The Soapbox Album Club 2018 Editon

Glad you enjoyed it m8. I too love I Got The Hots. It has a very peculiar, almost sleazy vibe despite such a sweet vocal. Defo predicts the likes of Ariel Pink.

Apologies for the late response, had a busy week.

I think like everyone else, Robyn Hitchcock has always been floating around in my orbit, but I'd never bothered to dig any deeper. I first came across him on some cheaply made documentary about Syd Barrett from about 15 years ago and like others, assume he was some sort of folky type, so was intrigued to hear this. I liked this, it comes and goes, plenty of hooks, doesn't outstay it's welcome. In ethos, sort of reminded of Brakes. Can definitely hear the influence to bands like The Replacements that Chrissie mentioned in his initial post, actually very Replacements-y, which is always a good thing in my ear.

It did lack a bit of an 'edge' for me, for want of a better word, the power pop elements were probably a little too overt for my tastes, so I don't think this will ever be something that I'll truly love. However, it will definitely be an album I'll return to on occasion and I'm happy with that.

7/10

I've agonised over this choice since this round of THE CLUB started.

I knew I had to pick a soul record after my comments on Tucker's choice, but that hardly narrowed it down.

You're got to try and pick a record that most, if not all haven't heard, so that get's rid of loads.

In the end I narrowed it down to two artists. Terry Callier and Donny Hathaway. Both of whom I love to death. Terry Callier, I'm guessing is the lesser listened to of the two, but I stuck my favourite Donny Hathaway record on last night and couldn't resist.

Everyone's heard of Donny Hathaway, if only because Amy Winehouse namechecked him on Back to Black, but I'm gambling that not too many know his music too well.

Probably his best known album is his debut, Everything is Everything, which contains possibly his best known track, The Ghetto. And it is a masterpiece. His live album, Donny Hathaway Live is also an amazing thing, with a stunning version of The Ghetto and breathtaking covers of What's Going On and You've Got a Friend.

But for me, his best album is Extensions of a Man. It showcases more than just his incredible voice, soul songwriting skills and virtuosic piano playing. This has full on orchestral compositions (I Love The Lord; He Heard My Cry, which segues beautifully into the glorious Someday We'll Be Free), as well as easy listening, pop, jazz, soul-ballads, gospel and funk. Each style effortlessly executed. But as much as anything it's the feeling he generates- like he's risen above mere mortals and is singing alongside the heavenly choir, channelling the SWEET FUCKING LORD himself.

The three albums here are every bit as good as Stevie & Marvin's best for my money, and if he wasn't on this earth for such a tragically short time (he committed suicide at 33) he could have gone on to have a career equalling, if not surpassing them.

The problem with talking up records like this is the inevitable disappointment when no-one likes your choice quite as much as you do.


But anyway, Extensions of a Man by Donny Hathaway is my choice.


PS. When you've finished listening through, go back just for the first two tracks again. I reckon he should have reprised them to bookend the album. But that would've made it an 11/10 album and just not fair.

Cheers my good man

Nice one, I look forward to hearing this. I mostly know the name from Stevie Jackson of B&S fame's solo record, in which he gives a shout out to Donny Hathaway and the Detroit Emeralds.

The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight
First listen, I wasn't completely sold. I Wanna Destroy You was clearly an absolute tune but I just wasn't sure about the rest; nothing really grabbed me.  I stuck with it and I'm glad I did because with repeated listens I found more that I really liked.

Kingdom of Love is just great.  The verses remind me of some sort of 70s American rock that I can imagine listening to while cruising on the open road but then it gets a bit dark and sinister, and then there's a point where it all gets a bit 60s Britian like something The Kinks would do.

I Got The Hots is super sleazy.  Reminds me Ian Dury & The Blockheads, and as someone else said, early Echo & The Bunnymen.

Tonight is wonderful.  When the chorus kicks in   

You'll Have To Go Sideways is a cool little instrumental.  It sounds like something Public Service Broadcasting might do.  I like the way it builds and builds and introduces little flourishes here and there, and then just stops.

Old Pervert is so satisfyingly jarred and spikey with some almost tribal like drums driving it.

The sugary-sweet jangle of Queen of Eyes is the most pleasant sounding track on the record.  It's a lovely little treat after the weirdness of the previous 2 tracks.

Underwater Moonlight is the best song that Talking Heads never wrote.

