Search - Various Artists :: Reaching for the Sky: Towering 70's Soul

A real find for Soul Music fans!

Music Lover | Annapolis, MD | 05/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this CD recently for about $12 and what a deal! This CD collects some soul songs from the Capitol label in the 70s. The wonderful thing about this CD is that you find some normally hard to find items on it. The real gem is "Raindrops" by Chicago Soul Diva, Barbara "Love Makes A Woman" Acklin. I have been searching for several years for this song after hearing it. For some odd reason "Raindrops" isn't on any of her other compilations. The song, not to be confused with either the Dee Clark or BJ Thomas songs of the same name, is a wonderful, bouncy, danceable (not disco) number that reminds me somewhat of her gem "Love Makes A Woman". This song is worth the price of the album alone.



Of course, there are other gems like Candi Staton's version of the country classic "Stand By Your Man." Finally, I found a compilation which offers a Natalie Cole song other than "I've Got Love on My Mind"! A wonderful song, but it is nice to hear another song by her, the Aretha Franklin influenced, "I Can't Say No" and a duet with Peabo Bryson which is worth hearing. Mr. Bryson serves up a great song called "Reaching For the Sky". Also soul/jazz saxophonist Ronnie Laws gives us a good song called "Always There" while Gary Bartz does a nice smooth jazz rendition of "Love Ballad" which is quite different from either the George Benson or LTD versions.



Nancy Wilson sounds great on the Philly Soul ballad "Right as Rain". Another lost gem is Skylark's wonderful ballad "Wildflower". The song has been virtually forgotten today by Oldies/Light Rock Radio. I remember back in 1973 (9th grade for me!) when that song was all over the airwaves.



Lou Rawls offers up his own take on his old buddy, Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home To Me" which sounds good. By the way, Lou appeared on the original crooning harmonies along with Sam.



A group called the Reflections (not the "Just Like Romeo & Juliet" group) does a good Trammps styled song while fusion group Caldera has a selection worth hearing. It is also nice to have Minnie Ripperton's "Memory Lane" on a collection. For everyone who wrote her off as an offbeat one shot artist with "Loving You" must give this song a listen. She's incredible.



As a rabid soul freak and fan of 60s - 80s soul with some Smooth Jazz/Quiet Storm/LightRock thrown in I highly recommend this one! This is a 70's soul collection that doesn't include Barry White, Village People, Chic or silly disco novelities and for that I am glad! If you do need to dance, there are some good, uptempo items on this collection that just satisfy you or your party guests.

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