The Albums of the Year
Our contributors' choices for the best albums of 1999. Modern
Tribe picks three # 1 nominations.
The Soul Scale Modern Tribe CD Groove On was
released by Expansion Records late 1999, and this
Detroit-based jazz-soul group really saved the year for
many soul enthusiast. Naturally, it's our album of the
month, too. The start of the new year seems also very
promising, since new albums by Maysa Leak,
Jeffrey Osborne, Amel Larrieux and D'Angelo
all get rather favourable reviews by our
critics.
Archive Material / Reissues
One of the best vocal group albums of the late 90s, the
sophomore set by III Frum tha Soul was
shelved in the United States back in 1998, but luckily
BMG Japan decided to put the record out, and now it is
sold for £ 24 in special UK soul shops. However, it's
still worth every penny, since the album not only
contains THE soul track of 1999, but is extremely solid
real soul set with modern production by Gerald
Levert, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, Keith Sweat,
Gerald Isaac etc. On the other hand, the UK
label First Experience released an album by Bridge,
who had a deal with the CBS distributed Bang Records in
the early 80s. The album contains several soul songs,
many of which Norman Connors decided to
record on his own albums. of the Westside reissues, we
delve into delightful compilations by Walter
Jackson.
Quality Time Top 30 of 1999
Our Quality Time best of countdown of 1999 contains
tracks by celebrated soul heroes such as Gladys
Knight, Gerald Levert, Smokey Robinson and Barry
White, but also tunes by lesser known soul
throats such as Leo Miller, Arnold McCuller,
Larry Springfield or Genai. A
couple of younger generation soul singers (K-Ci
& Jo-Jo, Chantay Savage, III Frum tha Soul)
delighted by their asthonishingly soulful performances,
as well.
The Decade that remode soul music from the sales
charts: SOUL MUSIC IN THE 1990´S
Our editor wrote a short analysis of the soul scene in
1990s: the decade that started in superb way when people
like Keith Washington, Will Downing, Anita Baker,
Johnny Gill, Gerald Alston, Phyllis Hyman etc.
released wonderful albums that topped the sales charts as
well..However, only a few years later the major labels
started to drop soul singers from their roster and
replaced them with rappers and "street soul
artists". The decade was saved by a string of
"new classic soul" heroes like Maxwell,
Solo, Erykah Badu, Calvin Richardson and Angie
Stone, who proved that it is not completely
impossible to gain charts success with soulful releases
these days. THE BEST SOUL ALBUMS OF EACH YEAR IN THE 90'S
Read our readers picks for the best albums of each year
in the 1990's from 1990 to 1998, picked from our readers'
poll results of the decade.
THE DRAMATICS STORY - Part 2 (1970-1974) The Dramatics celebrate their 40th
anniversary in the business after a couple of years. They
are still active today, currently recording their 29th
album called Look Inside. The second part of the
story handles their golden years of 1970-74, plus L.J.
Reynold's fabulous new set Love Is about to
Start on the reactivated Volt label. The story
continues in our next issue.
Deep Solomon Burke celebrates his 60th
birthday with a new album The Commitment, one of
the best albums he has released ever, enthuses Heikki
Suosalo in his Deep column. Other artists featured this
time include William Bell, Latimore, Jim Bennett,
Syleena Jonson, Oscar Perry, Tina Diamond and Ronnie
Barnes.
Jazz-Funk Terry Callier' latest set LifeTime is
the number one album of 1999 for our jazz-funk columist -
read the review here. Other albums that get the thumbs up
this time include the new sets by Gerald Veasley,
Philipe Saisse, Dave McMurray, Richard Elliot
and Peter White. A pile of CD's rated 7
out of 10 reviewed as well.
.
Upfront Soul
We start with a pile of indie releases worth a mention,
and continue with the sophomore releases by Tina
Moore, Dalia and Rome. The U.S.
release of the Gerald Levert newie
continues some prime cuts that were not released in the
European copy, Milira is shopping a new
record deal with a self-made third set Solution
on her own label, and LTD tries if
there's life after Jeffrey Osborne with
their new lead vocalist Greg Henneghan.
Finally, Phil Perry proves again that
he's one of the most reliable soul singers of the current
soul scene by releasing another strong set on the Private
Music/Windham Hill label.
