Soul On Fire - Vol. 1 [CD]

01 JOHNNY BRISTOL — Lusty Lady • Motown [2:54]
(Johnny Williams Bristol) (P) 1975 Motown/Universal Records • Bushka Music *)

Driven by hard breaks, frentic strings and persisting "Wah Wah" guitars, "Lusty Lady" is "call to arms" for any dancefloor. Johnny Bristol, who died in March 2004, remains a semi-legendary figure in soul-circles. Not only for his huge Hit "Hang On In There Baby" but for his superb songwriting for Motown Artists like The Supremes, David Ruffin, Marvin Gaye, Edwin Starr, … as well.

02 ALTON MCCLAIN & DESTINY — Sweet Temptation • Polydor/UMG[5:47]
(J. Footman/J. Wieder/T. McFaddin) (P) 1979 Polydor/UMG Recordings Inc. *)

"Sweet Temptation" is a classic example of the full-blown disco-funk sound that blasted out of nightclubs in urban america during the late seventies. With their wailing tenors Alton McClain, D'Marie Warren and Robyrda Stiger go as far back as Adam & Eve to tell us about the ever-present "Sweet Temptations" of life …

03 ETTA JAMES — You Give Me What I Want • UMG [3:28]
(Gabriel Mekler/Trevor Lawrence) (P) 1974 UMG Recordings Inc. *)

"You Give Me What I Want" is one of those tracks that get's the tosteron and hormon production on any dance-floor going in no time. The duality of male/female relationships have seldomly been expressed more colourful than here. When Etta screams "Cause I give you what you neeeeeed" we feel what that something might be - when she shouts: "Give me love - Baby - Give me love - Baby - Gimme - Love - Gimme - Gimme - Gimme Loaaaaaaaaaaaauuuvehhhhha" … we know for sure.

04 AL GREEN — Love Ritual (Bwana Mix) • Hi Rec. [4:07]
(Green) (P) 1975 Hi Recording Corp. Rondor Music Ltd. • a Product of Cream Records Inc. issued under license from Demon Music group Ltd.

With densly textured polyrhythms behind him, Al Green turned "Love Ritual" into one of the most energized performances of his career. Producer Willie Mitchell, originally unsure of the songs commercial potential, overdubbed the songs string arrangement and mixed Green's vocals down. Included here, is the rawer "Bwana Mix", which brings Greens vocals back upfront and showcases him in an unusual setting somewhere between Funk, Afro and Gospel.

05 JOSÉ FELICIANO — Susie-Q • BMG [5:00]
(Coleman Hawkins/David Lewis Jr./Broadwater) (P) 1969 BMG Entertainment **)

Blind Puerto Rican guitarist Jose Feliciano, rose to stardom in the sixties with a string of latin-flavoured Pop and R'n'B Covers. On "Suzie Q" - a Dale Hawkins composition from 1956 - Feliciano shows all registers of his talent: Lascivious moans, wild screams, razor sharp - flamenco styled guitar, and a sparse, funky Big-Band backdrop that accentuates the rising excitement of Mr. Feliciano's delivery. Stunning.

06 ELKIN & NELSON — Vamonos • Sony [9:01]
(Elkin Marin Vélez/Nelson Marin Vélez) (P) 1974 Sony Music Entertainment (Spain) S.A.

The fusion of hot Latin songs with influences from James Brown, Santana, Afro-Cuban music and Jazz-Funk, lifted Producer-Duo Elkin and Nelson to superstardom in the spanish speaking world. Recorded shortly after their superhit "Jibaro", the incredible smooth, latin tinged smoocher "Vamonos" proofs, that the brothers Marins talent not only lay in catchy dancefloor shakers.

07 SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES — If You Can Want • Motown/UMG [2:40]
(Smokey Robinson) (P) 1968 Motown/UMG Recordings Inc. *)

When it comes to blending romantic notions into pure poetry, no soul singer could compete with Smokey Robinson. Over crisp percussion and catchy horns, Robinson delivers some of his most clever lines on the fantastic "If You Can Want".

08 Z.Z. HILL — Hey Little Girl • Cadet/Kent [2:40]
(Z.Z. Hill) (P) 1965 Cadet/Kent • Modern Music Pub • Under friendly permission of Ace Records

Arzell "Z.Z." Hill ranks amongst the likes of Johnnie Taylor, Little Milton, Latimore and Bobby "Blue" Bland - soul singers that never lost their connection with the Blues. On "Hey Little Girl" Hill makes this connection more than evident. Over thundering bass and pushy horn section Hill leaves no doubt that "living in sin" can't be such a bad thing.

