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This Review Along With Nearly 200 Others Is Available in my
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"SOUL GALORE!"
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Your Guide To The Best CD Reissues and Remasters
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RATING: *****
HIGHLIGHTS:
Third KENTSOUL 3CD Box Set in a Series of 3
Highlighting Rick Hall's Fame Studios in the USA
Audio Between 3 and 5 (mostly 5)
Superb Content and Vastly Improved Packaging Over The Two Previous Sets
"...Going Back
Home..."
Mighty
big shoes to fill...
When
Ace Records of the UK put out the "Take Me To The River" 3CD Book Set
in 2008 to universally giddy reviews (England's Mojo Magazine called it
"...the greatest Soul compilation ever made...") – it was followed in
2011 by a second gem-filled Southern Soul 3CD overview - "The Fame Studios Story 1961-1973".
So a 'threequel' to those two much-loved 3CD sets was always going to be a
mouth-watering, trouser-trembling event for Soul fans everywhere. And e-by-gum
but here it is at last – released late 2015 (delayed from 30 October to 20
November 2015) in all of its knee-knobbling Muscle Shoals glory...
"Back
To The River: More Southern Stories 1961 to 1978" from England's Kent-Soul gives you 75 Remastered Mono and Stereo Tracks, 10 of
which are Previously Unreleased Alternate Versions (including an Otis Redding
Take 1 rarity) and with many of these Deep Soul sides making their CD debut for
the first time anywhere after decades in the digital wilderness. It's presented
once again in sumptuous packaging (and different in style thankfully to the awkward card slipcase and hardback look of the first two that caused so many problems) with liner notes that reflect Ace's
knowledge, warmth and decades-long enthusiasm. Content wise - halfway through a second listen
and I have to say that I'm thrilled with "Back To The River..." and
am already thinking that its surely a shoe-in for Soul Reissue Of the Year
2015. There's a huge amount of info to get through so once more music lovers
unto the Memphis Breach...
UK
released Friday, 20 November 2015 (2016 in the USA) – "Back To The River:
More Southern Soul Stories 1961 to 1978" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Kent
Soul KENTBOX 18 (Barcode 029667073523) is a 75-track 3CD set housed in an outer
Hard Card Slipcase and plays out as follows (all catalogue numbers are USA
7" singles unless otherwise noted):
Disc
1 – "Muscle Shoals Memphis Redux" (79:53 minutes):
1.
I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) – SOLOMON BURKE (1968, Atlantic
45-2507, A. Written by Billy Taylor – made famous by Nina Simone)
2.
Nearer To You – BETTY LaVETTE (Allen Toussaint song - 1969, Silver Fox SF-17,
A)
3.
Private Number (Extended Version) – JUDY CLAY and WILLIAM BELL (2015 Previously
Unreleased Unedited Version of a July 1968 US 7" single on Stax STA-0005)
4.
Free Me (Take 1) – OTIS REDDING (2015 Previously Unissued Alternate Take of a
1967 US 7" single on Atco 6700, A)
5.
A Touch Of The Blues – BOBBY BLAND (1967, Duke 426, B-side of
"Shoes". Written by Deadric Malone aka Don Robey. Produced by Willie
Mitchell)
6.
This Love Won't Run Out –DEE DEE SHARP (1968, Atco 6587, A. Written by Isaac
Hayes and David Porter)
7.
I Got Everything I Need – EDDIE FLOYD
(2015
Previously Unissued Alternate Take of a 1966 Stax Recording that was first
issued on the March 1994 Various Artists CD compilation "3000 Volts Of
Stax" on Stax CDSXD 102).
8.
Please Don't Desert Me Baby – GLORIA WALKER and THE CHIVELLES (1968, Flaming
Arrow FA-36, A, Produced & Written by Eugene Davis)
9.
Sugarman (Extended Version) – SAM BAKER
(2015
Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a 1968 US 7" single on Sound
Stage SS7-2620, A. Kris Kristofferson cover version)
10.
Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep – JOE PERKINS (1969, Nugget
NR-1029, A – written by Bill Anderson and first recorded by the country artist
Charlie Louvin in 1965)
11.