Overall, really, the only tracks I wasn't keen on are Positive Vibrations and  Insanely Jealous of You.  I can hear bits of all sorts scattered across the album; Lou Reed, Television, Joy Division, Status Quo, The Kinks, Talking Heads.  And I'm sure with repeated listens, I'll reveal even more.  I really like how the bass sounds on this album and serves as a really driving force on some of the songs.

Cracking little album this - 8/10

Glad you enjoyed it, Tucker 👍

Tomorrow is the last day to get reviews in for Titchy's pick.

I'm not gonna have mine in on time I somehow thought this was the first week, Been busy lately so not had a chance to listen to the record until now so want to give it a fair listen rather than a rushed half-arsed rush through.

Will have mine up by early next week, BADAIDS4ME.

I'd take a solitary review at this point.

Get to the back of the queue you shit rat!

my review..

I loved this! It's one of those albums that I see around and just never got round to listening too, I've heard some of his stuff before and to be honest, because his voice does sound very similar to Stevie, it put me off a bit, clearly to my own detriment.

The record has a great flow to it, the opener 'I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II) acting almost like an overture for the rest of the record. I like that there are certainly different shades on the record, I definitely find with 70's soul/funk records, they can be very hit and miss, either a couple of bangers and then filler or often, all a little too one paced, but, this being more on the 'songwriter' end of that spectrum, definitely feels like there's more to the palette. 'Someday We'll All be Free' and 'Love, Love, Love' being very Stevie Wonder-esque, lush ballads, pitted against something like the instrumental jazz/funk of 'Valdez In the Country' or the harder funk of 'The Slums'. Then you have something like Magdelena which sounds like it could be from the Bugsy Malone soundtrack. In the wrong hands, this type of cursory flitting between styles can seem a little irreverent, but when it's done this well, it's a joy.

I'm glad Jamie went for a soul record, he's recommended plenty in this area to me over the years, I liked this so much I went out and picked the vinyl up after only a couple of listens. Definitely my favourite of all the records chosen so far.

9/10

I'm not as positive as Kev. Really dig the first instrumental and it suposedly sets the mood... but then once the voice enters on the second track it feels like a different record. And it happens again two or three times. His voice is powerful but versatile, far from subdued. He's amazing, don't get me wrong, but found myself enjoying more the instrumental songs. Can't get into some of the atonal? pieces, jazzy undertones or counter melodiesa (a bit like Jeff Buckley). But then the smooth soul ballads or funkier numbers don't seem that special either. I'm pretty sure it's my fault though...

6.2/10

Also, please don't let me rate the latest Arctic release higher than this one.

really liked this.

i listened to donny hathaway for the first time when i checked out his live album and loved it. i'd been meaning to check out more of his work so really glad this pick came up here.

i love the diversity on this album. one minute you're listening to a jazzy instrumental then a big soul ballad then a proper funky number. not a bad song on here at all and though love,love,love is probably my early favourite i could see that changing with repeated listens. his voice is fucking great too. 8.5

This is a stellar album. I thought it would be one to play through speakers rather than headphones. I'm glad I did - it sounds fantastic. The production is that rich early 70s feel, on tracks like The Slum you could be listening to the band play in a club. As JP said, there's not a bad song on here. I disagree with barny, I think the instrumentals and the fuller songs work well alongside together.

Stand outs for me are Someday We'll All Be Free and Come on Children. This is an album I suspect I'll enjoy more and more with repeated listens. Donny is clearly a real class act and I look forward to hearing more. 8.

Ahh FFS, had a massive bender last weekend, only just started feeling able to listening to music again today. Gonna ask for a 24 hour extension on this. Sorry

Thought it was okay. This sort of thing isn't really my thing, but I appreciate the variety of the album. The slow jams I didn't get anything out of but the funky instrumental (the slums, I think?) was solid. I can see why a lot of people would dig it, but...gets a meh out of me. 6/10

The jury's out on this for me. There's no disputing the quality of his voice or some of the songs, but I'm just not sure how well it works as an album or if it could always sustain my attention for a full spin. Some of the ballads reminded me of Sam Cooke, which can only be a good thing (unless you're an LA hotelier lolz) but generally I prefer my soul music to be a bit more upbeat. Will definitely come back to it but I have to admit to being slightly disappointed. 6.

My review will be in before 23:59 today.