The James Hunter Six

★★★★ With Love DAPTONE. DL/LP

Colchester’s greatest soul star sings the ballads.

This isn’t an album of new material from the Essex singer, guitarist. Instead, it’s a best of the beat ballads he’s recorded with Gabe Roth for Daptone, its 12 tracks selected from 2013’s Minute By Minute,

2016’s Hold On!, 2018’s Whatever It Takes and 2020’s Nick Of

Time. The period cover artwork – an open silver heart-shaped locket bearing Hunter’s photo – may put some off, but the songs are unquestionably authentic. Hunter, attracted to the big soul voices, was born to sing the slow-and-moodies, that resonant, liquid baritone of his perfect for Sam Cooke sophisticat crooning and Lou Johnson deep wallowing borne out on the enchanting It Was Gonna Be You, the touching Never and the more lively I Don’t Wanna Be Without You.