Extra Rich In Soul Cd Review - Soul Junction New Release

Extra Rich In Soul - Various Artists Cat # SJCD5007

Release date Monday March 17th 2014

The Soul Junction label operated by John Anderson and Dave Welding regularly release recordings that appeal to a complete spectrum of soul fans, many of them appealing to a cross section of fans of differing genres. Their latest CD offering entitled “Extra Rich In Soul” stitches together fifteen tracks that highlight the labels’ ethos by blending some of their previously released songs with a few that are seeing a release for the first time.

The CD kicks off with a couple of outstanding earlier Soul Junction releases : The recently sadly passed Oliver Cheatham’s melodic ”Don’t Pop The Question” and Jesse James “I Can Feel Your Love Changing” . Both are fantastic efforts and the Jesse James even had your miserly author shelling out for a vinyl copy back in 2012! Of course Philly legend Jesse is well known around the soul bazars with a slew of classics that have filled Northern and Modern Soul dance-floors for decades. The inclusion of the song on this compilation, which I always thought sounded similar to Al Green’s better stuff, will hopefully let more folks know that for Jesse, there is/was a musical life after “If You Want A Love Affair”.

Another soulful stalwart who has recently passed on that saw his work picked up by Soul Junction is William Bell Weatherspoon and their 2010 release of “I Can’t Wait (Until The Weekend)” paid homage to the unique voice that was originally first head by UK soul fans as a member of Ohio’s The Soul Notes on Way Out Records and is justifiably included here.

Natural Impulse area group championed by Soul junction, the label having licensed a modern soul monster double sider from the former Californian High School band back in 2008. On this particular album the third track from the sessions that were rediscovered in 2010 is included. Entitled “We’re Gonna Make It Through” is a mid-tempo, almost shuffling dancer with a prominent horn section waving its way in tandem to a strained male vocal supported by angelic femme back up and a lilting alto sax providing timely solos. If there are any other tracks in the can from this group than we need to hear them for sure.

Unreleased at the time many of Detroiter Clayton Hooker’s recordings have gained favour in recent times and Soul Junction look to satisfy fans of this smooth sounding vocalist and multi-talented musician with the inclusion of two tracks that see the light of day for the first time. “Have You Had Enough”, a lilting ballad that sways along with Clayton’s velvet laid back vocal up front and centre and “Say It Again” which sees Clayton adopt a high tenor range on a slightly disco sounding track peppered by what sound like handclaps which for me is a waste of his vocal talents. The song is pretty nondescript to my ears although fans of this semi-disco styled soul may well appreciate it more.

Janet Wright, a native Detroiter enjoyed her first recording sessions for the famed Magic City Records logo before being employed at the legendary United Sound Studio undertaking backing vocal duties for many of the classics recorded there. With such a pedigree it’s no surprise that she later struck out with other backing singers to form Consumer Report and enjoyed a release for Atlantic Records. Back in Detroit and under her stage name of Pix’y she recorded in 2013 her unique version of the Rose Royce classic “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” and it’s this outing that is included here. Cover version for me at least, need to ensure that it’s not an imitation of the original and Ms Wright captures the passion of the original whilst still stamping uniqueness on her own vocal interpretation which on such an iconic song is just what’s required.

In case you’re wondering about the title of the compilation it’s taken from the work of Eric Oliver Harris who records under the name of E.R.I.C (Extra Rich In Class) a former bank teller from New York who is now a full time musician and who’s “Backstage”, from 2012 that is featured here. A modern anthem now, it’s once again a laid back vocal performance that highlights that quality, well produced soul music is alive and well.

So, Soul Junction’s “Extra Rich In Soul” CD covers a number of releases from the past six years of the labels history and combines it with a spattering of new voices/music for the first time. I’ve left some for listeners to discover for themselves, having given a flavour of it. It manages to combine the sound of laid back soulful vocals with strong musicianship and will delight fans of the, almost lounge music sounding, side of the soulful sound. If your idea of ideal soul is Joe Hicks belting out “Don’t It Make You Feel Funky” or Gil Scott Heron’s hard driving social commentaries, then you’ll need to move along because there’s nothing here for you but if, like me, you can step into different genres with the ease of a hand sliding into a silk lined glove and if you don’t won these tracks on vinyl then this CD is a must for you.

So... off you pop and secure you’re copy from soul junction at http://www.soujunctionrecords.co.uk tell em I sentcha.

Dave Moore

March 2014

Listen

Track Listings

1. Oliver Cheatham - “Don’t Pop The Question(If You Can’t Take The Answer)” 3:21

2. Jesse James - “I Can Feel Your Love Changing” 3:46

3. August Heat - “Fly Away” 4:42

4. E .R.I.C (Extra Rich In Class) - “Backstage” 5:35

5. A udio (Featuring Vince Broomfield) - “Won’t Somebody” 4:09

6. Clayton Hoo ker - “Have You Had Enough” 3:25

7. David Washington - “Games” 4:42

8. Pix’y - “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” 4:40

9. Vince Broomfield - “Remember September”(Instrumental) 4:52

10. Natural Impulse - “Thank You Baby” 4:52

11. Clayton Hoo ker - “Say It Again” 2:25

12. Bill Spoon - “I Can’t Wait (Until The Weekend)” 3:33

13. N atural Impulse - “We’re Gonna Make It Through” 4:11

14. One Nation - “I Like Your Style” 3:07

15. Darold Ghoulston - “Love That’s Real” 4:31

Soul Junction page link - hit to read more info and purchase...

LouiseMar 19 2014 07:10 AM

Thanks for the review Dave

But I would just like to point out to the readers that the Jesse James in question (a.k.a James McClelland) was originally from Richmond, California and has for some considerable time now been a resident of Stockbridge ,Georgia.Therefore he is not the same guy as the Jesse James out of Philadelphia.

Dave

Soul Junction

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MarkH Mar 28 2014 05:36 PM

Top quality cd from start to finish. Great to be reminded of the calibre of previous releases such as David Washington , Audio , Jesse James and Bill Spoon but to me the icing on the cake is the previously unissued Natural Impulse cut. Lovely track. Another winner from Soul Junction. Mark Houghton

http://www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk/SJCD5007.html