Soul And Funk Music Album Reviews
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You'll probably remember Steve Harvey from the early eighties when he made two 12 inch singles entitled "Tonight" and "Something Special", both released on London Records. He also produced tracks for the debut albums of both Total Contrast and Five Star. Steve got little sleep during the late eighties and nineties! Behind the scenes he worked with other great artists like Impromp2, George Duke, Jeff Lorber, Gary Brown, Gerald Albright and many more. He wrote six of the tracks on the last two Temptations albums 'Legacy' and 'Reflections' both of which he produced. |
Finally reissued on CD, by Vinyl Masterpiece Records, the underrated album 'Point Of Pleasure' by Xavier. This album is nowadays highly demanded by funk/boogie fans. 'Point Of Pleasure' that contains seven fabulous boogie, dance tunes is originally released on Liberty Records in 1982.
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James 'd-train' Williams and producer, arranger, general Mr. Talent Hubert Eaves III couple up again for their debut album on a new label but unfortunately can't keep up the steam of the excellent, definitive D-Train style lead single "You Are Everything" a track that reminds us just who had been around the 'house' for a goodly while. There is, however, one excellent dancer here called "Misunderstanding", but this has taken a leaf out of Bronx boy Mantronik's book with its popping 'Ladies' bass line and works a treat for it. There are other dance cuts like "Let Me Love You", "I Got Your Number" and, the best of the three, "Stand Up And Fight"' but they are, by this team's high standards, lame and a touch poppy. Williams also has a serious crack at the old balladeering and, although his growl does waver occasionally on this more demanding style, "Ice Melts In To Rain" (featuring the marvellous guitarist Hyram Bullock) at least works. Don't forget the faboulous 'Oh How I Love You Girl'. This Release is remastered From THE ORIGINAL TAPES and will include 6 bonus tracks. |
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A brand new re-issue, mastered from the mastertapes, on PTG records is from the Italian group Selection. This album is very rare in the soul and funk music scene. Not much is known of this group except that the sound is similair to other 'Mauro Malavasi' productions such as 'B B and Q band, Change and High Fashion. Selection released their first single 'Madly' in 1980. The producer duo behind Selection are Claudio and Franco Donato. This duo also produced tracks for Kano, Orlando Johnson, Firefly and others. |
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More than three decades after his earliest recordings, keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber has come full circle. His new recording, Now Is The Time, delves back into his early catalog and reinvents some of the most compelling compositions from the Jeff Lorber Fusion heyday. As a result, the artist once again makes a bold statement in the evolution of jazz. "We all had a vision of what we wanted this record to be," says Lorber, who points to a recent European tour with many of these same musicians - and the positive response that resulted from it - as the primary catalyst for the album. "We wanted a return to the sound of the Jeff Lorber Fusion, but informed by everything I've learned since then. All of a sudden, people seem to be interested in hearing that again. They're ready to hear musicians who can really play, really stretch the envelope with their technique, with their songwriting, and with harmonic structure." |
BACK IN THE DAY - BACK TO THE FUTURE; the return of THE SECOND RE$$URRECTION. One cannot forget the immortal sound (studio and stage) behind the late great Joe Tex's biggest hit, "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)." After reviving many stars' 2nd coming, the time has come for this musical aggregation to shine on its' own. Producing a cross of funk, R&B and southern soul, the era of instrumentation and the band has returned. Ladies and gentlemen, stars in their own right, The Second Re$$surrection Band. Stanson Records. 
Express male (All Night Service) is originally from 1984 on Mercury records and is their debut album from the group 'The Malemen'.
They recorded only two studio albums and now they are a live band for almost 25 years and shared the stage with the Gap Band, Bobby Womack, Parliament, Bark-Kays, Manhattans and many others.
Their first album is produced Anthony Lockett, who also produced and wrote songs for Cameo and Wynd Chimes, the latter is also available on CD from Vinyl Masterpiece.
This album contains the very funky boogie tracks Baby Doll and Squeeze play Buy This CD From VINYL MASTERPIECE Now!
 | Al B Sure is back on the scene with a new album 'Honey i'm home' and will be released on june 23. The album contains 13 brand new 'romancing' tracks. All thirteen tracks are downtempo tracks. Two of them are covers. The album starts with the single "I love it (Papi Aye Aye Aye)", co-produced by his writing and producing partner Kyle West, is very tuneful, sexy and sounds if he was never been away. Vocals are beautiful, and contains nice analog synth sounds. One of the best tracks. Other great tracks are "Only you" and "4 Life!". "I'm glad" track #3 has also a nice bass line. "All I Wanna do" an urban track with vocoders. Sexy girl on the back! A Favourite one. Two slowtempo tracks "Dedicate My All" and "Bye the Way, By the Way" are assisted by an acoustic guitar. A nice synth sound walks as a melodie line through "Only You!", nice chords and vocals. The track "Whatcha Got?" is very urban, with strange bass line. Another favourite is track #12 "4Life!" the last track "Never Stop Loving You" is too much pop. The two covers are Stings 'Fragile' and Michael Jacksons "Lady in My Life". Pleasantly done with an urban, R&B twist but, for me, it remain covers. All and all an album for lovers of smooth R&B. You can listen to it on Hiddenbeach.com. |
This great double CD have 20 great Disco, Dance Classic giants such as Rick James with ' Give It To Me Baby', Heatwave's 'Lettin’ It Loose ' , Johnny Kemp's 'Just Got Paid', Curtis Hairston's 'I Want You (All Tonight)' and 52nd Street's 'Tell me (How It Feels)'. A nice compilation with the long version of these tracks you always wanna have.
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