The Best Of Celeste Records

 

     popped into a used store the other week looking for some Deep Space Nine books, and came across some quality records. i haven't ripped any doo wop in about ten years, but this comp got me to whip out the sound card. was most excited to check out the vocal only trail session that resides on the b-side of this. instantly fell in love with Sweet Lorraine. was excited to flip it over and hear the version with the band, but it just doesn't deliver like the acappella version. some others on that b-side, Lucky Guy and I Call To You, are also great uptempo vocal only cuts. good stuff!

Scuba in the Buff (1991)

     christmas time again! been on the hunt for Scuba in the Buff ever since i saw a preview for it at the beginning of another similar style tape. finally got the tape not too long ago and it did not disappoint! i was surprised to hear a bunch of library music, but i guess i shouldn't have been. i chopped up the tracks and threw them up on youtube to see if they recognized em, and they did.

     late 80s library is not my forte, so i'd never heard these tunes before. the soundtrack all comes from the De Wolfe library. three different records, '86, '87, and '88 releases. upbeat in-your-face, and laid back tunes. had to upload the video to get it out there too. tasteful nudity included of course so click at your own risk. happy holidays, enjoy!

our little set-up this year in our new place.

Rodney Franklin - Diamond Inside Of You (1988)

     at this point i'm almost taking over the cover with this massive reflection. interesting little album here, big mix of new jack beats, soul, pop, really anything you name it. the record starts out with a jazzy instrumental tune with a new jack beat, Malibu Shuffle. followed closely by is Gotta Give It Up, a nice little uptempo poppy track. flip over the record and you get a nice soulful instrumental tune Shasta Wind. next track is another jazzy bit with a new jack swang, Woogie. lots to like in this one. laid back record, perfect for a late night groove. 

Louise Freeman - Listen To My Heart (1991)

     took a little flier on this one last week. cover and year led to to believe there'd be something for me, was not disappointed. decent record throughout, okay funky stuff with soul-ish mixed in. When Push Comes To Shove starts off the record in a funky style. flip it over and you get a seldom heard new jack tune, Back In Stride. the best two tracks start off their respective sides. was glad to get that new jack, can never get enough of it!

Donna McElroy - Bigger World (1990)

 

     reflection again says hey. was pretty excited to come across this one. released on the warner bros gospel label, one of only two releases apparently. this copy is from reprise though. the album starts out with some funky and soul stuff on the a-side, but it's the flip side where things get good. second track on that side is Take It Away, some decent gospel new jack. another great one sits at the very end of the record. Can't Stand Still starts with a little rap and goes into that smooth gospel new jack. nice little surprise of a record, you know what's in store.

Prince Phillip Mitchell - Loner (1991)

     hey from the reflection again. local record store had a big ol' stack of these, took a flier on it. last solo record from mitchell, and it's just an okay record. all soul throughout, with some of the tunes leaning on that funkier side. decent tracks all over it, but While The Cat's Away is easily the top choice. a funky soul tune that i found myself playing over and over all night, quite catchy. nothing more to say, just some laid back grooves.

Whispers - Love For Love (1983)

     this was a nice surprise way back in the day. the first tune Tonight is a massive boogie tune, but as soon as i heard it i knew something was fishy. instantly knew it was very similar to a jerry knight song. so i went and played that 1982 record and at the end, Do It All For You starts playing and i went there it is! went back to the whispers record to see who stole the song, and hey there was jerry's name as songwriter. if i compare the two, i actually prefer the whispers version. this version is much slower but it's so fat compared to jerry's version, both great though. the record wastes no time here, and the second tune is another sludgy boogie stomper, Keep On Lovin' Me. the rest of the record is some soul and bits of more boogie, but it doesn't live up to these two first songs. bar was set too high!

MerriWeather - Body Like That (1988)

     barely a hey from the reflection. was flipping through crates in a record store and spotted this one. had a close look and it seemed decent, but i left it behind. when i got home to check and see what i was missing, i couldn't find much, and the one snippet i found was pretty lame, Dog Eat Dog. the thing that struck me was it being listed as new jack, i figured there must be at least one good tune. went back into the store a few days later and picked it up. i couldn't wait to see what was going on. well the a-side wasn't doing it for me. flip it over and still nothing. i get to the second last track and finally a winner. was hoping for at least one good tune, and i got one and one only, Not Tired Yet. not the greatest new jack, but fun for sure with some great horn work. still kinda early for the genre, so it's no surprise the rest of the album is a snoozer.