Narada Michael Walden - Sending Love To Everyone - 1995 - Walden Records

OK, so Narada looks as if he's had a champion day out at the Chelsea Flower Show, and I can't say I blame him. I once streaked naked at the Chelsea Flower Show one year. Instead of being arrested, as I expected, I won first prize for the best dried arrangement! OK, joking aside, please ignore my bad joke and Narada's hat which threatens to attract a horde of bees. This extremely rare CD was released in japan only in 1995 and contained 5 stonkingly soulful tracks amongst what is best described as a rock music environment. Narada is a talent at whatever he does, but he won't mind my saying that I prefer he keep it soulful. It's kept soulful enough for me here, and if you are able to track a copy down - MusicStack or eBay is your best bet, then it's well worth the thrill of the chase. If any track is going to get you hunting it's gonna be the hot duet between Narada and Howard Hewett.

This is track 5 on this album, and even amongst the chosen gems it sticks up head and shoulders. It's a warm, sexy and very 90s stylish ballad which has some excellent vocal interplay between our soulful heroes; Howard, I am definite, has the vocal advantage and is very much at home on a soulful, sexy groove such as this. Well worth paying the steeper Japanese import price tag, though. And in 1995 they weren't cheap! "Tell Me What It's All About" is a quality, quality second track with a sturdy bassline and plenty of synth - Narada's vocals shine brightly on this one. A radio-friendly effort is the upbeat "Soul Desire", a track that you could imagine Shanice tackling with great aplomb. Lovely warm keys on here too. OK, a bit poppy perhaps but I love my pop as much as anything else and it does one good to have a change! If the loping Soul II Soul beat is your bag from the '90s then the melancholic and emotional "Best Years Of Our Lives" will make you happy. A great track this with plenty of haunting synth and atmosphere. My final pick is the mindful "Lay Back", a bouncy and cheerful track which reminds us to take time out in our lives to do what makes us happy. What makes me happy is listening to great 90s soulchoonz, and these picks are certainly of that ilk.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Blu - Out Of The Blu - 1995 - Motown

Motown , as I mentioned in my review of By All Means' essential "It's Real" album was - up until Andre Harrell and his Uptown Homeboys took over in 1996 - really firing on all cylinders in the 1990s. Where MCA used to be dependable for quality soul releases, this was no longer the case and Motown had taken over that mantle. The latest in a long line of QUALITY 90s Motown releases was Byron "Blu" Mitchell with his superb "From Out Of The Blu". This year saw one of the hottest on record in the UK and Blu, along with producer Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Toné fame stepped up to the plate and met it head on with a CD crammed with cool summertime vibes that were - and are still - unbeatable. If you own the 1993 Tony Toni Toné set then you cannot fail to know and love "Anniversary". If that vibe is right up your street then this CD is for you! The first song was revisited in amended form by the Dazz Band on their "Time Traveller" album back in '01 but the original - and best - is here complete with hi-hat and funky, summery, 70s guitar licks. I can feel the warm breeze on my skin as soon as this song opens up. Handy when all I see from my window is melting snow!

"Let's Get Together", complete with flute, brass and strings is a joy to behold - Blu is a very competent vocalist and totally at home on this sort of groove, as he is with the down-low and sexy "Pillow Talk". My, this is a sexy track and the dreamy vibes and 80s keys work in conjunction with a deep, rumbling bass line to make a very horny groove indeed. So sad that this material was soon to be swept away for the likes of Horace Brown, 702 and quite a few others I don't really want to recall right now. Summer exudes from the flute-filled 70s midtempo, "Out Of The Blu", and the brilliant "Lip Service" will do nothing but get a smile on your face. This track is upbeat and perfect for radio or the dancefloor. The Philly guitar, trotting beats and laid-back synth underpin a monster 90s groove. Brilliant. A better dancer, though, is "Most Wanted" - rather in the vein of the Tony's "I Couldn't Keep It To Myself", I have seen this work a dancefloor to great effect. Who says quality can't work on a dancefloor? I have left my favourite song til last. This is nearly 6 minutes of 90s soul heaven in a Philly mode complete with sitar, flute and strings. The lyrics even remind me of what Thom Bell may have crafted, but the beats and the aura is still very much mid 90s. This track is beyond essential, and it saddens me to think that there was never a follow-up album. We can only hope!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Walter Beasley Project - Private Time - 1995 - Mercury

“Private Time” has to be Walter Beasley's finest hour. This was one hell of a CD, crammed with sensual ballads, uptempo monsters and silky instrumentals. Walter has, for my two cents, not come up with anything as invigorating as this album since and I really and truly hope he returns to this winning formula of soul, jazz and funk. Everything that we love in a soulchoon is encapsulated within this 1995 CD release. The album was praised – much to my surprise – and it is so easy to see and hear why. I even love the graphic design and artwork that are part-and-parcel of the album. Hard hitting, funky and riff-laden the contemporary urban 90s groove works as a strong foundation for Walter's tenor sax, and the result is not so much as hard but it's like a clenched fist in a velvet glove. Smooth...with a bit of a punch! The vocalist on the next gem, “Calling To Me”, is the super-talented Kenya Hathaway (expect her début CD soon!), and the tempo is irresistibly catchy and hook-led. This is a 90s version of the bouncy uptempo tunes that we all love from the 80s. Superb and equally timeless. Now, anyone who has followed Walter Beasley will know he loves his cover versions. Usually I find a quiet corner and start sucking my thumb, rocking gently back and forward at the prospect BUT what he does with “A Love Of Your Own” is superb. It's a fresh, funky downtempo take and DIFFERENT!!!!! I really was – and still am – impressed by this version.

