Reissue specialist, CHERRY RED continue (through their various imprints) to make available some great archive soul. Amongst their current crop are a couple of albums sourced from Philly World Records. The label was set up by PETER PELLULO in the shadow of Philadelphia International, but with their very own studio (Alpha) the label did have some memorable moments – two of which are now available via the Cherry Red imprint, bbr. First up there’s ‘Talk It Up (Tell Everybody)’ from HAROLD MELVIN and the BLUE NOTES. The 1984 8 tracker turned out to be the veteran outfit’s last LP and though only MELVIN was there from the classic line up, the music’s still classy and stamped with their trademark sophistication. bbr’s second dip into the Philly World bag features songstress TERRI WELLS and her album ‘Just Like Dreamin”. WELLS and the album are best known for the cover of the SPINNERS’ ‘I’ll Be Around’ but the set offers up other Philly goodies too.
Over on the soulmusic.com label there a pair of very collectable “twofers”. The first pairing comes from NANCY WILSON – with DAVID NATHAN’S label teaming the lady’s Capitol LPs ‘This Mother’s Daughter’ with ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’ (1976 and ’77 respectively). Admittedly Ms WILSON isn’t everybody’s cup of soul tea but all her recordings ooze with a certain sophisticated charm and these two are no exception. Different again is the pack that offers ‘Alicia’ and ‘Alicia Again’ from Detroit’s ALICIA MYERS. Both originally released in 1981on MCA, be assured that the music is more imaginative than the LP’s titles! Expect full reviews here @ SJF very soon.
Coming out of left field now, Cherry Red’s Now Sounds label offers ‘Anything Goes’ from HARPERS BIZARRE. Now, the group had nothing to do with soul. Indeed they were a rather twee close harmony group (you may remember their catchy ‘Feelin’ Groovy’) but amongst the bonus cuts here is the instrumental of their hit ‘Hey You In The Crowd’. Some years ago this easy going, ‘Up Up And Away’ flavoured floater was popular on the Northern soul scene and has since become quite collectable. Catch it here along with lots of ’60s sweet west coast harmony classics.
