Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Honest Jons
- Cat.no: HJRCD23
- Released: March 2006
- Rating: 10/10
Joss Stone, Macy Gray and Corinne Bailey Rae are making a good living out of being soul pretenders now comes the real thing.
Thirty years on, 66 yearold Canzetta Maria Staton aka Candi Staton (pronounced Stay-ton) is stillremembered for her disco hit Young Hearts Run Free. More recently, shere-charted with an outstanding remix of The Sources You Got The Love.
Shesalso a very successful TV preacher and gospel singer in America. With thisstirring CD, she joins the likes of Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight as oneof the true greats.
Dropping the secular tag, she goes back to her roots.
Riddled with real pain and agony (the true essence of soul music),the divaopens her heart fusing classic soul/country-gospel/blues, Staple Singersstyle.
Coming-on strong as the wronged woman, she successfully revisits the MuscleShoals sound of years gone by. In the sleeve notes, Staton says, “This isthe music Ive had in my heart for many years. I call these tunes lifesongs. These tracks speak to the areas of our lives that are affected byour own choices and decisions. Sometimes, our choices lead us into placesthat we wish we hadnt gone, but Thats Life.”
Taking those sentiments on board, it looks like Ms Statons gone through themill and back, all wonderfully captured with every ounce of reflectiveconcentration. Each lyric targets the heart and shakes it up, as the openingsong; You Dont Have Far To Go hits the spot.
The singing, mostly balladeering, is some of the best shes ever done, witha touch of huskiness to add to the empathetic nature of the writing. Usingall her diverse musical experiences she consummately pools them togetherinto this profound listening experience.
Top tracks How Do I Get Over You, Ill Sing A Love Song To You and theupbeat Running Out Of Love.
One of the greatest southern soul albums ever recorded.
Weblink:Candi-Staton.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. You Dont Have Far To Go
2. When Hearts Grow Cold
3. Its Not Easy Letting Go
4. His Hands
5. How Do I Get Over You?
6. You Never Really Wanted Me
7. Ill Sing A Love Song To You
8. In Name Only
9. Running Out Of Love
10. Cry To Me
11. When Will I?
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.