Soul Recommendations October 2017

Review: By Athens of the North's standards, these two tracks from short-lived '70s disco-funk outfit Pure Essence are not that obscure. In fact, label boss Euan Fryer has stated that he chose to lead with album track "Third Rock" because he thinks it is better than the more sought-after "Wake Up". Certainly, "Third Rock" is something of a gem - a warm, California blue-eyed soul style workout full of flanged guitars, jazzy solos and a Steely Dan-goes-disco groove. Of course, the even hazier "Wake Up", with its' politically charged lyrics and immersive production, is also superb. We would expect nothing less from the reliable and on-point Athens of the North.

Review: Jorun Bombay has form for breathing new life into Jackson family favourites, having previously released a fine 7" featuring a stellar revision of "It's Great To Be Here". This time he tackles a solo MJ cut, lacing the vocal and horns from "Soul Makossa"-inspired single "Got To Be Startin' Something" over a bustling, bass-heavy groove previously featured on one of the most famous hip-hop cuts of all time. Arguably even better is flipside "Give Me The Remix", a brilliant, 1980s 12" dub style revision of another Q Jones production. It's pleasingly stripped-down, making use of the original's killer synth bassline, jazz guitars and sing-along vocals, whilst jettisoning much of the musical filler. Top stuff, all told.

Review: Japan's Ultra Vybe continue their Brunswick celebrations with the Chi-Lites' iconic, love-crazy "Are You My Women". Instantly recognisable and still as hot as it was in 1970, its essential "45 status remains fully intact. "Give It Away" takes us back a year before with its scorching falsettos, dreamy backing vocal swoons and full orchestral thrust, there's a reason Eugene Record used it to name the band's debut album.

Review: Since 2003, Record Kicks has been the "explosive sound of today's scene" and, by the looks of this latest nugget from Martha High, they're right on track to fulfill that promise! The talented US vocalist was on the front row of James Brown's hits in the 60's and 70's, but she's since then focused on her own glorious soul material. "A Little Taste Of Soul" comes as a ray of shining light on a wet October afternoon, full of funky sensibility and heartfelt vibes, making for the perfect dance number for those looking for that groovy thang. For the B-side, "Unwind Yourself" slows the tempo down, breaks up the groove, and unleashes High's Goddess-like voice amid those tasty breaks - what a winner!

Review: Signature Brunswick disco soul from 75: Maryann and Satin Soul's "Never Gonna Leave You" tingles with all the best elements of the time; subtle funk twists, big Philly orchestral sweeps and a disco momentum that's powerful enough to absorb Farra's tender vocals. It's backed with "You Got To Be The One" that's more on a pristine soul feel with its swooning harmonies and swaying, spiralling chords. Produced and arranged by Tony Valor, both sides are delicate yet direct and disarming... If they don't set the mood then nothing will.

Review: Super Disco Edits decision to focus on releasing previously unissued gems from the disco era has resulted in a string of essential 7" singles. Predictably, this is another must-have. Vocalist and actress Roz Ryan recorded them with producers Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore in 1980, during a spell in Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin'. They were destined for a six-track album that was sadly never released. A-side "Keep Shining" is a killer chunk of sing-along jazz-funk/disco/boogie fusion, full of sprightly P-funk synths and punchy horns. Flipside "Put Love Back", on the other hand, is a slow burning delight: a wonderful chunk of boogie-era late night soul shot through with heartbroken emotion. Both tracks are brilliant, in other words.

Review: On his edition of the long running DJ Mix series, Kerri Chandler has eschewed the dancefloor in favour of a set that showcases his "influences and inspirations". For the most part, that means a slick selection of soul, jazz-funk, disco and boogie gems from the '70s and '80s, with occasional deviations into electro (Fantasy Three's "It's Your Rock (Instrumental)"), Afro-dub (Chandler's own previously unheard "Stop Wasting My Time") and inspirational '90s fare (Innerzone Orchestra's sublime acoustic soul cover of "People Make The World Go Round"). Throw in a wealth of specially made interludes and you have a brilliantly programmed and mixed journey through Chandler's musical youth.

