GLORIA ANN TAYLOR Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Gloria Ann Taylor, the famed soul singer from Ohio, is regarded as having recorded some of the most rare and sought-after singles of the 1970s. It may come as a surprise, then, to hear that Taylor has returned posthumously, this time for a collaborative new single with Estonian psych-funk and soul producer Misha Panfilov. 'Be Worthy' is a gospel-esque tune, with Gloria's incredible vocals and Misha's vintage production coalescing to form a fresh rendition of Taylor's original oeuvre, but with an unusually Balearic flair.

Review: By now, most should know Gloria Ann Taylor's "Deep Inside of You", a sublime chunk of rare disco-soul that's been reissued several times in recent years. Fewer will be familiar with Taylor's other work in the same period for the similarly obscure Selector Sound label, which is gathered together on this fine compilation. Evocative, tear jerking and largely heavily orchestrated in the "wall of sound" production style of Phil Spector, the heart-aching songs benefit greatly from Taylor's fragile but forthright vocal style. Ironically, the finest single moment - "Deep Inside of You" aside - is also the most sparse and bluesy: the near perfect "Burning Eyes". "Love Is A Hurting Thing" sold out when it first appeared in stores in 2015, so this reissue is bound to be popular. Don't sleep.