All CD's reviewed by Glenn Hoskins & Barry Towler
exclusively for RECORD CORNER, which is one of the leading
soul shops in the world. These reviews are not featured in our
printed issue.
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BRIDGE
CRYING FOR LOVE
UK First Experience Records FER-CD3, 1999
1) Crying for Love 2) Stella 3) From the Darkness
to the Light 4) Fire Burning 5) Waiting Patiently 6) He Say, She
Say Game 7) Sweet & Wonderful 8) Out There in Space 9) No
Where Love Affair 10) Rivers of Love 11) Turn to Love 12) Next to
Me 13) Reach Out 14) Listen
This CD should sell like hot cakes. We all know the group - their
mixture of soul, funk, disco and Latin elements madse this
marvellous grouping a really talented band with the vaersatility
and option to change tempo, direction and beat at the drop of a
hat. Something not many artists can do today. Still, this CD is a
collection of demo cuts that won them a recording deal with the
CBS owned Bang label. These songs were recorded in 1981 and were
intended to become their album for the label. Sadly this was not
to pass, and these songs were to sit and gather dust. As one
quick spin of this CD will show this was a criminal act. First
Experience Records has now done the decent thing and has
rectified this very sorry situation.
1981, as I have said before, was a vintage year for soul music
and this is reflected in very song on this CD. I cannot really
pull out any clear favourites on this CD but please, if I may,
direct you to a few particular songs which I think should be
given special listening treatment. Vocalists Debravon Lewis
and Derick Hughes are superb, the latter is very
reminiscent of the sadly missed and masterful Donny
Hathaway. Both Stella and Listen are
excellent readings of the 1977 Norman Connors versions, and are
here performed by the writers themselves in their own right.
From the Darkness to the Light is a superb ballad
complete with flute and summary percussion background which
really does the honours. Continuing the trends is Fire
Burning which underlines how criminal it was not to have had
the material released years ago. The vocals on this song are
stunning, with Derick Hughes really laying out the red carpet.
Surprisingly, for me, was the Next to Me cut that was
covered by drummer Kenneth Nash, on his 1986 Mr.
Ears album. These tracks are but a few highlights from many
gems on here. Please do not overlook this album.
CURTIS HAIRSTON
Curtis Hairston
(Atlantic)
Chillin' Out - Let's Make Love Tonight - (You're
My) Shining Star - Hold On (For Me) - All We Have Is Love - Take
Charge - The Morning After - Let Me Change Your Mind
1986, as I keep rambling, was a wonderful year for soul music,
and is certainly better than any Godforsaken year that one could
pick of recent years. Atlantic released this fresh, midtempo
orientated album from "Curtis Hairston", the voice
behind more than one "BB&Q Band" hit in the '80s to
much critical acclaim.
The same acclaim can be offered here, but again, it is also
East-West Japan that take a lot of credit for breathing new life
into this album. The album hits the ground running with the
smooth, midtempo saxy Chillin' Out which is a track that
perfectly encapsulates THAT gorgeous mid '80s soul / dance sound.
Perfect enough, but this is also true of the eerie
"Mtume"-ish ballad, (You're My) Shining Star. I
have played this particular cut to death - as I have some of the
others!
Hold On (For Me) is a funky rattler with slap guitar and
quirky keyboard in the mix, too. Treading this very welcome path
is the uplifting Take Charge which could easily be a
BB&Q Band cut. There's the merest ghost of ricochet in
the bassline, I feel. The absolute, hands down, no nonsense
KILLER is the Solar sounding The Morning After which is
just sublime, and could easily have been from the pen of the
"Calloway Brothers". Such a euphoric, soulful and
attention grabbing track. This has always been a sound and firm
favourite in this household and I am now thankful that I can
retire the vinyl album! The track suffered from a dreadful remix
for 12" back in '87, and a listen, however brief to this
will sort the boys from the men.
OK, so we have to pay a few quid more for Jap releases, but if
you're waiting to see them on a US ar even a UK release sheet,
then you'll be waiting forever. They don't last forever, so get
them while you can.
BEVERLY & DUANE
Beverly & Duane
(Expansion UK CD)
1) Glad I Gotcha Baby 2) We Got To Stick Together
3) I Wanna Be With You 4) Surround Me 5) Take A Ride 6) Living In
A World 7) I Found Love (When You Came Into My Life) 8) It's
Gonna Be Alright (With My New Love)
What a treat it is to be able to own this album on CD.
This particular album was very rare indeed and commanded great
amounts of money, and it was a very good idea of Expansion to
licence this album so that it can be made more widely available,
and at a cheap price, too.
Produced by Will Hatcher, the album is firmly planted in
the more quality output from 1978, when it really seemed that the
whole world seemed to go disco crazy. The vibe of this set is one
rooted in the loose, fluid arrangements, luscious strings and
sweet male / female vocal duets that just ooze with memories of
summer. This is an excellent album and cannot be faulted. Those
who are regular listeners to Richard Searling's Soul
Sauce will be more than familiar with most cuts on here,
especially my personal favourite, Living In A World. The
album has not dated one bit and still sounds good today.
Without going into too much detail, if you are into the quality
soul sound of the mid / late 1970s, then look no further than
this album. Both ballads and two-steppers are aplenty and will
not disappoint. Expansion are doing some very good things, and
this series of classic albums is surely living up to it's name.
