Thelma Houston - Breakwater Cat / Never Gonna Be Another One - 1980 / 1981- Funkytown Grooves USA

Dare I say it, but I'm not the greatest fan of Thelma Houston but still to this day love her 1985 smash "Hold Me So Tight" which was, of course, a classy production from Jam & Lewis when they had their own special, magical sound. This two-fer will definitely appeal to fans of the Lady and for me the CD only really starts on track 11 which is her latter LP, "Never Gonna Be Another One". For these ears the 1980 set is too listless and weak and Disco-fied and seems to be quite messy production-wise. The 1981 album hits the ground running with a sax-filled, funky guitar lickin' midtempo called "Never Give You Up" which is SUPERB! This is the material that suits Thelma Houston well, and it towers over the previous year's meagre offering. Tracks like this make the whole reissue more than worthwhile and yet again I cannot thank the Funkytown Grooves chappies enough for making this type of material available on CD.

Next up is the warm and summery "There's No Runnin' Away From Love" with THOSE great, warm Fender Rhodes keyboards and smooth backing vocals. The production and instrumentation is fluid yet stylistically tight and directed, totally overshadowing tracks 1 - 10. If funky guitar licks and Keni Burke styles drum rhythms are your bag then I suggest the BRILLIANT midtempo effort "If You Feel It" which is a real breath of fresh air. I love this song and so pleased to now have this on glorious CD! Ending the set is another gem, "Hollywood" which also adds weight to the second half of the CD. Vocally Thelma Houston is on top form here, and songs like this make me wonder how we may have experienced her vocals with the backing of - say - Chic or Jaques Fred Petrus. Sadly this never came to pass, BUT this type of song gives us an indication and on the strength of the four aforementioned cuts I heartily recommend this CD!

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

Keni Burke - You're The Best / Changes - 2010 - Expansion

Keni Burke is an artist that means so much to me. One of my top favourites of all-time, it is a one of life's true pleasures to sit back and appreciate the creative genius that is encapsulated in this gentleman's music and voice. There has not been a moment since his outings with the Five Stairsteps that interest has wained. His brilliant 1977 dark House album is still much revered, his two RCA albums cherished beyond belief and later 1990s works for expansion much in demand still today. With a new album in the offing and a sell-out show beckoning at London's Jazz Café on Saturday 9th October interest is still deservedly high for this mighty talent. Ralph Tee has kept the flame burning for this talent on recent shows and his new song aired this week, a collaboration with Coll Million will certainly have your musical taste-buds salivating. My only wish is that his 1986 Arista 'in the can' material would surface..."Eyes Don't Lie" is a true Keni Burke classic and is screaming to be released...still on an old Soul Sauce tape from Summer 1989 this song is one that I would remortgage my home for! Anyway, in the meantime Expansion have reissued the Genius' two RCA albums on one album. Many will applaud this and be thankful as "You're The Best" was only issued on CD in Japan a handful of years ago.

Truth be told, no-one bar the wet-behind-the-ears, novices, or recently enlightened will need to be extolled the virtue of either Keni Burke or these two albums. The upbeat and good-times flavours know know boundaries and when Keni and his groove get to work we are compelled by forces of nature to move and get into it. tracks such as "Let Somebody Love You", "You're The best" and "Hang Tight" paved the way for later gems at Philadelphia International with great songs like the O'Jays' "Put Our Heads Together" and the Jones Girls' "Ooh Ooh Ah Ah" and are still thoroughly essential today nearly 30 years on. I can guarantee that these will sound equally essential in another 30 years too, such is the quality of the music made here. Personal favourites of mine are the two cover version, interestingly, and what Keni did here was take two essential, blindingly brilliant songs and give them the Keni Burke magic. "Love Is The Answer" is one of my favourite songs by the legendary Todd Rundgren who along with his 70s Rock outfit, Utopia turned out this amazing track. This song is one I own and play constantly, along with much of the man's work, but Keni Burke obviously loved the song as much as I do and he proves that he lives and breaths it's magnificence...he reinterprets it magnificently and i know that he knows this song on a very deep level.

