***** Soul + Blues = "Soul Blues". Simple enough but it's not that simple. Ray Charles once said any music
is "Soul" if you sing it with feeling. But too often journalists label any music with a black singer as "Soul". That's
ludicrous for not everybody has "Soul". But I'll digress because Jackie Payne does have it...and in abundance. A Gospel-hewn,
gritty voice that masters both Soul and Blues games. This new Delta Groove Productions release, "Master Of The Game", is
the epitome of deep-in-yo-gut Southern Soul, Staxy Funk and raucous Blues.
Oh, and pardon me for neglecting to mention
the co-star, master chord cutter Steve Edmonson. This guitarist and his band (Bill Singletary, Nick Otis, Carl Green
and John Middleton) are a perfect match for Payne. Edmonson first worked with Jackie as producer on "Soulful Blues", a collaboration
with Bay area guitarist Kenny "Blue" Ray. This lead to the first Payne-Edmonson outing, the mighty fine "Partners In The
Blues". This new one is even better with ten dynamite originals and three choice covers. Picking a single must be migraine-inducing
for these folks since so many cuts stand out. My picks would be "Sweet Landlady" and "A Fool Named Me". A concise, cheeky
Downhome Blues, "Landlady" has Payne singing. "I got a sweet landlady I love to pay my rent on time/See she takes the
rent on trade/I don't have to spend one dime!". A tart solo by Edmonson, sharp horn blasts by Green and Middleton (dubbed
the "Sweet Meet Horns") and icy slick B-3 courtesy of John Thomas punctuate this gem. Meanwhile "Fool" is a pure Southern
Soul propelled by Wurlitzer, a horn backdrop and an aching vocal by Payne. Inspired. Payne proves he's got that special
(and elusive) something singers like Otis Redding and Bobby "Blue" Bland possess. Equally magnificent is "Warm Rain Fallin'", which
captures the same mood as "Cruisin'". Great sax lead by Green. Blues pounders like "Mean Evil Woman", "The Real Deal",
"Woman In Kansas City" could cause dance riots in local juke joints as will Funk/Blues numbers like "Black Cat Roun'
My Do" and the title track.
Of the covers we have a quickened "A Nickel & A Nail", an appropriately moody "I'll
Take Care Of You" and a sprite "Just The One (I've Been Looking For)" that is already gaining airplay in the South. This
is turning out to be the best year for Soul Blues in recent memory now thanks in large measure to Jackie Payne &
Steve Edmonson's "Master Of The Game". Buy it now I tells ya!
First of all I must say, " what's up" to all of you in the biz.
This is my first opportunity to address many of you on this level. Nuthin' but love to my dawg "Boogie" for this chance
in the spotlight. I'm "BC! Bobby Collins" host of "RNB w/a Touch of the Blues" for the ABC Radio Network. The
show is available in some 55 markets throughout the U.S. and through the Armed Forces Network. It's a mixture and meshing
of the ol' skool sounds of r and b soul and the newest genre that the world is still sleepin' on......."SOUTHERN SOUL"!
Okay, that's enough of an introduction. Let's talk for a minute.
I get anywhere from 15 to 20 pieces of music in the mail every week. Sadly, it isn't all able to make it to the
airways. It could be the content(too dirty), it could be the singer(American shower nominee), or the sound itself( a
one man band out of a Casio keyboard). Needless to say, if "SOUTHERN SOUL" is expected to grow, SUMMA YAW'LL NEED
TO STEP UP YO' GAME!!! However, on May 17th there will be a reason to smile, a reason to get behind an artist, and a
reason to tell your listeners about a special lady.
Her name is simply, "Special". She's outta the Dayton, Ohio area
and has the potential that we wish all artists had in this genre of music. She's a voluptuous woman with a likable appeal.
She ain't tryin' to break a brotha emotionally, or start the next "girlfight" up in the club. Babygirl is tryin' to
make some noise in the '05 though. Her mentor is Bigg Robb of the famed funk band ZAPP and the mind behind the continuously
impressive Southern Soul group DA PROBLEM SOLVAS(by the way, why yaw'll sleepin' on their "Grown Folks Music" single)?
The youthful blood that's in the industry now is being ignored, but that's another time & another place. Alright,
alright, let's get back to Special. The maxi-single I received features 4 cuts. The first is "Sick and Tired".
It's got tempo as well as the attitude that every woman has, but few are able to pull off in a manner that make both male
and female listeners feel comfortable with. Plus it doesn't sound like a Bigg Robb song, so it's a nice introduction
to her. The next single is "It Must Be Love". Hmmmph, there aren't a whole helluvalotta true "love" songs in Southern
Soul and especially sung by female artists. But this one is descent. Of the four songs as an introduction to Special's
talents, this is the weakest. Up next, is a track that's really surprising called....."Down South Party". The
intro(thanks Robb for intro-time to announce/promote the song/we don't get instrumental time in the beginning of songs nowadays)
is sooooooo daammmmmn hard! It's funk at its finest for Southern Soul. Sure 2 Be from DA PROBLEM SOLVAS flat-out
shows out on this track....then Special has the audacity to match wits as a female Southern Soul Funkster. This
song is a surprising collabo that may never hit radio, but should prove to be the "jump-off" to Special's set on the road
opening for "DA P-SOLVAS". And of course lastly, is the track that should be the most added song during the month of
May. It's entitled "Girlfriend 2 Girlfriend". A take on the concept originated by Ms. Shirley Brown from back
in the day. Her song "Woman To Woman", was the final hit for the famed STAX Records and still carries a message that
many can't touch with class today. However, Special proves to be just that....special! She's respectful, as an
artist doing a remake. She attacks the song as if she were its original owner. She brings it up-to-date and
makes it radio playable for Urban AC/ Southern Souls shows everywhere. Ladies and gentleman, give this chick a chance!!!
For once we have some legitimate adult female artists in this genre who are capable of selling some records. (by the
way Noble, why haven't u guys dropped a follow-up to "Sleep w/ One Eye" from Shirley/ yaw'll are sleepin' on the best S. S./rnb
cd hands-down) Okay my people, do me a "solid" and I'll leave u alone. Call Robb now and get your copy of
Special's 4-single EP. It debuted on my show last weekend with serious "phones", but then again....if you play the right
songs every time out.....they'll always be on "lit"!!!!!
Yo Boogie, if this is my last opportunity, I loved it and appreciated
it greatly. Ron Davis, thanks for introduction to "this", the newest adult sound. In the '05, there's no where
to take this music, but UP!
