NORTHERN SOUL'S CLASSIEST RARITIES (KENT DANCE CDKEND 192)

Pure gold! What else to say about this brand new, and long awaited, cracker cd from Kent Records. No doubt, up to date this is the best Northern Soul release for year 2001 (and one of best ever!). Ady Croasdell usually focuses on a single label but this time we have material coming from different sources. The result is a collection of soulful rarities, most never reissued anywhere before. All tracks are excellent, you won't find a mere filler here. Charles Lamont "I've Got To Keep Movin" is an epic dancer, the kind of stuff soulies go mad for. The Imaginations "Strange Neighborhood" is a fabulous Big City Soul style midtempo while Claude Huey "Why Would You Blow It" has a great Southern feeling with a hint of Chicago. The Millionaires "And The Rain Came" is an in demander West Coast rarity, a superb tune from Specialty Records to play 100 times per day. Johnny Wyatt "I Wouldn't Change A Thing About You" is a 100 Club anthem, the kind of beat ballad fit to move your feet. In the same vein is The Diplomats "Cards On The Table", an early dancer dated '63 and a £200 slice of vinyl. Jimmy Seals "The Yesterday Of Your Love" was discovered by Keb Darge in the 80s at the legendary Stafford Top Of The World and is a classy blue-eyed soul dancer. Barbara Redd "I'll Be All Alone" is country and western soul (?!) while Mr Soul (funny name, isn't it?) ultra-rare "What Happened To Yesterday" originally was played by Richard Searling and is midtempo perfection. For those who like 70s sophistication don't miss the Unique Blend "Yes I'm In Love" and the Delfonics "You'll Get Enough", a Philly recent discovery. The last three records - Dan Folger "The Way Of The Crowd", the Joytones "This Love That I'm Giving You", and Audrey Matthews "I Have No Choice" - are all great ballads/ender, the best way to finish this astonishing set of niter sounds.