There are lots of Soul CDs on the market, and I don't intend reviewing them all, mainly because I don't like to write negative things about them. So many CDs have one good track, and a load of crap, so the ones below are the ones that I am glad that I bought.
That is not to say that anything not here is not worth buying, just that I haven't got one (if that makes sense)
There are still lots of bootleg CDs on the market, and to be honest there are some great ones, but please don't support the guys who are doing direct copies of Goldmine, Kent, Expansion CDs.
If these companies cannot make money on their CDs we will loose them forever, and we will be the ones that suffer
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Two releases from Garry Capes new Soul Scape label.
South Side Soul is a cracker. to be honest there were only a handful of tunes that I new including Lovelites - get it off my conscience, Bobby James - I really love you, the great Classic Sullivans - Shame Shame Shame (see records page) and Keanya Collins - Love Bandit. Having said that the rest of the CD is well worth getting with some quality soul music. It's been in my car CD player for the past fortnight, and it ain't coming out yet!
Bill Brandon - On the rainbow road. Bill Brandon needs no introduction from me, his soulful rendition of Streets got my lady is almost an anthem, but equally as good is Wherever I am, I'm yours and his duet with Lorraine Johnson - Let me be your full time groover is another Northern Soul classic.
You can buy these direct from Gary at £12.99 inc P & P . Just E mail him at sales@garryjcape.com or more details at www.garryjcape.com
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The Dells - Standing Ovation 1966 - 1981
Ok I'll admit to being a big Dells fan, and a little bit biased, but you all need this CD.
Like they say "always together for 54 years", which has got to be a record isn't it. S tarting off in 1953 (the year I was born) and still together now.
It's just got all the great Dells tracks on 2 glorious CDs, not only this but tracks are taken from the masters and the quality is brilliant. Compiled by our friend Richard Searling this is a must. The sleeve notes are very informative and there are some great pictures as well.
From Northern Soul Classics like Run for cover, Wear it on your face, Make Sure and Thinking about you to the awesome Your Song, All about the papers and The love we had (stays on my mind) Go get it.
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Two amazing Albums from The Dells now on one CD
The Dells :- Chuck Barksdale, Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, John Carter & Michael Gill
From 1980 we have I touched a dream followed by Whatever turns you on from 1981
I cannot find words to say how great this CD is, GO AND BUY IT NOW !!
Kicking off with So you are love, which is just SOUL with a capital S. Things have to go down hill after that surely.....Not a chance All about the papers, picks up the tempo before Passionate Breezes is the Ultimate chill out record. I touched a dream, Just a little love and Look at us now to be honest I can only give 9.75 out of 10. Back to perfection with the awesome Your Song which has been a dance floor filler on the Northern Soul circuit for about 10 years now.
We then move into the Whatever turns you on LP which kicks off with Happy Song another uptempo piece of Dells magic, before they take you down to the most soulful song on the CD It took a woman like you to make a man out of me. If you ask me what modern soul is all about Whatever turns you on would epitomise it for me, great beat, great vocals, great soul. They have has up dancing, then have tears rolling down our cheeks with the moving How can we find the love we lost, when we don't know how it got away. Isn't it a shame, Heaven's just a step away and Is it it would be the standout tracks on most CDs, but here they are just part of a great set and melt into the 9.75 out of 10 category.
We've had a fantastic CD, but the best is yet to come!
Chuck laments "Baby, let me hold your hands, through all the years we've been together, and they've been good ones haven't they? God has blessed us with so many beautiful things, A love so strong, it would take a lifetime to undo. Still from time to time we need to reconfirm our commitment to one another Your love for me and of course all my love for you. So after all these years let's remove all doubts and fears... remember ..... I love you, God knows I love you" We then go into the familiar Stay in my corner
YOU NEED THIS CD, IF NOT SATISFIED I'LL BUY IT OFF YOU
You can get it from http://www.dvdsource.co.uk/cd_13195835 £11.41 inc delivery
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Last year we had the great You better believe it with such tracks like Betty Swann - Kiss my love goodbye, Ben E King - Smooth Sailing, Vivian Reed - Save your love for me (in my all time top five records) , Sam Dees - Fragile Handle with care etc etc etc.
