Inspired! Blood Soul Sweat & Cheers CD

As the London Olympics fades from the memory, Harmless attempts to capture the zeitgeist with a two-disc trawl through classic soul, funk and disco with a vaguely athletic theme. Utilizing tracks with titles that fit with the concept - "The Champion", "Running Away", "Keep On Moving", "Games People Play" etc - is arguably stretching the point a bit too far, but there's no argument with the quality of material on offer. Much of the music on display is either thrillingly celebratory or genuinely inspirational, from the rousing funk of Dean Parrish's "Determination" to the Motown-ish pomp of Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon's "Sweet Inspiration". It certainly beats another rendition of Vangelis' overplayed "Chariots of Fire".

Mukatsuku Records Chart, Skyline Recordings Chart