Cool Million - Going Out Tonight: The Tom Moulton Session - 2010 - Sedsoul

There is nothing negative I can say about the wonderful duo Cool Million. So, when I tell you that this CD far and above surpasses the original album I mean absolutely nothing derogatory to Frank Ryle or Rob Hardt. Tom Moulton is a real soundsmith...a true craftsman as well as a genuinely nice guy and what he has here is taken 10 mouth-watering soul pieces and has done what I could not have though possible...exulted them to another more divine 80s soul level! I love how Tom Moulton works...rarely do we get a complete re-work, but he feels the rhythm and gets within the layers to augment, enhance and showcase areas and segments that benefit from his excellent judgement and keen ear. This he has elevated to another level on this CD. It's almost like listening to a NEW Cool Million CD...all the songs are still very familiar and loveable yet they are so...different!

A lot of time and love seems to have gone into this project and my gut feeling is that Tom and the guys have hit it off on many levels. This is great news and long may it continue. Albums like this make me feel so good, and after a crabby day at work this is the ultimate panacea. For me at any rate! A few songs I have already reviewed as a 12" single release last year, and these are here in full CD glory, and if those songs - "Give Me My Love" and "Lift Me Up" - were enough to make your mouth water then the other 8 tracks are going to SLAY you! Tom's magic wand has made me sit up and notice songs that I had not picked up on so much as I ought to, and his inspired work on "Pulling Me Back" has been seriously extended and has added 80s spices thrown in for good measure. Oh, there is nothing I can say about this album bar it is a real must and an essential purchase. How anyone can limit themselves to the 60s, 70s etc alone and overlook material like this is totally beyond my ken. No mucking about here...just order one today!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Cool Million - Back For More - 2010 - Sedsoul

Cool Million have not skipped a beat as far as their releases are concerned. You'll have read my recent account of the latest single release; a very special two-header featuring 80s soul man Eugene Wilde and soulful sister Dee Dee. There has also been the deliciousness of "Sweet Baby" with the awesome power of Meli'sa Morgan. The soul community here in the UK and Europe were uproariously in support of these songs - "Loose" especially being hailed for it's greatness. Following this we now have the follow-up album and what a real treat this album is...superb, soulful, highly danceable and vigorous enough to get even the most rusty of dancing shoes creaking out onto the dancefloor. How gratifying it is for me to hear such wonderful music being made today - my heart sings when I hear really uplifting soul music and the 80s flavours absolutely result in me feeling...oh so good. A party is all well and good, but one can, I feel, ascertain a party by the quality of the guests. And check out the guest list!!!! Al Broomfield, Leroy Burgess, Jahah, Peggi Blu, Rena Scott, Paul Mac Innes...to mention a few! This, folks, is one hellava party!!!

Of the new tracks, Jeniqua's "Making Love" is total, total quality. A brilliantly rounded vocalist of the caliber of Tamia (although singing mature music as opposed to kids' RnB) sings as sweet as a bird on the beautiful midtempo effort "Making Love"...a track that is both very 1980s and yet very 2010 in the same breath. An instant dancefloor hit. Now, saying that, I can apply that statement to ANY of the tracks on here. Man of the moment, Leroy Burgess, helps bring the heat up on the track "Cool Million" - a track that perfectly complements the legend's very own SUPERB "Throwback 2" compilation album which you will be able to savour this May! We all remember the wonderful Al Broomfield for his 1987 Vision LP / CD and all the gems that contained...he returns with a vengeance with the brilliant "Stay Close"; a memorable and moving effort which wuill not disappoint you. Better still, though, is Jahah's KILLER midtempo number "Magiq" which possesses all the style, grace and irresistablity of an 80s Jam and Lewis SOS Band production. The rap on here does not foul the song's atmosphere either. Classy, classy, classy. Fans of Rena Scott will celebrate the joyous inclusion of "Come 2 Me", a track that reminds me of "Give Me Your Love" from the previous album! Blinding backing music, and sensual vocals all amount to a magnificent 4½ minutes of danceable soul music.

The UK's own mega-talent Noel McKoy slays us with the tremendous basspin-rumbler "Just Dance". Smooth, relaxed and unruffled - a typically British approach yet restrains the drum machines that threaten to burst out of the boom box and blast us back to 1985. Oh, I'm in heaven with music like this. The sexy Clare Evers brings another dimension to the album's already brimming quality with the 1984-ish "You Got Style". This is simply what this tired, grumpy old goat or a reviewer wants to hear! Topping the cake is the mega-talented Paul Mac Innes with his "I'm So Glad"...this is exactly what we have been treated to with his 2008 album and recent single. Taken as a whole, a recent comment made on this set being a 'masterpiece' isn't an exaggeration. Rob Hardt and Frank Ryle, along with all their soulful friends and colleagues do much more than make great music...they keep the flame burning and light a few more torches for the next generation...a generation who may not otherwise hear or understand the love, beauty and uniqueness of what quality soul has to offer.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Cool Million featuring Eugene Wilde - Back For More - 2010 - SedSoul Records

