Various Artists
'You Better Believe It'
Rhino Label
Released in the UK April 2006

Quite simply the best soul compilation to hit the market this year. Since picking up our review copy I've been hooked from the outset and you will too. This is the second volume in this excellent series and compiler Richard Searling (Smooth FM) has done us proud and we are treated to twenty three of the most in demand modern and classic soul sides from the vast array of labels distributed by the legendary Atlantic records group including Atco, Atlantic, Cotillion, and Warners and boy are you gonna love this!.

Kicking off with a nice track from Al Hudson & the Soul Partners entitled 'I'm About Loving You' a jerky, snappy uptempo affair with a very catchy hook line and ever so soulful vocals. You will recall this guys releases for the MCA label during the late seventies but this US release cut in 1975 is pure soul heaven. Jackie Moore will be a name familiar to most of you via her work for the Shout label Stateside, and Atlantic here in the UK during the seventies. Never to cut a bad side she delivers a previously unreleased version of the Charlie Rich country hit 'Behind Closed Doors' and gives it a perfect edge over the original and for me remains one of the strongest tracks on this CD - pure uncomplicated pop soul.

The late Linda Jones possessed one of the finest voices in soul music history and lots of her work has already appeared on CD's over the years and one of her finest moments must have been 'If Only (We Had Met Sooner) is as good as it gets and is a song that has all the perfect ingredients for those classic northern soul tunes of a mid tempo nature. Heavily orchestrated and a gorgeous arrangement this is THE track to sell this CD. It doesn't end there as the much in demand and previously unissued track played by the compiler Richard Searling by Bettye Swann entitled 'I Want Sunday Back Again' is a fair old representation of what key modern soul DJ's are unearthing these days. Not too dissimilar to Betty Everett's 'Falling In Love' in its arrangement and layout and just perfect for daytime plays on the likes of Smooth FM.

Motown aficionados will be familiar with the songwriting talents of one Johnny Bristol who along with Harvey Fuqua wrote many a song for Marvin Gaye and others during the glory years at Hitsville as well as carving out a solo career for himself during the 1970's. Here he turns up again with the catchy 'Strangers In The Dark Corners' you really cannot fault this guys talents and its a great pity he didn't have more commercial success than his hit of 1974 with 'Hang On In There Baby' but this piano laden orchestrated beauty will have you coming back for more and more. Perfect late night love music.

Another few famous names appear next firstly with the late Dee Dee Warwick whose Mercury/Blue Rock recordings finally made CD last year and she has enjoyed cult status on the northern soul scene with some of the songs from that CD as well as cutting the original version of the classic 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' in 1966 which became a massive hit for the Supremes/Temptaions in 1968. Here, Dee Dee displays a MOR groove with a song that has grown more and more on me the more I hear it. 'Only The One You Love' appears to have been available on a US Ichiban CD release a few years ago.

Prince Phillip Mitchell remains a northern and modern soul icon initially via his recordings for Shout at the end of the 1960's especially 'Free For All' (also recorded by Mel & Tim for Stax) and the superb double sider 'California' and the even better flip 'The World Needs More People Like You'  before embarking on a more laid back style in the seventies. His great Atlantic LP cut 'Your All I Got In This World' is featured here for your listening pleasure and is a clear representation of this great mans vocal talents and is evidence enough for collectors to keep pursuing his recordings.

It was a sad occasion to learn recently of the untimely death of June Pointer as the girls get an inclusion on this disc with 'Don't Try To Take The Fifth' a song that could have easily have been written and arranged for the Honeycone as the sound is uncannily similar. One of my favourite singers from that same period has to be Garland Green who cut some wonderful sides for the UNI label most notably 'Jealous Kinda Fellow' and his distinctive vocal tones are presented here in a fabulous no nonsense piece of downtempo soul magic 'Plain And Simple Girl' . If there's one thing about his songs from this period its the complimentary backing vocals and orchestral arrangement that make up the ingredients to a classic such as this. I know it's probably an old cliché but, there's no such thing as a bad recording from Garland.

The legendary Barbara Lewis has had a somewhat checkered career and commercial success may have eluded here over the years but she always delivers the goods as her recordings for Atlantic & Stax will bear out. I particularly love her delightful 'I'm So Thankful' recorded in 1973 at Muscle Shoals and issued on the Reprise label. Gentle and coaxing and just one listen to this semi ballad will have you hooked forever. Two more tracks to mention firstly the legendary Sam Dees with an alternative mix of 'Signed, Miss Heroin' a song pointing out the perils of dabbling with substances - but not just any drug statement - this is powerful stuff over a cracking tune.

Finally, I was pleased to see the inclusion of a Walter Jackson song before this set drew to a close and its a cover of the Chi-Lites hit 'The Coldest Days Of My Life'  delivered in Walter's own imitable style and it has been kept as close to the original as you could have  hoped for. A delightful arrangement for a classic song.

I must pay tribute to Richard Searling for his endearing efforts in bringing this superb set to fruition as well as his constant passion in working towards bringing us such great music that would have otherwise remained locked away and forgotten.

I cannot recommend this release enough - it's as good as anything I've heard in years.

Rating ********************************