SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – SOUL TO SOUL: MUSIC FROM THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

VARIOUS ARTISTS
SOUL TO SOUL: MUSIC FROM THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
LIBERATION HALL

In 1971, Ghana hosted Soul To Soul, a 13-hour concert consisting of performances from dozens of African American jazz, soul, and gospel artists. The concert served as a celebration of 14 years of Ghanaian independence. Over 100,000 people watched performances from Wilson Pickett, Ike & Tina Turner, and Santana, among others. Originally slated for a limited theatrical run that year, the film was released on DVD in 2004. Now, thanks to Liberation Hall and Reelin’ In The Years Productions, the original film is getting the vinyl treatment on the 55th anniversary of the concert, with a Blu-ray/DVD release to follow on May 12.

Soul To Soul opens with inviting greetings of Tina Turner as that signature, raspy, belting voice leads the band through “Soul To Soul.” As she continues into the hazy, fuzzy blues of “River Deep-Mountain High,” listeners are needlessly reminded of the exceptional tone of Turner’s voice, making her a truly once in a generation singer pivotal to the development of both rock and pop in the coming decades. The album continues forward with the funky gospel of The Voices Of East Harlem’s “Run, Shaker Life” and a trio of tracks from The Staple Singers to close out side A.

Across the 10 tracks on the LP version, funk, soul, gospel, and the blues are on full display. The album features an additional four cuts including Ike & Tina Turner’s “I Smell Trouble,” The Voices Of East Harlem’s “Choose Your Seat And Set Down/Walk All Over God’s Heaven,” Les McCann & Eddie Harris’ “The Price You Gotta Pay To Be Free,” and Santana’s “Jungle Strut.” This further develops with the inclusion of a pair of Santana cuts, “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen,” featuring Willie Bobo, marking an absolute showstopper amid the incredible performances. Santana, in the ‘70s and today, is an electrifying figure whose greatness knows no bounds. This is followed by “In The Midnight Hour,” “Funky Broadway,” and “Land Of 1000 Dances” from Wilson Pickett and his rock ‘n’ roll big band as crunching guitars and warm horns collide. The performances across Soul To Soul truly are remarkable, so much so, that perhaps the remaster would have benefited from a deluxe treatment that expanded the track listing to include more from each artist, as well as those featured on the CD and Blu-ray, but not on the LP.

Soul To Soul is a marvelous moment in history; a true celebration of the global influence the African diaspora has had on popular music and, in turn, the influence that African American music has had on the world. As such, Soul To Soul: Music From The Original Soundtrack is a lost gem of significant historical importance that makes highly effective use of the compilation format.

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