Along with the Joanna Gardner and the Leo's Sunship,
the label is giving us soul fans a true service!
All in all, excellent from track one to the very end. I cannot
recommend this set enough, and every soul lover should have this
album in their collection.
BRYAN LOREN
Lollipop Luv
(Philly World / Hot CD)
1) Sexuality 2) Sensitivity 3) Tenderness 4)
Menage A Trois 5) Caress 6) Infatuation 7) Lust 8) Ecstacy 9)
Infedelity 10) Goodnight
Hot records continue to re-release soul gems from the
1980s, and have decided to grace us with this brilliant CD that
was originally released back in 1984. Bryan's album was
not given enough credit on its original release and so it should
be highlighted right now. The whole album is a testimony to the
vocal prowess of Bryan and the production talents of Nick
Martinelli, who oversaw the whole set.
It is typically '80s from start to finish on this collection of
excellent mid-tempo classics and dancers. If you were impressed
by labelmates Eugene Wilde's Personality and Gotta
Get You Home Tonight, Joanna Gardner's Pick Up The
Pieces, or Terri Wells' You Make It Heaven,
then do not delay in purchasing this album. Vocally, Bryan has
some similarities with Eugene Wilde, and is rather
welcome! All 8 tracks are worth a mention but, yet again, space
will not allow a real in-depth review. All I will say is that the
1980s was a classic period for soul music, but very, very few
record companies actually realise this, and soley concentrate on
'60s and '70s albums to re-release. I'm not against that at all,
but one listen to this album will make you realise how good the
'80s were. Play Easier Said Than Done, For Tonight
and the tremendous Falling In Love and then realise that
there is a gaping hole in the CD re-release market at present.
Don't be put off by the title of the album (not it's original
title!), or the age of the recording artist as the music is
excellent and the vocal delivery is mature. An album that is a
very welcome re-release and should not be allowed to slip away a
second time.
THE NOTATIONS
The Notations
(Charly UK CD)
1) It's All Right (This Feeling) 2) Take It Slow
3) Bills Breakup Home 4) Make Me Twice The Man 5) There I Go 6)
Since You've Been Gone 7) It Only Hurts For A Little While 8) I'm
Losing 9) Make Believin' 10) Think Before You Stop 11)
Superpeople
Rare albums are being re-released on CD like nobody's
business at the moment, and than God for it, too! As with the Beverly
& Duane album above, this album from the legendary Notations
was another rare album that had a king's ransome placed on it by
record dealers and collectors alike.
Originally released by Curtom records in 1975, this album has all
the hallmarks of a '70s classic and sounds very good on this
digitally remastered CD. The Notations album is served up very
much in a classic '70s mould with a lot of ingredients: Leroy
Hutson is certainly one flavour.
Check out the collectors' favourite, Take It Slow, and
hear what I mean. These guys have an excellent sweet soul harmony
and are supported by some lovely tunes, crisp horns and swirling
strings. The mood, in places, is very 'Philly' too - a play on Thom
Bell and the Mighty Three production is echoed on the
timeless Make Me Twice The Man. This is the sort of track
that really hits the spot and makes you feel so, so good. There
I Go and the foot-tapper, Since You've Been Gone are
of a similar vein and I feel that they had some influence by the Spinners,
surely. There is also a bonus cut here - Superpeople which
is very much in the Curtis Mayfield bag, right down to the
vocals.
A set that is completely unmissable.
HOLLAND-DOZIER-HOLLAND
The Very Best Of
(Deep Beats UK CD)
1) Why Can't We Be Loves (previously unreleased
version) 2) Where Did We Go Wrong (feat. ELOISE LAWS) 3) Don't
Leave Me Starvin' For Your Love 4) Slipping Away 5) If You Don't
Want To Be In My Life 6) Lady By Day 7) The Picture Never Changes
8) Hijackin' 9) Didn't You Take Me From A World Outside 10) Baby
Don't Leave Me Now 11) Come Together 12) New Breed Kinda Woman
13) Super Woman, You Ain't No Ordinary Woman 14) Don't Stop
Playing Our Song 15) Where Did We Go Wrong 16) Can't Get Enough
17) I'm So Glad 18) Why Can't We Be Lovers (original version)
Back in 1992 H-D-H released their compilation, The
Picture Never Changes, which was soon deleted, and as such
became very rare. Deep Beats have done us all proud be releasing
this essential compilation of Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus
material. The album contains all the tracks that were contained
on The Picture Never Changes but includes other
unavailable tracks, and makes this CD essential.
There is a previously unreleased version of Why Can't We Be
Lovers, and Can't Get Enough and I'm So Glad
are the other new additions here; typical of the gentlemen and
their work. Quite exceptional. Don't Leave Me Starvin' For
Your Love is an absolute soul masterpiece as is Slipping
Away. The strings that rip into The Picture Never Changes
act as a sublime foundation for Lamont Dozier's unique
vocals. New Breed Kinda Woman has always been a strong
favourite not only with me, but with the modern soul / northern
fraternity and rightly so! Incidentally, this version differs
from the version offered on The Picture Never Changes as
it is quite a bit longer.
A record such as this makes you feel really good inside. Along
with Super Woman and the original version of Why Can't
We Be Lovers, Deep Beats have really come up with the goods
this time. No soul lover ought to be without this album.
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