27 Jan 2019
Bill Brandon – On the Rainbow Road: The Muscle Shoals and Birmingham Sessions
One of Southern Soul’s most criminally underrated and unsung heroes, Bill Brandon cut some of the genre’s finest singles for a host of labels in the late ’60s and early ’70s. His full-throttled, raw vocal style – somewhat reminiscent of Johnnie Taylor – makes all...
21 Nov 2018
Bettye Swann - 1969 – The Soul View Now!
Where to begin when speaking of Bettye Swann… The Louisiana-born soul chanteuse is one of my all time top 5 female vocalists (she’s in the company of Aretha Franklin, Betty Wright, Candi Staton and Mavis Staples), and it’s a shame she never made it big...
02 Nov 2018
Buddy Miles – 1970 – A Message To The People
The prolific drummer’s most creative album, ‘A Message to the People’ can well be seen as the artistic completion of Buddy’s search for perfect funk-rock-folk-soul fusion. Retooling Joe Tex’ “You’re Right, Ray Charles” into a frenzied, hard driving, brass drenched instrumental, Miles pays hommage to...
13 Dec 2014
Rufus Thomas – 1972 – Did You Heard Me?
One of the best funky LPs by Rufus Thomas – recorded in the early 70s with backing by The Movement and The Bar Kays, and with a good raw Stax sound on most cuts! Rufus is certainly in the “funky ” mode here – doing...
15 Nov 2014
O.V. Wright – 1977 – Into Something (Can’t Shake Loose)
A stone killer from OV Wright – a record that’s got all the raw, deeply soulful vocals we love in his early work – mixed with some wicked 70s Hi Records production from Willie Mitchell! Imagine an Al Green record, but with rawer vocals, and...
25 Mar 2013
Don Bryant – 1969 – Precious Soul
Rip & Intro by Raphy Review & Research by Groovegirl Posting & additional infos by Nikos DON BRYANT! Who? Don Bryant!!! That’s the question, never judge a question before it is answered. Here in my little world of ignorance, I thought Don Bryant was an...
17 Jul 2012
Jimmy Hughes – 1967 – Why Not Tonight?
Rip, research and review by Bac Posting & additional info’s by Nikos ‘Why Not Tonight?’ is a full-fledged Southern Soul masterpiece! Jimmy Hughes is a very good example of the Muscle Shoals Area Sound: little-known, ambivalent and difficult to keep alive. But he has some...
30 Jun 2012
Eddie Floyd – 1967 – Knock On Wood
Review1 by Soulmakossa – Review 2 by RDTEN1 Rip, posting & additional info’s by Nikos Eddie Floyd signed on with the Memphis based Stax Records as a songwriter in 1965. He wrote a hit song, “Comfort Me” recorded by Carla Thomas. He then teamed with...
03 Jul 2011
Z.Z. Hill – 1974 – Z.Z.
Rip and research by Mr.Moo Hill’s second album for United Artists was recorded at the fabled Fame studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Rick Hall’s Fame studio could pride itself as having been the operating base for some of soul music’s finest performers: Wilson Pickett, Aretha...
17 Oct 2010
F.B.I. – 1976 – F.B.I.
F.B.I. were a UK-based outfit, much in the same vein as Average White Band and Kokomo, with maybe a slightly more raw and edgy feel to their range. Boasting a male and female lead, the nine-piece were clearly destined for bigger and better things. But...
07 Oct 2010
Eddie Hinton – 1978 – Very Extremely Dangerous
One of the best soul albums of the 70’s. A buried treasure. Hinton is one of the greatest white soul singers of the modern era- dubbed “the white Otis Redding”. His guitar playing can be heard on hit records by Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Joe...
22 May 2010
Don Covay – 1966 – See-Saw
Another great contribution by Mr.Moo. Excellent Atlantic soul from Don Covay! Don was one of the label’s biggest soul talents in the mid 60s — and he not only cut some great work on his own, but also penned some tunes that have become some...