Just out is Volume two, and to be honest there isn't a bad track on it, but it is worth buying just for Bettye Swann - I want Sunday back again, which in my opinion is simply one of the best Soul records ever made! And I'm not the only one who thinks so Richard Searling describes it as "Simply one of the greatest records ever recorded" ... Say no more
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I might be a little biased on this CD, but I think it is the best legal release for ages.
22 of the tracks that have been popular at Soul in the Sun over the past 7 years. And just like Soul in the Sun there is a complete mixture. starting off with a few R & Soul style tracks with The Five Royals, Wade Flemmons. Jimmy Robins and A C Reed and progressing through to Jan Jones, We the People and Rhetta Hughes. We are missing sounds like No one there and party time man, but Goldmine couldn't get the rights for them
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I know I should have put volume one of this set up ages ago, sorry.
When I got Volume 2 it prompted me to put them both on at the same time.
Two great CDs and well worth the money, to be honest there isn't a bad track on either CD,
We start Volume one with the great Tavasco - Love is trying to get a hold on me and followed by Johnny Moore - I can't survive. You're waiting for a bad track and when Ron Henderson's Gemini Lady comes on you realise it could be a while. It goes from strength to strength then we get Dottie Pearson - Bring it over baby which is just Soul Music perfection. Quality continues with Richard Caiton - I like to get near you, Sandra Wright - A man can't be a man, Carol Anderson - Sad Girl, True Image, The Lovelites etc etc etc
Volume one kicks off with Dottie Pearson - A house made of love which is brilliant and you think, it can't keep up this quality, but records like Cory Blake - How can I go on without you, Bob Relf - Girl you're my kind of wonderful (B side to Blowing my mind to pieces) Melvin Brown & James Matthews - Love Stormy Weather, , SEX, Pattie & the Lovelites, Tommy Tate etc etc etc
It's not too often that I recommend CDs but these two are really 9/10 ers
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Last year we had A cellar full of Motown, now we have volume 2 AND IT'S A DOUBLE CD
Another 42 un released Motown gems, and believe me there are some absolute crackers.
My top tunes are the awesome Contours - Take him back, Gladys Knight - Everyday I love you more than yesterday, Detroit Spinners - what am I gonna do without you, Both J.J. Barnes tracks, ooh I could go on and on. Just go out and buy it. If you don't like it I'll buy it off you, mine will be worn out soon.
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and in the same vein......
It was a few years ago that Motown sings Motown Treasures was released in the States, and what a great album it was. Well now it's been re- released but as a double album, with an extra 25 tracks.
If you look down the list of singers there are loads of our favourites:- Martha & the Vandellas, Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, David Ruffin, Supremes, Originals etc etc.
Now look down the track listings Stop in the name of love, Can I get a witness, I hear a symphony, My girl, Ask the lonely, Baby I'm for real etc etc.
But Jimmy Ruffin - Too busy thinking about my baby !!!!
I kid you not, it is one of the greatest Tamla Motown tracks EVER.
Different backing track (same as The Temptations version on the getting Ready LP) Marvin Gaye singing My Girl!!! The Fantastic Four - If this world were mine.
Say no more YOU NEED THIS CD
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This is a brand new CD and I reckon it's one of the best for a while. If you are a "Northern only" person, forget it, don your bags, grab your beer cloth and have a good nighter. BUT if you are a soul fan I think you might like this. They are all Luther Vandross tracks played on various instruments!
It kicks off with Kirk Whalum playing Any love on a tenor sax, (say no more), Paul Jackson junior then gives us Never too much on keyboards, which is brilliant, we have versions of Wait for love, Stop to love, Dance with my father, Your secret love played by people like George Benson, Boney James and Rick Braun to name just a few.
BUT
the outstanding track for me is an awesome version of Your sensitivity by Ledisi,
it's one of the best new tracks that I've heard for ages
Don't believe me, CLICK HERE
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JULY 22nd.........................................YOU MUST BUY THESE NEXT TWO CDs
Temptations old and new, both equally brilliant.
