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S4R 006LP
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Soul4Real returns to the south with a selection of eleven songs from Malaco, Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and Alarm Records. There is no doubt that in the 1970s and 1980s, Malaco in Mississippi and Muscle Shoals Sound in Alabama were both highly significant in defining the southern soul sound. Malaco's Studio had opened in 1967, while Muscle Shoals Sound Studio opened its doors for business in 1969, when four musicians left nearby Fame Studios to go it alone. Alarm Records, meanwhile, based in Shreveport, Louisiana, provides listeners with four of the tracks on this album. Independent producers and major record companies sent their artists south to record, taking advantage of both Malaco and Muscle Shoals Sound's talented array of musicians, writers and producers. Muscle Shoals Sound, in particular, started to receive artists from Atlantic Records from the get-go; R.B. Greaves, Baby Washington, Sam & Dave, and Solomon Burke led the way, along with Scotland's Lulu. The first release on their own record label was the timeless "It Hurts So Good" by Katie Love. Meanwhile, Stax (amongst others) sent some of their artists to record at both studios, and Malaco would also lease some of its own productions out to Atlantic. Alarm Records was a smaller set-up which also produced some wonderful records. This album opens with the only female singer featured -- Dorothy Moore. Her exquisite "Girl Overboard" has been justifiably popular on the soul scene for decades. The other ten tracks showcase an array of fine male singers, most of whom (Bobby Bland and King Floyd aside), sadly and perhaps unjustly, never really made the big time. It is the first showing on vinyl for three of the tracks here (previously having only been issued on CD), and Jimmy Jules' reading of "Having A Little Talk With Love" has never appeared anywhere before. As always, sit back and savor the music! Also featuring Ray Crumley, George Jackson, Chuck Brooks, Joe Wilson, Ted Taylor, Eddie Giles, and Reuben Bell.
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S4R 005LP
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Soul4Real continues to provide invaluable service to lovers of quality soul music from the 1960s and 1970s, with another carefully curated long-playing selection of incredible music from the enormous vaults of the Ertegun brothers and Jerry Wexler's Atlantic group of labels. Atlantic was and is still based in New York, but its repertoire came from all over the USA. In Here Come The Tears you will hear music from Detroit, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Houston, Memphis and the Big Apple itself. Most of the featured artists will need no introduction -- and that's how it should be, for they are all legends of black American music, regardless of how well they fared in the US charts. Some tracks are big-ticket items, others can be found on 45 at pocket-friendly prices. Four have never been issued on vinyl until now, including the Drifters' long-thought-lost version of the O'Jays' "I Dig Your Act" and Judy Clay's thrilling take on "The Love Of My Man" -- written by Ed Townsend, who also produced the splendid Dee Dee Warwick track that makes its vinyl debut here. One thing that all these tracks have in common, regardless of their vinyl value, is that they are all priceless examples of soul music, from an era where every US state had its own sound, and every artist their own unique style. There is no reason to list highlights -- every track is a highlight! There is also nothing generic or homogenized about anything you'll hear here -- it's all coming to you straight from the heart and soul. Whether you are hearing most of these tracks for the first time or getting reacquainted with 'old friends', there's more to enjoy on this one album than there is in anything currently being issued in the name of 21st century soul. Also featuring Barbara Lynn, Willie Tee, The Dynells, Barbara Lewis, Bettye Swann, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Darrell Banks, Doris Troy, The Isley Brothers, and Aretha Franklin.
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S4R 004LP
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12 tracks, all great examples of real soul music, a mix of well-known classics, overlooked gems, and four songs that were never on vinyl before!
