Westender

Seeing that wonderful Gladys Knight track posted above reminded me of this gem.

Sam Williams - Love slipped through my fingers All the ingredients are there for me, principally a lead vocal of amazing intensity and utter commitment. Sam sounds on the verge of a breakdown! Its a compelling record on many levels.

i should like it. Its certainly retro, got proper instruments, nicely constructed songs and yet...........I dunno his voice just doesn't grab me. I'll have to give them a few more spins.

Dont think this one has been posted. Even if it has, its good enough to hear again! Reminded of it while playing a CD in the car today.

The offending record. Whatever you call it - i'd call it a Soul record - its a fine one. Not typical of The Platters but really so what? As long as you like it thats really all that matters.

Richard played some great stuff in the second hour today but saved the best to last. This one blew me away. This is just a phenomenal record by one of the great vocal groups.

Quite like it too! Early Merry Clayton. She's some singer and incredibly was just 15 when she recorded this. David Gates must be the Bread man, I imagine?

Another goodie.....

Like Donnie Ray, good singer I think.......just wish the productions values were a bit higher. This is a nice track but real horns could have lifted it up a gear or two.

The wonderful Shirley Wahls perhaps?

Gawd Smudger! I rate Yolanda Adams but I'm really not sure of that remix. This is contemporary Gospel but, for me, shows Yolanda in a better light.

I guess definitions are pretty much down to individuals judging by some of the tracks/artists listed. You could say a "modern" record is anything recorded post 1969. At the end of the day its what engages our head, heart and feet. Labels don't seem to me to be that important. Ultimately it's all Soul isn't it?

Some really strong recordings here of some classic material. Like the version of Young, gifted and black a lot. Good stuff Mark, thanks for putting this up.

Betty Harris - What'd I do wrong A sublime piece of deep soul. Betty wrings out the pain and despair in every syllable and those horns......... Cuts me up every time.

Another one by The Suffers which might interest the dance crowd.

Great artist. Ridiculously under rated and under recorded. Well done Ace/Kent for getting this material out there.

To each his own.....I'll take the JS version every day, funkier with better vocals and a greater energy about it. You pays yer money.........

Its a real treat. The music is first rate and Richard is a very capable presenter who handles the whole thing with aplomb.

Big Mama Thornton perhaps, but she was a decade or two earlier. Koko Taylor is another. The O'Jays Eddie Levert does a bit of growling from time to time and mighty good he is too.

Those two are going straight on the MP3 player. Really nice selections Stephen, thanks.

Glad to hear he's got what he's due. Lets hope it provides comfort and security for the rest of his life. For ages his appeal completely passed me by but listening to him now you can see he was ahead of his time and a really influential musician.

The Perri tracks have a touch of class about them. Nice to see them featured. Lori was an under rated singer in my book.

I dont know about the film but the trailer gave me goosebumps.! Its going to be a must see.

Greg, Just have to say how good these shows are. I don't know where you unearth these records from but I'm sure glad you do! Thanks for putting the shows together and sharing this terrific music.

I didnt recognise the track either but Dusty was arguably our finest ever female vocalist. Soulful? Definitely. The bewildered look on the faces of the students was hardly surprising. Kids of today, what do they know, eh?