Peter Young has been someone I have admired for many a year. Knowledgeable, upfront and well versed in soul music through the ages this man is a true Gentleman of Soul. Previous compilations have been impressive, and so too is this double CD that boasts 30 songs spanning the 1960s to the 1980s. The CD is, as you have come to expect, varied, interesting and leaves you wanting more of the same. I am pretty sure that Peter has enough concepts for dozens more compilations and should he run out of ideas all he has to do is give me a call as I sure have plenty of ideas as I am sure you do too! What I like about Peter is his natural affinity for variety. By no means musically conservative I have heard, in his shows, Masters At Work cheerfully sit alongside Doris Troy. Now this is a man after my own heart!I am particularly over the moon to see the Detroit Spinners 1984 smash "Love Is In Season" included here. Much ignored after the late 70s this group still served up solid soul music right up until their 1999 CD, "At Their Best". An illuminated choice for inclusion. Johnnie Taylor's KILLER "Testify" which is a great remake of the old Parliament song but with some real Norman Whitfield flavours thrown in for good measure. This could easily be from an Undisputed Truth album from the early 70s. Magnificent! Another inspired choice is the KILLER 1968 cut "Ain't That A Lot Of Love" by Taj Mahal. Lifted from his Nat' L Blues album this is a seriously essential song - and now available at a very reasonable price thanks to the good folks at Jazz FM! Okeh was a great label and so was Larry Williams and Johnny Watson..."Ain't Gonna Move" - a 60s classic and one that I have had great enjoyment listening too purely as I had forgotten all about it. This and many other great songs was available on CD via the "Two For The Price Of One" album.
"Music Trance", the title of Ben E. King's 1980 Atlantic set (available to download on iTunes, folks!) is classic and still as fresh as a daisy today. Again, I can say the same for Buddy Miles' SUPERB Johnny Bristol produced 1974 single "Just A Kiss Away" - a 'modern' soul smash that really can still set classier dancefloors on fire. I have to say that I am so happy to see the inclusion of "Come Go With Me" by Pockets. The 1977 album was upbeat and positive and this timeless slab of soul will really add a spring into your step, especially as the weather is starting to warm up and be more spring-like - especially here in the UK!! Pieces Of A Dream's "Fo Fi Fo" is another cut to make you smile, as is the classy, classy "How Long" by Thelma Jones and the anthemic "New York, New York" by the Starship Orchestra. Classy, classy, classy and underlines the importance of DJs such as Peter Young in keeping our beloved music alive! ESSENTIAL.
