Calypsoul 70 (Caribbean Soul And Calypso Crossover 1969-1979) - Various Artists

Advantages: Well compiled collection
Disadvantages: Not all best tracks included

...be surprised to find Soul Limbo included as the bright opening track on disc 3, its high tempo Calypso/Jazz fusion having been heard on the Test Match credits for many a year. Any Soul compilation worth its salt has to include tracks by artist such as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and Isaac Hayes and a Stax compilation is fortunate enough to be able to include tracks form these artist since they were all signed to the record label in the 60’s and early 70’s. We get the obvious standards such as ‘Dock Of The Bay’, ‘(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction’ and ‘Mr Pitiful’ as well as my personal favourite ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’ from Otis Redding choices that illustrate the depth and breath of style that he could achieve with his voice. I don’t think another soul artist has ever bettered the emotive plaintive qualities of his vocals. Sam and Dave... Read review

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Advantages: Soulful, genuine, funky, rare
Disadvantages: None

...Subtitled “funk classics from sassy soul sisters” this album’s sentiment may have it’s heart in the right place, but it fails to describe the full picture here. These women are sexually, emotionally and vocally aggressive, leaving their men in no doubt as to who wears the trousers in their respective relationships. Each track here oozes raw sexuality, whether the role of the singer is that of a bored housewife (“Crumbs Off the Table”) or as sexual predator (“Your Thing Ain’t No Good Without My Thing”). The titles alone are sheer class. Culled from the dusty vaults of Warner Bros’ legendary, bottomless soul archives this is an album of twelve virtually unknown tracks from between 1968 and 1974 performed by fourteen virtually unknown artists (honourable exception: Gladys... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Timeless classics; 50 tracks for £7
Disadvantages: Recording quality of older tracks

.... Thin. 15. Honey Boy: Strange Thoughts Bizarre instrumentall with duelling bongos. Bonkers. 16. Eugene Paul: Pie In The Sky Fringe player of the late 70's reggae scene. Great lilting track, shame his career never took off. Soulful. 17. Ken Boothe: Love Don't Love Nobody Hankies at the ready for Ken's final contribution to this album. The Scott Walker of reggae, anyone? Down. Disc 1 covers 1963-1969 Disc 2 covers 1970 -1973 Disc 3 covers 1974-1978 Needless to say the recording quality improves throughout the album. ---HOW TO GET IT FOR £7--- Go to HMV. They have their "clearout" sales a few times a year and if you go to the reggae compilations section, look for Trojan and you'll find lots of these box-sets on sale for £6.99. Their usual price is around £17.99, which I'd still happily pay for a slice of musical... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful