God knows we need a bit of fun with all that’s going on with the banks and everything lately, so here are Soul Jazz filling another gap we never knew existed in the compilation market. The wordy and specific title doesn’t give too many clues for the music that follows, a lot of which you’ll recognise in an instant without knowing what show it’s been on. Brian Fahey’s ‘At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal’ inevitably stands out – the music Alan Freeman’s been using for close on half a century to count down his charts – but there is a lot more where that came from in the shape of CCS (‘Whole Lotta Love’), the Laurie Johnson Orchestra (‘The New Avengers Theme’) and Roy Budd’s ‘Get Carter’, among a host of hugely enjoyable productions. Specialist it may be, but this will provide a couple of hours’ reminiscence for the older folks amongst you – while catering for the new with its well written riffs and shakes. Something different this way comes.
4 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
