The Temptations - Phoenix Rising - 1998 - Motown

If we forget their "For Lovers Only" set for the moment, then I can say with some conviction that this is one of the best and most consistent Temptations albums since 1984's "Truly For You" (see 80s reviews). For Lovers Only was a masterpiece, and this set is as essential, but in a different way. Over 11 years have passed since I bought this, and I still cannot stop playing it as every track is strong, soulful and is aimed at the quality soul lover. Although the line-up changes like the weather, their unique sound remains the same and it is a tribute to the strength and commitment of Otis Williams to keep the flame burning following the sad and early death of Bass, Melvin Franklin. I cannot fault one single track on here - all tracks are worthy of the highest praise possible. A track that will both surprise you and excite you is the first track to be lifted as a single, which is "Stay". The Temptations actually sample themselves with the bassline and guitar riff of their 60s smash, "My Girl", and with the production magnificence of Narada Michael Walden they delivered a top-drawer and totally unmissable summertime smash. This is the sort of track (and album) that grabs your attention.

The following cuts will impress you greatly, too. If ballads are your bag then there are plenty, including a more downtempo reading of For Lovers Only's 1994 cut, "Take Me in Your Arms". This is mouth-watering soul at its very best. Terry Weeks of For Lovers Only has now been a fully-fledged member of the group for 11 years and he still fits like hand in glove. There are some classy dancers and midtempo songs, too that defies the current obsession with the tired hip-hop / RnB formula. The guys had obviously gone into the studio and took time to create a CD of enormous appeal, longevity and quality that I imagine that creativity was taken out of the hands of Motown executives!!! Check the amazing "My Promise". This actually features Theo Peoples on lead vocal, and was recorded prior to his departure. What a powerful singer he is. The Temptations have still to better this track this side of Y2K. This is the sort of soul CD that REALLY sorts the men from the boys! Do not delay in acquiring this album as you can find it dirt cheap on Amazon, and do NOT overlook it. Every track a quality cut and an album that cannot be beaten. SOUL HEAVEN.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Will Wheaton - Consenting Adultz - 1998 - Platinum Bass

We have been treated to two essential albums from this most impressive vocalist. This album was released in 1998, and was followed in 2005 by the equally impressive "Old Skool Soul" album. I was listening to Lincoln Adler’s "The Dream" CD (Chartmaker, 1996) recently and got to my favourite song which is "Show You The Way To Love". I have always raved about the song, and the great new singer that stole the show. Will’s vocals are very, very soulful, and his voice plummets as low as the late, great Isaac Hayes, and as such is a sheer powerhouse in his delivery. Although this set was released in 1998 I cannot believe how ‘now’ it sounds. I have spoken to Will many times since I discovered this CD, and I agree with Will that the set was, for all intents and purposes, ahead of its time. I can see this where the uptempo material is concerned as the style is definitely not out of place with today’s chunkier, funkier rhythms. I am also very impressed with the quality of the songs, easily faring well against the major labels. The general gist of the CD is summed up eloquently by the liner notes: "And remember listening to this album alone is not advised you must be in the presence of another consenting adult!" OK, this is a CD for horizontal dancing and no bones about it.

As for who is helping Will on this CD, that’s the best part. Lincoln Adler appears with the aforementioned "Show You The Way To Love", and we also have the VERY classy work of Raymond Jones with the KILLER ballad, "Baby Its On". Will, on this song, is as mature and adult as you can hope for and this song is pure CLASS. Do not miss this song whatever you do. If that is not enough then I implore you to check out the HEAVENLY final cut, "My Promise" which is delivered to us courtesy of producer S. Mayo who is a Chapter 8 affiliate and wrote the glorious "Give Me A Chance" of their "Forever" album. AND Chapter 8 member Valerie Pinkston can be heard doing background vocals. If that isn’t classy, then you tell me what is!
More classy ballad action can be found on track 4 which is complete quality – I like the occasional dramatic synth flourish which reminds me of Prince. "Let’s Do This" has a flavour of Christopher Williams vocals tied in with the sort of groove we heard on the last-but-one Manhattans CD such as "Can You Take It" which was a composition by … Will Wheaton! All these songs are just exceptional by anyone’s standards and personally I would buy the CD purely for any one of songs, but there is also the more uptempo material to get our teeth into. I was not expecting "Le’ Me Ride" or "Jiggy Love" to be anything worth reviewing but I couldn’t be any more wrong. The Isaac-inspired vocals on "Le’ Me Ride" complete with its funky, infectious bassline is little short of superb. Slinkier, and dirtier still in the beats department is "Jiggy Love". Not sure what Jiggy is, but Will seems to like it! ESSENTIAL 90s SOUL.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

