MASTERPIECES OF MODERN SOUL VOLUME 5.

dereksmusicblog ♦ June 19, 2019 ♦ 1 Comment

Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5.

Label:Kent Dance.

Nearly sixteen years ago, back in October 2003,  Kent Soul released the first instalment in the Masterpieces Of Modern Soul series. Since then, another five volumes have been released. The first came in January 2009, when Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 2 was released. Just over two years passed, and then Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 3 hit the shops in November 2011. Since then, connoisseurs of modern soul have patiently awaited the Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 4. 

A year passed. Two became three, and still no sign of Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 4. Then after nearly four long long years, the much anticipated fourth volume in what’s one of Ace Records’ most popular series was released to critical acclaim in September 2015.

Then as 2016 dawned, the Masterpieces Of Modern Soul series converted from CD to vinyl when a compilation Masterpieces Of Modern Soul was released. 

That was the last instalment in this long-running and popular complain series until recently, when Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 was released by Kent Dance, an imprint of Ace Records. It features twenty-four tracks that are a mixture of familiar faces, minor classic and hidden gems.

Opening Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 is Given My Life by the Mighty White a joyous, soulful dancer which sets the bar high. There’s no let up in quality with the addition of L-O-V-E  by jazz singer Leon Thomas is popular shuffler on the Northern Soul scene. Quite different is Major Lance’s That’s The Story Of My Life which is an example of seventies soul dance. John Edwards’ How Can I Go On Without You and The Independents’ Lucky Fellow are welcome additions to the compilation and are a reminder of everything that is good about modern soul.

There’s five edits on Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5. The highlights are an We Talk It Over  an unreleased track Eddie Floyd recorded for Stax. Then there’s the inimitable Millie Jackson’s  1976 recording for Spring  I’ll Continue To Love You, Loleatta Holloway’s Southern Soul  hidden gem Mrs So and So’s Daughter and A Star In The Ghetto by Foxfire which features none other Johnny Adams. These three uber soulful edits are welcome additions to Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5.

The Moderations who were from Detroit, contribute Ride The Disco Train, while Felecia Johnson and T.S.B. Inc’s Franchise On Love is funky and soulful. So is Chet Ivey and His Fabulous Avengers’ Dose Of Soul. Deeply soulful is The Headliners’ unreleased dancer I’ll Live My Life Loving You and Herman Davis’ heartfelt rendition of Gotta Be Loved Part 2. Other highlights include Street People’s Your Momma Had A Baby, which was recorded during there first Spring session. Freddie Scott’s laidback hidden gem  I Guess God Wants It This Way ensures that Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 closes on a soulful high. 

Hopefully, it won’t be another four years before Kent Dance, an imprint of Ace Records, releases the next instalment in the Masterpieces Of Modern Soul series. Even if it is, and it’s anywhere near as good as Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 then it’ll be well worth the wait as this is no ordinary soul compilation.

There’s a mixture of familiar faces, minor classics and hidden gems on Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5. Then there’s unreleased tracks and edits on Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5 which is uber soulful, sometimes funky and dancefloor friendly. What more can fans of modern soul ask for?

Masterpieces Of Modern Soul Volume 5.