This Love

Classic vocal group harmony from the later years of doo wop, including rare master tapes from the studios of Gary Paxton, George Motola, Kent Harris and Lew Bedell’s Doré label. Featuring previously unheard songs and extensive sleeve notes from LA vocal group expert Steve Propes.

This Love Is For Real - The Sweet Soul Of Chicago: 1968-1981 is the second part in Interstate Records' regional soul series. This Love Is For Real documents the Chicago sound, as popularized by Curtis Mayfield, The Chi-Lites or Impressions, but with a focus on more obscure artists and releases. Features writing, arrangement, and production by Leroy Hutson, Willie Henderson, Eugene Record, with appearances by Otil Leavill, Charles Jackson, and more. Features: Essence, Marzette Griffith, Harlem Meat Company, Magnum Force, Billy & The Bloodknots, The Lost Generation, The Stimulators, Hands Of Time, Chocolate Sunday, Bruce Thompson, The Vegas, The Ledgends, The Independents, The Cheers, Little Ben Norfleet, The Lovelites, and Windy City. CD version includes eight tracks not featured on the LP version. These eight tracks feature: The Chi-Lites, The Turks, The Eight Minutes, The Visitors, Eugene Smiley, Enchanting Enchanters, Bobby Gomez, Magnetic Force, The Lintones, and The Esquires.

A shamelessly contrived effort, Keep This Love Alive is, for the most part, yet another tremendous waste of Tom Scott's talents. There are a few enjoyable moments here, including guest Dianne Schurr's sensuous vocal on "Whenever You Dream of Me" and Scott's gritty jazz-funk blowing on "Mis Thang." But on the whole, this CD is a throwaway by both jazz and pop standards. R&B/pop singer Brenda Russell is anything but memorable on the bloodless adult-contemporary song "If You're Not the One for Me," and most of the instrumentals would sound boring and lackluster even in a dentist's office. Throwing creativity to the wind, Scott leaves no doubt that his only concern is commercial radio airplay. The saxman recorded more than his share of stinkers for GRP in the 1980s and '90s, and Keep This Love Alive is at the top of the list.