Magazine & Web Site

Luther Ingram – I’ve Been Here All The Time / If Loving You Is Wrong I Don’t Want To Be Right – Kent CDKEND315 

Luther Ingam’s first two albums on the Ko Ko label. from 1972. To my ears this is still within the time frame when people were making Soul records rather than Disco records, and Luther Ingram’s Southern Soul roots come shining through on a large percentage of these tracks. It was a time when the musicians and singer cared about what they did, and worked together to produce great records that contained fabulous melodies regardless of tempo. This is great stuff for a lazy Sunday afternoon after a niter. 

Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One) / You Were Made For Me / Oh Baby, You Can Depend On Me / My Honey And Me / I'll Just Call You Honey / Since You Don't Want Me / Missing You / I'll Love You Until The End / Be Good To Me Baby / Ty For The Lonely / The Other Man / Ghetto Train / (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right / I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm) / Always / Dying And Crying / Help Me Love / I'm Trying To Sing A Message To You / I Remember / Love Ain't Gonna Run Me Away / I Can't Stop

Various Artists – The Soul Of Money Volume 3 – Kent CDKEND316

Kent records doing what they do best. A comprehensive series of CDs that take a label and release all the best recordings they put out. In this case it’s the Money / Utopia / Ten Star labels that get the Kent treatment, and it’s the third and final CD in the series. Most of these tracks were new to me, and they stretch from 1966 through to 1973, plus the obligatory previously unreleased tracks, of which there are four belters on the CD. Add to that the fact that all the tracks are taken from the master tapes so the sound quality is superb, and Ady Croasdell’s excellent notes in the sixteen page booklet and Kent really are on the money again ! 

Don't Take My Mind - Bettye Swann / You Got Me Dizzy - Bobby Angelle / I'll Give My Love To You - Eric Williams / If She Wants To Go - The Choice Of Colors / I'm Gonna Speak Out - Eddie Horan / Sugar Love - Pat Livingston / I Wish - Delilah Moore / Speak To Me In Your Soulful Way - Hank Jacobs & The Tkos / Put Your Weight On It Part 2 - Filmore Street Soul Rebellions / Doin' The Thing - The Question Marks / I Don't Want Nobody - Tommy & Eddie / I Will Not Cry - Bettye Swann / Hard Times Are Coming - Unknown Duo / Open Up Your Eyes - The M&Ms & The Peanuts / Someone Is Gonna Hurt You - Bobby Angelle / The Answer Came Too Late - The Larks / Why'd You Put Me On - Bobbi Row & The Englishmen / There's Nothing I Wouldn't Do - The M&Ms & The Peanuts / Sad And Blue - The Mysteries / The Charge - The Tkos With Hank Jacobs At The Organ / The Skate
The Larks / Give Back Your Lovin' - Don Trotter / Girl You're So Fine - Bobby Angelle / The Heartache Is Gone - Bettye Swann

Larry Williams & Johnny Watson – Two For The Price Of One – Righteous Psalm 23:5

A straight reissue of a classic Sixties Soul album, both sides of their single recorded with Kaleidoscope, plus an additional eight tracks by Johnny Guitar Watson as a solo artist. It’s been a long time since I played this album, and I’d forgotten how good it actually was. Funnily enough though, the tracks I originally bought it for all sound sooooo fast these days (‘Too Late’ is still one of the best ever dancers to come from the Okeh label though), and it’s the more mid-tempo tracks that sound good to me now. Excellent release from a label that is part of the Cherry Red Group 

Two For The Price Of One / Keep On Lovin' You / Ask Me / Ain't Gonna Move / Mercy, Mercy, Mercy / Too Late / Love Is Such A Funny Thing / Takin' No Chances / I'd Rather Fight Than Switch / A Quitter Never Wins / Nobody / Find Yourself Someone To Love / Fever / Coke / Unchained My Heart / Comin' Home Baby / Skate Key / Summertime / Makin' Whoopee / Ain't Misbehavin'

Little Willie John – Heaven All Around Me, The Later King Sessions 1961-1963 – Ace CDCHD 1221

Is it early Soul music, or R & B ? Oh, it’s definitely Soul music, but a good few years before the genre came into it’s own. Little Willie John is an artist I knew nothing about, and would have struggled to find a single recording by him in my collection. Then in the last six months Ace (And Kent) have released two CDs which I’ve absolutely loved.almost every track on. The title of the CD tells you all you need to know really, this is a compilation of Little Willie John’s recordings for the King label between 1961 and 1963. Tony Rounce, who happily admits that Little Willie John is is favourite singer, has put together another of his excellent compilations that is fully annotated in the usual excellentr booklet. Give it a listen, you won’t be disappointed. 

(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over / Every Beat Of My Heart / Until Again My Love / Inside Information / Take My Love (I Want To Give It All To You) / Big Blue Diamonds / My Baby's In Love With Another Guy / My Love Will Never Change / Mister Glenn / Doll Face / Heaven All Around Me / Don't Play With Love / She Thinks I Still Care / Come Back To Me / Half A Love / Without A Friend / (I've Got) Spring Fever / Bill Bailey  / Come On Sugar / Now You Know / Like Boy, Like Girl / I Wish I Could Cry / Don't You Know I'm In Love / Rock Love