Ali - Crucial - 1998 - Island

I was shocked to see this CD listed on Amazon for less than a POUND! Shocking what price quality comes at these days, but what better if you don't know this CD and that my words inspire you to take a chance and order the CD. If you do not know this VERY talented UK artist then let me start by saying that "Crucial" is a very apt and prophetic title for this set of MONSTER UK Soul. Ali is a London born vocalist who will do nothing but delight those of us who truly love real and true soul music. As with the best of the UK material - think Loose Ends etc - the CD was recorded in the USA and it will not take you long to discover that this guy has the most remarkable and soulful voice that we had been treated to in years. His voice is breathtaking blend of Ronald Isley, Phil Perry, Al Green and Bobby Womack. Ali doesn't have to pretend to be these people; his vocal phrasing is amazing and is an all-embracing mixture of all the aforementioned artists. My only question is...11 years on where is he now?!

"Crucial" will favour the traditionalists much more than the homies, which is fine by me and I bet you're settling into your comfy chair knowing that as well! Although some tracks have an urban feel, the very few samples that have been utilised are done so sparingly and with a feel of humility and respect. Keni Burke's "Risin To The Top" and Steve Parks' "Movin' in the Right Direction" are there, chopped up, interpolated and used as garnishing and not as the meat and two veg. I honestly cannot fault any track on this CD and I will only say that you would be a fool to overlook such a classy, soulful and dazzlingly talented artist. For those who are into other 90s artists such as Maxwell or Rahsaan Patterson my advice is to sit back and listen. No messing about - just get a copy. As David Dickinson would say, it's as "cheap as chips!"

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Gabriella Anders - Wanting - 1998 - Warner Brothers

Gabriela Anders is Argentinean, hailing from Buenos Aires. This beautiful, talented and oh-so-yummy young lady delivers us a SUPERB and CONSISTENT Latin tinged "smooth jazz" set and has the production talents of George Duke, Paul Brown and Matt Pearson to lean on. The end result is a soul/jazz lovers dream. Most 'smooth jazz' leaves me colder than a snow man's naughty bits, but this album warmed me up no end. Vocally she comes to us in an extremely sensual and sexy way indeed. Imagine a vocal fusion of Astrud Gilberto and Chante Moore. Interested? Some of her vocal phrasing echoes of Sade, but this lady is far superior and has a much wider, varied and more interesting vocal range. The only disappointing track is the dreadful reggae tinged "Seven Days", so simply program your CD / MP3 player to skip this blip and sit back and just ENJOY.

I could write reams on this album, so in short the album is smooth, jazzy, summery, soulful, well produced and very, very more-ish. There are a few cover on here, including what has to be the best ever remake of "The Girl from Ipanema". This is a soul-lovers delight; immeasurably soulful, sultry and perfect for the Quiet Storm slot. George Duke really has pulled off a great one here and it's nothing short of EXCELLENT. The other cover is of Roberta Flack's 1988 gem "You Know What It's Like" and is more true to the original but perhaps mellower. Soul hero, Eric Benet adds his mighty fine tonsils to the mix on the spine tingling duet "Forever". I really can't applaud this CD enough and it has to rate as one of the best vocal jazz fusion sets of the late 90s explosion, and as equal in stature to contemporary sets by Marilyn Scott or Hillary James. A further two album ensued after 2000, available on Amazon, but these sadly lacked the power and impact of this CD.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Phyllis Hyman - Forever With You - 1998 - Philadelphia International

Like many, I was shocked by the untimely and tragic passing of Phyllis Hyman. The power of this Lady was for all to see when she appeared live at the Southport 10 event in November 1991, and being a tall Lady she must have appeared 7 feet tall with her hair up! That concert was a privilege. So, following her passing Philadelphia International released 2 albums of posthumous material, and "Forever With You" was the last release. I am sure that Gamble and Huff are sat on a lot more material. I know for a fact that Harold Melvin cut one last final album in the late 90s, and that's gathering dust. Anyway, less of my moaning! What can I say about this remarkable 1998 CD? It is a classy, jazzy, sophisticated, deep and profound and offers us an insight into the writing talents of this sadly missed Lady of Soul.

Using "in the can" material and with some technological wizardry, Forever with You is essential on all 12 counts here - though some tracks are more essential than essential itself! After the jazzy, horn filled jogger that is Forever with You is a real KILLER that is "Funny How Love Goes". This is classic Philly soul at its best and will really pull on your heartstrings - Damon being a real class act too, and one I had hoped we will hear more of, and a scheduled album on Philadelphia never surfaced. He has recently popped up on a House track called "What Am I Supposed To Do" with Reelsoul. That is essential too! The dancers, "How Long" and "Tell Me What You're Gonna Do" are absolute stunners and are more contemporary than we may have expected! Essential, nonetheless. "Come Right Or Not At All" is a lowdown jazzy rumbler to be enjoyed to the max, and the title song (to be sampled below!) is also what we commonly call a chooooooon! The real KILLER is the traditional '70s Philly sounding cut, "Set A Trap" which features Bunny Sigler on co-vocals. Other Philly stalwarts such as Dexter Wansel, Jack Faith and Norman Harris add some sparkle as well as other producers of note, Nick Martinelli and Barry J. Eastmond. No serious, level-headed soul fan worth their salt would even dare consider ignoring this CD. This is a CD to cherish for many reasons. Alas we may never hear her type again. Mandatory soul music from the 1990s and from a true diva and talent.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Juanita Dailey - Free - 1998 - Woo Records