Review: Earlier this year, Acid Jazz signed a deal with soul legend Leroy Hutson to license his vast catalogue of work. Having already reissued a number of key releases, the long-running London label has now put together this retrospective of his solo work. It contains material from albums and singles recorded between 1972 and '84, plus a couple of cuts that were previously unissued before they appeared on wax earlier this year (most notably the brilliant "Positive Forces"). Naturally, there are plenty of must-haves present, including classics such as "Cool Out", "Lover's Holiday", "So In Love With You" and "Closer To The Source", making it a near perfect introduction to Hutson's sensual musical world.

Review: South Africa's Letta Mbulu has put out a vast amount of quality material in her lifetime, and although the singer was based far away from Europe, her music was picked up by the London massive during the mid '80s at clubs like Dingwalls and featured heavily in the rare groove digs. The opener "Sweet Julu" is now a London two-step classic, while other tracks like "Nomalizo" or "The Village" are more on the disco side, all of them filtered with a distinctly tropical edge! A top reissue!

Review: Newsflash: we can't handle Jerry Washington's love. But we sure can handle his fiery soul! Armed with just a touch of jazz on the fills and chorus, there's an upbeat, insistent energy to this Glades reissue that happened to be one of his last singles. Meanwhile on the B, fellow Glades alumni Timmy Thomas winds us right down with much more of a sensual soul ballad in the form of the swooning "What They Can't See". Two stunning sides of soul for two very different occasions; Suncut deliver the goods once again.

Review: Throughout the 1970s, Houston vocalist Sammie Relford released a string of brilliant singles on a variety of tiny labels. These days, the vast majority of these are rare as hen's teeth, making this three-track 7" something of a must-have for soul fans. On the A-side you'll find the brilliant (and near impossible to find) "Breaking Ice On Love", a heartfelt chunk of sumptuous, string-drenched goodness that sounds like it was recorded at some time during the Philadelphia Soul era, and "Hey Love", a sweet and loose ballad originally featured on Relford's 1979 debut album. Turn to the B-side for "Hook Me Up", a smooth, '80s soul style slow jam recorded in the twilight of the Texan vocalist's career.

Review: Taken from Big Crown's recent homage compendium Mr Brown Eyed Soul, "Put Me In Jail" and "Open Up Your Love Door" are two quintessential examples of Sunny Ozuna's powerful Latin soul allure and ability to stop your heart at 20 paces. The former is a real swooner with crisp plucked bluesy guitars and full band harmonies while the latter takes more of a ballad tact with sincerity dripping off every word Sunny confides. Backed with sublime Sunliner harmonies once more, this is an exceptional taster from the Big Crown's detail-rich collection.

Review: By the time Odetta Holmes recorded Southern Soul classic Odetta Sings in 1970, she'd already released a dizzying array of albums over a 13-year career. Initially a rhythm and blues artist, she played a key role in the American folk revival of the 1960s and became a leading figure in the civil rights movement. While Odetta Sings included some softly spun fusions of folk and soul (see her fabulous covers of Paul McCartney's "Every Night" and James Taylor's bluesy "Lo and Behold") and string-drenched ballads, for the most part it was an impassioned and upbeat affair, containing such classics as "Mama Told Me Not To Come", "Hit and Miss" and "Movin' It On". In hindsight, it's one of the strongest soul albums of all time, making this limited edition reissue a must-have.

Review: The latest 7" missive from the Outta Sight camp features two more impossible-to-find rarities. On the A-side you'll find a storming chunk of horn-heavy, Hammond-rich funk from obscure US psychedelic band Mr Floods Party. Originally released on GM Records in 1971, the cut has long been an in-demand amongst Northern Soul collectors thanks to its stomping beat and impassioned vocals. Speaking of Northern Soul favourites, flip to the B-side for the greatest moment from short-lived Detroit soul group Fork In The Road. Originally released in 1970, "Can't Turn Around Now" is a thrillingly energetic workout full of heavy instrumentation, surging vocals and an even heavier backbeat.