Having recently chalked up their 15th Anniversary, Harmless return to one of their bread-and-butter releases with the long overdue third instalment of a series that last surfaced in 1998. With 20 years in the business and many more as a record collector, I can at times be guilty of over-thinking the compilation album: what’s obvious to me is probably unknown to many, yet unlike many of Harmless’ releases, this, if anything, is the closest to mainstream accessible as a specialist series can be. With music culled from such visionary homes as Philly World, Salsoul, Red Greg, West End and Philadelphia International, this double set includes a wealth of symphonic disco (Love Committee, Jean Carn, Salsoul Orchestra), gritty ‘80s funk (Fonda Rae, Yarbrough & Peoples, Cashmere) and killer boogie from Leroy Burgess, his Logg alter ego, and Inner Life. But for me it’s the inclusion of two rarely heard Harold Melvin cuts – ‘Don’t Give Me Up’ and ‘Today’s Your Lucky Day’ – along the midtempo gem ‘Keeping Secrets’ from Switch, Terri Wells’ sublime reading of ‘I’ll Be Around’ and Simplicious’ rousing ‘Let Her Feel It’, that really bring the memories flooding back and add the icing to one damn fine slice o’ birthday cake!
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Lewis Dene