Symphonical 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Cincinnati soul-funk rarity 'Color One Tear' is a real holy grail for a certain type of record digger. It's well expensive and equally rarebit Symphonical Records correct that with this reissue on 7". The glorious tune comes in two parts, one on each side. Right from the off 'Color One Tear Black' (part 1) gets the heartstrings going with the falsetto female vocal and a deeper male voice pairing off over a string-laced, slow-motion blue-eyed soul groove. Part two gets more big and busier with richer instrumentation and horn leads that truly soar to the heavens.

Review: It has been five years since we had anything from El Count Executives after the dynamite soul offering of 2017's 'I Want To Thank You' about which we knew nothing. This time out the Symphonical label comes through with a welcome reissue of the mysterious, one-EP-only El Count Executives's 'Pot of Gold'. This is an original from 1971 that now fetches eye wateringly high prices on second hand markets. It's got everything you want from a soul gem - buttery warm and heart melting vocals, raw and dusty drums and silk-smooth melodies. Flip it over for something nearly as good in the form of the heartbroken 'Nothing Comes To A Sleeper (But A Dream).'

Review: Originally released on the Soulful Thangs Vol. 7 compact disks for Latin Soul Recordings in 2007, the song 'It's So Hard To Say So Long' by the Equasions took on a life of its own. A timeless soul and funk single recorded in San Antonio in 1971, revered by sweet soul collectors internationally, has now become available for the first time in over 50 years through Symphonical Records. In partnership with band leader and songwriter, Robert Williams, this group also features high school classmates Vernon Shannon, James Hartfield, Ricky Cotton, and Lamar Sumter. 'It's So Hard To Say So Long', is a poignant sentiment to lost love, yet hope created through beautiful harmonies, whereas 'World Of Loneliness' is a psychedelic reflection of society of the era, which Robert mentions remains true today. Big shout out to Symphonical for putting out this very desirable 7"

Review: Symphonical Records is a label devoted to the sounds of Black and Brown musicians and that focuses on putting out never before rase cuts. Charles 'Pooky' Russell was the lead singer of The Four Dudes and someone who left behind the love of his life to pursue his music career. It paid off, and the band toured regularly in Houston as well as releasing a number of tunes. This one, a real tear-jerker, came in 1969 and is now available as a limited 7" pressing for the first time since, all with the approval of Charles Russell.

Review: London's Symphonical Records is always focussed on spotlighting the work of artists of colour. This latest revival and issuing of a previously unreleased cut looks to Van Jones who has two lovely slices of soul pressed up on this crucial 7". 'I Want To Groove You' opens with some lovely swooning strings that immediately set a luxurious tone, while the super smooth and crystal-cut vocals are laidback and loved up. Flip it over and you get 'Your Love Is Like A High' which is even more slow and seductive with melancholic strings and slow motion drums all acting as musical catharsis.

Review: It is said that the vocalist here, Laurene LaVallis was still studying in school at the time when she discovered auditions were being held by local producer Wyman Jerome Taylor. She had always sung in choirs and so went along with a record of her own. She duly won over Taylor and was later invited to his home studio record the two tracks here. She sings over sampled sounds replayed by Taylor's synth and sure does impress with her heartfelt tones, especially as she was only 16 at the time. Because of that she never went on to tour but leaves a fine legacy on Detroit label Tronic with these two timeless and raw soul cuts.

Review: It's back to 1969 for this one from Little Caesar And The Euterpeans, a record which has been sold not so long ago for well over two grand on second-hand markets. 'This mysterious outfit relates on three 45rpms but sure did find a sweet spot when they got in the studio. 'It Was Love' is lo-fi soul with yearning vocals matched by yearning horns and powered by prickly stick work. There is a more high-speed funk feel to 'Big Ole Good Thing' with its racing bass and expressive sax leads.

Review: E Da Boss (Myron & E/Pendletons) & Ishtar team up as 'Lucid Paradise' for their second release, produced by non other than Russia's finest, 'The Soul Surfers'. 'Tonight' is the accumulation of two Bay Area soul aficianados coming together to create a smooth & crisp, timeless yet modern cut. Written alongside UK's pioneering soul singer Gizelle Smith, 'Tonight' epitomises the talent of contemporary soul acts worldwide.

Review: Carrie Riley & The Fascinations are one of those mythologised outfits who released only one single, but who really nailed that one single. The year of origin is unknown but now the Symphonical Records label that is dedicated to reviving and releasing unissued cuts from often forgotten artists of colour now puts it back on the map. 'Super Cool' is indeed ice cold. The sultry trumpets and low slung bass roll deep and the heart aching vocal is soul perfection. On the flip is the delightfully tender and vulnerable 'Living In A Lonesome House Without You' with its soft vocals and softer grooves.

Review: The Symphonical label has absolutely no care for starting off slow and pacing themselves. This release by 9-piece Wisconsin outfit Upheaval is nothing short of a musical miracle. First of all, all of the members were behind jail bars when it was recorded, and hardly any of them had professional music training prior to its recording. In any case, 1979's "Come On With The Come On" is just about as funky, soulful and weird as you can get, and it will surely appeal to the more studious of diggers out there. On the flip, "TLC" is softer, more loving, but still contains that inherent grit that wraps these songs together. They were, after all, recorded with whatever was available in the pound.

Review: Amazingly, this 7" from the Young Mods has never even been sold on Discogs, which is surely a mark of just how rare it is. The group was formed when Tommy Henderson came back home to Ohio from a tour of Vietnam. He hooked up with Carl Dronaugh, Raymond Smith and Ronnie Ditto and a host of other backing group members and had huge success with their first ever release. It sent them on a nationwide tour of the States and saw them open for the he O'Jays, Delfonics & Intruders. These two gorgeous soul numbers formed their follow up single. There was only ever more more official release after this, which is all the more astonishing given how good it is.