Soul

• A collection dominated by Motown recordings this is excellent. The compilation is jam packed with great music. For anyone who loves 60s Motown or Northern Soul it's a great addition to any collection •

Windy City Soul: Smooth '70s Soul from Chicago Review by Thom Jurek
Back Beats Records is strictly a compilation company based in the U.K. and distributed throughout the European Union at a budget price. What they do is simply compile collections of dance music by well-known and obscure artists from the disco era to the late '90s. And for what it’s worth, when it comes to licensing, they do a terrific job, and this set is a case in point. Compiled by Ian Dewhirst, Windy City Soul collects 21 tracks of Chicago soul recorded during the '70s, most of it in 7" versions. There are plenty of “name” artist mainstays here, such as Barbara Acklin, Major Lance, Gene Chandler, Tyrone Davis, the Chi-Lites, the Impressions, the Dells, etc. What isn’t so obvious are some of the track choices and artists included, such as Sidney Joe Qualis and his slippery, positive groover “Run to Me,” or Mighty Doug Haines original 45 rpm mix of “I’ll Be Right Here,” a stellar example of Northern soul from its latter period. The same goes for Otis Leavill's gorgeous falsetto on “I Love You.” Also check the female vocal trio the Promises' “(I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real,” There isn’t a weak track in the bunch, and this is essential listening for any soul music fan.

Truth & Soul is proud to present the CD version of The Soul Fire Box Set. We released a 7 inch vinyl Box Set for Black Friday Record Store Day that contained some of the rarest sides from the catalog. This two CD issue of the same Box Set includes all of those tracks, plus another 19 from the coveted Soul Fire catalog. Soul Fire Records, started in 1999 by Phillip Lehman, produced some of the funkiest recordings to ever make it to 45. Many of those 45s from the Soul Fire catalog are nearly impossible to find today, and if and when they do come up for sale, they fetch top dollar. Soul Fire closed it s doors in 2003 when Phillip stepped away from the music business to pursue other ventures. He left the studio to Jeff Silverman & Leon Michaels, who then started what today is known as Truth & Soul Records. This 2 CD set contains some of the rarest sides from the Soul Fire catalog, and liner notes from Phillip himself.

Northern Soul - The Collection is another addition to the Collection series. Spread over 3CD's this collection delivers the biggest hits at a great value price with over 60 tracks from the Vaults of Atlantic, Atco, Loma, Reprise and Warner Brothers providing the listener with a truly authentic Northern Soul Experience. Chuck Wood / Tami Lynn / The Coasters / Archie Bell & The Drells all feature in a great introduction to the scene as well as forgotten favourites.

Founded in 1926 by Roy Crain, The Soul Stirrers were one of the preeminent gospel vocal acts in the U.S. over the next several decades. After many line up changes, a then-unknown Sam Cooke joined the group in 1951, a stint that lasted until his entry into the secular pop world as a solo artist in 1957. Cooke was replaced by Johnnie Taylor (later of “Who’s Making Love” fame), and by 1959 the Soul Stirrers found themselves without a label. Cooke and Crain, along with manager/songwriting partner J.W. Alexander reacted by founding SAR Records, whose first order of business was releasing Taylor-fronted Soul Stirrers recordings as well as selections on which Jimmie Outler took the lead.

Founded in 1926 by Roy Crain, The Soul Stirrers were one of the preeminent gospel vocal acts in the U.S. over the next several decades. After many line up changes, a then-unknown Sam Cooke joined the group in 1951, a stint that lasted until his entry into the secular pop world as a solo artist in 1957. Cooke was replaced by Johnnie Taylor (later of “Who’s Making Love” fame), and by 1959 the Soul Stirrers found themselves without a label. Cooke and Crain, along with manager/songwriting partner J.W. Alexander reacted by founding SAR Records, whose first order of business was releasing Taylor-fronted Soul Stirrers recordings as well as selections on which Jimmie Outler took the lead.