James Holvay - Working Man EP - Review By Bill Buckley

Intro

Bill Buckley from Souljazzandfunk.com recently got in touch with us regarding a recent (Nov 2024)  Ep release from James Hovay, that he thought deserved exposure. You can read Bill's review further below

Long time readers may be familar with James recent 2022 releases,  this time around the five track EP does take a similar path and would say that the description 'the soundscape is the classic sound of 60s Chicago' is a most valid take.

Review, details and video clips follow below

James Holvay – Working Man Label: MOB Town Records – MTR 003

1 Working Man 2:41

2 Don't Take Your Love 3:13

3 Bring It 3:10

4 Love That Lady 2:34

5 Grace Of Your Love 04:25

Format wise, the EP can be found on most of the major streamers, a while a cd is mentioned am currently trying to track down purchase details if any, anyone know?

Video Track - Love That Lady 

Review of ‘Working Man’ by Bill Buckley

Chicago-born JAMES “SOUL” HOLVAY is a veteran singer, songwriter and guitarist. His biggest success as a writer was ‘Kind Of A Drag’ – a US pop no. 1 hit for the Buckinghams but he also led his own band, the Mob. They gigged hard through the late 60s and 70s playing their take on soul but as musical tastes changed the band split up and James turned away from the music business.

A career in sales followed but back in 2020 Mr. H decided to make a musical comeback. He’d been listening to plenty of young, new  artists and bands delivering their take on classic, retro soul  so he decided he’d join them. The thinking being that if these youthful artists could do it, then why couldn’t someone who was there in the golden age of soul do it too!

Thus in 2021 he started to release new music – but a very special new music. He released an EP called ‘Sweet Soul Song’ which channelled the classic Chicago soul sound that he’d grown up with – the sound of Curtis Mayfield, Major Lance, Gene Chandler and Johnny Pate. Indeed when James played the demo tapes to Pate, the veteran arranger/producer was amazed that James and his musicians had managed to recreate so successfully the sounds of 60s Windy City Soul.

The EP made James Holvay something of a cult figure amongst 60s Chicago soul collectors and they’ll be delighted to know that our man has just released a brand new five track EP, ‘Working Man’. Again, the soundscape is the classic sound of 60s Chicago. The songs, four written by James, could’ve come from the Curtis Mayfield catalogue while the productions and arrangements are true to the craft of Johnny Pate.

The EP begins with  the title track -a strident workout maybe more redolent of Mayfield’s solo work. That’s followed by ‘Don’t Take Your Love’  which sounds like a long lost Curtom artefact. Next up is another strident cut, ‘Bring It’  – big and brash. The fourth cut Is the mini album’s standout – a gorgeous, feel-good ‘Love That Lady’ – a tune that embodies all that was good about 60s Chicago soul! The EP is rounded off with a lush balled ‘The Grace Of Your Love’  which even incorporates dear Curtis’ ‘Need To Belong’ in the fade out. This one was penned by Al Ciner.

This ‘Working Man’ EP is quality retro soul  and it’s good to go now via your preferred streaming/download platform. You can learn more @ https://jamesholvay.com/  while you may want to check our 2021 interview with the man –  https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/interviews/sweet-chicago-soul-the-james-holvay-interview/ . In the meantime, our “one to watch” video box presents the video for ‘Working Man’.

(BB) 4/5

Posted via Bill Buckley, article originally on SJF 

https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/reviews/james-holvay-working-man-windy-city-soul/

Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Working-Man-James-Holvay/dp/B0DMVGR3FX