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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best of both worlds, June 7, 2008
I believe she's a gospel singer these days but back in the mid to late 70s, just as disco was reaching its zenith, Candi Staton was one of the top voices rocking the clubs and on high rotation on the radio. The single "Young Hearts Run Free" (#1 on the R&B charts, #20 on the Hot 100 and from her 1976 album of the same name) probably needs no introduction and although "Victim", (from her 1978 album "House Of Love" and unusually long for a dance song at 8min 31secs) didn't fare as well in the charts, it has always been my favourite. Just check out the lyrics: "I'm a victim of the very songs I sing". She even name checks her earlier hit on the song, in a way I've always thought was really clever.
And it's a brilliant dance record too. I tried it out at a party I was playing at many moons ago - I think it was 1992 or 1993 - purely as a test but the crowd went wild for it. It became a permanent part of my "old school set" from then on.
I've only ever had "Young Hearts Run Free" the single on an "80s Soul Weekender" compilation at that. I have the album "House Of Love" on vinyl and have been searching for it on CD for years. I was ecstatic when I saw this CD containing the very two albums I've always wanted. It's 24-Bit Digitally Re-mastered too, which is a definite added bonus.
Producer Dave Crawford had a signature style - lots of horns, lots of lush strings, a firm bass line all over a thumping disco beat. None of the upbeat tunes on "Young Hearts Run Free" match the brilliance of the title tune - they tried with "Run To Me" but the song fell flat on its face - but there are some really cool ballads on the album: The very mellow and romantic "What A Feeling", the more mid-tempo "You Bet Your Sweet, Sweet Love" and the broody "Summer Time With You" are all standout tracks.
On "House Of Love", Staton's sailing, soulful vocals and the classy and very competent BVs and their 'do do wops' towards the end of "Victim" make it the perfect opening song. "Honest I Do Love You" is another strong song (and it did fairly well in the charts) as is her cover of the classic "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", previously made popular Dee Dee Warwick, The Supremes AND The Temptations and with Crawford himself stepping in to join Staton on lead vocals.
Staton also shines on the ballads. "Yesterday Evening", "I Wonder Will I Ever Get Over It" and "So Blue" have always been favourites of mine. She closes the album with a gospel tune that maybe gave the first hint of where she'd eventually end up, musically. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" was only recorded because, after a practice session (Staton was trying to warm up her vocals as she was feeling a bit hoarse after a late night), the producer thought it just sounded too good to miss. He wasn't wrong and the song doesn't sound at all out of place here. It's a great album closer.
I absolutely adore Staton's voice. It could very well be nostalgia and nothing more but these are the kinds of albums I listen to and wonder what the hell happened to music. How is it possible that so much of the music made 20 or 30 years ago sounds so much better than so much of the music made today? Answers on a postcard please!
The only minor disappointment is that the CD doesn't feature the lyrics to the songs. My vinyl version of "House Of Love" does and for that reason, even though I now have it on CD, it's another album that's staying right where it is in my vinyl collection.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesomely, Totally Soul!, August 12, 2003
Glad that am finally re-united with Candi... I searched and searched for Candi within Zambia, in South Africa, Germany - everywhere I went it was always "no longer available." Then a kind friend in the US agreed to purchase it for me off Amazon - and now my juices are running amok! Am listening to "Honest I Do" right now and, man, it turns me inside out! If you let the golden silky soul voice of Candi wash over you, you will experience a thorough re-baptism of what it used to be back then! I have missed and thirsted for this music for some twenty years, and now am totally quenched, it's a top thrill! Quite a fine balance between the mid-tempo dance tunes (touting the two giants Young Hearts and Victim) and the slower, easier cascades like Will I Ever Get Over It and Destiny.If you love soul, and above all if you ever loved Candi, waste no more time - go for it!!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Awesome Soul Singer!, February 5, 2003
By A Customer
Wow! That is all I have to say about Candi Staton. When I purchased this album, I was already familiar with the classic song, "Young Hearts Run Free". Listening to these two albums in their entirety has given me the true meaning of what urban soul/quiet storm sounded like back in the day of the mid 70s to the mid 80s. This fine singer showcases fine vocals on such songs as "Living For You", "Yesterday Evening", "What A Feeling", and the amazing, "Precious Lord". Now I am wondering, why wasn't she as big as other soul divas such as Diana Ross, Donna Summer, or Gloria Gaynor? Another thing to point out.....why didn't Warner Bros. (the original label) reissue these two fine albums any sooner. To any lover of soul music, you have got to add this combination of classic albums to your collection! Also check out Ms. Staton's new gospel album, PROVERBS 31 WOMAN, which is a good collection of gospel tunes.
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