Sure As Sin – JEANIE GREEN
(1969,
Atco 6619, A. Written by Eddie Hinton and Marlon Greene – Jeanie's husband. She
later sang with Elvis Presley in 1969 on the Comeback Sessions)
12.
What's That You Got – RUDOLPH TAYLOR
(Previously
Unreleased 1966-1967 recording that first appeared on the June 2012 Various
Artists CD compilation "Lost Soul Gems From Sound Of Memphis" on
Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 378)
13.
I Found What I Wanted – MARY WELLS (1971, Reprise 1031, A. Written by George
Jackson and Raymond Moore)
14.
I've Got Memories (Demo) – MELVIN CARTER (2015 Previously Unissued Goldwax
Recording – written by Melvin Carter)
15.
Message From Maria – JOE SIMON (1968, Sound Stage 7 SS7-2617, A. An Al Reed
song - liner notes mistakenly credit it as Back Beat 631 – see 17)
16.
Problems – MABLE JOHN (2015 Previously Unreleased Stax Recording. Possibly
Isaac Hayes and David Porter song)
17.
I've Been Searching – O.V. WRIGHT (1974, Back Beat BB-631, A. An Earl Randle
song - Produced by Willie Mitchell)
18.
She Ain't Gonna Do Right – CLARENCE CARTER
(2015
Previous Unissued Alternate Version of a 1967 US 7" single on Fame 1016,
A. Written by Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn)
19.
Give Me Back The Man I Love – BARBARA WEST (1969, Ronn RONN 32, A. Toussaint
McCall song)
20.
You're Gonna Want Me – BILL CODAY (1970, Crajon 48203, A and 1971, Galaxy 777,
B-side of "Get Your Lie Straight". Written by Bill Coday – Produced
by Willie Mitchell and Denise LaSalle)
21.
I'm Just Living A Lie – BETTYE SWANN (1971, Fame 1479, A. Mickey Buckins and
George Jackson song)
22.
Home For The Summer – JIMMY BRASWELL
(Marlin
Green and Eddie Hinton Song. 1970 USA 7" single on Quinvy Q-7004, B-side
of "Hand Shaking". Originally recorded by Don Varner in 1967 on South
Camp 7003, A)
23.
Too Weak To Fight (Extended Version) – ELLA WASHINGTON
(2015
Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a 1972 US 7" single on Sound
Stage ZS7 1507, A. Clarence Carter cover version).
24.
Everytime It Rains – NA ALLEN (Nathaniel A. Allen is the brother of Denise
LaSalle. It’s a cover of the old 1950 Ruth Brown hit on Atlantic called
"Teardrops From My Eyes". 1970, Ronn 47, A)
25.
Yesterday – THE SOUL CHILDREN (2015 Previously Unreleased Stax Recording from
1974 of The Beatles 1965 classic from "Help!")
NOTES
on Disc 1:
Tracks
6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14 to 22 and 24 and 25 are MONO
Tracks 1 to 5, 9, 12, 13 and
23 are STEREO
Tracks
3, 4, 7, 9, 14, 16, 23 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
Disc
2 – "Southern Routes" (79:30 minutes)
1.
The Only Girl (I've Ever Loved) – JOE TEX (1961, Dial 45-3000, A)
2.
Rainy Night in Georgia – BROOK BENTON (1970, Cotillion 44057, A. Tony Joe White
cover version)
3.
Love Comes In Time – JOHN FRED (and his Playboys) (1966, Paula 247, B-side of
"Outta My Head")
4.
Somebody Done Took My Baby And Gone – JOEY GILMORE (1971, Saadia 7985, A and
1971, Phil L.A. Of Soul 345, A)
5.
I Found All These Things – C. P. LOVE (1971, Chimneyville CH-438, A. Joe
Broussard song)
6.
A Woman Will Do Wrong – HELENE SMITH With the Rockateers (1960, Deep City 2638,
A)
7.
Depend On Me – STEVE DIXON (1969, Spotlite 101, A)
8.
I'm In Love – ESTHER PHILLIPS (1969 Recording first appeared in 1986 on the US
2LP Set "Set Me Free" by Esther Phillips on Atlantic 7 81662-1. A
Linda Cooke and Bobby Womack song)
9.
Easier To Say Than Do – SAM DEES (1969, Lo Lo L-2306, A)
10.
