Soul Express CD Review

This CD kicks more backside than a Boot Camp PT Instructor. I am really enthusiastic about this CD. It is a rich blend of steppers and ballads and is steeped in the time honoured quality soul / funk tradition. The Longshot Sessions is a collaboration of talented artists under the guidance of Dick Fowler and Keith Stewart who are no lightweights and have had performing and production experience for many years. Keith was a member of Heaven & Earth in the late 70s and Early 1980s, as was contributor Dean Williams. But more on Dean in a moment.

I love every track bar one – and that is a personal taste issue, as any sort of ragga rap is sure to get my shackles up!!! The song that aroused my interest was “Step Wit Chu” – just a brief hearing of this song had the jolly old lugholes primed. This song is FANTASTIC. I have not heard such a dirty, slinky and FUNKY stepper in a long time – the beat is meaty, chunky and has a real kick! Vocally this really does the business – imagine the lazy growl of Barry White and the deep plummeting depths of Isaac Hayes over The slow, loping Soul II Soul styled beat is enhanced by a dirty bassline, that if played loud, hits you right in the gut. SUPERB!!! The vocalist, Mistah Llou, knows what he wants and by all accounts he’s going to get it! This is undoubtedly my track of the moment.

KC Lee is a more smooth vocalist and his superb stepper “I Got Yo’ Back” would not have been out of place in the early 90s. His delivery almost falls into the Jeff Redd category, so that is a definite bonus!

Our old favourites, Heaven & Earth, provide the vocals over this sax drenched pounder, “Can I”; aping some great dancefloor numbers from the past from Donna Summer and Marvin Gaye this song is another great song to take away into the car with you.

The first ballad really does cut the mustard too, and features a decent performance from Dean Williams supported on sax by Dave Polk. Dean has a smooth quality but is not afraid to allow a little Southern grit to sneak in now and again. I get the impression that Dean could and really would like to really let rip big time! There is an 80s good-time vibe with the Mikki Bleu-ish “Keep On Steppin’” featuring Marzette Griffith. I also feel a touch of Kashif, too and if you loved his last set then I think this would appeal to you.

The CD is split nicely with a funky, quirky 80s styled instrumental – my only quibble is the lightweight turntable scratching. I think it would be better without it, but I do love the keyboards they use. Dick Fowler follows the ragga moment with a SUPERB ballad, “Whatever You Want”. The chilled muted trumpet and deep groove / synth is really a sound that I adore, and vocally Kenny Davis is right in the pocket.

Dick Fowler adds his own more than able vocal skills to the mix with “Spin Me” complete with funky, scratchy guitar and eerie synth. I have played this track a lot, and rarely does the Major label world come up with cuts of this quality and style nowadays. Past Lowdown fave, Marshall Titus, crops up on the essential ballad, “Mo’ Better Love”, which could almost have been crafted with the late, great Luther Vandross in mind. This is gentle, deep and Marshall sure knows how to handle the downtempo material, his agile vocals hint at a powerful energy behind the song. When you hear this for the first time you are aware of how strong he is, and I am reminded that I should dig out his superb 1990 12” “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” for a spin.

The velvety Keith Stewart pops up for the warm “Try Me” which is very, very good, but the real showstopper as far as ballads go is the intriguingly titled “Pu Tang”. The vocals are attributable to Attitude, Soul & Pride and are just amazing. I am instantly thinking of Barrington Scott Henderson when I hear Dick Fowler giving his all. The deep, rich basslines are sexy and the synth and keyboards really add some extra mystery to this most luscious of groves. The quivery, pleading, soaring vocals are laid down on top of this and raise this to essential status. Let me see any major label clone come up with something as good as this!

I was not too enamoured on the remix of “Step Wit Chu”, and wondered why it was here, but soon forgot this with the superb Dick Fowler ballad, “Time Out For Love” which is very similar to some of the ballads on the latest set by the Unifics.

The set ends up with a Gospel song from Heaven & Earth, which almost has touches of Teddy Pendergrass in the vocals. As I said, this is a great CD, and many quality parts come together to make this one whole effort. Artists like this are a real godsend, and I think that the longer the lunatics run the asylums at the record companies we will see more quality artists like Dick and Keith step out on their own to do things there way, the proper way. This is available from CD Baby and is worth every penny.
- Barry Towler