DJ Akalepse: Fallin’ Off the Reel Sampler Mix
Tracks from Fallin’ Off the Reel Vol. 2 (Truth and Soul, 2007)
On the one hand, I think it’s great that labels like Truth & Soul and Daptone are making it a point to put new soul vinyl out in circulation. As a DJ and collector, that obviously appeals to my sensibilities but I also realize that a lot of fans don’t necessarily have turntables at home so when something like, say, that great Timothy McNealy version of “I’m So Glad You’re Mine” comes along, I’m glad to give it some shine but I also realize that many may not end up purchasing it because it’s in a format they can’t access.
That’s why I’m glad that Truth & Soul has been very smart in making sure to compile most of their releases into semi-yearly albums available on both CD and vinyl as a way to making sure that if you were forced to miss the boat the first time, you’d still have a chance to catch up later.
Fallin’ Off the Reel Vol. 2 is, in my opinion, even stronger that its preceding volume, thanks how prolific the label has been in the last two years or so since the series inaugural release. Here’s the complete tracklist and I’ve bolded the songs that, by themselves, could have been justification enough to get this:
01. BRONX RIVER PARKWAY- La Valla
02. BRONX RIVER PARKWAY – Nora Se Va
03. TYRONE ASHLEY’S FUNKY MUSIC MACHINE – Just A Little While Longer
04. TYRONE ASHLEY’S FUNKY MUSIC MACHINE – I Can’t Help Myself
05. BLACK VELVET- Is I Me You Really Love
06. BLACK VELVET – An Earthquakes Coming
07. QUINCY BRIGHT- Phil My Don
08. RAEKWON & EL MICHELS AFFAIR – PJ’s
09. EL MICHELS AFFAIR – A Little Sloppy (Bonus Beat)
10. EL MICHELS AFFAIR – This One’s For My Baby
11. QUINCY BRIGHT- Big Black Hole
12. LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS- My World
13. LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS – Love Comes and Goes
14. BRONX RIVER PARKWAY – Aqua Con Sal
15. BRONX RIVER PARKWAY- Me Toca
16. TIMOTHY MCNEALY- What’s Going On
17. TIMOTHY MCNEALY- I’m So Glad You’re Mine
18. THE FABULOUS THREE- Odyssey Revisted* previously unreleased
It’s not that I don’t like the other stuff but, for example, I’m a massive fan of the Bronx River Parkway stuff – it’s always good to hear new Latin soul/funk being worked with and BRP, like Brownout and others, are doing a great job of playing with such a venerable and excellent tradition.
Likewise, Lee Fields is one of the great success stories in the retrosoul movement’s ability to support artists from a different generation who may not have gotten the propers they deserved then but are getting that second chance now (see also: Sharon Jones). And the Timothy McNealy reissues are blissfully good.
That plus a slick little El Michaels Affair instrumental that sounds as good as anything on their Sounding Out the City album.
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