• 6 years ago
Angelo Starr makes a fabulous new version of my 1976 Disco classic, originally sung so wonderfully by the late great James Wells, called "Baby I'm Still The Same Man", which came out on Polydor Records in 1976, and was also my very first ever twelve inch disc. There are very few singers around who can do justice to that particular jewel in my crown, because of the amazing vocal performance of the original. But even more importantly, when I go into the recording studio with Angelo Starr to make a new record, my greatest possible aspiration could only ever be to try to make a record as good as this. For me it is simple pure perfection. It encapsulates, in one three minute song, everything I have ever wanted to achieve musically my entire life, and I am truly satisfied with it. Of course, Angelo is the brother of the late great Edwin Starr, is managed by Edwin's manager, Lillian Kyle, and is simply the epitome of a classic soul singer. He also leads "The Team", who used to be Edwin's backing group, and are constantly performing up and down the country. Angelo's first tracks with me, "Stand On My Own Two Feet", and "Non Stop Destination", made everyone sit up and take notice. And also this fabulous and talented man was just the perfect voice to feature on my utterly fabulous exciting album, "Disco 2008", with another monster track, "There's A Storm Coming On". He has also done a fantastic song for my album, "Northern Soul 2008", called "Don't Leave Me Stranded". But this song takes what was basically a great soul song that appealed to both Northern Soul and Disco audiences, and gives it new life. Angelo redid this particular song for the iconic album, "Yesterday And Tomorrow", which is probably the most dear to my heart project that I have ever undertaken. I decided after thirty three years since I made my very first record, "Reaching For The Best" by The Exciters, to take a trip back down memory lane and recut thirty of my classics on artists who I am currently working with, reinterpreting them in 2008 without losing the magic that made them special in the first place. It's a totally self indulgent project, but one which already has my fans salivating with delight. I first got the idea when I recut Evelyn Thomas's wonderful classic "Have A Little Faith In Me" with Ebony Alleyne, last year. So I'm doing thirty in total, twenty four for the CD and six more extra ones for the DVD, picking either my biggest hits, my most beloved tracks, or the songs which people most requested to see a video. As I must clearly explain, these are not the original versions. And that's what makes the project exciting and new.These are brand spanking new interpretations of the classics, by Centre City's current roster of artists , built up over a thirty three year career of making records.
REACHING FOR THE BEST - WEAK SPOT - YOUR MAGIC PUT A SPELL ON ME - BABY I'M STILL THE SAME MAN - HE'S SO IRREPLACEABLE - MY HEAD'S IN THE STARS - NO WAY OUT - LOOKS LIKE LOVE IS HERE TO STAY - I'M IN WONDERLAND- TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY - MY CLAIM TO FAME - TRUE LOVE IS MY DESTINY - NEVER LET GO - NEW YORK'S ON FIRE - SO MANY MEN SO LITTLE TIME - HIGH ENERGY - HE'S A SAINT HE'S A SINNER - ON A CROWDED STREET - CLOSE TO PERFECTION - ALL OVER THE WORLD - MY HEART KEEPS BEATING FASTER - TECHNICOLOUR - FOOTSTEPS FOLLOWING ME - I FOUND HEAVEN - MORE TO THIS WORLD - FAN THE FLAME - I CAN'T ERASE THE THOUGHTS OF YOU - DANCING ON THE EDGE OF A DREAM - RUNNING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION - WALKING ON AIR.
The album, "Yesterday And Tomorrow" was released on Centre City Records, exclusively through the new website, http://www.ianlevine.co.uk now available on iTunes, I hope you will all consider supporting it.

Recommended