From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2004-11-29 07:04:22
I fully realize that Cathy Hughes isn't going to play any of the songs on any of these NEW
albums on ANY of her 69 radio stations in 22 cities across the United States (that's because
these CD's are the REAL DEAL). But they have all earned a slot in my rotation both at home, my
car and on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio. My hope is that these CD's will find a place in your
personal rotation as well...
*The Chi-Lites - Live
(Classic Soul)
This is a Live CD of our friends the Chi-Lites, recorded in Canada earlier in 2004. But it's
really a lot more than just that (although that really should be enough). It's the CD portion
of a brand new DVD/CD combination that's scheduled for release in early 2005. This is
significant because not only is it an INDEPENDENT RELEASE from the Chi-Lites, but it's also
slated for some major league distribution across the United States in Wal-Mart, Walgreen's and
CVS stores.
Anyhow the music here is great. The Chi-Lite's band is off the chain as they blow out what
seems like a never ending string of the Chi-Lites greatest hits and then outta nowhere (but
not really since it is a Chi-Lites tradition at their live shows to do this)....
...Here comes Tara Thompson (wife of Chi-Lites leader Marshall Thompson) taking over the lead
with a mind blowing cover version of Alicia Keyes "You Don't Know My Name", with the make
Chi-Lites doing a SERIOUS "doo wop" background singing behind her. In all there are 17 tracks
on this CD, including some of the new Chi-Lites songs, such as "Low Key". I'll review this CD
in more detail when it's actually released in 2005, but I just wanted to give yall a taste...
* Alison Crockett - On Being A Woman
(soul/jazz/neo soul/funky in yo' face black female 3am eroticism)
This independently produced CD is off the chain. Formerly with US3 and King Britt/Sylk 130
(two of the best groups of the 1990's), Alison Crockett seems like she is "ready" to drop a
bomb like this on us. It's a rarity among the so called "neo soul" crowd because she isn't
afraid to take on Badu head on and in my opinion she "Out Badu's, Badu....". For example she
does a great cover in here of Janet Jackson's "When I Think Of You", but it's done in her own
style (she slows it down and Funk's it up). Now think about the great job Erykah Badu did on
covers like "4 Leaf Clover", "So What", "Funkin for Jamacia" and others. Alison Crockett does
the same thing with "When I Think Of You" (she now owns that joint as far as I'm concerned).
In short Alison Crockett isn't actually afraid to challenge Erakah Badu! I love this CD and I
predict big things for Alison Crockett, if she can get some airplay (which of course we will
give to her on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio). She's a great artist, with some great original material
as well that is also the equal of Badu's originals and I hope that people are willing to give
her a listen. It's definatly got a slot in my "3am rotation", put this on while you are just
laying there with your lady...
*Jackson Five - Live In Japan
(soul/funk)
What if I told you that there was a brand new LIVE CD (never released before) rescued from the
vaults of Motown out by a pretty good funk band that has two outstanding lead singers who can
throw down equally well with fast songs and slow jams???
(would you be interested in buying it???)
This is yet another in the series of LIVE concerts from 1973 in Japan, rescued from the vaults
of Motown by our friends at HIP-O Select. Now you might think that you don't need this, but
there are some gems in here that impressed me. Remember this is 1973, so at this point the
Jackson 5 had already been on Motown for 6 years and had actually developed not only into a
great live artists, but also into a pretty good funk band. For example starting with the
opening track "Gonna Have a Good Time" to their cover versions of Papa Was A Rolling Stone",
"Superstition" and the inevitable live medley of "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "The Love You
Save", the J5 show that they are a bonafide FUNK band (and to this day they get no respect for
that). Michael and Jermaine do a great job of trading leads on some songs and on the songs
that they take the solo leads both of em TEAR IT UP. Not many groups have been blessed to have
two such talented lead singers and this previously un released LIVE CD is a great document of
that.
*Adriana Evans - Nomadic
(soul/rock/funk/latin)
This Independently produced CD sounds like it is derived directly from the mission statement
of Soul-Patrol or perhaps even the Black Rock Coalition. This is obviously an artist who isn't
afraid to take risks. A decade after having major label (and knee-gro radio) success and damn
near the creator of the term "neo soul", Adriana Evans has totally reinvented herself in the
guise of a woman who wants to create her own definition of what success really is. The closest
thing I can compare the feeling I got when I heard this album, is the feeling that I got when
I first saw the transformation of "Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles into first saw the
"LABELLE" - Nightbirds. This album is kinda like a musical Declaration of Independence (from
knee-gro radio) for this lady and I defiantly want to take the journey along with her. It's
fresh, funky and certainly a plesant surprise from an artist who should actually be a HUGE
STAR right now (if all things were equal) but since this world is a cruel place, dictated by
people who don't actually give a damn about true artists who produce truly GREAT music Adriana
Evans new CD is likely to only heard by the few of us left who actually care about the music.
(Hell yeah, I got some more NEW CD's I wanna tell yall about, but I gotta crash now...)
_________
Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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