Record Reviews

DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS ~ SOUL BALLADS ANTOINNETTE 776974318914 (Barcode: 776974318914) ~ CANADA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is a studio album by Canadian vocalist / songwriter David Clayton-ThomasFind albums by this artist, primarily known as the charismatic frontman of the legendary Brass Rock ensemble Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist, recorded with a great team of musicians: keyboardist Lou PomantiFind albums by this artist, who also arranged all the music, guitarists Bernie LaBargeFind albums by this artist and Jake LangleyFind albums by this artist, bassists Scott AlexanderFind albums by this artist, George KollerFind albums by this artist and Rich BrownFind albums by this artist, drummers Larnell LewisFind albums by this artist and Mark KelsoFind albums by this artist, and featuring brass and string sections. The album presents twelve songs, all of which are classic Soul ballads written at the heyday of American Soul music mostly in the 1960s, originally sung by such great artists as Otis ReddingFind albums by this artist, Sam CookeFind albums by this artist, Curtis MayfieldFind albums by this artist and others. The solo recording career of Clayton-Thomas was revitalized near the turn of the Millennium, when he was nearing the age of sixty, which is quite remarkable and unparalleled. He recorded (so far) thirteen albums since 1996, this being the eighth of them, more than twice the number of albums he recorded beforehand since the start of his career. The album is a tribute to the Soul balladry, which inspired him "to become a singer", as he states in the album´s liner notes. The songs are beautifully arranged by Lou Pomanti and Clayton-Thomas performances are brilliant as always. His feeling and his idiosyncratic voice, charisma and love of music remain intact and for his many fans this album is strong as everything else he ever recorded. The accompanying musicians are all pros and the album offers superb soloing from start to finish. These are undoubtedly some of the fines songs ever written and sung by Clayton-Thomas they prove how eternal and lasting they are, losing nothing of their original power and beauty. After being a great fan of Clayton-Thomas for over five decades, it is great to hear him carrying on with what he loves to do taking us along on a wonderful ride.

Updated: 21/08/2020Posted: 21/08/2020

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SAM COOKE ~ THE RCA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886978987020 (Barcode: 886978987020) ~ USA ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1960 - 1963 Released: 2011 Dead at the age of 33 in a shooting accident, American singer Sam CookeFind albums by this artist already managed to earn the title of "the King of Soul" and left a sizeable legacy of recorded music, which ensures his position as one of the great singers in American history. Blessed with a velvety voice and an unusually sensitive musical abilities, Cooke developed form a wonderful crooner, singing sentimental love songs (and doing it brilliantly) to pioneering the Soul movement, which embraced the US with full force by the mid-1960s. Always impeccably in-tune, on-time and exactly right, Cooke was an example of a perfect entertainer, being a proud member of a very exclusive club. This magic Box Set presents all the recordings made by Cooke for the RCAFind albums on this label label in the last four years before his death, including a live recording which was released posthumously. Most of the albums included here were previously unavailable on CD. The remastering is absolutely stunning and the sound quality divine. Remastered and packaged in mini-sleeved album replicas and with a super-low price tag this is an offer nobody should be resistant to!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MITCH RYDER ~ SOCKIN` IT TO YOU: THE COMPLETE DYNOVOICE / NEW VOICE RECORDINGS RPM 549 (Barcode: 5013929554924) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1966 - 1967 Released: 2020 This is a 3CD set reissue of the entire early recording legacy by the American vocalist Mitch RyderFind albums by this artist and his group The Detroit WheelsFind albums by this artist, who can be credited for inventing the White Soul genre, but sadly received only marginal recognition over the years. The set includes the first three albums Ryder recorded with his group: “Take A RideFind albums with this title”, “Breakout…!!!Find albums with this title” and “Sock It To MeFind albums with this title”, his solo album “What Now My LoveFind albums with this title” and the complete collection of recorded material that did not appear on these albums, including those released as 45s. Almost all the material was recorded in just two years (1966-1967) and was released on the DynovoiceFind albums on this label and New VoiceFind albums on this label labels owned by producer Bob CreweFind albums by this artist. Ryder was blessed with an incredibly gutsy / throaty voice and a great singing talent and his music was every bit as expressive as that performed by the Afro-American Rhythm And Blues performers, who enjoyed an artistic peak at the time. He was also a great performer on stage. In retrospect it is really interesting to compare his version of the songs written and performed by such great singers as James BrownFind albums by this artist, Sam CookeFind albums by this artist and others. But the bulk of his material was original and written by Crewe, and it stands the test of time brilliantly. Despite the fact that Ryder received relatively little recognition for his pioneering artistry, he influenced many American musicians of later generations, most notably Bruce SpringsteenFind albums by this artist, Ted NugentFind albums by this artist, Winona RyderFind albums by this artist and others. For music lovers not familiar with this material, this wonderfully remastered, well researched and excellently put together collection is a golden opportunity to close a gap in their education and visit a great document of music history. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 14/08/2021

CD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend