2016 proved a very good year for fans of southern soul songwriter (and sometimes singer) extraordinaire Dan Penn. The U.K.'s Ace Records label released a generous second volume of Penn's rare and previously unreleased recordings for Fame Records as Close to Me: More Fame Recordings, and later in the year, Analog Spark delivered a surprising and very welcome release. Nobody's Fool was recorded by Penn for Bell Records in 1973, and remained his only solo album for more than two decades.
Ooh Baby You Move Me: Ace Collects Soulful Sounds of Linda Jones
Linda Jones' life was tragically curtailed at the age of 28 in March 1972, felled by a long battle with diabetes. Yet the passionately emotive vocalist left behind a catalogue so rich that it's still cherished by soul connoisseurs. In 2015, Real Gone Music collected Jones' complete sides for Atco, Loma, and Warner Bros. Records, spanning the period of 1964-1969. Now, Ace's Kent imprint has bookended the Linda Jones story with Precious: The Anthology 1963-72, culled from every one of her label
The Way It Was: SoulMusic Reissues and Expands Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole
We filled you in recently about Cherry Red and SoulMusic Records' recent salute to songstress Vivian Reed, but the label has also offered a pair of titles from two more great ladies of song: Gladys Knight and the late Natalie Cole. Gladys Knight's The Solo Collection collects her first two Pips-less albums, from 1978 and 1979: the Buddah Records release of Miss Gladys Knight, and its Columbia follow-up, Gladys Knight. The second disc features eight bonus tracks associated with the latter
Shake a Tail Feather! Edsel Collects Complete 1966-1972 Studio, Live Recordings of Soul Man Geno Washington
Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band made a name for themselves in the mod soul scene of the U.K. in the 1960s with their high-octane live stage performances. Late in 2016, Edsel celebrated the legacy of the U.S. expatriate soul man and his band with two releases. Geno! The Piccadilly and Pye Studio Recordings collects all of Washington's studio recordings for the labels between 1966 and 1972, while Geno - Live!!! brings together all three of his hit live albums originally issued from
Do That Conga Beat: Vibe On Expands Miami Sound Machine's "Primitive Love" to 2 CDs
This March, Vibe On Records will be going Primitive. The label is following its recent reissue of Cher's I Paralyze with another lavishly expanded Deluxe Edition - this time from Miami Sound Machine featuring the one and only Gloria Estefan. On March 31, Vibe On will reissue MSM's 1985 breakthrough Primitive Love as a 2-CD edition featuring a full 23 bonus tracks - four of which are previously unreleased, and six of which have never previously appeared on CD. Primitive Love, Miami Sound
Cool It Now: New Edition Digital Reissues (And More) Unveiled
Ahead of an officially-sanctioned TV biopic of the lives and careers of New Edition, Universal Music Enterprises has digitally expanded four of the group's studio albums plus an additional four spin-off projects. The band's classic-era output for MCA Records, New Edition (1984), All for Love (1985), Heart Break (1988) and the reunion album Home Again (1996), as well as Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel (1988), Bell Biv DeVoe's Poison (1990) and 1990 solo albums by members Johnny Gill and Ralph
Tighten Up! Big Break Tells "The Archie Bell and The Drells Story" On New Anthology
Let's Groove! Big Break Records has recently made that enticing invitation as the title of its new anthology dedicated to the 50+-year career of one of America's favorite party bands, Archie Bell and the Drells. Let's Groove: The Archie Bell and the Drells Story, charts on two CDs the group's journey from Houston, Texas to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and all stops in between. It includes album tracks, singles, and extended mixes from the Atlantic, Glades, and Philadelphia International
The Big D: Guitar Hero Dennis Coffey's Detroit Soul Released On "Hot Coffey In The D"
Dennis Coffey's credits are too numerous to mention. As a session guitarist, he brought a rock edge to numerous Motown hits including The Temptations' psychedelic soul favorites like "Cloud Nine" and "Ball of Confusion." As a producer, he helmed Gallery's soft-pop hit "Nice to Be with You" and "Sugar Man" Sixto Rodriguez's acclaimed debut album. As a solo artist, he charted with the instrumental "Scorpio," and crafted guitar-driven disco soul at Westbound Records. Now, the Resonance Records
Release Round-Up: Week of January 13
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up - our first of the New Year! Gerry Rafferty, The Very Best of Gerry Rafferty: United Artistry (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Varese Vintage goes right down the line with Gerry Rafferty's greatest hits, including "Stuck in the Middle with You" from Stealers Wheel, and the solo "Baker Street," "Get It Right Next Time," "Right Down the Line" and more! This newly-remastered 16-track compilation has seven U.S. and U.K.
It's Too Late To Stop Now: Ted's Year in Review, And A Look Ahead
In the early days of the New Year, we've announced our annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards, and have also shared Mike's selections for the Reissues of the Year! Today, Ted takes a turn with a look at his own, wide-ranging personal music diary, or Best of 2016 - plus a look at what he's most anticipating in the months to come! We hope you'll discover a favorite of your own! You'll find selected links below for further reading. 2016 was a richly diverse year for music. But before taking a look at
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