"Whatever condition your condition is in, Soul4Real have huddled together a team of the finest soul physicians to make you feel good. We have scoured all the shelves in the soul pharmacy and discovered some potions that were only just through the trial stage. Just one listen to the brilliant Aretha, Gladys, Walter Jackson and the Purifys' tracks convinced us not to wait for FDA approval, so we took the plunge and shared them with the world on vinyl for the very first time. Recorded in 1968, Arthur Alexander's magnificent 'I Need You Baby' reached legendary status during the tape-swapping epidemic of the late '70s/early '80s. The first traces of Alexanderitus were linked back to a tape dispensed by a north London mod by the name of Randy Cozens, which went viral. Even today, the mere mention of the title to any of those C60-swap-survivors can cause severe heart palpitations. Down in Memphis, they tend to practice the holistic approach to heartaches. Southern folk understand it's about the voice and its natural healing powers, especially when it's being administered by the likes of the Soul Children and Shirley Brown, who instinctively inject the perfect amount of ache, warmth and emotion to hit just the right spot. May we prescribe at least two listens a day, taken with or without food. Helping with recovery we have included tracks by our care team Maxine Brown, Gil Scott-Heron and the Isleys, whose gentle grooves will help nurse you back onto the dance floor in record time. And finally, my personal favorite, Dr Johnnie Taylor. Frankly, it beats me how someone who delivers the lines 'she don't break no records when it comes to good looks' and 'she burns up the food when she cooks' to his girlfriend manages to avoid a trip to A&E. We decided such foolish bravery should be rewarded by having his picture on the album cover." --TATS
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S4R 001LP
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"It doesn't always hurt to hurt? Soul 4 Real's first venture into the albums market is as compellingly essential as the label's impressive singles catalog. Its 11 tracks explore every lonely street and losers avenue that soul music has walked down since the early '60s, tempering essays of heartbreak and love lost with the occasional glimpse of positivity and happiness. It Hurts So Good is very much in the tradition of those great '60s soul compilations where diverse strands of black American music sat side-by-side with each other, and still formed a satisfying listening experience despite their apparent disparity because, in the final analysis, the music mattered most. Just as it does here, in fact. This album showcases just under a dozen goodies by some very big names in soul. It may well be that one or two of the tracks might be less than familiar to you, but you will know the artists -- and you will know, too, that they will never let you down. Originally unissued tracks by James & Bobby Purify and Walter Jackson blend seamlessly with early essentials from Aretha Franklin, Willie Hutch, and the Main Ingredient (as the Insiders). Soul 4 Real has delved into the deeper parts of discographies of legendary artists like Marvin Gaye, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Esther Phillips to bring you songs and performances that are every bit as unforgettable as those that forged their reputations. And if you remain unmoved after experiencing the stellar offerings from the Soul Children and Lou Courtney, it may well be that you didn't have a soul to begin with. In the song that gives this collection its title, the great Prince Phillip Mitchell wrote 'it ain't no good unless it hurts a little bit'. It's true, and the 'Hurt' here really IS 'So Good'... and then some..." --Tony Rounce
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S4R 002LP
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"Welcome to Soul4Real's second album, a collection of originally unreleased tracks which feature a whole host of soul royalty. First off are two songs from the inimitable Bobby Bland, both of which hail from his prolific period at Duke Records. Sandwiched between two stunning Chicago recordings by Etta James is the later 'I Never Meant To Love Him,' taken from a Philly session she recorded with Bobby Martin. Fontella Bass brings this side to a close with a mysterious Chicago recording of which, to this day, hardly anything is known. Side two transports us to Detroit, when Motown was at the peak of its output. 1966 was not a good year to secure the approval of quality control, as proven in the rejection of this wonderful Velvelettes´ version of 'Your Heart Belongs To Me.' It was in that same year that Ashford and Simpson arrived at Hitsville as both singers and songwriters. Their 'Love Woke Me Up This Morning' was recorded by Brenda Holloway and produced by Norman Whitfield. Despite being overlooked at the time, its appeal was undeniable, and it later resurfaced on albums by Marvin & Tammi, Valerie Simpson, and the Temptations. As an integral member of the Motown family for over 14 years, it is surprising that to date only three songs recorded by Johnny Bristol have surfaced. In collaboration with 'Mickey' Stevenson, 'Tell Me How To Forget A True Love' was completed in May 1964. 'One Lucky Day I Found You' was inexplicably not included in the 'David' project. Ruffin´s later work with Van McCoy is also featured on this album. From almost the start of his career, Marvin Gaye had endeavored to project himself as a great balladeer, and nothing could illustrate this better than his rendition of 'I Wish I Didn't Love You So,' which brings this chapter to a perfect end." --Chris Forrest
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