The Soul Express Album of the Month
July 2000
DERICK HUGHES All For
Love (US Be 4 Real)
Fascinating - I Think About - Love
And The Lady - More Than Love - All For Love -
More Than Love - Maybe - Segue - Somehow - The
Way You Love - Can You Say Love - Want And Desire
- Crazy - Sho Nuff In Love - Segue - Hip City -
Segue - Ebony Child - All For Love
THIS IS A CD TO DIE FOR. A small label,
and a BIG voice. If you want funky steppers in a
modern tone but without the streey trappings of
the major label homeboys then you will find a
home here. Alternatively, those like myself who
like the more downtempo stuff will salivate over
some of the material on here. Rousing is best
decribing the opening song, with the man sounding
very much like Phil Perry when
he belts out his voice. A persistant groove and a
funky beat make this an irresistible song!
The temperature rises and the tempo drops
proprtionately for the lowdown wah-wah filled
ballad I Think About - you should love
this; the vocals are the best! Ah! The real
KILLER is track three, Love And The Lady.
I was captured in this song from the very first
moment. I was both amazed and overjoyed to see
that my suspicions were right about the
spine-tingling production: Mr. Monté
Moir. If you loved his work in the 1980s
with artists such as Steven Danté,
Deniece Williams and Junior amongst
others then this song will knock you dead. Derick
Hughes gives us a STRONG soul delivery that many
can only hope to achieve. So, I guess you know I
love this song, right?!
The other Moir composition, Want And Desire is
a strong midtempo cut that harks back to his '80s
heyday. SUPERB. If these aren't enogh, the Stevie
Wonder-ish melody of More Than Love,
the early New Jack Swing sound of All For
Love (imagine Phil Perry meeting Bryan
Powell) will put the icing on your cake.
As I say, this set is a real treat for lovers of
quality modern soul. With Jevetta Steele and
Ann Nesby making vocal
appearances this set is too hot to miss. If only
the majors could open their arms to embrace such
artists, then the current R'n'B scene would be a
whole lot healthier than it is! MANDATORY.
The review by Barry Towler exclusively
for RECORD CORNER, which is one of the
leading soul shops in the world. The review is
not featured in our printed issue.
Other
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