Track Listing

1. After Hours
2. Heaven On Earth
3. Just Me And You
4. She Called Me
5. Cute As A Button
6. Love Love Love
7. I'll Always Be Your Lover
8. All Strung Out Over You
9. Not Too Long Ago
10. Everything I Want I See In You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19443 in Music
• Released on: 2006-08-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Customer Reviews

One of the best
This was originally released in 1974 on MAM Records, and is now available as a fully reissued album by Soul Brother Records in London.

Here you have the opportunity to listen to an album that might have escaped your attention, and undeservedly so. This is an album influenced by Marvin Gaye, his seminal 1971 'What's Going On?' permeates the entire project, which was clearly conceived as a fellow concept album, a paen to love (in comparison Gaye's album was primarily concerned with the society he witnessed around him). The influence can most clearly be heard in the lush orchestration, and the way in which the songs have been produced to flow seamlessly in to each other, thus creating the impression of a musical tapestry. This is particularly true of the opening suite, which includes 'After Hours' and 'Heaven on Earth', and which is taken up again in 'She Called Me'.

Despite this the real gem on this album is Bailey's recording of 'Love, Love, Love' (previously recorded by Hathaway), which Bailey had written for Hathaway. This is a fantastic recording, and would, by itself, make buying this record worthwhile. The fact is that Bailey was a credible artist with a long involvement in the various predominantly black musical genres which existed prior to the album being recorded, and Bailey draws upon this heritage in each song. This heritage allows Bailey to produce an album that is suitably sophisticated to warrant repeated listening, to discover the subtle shading that can be found throughout in small, often discreet, flourishes. And all this is held together by Bailey's voice, which is strong enough to convey that sense of pain and longing which is such an essential component of real soul music.

Produced in the early 1970's, the album does, however, carry cultural markers from that period, which can sound stylistically anachronistic (women are 'chicks' or 'broads'). But there are also moments of humour - 'She Called Me' features the oddest recording of kissing that you are likely to hear - but it should make you smile.

But, these small points aside, this is a recording which offers a joyous celebration of love, in a recording that truly places this album in the company of 'What's Going On?' and Leon Ware's 'Musical Massage'.

Available on cd or vinyl, this is an album that every true lover of soul music should own. It is truly a special album, and once again Soul Brother Records deserve praise for making this recording more easily available.

Recommended without hesitation. Simply buy.