Archie Bell & The Drells
Glad You Could Make It

His fifth album, released in 1972, Blues and The Soulful Truth is often considered to be Thomas classic album. Aimed at a crossover market, producer Bob Thiele allied the singer with James Brown's bandleader Pee Wee Ellis and the original funky drummer Bernard Purdie. The result was an exciting mix of soul, blues and spiritually aware jazz. Highlights include the beautifully evocative China Doll, the Donny Hathaway-sounding Love Each Other and the apocalyptic Shape Your Mind To Die. The core creative team on the album was helped along by the contributions from Airto Moreira, Stanley Clarke and Larry Coryell.

“Let’s trade... love,” or so propositions Josh Lane into the waiting ears of a lover on the whispering intro of Thee Sacred Souls‘ latest offering. “Trade of Hearts” is a perfectly coquettish hand-held stroll in the vein of an early Marvin and Tammy duet, on which hearts are traded like so many kings and queens in a playful hand of lovers’ bridge. On the flip, Jensine Benitez dips in with a soaring refrain for the hook of a mid-tempo groover, calling upon a wanted one to let their charm be felt and heard. Without mercy, an infectious rhythm erases any space that might have remained between two dancing souls. The Souls have already captured the hearts of Southern California and beyond with their unique soul sound, at once raw and honey sweet, yet this freshest platter can only tighten that embrace. Hold your cards close, cause they’re playing for keeps!