Various Artists – Love & Jealousy - The Deeper Side Of Southern Soul (2010) Backbeats 012 + Mini-Booklet - Rare Soul (MP3)

Love and Jealousy are powerful emotions depicted in these wonderful songs by amazing artists. The passion is deeper, the theme of bitterness more apparent than in any other music form and in this truly superb compilation it speaks volumes. What you are listening to with each and every Backbeats album is merely a taster of a rich seam of musical history from many important eras throughout the last 50 years.With its roots in Gospel, the Blues and more than a pinch of Country, Southern Soul is music that tells it like it is/or was. When Frankie Gearing, of Quiet Elegance, begs the question "Do You Love Me?" it's clear she'd really like to know the truth. A song, originally recorded by the Rayons and now a prized collector's piece, it's taken to a new level as a whisper turns to a pleading scream. Then Barbara Lynn offers a tale of true resentment, how she works her fingers to the bone but gets little in return. Hey, we've all been there, but nobody expresses it better than Barbara. Backbeats hace trawled into the archives of such labels of the calibre of Philadelphia International, TS.O.P., Philly Groove, Hi, Cream, Brunswick, Dakar, BRC, Chi-Sound, Kelli-Arts, Invictus, Hot Wax, Music Merchant, Sam, Salsoul, Easy Street, Sleeping Bag, Fresh, Streetwise, Warlock, Idlers, Crazy Cajun, Ace, Groove Merchant, Tribe, Jewel, Paula, Ronn, Pawn, Soul Power etc, as well as a brace of other influential independent artists and labels. Mississippi born Otis Clay cut his teeth in Gospel with a series of vocal groups before recording his first secular songs in Chicago. Here he brings his mighty vocal prowess to Memphis Royal Studios with "1 Cry A Little Each Day" alongside stable mates Syl Johnson, George Jackson and Jean Plum (who each have their stories of love and despair) and where Al Green first came to the fore with a string of Willie Mitchell produced gems. "One Woman" is Green's tale of infidelity, a love triangle with no end and a familiar narrative in 'slipping around' territory. The late Ronnie Lovejoy lett a legacy of contemporary Soul music including the stunning "Until You Get Enough of Me" which begged to be included here, followed by a lady better known for her dance classics, Fontella Bass and "I'm Leaving The Choice Up To You". A subtle slab of absolute perfection. Just don't be surprised if you catch yourself crying. Then there is the awesome outing by one of the most underrated artists in the field, Bobby McClure. I hope this masterpiece does for you at least half as much as it has for me over the years. The Patterson Twins and Oscar Perry provide a taste of what Jewel/Paula in Louisiana and Crazy Cajun down in Texas had to offer, before we return to Memphis for another bunch of killers from Hi. Then the storyteller, Bobby Patterson, pleads for our attention before O.V. Wright takes on a Latimore classic, trying to straighten things out with his lady. Dark and moody vocal group genius follows from the Masqueraders and a bluesy number from Bobby Powell sets the stage for Don Bryant's tale of absolute love and devotion. At Hi Records Bettye Jean Plummer became lean Plum and recorded a number of gorgeous Soul numbers. I'm sure you'll agree that both You Ask Me" and "Back To You" featured here are amongst the finest femme Soul tunes ever recorded. The calm before the storm as the concluding track reunites us with Otis Clay in a powerful testament to the destructive perils of envy in love. Love and jealousy. A paradox expressed in Soul. Just check out the depth of pure soul emotion evident for all to listen too. From one of the best UK soul labels ever. Backbeats & Kent are essentiall to Soul lovers as when they get deleted they are so hard to find.

AMM

                                                     Review Courtesy Of Moxysoulandjazz
                                                                       The Tasters!