Soul4real Vinyl & CDs

Review: "You've never really lived" is usually the kind of thing one might hear in a school playground, but Frederick Knight meant it to lament a close love interest's lack of ever having fallen in love. "Do you know how it feels to fall in love?" trills the Alabama soul great's distinctively high vocals, as a complex yet lulling backing beat sends us bowling straight down the love train's tracks. Fun fact: these tracks are never-heard-before rarities, preceding the artist's biggest run of commercial success in the mid 1970s. The B, as well, is a highly sampleable and minimal synth-soul affair, with honest sonics and sad themes to boot.

Review: The Staples' "Take This Love Of Mine" is a soulful trip through love's many different complexities but delivered with unmatched passion and sincerity. Mavis Staples' rich, emotive vocals effortlessly convey the meaning of the song's poignant lyrics and evoke a profound sense of longing and devotion. Backed by lush instrumentation and tight harmonies, the track showcases the group's musical prowess while offering up messages to which we can all relate. Add in the irresistible groove and heartfelt delivery of flipside cut 'Precious, Precious', and this is a powerful 7" from The Staples' that fuses the best of soul and gospel music

Review: Soul4Real's second album is a second collection of soul gems featuring all of the genre's most celebrated artists from the early years. These are 'originally unreleased tracks' which kick off with a brace from Bobby Bland and his guttural, raw vocals. Etta James then features with the Chicago sounds of 'I Never Meant To Love Him' from a Philly session recorded with Bobby Martin, and two other gems before the mysterious Fontella Bass keeps it heartwrenching with 'Joy Of Love.' The flip side features the likes of Johnny Bristol, David Ruffin and a super slow and tender lament from Marvin Gaye in the form of 'I Wish I Didn't Love You So.'

Review: Whatever condition your condition is in, Soul4Real have brought together a crack team of the finest soul physicians to ensure you're feeling good. Having scoured all the shelves in the soul pharmacy - and handing out said potions like candy, despite them having only just made it through the trial stage - we can vouch, as your guinea pigs, that Soul Prescription is indeed the curatorial penicillin, a cure-all panacea for the soul-starving. From Arthur Alexander's magnificent 'I Need You Baby', which reached legendary status during the tape-swapping epidemic of the late 70s/early 80s, to repeat prescriptions of Maxine, Gil Scott-Heron and the Isleys, this one's anything but a placebo.