The title track is a top-draw instrumental, minus the 90s urban feel, and more in tune with what he later recorded for Shanachie and Heads Up. This is about as far as I go into “smooth jazz” before I start looking for a quick escape route! No means of escape necessary for the KILLER cut on here, “If You Let Me In”. In the same vein as “Treat U Rite” with that back beat, and a seriously resounding and pulsating bass line, tasty guitar licks and a stunning A1 vocal delivery from Walter himself, this is one of the best tracks this man has ever laid down. Liz Withers released her début CD on Blue Note recently – and I for one was not one iota with it. However she makes an appearance her with Walter on the superb ballad “I Will Be The One”, where her vocals truly shine out in the right sort of setting. If Walter's 80s output was more to your liking then “Baby Can't You See” is a vocal that will resound with you, but I think that anyone of any persuasion cannot fail to fall in love with the scintillating semi-vocal “Deep In My Soul”. This is atmospheric in the extreme, and the haunting backing harmonies do nothing but elevate this higher. It's at the end when the vocals kick in that I really get the shivers. Superb. If this was a set you bypassed then click on the link below and snap up a copy. Believe me, it's worth every single penny.

Barry Towler

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Roy Ayers - Nasté - 1995 - Groovetown / RCA

This is a very, very strong 90s album from the legendary vibesman, Roy Ayers. The feel is very 90s, yet owes a lot to the hard, thumping bass style of Mtume in the mid 1980s. I was, and still am, very excited about this album. In an interview at the time, Roy was excited in the fact that RCA had allowed him total creative freedom to deliver the album he really wanted. Well, the results speak for themselves. Such a funky, jazzy and screamingly essential album. The funky and cool opening "Nasté" cut features the brilliant Richard Shade on vocals - he sounds as if he's slipped straight out of a 70s funk band and found himself in the mid 90s. Brilliantly delivered and sop perfect for Roy's edgier and harder sound. Roy is a genius and when he is allowed to do his own thing really does not disappoint. Another superb track in this vein is the brilliant, brilliant "Swirl".

I never tire of playing these songs, and it was a real pleasure to see Roy and Richard perform these songs live in Bournemouth back in 1995. Superb. "Fantasy" was another cut which they performed live, Richard absolutely revelling in his vocal contribution. This is a killer cut by anyone's standard, and the outrageously sexy voiced Wumni joins in with some flirty pillow talk with Roy, paced against the sexy undercurrent groove, Richard's falsetto and Roy's distinctive vibes is a true wonder to behold. Tracks such as "Baby Set Me Free" (featuring Sax legend James Moody) and "Treasure" are more traditional efforts in that they could have been lifted from any of his Columbia efforts from the 1980s. Such a classy album and still available at ridiculously inexpensive prices. I look forward to more work such as this from Roy.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

Patrick Henry - Loving U / My Love - 1995 - Street Soul

From the excellent Street Soul Records comes another release to follow-up from the Jerline & Friends CD. The new release is a do-not 7" single taken from the Patrick Henry & The Liberation Band's 1995 album "Come And Get It", and was originally released on CD on Lanor Records in the USA. Street Soul Records have licensed 2 tracks for this particular 7” release namely the A side "Loving U" and the B side "My Love". These, if you are not familiar with the CD, are both excellent. I'm not at all surprised that these tracks have been played heavily on the UK Soul Scene of late, and the label says that the demand for a 45 was inevitable. Not sure about that as I'd rather have the CD than a 45 any day! However, collectors and nostalgics do love these curious things! LOL. The single was released on June 20th 2008 and is very limited to only 500 copies! The songs, as I have already stated, are excellent.

"Loving U" is a song that could have been recorded in the mid 70s. The instrumentation is all real, live and crammed with soulfulness. The live drumming and summery guitar hark back to the days of A Taste Of Honey's “I Love You” and even Steve Parks' “Movin' In The Right Direction”. The horns sound almighty fine too, and the melody is straight into the classic soul bag. I class this a fine soul music for a summer's day. The flip-side is "My Love" is equally temperate and contains a bassline-driven groove and allows the horns to punch in all the right places. Both songs have a hint of Carlton J. Smith to them, and I could easily see Carlton attempt these grooves and vice versa! The feel is definitely – dare IO say this – old school in approach and nothing within these grooves give an indication of being released in 1995! Like MOST quality soul of the 90s, this was ignored for whatever street / urban / rap flibbertigibbet was in vogue in London at the time, so it is not 'til now that the songs are getting the airing they deserve. Why does the soul world (or so it proclaims) ignore what is happening right now, quality-wise, and only support it when someone deems it rare or hip? Its beyond me, it really is!

