Soul Junction 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Northern Soul heads rejoice - Cam Cameron's delightful 1968 gem 'They Say' is back on 45 rpm thanks to Soul Junction. Cameron is a Black American artist who has a stunning voice, as you can hear here, but is one of many such talents to apparently have only ever recorded one tune before disappearing never to be heard from again. More's the pity. His real name was Alvin Cameron and he wrote this one while the lush strings come from the late John Andrew Cameron, a hugely respected arranger, producer and songwriter who had a big impact in the soul scene in the 60s and 70s in Chicago.

Review: Soul Junction are ever-dependable reissue specialists who look to Detroit vocalists The Counts for their latest slice of gold. The band started out under the name Fabulous Counts and were a five piece band who initially recorded under the mentorship of Popcorn Wylie. They first charted in 1971 before moving to Atlanta where they signed to Michael Thevis's Awae label. Various singles and albums followed and in 1978 one of the tunes they recorded was 'What's It All About,' a gorgeous tune with the most elegant strings and a perfectly string vocal compliment with subtle horn work. 'Watch The Clock' on the flip is a more dance-y number with big Rhdoes chords and driving drum grooves.

Review: Diamond & James, aka Jesse James and Shirley Diamond, unite for a timeless collaboration that will swell the heart. First introduced by the late Harvey Scales, Jesse and Shirley's partnership flourished over time while Shirley, an educator from Atlanta, balanced her performing career with teaching, always showcasing her talents on weekends and school breaks. She has graced stages alongside music icons like Atlantic Starr and Bobby Bland, proving herself to be a versatile talent with notable releases like 'You Don't Have To Be Sad, To Sing The Blues' and 'Strong Woman'. This one 'You Don't Know Who You Sleeping With,' is a duet produced by Felton Pilate that highlights their enduring musical synergy and dedication to their craft.

Review: Newcomers Energy MC2 are exactly the sort of ensemble needed by the supremely funky Soul Junction imprint. The label have done a great job in continuously finding new, raw talent in the soul game, and these dudes know the score. "If You Break It" features the voice of Vincent Bonham, and it's a veritable lovers tune, made for dance floor antics and Saturday night romance, whereas "Other Side Of The Mirror" is more of a soulful abstraction, a gorgeous little ballad led by the delicate, majestic vocals of Arnell Carmichael. Oh, boy...

Review: Dave Welding's Soul Junction has another great package here from The Hill District. This was a group of working musicians that was initially assembled by bassist Walter "Sonny" Hughes who was impressed with them after seeing them rehearse one afternoon. They only ever managed to record one 45, however, and it is this one, and it has overmuch remained hard to find over the years. Hill District's 'You're Scared Of Falling In Love' is glorious sunny and carefree soul with gentle rhythms and great vocal work. Richie Merrett then steps up on the flip with 'You'll Always Have Yesterday Standing By' which is much more verily sentimental and pained.

Review: Regularly spotted passing hands for high triple figures, the Poindexter brothers' New York troupe's second D'ar Recording Company single finally enjoys a reissue. "Beautiful Philosophy" has a little northern soul stomp to it while still shimmering with 70s pop charm and some incredible harmonies while "Too Sweet To Be Lonely" takes The O'Jays' classic to emotional new highs with yet more fine tuned chorused vocals - too sweet to sleep on!

Review: Eugene Lamont Johnson aka Lamont Johnson is known amongst those who now as the first man to ever become renowned internationally for playing freestyles R&B bass. What a lovely fact. The Michican born artist first came to note as a session musician with Gloster Williams &The King Vision and then went on to work with various other bands. Here we get presented with two of his previously unreleased dance tunes. They feature various different local Detroit musicians and vocalists with the a-side being a male vocal led feel good bunker and the flip driven by a synthesised baseline and big female vocal. Boogie-tastic.

Review: Vocal trio The Petersons hailed from Waycross and took their name from Kenneth Peterson, the band leader, founder, drummer and vocalist who worked with keys man Salem Chatman and vocalist and bassist Johnny Members. They performed all up and down the East Coast of America and answered an advert they saw in Philadelphia in 1973 which led them to sign for Omega Sound, a small independent recording company formed by Frank Fioravanti. They recorded the tunes presented here but didn't make much noise at the time, though listening back now it's hard to see why.

Review: Reggie Soul And The Soul Swingers dropped their soul classic 'My World Of Ecstasy' back in 1969 on the Capri Records label. It is a cult and highly sought-after gem even all these decades later and there is currently just one second hand copy to be found and it will cost you almost four figures to own. Or you could buy this reissue on Soul Junction which is also backed with the raw and guttural 'Might Good Loving'. It hits hard, at high speed, with frantic drums and horns. 'My World Of Ecstasy' meanwhile is more sedate, with fluttery jazz melodies and gentle drums, great harmonies and a smoky lead.

Review: Dave Welding's Soul Junction label is back with another limited edition 45rpm that keeps up the fine run of recent form. These two gems are the work of the late great Willie Williams, a blind singer from Chicago who was discovered performing in the Windy City's local clubs. He was signed to ABC records in 1966 and put out only a couple of other well received singles. 'Give It All I Got' is a beautiful piece with raw drum work and lush vocal backing harmonies next to a gentle piano line. It is stirring stuff while the flips-side 'Do You Understand' is more upbeat with its funky riffs, more great backing vocals and a rolling beat that locks you in.