DAVID RUFFIN - UN ISSUED This is just absolutely outstanding, and a must buy, but boy is it hard to get hold of, it took me ages to track it down, but I've done the hard work for you, you can find it at http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue_ruffin.asp Tracks :- Orginal LP - HAVE A LISTEN Track 7 is awesome
1. Each
Day Is A Lifetime 2. I
Want You Back 3. Out
In The Country 4. You
Can Come Right Back To Me 5. I
Can't Be Hurt Anymore 6. Rainy
Night In Georgia 7. I've
Got A Need For You 8. Anything
That You Ask For 9. Let
Somebody Love Me
10. For The
Shelter Of Your Love 11. Dinah
12. Don't Stop
Lovin’ Me Bonus Tracks 13. It’s
Gonna Take A Whole Lot Of Doin’
14. I Want Her
To Say It Again 15. Your
Heartaches I Can Surely Heal 16. Get
Away Heartbreak (Keep On Moving) 17. You
Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do 18. Mountain
Of Memories 19. Heaven
Help Us All Mono Single Mixes 20. Each
Day Is A Lifetime 21. Don't
Stop Lovin’ Me 22. You
Can Come Right Back To Me 23. Dinah
From the first notes on the first track Each Day Is A Lifetime, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end,
I cannot recommend this CD enough.
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THE TEMPTATIONS - LEGACY Roger Williams phoned me and said "you've got to get The New Temptations CD"....That's enough for me, when Roger says that, I know it's something special. Boy was he right. The Temptations now consist of Otis Williams (Founder and the only original Temp left) and Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, G. C. Cameron and Joe Herndon. The harmonies are as good as they have ever been,
TRACKS.....Still Tempting, Round here, Stay together, Something Special, Fifty/Fifty Love, Love to the music, You are necessary in my life, Mr Fix it, All the wrong people, Baby it's me, Why can't we be loving friends, Never let you down.
Check out Roger's New Website at www.soulsorts.co.uk
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March 17th
A brand new release for Hayley records, and what a good one. It kicks off with the title track by Lynn Varnado - Ain't that something, which to be perfectly honest is outstanding. Recorded in 1978, it doesn't come much better.
The whole CD is good but stand out tracks for me are :- the very soulful Karen Pree - Painmaker, another 70's gem. Deon Jackson's silky voice is majestic on the 60's "You got the power". If you like Tony Clarke's original version of The Entertainer, you'll love this, far more soulful.
J J Barnes gives us "Think I've got a good chance" which is another magic record recorded in 1975 and released on Organic. Melvin Davis's voice is at it's best with the beautiful ballad "Saving my love for you"
Check out their website at www.hayleyrecords.co.uk where you can buy the CD direct
Lynn Varnado - Ain't that something, The Falcons - got to make a move, Van McCoy - So many mountains, Karen Pree - Painmaker, Deon Jackson - You've got the power, Jimmy Ruffin - The Entertainer, Liz Taylor - Over and under, J J Barnes - Think I've got a good chance, The Don Mancha Experience - Dance of love, Clarence Jackson - One night of love, Lorretta Kendrick - Neither one of us, Melvin Davis - Saving my love for you, J J Barnes - Love at first sight, Marshall Bob - Let it be me
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March 13th
Two more new ones from "Maple Street Records", You should just about be able to read the track listings
(if not let me know) Lots of classics and some great sounds.
Worth the money I reckon.
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Detroit Dynamite February 22nd
Another new CD from "Maple Street Records", some great sounds on this one kicking off with Narbay (save yourself £1500) other highlights for me are The Chalfontes, Deon Jackson, Orthelia Barnes, J J Barnes and funnily enough I actually like the Harvey track!
Narbay - Believe it or not, Spyder Turner - You’re good enough for me, Marissa Gatti - Love’s what you want, Harvey - Anyway you wanta, Camaros - We’re not too young, Chalfontes - He loves me, Rose St John - Fool don’t laugh, Deon Jackson - Someday the sun won’t shine, Dee and Joe - Who is gonna be, Luther Ingram - Ain’t that nice, Technics - Hey girl don’t leave me, Lamont Dozier - Dearest one, Tobi Lark - I’ll steal your heart, Orthelia Barners - Take my heart and soul, Gambells - You better move, Bobby Williams - It’s all over, Cynthia & the Imaginations - Love is real, J J Barnes - Lonely no more, O’Jays - I’ll never let you go, Danny Woods - I want to thank you, Dusty Wilson - It’s going to be a tragedy.
Available direct from Anglo American at £11.99 inc P & P on 01706 819280 of E mail raresoulvinly@btconnect.com
or Beatin' Rhythm, 43 Tib Street, Manchester 0161 8347783
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Northern Soul of New York.......February 2004
A new CD from Maple Street records featuring 24 top Northern tracks. Now anyone who knows me and my reviews know that I'm not really into the R 'n' B side of Northern Soul, I much prefer the 70's onwards stuff. Some of these tracks are awful in my opinion Freddie Houston - Soft walkin is one of the worst records that I have heard. Having said that I know that I am far out numbered in my opinion, so really it is a question of taste. If you like the R 'n' B tracks you need this CD. There are some top tracks. At Soul in the Sun, Dean Barlow has filled the floor for the past two years, I still think it is a load of crap but so what!
There are 2 great tracks Mamie Lee - I can feel him slipping away and Dee Dee Warwick - Worth every tear I cry & Jimmy Beaumont - You got too much going for you isn't too bad, apart from the wail at the end!
I remember last year Richard Searling said on Jazz FM that "in his opinion" there wasn't a decent soul record made before 1967, the mail box next week was full of people complaining. Each to his own I say.
The good side of things is that most of them only last 2.30 mins (2.10 is too long for Freddie Houston)
Available direct from Anglo American at £11.99 inc P & P on 01706 819280 of E mail raresoulvinly@btconnect.com
or Beatin' Rhythm, 43 Tib Street, Manchester 0161 8347783
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Soul Satisfaction 4 - December 2003
24 great tracks here from the R & B "nighter" sounds of Sherri Taylor and La Brenda Ben right through to one of my favourite Four Tops tracks Can't seem to get you out of my mind. The David Ruffin track is fantastic as is Bottom & Co and The Dynamic Superiors
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
A super CD lovingly put together by Jo Wallace (well done)
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If I could only have 2 of this years CDs, Luther Vandross - Dance with my father would be one, and this would be the other.
Compiled by (in my opinion) the best DJ on the Soul Scene Terry Jones it's a masterpiece.
It kicks off with probably the biggest record on the modern scene for a year or more ...Kim English - Simply Grateful, then just keeps that very high standard. Corey Glover - Little Girl is another classic as is Betty LaVette - You made a believer out of me (see favourite records page).
I didn't know Beres Hammond - Everybody's in a hurry, (although I have a feeling that Soul Sam played it at The Hilton), but loved it straight away. Then there's the pure soul magic of Dee Dee Warwick - Where's that rainbow.
And as for the last track, from the Wounded Woman LP Sandra Wrick - I come running back...wow
Possibly my favourite new one is the awesome Aretha Franklin track - Integrity
ANOTHER MUST BUY....Eddy's CD Rating 10 out of 10 without a doubt
Kim English - Simply Grateful, Karen Pree
- Make love las forever, Dee Dee Warwick - Where is that rainbow, Corey Glover -
Little girl, Lulu - You made a believer out of me, Betty
LaVette - Sha – La Bandit, Delores Hall - Stay with me, Rance Allen Group - Do
this world a favour, Beres Hammond - Everybody’s in a hurry, Ronnie McNair - I
put the twinkle in your eye,M F O S -
Where is the love, Aretha Franklin – Integrity, Marriots - Tell it like it is,
Beverlie Skeete - I have a dream, Jo Armstead - There’s not too many more,
Mildred Clarke - Keep Trying, Sandra Wright - I come running back,
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Got to say when I got this through the post I though, Oh no, another lot of oldies that I don't really want.
I stuck it in the CD player and changed my mind.
It must be ages since I heard The Artistics - Hope we have, Young Holt Unlimited - California Montage, Herb Johnson - I'm so glad, , Fred Hughes - Baby Boy, The Promises - This love is real.
and wghat about Channel 3 and The Promises?
Not to mention the other 4 great Jackie Wilson tracks, Adams Apple, 2 from Gene Chandler.......
Many of them have been on other CDs but that's the way it is nowadays, either that or the Cd is aload of crap! Still 26 tracks for around a tenner, can't be bad can it.
Eddy's rating 8 / 10
Artistics
- Hope we have, Leroy Taylor - Oh Linda,Jackie Wilson - Who Who Song, Artistics
- Girl I need you,Marvin Smith - Have more time, Cooperettes
- Shing a ling, Gene Chandler -Bet you never thought, Billy Butler -Sweet
Darling, Jackie Ross - Keep your chin up, Gene Chandler -There was a time, Adams
Apple -Don’t take it out on this world, Jackie Wilson -My heart is calling,
Johnny Jones -Purple Haze, Young Holt Unlimited -California Montage, Channel 3
-Sweetest thing, Visitors -I’m in danger, Johnny
Howard -The chase is on, Gene Chandler / Barb Acklin -From teacher to preacher,
Herb Johnson -I’m so glad, Chuck Carter -I’m a lover, Fred Hughes -Baby boy,
Jackie Wilson -Because of you, Lee Charles -Wrong number, Demures -Raining
teardrops, Promises -This love is real, Jackie Wilson -You got me walking.
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Released July 16th, this is another of those must buys, and at about £6 it's a joke, it's worth 10 times that just for the first track. There are so many stand out tracks, but Tear it on down and I got heaven right here on earth are my favourites, after the fantastic Marvin Gaye - My love for you which is just awesome.
1 Marvin Gaye - My love for you, 2 Four Tops - What you gonna do with me baby, 3 Martha & the Vandellas - You've been in love too long, 4 Choker Campbell - Come see about me, 5 The Vows - Tell me, 6 The Velvelettes - Let love live (a little bit longer), 7 Freddie Gorman - Take me baby, 8 Edwin Starr - Way over there, 9 Barbara Randolf - You got me hurting all over, 10 Marvin & Tammie - California Soul, 11 Bobby Taylor - Blackmail, 12 Hearts of Stone - If I could give you the world, Barbara McNair - It happens every time, 14 The Originals - Tear it on down, 15 The Lollipops - Look what you've done boy, 16 Fantastic Four - Don't tell me I'm crazy, 17 Brenda holloway - How many times did you mean it, , 18 The Temptations - I got heaven right here on earth, 19 G. C. Cameron - don't wanna play pyjama games, 20 Four Tops - Red Hot Love, 21 Marvin Gaye & Omar Page - Rilleh
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New CD from Luther Vandross released June 16th.
The whole CD is brilliant, I would say one of his best ever, but one track (Dance with my father) is just exceptional, any one who has lost their dad in the past few years will be in tears. Think about you is another one of those brilliant Luther tracks, and Buy me a rose is awesome........the rest I can only give 9 out of 10 !!!!!
Soul Music at it's very best.
1 - If I didn't know better, 2 - Think about you, 3 - If it ain't one thing (feat Foxy Brown), 4 - Buy me a rose, 5 - The closer I get to you (duet with Beyonce Knowles), 6 - Lovely Day - (feat Buster Rhymes), 7 - Dance wth my father, 8 - She saw you, 9 Apologise, 10 - Hit it again (feat Queen Latifah), 11 - right in the middle, 12 - Once were lovers, 13 Lovely Day part two, 14 They said you needed me
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A belting CD from Expansion ( CD EXP 16) Eddy's rating 8 /10
Jones
- Who loves you, Gloria Gaynor -
This love affair, Futures - Stay
with me, Modulations - Your love has
me locked up, Revelation - We’ve
got to survive, Invitations - Look
on the good side
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The latest from Goldmine, and to be honest if you have a lot of Goldmine CDs you will have most of the tracks on here, BUT we all want Chairman of the Board - Bless your heart and The Mayfield Singers - Don't stop now, so those clever boys at Goldmine have stuck them on this CD, so that we will all buy it. Well it worked with me, and I'm not complaining.50 tracks for around a tenner can't be bad.
Alfie Davidson - Love is a serious
business, Magic Night - If you and I had never met, Archie Bell - Look back over
your shoulder, J J Barnes - Talk of the Grapevine, Chuck Jackson - All over the
world, Johnny Bristol - Man up in the sky, Tricks - Wam Bam ali Kazam,
My top ten (ish) CDs of all time, if you are planning on buying some CDs, these will be the ones you want....honest
