Sweet Soul Music: Various Artists

DVDfever.co.uk – Sweet Soul Music: Various Artists CD reviewElly Roberts reviews

Sweet Soul Music: Various ArtistsDistributed by
Bear Family Records

• Released: September 2009
• Rating: 10/10+
• Vote and comment on this album:View Comments

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Soul galore from ’68.

Sub-titled ‘29 Scorching Hits From 1968’, this hits and misses bumper collection trawls the best of America’s soul divos and divas, and ground breaking bands.

Many here became household names while others fell by the wayside, nevertheless they all made their mark in many ways either through hit songs, or writers and performers. In some cases, they did all three, such as Motown legend William ‘Smokey’ Robinson, probably the most successful of this bunch, and the only one still going strong after 50 years.With a fabulous collection on offer, it beggars belief that some of these great songs either didn’t enter the UK charts, or didn’t peak higher than their lowly positions.

This compilation is as much about the songwriters as it is about the artists like William ‘Smokey’ Robinson, described by Bob Dylan as “America’s greatest living poet.” Then there was prolific funk-meister James Brown, the ‘Godfather Of Soul’. After three monster hits in the mid-60s – Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, I Got You, It’s A Man’s Man’s World, his funky overdose – Say It Loud – I’m Black And Proud didn’t resonate with UK listeners, though it did during the Black Power movement in 1968 America. With its tight rhythm section and snorting horns, this one slipped the radar. It took a very special Sex Machine (1970) to get him back in favour in the UK.Also, many of these songs were tasters for what was to come for some of them, like Aretha Franklin. Her (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone followed big-hits Respect, Chain Of Fools, Think and I Say A Little Prayer, so it was always going to be hard act to follow them.

This one didn’t quite have the same SCF (Super Chart Factor).Another was Arthur Conley. His UK debut, Sweet Soul Music remains a Soul Night favourite. Funky Street with its jazz-funk-northern soul template didn’t have quite the same effect, as great a track as it is.

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Some were just one-hit-wonders such as The Impressions. Their We’re A Winner didn’t make it, but their fabulous 1975 First Impressions did. Betty Wright’s 1975 Shoorah Shoorah was massive success, though her earlier attempt with Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do failed miserably in the UK.

Others unleashed a huge song portfolio that’s stood the test of time like The Temptations. Their Cloud 9 was their 16 single in the UK charting in the summer of ’69 at a relatively low 15, spending 10 weeks on chart. Closer, I Heard It Through The Grapevine was Marvin Gaye’s only UK number 1. It was his ninth UK single of 25 originals, which re-appeared again 1986, reaching number 8. Smokey has had an impressive career, and here we get one of his best songs ever – the anthemic I Second That Emotion, his third UK single of 10.Scattered elsewhere around the collection, there’s some real gems.

One in particular, which somehow managed to make the Soul / Northern Soul scene was the gentle swing of Barbara Acklin’s Chicago Soul – Love Makes A Woman, her third single for Brunswick. I forget how many times I’ve played this as a Soul DJ. It does the trick every time. The lead vocal is sensational, but the back-ups are less cultured. There’s also a very tasty sax solo. Another floor favourite still, is the rasping funk of Who’s Making Love?, which remarkably never hit the UK charts. Success came eight years later with disco smash Disco Lady in spring of 1976.Archie Bell and The Drells hit the big time in the early 70s with top 20 disco hits Here I Go Again and Soul City Walk. Tighten Up offers a wishy-washy funky groove with its lightweight guitar riff.

Blind Alabama State University graduate Clarence Carter thrilled British fans with gospel -tinged Patches in 1970, also covered by Chairmen Of The Board which is where I discovered the classic.

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Two years before, Slip Away was more edgy, in the Otis Redding mould, with its magnificent cheating blues content. It became his first entry into the US Top 10.We all know Eddie Floyd for his anthemic 1967 hit Knock On Wood, but I’ve Never Found A Girl brought less power but more vocal subtlety.

Northern Soul floor-filler The Snake, Al Wilson opens with rolling strums that instantly get you heading for the dance grooves. It is now regarded as one of the greatest from the genre, though it only made the UK charts seven years after its US release in 1975 peaking at 41, staying only five weeks on chart.Marvin Pentz Gaye is one of the greatest popular music and soul singers ever. 1968 was Gaye’s year. Blessed with a gorgeous voice, Gaye, originally a drummer, released many fabulous songs, but it was his ninth UK single that hit the jackpot – the definitive soul single (ever) – I Heard It Through The Grapevine. He was an accomplished duetter, so it comes a no surprise he dazzled us all with Tammi Terrell on Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing.

This comprehensive collection is just one of 10, 1961-1970.

The verdict – Outstanding.

Weblink:bear-family.de

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
2. I’m In Love – Wilson Pickett
3. (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count The Days – Inez & Charlie Foxx
4. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
5. We’re A Winner – The Impressions
6. Dance To The Music – Sly & The Family Stone
7. The End Of Our Road –Gladys Knight & The Pips
8. Cowboys To Girls – The Intruders
9. I Thank You – Sam & Dave
10. Tighten Up Part 1 – Archie Bell & The Drells
11. Take Time To Know Her – Percy Sledge
12. Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
13. Lover’s Holiday – Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson
14. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone – Aretha Franklin
15. Funky Street – Arthur Conley
16. Stay In My Corner (single edit) – The Dells
17. I’ve Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You) – Eddie Floyd
18. Grazing In The Grass – Hugh Masekela
19. Slip Away – Clarence Carter
20. Love Makes A Woman – Barbara Acklin
21. Say It Loud – I’m Black & I’m Proud (Part 1) – James Brown
22. Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do – Betty Wright
23. Girl Watcher – The O’Kaysions
24. The Snake – Al Wilson
25. Hey, Western Union Man – Jerry Butler
26. Soulful Strut – Young-Holt Unlimited
27. Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor
28. Cloud Nine – The Temptations
29. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin GayeView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>

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