09 KING FLOYD — I Feel Like Dynamite • Chimneyville Rec. [3:10]
(E.Walker/A. Savoy, L. Hamilton) (P) 1974 Chimneyville Rec. • Malaco Music • Under friendly permission of Malaco Records

Cut at the Malaco Studios in Jackson/Mississippi, "I Feel Like Dynamite" sprinkles with the hard hitting energy of King Floyds amazing 1970-72 recordings. With astute asureness the New Orleans born singer, marries creolian grooves with the southern Soul formula.

10 THE ISLEY BROTHERS — I Know Who You Been Socking It To • Sony [2:34]
(Rudolph Isley/Ronald Isley/K. Isley) (P) 1978 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

At the end of the sixties R'n'B veterans Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelly Isley started to employ a funkier sound for their releases. "I Know Who You Been Socking It To" displays the rough protofunk that the brothers Isley started to cultivate. A joyous horn section, precise rimshots, Ronald Isleys soaring lead vocals, and younger Brothers Marvin, Chris and Ernie Isley working their hearts out on bass and guitars.

11 MARVIN GAYE — Baby Don't You Do It • Polystar/UMG [2:31]
(Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland) (P) 1964 Polystar/UMG Recordings Inc. • Stone Agate Publishing *)

Although he started out as a session drummer and pianist, Marvin Gaye became one of the greatest Soul singers of all time. "Baby Don't You Do It" sees the Soul legend virtually getting down on his knees. Pleading with all the power his vocal range allows him, Gaye begs his lover not to leave him. A believable pledge for Gayes marriage was falling into pieces by the time "Baby Don't You Do It" hit the charts.

12 BIG MAYBELLE — That's A Pretty Good Love • Savoy Rec. [2:31]
(B. Lucas/F. Mendelsohn) (P) 1956 Savoy Records ***)

With her powerful, growling baritone, Big Maybelle cuts through Willie Dixon's "That's A Pretty Good Love" like a razor blade. The way she tells her lover that she needs him has a sinister, gutsy and almost frightening undertone. "Baby my love will last - long as there is live in my body". Who could possibly refuse such an offer?

13 DELLA REESE — Come-On-A-My-House • BMG [2:46]
(Ross Bagdasarian/Saroyan) (P) 1960 BMG Entertainment **)

Like many soul singers, Della Reese started out as a gospel singer, performing with Clara Ward and Mahalia Jackson before becoming the lead singer of the Meditation Singers. Recorded only four years after she went solo "Come-On-A-My-House" shows Della wailing sexilly to cha-cha-cha grooves. Intense, catchy and breathtaking.

14 MARK MURPHY — Why Don't You Do Right? • Fantasy [2:23]
(F. McCoy) (P) 1962 Fantasy • Under friendly permission of Zyx Music Music GmbH & Co. KG

Joe McCoy's "Why Don't You Do Right" became a classic after Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman popularized the song in 1942. Legendary Jazz-singer Mark Murphy, adds a Cuban touch to the song, replicating the street smart tale about the interconnection between romantic and financial interests with an almost angelic voice.

15 LAVERN BAKER — Tiny Tim • Be-Bop Rec. [2:18]
(Baker) (P) 1951 Be-Bop Records

La Vern Baker was one of the first R'n'B performers that crossed over into the white Pop charts. Equipped with a sexy, intense and seductive voice, Baker created R'n'B milestones like "Tweedle Dee", "Jim Dandy", "Soul On Fire" or "Bumble Bee". With aural guitar, handclaps and growling sax "Tiny Tim" ranks among her finest achievements, adding a darker and mysterious edge to her classic hit-formula.

16 LOU RAWLS — Nobody But Me • Capitol [2:35]
(B. Myles) (P) 1966 Capitol • Under friendly permission of EMI Music Austria

With a range that covers four octaves, Lou Rawls has been singing everything from gospel and R'n'B, to Jazz, Soul, MOR, Pop, Disco and Budweiser beer commercials. With Benny Carter providing the most elegant Big Band Backdrop imaginable, Rawls epitomizes the idea of "cool" on John H. Myles ultimate tale of loves rewarding power "Nobody But Me".

17 NAPPY BROWN — Coal Miner • Savoy Rec. [2:20]
(Sax Kari) (P) 1960 Savoy Records • Screen Gemx/EMI ***)

During the mid 50ies hardly anyone sounded like Napoleon "Nappy" Brown. Below the blues with gospel-inspired ferocity, he created R'n'B chart-toppers like "Don't Be Angry", "Pitter Patter" and the original "Night Time Is The Right Time". "Coal Miner" shows Brown in top form, hollering, screaming and pleading like a man in terrible pain.