Birth Of Soul

Of all the many great compilations put out by ACE/KENT, I regard The Birth Of Soul as one that really can be truly described as "essential", for it represents a living musical document of black American music and its equally fascinating history and development.

Compiled with skill and insight by Trevor Churchill and Adrian Croasdell, it is not only an imaginative collection of sides, but one that also shows that "Soul" didn't just "happen", but was a gradual process of evolution as the music of black America moved from its R&B tradition with its nostalgic rural roots, into the newly growing freedom of cultural expression that was to be found and explored in the urban centres. It also reflects the ability that small, independent labels had to influence the direction that black American music was beginning to take in the early 60s-.-and where they pioneered, it wasn't long before the majors were treading a similar path.Some of the artists featured have found fame and fortune along the way. The Impressions, Etta James and Sam Cooke are well known even outside strictly soul circles, but just as importantly in the evolution of soul from R&B, artists like Freddie Scott, Claudine Clark and Derek Martin are also wisely included, since it is often in the smaller outfit that innovation can find room and opportunity to take a chance.Some of these sides are not perhaps as well-known as they should be: Oh My Angel by Bertha Tillman was actually issued in the UK on (of all labels), ORIOLE, and probably sold less than 50 copies at that time-.-The Sound of My Man by Theola Kilgore was never released in the UK, nor indeed was She Ain't Ready by J. J. Barnes-.-whilst others built up a steady following on the Soul underground scene and that other stalwart keeper of the faith known as the Northern Soul scene, and became established classics such as I Do by The Marvelows, Hey Girl Don't Bother Me by The Tams, and Daddy Rollin' Stone by Derek Martin (whose name has at last been correctly spelt over here!).