THE NATURAL FOUR Vinyl & CDs

Review: The debut album from Mississippi soul legends The Natural Four, Good Vibes! deserves this full reissue on Wax Trader, which puts a dent in its former obscurity and rareness. An early LP incarnation of Chris James, Allen Richardson, John January and Al Bowden in unison, the album delivers the posi-vibes it promises and then some. But despite its commitment to a good time, the Four don't fall prey to the idea that such vibes necessarily mean avoiding of slow jams; indeed, star cuts like 'Why Should We Stop Now' are as pleading and longing in tone as they are premonitory of the relationship at hand going well; things get even wild-Wester on 'Message From A Black Man', amounting to a multifaceted take on the stated good vibe.