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Incognito – Positivity Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. Positivity was the joyous fourth album from Incognito, the vision of former Light of the World guitarist Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick, and their third release on Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud imprint. Packed with positive, on-message grooves, it is a work full of passion and sincerity. By 1993, Incognito was a fluid studio collective that’d perfected a truly international, timeless groove. As bandleader, Maunick was Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

Various Artists – The Trevor Nelson Collection Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. There is no messing around here. The 60 tracks of The Trevor Nelson Collection – recorded between 1979 and 2010 – do indeed, as the sticker on the CD cover screams, represent “The Biggest R&B Club Classics Of All Time”. Hardly looking a day older than when he started DJing in the mid-80s, Nelson is a true music enthusiast and wants his audience Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

Hi-Tension / British Funk – Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. Hi-Tension were briefly at the vanguard of British funk, and their sole album remains a vibrant capture of a simpler time. Running in tandem with punk, this first wave of what became known as Brit funk emulated the prevalent US soul sound, but simultaneously had a uniquely underlying jagged edge. Coming out of northwest London, Hi-Tension injected a much-needed breath of air in Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. Released in January 1968, Lady Soul completed a remarkable 12 months of achievement for Aretha Franklin. Having been signed to Atlantic in 1966 after years in the doldrums at Columbia, her Jerry Wexler-produced albums, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You and Aretha Arrives had finally made her the critical and commercial toast of America. Pieced together from material recorded Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

Glenn Lewis – World Outside My Window Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. Recorded with production team of Dre and Vidal (A Touch of Jazz alumni Andre Lewis and Vidal Davis), World Outside My Window was Glenn Lewis’ soulful, slow-burning debut album. Although he initially set out to be an animator, Lewis followed his ambition (and his father’s footsteps) to sing, and broke through via series of guest appearances and singles in his native Canada. Signing Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

Luther Vandross – Busy Body Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. Luther Vandross’ third album Busy Body is the apex of his collaboration with producer and bassist Marcus Miller, and it positively leaps out of the speakers with the synthetic stabs of opener I Wanted Your Love. One of his best dancefloor numbers, it is probably the only example in Vandross’ solo catalogue of him sounding at the cutting edge, with its New York Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. The elation of hearing The Supremes’ second album is evident from the first handclaps of the opening title track. The marriage of writing and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland and the former “no-hit” Supremes (Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson), as they had became known in Motown circles, was one of label owner Berry Gordy’s most inspired decisions – and made Motown the stellar Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago

Gwen Guthrie – Portrait Album Review

Original BBC review written by Daryl Easlea Buy this album on Amazon. Although mainly remembered today for her sassy 1986 hit, Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on But the Rent, Gwen Guthrie was one of the most talented vocalists in early 80s RnB. Having cut her teeth in the 1970s as a backing vocalist and then co-writing songs such as Love Don’t You Go Through No Changes On Me for Sister Sledge, Guthrie began her solo recording Read more…

By Daryl Easlea, ago