WILLIAM BELL
The Soul Of A Bell (Stax; CD)
     A nicely and faithfully packaged and reissue of William Bell's 1967 Stax album, with the addition of extra stereo takes on 'You Don't Miss Your Water' and 'Any Other Way'. The terrific stomper 'Eloise (Hang On In There)' and the aforementioned 'Water' remain the best tracks here. Some great vocal performances of course and you can never go wrong with the mighty MGs in the background, but as with so many mid sixties Stax LPs it's a passable mish mash of great moments and filler, and proof that Stax didn't really do albums until Hot Buttered Soul. One for collectors.
Slav Tabernacle

EDDIE & ERNIE
Lost Friends (Kent; CD)
     This overdue anthology of some of the finest male duo sung southern and deep soul of the 60s was first mooted more than two years ago. Such were the legal and other difficulties in tracing copyright ownership and obtaining the licensing, that it has taken this long to appear. It was worth the wait. Issued by Kent as the first in a new series entitled Artistry In Soul, '...a series of releases intended to spotlight quality soul music regardless of whether it was commercially successful', this is a fitting debut release under that banner. Eddie (Edgar Campbell) died a good few years back and Ernie (Ernie Johnson) was truly humbled to find that there was such a contemporary reverence for their music. Their full story is told by Dave Godin in the liner notes with his usual deep insight and right on the money aesthetic sensitivity. The compilers have forgone including Eddie & Ernie's well known songs which have established their reputation amongst southern soul fans as anyone who digs them it has been reasoned, will already have them (not least on Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures series of CDs, Vol.4 of which is due early in '03). So no 'I'm Going For Myself', 'Time Waits For No-One' or 'Hiding In The Shadows'. In taking this decision it has allowed all their other known recordings to be compiled on one disc and boy what a disc it is. From their earliest solo recordings to their first coupled incarnation as The New Bloods through to the solid soul sounds of their Phoenix Express sides, this a roller coaster ride of emotion and soul integrity of the highest order, right down to the soulful rendition of Dylan's 'Lay Lady Lay' (recorded for the UK market at Dave Godin's request back in the (old) day(s). The previously unissued 'Bullets Don't Have Eyes' is one cut amongst many that really so(u)ld me on listening to this set, a great piece of social commentary and love rat recrimination! Whoever they were recording for and whenever it was in the 60s, their output and musicianship remained consistently high. This CD contains some of the most precious lost southern and deep soul gems from the classic period and if you have any soul inclination at all, you must own this CD if no other at all costs.
Paul Martin

SHUGGIE OTIS
In Session Information (RPM; CD)
     In the wake of the re-discovered cult status of Inspiration Information RPM have leased, re-jiggled and added cuts to an American compilation that features the session and production work that Shuggie carried out in the mid-'70s; most recorded with vintage bluesmen introduced to him by his legendary father, Johnny. Sure, much is funky-ish, but absolutely none of this rates alongside the unique stylings of Inspiration Information. Of interest for completists and blues fans, but nothing here really caters for the psychedelic seeking I.I. fans. Tread carefully.
I. P. Freely

CARLA THOMAS
Gee Whiz (Ace; CD)
     Oh man, this is SUCH a chick album! It's like the musical equivalent of a Sandra Dee film. It's like Pamela Des Barres' more violet-hued prose moments (but innocent). What a revelation! The only thing I was aware of about Carla Thomas prior to hearing this is her status as 'daughter of Rufus' and 'first lady of Stax'. Originator of 'B.A.B.Y.'. 'Tramp', duettist with Otis Redding: queen of the mid/late 1960s southern soul scene. But this, her first album from 1961, completely confounds that image. It's lush, orchestral middle of the road pop in the vein of The Drifters (a couple of whose hits she covers here), solo Ben E King or Johnny Mathis - i.e. a prime example of the kind of music made by black artists that DID manage to cross over to the mainstream pop charts without being butchered on the way by Pat Boone. Best known track is the self-penned opener (and hit) 'Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)', which is a just BEE-YOU-TI-FUL ode to the man of one's dreams. And that sets the tone for the rest of the record - it's LURVE, baby, and it's glorious!
Jane Farrell

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Hard Texas Funk 1968-1975: 21 Rare & Unreleased Cuts (Jazzman CD/2LP)
     The Jazzman label clearly go in for labours of love in a big way. As with northern soul, funk DJs are forever searching for the rare groove. In this case there's a serving of 21 of them, all from the lone-star state, all by different artists. The liners are detailed and informed, all original labels are illustrated in colour and the presentation in general is impeccable. Not only that, but the artists get paid! As for the tunes, these are a cross section of songs and instrumentals. The only widely known number here is perhaps Latin Breed's 'I Turn You On'. Many of these numbers are the garage punk 45s of the old skool funk genre; hopelessly obscure 45s pressed in less than a couple of hundred copies mainly for promotion or selling of the stage at gigs, you know the story. Also similarly to garage punk, there is a map of Texas included and the presence or absence of funk in different towns of the state discussed at length which is fascinating in itself, that's before I'd heard the disc! The Vern Blaire Debate, The Fabulous Mark III, Little Joe & The Latinaires, Bobby & The Premiers, Timothy McNealy and Little Jr Jesse & His Teardrops and The Tears amongst others ply their rare wax trade across this disc with varying degrees of aplomb. Some of the instros were not that special perhaps in or of themselves, but as a collection and in historical cultural context it is an important set and I can only urge more power to Jazzman's elbow. Visit their online shop at http://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk/.
Paul Martin

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Living In The Streets (BGP/Ace; CD)
     The third outing of this usually gritty funk series takes a few major diversions that add rather than hinder. Jamaican Carlos Malcolm's funky instrumental 'Busting Out Of The Ghetto' opens the set in a suitable manner followed by an equally up-tempo version of 'I'm A Good Woman' by white garage band The Generation. Led by the ex-folky Lydia Pense, who had served time with the Pre-Powder Frost brothers in The Newcastle Five, The Generation's soulful funk sound will certainly shock the purists. Perhaps shocking for '60s/'70s funks fan will be 'Vicious Rap' from '79, claimed by many to be one of the first rap records. It's interesting to hear, though will not be the average Shindiggers bag! Spanky Wilson, Gary Bartz and Pat Bowie with Charles McPherson all slow proceedings down with some quality jazz sides, and obscuros Seeds of Life turn in a hissy sounding, but fabulous lost treasure, in the form of their latin-funker 'East LA Car Pool'; also in the latin vein is Jade's 'Viva! (Viva Tirado)', the first recorded version of the smash hit for El Chicano. Elsewhere the funk is more of the standard chequered flared cloth variety and a number of drug inspired anthems such as 'The Truth Shall Make You Free' by the almighty Hannibal (grab the full long player on Norton) and the hippy leaning of 'Peace Love, Not War' (The Fatback Band) will please all fans of psych-soul.
     This volume of the successful series adds even more variety than usual, yet doesn't show signs of lacking in quality control. Excellent!
Jon 'Mojo' Mills