Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love (1981)

Amazing! This lost Roy Ayers-produced gem from the early 80s has not only been one of the biggest sample records of all time, but it's also become one of the holy grails of the groovy record collecting scene! It's a stellar bit of jazzy soul tracks with the same production vibe that's characterized Roy's best work, but it's made all the more sublime thanks to Sylvia Striplin's beautifully fragile and soulful vocals, which sound a bit like Minnie Riperton's.
The record's got arrangements by Sylvia, Roy, and James Bedford (who also recorded for Uno Melodic), and it includes classics like "Give Me Your Love", "You Can't Turn Me Away", "Look Towards The Sky", "All Alone", and a great cover of Roy Ayers' "Searchin".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Johnny Robinson - Memphis High (1970)

An under-recognised output of the legendary Hi Studios in Memphis, produced by Willie Mitchell, this album is a real gem of firing southern soul. Johnny Robinson, an Alabama native, made the switch to secular singing a few years prior to this recording, and echoes of the very best soul singers of this era can be heard in his extremely heartfelt, passionate singing. The production has this typical southern raw and soulful quality, and be it swinging ballads such as 'We Are Going To Make It' or 'Slip Away', or groovy numbers such as 'Kansas City' or 'Funky Feet', you're in for a treat.
What a cover, too!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Linda Williams - City Living (1979)

A killer bit of modern soul – one of the standout classics from the best years of Arista! Richard Evans produced and arranged this excellent set of smooth soul grooves for Linda Williams. Linda plays keyboards and sings, and the album was recorded in 2 different sessions – one in LA, and one in Chicago. The album's got a nice jazzy sound, with a similar feel to the Breakwater LPs on Arista at the time. Linda's voice is as wonderful on this set as on anything we've heard from her, and with her depth of talents on the piano & keys, and on the songwriting tip, she's a real creative force at the top of her game here! Tracks include "No Love, No Where, Without You", "Oh Honey", "Loving You Forever", and the great groover "Elevate Our Minds", which is worth the price of the record alone!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Don Thompson - Fanny Brown (1977)

Don Thompson's only known LP on Brunswick is a rather unique funky ode to love and booty-shaking, with a sense of the beat that's totally compelling. Don's sound is rich and full, with fuzzy keyboards and clean drums, horn breaks so funky that they have to be heard. His raw masculine voice does the rest on this essential LP of late 1970s funky soul. Most noteworthy are the joyful floorfillers 'Hang Loose' and the title track, as well as the great 'Please Don't Make Yourself At Home'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Kellee Patterson - Kellee (1977)

Kellee Patterson's amazing first album for the Shadybrook label – a total killer all the way through, and much harder and heavier than any of her later sides for the label! The record's got a nice jazzy vibe that's a good bridge between her earlier work on Black Jazz, and her later, straighter soul material – a dose of funk in all the right places, and a touch of spiritual leanings too – really put together with a wonderful feel that sets the album apart from much other work of the time.
Includes a sublime breakbeat version of "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" – with killer drums, and an excellent monologue at the beginning – plus a great cover of Grover Washington's "Mister Magic", with some interesting vocals. Other titles include "Time To Space", "What You Don't Know", and "I Love Music". Gene Russell handled production and arrangements, too!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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West Coast Revival - West Coast Revival (1973)

Let me make up for that (too) long absence with a rare gem of an album, the self-titled effort from Cali-based 'West Coast Revival'. Not much is known about this great vocal trio apart from the musical legacy they carved on this LP, a blend of fantastic vocal harmonies and raw, sunshine-drenched soul, sometimes not unlike their Chicago contemporaries Rasputin's Stash.

The arrangements are especially worth a close listen with a very strong interplay between the singers themselves, and the band. Includes the indie soul masterpiece 'My Mind Is At Ease', plus 'Feelin' Alright' and 'Familiar Places'. A killer!

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Enjoy it!

Greg

Genie Brown - A Woman Alone (1973)

A wonderful independent 1970s female soul album by the little-known Genie Brown, whose bold portrait on the cover might be considered a somewhat truthful echo of the determined tone of her singing.

Like many such productions the theme is true and respectful love, honest relationships, and here the raspy voice of Genie is acutely backed up by great musicianship. The sound is full, rich but raw, orchestrated with nice brass and guitar and just a touch of strings —which caught the ear of New York DJ extraordinaire Nicky Siano who made her track 'Can't Stop Talking' a staple of his legendary club The Gallery.

The album also includes the tracks 'You and Me', 'My First Night Alone Without You' and 'Let Me Stand in Your Shadow'.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Smooth Talk (1977)

Wonderfully smooth soul from Evelyn Champagne King – one of her real standouts from the early days, before her disco fame, and a tremendous collaboration with producer/arranger T Life! The sound here is upbeat and catchy, but never too poppy – done with a hint of that groove that King would hit more famously in the 80s, but served up here with a deeper sense of warmth, and a slightly more laidback feel.

King is classy without being cloying – just like a sip of the right sort of champagne – and T Life's backings often have a slight undercurrent of funk. Titles include the club classic "Shame" – but the best numbers for me are the slower, more soulful "Smooth Talk", "Til I Come Off The Road", "Nobody Knows", "We're Going To A Party", and "The Show Is Over". My personal favorite though would be the album version of her disco hit 'I Don't Know If It's Right', a heartbreaking rendering of a wonderful song that would unfortunately be speeded up and remixed for dancefloor purposes in its more famous incarnation.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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