soul that has been missed (main page)...
• j.r.bailey - just me n'you / bobby taylor - taylor made soul / john valenti - anything you want / the futures - past, present and....
I must apologise for not working harder on this page at the site. As time has passed, so many new artists need support that the 'time on my hands' days of 5 years ago, are well past. I aim to put things right via these four gems, which have meant that I haven't eaten at times in order to give these beauties a home here! LOL.
The J.R.Bailey set I have reviewed here following several re-releases of this old gem, all of which are thoroughly deserved as this is one of the best Soul albums released over the last 40 years or so. This set I bought from a guy in the States, who wanted a pretty penny for the set, however it wasn't the 12" remix of a price hike we see in the U.K. for the original MAM / London release from 1974. This is that album. When it first arrived in the house, I didn't play the thing. I just looked at it! Here was an album that is as near to perfection, that it stands proudly alongside the 'What's Going On's' and 'Innervisions' of this genre. These albums have no filler tracks, they simply don't make them like this anymore. I carefully cleaned the vinyl and played and CDR'd the set directly from the original pressing.....and then sat and stared at that! LOL. J.R.'s son Gregory got in touch with me a couple of years back. Thanked me for his Dad's page at the site, probably unaware of the dizzy heights his father reached when he was a twinkle in his fathers eye. Do get Soul Brothers fine re-release of this album. Pointless looking at any single track. All recordings are fabulous.
Travel back a few years and Bobby Taylor released this state of the art in 1969. This album saw a new lease of life with Richard Searlings inclusion of the Modern Soul classic, 'Don't Be Afraid' on his excellent Motown Connoisseurs' release from a few years back. Back in the late Sixties, there would, following a 45 release, see the release of an album of cover songs containing hits from that period. This set is pure quality from start to finish. 'Out In The Country' is part penned by the excellent Ronn 'I Can't Forget About You' Matlock. There are melodies penned by Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, The Beatles and Ivory Joe Hunter. 'It Should Have Been Me Loving Her' was a forty five taken from this set back in the day. A solid album, well worth tracking down.
John Valenti's Ariola album from 1976, was very much a sleeper. In fact it wasn't until the Modern Soul Scene picked up on the albums title track and 'Why Don't We Fall In Love', which made its way on to one of the early 'Soul Togetherness' compilations, and quite rightly so. The album is mainly set at a fairly high tempo, which suits John's Blue Eyed vocal stylings. Side One here definitely shades side two for these old ears. My personal favourite melody here is 'Morning Song'. That is a simply beautiful piece of songwriting. So what does the bloke look like? Here is is in the late Seventies:
Last, and certainly not least, are the fabulous Futures. This is the final piece in the Futures jigsaw of vinyl here, so it was a pleasure to finally get my hands on this set, which is probably the pick of the bunch regarding all this band's releases. On Philadelphia, this has all the hallmarks of that classic 1978 period in the label's archives. 'Ain't No Time Fa Nothing' has a lot to answer for in this house! If it wasn't for the fact that I had a 45 from this set here for the last couple of decades, I would have pursued this album with more vigour. That tune embodies all that is the finest in the representation of Rare Groove. It put the 'R' in that particular genre. If you feel a little down, I defy you not to feel on top of the World after you have listened to 'Party Time Man'. Lovely uplifting dancer. Those are the elements you know....of those you don't, well classic Philly needs no description. It is what it is and we, as Soul Music followers, all know what we mean by the term. 'Deep Inside of Me' is a glorious mid tempo, part Cynthia Biggs penned, piece of perfection. 'You Got It (The Love I Need)' moves along in a 'Used Ta Be My Girl' kind of vibe, '(You're The One) So Special' is very Spinners-esque, all of which mean.....watch out for the odd original or reissue in your bargain bins! From a time when music and melody were paramount over looks and fads. Lovely album.
• the soul searchers - we the people / salt of the earth
One of the matters, that mostly I am asked about at the site, is where a Soul Fan can find a record. In most cases I send folks off to www.gemm.com, even though they are a catalyst for several retailers, who are all things to all people musicwise. In the U.K. there are some good retailers, one of whom is the Soul specific shop, Soul Brother. The Prangell Brothers, who run the establishment, are workaholics (for want of a better description). Not only do they retail stock, picked up largely in the States, they have their own label that releases older material, much of which appears on many punters 'wants lists'. Thank heavens for retailers such as these. They are part of the adhesive that binds this music together and allows us to listen to the music that many of the majors will not allow us to (for reasons of their own). A very good illustration of their efforts is this fine double header of two early releases from Chuck Brown's Soul Searchers ensemble.
The initial release, 'We The People', hit the streets in 1972, followed 2 years later by the excellent 'Salt Of The Earth'. Most folks know Chuck Brown via the early Eighties Go Go scene. Tunes such as 'Money', were huge at the time. These albums show his activities prior to that musical movement.
CarrCee Productions produced and arranged both of these albums and kick-started Chuck Brown and the Soulsearchers' career on Sussex Records with Clarence Avant.
'We The People' is the first reissue on CD and vinyl. Their second album from 1974, was originally released on the Sussex label.
Chuck Brown had begun his musical career in the early 60’s playing guitar with Jerry Butler and The Earls of Rhythm, joining Los Latinos in 1965.
These two releases contain several songs that have been sampled over the years, which has, subsequently, led to the original vinyl becoming highly collectable and expensive.
Soul Brother were also responsible for the re-issue of probably one of the greatest Soul sets from the last 50 years. That being J.R. Bailey's 'Just Me & You' album. If you haven't bought that album, do go treat yourself. It is worth every fraction of every penny of your hard earned salary. This is a label that really does deserve the support of any discerning Soul Fan. Two recommended releases here.
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