Barry Towler,
The Vibe Scribe

Relations Feat. Glendora - Relations - 1995 - PGM

This little inspirational set was released and sank without trace back in 1995. Unfortunately there was a lot of great material out that year – and the majors were still – reluctantly I expect – releasing quality material then meaning that a lot of smaller, independent labels had a harder job to get their material to be noticed. Pity, as this is quite a good set and definitely one for those who like a more secular sound in the musical shape of, say, Witness. Hailing from New York, Relations were a grouping consisting of producer Michelle McCants, Jerry Hutchinson and featuring the vocal talents of Glendora Reed. The set encompasses many sounds ranging from more soulful gospel tunes to dance a la CeCe Peniston and even a small element of rap! The soothing intro is soon replaced by a hot 90s dance rhythm that would have made Cliville & Coles proud. “I've Given You Love” may sound, by today's standards to be a little dated but give the song a chance and the appeal will soon become apparent to you. This is a good dancer and one that should have been big at the time!

The chunkier “Your Wish Is My Way” could easily appear on a more urban Witness album, and as such is a worthy inclusion on this album. I also like the short, yet sweet “I Will Be Right There” with it's warm, resonating keys and jiggly beats. Yes, there is a rap BUT it works very well in it's setting and the vocal harmonies are very moreish indeed! “Just For You” is an excellent cut with tasty, swirling keyboards and a nice melody, but is overshadowed by the superb “Heavenly” which grabbed my attention immediately, and as a result has been played a great deal. What a pity this CD was overshadowed in it's day! This song alone makes the whole album worthwhile. Similarly “It's Your Love” will press a few soulful buttons I am sure. The song uses THAT haunting synth sweep that Gary Taylor used to use in the late 80s / early 90s. Oh, I wished it was used again now! “I Will Be Right There” is another quality groove and reminds me of what contemporary artists such as Company or Dawkins & Dawkins were making at the time. The final cut is deceiving...and when it gets going a few minutes in is simply superb...”Reach Out (Don't Let This Moment Pass You By) is another quality downtempo groove, although the lyrics are a bit more overtly religious than some. Musically, though, this really is something else, and if you are totally irreligious as I am then still don't allow this cut to pass you by! Please, if you can, seek out this 90s rare groove. It's well worth it!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

The Temptations - For Lovers Only - 1995 - Motown

This album was released in the autumn of 1995 with very little fanfare. I find it very annoying that most albums I consider essential, classy and timeless receive little press, scant cover or – worse – derision from the media, including those which allegedly support soul music. I am guilty of derision, especially where albums of cover versions are involved. I generally feel that the trend towards sets of covers is not only lamentable but also alarming. Some albums, though, warrant trumpeting, such as this one purely because they are different. What the Temptations, along with veteran producer, Richard Perry, did on this album was to take some classic, household-known standards and then completely dissect them, not limb from limb, but almost molecule from molecule. These songs were reassembled into interpretations and not merely covers. No stone was left unturned in an effort to make the songs fresh, different and, well, sound like brand spanking new. Their efforts paid off. The timbre of the album is certainly an emotional one from many viewpoints. This was the last album recorded with Melvin Franklin prior to his early and untimely passing – to hear him on here is not only poignant, but also pitched emotionally beside the beautiful, haunting and touching melodies that really do cement these album’s fortunes.

Anyone who knows me will know that as soon as I hear that an album is a set of cover versions my eyes roll, I sigh and give some resigned comment. This is exactly what I did with this album, and so I ignored it. It was almost 6 months before I heard it via friend who bought it from a regular pilgrimage to London. I was intrigued that he bought it in the first place, but when I heard it I was instantly blown away. Theo Peoples joined the team in 1994 and his powerful vocals dominated the set along with the awesome Ali-Ollie Woodson. “Some Enchanted Evening” is a well-loved song, but the Temptations really make this their own vehicle. Their harmonies are tighter than the top of a Scotsman’s purse, and Isaias Gamboa on the mix makes it more than a memorable moment. One of the scene-stealers is “What A Difference A Day Makes” – no one has, and ever will cut this song in such a powerful fashion. This is indeed one magical brew of skilled production, soulful interpretation courtesy of Ron Tyson and first class lyrics. Johnny Britt’s muted trumpet is a killer, too. Twelve years after release, this song still gets me every time. “That’s Why I Love You So” displays some magnificent harmonies atop a soulful plateau. The vocal interchanging is superb. The haunting and melancholic “Melvin’s Interlude” melts into the sublime “Life Is But A Dream” where the good old-fashioned street corner harmonies come into play. The Temptations rarely get better than this. “Time After Time” commences with the words “Drop the groove”, and the fellas do exactly that – I’m not certain what Cahn and Styne would make of this version, but I for one love it to pieces. Since the release of this album, the Tempations have gone on to release two albums of cover versions – both do not even compare to this Masterpiece. “For Lovers Only” is a landmark Temptations recording and should not be a set that you ignore. As essential today as it ever was, “For Lovers Only” stands tall in the impressive and unequalled Tempations catalogue.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe