Speedometer - The Shakedown - 2010 - Freestyle

Speedometer may be based here in the damp, grey and depressing UK BUT they have all the energy, funk and soul from any classic soul-funk group from the US in the early 70s. Think the JBs, The Meters and Wild Magnolias all rolled into one and you have the irrepressible Speedometer! By the way, having been on the scene for a decade these cats are not imitators. They have worked closely with some brilliant artists known and loved to us such as Eddie Bo, Marva Whitney, Sharon Jones and Sir Joe Quartermain as well as James Brown singer Martha High. The UK's leading Latin percussionist, Snowboy steps in and adds his magic, and he certainly has that aplenty. having seen him in action at the Southport Weekender back in 1992 I was, for one, well impressed. Here he is in 2010 doing his thing and still not failing to impress.

The album is FUNKY. If you fear gritty, deep resonant unadulterated FUNK then walk away quickly as this little funk bomb is about to explode! The tight opening song is a killer and is topped with singer Natasha Watts giving it her all and some blinding flute from John Wilmot. Come on, America...let's see what you're made of! The timbales are worked by Snowboy on the brilliant "La Nueva Manera" and the horns stab with real vigour and such professionalism. Having worked with the legendary Eddie Bo, it is fitting that the gang rework the classic Eddie Bo song "Lover And Friend". This is a cracking version and deserves as much radio play as possible. As well as quality radio such as Solar etc I hope the likes of BBC Radio 2's Craig Charles and Mark lamarr pick up on this also. US Soul Royalty Martha High steps to the mic and blows us away with a KILLER song called "Shakedown - the title of this fine release - and the vibe is soooooo perfectly 1970 - 1973 that it has to be believed. You could fool people with a song like this so easily as some hidden 70s gem. Such is the talent here. Local lad (well, to me at any rate!) Myles Sanko adds his able vocals and really makes this a memorable cut. Myles sings on "Dragging Me Down" too and needs no words of support from me. He is superb for this material and I would love to see him - and this band - live. An essential release from Freestyle.

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

Glenn Jones - Finesse - 2010 - Funky Town Grooves

1984...a Classic year and Glenn Jones at his best on this RCA set produced by Leon Sylvers III, Wayne Braithwaite, Robert Wight and the vivacious La La Cope! I have always loved this man but have found that the later Zomba / Jive sound to have suffered the test of time and this material from the early 80s as being far superior and more attuned to this great man's talents. Already issued in the UK on CD in 1991 by RCA it's long been deleted and great to see it reappear now with bonus tracks in the way of 12" versions of "Finesse" and "I Am Somebody". The quality from master tapes is second to none - I can't be doing with this 'taken from vinyl' nonsense - and this CD is as clear as a bell. The vast majority of this CD is worthwhile and the great days of happy, buoyant uptempo soul music are still fresh in my mind - all that joy, feeling and excitement of that era is perfectly encapsulated in songs such as "Finesse" and "You're The Only One I Love". As soon as the sun is out, I dig these sort of grooves out. Pure bliss.

"Show Me" still grabs my attention every time...this gorgeously lilting ballad is a track that best exemplifies not only the best of Glenn Jones, but the ethos of the day. It makes me cry to think that a set like this will never be recorded again - especially by a label such as Sony. What first drew me to Glenn Jones was his spine-tingling performance on Norman Connors' "Melancholy Fire" back in 1980. That sort of sinuous, yet tender, soulful performance is exactly what "Show Me" allows our hero to do. If only he would be able to do this again as recent sets have been...seriously lacklustre...to say the least. Glenn has got smoothness and he can also let go big style - check out his roaring, soaring passionate style on Leon Sylvers' "Meet Me Halfway there" and see what this giant can do! The Solar sound is one that really energises me...so this, his then contemporary work with the Spinners and the Whispers was so spot on! "Everlasting Love" is nothing short of perfect, and certainly superior to the crass "On The Floor" - but what a phenomenal album from a phenomenal year. AND we can enjoy it all over again..with extras!!!

