Various Artists - Eccentric Soul - The Shiptown Label - 2022 - 2 X LP Rare Soul (FLAC)

From a humble storefront studio located in a shoeshine parlor on Norfolk, Virginia’s Church Street, Noah Biggs built a world.  When it comes to the Tidewater music scene of the 60's & 70's, there were few figures more important or better regarded than Shiptown Records founder Noah Biggs. Ever the dapper gentleman, Mr. Biggs, always attired in a fine suit and matching brimmed hat, was nearly as famous around Norfolk for his sharp fashion sense as his business savvy. In the early 60's he managed the local group Norman Johnson and Showmen and succeeded in getting them signed to New Orleans label Minit. With their name simplified to The Showmen, the group immediately achieved huge national success with "It Will Stand". Building on this triumph, Mr. Biggs soon opened the record store Nimrod (named for the Biblical great-grandson of Noah) on Church Street in Norfolk. Nimrod soon became an epicenter for youngsters with an interest in music. There was a booking agency based out of the store, and even a make shift recording studio in back with The Positive Sounds serving as the house band. By the second half of the 60's, Noah Biggs had christened new record labels including How Big, Gregory, and Shiptown to serve as outlets for the talent he had been discovering and developing. With a roster boasting the likes of Ida Sands, Barbara Stant,and The Soul Duo, Biggs's family of labels had achieved quite a reputation regionally. Constantly aspiring to utilize his extensive connections to get his artists to the next level, Mr. Biggs viewed many of the releases on his local labels as demos to showcase songs and performers and create a buzz in order to get them placed with larger national companies. As a result, some Shiptown releases can be hard to track down because they had very limited pressing runs (sometimes 200 or less). One of the last releases on Shiptown, the lone 45 by The Grooms, came in the mid 70's, only a few years before the passing of Noah Biggs in late 1978. The single's A-side, "Slow Down", is phenomenal mid tempo funk with amazing vocals and a killer horn arrangement. Please check out Brent Hosier's Ol' Virginia Soul: Encore! CD for "Slow Down" as well as more information about The Grooms and selections from some of the group's Shiptown labelmates. The devastating B-side "I Deserve A Little Bit More" is a nearly five and a half minute beat ballad that slowly builds to a spine tingling crescendo. This is raw group soul at its best, with a wonderfully gritty mix of tight harmonies and nearly unhinged emotion. You can feel the longing, as the lead's voice cracks a little bit at the very end. If this one doesn't move you, check your pulse. Awesome album with some hard to obtain tracks. Compiled here are 25 of Shiptown’s most compelling sides recorded between 1965-1977, spread across 2 LPs, from the likes of Ida Sands, The Soul Duo, The Anglos, Dream Team, The Grooms, Positive Sounds, Barbara Stant, Wilson Williams, Art Ensley, and yes, Flip Flop Stevens.

AMM

                                                        Review Courtesy Of Rossyboy

                                                                       The Tasters!

Tracks

01 Dream Team - There He Is
02 The Soul Duo - Can't Nobody Love Me (Like My Baby Do)
03 The Idets - Doggie In The Window
04 The Anglos - Since You’ve Been Gone
05 Ida Sands - Prophesize
06 Barbara Stant - Shadow In Your Footsteps
07 Wilson Williams - I Can't Get Used To Losing You
08 Flip Flop Stevens - Let's Do That Thing (Part 1)
09 Barbara Stant - Baby I Love You
10 Nat Fross - Too Many Skeletons In The Closet
11 The Grooms - Slow Down
12 Barbara Stant - My Mind Holds Onto Yesterday
13 Ida Sands - Start All Over Again
14 Wilson Williams - I Got A Whole Lot To Be Thankful For
15 The Positive Sounds - I Almost Blew My Mind
16 The Grooms I - Deserve A Little Bit More
17 Barbara Stant - Unsatisfied Woman
18 The Positive Sounds - You're The One I Need
19 Dream Team - I'm Not Satisfied
20 Ida Sands - Rescue Me
21 Barbara Stant - I'm Going To Outfit You
22 The Soul Duo - Are You Lonely For Me Baby
23 Wilson Williams - Ain't That Loving You
24 The Soul Duo - This Is Your Day
25 Art Ensley & The Fabulous Echoes Band - Open The Door To Your Heart