Review: On the latest edition of their excellent Soul Essentials series, Outta Sight has decided to bring together two versions of 'Ordinary Joe', a seemingly perennial favourite written by the late, great Terry Callier. His celebrated 1972 recording - all bold, sing-along choruses, organ stabs, jangling piano and lolloping grooves - breezes its way across side A, while Jerry Butler's earlier version, laid to tape in 1970, sits on side B. His version is much more expansive and musically detailed than Callier's take, with superb production from Gamble & Huff and some brilliant orchestral arrangements courtesy of Donny Hathaway. Both versions are, or course, incredible.
Review: The King Casuals and were founded in 1962 by the late great Jimi Hendrix and after the guitarist's death, he was in the late sixties replaced by Johnny Jones. He leads them in stomping and high energy fashion and here on the a-side is his interpretation of the Hendrix classic 'Purple Haze.' It's got all the things you need to get steamy on the dance floor and it always used to shake the floor at Wigan Casino. Gene Chandler is a bonafide Northern Soul legend who is well known to fans of the genre and his 'There Was a Time' is a real raw gem on the flip.
Review: Outta Sight's latest monthly rare soul missive contains hard-to-find and overlooked classics from "hard-hitting" New Jersey vocal group Soul Brothers Six and New Orleans Rhythm and Blues man Willie Tee. It's the former's wonderfully sweet and loose "I'll Be Loving You" (first released in 1966, fact fans) that takes pride of place on the A-side, serving up a lightly sauteed soul take on the rhythm and blues template. Willie Tee's 1967 jam "Walking Up A One Way Street", a summery affair blessed with a superb horn section, leisurely groove and brilliant lead vocal from the man himself, can be found on the B-side.
Review: With roots as a backing singer for Stevie Wonder, Wycoff went on to become a soul ambassador throughout the early 80s. This 1982 reissue is one of the best examples of his silky, heartfelt delivery... "Looking Up To You" is a dynamic love song where traces of big 70s production build and build throughout. "(Do You Really Love Me) Tell Me Love", meanwhile, was only ever released as a B-side. Its 80s production counter the dramatics of the A-side with cool synthetic perfection. Reissues don't get much broader in production or sweeter in sound than this.
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