Secondly is Curtis Mayfield's "Never Stop Loving Me"...this song reduces me to a wreck. For me, one of Keni Burke's finest ever moments and a song that i would happily take to me to the 'other side' when my work on this plain is done. talk about music perfection...recorded in 1981 this song has not dated one second and still an essential addition to any connoisseur's playlist. Another song that deserves such acclaim is "Gotta Find A Way Back In Your Heart". In all serious, this is music PERFECTION. "Changes" from 1982 is yet another masterclass in music-making. A classic album by everyone's standards, who can fail to be moved by smouldering ballads such as "Who Do You Love?" and amazing swayers such as "One Minute More" with Philly backing by - I believe, without digging out the set itself - the Sweethearts. "Risin' To The Top" is an anthem...a timeless classic, a standard piece and never fails to make a Summer day much more than a lovely day...it makes memories. This is the ultimate 'good times' chill-out song and woe betide anyone who tries fiddling with it! It is always a pleasure to have a Keni Burke release of any sort...this is a perfect reminder of past glories, timeless classics and keeps the man in the spotlight as we eagerly await his first UK performance since 1991's Southport Weekender and his new album later this year. ladies and gentlemen...the genius, Keni Burke.

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

Norman Connors - Take It To The Limit / Mr. C - 1980, 1981 - Expansion

When cherished artists seem to lose their steam, lose their verve and fall into the stickiest of honey traps that is the cover version set, it's always nice to have a healthy and wealthy back-catalogue to rely on. For me, Norman Connors last set was not at all what i wanted to hear and it was one of those times where I shook my head with sadness and dug out an old album, wishing wistfully that he re-listen to these gems and like Austin Powers return to the past to get his mojo back. Expansion possibly had this in mind when cherry-picking these two wonderful Arista sets from 1980 and 1981 respectively. Norman Connors is, without any hesitation in my mind a true Master of his game. He was surely at the peak of his powers on Arista and anybody wishing to contest that should take one listen to "Melancholy Fire" and try to come up with a case against. On this song alone there is so much brilliance, creativity and design...a perfect fusion of soul meeting jazz. Glenn Jones has rarely sounded better and what a summertime anthem if ever I heard one. For this song alone I would unhesitatingly recommend a purchase of this two-fer.

Of course, it doesn't begin or end there. Miss Adriatha - a long-time collaborator with Mr. C - returns again prior to her making an appearance later in the decade on Motown as Ada Dyer. Also attending the party that is "Take It To The limit" is the legendary Al Johnson, another Connors protegee whom I have every bit of time and respect for. weren't the 80s a great time for our music? the title track is a great dancer and typical of that era, minus the trappings that was the death-throws of the Disco era! This Mtume styled dancer is a killer and deserves a fresh unleashing on radio and our quality dancefloors. Again, I can say the same for Al Johnson's "I Don't Need Nobody Else" - a superb Leon ware type groove that we already know and love from Lou Courtney's terrific 1974 LP! The second killer on here bar Glenn Jones' effort is Leon Ware's monster "Everywhere Inside Of Me". Leon Ware is one of my most cherished souls in this world, and one listen to this makes my heart sing. The Prince of seduction meets Norman Connors...please, God, let this musical pairing occur again!

1981 was a classic year and Mr. C certainly fits in with the wealth of quality that year. A more synthesised sound was making it's entrance then, and Norman was there along with Beau Williams creating the brilliant dancer, "She's Gone". I can't ever go any length of time without giving this track an airing, and nice to see it released here on CD other than on an expensive Japanese reissue! Glenn Jones, hot from his previous encounter with Mr. C appears again on the superb "Sing A Love Song"...for me Mr. Jones really fits into this groove. It would, in my opinion, benefit him greatly to return to these calmer waters. Jean Carn and Derrick Hughes burn down the house with the brilliant "Love's In Your Corner" and provide us with a great dancer in the style of an Al Mckay production. This is a top-drawer album and together with "Take It To The limit" Expansion have given us a mighty two-fer that is beyond essential. Go on, chuck away your crackly old vinyl and hear these brand new, fresh and clear!

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe