The annual January bash that is the Blackpool Luxury Soul Weekender has just taken place. SJF’s spies tell me that one of the big “new” tunes played out at the event was ‘So Good’ by French duo Sparkle… (Check our recent news story about this little gem which we’re proud to say this site discovered!). Sadly the driving dancer came to light too late to be included in the compilation album that always accompanies the event, but the box set, Expansion’s LUXURY SOUL 2015, still contains most of the essential modern soul tunes that you’ll need to get 2015 off to a great and soulful start.
The 3 CD, 35 track set contains so many highlights that it’s hard to know where to begin. Bound to be amongst everybody’s favourites is ‘It’s all About You’ from Marc Staggers, who, I’m sure you’ll remember, does the most remarkable Luther Vandross impression you’ll ever hear. The track, by the way, is taken from Marc’s upcoming ‘Dream Catcher’ long player.
If you like things a little pacier then try ‘You’ from Soultalk. Featuring the vocals of Gary Poole this is an insistent dancer that is exclusive to this collection.
Elsewhere? Well there’s two great tunes from the DSG label – Soulutions’ ‘Philly Line’ and Neo’s ‘Your Smile’ along with music from Calvin Richardson, Jarrod Lawson, Angela Johnson, Eric Roberson, Incognito, Tom Glide and many more. Keeping the oldies happy, you even get a classic Keni Burke tune – ‘Indigenous Love’ – taken from his 1998 ‘Nothin’ But Love’ album.
LUXURY SOUL 2105 is released on Expansion Records on January 26th and we’ll feature a full review very soon.
