CARLA THOMAS: Let Me Be Good To You (SoulMusic Records)
Carla Thomas, “the queen of Memphis soul”, is often, sadly, treated as a footnote in soul histories. Given her track record it’s hard to understand why. Maybe it’s because after her hit-making time at...
JERSEY STREET: Love Rising Up (ubuntu Music)
Jersey Street is a nine-piece collective based in Manchester. They’ve been around for quite some time. I think it was the late 90s when we first heard ‘em. Then they were peddling their take...
KYLIE AULDIST: ‘This Is What Happiness Looks Like’ (Soul Bank Music)
Originally from Hay, an unassuming small country town in New South Wales, Australia, Kylie Auldist moved to the bright, big city lights of Melbourne where she eventually established herself as one of her country’s...
KENNY CARTER: Showdown (Kent)
Kenny Carter is what’s blithely know as a “cult soul icon”. That’s to say we don’t know too much about him and the few records he released, never hits, have long been revered by...
EDDIE DANIELS: Night Kisses, A Tribute To Ivan Lins (Resonance)
By common consent Rio’s Ivan Lins is the premier post bossa nova first wave musician. Indeed, after Antonio Carlos Jobim, Lins is the most successful Brazilian composer. Since the 80s his work has been...
THE BROOKS: Any Day Now (Underdog Records)
The Brooks are a Canadian soul and funk band. At the core are instrumentalist Alexandre Lapointe and Florida-born singer Alan Prater. They’re joined by drummer Maxine Bellavance, guitarist Phillipe Look, keyboardist Daniel Thoin, saxman...
VARIOUS: Right Back Where We Started From (RPM)
Over the years the RPM label (part of the Cherry Red group) has issued loads and loads of excellent archive compilations. Sadly, the imprint is now bowing out but is leaving with a splendid...
PAUL CARRACK; Another Side Of… (Carrack UK)
“The hardest working man in show business” is an epithet thrown around all too easily by music writers. They confer the accolade on all kinds of performers… even work-shy fops and those who record...
DONNA SUMMER: ‘The Wanderer – 40th Anniversary Edition’ (Driven By The Music/Demon)
In October 1980, when Donna Summer released ‘The Wanderer,’ her debut LP for the newly formed Geffen label, she was the undisputed queen of disco having racked up a welter of memorable dance floor...
