Soul And Funk Music Album Reviews, Reissues and New Releases Of Various Labels
New Album "Change Your Mind" by Change after 25 Years
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The eigthies group change released a new album 'Change Your Mind'. This thirteen track album consist of slow jams and down/mid tempo songs. Some of them are remakes of seventies and eighties tunes. For example the song "Friends" previous done by Mike Francis is one of them. Another remake is Marvin Gayes "I want you" with lead vocals of Mike Francis. Another remake is Superstition, great tune. This album is musically very smooth. It sounds like the eigthies (pussy cat), nineties. As bonus track the Paul Hardcastle Remix of Let's go together is included . For sound snippets goto to the album page Mark Berbiers |
Walter Williams The Legendary Singer of R&B group "The O'Jays"
User Rating: 5 / 5
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You know Walter Williams, one of the lead singers for The O' Jays. Listen to many of their hits, Walter leads a lot of them despite that most people equate the hits only with Eddie Levert. Not so fast: "Love Train" is co-led by Walter and Eddie. "Use To Be My Girl"? That's Walter on the lead through and through. And now one of the greatest singers ever brings a solo album with some original hits and many standards. Walter also produces most of the tunes, showing he's as adept in the studio as he is with a microphone. "It's Raining Outside" -- the album's first tune -- is written by Walter and it's excellent. The other original tune, "There's No Doubt" leaves no doubt about Walter's talent as a singer and songwriter. The rest of the album is standards or classic soul hits and he aces all of them. I'd say the highlights are "Ain't No Sunshine" (the great Bill Withers tune) and "Love Won't Let Me Wait" (the fabulous Major Harris song). True singing by a living legend. This is a tremendous album one of the greatest singers ever. Tim S. |
New Album By Mary J Blige - Stronger with Each Tear
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2009 release from the R&B diva, her ninth studio album overall. The album features musical contributions from T.I., Rodney Jenkins, Drake, Darkchild, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett, Polow Da Don, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Stargate and Ne-Yo. Features the singles 'The One' (featuring Drake) and 'I Am'. Also includes 'Color', lifted from the critically acclaimed motion picture Precious. Check out these great tunes "Good Love", "I Am", and "In the Morning". Listen to the tracks on Amazon Mark |
Album Reissue: Janice McClain on FunkyTownGrooves records
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Janice McClain is a native Philadelphian and from published articles it seems she was about 16 when she recorded “Smack Dab In The Middle”. Thanks to an artful remix by Larry Levan the RFC 12” single was one of the biggest club hits of 1979. Despite major club and radio exposure a follow-up single and album were not forthcoming. After a four year hiatus Janice popped up on the Mon-Tab 12” single “Burnin’ Up” in 1984, but without a major label backing it the single came and went with barely a whimper. The good that came out of that was that she met producer Nick Martinelli. He was able to get her an album deal with MCA Records and produced her self-titled 1986 album for the label. The album spawned two 12” singles; “Let’s Spend The Night Together” and “Passion And Pain”. | ||
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Steve Arrington just released his CD, "Pure Thang"
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Dayton, Ohio native Steve Arrington, former lead vocalist/drummer of the Funk Band "SLAVE", as well of his own Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame ensemble, just released his long awaited Urban Contemporary Gospel CD, "Pure Thang" on GOD FACTOR Records. In the eighties I never had the thoughts that i would do an album review of this Funk Legend when I danced my ass off on 'Feel so Real', and 'Dancin' in the key of life' in the famous dutch discotheque "Cartouch" in Utrecht, The Netherlands. This Funk Legend still knows how to make "The FUNK". With his Funk background this should be a peace of cake for him, and it is. His vocal sound is not changed and the music is still Arrington'sh. |
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| Almost all tracks on this album are Funk & nothing else but the funk. The first single serviced to radio off "Pure Thang" is entitled "I'm On Fire" the second track on this album. A great choice to start with. The pumpin bass line on 'Time to Ride' makes this tune very funky and enjoyable to listen too. Another preferable track to listen to is 'Nobody Else', could me the second single. Other 'Non' Funk songs are soulfull like the instrumentals 'Coolin' and 'Sunrise'. Other tracks are Gospel oriented such as track #6 'song for coretta and rosa', and 'Right there' feat. rev. brian coleman. Even some tracks are jazzy like the slowtempo 'Tunes' accompanied by a piano. 'Soul Food' sounds seventies with that organ it. When the Soul Food hits you what you gonna do? The title track 'Pure Thang' is another real funk gem, with Sly's guitar work. 'Right On Time' a funky Gospel track contains the typical 'Slave' Bass. On the uptempo 'Power' Steve sings: 'I got this funky about me, you better know i'm comming through'. Yes Steve your Funk is still comming through. You can buy this album on CDBaby Mark Berbiers / Soulandfunkmusic.com |
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Album Reissue: Gene van Buren on FunkyTownGrooves records
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Gene van Buren's is one of the best kept secrets in black music with his one and only album "What's your pleasure" from 1982. In 82 Gene van Buren, or Eugene that was his birth name got a fine contract with the Motown owned Tamla label. In December 82 van Buren finally released his debut. One of the most impressive facts was that he wrote all the nine tracks and all the lyrics with just a few exceptions by himself. All the tracks were published by Jobete Music Co. | |||
| With a voice similar to Glenn Jones van Buren delivered a very strong debut with a mix of soul and funk. Among the fast tracks two fantastic smokers exceeds the rest by a far margin in "Enjoy yourself" and "Rock the house". Two fantastic songs with so much joy presented in a outstanding mix of soul and funk with the main weight laying on the latter. Buren stretches his voice to the very limit of his ability but it never get out of hand. The rest of the LP also includes dens and funky "Action" and likewise funky "I give you good love" with a touching song effort. Buren also manage to deliver three excellent ballads in "When is my turn" (with a short and blissful Toots Thieleman inspired passage), "I love you more (than I hate what you do)" and "One", all performed with sensitivity and finesse.
Parts of Bio from Patriks Soul Funk Special Buy This CD From FunktownGrooves.com Now! |
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