After hour grooving with the believers in love
I Don’t Know (Where Love Comes From) – Rene & Angela (Capitol Records 1980)
This song never fails to deliver the goosebumps. Beautiful intro, and the most delicious shimmering Rhodes chords with a stunning musical arrangement which is topped off with nasty string and horns arrangements… a sublime production that ticks all my boxes.
Farewell Goodbye – Pleasure (Fantasy)
Just an amazing song, fantastic musicianship, arrangements and production. I think they had been listening to Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You” when they made this, as it has a similar drum and bass pattern, but it’s done in a completely different way (at a lower tempo) and perfectly executed. I’m lucky enough to be friends with the band leader and guitarist of Pleasure, Marlon McClain, and he told me that the band would rehearse for months at a time in a band members basement, then once they were ready, they would go to the studio and record all the songs often in one take. Everything on this track is pure perfection.
Your A Star – Aquarian Dream (Elektra)
The energy, the groove, the production, the vocals… nothing not to love on this track. Norman Conners at his finest. A simply fantastic piece of music.
Daylight – RAMP (ABC Records)
RAMP were a one off band project that Roy Ayers (Roy Ayers Music Production) put together in 1979. This is such a great track from the amazing album “Come Into Knowledge” and you might have heard it sampled before by Tribe Called Quest for “Bonita Applebum”. I found the band leader and drummer John Manuel on Myspace back in 2005 and got them over here to perform at Jazz Re:Freshed and The Jazz Cafe, and Sibel (one of the vocalists) ended up recording a couple of songs on my Soulacoaster album. Great band, wonderful musicians and lovely people.
If I Can’t Have Your Love – Jocelyn Brown (Posse Records)
Jocelyn Brown is my mentor; I’ve worked with her since 2001 when she spotted me and my music and gave me a break. We have been working together on various projects ever since and I have had the honour of recording a rare groove disco inspired album with her (hopefully out next year). This song is her first ever single release (so she told me), and I just love the feel of the track… it’s in the heartfelt message and the way she delivers it. Jocelyn is an awe inspiring human being and I have never seen any artist command a dance floor or a crowd like she does. When she opens her mouth, people either dance, cry, or faint … she is The Queen of Soul in my opinion.
Little Sunflower – Freddie Hubbard (Columbia)
A beautifully arranged piece of music by one of my favourite artists and trumpet players, the late great Freddie Hubbard. The whole album is just incredible, but this was the first song I heard from it. Then there’s his band – you have Chic Corea on keys, Chester Thompson on drums, and Al Jarreau delivers a sublime vocal over the top of this one. I love the different sections of the song and the musical journey it takes you on.
Piece Of Mind – Idris Muhammad (Kudu)
Another musical journey from drummer and producer Idris Muhammad. Lush keyboards and arrangements from none other than Bob James. A near 10 minute musical soundscape that I have willingly lost myself in on many occasions. Fantastic record.
The Very Best In You – Change (Atlantic)
I love Change, they are one of my favourite bands. This song is one of those feel good party tracks, as it always gets the dance floor going when I play it out. From the lovely intro with those soulful chords, to the hooky chorus part and the beautifully produced arrangements. It also has Luther Vandross and Jocelyn brown singing on it… what more can I say?
Miracles – Leon Ware (Elektra)
What a song from his self titled 1982 album! That intro part gives you goosebumps right from the start. A wonderful song produced and written by Leon Ware. I have been lucky enough to work with Mr Ware and even put a band together for him for the sellout Giants Of Raregroove show at the Indigo O2 Arena a few years ago. Leon is an inspiration to almost every musician I know, and a very funny bloke too… he had us laughing the whole time. This song is just one of so many of his tracks I could have chosen, as the standard of his production and writing is so good that I could have picked many more!
Back For More – Al Johnson feat. Jean Carn (Columbia)
It’s all about that trademark backbeat and bass line on another brilliant Norman Conners production.The vocals arrangements of Al Johnson and Jean Carn just finish it off beautifully and it’s another one that never fails to deliver the ol’ goosebumps. When I was young I used to blast it through my headphones and play drums along to it. I’d close my eyes and pretend I was in the band.
Soulpersona’s remix of JD73′ ‘Believe in Love’ will be released on June 14th 2015 Splash Music Productions.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/soulpersonamusic
