Welcome to 'Soulful Matters' a new article from myself replacing the banner of 'News, Views & Paying our dues' which I previouslly wrote under.
'Soulful Matters' as many of you will know is also the name of my on-line news letter which is produced in conjunction with my website: www.seanlivesey.com so it is hoped this article will become a continuation of that on-line news letter.
Now the boring stuff is out of the way lets get down to business. Another busy few months ahead of us and indeed since I last wrote for you, for me personally the driving lessons have started and the A - Level results published. Time to get those university applications in the post...
Forever, For Always, For Luther
Is the most recent album from the Verve music group. The album is a dedication to Soul star Luther Vandross who is currently recovering from a life threatening stroke and coma brought on by his Diabeties. The album described as a "Smooth Jazz masterstroke" features the likes of George Benson, Rick Braun, Boney James, Lala Hathaway and many more performing their own versions of the cream of Luther's amazing hit catalogue from the timeless 'Never Too Much' to the heartwrenching 'Dance With my Father'.
This album is a must for fans of Luther or simply fans of good music. The album is also part of a centered effot to help combat the threat of Diabeties to millions of sufferers world wide through the American Diabeties Association. Luther's mother who lost her Husband, Father and eldest Son to the disease is behind the project one hundred percent and believes more projects like this are needed if the threat of Diabeties is to be fought.
The album is available now from most of the top CD stores or by visiting:www.grp.com on the internet.
David Ruffin 'David'
The year was 1969, David Ruffin was riding on the crest of a wave after his unsacrimonious departure from The Temptations a year previously. He released the hit album 'My Whole World Ended' for which the title track of that album became one of his more successful solo releases. He followed that up with his second album as a solo artist this time the aptly named 'Feeling Good' and had began work on his third album to be titled simply 'David'. Motown had assembled some of the periods hottest producers in Smokey Robinson, Clay McMurray, Ivy Jo Hunter, Duke Browner and Johnny Bristol all with their own ideas and styles to bring to the new 'Ruffin' album.
In a move that is still not completely un-covered today, Motown shelved the release of the album a few weeks before the release date leaving some of David Ruffins finest work to gather dust in the vaults of Hitsville for over three decades. But now Motown with the help of 'Hip - O - Select' records in the U.S have finnaly released this forgotten gem. The album features every possible side of David Ruffin with his take on the Jackson Five hit 'I want you back', the original verison of 'I've got a need for you' which was later to be recorded by The Originals on their 1973 'Defintions' album, the heartfelt 'Rainy night in Georgia' to the amazing 'Each day is a lifetime'.
The uncovered reasoning behind the shelving of the ablum left 'Ruffin' with a arduous four year wait until his next album release.
The album consists of the original scheduled for release studio album along with seven fantastic bonus tracks and the four original mono single mixes of tracks from the album.
'David' is simply a must for any Motown fan and more so than that anybody who appreciates true music will appreciate this longly anticipated release. But to call the album a collectors item is a mere under statement with there only being 3,500 copies of the album pressed for release with no more scheduled.
You may still be able to pick the album up direct from 'Hip - O - Select': http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue_ruffin.asp but you will have to be quick to obtain one of the very few remaining copies.
Keep an eye out for 'Hip - O - Select' in the future with many more rare and un-released Motown gems set for release from themselves in the near future.
"The Motorcity is running through my veins"
The Temptations have been a cornerstone of the Motown label for over fourty five years, apart from a short two year spell when the group left to join Atlantic Records only to return in 1980. But there is no going back this time and it was confirmed on August 3rd during a Washington radio interview with Otis Williams that the group would be leaving the Motown label.
"Things have changed so much since Berry left in the early nineties, we feel its time to leave, go and do different things else where. The group who have just released their 60th album in the form of 'Legacy' which peaked at #18 in the R&B / Hip - Hop charts in the U.S described their thoughts on leaving Motown the so called spiritual home for the group. "We've been with Motown since Berry started, and its sad to leave but the truth is things have to change. I was thinking the other day that when we're gone Stevie (Wonder) will be the only artist left there from the early days".
Otis reasured fans that the group would continue to record and that they were currently on the search for a new label "We will still definately be recording, we're currently waiting for our release from Motown and keeping our options open. We had talks a couple of days ago with a few labels and I may even decide to start up my own label again with The Tempts on it".
Rumours are rife over where the group will go, with many citing Matthew Knowles (Beyonce's father) new label Music World Music as a possible destination for the group. Music World Music is a lable set up speciffically for old school R&B acts. The label already contains the likes of The Ojays on its roster and with the backing of Sony for the label it may well be the groups desired destination but only time will tell. One thing is for sure though Otis has encouraged fans to "hold on to their copies of 'Legacy' because they will become collectors items".
You can keep up to date with the latest news on The Tempts search for a new label and all the other important news to the Northern & Modern Soul scenes by visiting: www.seanlivesey.com .
"Who The Hell's Frank Wilson?"
Is the new book from author Pete McKenna. Pete McKenna is renound for his acclaimed work on his first book 'Nightshift which portrayed his good, bad and ugly experiences of Wigan Casino and the Northern Soul scene in general in the mid seventies. All of the early reviews of this book are extremely favourable.
Pete's new book once again centres on the Northern Soul scene throughout its golden period in the mid seventies and wether you want to re-live those memories or simply enjoy the ride this book is for you.
"Who The Hell's Frank Wilson?" is available now from 'Twisted Samurai Publishing' and priced at £6.99 + £1.99 postage and packaging. You can get the book by sending a cheqe or postal order made payable to Twisted Samurai Publishing and send it along with a return shipping address and description to:
Twisted Samurai Publishing,
PO Box 723,
Lancaster,
LA1 5WT