Real Live #10

Edwin Starr - Real Live #10 (1981, 20th Century Fox)

Gradually getting back to regular programming on here, I had recently picked up this 12" by one the late Edwin Starr, one of my favourite Motown soul shouters. One of Edwin's last singles, if not his very last for the 20th Century Fox label, and also the first of many one-off singles he would do throughout the 80's and 90's, mostly in the UK where he would record for/with the likes of Stock Aitken Waterman, the 1986 Paul Hardcastle-produced Disco Aid project and even Chaka Khan and the Utah Saints among others.

This single, produced by Edwin himself, is no "War" or even another "Contact," but a rather good attempt at a more early 80's post-disco boogie style. Although his explosive voice is rather contained on this one, it's a much better attempt at updating his sound than much of what was on his his last 20th Century Fox album from the previous year, "Stronger Than You Think I Am" (1980, 20th Century Fox) which overall, seemed a tad dated for 1980. By this point, it seemed Edwin hadn't been backed by a groove this funky in quite a while. For me, it's those jagged, meaty guitars that really make the groove of this record, especially in the break at around the 5.30 point where they get the mix all to themselves..

PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
DISCO DELIVERY #37: MIDNIGHT RHYTHM (1978, ATLANTIC) (WEDNESDAY MARCH 14, 2007)

LINKS:
EDWIN STARR OFFICIAL SITE
EDWIN STARR - REAL LIVE #10 12'' @ DISCOGS
BOTH SIDES NOW - 20TH CENTURY FOX RECORDS
THEO LOYLA INTERVIEW @ DJ'S PORTAL (INFO ON 1986 DISCO AID PROJECT)
BBC NEWS - SOUL LEGEND EDWIN STARR DIES (THURSDAY APRIL 3, 2003)

CATEGORIES: MINI DELIVERIES