Various Artists – Martin Freeman And Eddie Piller Present Soul On The Corner //Acid Jazz// (Released 3rd May)

Description

£19.99 – 2xLP

Following last year’s acclaimed Jazz On The Corner compilation, 2019 again sees actor and soul, motown and jazz aficionado Martin Freeman team up with Acid Jazz’s renowned head honcho Eddie Piller to present a veritable and personal collection of tracks. Compiled from the pair’s personal favourites, be it hearing on the radio, word of mouth or Dj-ing, Soul On The Corner represents the entire gamut of soul from the sixties and seventies right up to the present as illustrated by the likes of Tommy McGhee and the Acid Jazz recent signee Laville.

Opening with the inimitable Bobby Womack and “How Could You Break My Heart”, as Piller explains; “I never tire of hearing this record and have used regularly to close my DJ set, it’s a real hands-in-the-air moment”. Further cuts from the renowned and less well-known seamlessly complement each other – the smooth sultry jam of Laville’s “Thirty One” or the superbly nuanced slice of progressive soul in the shape of Sergio Mendes & Brasil 77’s “Love Music”. Piller’s selection transcends the rock / soul divide with “Never Gonna Give You Up” from former Impression Jerry Butler, adding: “I plumped for this because I recalled the incredible response from The Black Keys’ version that I aired on the BBC’s Funk and Soul show”.

No less varied is the choice of Freeman, opening with the vintage ’68 soul with a twist of something rockier, Barbara Acklin’s “A Raggedy Ride” that he professes; “is an unexpected gem that’s been a favourite of mine for forever”. Other picks arrive in the form of Georgie Fame’s cover of Bobby Womack’s “Daylight” that has Freeman enthusing; “the original is a beaut. This is better”. Representing the mid-nineties contemporary soul scene is Lewis Taylor with “Lucky” that as Freeman asserts is; “an epic tune”. Meanwhile, taken from their first self-titled album Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Fan The Fire” epitomizes the innovative nature of one of the most successful  acts of all time and adds Freeman; “this is a funky-as-hell cry for peace and love. Good lord, they were SO good”.

Tracklisting:

A1. Bobby Womack – How Could You Break My Heart

A2. Willie Hutch – Lucky To Be Loved By You

A3. Tommy McGee – Now That I Have You

A4. Laville – Thirty One

A5. Sergio Mendes & Brasil 77 – Love Music

A6. Pamoja – Oooh Baby

B1. Goodie – You & I

B2. Patsy Gallant – It’ll All Come Around

B3. Arnold Blair – Finally Made It Home

B4. The Reverend T.L. Barrett And The Youth For Christ Choir – Like A Ship (Without A Sail)

B5. Bobby Jukes – Just To Be With You

B6. Jerry Butler – Never Give You Up

C1. Barbara Acklin – A Raggedy Ride

C2. Georgie Fame – Daylight

C3. Earth, Wind & Fire – Fan The Fire

C4. Lewis Taylor – Lucky

C5. Wayne Davis – I Like The Things About Me That I Once Despised

D1. Donny Hathaway – Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)

D2. Syreeta – I’m Going Left

D3. Curtis Mayfield – Miss Black America

D4. Tower Of Power – Don’t Change Horses (In The Middle Of A Stream)

D5. Brook Benton – Shoes

D6. Tommie Young – Hit and Run Lover

D7. Betty Wright – The Babysitter