SOUL COLLECTOR

BEN E. KING AND THE DRIFTERS’ Five Classic Albums (★★★ Avid) is a rum collection with its three Ben E. King solo albums, one Drifters album that he’s not on and one that he’s partially on. The earliest outing included is The Drifters’ Rockin’ And Driftin’, the group’s second album from 1958, which rounds up their recordings after Clyde Mcphatter left the line-up and before Ben E. King joined, with songs featuring leads from at various times Johnny Moore, Bobby Hendricks, Bill Pinkney and Gerhart Thrasher, the first named providing the high point with the Jackie Wilson-esque It Was A Tear. By the end of 1958, the group had reconfigured with King at the helm but by the time their 1962 third album Save The Last Dance For Me was issued, he’d already left.

It’s his replacement Rudy Lewis on most of the tracks, although it’s King on the sublime title cut of course. King’s first two solo albums, Spanish Harlem from 1961 and 1962’s

Don’t Play That Song!, meanwhile, both capitalise on his Latin-flavoured monster hit Spanish Harlem from 1960 and they capture the singer, framed in swooping strings and atmospheric percussion, crooning through standards, Frenesi, Besame Mucho, Perfidia et al on Spanish Harlem; At Last, Fever, Moon River at al on Sings For Soulful Lovers while his third Don’t Play That Song! includes the perennial Stand By Me.

The East Dallas singer, songwriter and producer BOBBY PATTERSON honed his craft in the Royal Rockers then, after one-off single releases on Liberty and Abnak, he teamed up with Jetstar. My Thing Is Your Thing: Jetstar Strut (★★★★ Modern

Harmonic) is a 15-track vinyl-only comp that takes in the James Brown answer song Mama’s Got A New Bag Too, the punchy Knock Out Power Of Love and the fervid TCB Or TYA. No What’s Your Problem, Baby?, though.

VARETTA DILLARD was born in Harlem, was ill as a child but on meeting Carl Feaster of doo wop outfit The Chords started singing in talent contests. Between 1951 and 1962, she issued 30 singles for Savoy Records, Groove Records, RCA Victor, Triumph Records and Cub Records respectively, a cherry pick of which are collected on the two-disc set The Essential Varetta Dillard: Easy, Easy Baby (★★★ Jasmine).

Founded in 2012, Dutch combo THE TIBBS channel the golden era of R&B; with producer Paul Willemson their 2016 debut Takin’ Over and follow-up Another Shot Fired are packed with talcum soul and greasy grooves as is their third Keep It To Yourself (★★★★ Record Kicks).

It’s another winner which spans the fab northern dancer Give Me A Reason to the fish fry funk of Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks.

ALPACAS COLLECTIVE’S Big Words (★★★ Catalpas Records) is their second album and followup to 2022’s Seven Wisdoms Of Plutonia. Like that debut, it presents the Belgium 11-piece’s no borders rebel stance and standouts include the compelling title track, a homage to Fela Kuti, and the Afro-funk of Boyoma, which features the West African griot Zouratie Kone on ngoni.

MAIIAH & ANGELS OF LIBRA’S self-titled album (★★★ Waterfall Records) is a collaboration between soul singer Maiiah, who is from the Balkans but living in Dusseldorf, and Angels Of Libra, Hamburg’s answer to the Funk Brothers, MFSB and the MGS. It’s a good match borne out on tracks such as Obey and No, No, No (I’m So Broke).

Various artists compilation The Originals 3 (★★★ Golden Rules) is the third volume in the ongoing series that cherry picks from the current crop of funk and soul acts and includes banging funk from Seattle’s The Oscillators, heritage soul from New York’s Carlton Jumel Smith and Hammond funk from Australian trio Cookin’ On 3 Burners.

Stax co-owner Al Bell with producer Dave Clark launched Stax subsidiary Gospel Truth in 1971, and with the Staple Singers as their musical template, gathered a roster who could blend soul, funk and the church. Re-promoted this month

The Gospel Truth: The Gospel

Soul And Funk Of Stax Records

(★★★★ BGP) celebrates the label; the Marion Gaines Singers turn Isaac Hayes’ Do Your Thing into an uplifting raise the rafters hymnal resplendent with Eddie Hazel-esque wah wah; Joshie Jo Armstead rejoices on the delicious crossover of I Got The Vibes; the Rance Allen Group pack a potent punch on Talk That Talk (Pt 1). Also included are testifiers from The

Sons Of Truth, Louise Mccord and Annette Thomas.