Big Soul Hits - Archie Bell & The Drells

Advantages: Tuneful dance music; unmixed; original 12" versions; happy memories
Disadvantages: None

.... They are: Saturday Night, Sunday Morning - T-Empo, Got A Love For You - Jomanda, Reachin' - Phase II, Tears - Frankie Knuckles, Right Before My Eyes - Patti Day, Promised Land - Joe Smooth, Back To Love - The Brand New Heavies, Master Plan - Diane Brown, Let The Beat Hit 'Em - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Musical Freedom - Adeva, Going Back to My Roots - Richie Havens, All This Love That I'm Giving - Gwen McCrae, Optimistic - Sounds of Blackness. **BACK TO LOVE 2 HIGHLIGHTS** -------------------------------------------------- **Inner City: Pennies From Heaven (1993)** Inner City are best known over here for the technoey 80's anthems Big Fun and Good Life that dominating the club charts of 1988. This track was a change of direction for Kevin and Paris. Gone were the metallic keyboard stabs and in came a soulful, housey approach that suited Paris... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Superlative dance music classic
Disadvantages: One or two slightly weaker tracks

...'t got the driving energy of most of their other songs, it's still an interesting story of trying not to lose one's love. The arrangements are quite exquisite and wouldn't be out of place on a chilled-out Sunday morning. Rating: A chilled 3 out of 5 Muhammad Ali - 3'31 This was a grower for me. I didn't immediately take to it as I think I was expecting something along the lines of a big dance beat whereas this is a lot slower and with a lot more rapping and singing on it from Maxi. Rollo's comments states the tune is based around an old Archi Bell & the Drells sample, which I haven't heard, but you can't help but bop your head to it. Very 70's funky sounding. It's Maxi's ode to the maestro himself, Muhammed Ali, and tells the tale of how Mr Ali empowered him as a kid and gave him the confidence to stand up to his tormentors. "You... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Where to start? Slinky, sexy, modern jazz
Disadvantages: I really can't think of any.

...I have accidently stumbled across Beady Belle via Jamie Cullum who chose them as a support band for his Catching Tales tour. WOW what a great sound!! Beady Belle is a colaboration of Beate S Lech and Marius Reksjo. This norweigen band is yet to be disccovered big time. After doing my research I can tell you they have been around for a while and Beate has been writing and singing - well almost forever but to my surprise it seems only very few people have heard of them. Why isn't this stuff aired in UK as much as it deserves? Beaty Belle is perhaps one of the Jazzland's best. Fantastic jazz mixed with electronics so well you'll be blown away just listening to first few tracks. The elements of pop, acid jazz, soul, dance and new age music melt into a unique, ineffable whole new experience. The intoxicating mix of gooves will move both your... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful