German label, Golden Rules currently curates a compilation series called ‘Originals’. They’re now up to volume 3 and one of the tracks winning plenty of praise is ‘It’s Gonna Be Aright’ from New York based soul man CARLTON JUMEL SMITH .
Smith was born and raised in Spanish Harlem where, as an Apollo regular, he got to know and love people like Bobby Womack, James Brown and Al Green. He’s been making his own music since the late 1980s and more recently he was pacted to Finnish label Timmion who released his semi-autobiographical album ‘1634 Lexington Avenue’ in 2019.
Now Golden Rule have dug out his soulful, raw ‘It’s Gonna Be Aright’ for ‘Originals’ and, wisely, they’ve released it a single to flag up the album. Sonically it shows the influence of the classic soul veterans Smith enjoyed on their visits up to Harlem. The cut’s tight and brassy and properly old school and it’s out now!