This album was given so much positive press and exposure on it's release in the late Summer of 1998 it's completely baffling as to why there was no follow up. However, hopes are high as the lady returns to recording with Norman Connors on his latest album, Star Power, although it is nothing like what we have on here. But, to be fair, this was a monumental debut album and was a veritable 'who's who' of the great, the good and the out-of-this-world. What newcomer could boast, in the late 1990s, of having Norman Connors, Angela Bofill, Dexter Wansel, Gerald Albright, Bobby Lyle, Paul Jackson Jr, Paulinho Da Costa,Freddie Washington, the Earth, Wind and Fire Horns, Ali-Ollie Woodson and Jean Carne make appearances on their album? I adore this album and it still gets a regular airing, and 5 cuts in particular. Such class, finesse and style I was reminded of a 90s Phyllis Hyman, and when Philadelphia International released her posthumous "Forever With You" set it was, for me, a perfect combination of albums and songs.

For the modern crowd, the 90s jogger "Love Hurts" pulls no punches. Not surprising that this was a single release. Cutting edge, slick and urban yet sophisticated, this song was the perfect entree to the mouth-watering treats that followed it. The track on here which reduces me to a blubbering wreck is "Inside My Love". This is one of Dexter Wansel's finest, most spine-tingling, moments since he kicked off "Living All Alone" with THAT haunting synth. This is top-draw adult RnB at it's very best. A powerful song with real grit and integrity. Marion Meadows' sax is simply the icing on the cake and a perfect accompaniment to Wansel's expert hands on the keyboards. I cannot live without this song...simply beautiful. The sprightly "Special My Love" has Norman Connors' handiwork all over it. He's recently re-visited it on his new Cd but it does not even compare to this. Was it worth actually trying? I think not. The eerie and different "Tossin' And Turnin'" is another clear winner and is has real punch when turned up LOUD! This set is full of contrasts and it works! The genius is that although this is the case, the album flows along perfectly. A great job done. My final pick is "He's The Only One", again featuring Marion Meadows on sax. Spellbinding quality soul. If you don't own this then don't let your collection suffer any longer without it!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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Angel Grant - Album - 1998 - Flyte Tyme

My mind boggles as to why this Lady was not a huge star. Such a lovely voice, the ability to turn her delicately tattooed hand to any style she so desired should have been a firm foundation for her. The rocket that should have launched her into stardom was production from the mighty Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Past their prime, admittedly, and suffering from the identity crisis caused by the 1990s they still were able to create some magic and especially with such a talent as Angel. In places I can hear echoes of Marva King and Karyn White, both utterly amazing talents and both equally scrumptious! What this album does is work on many levels. It aims to appeal to many sets of ears and the opening song is one I can point to for an example. A gorgeous floater, soulful and drizzled with 70s styled keys, this is a perfect vehicle for Janet Jackson and SHOULD have been massive. Such a pity as this is one classy crossover track.

The Sounds Of Blackness' "Big" Jim Wright contributes a lot to this set and he shares writing duty on many songs, including the feel-good "Knockin'", another cut that Janet should have been recording instead of the kiddies' R&B that she seems so intent upon. Fans of THAT spine-tingling Jam and Lewis sound should look no further than the painfully short "Om". You can see that this Lady is very spiritual and everything about her points towards a more New Age kinda girl, and the sentiments of the likes of India.Arie are predated by a few years here. This cut is GORGEOUS. Plenty of the old magic still there - even if it runs at a bare 1:59!!! This is a very short delve into the mechanics of guided meditation - though don't try it - I assure you it's like trying to pass your driving test theory by simply reading the front cover! Again, that old 80s magic appears again on the single, "Lil' Red Boat". Why was this not a radio hit?! The cut, though, that will have you clicking away like a thing possessed on the link below is the KILLER "Kisses Luv Lips". Play the link below and bask in the magnificence of this cut. It is AWESOME. There is so much to love about this track, the Fender Rhodes, handled by Big Jim are great and Paulinho Da Costa on percussion is subtle yet perfect. A sexy track, and one to really turn up loud. Worth a purchase for this song and this song alone. Don't let this one slip away.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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