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Elly Roberts reviews
Crums
- October 2007
- Rating: 6/10
Ali Campbell, does reggae, obviously. No surprises there.
With star chums Mick Hucknall, Lemar, Beverley Knight, Smokey Robinson andmore, Campbell does a host of covers and originals.
This second solo away from mothership UB40 has some real gems, with a couple ofduds, nevertheless its a worthy album.
Tracks were recorded at Anchor studio Jamaica to get the sunshine feel, Edenand Townhouse in London and DEP in his native midlands. Campbell has used seasonedKingston musos that include stelar rhythm section Sly and Robbie (Simply Red Night Nurse). Hes also produced it. There isnt a rootsyfeel to this at any level, as its nothing more than a commercial slant of thegenre, though soul and pop-geggae feature heavily.
Motown legend Smokey Robinson does a reasonable job on Marleys HallelujahTime, with Bitty McClean doing an original take on Charles and Eddies1992 number one hit Would I Lie To You, though there is a mid-section reggae feel.
Surprisingly, Mick Hucknall is at his least effective on Smokeys Being WithYou, despite being in his Soul comfort zone. Melua gives a dazzling vocalperformance, probably the best here, shaking off the mellowness of her albumson a punchy Dont Try This At Home. It would make a superb single. Sheraises the stakes in stiff competition from the legends.
Brother Robin joins in too, on Devoted To. Why this wasnt kept forUB40 is a mystery. Bev Knight has turned into a genuine Soul star withher recent album, Music City Soulso it goes without saying she delivers the goods on opening title trackRunning Free, written by Campbell and Travis. The Drifters Dont Go,a big favourite of Campbells gets a good dust – down and its quite effective.
Campbell, himself, remains one of the most underrated singers in the world. Ishould know, Ive seen UB40, live. So there.
Weblink:ali-campbell.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Running Free feat. Beverley Knight
2. Hold Me Tight
3. Ill Be Standing By feat. Lemar
4. Dont Go
5. Would I Lie To You feat. Bitty McLean
6. I Want One Of Those
7. Hallelujah Time feat.Smokey Robinson
8. Dont try This At Home feat. Katie Melua
9. Flex
10. Being With You feat. Mick Hucknall
11. Gotta Get Away
12. Devoted To You feat.Robin Campbell
13. Village Ghetto Land feat. Aston Family Man Barrett and Don Yute
14. Cold Around My Heart
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.