Without Love What Would Life Be – TERRIE & JOY LA ROY with the Bill Parker
Show Band (1971, Anla ANLA 119, B-side of "Why I Shed So Many Tears")
11.
I've Got To Tell You – COUNT WILLIE with LRL and The Dukes
(1975,
Minaret NR6156 and Brown Dog BD-9010, A. Cover of Al Green's "God Blessed
Our Soul" credited here as "I've Got To Tell You")
12.
You Need Me – JOE WILSON (1972. Avco 4609, A)
13.
Nearer To You – JOE MEDWICK (1967, Tear Drop 3197, A)
14.
Your Love Is All I Need – DELLA HUMPHREY
(1968,
Arctic 144, B-side of "Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do" - Written by
James Corbitt and Clarence Reid)
15.
Nothing Takes The Place Of You – TOUSSAINT McCALL (1967, Tear Drop 3197, A. UK
May 1967 7" single on Pye International 7N.25420, A)
16.
How Sweet It Would Be – GEORGE PERKINS (1972, Soul Power SP-113, A. Tommy Tate
and Helen Washington song)
17.
Daydreaming – WARREN STORM (1968, Preview 1005, A)
18.
No More Ghettos In America – STANLEY WINSTON (1970, Jewel 149, A. There is a
later re-recorded version on Golden Records GR 111, A. Written by Stanley
Edwards (Stanley Winston’s real name) and Eugene Harris)
19.
Do Right Man – LITTLE BEAVER (1970, Saadia 5283, A. Real name William Hale)
20.
(Sometimes) A Man Will Shed A Few Tears Too – JOHNNY ADAMS
(1966,
Pacemaker PM-249, B-side of “When I’ll Stop Loving You”. Makes its CD debut
here)
21.
Asking For The Truth – REUBEN BELL (1975, Alarm 107, B-side of "I'll Be
Your Woman")
22.
I Can't Stand to See You Go – JOE VALENTINE (1967, Val 67119, A and Ronn RONN
14, A)
23.
You Got Everything I Need – DON HOLLINGER (1973, Dash 5008, A)
24.
A Sad Sad Song – CHARLES CRAWFORD (1973, Hy Sign 2114, A)
25.
Tell It Like It Is – AARON NEVILLE (1966, Par Lo 101, A)
NOTES
on Disc 2:
Tracks
1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 to 20 and 22 to 25 are MONO
Tracks 2, 8 and 21 are STEREO -
No Previously Unreleased
Disc
3 - "Going Back Home" (78:45 minutes):
1.
Going Back Home – GROUND HOG (1970, Turbo TU-010, A. Written by William Guy and
Joseph Richardson.
Features
William Guy on Vocals (ex Coasters) and Joseph "Ground Hog"
Richardson on Guitar (later with Don Covay's band)
2.
Cry To Me –FREDDIE SCOTT (1967, Shout 211, A. Bert Barns song – a Solomon Burke
hit in 1962)
3.
Lookin' For A Home – LITTLE BUSTER (1964, Jubilee 5491, A. Edward "Little
Buster" Forehand)
4.
The Girls From Texas (Extended Version) – JIMMY LEWIS
(2015
Previously Unreleased Unedited Version of a US 1967 7" single on Minit
32017, A. Written by Clifford Chambers, Jimmy Holliday and James Lewis)
5.
Ain't No Way – ARETHA FRANKLIN
(1968,
from the Stereo LP "Lady Soul" on Atlantic SD 8176 - a Mono Version
appears on the US 7" single Atlantic 2486, B-side to "(Sweet Sweet
Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone". Features The Sweet Inspirations on Backing
Vocals - especially her sister Carolyn Franklin)
6.
I Found A Man In My Bed – ROY C (1970, Alaga 1003, A. Roy Charles Hammond)
7.
Take Your Time – CLAY HAMMOND (1966, Kent 468, A. Written by Clay Hammond)
8.
Just A Touch Of Your Hand – AL GARDNER (1968, Sir-Rah 504, A)
9.
You're Good For Me – DON COVAY (1965, Landa 704, A. Different cut to the
version on his debut album)
10.
I Found The One – BILLY SHA-RAE (1970, Hour Glass 007, B-side of "Do
It". Bobby Womack cover version)
11.
Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes – Z.Z. HILL (1971, Hill 222, A)
12.
What Can You Do When You Ain't Got Nobody – THE SOUL BROTHERS SIX (1967,
Atlantic 2456, B-side of "You Better Check Yourself")
13.
That's How It Is (When You're In Love) – OTIS CLAY (1967, One-derful 4848, A)
14.
Go On Fool (Extended Version) – MARION BLACK (2015 Previous Unreleased Unedited
Version of a 1970 US 7" single on Capsoul CS 20, A)
15.
I Want Everyone To Know – FONTELLA BASS (1972, Paula 367, A. Don Bryant song –
O.V. Wright cover version)
16.
You Wants To Play – OSCAR WEATHERS (1970, Top & Bottom 405, B-side of
"The Spoiler")
17.
(I Want Her) By My Side – THE FULLER BROTHERS (1967, Keymen 110, A and 1971,
Soul Clock 1002, B-side to "Stranger At My Door")
18.
Shackin' Up – BARBARA MASON (1975, Buddah BDA 459, A. Jackie Avery song)
19.
Don’t Blame Me – WILLIE HIGHTOWER (1973, Mercury 73390, A)
20.
Stop – LESTER YOUNG (1966, Barry 1009, B-side of "Barefoot Time In New
York". Lester Young song)
21.
Someone To Take Your Place – BILL LOCKE (1968, Fraternity 1008, A. Joe Tex
cover version)
22.
If Loving You Is A Crime (I'll Always Be Guilty) – LEE MOSES (1968, Dynamo
D-115, A. Written by Swamp Dogg using his wife's name Yvonne Williams)
23.
Easy As Saying 1-2-3 – TIMMY WILLIS (1970, Jubilee 5690, A)
24.
I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me - Parts 1 & 2 – LITTLE RICHARD
(1965, Vee-Jay VJ 698, A. Written by Don Covay)
25.
Mary Jane – BOBBY RUSH (1968, Galaxy GAL 778, A)
NOTES
on Disc 3:
Tracks
1 to 4, 8 to 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25 are MONO
Tracks 5, 6, 7, 15,
18, 19 and 24 are STEREO
Tracks
4 and 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
PACKAGING
and SOUND:
The
mistakes made with the packaging of "Take Me To The River" (if you
could call them that) where the flimsy card wrap and book were near impossible
to not destroy – have been learned. There's an outer 'hard card' slipcase this
time (far sturdier) that contains a foldout card digipak within (all three
colour-coded CDs are on see-through plastic trays) alongside a stand-alone
booklet. The separate 64-page booklet is an oversized softback and superbly
laid out - much like the oversized booklets Soul Jazz Records use on their
chunky and brilliant reissues. It contains brilliantly observed and informative
liner notes by Soul Aficionados and Lifetime Fans DEAN RUDLAND and TONY ROUNCE
(who also compiled the set). Alongside the factoids are copious amounts of
photos of those desirable 45s on Sue, Stax, Atco, Sound Stage, Reprise,
Monument, Back Beat, Ronn, Fame and all points in-between. Supporting the tens-upon-thousands
of words are the usual plethora of beautiful studio publicity shots, Press and
Trade Adverts, Biog Pages, In-Studio Session snapshots and even photos of local
Record Shops on Beale Street in Memphis. DUNCAN COWELL has carried out the
Remasters and an exemplary job has been done – most are none too hissy – and
even if they are – the remastering hasn’t sucked the life out of them by
compression or silencing techniques. This music feels alive and is a joy to
hear in such clarity...and as you can see from the total playing-times of the 3
discs above – each is pushing the 80-minute envelope – so there's no scrimping
either on content or value for money.