I tell you this: Over the past year or so i have spoken to a LOT of people in the music business worldwide and the respect that has been paid to Cool Million has been very healthy and solid. The last accolade I heard was from the legendary Tom Moulton himself who not only gets on with these guys but also digs how they work. That is a compliment indeed from a legend of over 5000 remixes!Tom's compliments are solidly based. We all fell in love with their debut CD for Expansion, and I for one being partially time-locked in the mid 1980s fully appreciated their superb 80s sounding boogie tunes. Then we had the Tom Moulton remixes - all superb, and the recent killer tune with the uber-sexy Meli'sa Morgan. Not to mention the amazing remake of the Sunburst Band's "Everyday"...And now, dear readers...from the tantalising new CD project "Back For More" we have this incredible double-header on collector's 7" single featuring no less than 80's soul hero Eugene Wilde!!! This is far, far superior to his extremely disappointing CD and the Cool Million guys have certainly got him back into a meaningful, soulful dance vibe.

I have played this track over and over again. A resilient pounding beat, rhythm guitar and synth acts as a worthy backdrop to this Legend's supremely soulful and elegent vocal style. Eugene can really belt out and let rip when he wants to, but he is equally suited on this midtempo 80s styled stepper. I never thought this glorious sound would return afresh but yet here we are in the second decade of the 21st Century celebrating this very fact. Another thing to celebrate is the B-Side which sees our hero linked up with his equally soulful sister, Dee Dee Wilde! "Loose" is a real groover and is absolutely SUPERB. The bassline really booms, the harmonies here are exceptionally addictive and from the word go you are going to love this track. This could easily be a lost or unreleased track from his 1989 Magnolia / MCA album. Dee Dee Wilde is a superior female vocalist and any new material from her is more than welcome. Both songs deserve as much airplay as possible and I am sure that you will hear this regularly on stations such as Solar. If this is a taste of the new CD due soon then we are in for more of a treat than the phenomenal first album. Releases like this simply excite me! A welcome return from 2 members of the ultra soulful Wilde family!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

Cool Million feat. Meli'sa Morgan - Sweet Baby - 2009 - Sedsoul

This is simply fantastic...Cool Million come on strong YET AGAIN with a blockbuster 80s inspired dancer, hot on the heels of their delicious remake of The Sunburst Band's "Everyday" (see previous review!) and the guys have managed to draw in yet another top-of-the-class vocalist in the sexy and delectable shape of Meli'sa Morgan! This is a collectible 7" release and is paired with the superb "Damn Beautiful" featuring Laura Jackson, which is lifted from their essential 2009 album release, "Going Out Tonight" (also reviewed.) If you are already of fan of the Cool Million sound, which is essentially the best amalgam of 80s US Club sounds, then this will definitely be on your wants list to Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas or your Lady who has a very similar costume from Ann Summers in her collection!

Your feet will tap to this and you will, I guarantee, love it on first hearing. Meli'sa Morgan is still one of THE best RnB vocalists around and her 2005 set for Orpheus testified to that. This, and not today's plodding, dark and muddied grooves is what I feel suits her rip-roaring, soaring and flighty vocal style. The funky keys, rhythm guitar and 80s soulful synths carry her higher and higher and I would lay money down that this is the best studio fun she's had since 1986! For those Laura Jackson virgins, the best way to describe her voice is...gorgeously smooth and sexy. The tune is very much in the mid 80s style and very much in a Change / SOS Band mode! What a double header this is, and an extra boon for those who still like buying vinyl singles of this calibre...ooooh take me back to the mid 80s and Venus Records in my old home town so I can taste this feeling all over again...

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

Cool Million / Tom Moulton Mixes - Laura Jackson - Lift Me Up / C.J. Anthony - Give Me My Love

I was so, so impressed by the album, released on Expansion, last year and now we have a brilliant, brilliant double-header lifted from the album and released on 12” remixed by the legendary Tom Moulton. I have always loved and respected Tom's work and what he does here is take two great songs and stamp his trademark on them. “Lift Me Up” has been revamped and sounds a lot clearer and has a more punchy bassline. The groove is extremely recognizable but with less synths and more emphasis on darting strings. The track, for me is a lot stronger than the album mix and is a real no-brainer when coming to click for a purchase. Such a classy, classy mix. C.J. Anthony's blinding “Give Me My Love” is hard to beat so there is, for me, little room for improvement. The sound here is sharper, slicker and a shade more textured. I love this version too, and it;s a lovely side order to the main meal of album. Tom Moulton, now 60, still kicks ass in the remix stakes and has lost none of the fire that he possessed during the 70s. I am so pleased that Frank Ryle and Cool Million have utilized this great Man's talents here and now in 2009. Also check out what he's done to First Choice's version of “Love And Happiness”! Superb! Cool Million are going to be about for a long time and the door is open for a whole new generation of listeners to discover the brilliance of 70s and 80s soul and dance with a modern twist. Laura Jackson and her “Lift Me Up” should get some serious butt moving and I for once, given a chance, will let my hair down and join 'em. The good old days are back again.

Barry Towler