a CD and I can heartily recommend EVERY track. These are unissued gems from the period spanning 1976 - 1981 and this is a truly magical period for black music, and Roy Ayers in particular. Jazzy, funky, sexy, reflective and fun, this CD is a rollercoaster of the best which only Roy Ayers does best.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing this GENIUS live on stage will know exactly what I am talking about. From the funk of "Boogie Down" to the Dazz Band / Switch sounding "Oh What A Lovely Feeling" we are embracing sheer class. How much more of this is hidden away in Roy's cupboards I do not know but thank God these came to see the light of day. If there's any more, Roy, be sure to let us hear them. Along with Roy are a host of talented vocalists including Carla Vaughan, Sylvia Cox, Merry Clayton and Diane Venter.
"Boogie Down" not only opens the CD in style, it also opens a can of Bart Simpson's proverbial Whoop-ass from the speakers. The infectious, slinky hi-hatted, string-laden groove is pure bliss and the vocals of Carla Vaughan are nothing short of sensational - perfectly adapted to this sort of late 70s soul / funk groove. This will have you bopping in the armchair, driving seat or on the discerning dancefloor and that's a money-back guarantee.
Talking of infectious - check the quirky funk groove "What's The T?" with Merry Clayton doing her thing accompanied by sharp horns and THAT Mizzell Brothers / Sky High Productions synth line flowing under the funky groove. If this doesn't make you dig out your old flares (or borrow your kids') then I will eat my hat. My personal favourite is the gorgeous mid-tempo masterpiece "Oh What A Lonely Feeling" complete with strings at the start and so develops into an expansive bubbly, scratchy guitar rhythm complete with bongos and all. This is CLASSIC stuff and I cannot recommend this song and the CD enough.
"Mystery Of Love" features Merry Clayton again, alongside Roy Ayers who shadows vocally and falls snugly into a downtempo groove that is second to none. For those who love vibe-based instrumentals "Green & Gold" is pure class and is reminiscent of "Marlon" from his 1987 Columbia album "I'm The One (For Your Love Tonight)". Again, a great, great track and will go down a storm with fans of the man and the vibes in general. Another great instrumental effort is "I Did It In Seattle". What he is alluding to I do not know. It probably was not anything boring!
Vocalist Carla Vaughan joins Roy on the duet "Together Forever" which is bolstered with William Allen's expert string arrangement. This song is another slice of Ayers' genius and again has that lovely synth line centre stage – a fantastic sound that I loved from the mid-1970s. To hear these songs fresh and new, though, is a real treat and what really is fantastic is the chunky closing cut that is the predecessor of "Nasté". This utilises much of the same lyrics - a song I believe was featured on his live set at the Soul Weekender over the Halloween period in 1986 if I remember rightly.
This CD is simply great and no-one should be without it. Thanks to BBE for releasing this project and I prey that they are considering a second. Thanks too to Mr. Roy Ayers – just for being himself, true to his music and allowing these GEMS to see the light of day. ESSENTIAL.
- Barry Towler