Ocean Of Tears Vinyl & CDs

Review: Famously, East of Underground's 1971 debut album - a brilliant set of originals and covers that many soul fans think is an overlooked gem - was pressed up and distributed to soldiers during the Vietnam War by the U.S Army. Here, one of the highlights of that set, the band's cover of Norman Whitfield's "Smiling Faces Sometimes", gets a deserved 7" reissue. It's a wonderful version, all told, with the band's brilliant musicality and emotion-rich vocals shining through (think Curtis Mayfield crossed with the Meters, and you're close). On the flip you'll find another cut from that hard-to-find debut album, "I Love You", a typically sweet and dewy-eyed ballad rippling with vocal harmonies.

Review: During his time working at Jazzman, Athens of the North founder Euan Fryer tracked down the late, great Avelino Pitts, whose impossible-to-find mid 1970s work with Gold counts as some of the deepest psychedelic soul ever recorded. Here, Fryer offers up two of Gold's greatest, previously featured on a 2011 Jazzman compilation, on "45" for the first time. Both songs are deep, fluid, emotional and evocative, with Pitts' impassioned lead vocals rising above intricately detailed backing tracks that prioritise twinkling pianos, reverb-laden slow grooves and slowly shifting basslines over cheap soul showmanship. As a result, from the first listen you'll be hooked.

Review: Since it was released on Springfield, Missouri label American Artists in 1975, Kansas City Express' sole seven-inch single has become something of a collector's item amongst dusty-fingered funk diggers. We should all thank Ocean Of Tears, then, for offering up this fully licensed reissue - the first time the "45" has been made available to a wider audience. "This Is The Place" is a wonderfully sweet and melancholic affair - a seductive, poetic soul song featuring both male and female lead vocalists and a languid, superbly produced backing track full of lilting trumpet lines, glacial vibraphone solos and jazzy guitars. That instrumental backing track takes pride of place on Side B, where you can hear the vocal-free mix for the very first time. Spoiler: it's superb.

Review: Richard Marks' super rare, quadruple figure selling 1975 45" "Speak Now/Purple Haze" enjoys its first ever reissue and it's well worth your attention. "Speak Now" is straight up soulful that yearns with gutsy intent and swoons with subtle country elements thanks to some strong slide guitar (from Marks himself) while "Purple Haze" on the B reflects a much more cosmic, psychedelic side to Marks' style. Not to be confused with Jimi's original, this is a whole other trip... And everyone's invited. Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Review: Recently spotted passing hands for well over a ton and brought to a new generation with an on-point Mayer Hawthorne cover in 2009, New Holiday's woozy soul belter "Maybe So Maybe No" smacks with a natural confidence as the laid back horns back up Eddie Holiday's every swooning sentiment. "My Baby Ain't No Play Thing" showcases a more upbeat side to the Detroit band who consistently trickled stone cold 45s throughout the late '60s / early '70s, all of which still resonate today.

Review: More rare, hard-to-find treasure from Athens of the North offshoot Ocean of Tears. The tracks showcased here were first featured on the sole single from obscure Mississippi garage band the Spyres and credited vocalist Mark Prewitt, a 1967 release that has been all but impossible to find ever since. The track order has been reversed this time round in order to showcase original B-side 'Looking For a Place', a heart-breaking slice of evocative, slow-motion soul slightly influenced by British beat music of the period. Speaking of British beat music, turn to the flip for original A-side 'Baby Let Me Take You Home', a cheery, organ-heavy cover of the Animals song of the same name.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record has very light surface marks/smudges, but otherwise in perfect working condition***


More rare, hard-to-find treasure from Athens of the North offshoot Ocean of Tears. The tracks showcased here were first featured on the sole single from obscure Mississippi garage band the Spyres and credited vocalist Mark Prewitt, a 1967 release that has been all but impossible to find ever since. The track order has been reversed this time round in order to showcase original B-side 'Looking For a Place', a heart-breaking slice of evocative, slow-motion soul slightly influenced by British beat music of the period. Speaking of British beat music, turn to the flip for original A-side 'Baby Let Me Take You Home', a cheery, organ-heavy cover of the Animals song of the same name.

Review: The latest must-have reissue on Athens Of The North's psychedelic-minded Ocean of Tears offshoot comes from Symphonic Four, a St Louis-based combo who released one seven-inch - from which both these tracks are taken - on local label Zudan in 1978 or 79. Interestingly, "Who Do You Think You're Fooling" - a languid, bass-heavy deep soul treat with a suitably psychedelic sound - was reportedly recorded in Detroit with members of Parliament/Funkadelic amongst the backing musicians. The A side "Part 1" version is the more straight-laced of the pair, though we prefer the wilder and weirder "Part 2" version on the flip, where odd electronic noises, delay-laden vocals and reverb-heavy instrumentation create a seriously psychedelic mood.