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

New Horizons - New Horizons/ Gonna Have Big Fun - 2010 - Funky Town Grooves

Columbia was a crackin' label in the 1980s, and a lot of effort was put into quality black music at that time - how times change!!! Anyway, my the mid 1980s Roger Troutman and Zapp were at the height of their powers and various artists basked in the Ohio sunshine thanks to the involvement of Roger Troutman, Billy Beck and Zapp Troutman. One group on Columbia was especially blessed in the 1983 - 1984 period, and that was the quartet known as New Horizons. Although, as far as I am concerned this is not the best or greatest work put out by the legendary Roger Troutman and definitely weak as water compared to mighty sets from Bobby Glover, Human Body, Shirley Murdock and Sugarfoot. That said, this is still very worthwhile as a purchase - especially for the two songs that I'll first highlight. These tracks have already been released in the past on various compilations through Expansion and Rhino but are now unavailable. So...here's your chance!

1983's New Horizons set contains two superb efforts and they kickstart the album and the two-fer CD. The bass heavy, slapping Zapp beat so well loved by funk aficionados is gloriously resplendent and in control on "Your Thing Is Your Thing". The clapping beat, the freaky synths, rumbling bass and overall fun, tongue-in-cheek feeling is superb. No wonder many turned to Zapp and Roger for their loops, beats and inspiration in the days of G-Funk and 90s rap. 27 years on, incredibly, this still packs a punch and more than sounds good today. Following this is a beautifully summery piece akin to Bobby Glover's "It's My Turn"...if you love that song then "I Can't Tell You" will be exactly what the Doctor ordered. The scratchy guitar and dreamy keys are perfect compliment to Roger's expert and unique vocal arrangements. These two songs alone render this release as essential. For me there is little else that ranks as high, and 1984's "Gonna Have Big Fun" only comes close with the sensitive and chilled "Love To Spend The Night" - a track that contains some lovely synths and harmonies but it is also nice to hear the original version of "No One Ever Will" which is warmer that the later version on Lynch's 1989 CD for Capitol. This, too makes a purchase necessary. i am so happy that albums like this are finding a new home - legitimately - on CD and I am so, so happy too that the Sugarfoot is seeing an immanent release in Japan...see? Prayer does work!

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

Drizabone Soul family - All The Way - 2010 - Dome Records

What a real and genuine pleasure to have a brand new Drizabone album delivered to us, and one that is crammed full of brilliant dancers and midtempos. There's a remake - yes another! - of their early 90s hit, "Real Love", plus ten other jams that all slot into place into today's wonderfully vibrant US / Europe scene...80s flavours, Modern flavours and even some 60s flavours too! There 's a wonderful pot-pourri of sounds abound the market place today and a style to suit everybody...Drizabone cleverly and expertly capitalise on this and do what they have always done best - deliver the goods. Almost 20 years on stage and in the studio, Drizabone launch their latest set with the BRILLIANT "Never Stop The Groove" - something that stands as testament to their longevity and appeal. This boogie tune is US sounding and straddles the classy Y2K UK Soul groove sound as well as a classic US early 80s flavour. This, folks, is superb and the more material I hear like this the better. Akon anyone? No, thought not.

The early / mid 60s swayer "I Fell Apart" could almost be an inclusion on, say, Jackie Ross' awsome "Full Bloom" album - or even on a side by Patrice Holloway. Simply put, it's a blinding track and lovely to have such contrasting grooves sat side by side on one album. Fans of their superb "Shining Star" track will easily feel warmth towards the boogie-times sounding "No More Sorrow", and what a corker this track is. Brilliantly delivered with real soul and real instruments! Check out the zingy strings!!! The breezy and summery "Girlfriendz" contains some brilliant guitar work that we have been used to on early 80s efforts, so it will come as no surprise that I love this to bits. And look...more strings! Having more strings than a Gerry Anderson production, you will love the aura of this album. The only thing marring the set for me is a persistent 'vinyl crackle' effect...AAAARGH! If you repress this guys, please kill it!!! If a recording was supposed to sound like that our heroes of old would have either recorded in a chip shop OR employed someone to sit by a mike popping bubble-wrap! Moan over!

One of Britian's finest artists, Keni Stevens, pops up on the gorgeous duet "Lovin' U"...so wonderful to hear this real legend again and I hope that he gets in the studio again real soon to deliver more niceness (facebook me, mate and keep me updated!) You will love this, and also love the summery vibes of the relaxed and chilled "All The Way"...sexy vocals and warm breeze melodies will wrap you up and consume you. This is excellent and although I was expecting a cracking set, by the time I reached this point I was totally over the moon at how much better it was that I could have imagined. Brilliant! the 80s again rears it's head with "Slow Luv (All Thru The Night) which would easily sit alongside numerous classics from the early - mid 1980s...this track is heaven!!! With "Real Love" having more incarnations than BBC's popular Doctor Who, it appears here again for 2010 - fresh, re-worked and still owning a great piano line that lazily supports the bassline and freaky 80s keys. What a great ending to a great CD! This release is essential.

