All Vinyl Fridays - Soul Together

For one month only - the usual end o' week warm up will be brought to you through the medium of black plastic. Friday's will still be funky - just circular shaped until April.

Our first transmission is another mark-down bargain from the Battlesbridge record man - Soul Together, a companion album to this. Lend your lugs to these three snappy soul-swingers, an unrelenting mini-blitz that can be found on side 1.

Otis Redding - Love Man



Aretha Franklin - Eleanor Rigby



Sam and Dave - Ooh, Ooh, Ooh



If mod sounds and styles are up your Carnaby St, you really must get your button downs, brouges and braces along to the New Faces exhibition showing at The Book Club 100, Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH. I went along to the opening last night - it is literally wall to wall winners all the way.

Funky Friday - Queen Of Soul

I really haven't got anywhere near as much Aretha as I should - so any tip offs, starting points and must have recommendations would be welcome.

'I Say A Little Prayer'
This has to be the most beltingest version of the Bacharach/David classic - where other readings drift dreamily along, Aretha's sensual celebratery take swishes, swoops, swings and has me bending at the knee and bulging at the eye everytime. Absolutely stunning - Listen out for the Gospel style 'call and response' touches on the "forever and ever" section

Magic moments are...

The spiralling "do" - 1:31
The bellowing "EVER, YEAH " - 1:46
The soaring "one" 2:10




'I Say A Little Prayer' was recorded for Aretha's appearance on the Tom Jones Show ( the highlights of Tom's sixties shows are available on DVD), where Tom and Aretha also tuck into a couple of dynamic duets and put the needles in the red with their super seismic lungbusting.

Tom Jones and Aretha Franklin - 'See Saw'


And finally a few nuggets...

Aretha Franklin - You Keep Me Hanging On (outtake)




Since You've Been Gone.mp3



An extra special salute goes out to Vince at Fufu Stew for this track..

Tighten Up Your Tie, Button Up Your Jacket (Make It For The Door.mp3