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Gayle Adams opens up this collection with ‘Let’s Go All The Way’ and it’s the type of start that compiler Ralph Tee is known for. He’s been an ever present on the scene since starting as a DJ in the 1970s, a former Assistant Editor of Blues & Soul and more recently a natural choice for radio stations Solar Radio and Jazz FM.

Jazz FM re-launched on 6th October 6th 2008 as www.jazzfm.com. Ralph Tee’s Expansions show is on Sunday (16:00 - 19:00) and expect regular guest appearances from his ‘Soul Togetherness’ mate Richard Searling (remember the Ralph and Richard’s Music From The Soul compilation from 3 years ago!)

On this solo collection, Ralph digs deep into his collection to provide a soul spectrum of mid tempo, ballards and dancers to remind you (or introduce you) to tracks that were popular at the time of release but that have grown with stature without continuous repeat plays on classic channels. Even legends like Patti Labelle, The Manhattans, The Isley Brothers, Tavares and The Main Ingredient sound fresh. Perhaps that’s because most of the tracks here making their debut on CD and have been re-mastered from the original tapes (over a near two year period to assemble this album).

Now you can’t have anything on a label called Expansions without some jazz funk leanings somewhere along the line and here gods Hubert Laws and George Duke provide some laid back soul with Duke’s ‘Say That You Will’ and Law’s seven minutes of ‘We’re In Ecstasy’ (with typically magic flute solo).

Other stand out tracks are ‘What About My Love’ by Damaris and the closer, ‘Evening Of Love’ by the Main Ingredient. But the one you will/won’t know is the instrumental version of Tavares’ ‘Never Had A Love Like This Before’ that’s a real sexy slow groove without the vocals.

And there’s two tracks by former musical director of the Four Tops, Ronnie McNeir, ‘The Good Side Of Your Love’ is being released as a limited edition 7” single to coincide with the CD release. The next album on the label is another Ralph and Richard Soul Togetherness compilation, 15 Modern Soul Room Gems but you’ll need some Soul Ecstasy before that.

Reviewed: V/A - Soul Ecstasy (Expansion Records) Cat. No. CDEXP31 Release date: 20th October 2008
Tracklisting
1. Let’s Go All The Way - Gayle Adams
2. If You’re Ready - Beau Williams
3. Can You Find The Time - Champaign
4. I Want To Be Where You Are - Ronnie Dyson
5. It’s Alright With Me - Patti Labelle
6. Say That You Will - George Duke
7. Say You Love Me Girl - Breakwater
8. Locked Up In Your Love - The Manhattans
9. What About My Love - Damaris
10. The Good Side Of Your Love - Ronnie McNeir
11. Here We Go Again - The Isley Brothers
12. Never Had A Love Like This Before (Instrumental) - Tavares
13. How Do You Take Your Love - Major Harris
14. Is This What Happens To A Love - Ronnie McNeir
15. We’re In Ecstasy - Hubert Laws
16. Evening Of Love (7” Version) - Main Ingredient

Links:
www.expansionrecords.com
www.myspace.com/expansionrecords
www.luxurysoulweekender.com
www.myspace.com/luxurysoulweekender