CD1:
It
begins with a social-conscience statement from Solomon Burke doing a heartfelt
rendition of "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)" – an
anthem made famous of course by Nina Simone. It may be slightly hissy – but
"Nearer To You" by Betty LaVette is a torch-song stunner (a signed
photo adorns Page 9 of the booklet). What is a shock is the 'Extended Version'
of "Private Number" by William Bell and Judy Clay – it may only be 20
or 30 seconds longer but man what a difference it makes – turning the song into
a more muscular experience. Then you’re hit with a sensation – a Previously
Unissued Alternate of Otis Redding's "Free Me" on Atco 6700. Its
'Take 1' and his rendition is little short of magic – the audio beautifully
clear too (top job done Mr. Cowell). Torch song versions continue with Eddie
Floyd's "Everything I Need" and Gloria Walker's abandonment-anthem
"Please Don't Desert Me Baby”. Things finally get slinky with the cool
groove of "Sugarman" by Sam Baker (a Kris Kristofferson cover) where
he laments how his baby has to sell her body to feed her 'sugar' habit. I love
the chugging Soul of "What's That You Got" by Rudolph Taylor and the
sophistication of "Sure As Sin" by Jeanie Greene where she tells her
man the physical truth - "...I'm not a good woman...but I'm good for
you..." The combo of Mary Wells and Rick Hall produced the excellent
dancer "I Found What I Wanted" which feels like a great Stax side
circa 1971 even though it was actually on Reprise Records. Rounce is right to
call Melvin Carter's unadorned demo of "I've Got Memories" 'stunning'
– it's raw, alive and deeply Soulful and surely one of the highlights amongst
the Previously Unreleased material. Best Audio has to go to the stunning
"Problems" by Mable John – an amazing piece of quality unreleased
Soul. And as if that isn't enough to impress – Barbara West floors me with her
beautiful version of Toussaint McCall's "Give Me Back The Man I Love"
– a criminally forgotten 45 on Ronn Records from 1969.
CD2:
Early
days for Southern Soul comes with Joe Tex's "The Only Girl (I've Ever
Loved)" – a 1961 pleader on Dial Records. I've always loved Brook Benton's
magisterial version of Tony Joe White's wonderful "Rainy Night In
Georgia" – a million seller for Benton and his 7th USA R&B No. 1 (a
stunning Arif Mardin production where even the syrupy strings don't ruin the
song). When you look at the Paula 45 repro'd on Page 30 of the booklet with a
credit to John Fred and his Playboys – you don’t automatically think 'Otis
Redding soundalike' – yet that's what you get. With the chops of say Eddie
Hinton – the "Judy In Disguise" frontman puts in a Soulful barnstormer
on "Love Comes In Time". I don't know Joey Gilmore (shame on me) but
his lovely "Somebody Done Took My Baby And Gone" is a sweetie and
I’ll look into his Blues albums of late. An intensely Soulful C.P. Love
(Carlton Pierre) recorded the aching "I Found All These Things" at
Malaco's studios in Jackson, Mississippi and saw it released on Chimneyville in
1971 (what a nugget this track is). Genius choice goes to Helene Smith's
version of Paul Kelly's "A Woman Will Do Wrong" – a 'man she loves'
tale of caution and woe (so sweet a tune). Uber rarity goes to Steve Dixon's
"Depend On Me" – said to exist in only 500 copies on the obscure
Spotlite Records – and for me probably the sweetest song on Disc 2 (stunning
Eddie Hinton-type vocals).
A
threesome of Lo-fi and crude recordings (but full of genuine feeling) – first
is the duet pleader "Without Love What Would Life Be" by Terrie &
Joy La Roy - a real sweetie – second is Joe Medwick's impossibly rare
"Nearer To You" and third is the morose (and very hissy) "Nothing
Takes The Place Of You" by Toussaint McCall. But then you're hit with a
triple-whammy of well-recorded Seventies classy Soul – sky-bound is the
beautiful "I've Got To Tell You" by Count Willie (Smith) with LRL and
The Dukes – an obscure piano-led wonder from 1975 that steadfastly remains
dateless (what a find this is) – and next up is the Mississippi-recorded
"You Need Me" by Joe Wilson which Rudland describes as 'exquisite' –
and he'd be right. Last is the truly gorgeous strum of "Asking For The Truth"
by Rueben Bell – a fabulous and heartfelt vocal performance enhanced by quality
arrangements. Discovery-time includes the lovely Tommy Tate/Helen Washington
written "How Sweet It Would Be" by George Perkins – an organ led
'love and loneliness' tune. The predominately ballad-driven Disc 2 continues –
but with Stanley Winston's gospel-driven "No More Ghettos In America"
- things get passionate and real as he speaks and wails of equality. The long
run of smoochers and pleaders ends with a genuine classic – "Tell It Like
It Is" with the ethereal vocals of Aaron Neville.
