Uncut Soul

Included with the March 2022 issue (TAKE 298) of Uncut magazine.

This month’s issue of Uncut – in shops now or available to order online by clicking here – comes with a free CD entitled Cosmic Cratedigging, featuring 15 mindblowing tracks from the vaults of top reissue label Light In The Attic. Since emerging in Seattle in 2002, Light In The Attic Records have specialised in spectacular reissues of undervalued records by Lee Hazlewood, Rodriguez, Michael Chapman and more. Yet they’ve also made it their mission to unearth private-press marvels and the finest unreleased tapes, resulting in fascinating releases by the likes of Donnie & Joe Emerson, Lewis and The Supreme Jubilees.

What is the ultimate fantasy of Purple Rain? To have scissor sex with Apollonia Kotera? An orgy with Jill Jones? Mating with Jerome Benton and Billy Sparks having a fish sandwich? These were all possible in your mind but one reality of a fantasy of Purple Rain is this: a fan-made compilation of what would the Purple Rain be like if it could have been made better? This is that better, a make-believe 2LP reconstruction of Prince's 1984 album. This version makes a few adjustments, adds songs recording during the era but not used plus adds two tracks for fun and leisure. No B-sides, just a fantasy like Aldo Nova. This was released by… no one, this doesn't exist on compact disc, it's all a dream like Christopher Wallace's T-bone steak, cheese, eggs and Welch's grape jelly sandwich.

Let's Not Play The Game is the CD5 by American soul vocalist Maxwell. This was released by Columbia in 1999 in support of the soundtrack to the motion picture, The Best Man, and features four different mixes of the song, including "Uncut", "Unsung", and "Justsung", translated as "full length", "instrumental", and "acapella".

Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) The Encore is the single from Maxwell released in 1997. These are two different editions from the UK with different songs on each one. Columbia is the label of majestic qualities.

Songs Of The South: 15 Tracks of the Best New Southern Rock & Country is a 2010 compilation of music from the Americas. This was found in the November 2010 issue of the British music magazine Uncut.

JN also originated some new music in 2019 under the aliases of Mistura, Doug Willis and Lakeshore Commission which are also included. Add to this remixes of ZR classics from Grant Nelson, Crakazat and Dr Packer.

At some point-in-time, they all go back. Back to the roots. Back to the Blues. Also, Oliver Mally is no exception, although he has never really moved far from the Blues. The Blues mean stories, atmosphere, "the true facts of life", as Willie Dixon once put it. These true facts have always manifested themselves in the songs of the "Sir". The ideal-typical composition here is "(She Was) Brave Enough".