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

Phillip Bailey - Continuation - 2010 / 1983 - Columbia / Funky Town Grooves

By 1983 Earth Wind and Fire were floundering. "Electric Universe", for me, rated as their worst release and it seemed that this supergroup had started struggling to find a place in the increasingly brass-less, synth and drum machine led 1980s. Out steps frontman Philip Bailey with his debut solo release, "Continuation". Production was from the legendary George Duke, and at a time when many front men / women were breaking loose and making their solo debuts, George Duke was a really strong choice for the mantle of producer on this set. I have to say that this is by no means my favourite album of Philip Bailey but it does contain my two all-time favourite songs of this amazing man. That, dear readers, is more than justification for a reissue of this album! Remastered from master tapes, too, courtesy of Funky Town Grooves and Sony USA, this album really is a shining example of what Philip was able to do as an artist in his own right. I have to highlight my two favourite songs. For me these are PERFECT. Perfect vehicles for Philip's soulful, dynamic and immediately recognisable vocals, as well as perfect examples of quality soul in the early 1980s.

"Trapped" was a song that I instantly fell in love with on first hearing. This is a love affair that stands to this day. I cannot tell how often I have played this song...though I can tell you that it's appeal has not diminished one iota since 1983. You can tell that George Duke has a strong hand on the tiller. If you adored his work on his own "Rendezvous" set - think "Gotta Get Back To Love" and "Stay Awhile" - then you will love this song in equal measure. Strings, summery and great keys this is a great, great effort and both Phillip and George should take a great pride in this momentous effort. The follow-on song is another drop-dead killer. If you love Deniece Williams as much as I do, then "It's Our Time" is not going to do anything but fill you with sheer delight. If you know this song already then I don't need to heap praise on it. You already know. Otherwise, just buy the album and enjoy the rich instrumentation - strings, rhythm guitar and warm Fender Rhodes....and some great interplay between two voices who are superbly matched and balanced. The production, again, is irreproachable. As well as this we have the deliciously summery "Vaya". Bailey sings like an angel...a trait that he carries on to this day. An amazing talent and an essential release from Funky Town Grooves USA!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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MCB - MCB - 1983 / 2010 - Funky Town Groove / Epic

What I particularly love about quality soul music - any style of music, to be fair - is it's timelessness. A re-release from 1967, 1975 or 1983 can be as fresh as any new release that you hear new today IF handled properly! This particular album is definitely in that league. Better still is the exquisite quality of the remastering - from master tapes. This is a pre-requisite for me. Music like this demands total quality and this, folks, is what you're getting here. MCB comprised of Aaron Mills and Thomas "T.C." Campbell of Cameo fame and they carried on their impressive caliber of work for this single set for Epic in 1983. MCB were a prized possession on quality radio at the time, and the superb "I'm The One, You're The One" was, rightly VERY popular - even being included on the very popular Street Sounds Edition 5 compilation nestled in with contemporaneous giants such as Oliver Cheatham's "Get Down Saturday Night" and Terri Wells' "You Make It Heaven". Here we are 27 years later and this track STILL does the business big time. See? Timeless.

The tender ballad, "Close To You" is another classy effort. It has a footing, I would suggest, in the classic Philadelphia balladry of Harold Melvin / Teddy Pendergrass and the sweet strings and piano keeps my mind on that train of thought. Belita Woods also adds an extra special something to this song - again harking back to the Philly area. The Rare Groove phenomena of the late 1980s saw the KILLER "Time Is Right" release on the short-lived Three-Way records...the title song, of course, being the KILLER inclusion from this set. Funky, groovesome, summery and essential in every way this highly sought after gem is now available in all it's glory on CD for the very first time. The slap bass, rhythm guitar and trumpet....simply delicious. This is awesome enough - to use current US parlance - but please check out the KILLER floater "Bring It Back (To The Music)"...sax, horns and slap bass atop a great Bar-Kays / Dazz Band / Con Funk Shun type groove. Anyone who is mad enough to dismiss 80s soul music as synthetic ought to wrap their ears around songs such as this. Far superior to anything released today, albums like this really should be given as much promotion and airplay as possible for once a goodie ALWAYS a goodie!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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