CD3:
After
the ballad-fest of Disc 2 – Ground Hog's "Going Back Home" comes as
welcome butt-wiggling delight – it's a mean and cool Funky Al Green Type
Groove. Co-written by Ex Coaster's singer William Guy and Joseph Richardson
(later with Don Covay's Jefferson Lemon Blues Band) – it features Richardson's
Albert King-like guitar licks throughout and is the kind of winner you wish you
owned so you could impress your friends with your knowledge and smarts. The
boogie is short-lived though – but you don’t mind because Freddie Scott's slow
and wailing "Cry To Me" (written by Bert Barns and a hit for Solomon
Burke) is a truly fantastic pleader – and here is gorgeous Audio. The 'love them
right or leave them alone' words of wisdom in "The Girls From Texas"
comes in an 'Extended Version' for Jimmy Lewis - while Aretha's sister and
songwriter Carolyn Franklin (from The Sweet Inspirations) threatens to steal
the 1968 crown from the Queen Of Soul with Carolyn's operatic backing vocals on
the beautiful ballad "Ain't No Way". Marital trouble and shenanigans
hit both Roy Charles Hammond (Roy C) in the funky but sore-headed "I Found
A Man In My Bed" - while Clay Hammond says that despite his love and a
house full of kids – his missus is out on the razzle every night and he should
have listened to mama when she advised Clay to "Take Your Time" (oh
dear). Z.Z. Hill has it just as bad – another man gave his lady six babies –
but he's the one that gives them a home in the slinky stepper "Don't Make
Me Pay For His Mistakes". Of their group's five Atlantic 45s – the
pain-dripped B-side "What Can You Do When You Ain't Got Nobody" by
The Soul Brothers Six is probably their best cut coming complete with the
screeching Bobby Womack-like vocals of John Ellison. The funereal "Go On
Fool" by Marion Black mines the same misery territory of Toussaint McColl
(see Track 15 on Disc 2) – but is actually far better in my book.
Pure
class 70ts Soul shows up with Fontella Bass and her cover of O.V. Wright's
"I Want Everyone To Know" (penned by Don Bryant) from her
"Free" album on Paula Records in 1972 (beautifully arranged and
produced by Oliver Sain). Originally issued as the B-side to the Van McCoy
written “The Spoiler” – American DJs had other ideas and flipped the Oscar
Weathers single to find "You Wants To Play" – giving its simple but
heartfelt Blues-Soul the air time instead of the slicker A (I can so hear why).
Busybody neighbours gossip during the rap-spoken "Shackin' Up" by
Barbara Mason – a cool outside-marriage follow-up to her "From His Woman
To You" hit in December 1974 (Made No.3) – "Shackin' Up" rightly
made the US R&B Top 10 peaking at No. 9 in April 1975. Next we get a flurry
of mid-tempo Southern Soul pleaders – especially enjoyable is the 'Lord have
mercy' croaking of Lee Moses on the wonderfully titled "If Loving You Is A
Crime (I'll Always Be Guilty)" and a stunning two-part Soul workout from
Little Richard on his excellent "I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got
Me" – an overlooked nugget from his years at Vee Jay. It ends on an
out-and-out winner – the Funky Blues of "Mary Jane" by Bobby Rush –
the kind of groove I eat for breakfast and always want a second helping of...
SUMMARY:
With
Disc 2 being made up of entirely ballad-like material and Discs 1 and 3
featuring copious amounts of the same Southern Soul ache and plead – those
expecting boogie and shuffles should stay away (I think this 3CD set might have
been re-named "Kent-Soul Ballads" and be done with it). Best of all
though is the discoveries – the wonderful finds - I'm dipping in all the time
and loving it more and more – a genuine feast.
For
sure 2015's "Back To The River..." is not as utterly immediate as
2008's "Take Me To The River" – but its 60ts and 70ts Soul pleasures
are so many that I know I’ll be turning to it years from now – petting its
wicked 'Fame Gang musicians stood on a bridge' cover like it's a Star Wars toy
I'm glad I didn't wreck or throw away when I was young and too stupid to know its
true beauty.
What
a journey...and kudos to all involved for bringing this Soul joy to us in such
style...
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