Alice Clark (reissue) vinyl

Alice Clark's 1972 debut album - her sole full-length outing - has long been considered one of the great, unheralded soul albums, with collectors clamouring to source copies of the hard-to-find set. As this reissue proves, it remains a fantastic album. Clark's vocals are superb throughout, soaring above gospel-influenced backing tracks rich in Jimmy Smith style organs, hazy horns and a rhythm section that strikes a perfect balance between groovy looseness and low-down tightness. The set's plentiful highlights including soaring torch song "Don't Wonder Why", the jazzy wooziness of "Maybe This Time", the surprisingly funky (but still laidback and groovy) "Charms Of The Arms Of Love" and impressive opener "I Keep It Hid".