Soul Strutter: The Swiss Movement [2021] - The Swiss Movement [Happy Tunes] plus Discography (Full Album)

I believe that this has been previously released in 2018 by Vinyl Gems but it looks like it is being pushed again (perhaps by a different label) as it has been available via Happy Tunes (German company Autarc Media GmbH) since 21 Mar 2021. As far as I can tell all tracks (except one - see below) are previously unreleased from the 70s.

I'm going to also take this opportunity to post their full discography below.

The Swiss Movement originated in New Orleans and found themselves moving to Detroit. They released only five singles between 1971 and 1974 (the first four on RCA Victor and the final one on Casablanca) and one album in 1973. Only one 45 saw a release in the UK in 1973, which was a combination of two US B sides Bring Back Your Love / If You Need Somebody To Love.

Another single (One In A Million / I Wish Our Love Would Last Forever) was released in 1978 on a New Orleans label Gold which eventally got a release via Grapevine in the UK in 2002. 'I Wish Our Love Would Last Forever' is the only track on the album that has previously been issued.

Whilst it's great gaining access to lots of music digitally, I've said it before and I'lll say again, it is irritating that no information is given about the origin of the music, no publicity, no sleeve notes ... nada!

Their 1973 album cover shows four members (who according to Discogs are Ronald Williams, Herbert Clifton, John Hodges and Arthur Booker, Jr., but a later publicity photo (and the sleeve of the latest album) shows only three. Arthur Booker, Jr. went on to join Louisiana Purchase who released four singles and an album on New Orleans label Basin Street in the 80s, and a one-off single on Chicago's Kelli-Arts.

The lead track on this new album 'I Think I'm Falling In Love' is a superb 70s modern soul dancer, the sort that tends to get broken in modern room and then crosses over to the main room in time. 'Trying To Win Your Love' is another 70s dancer. 'Grown Up Fairy Tales' is a sweet soul ballad. 'I Wish Our Love Would Last Forever' sounds like something the Detriot Spinners could have recorded and must have been in-demand at some point for it to be reissued by Grapevine, but I actually prefer 'I Think I'm Falling In Love' and 'Trying To Win Your Love'.

Not included on this album, but there were some good tunes on their 1973 album not released as singles 'Come Around Here' and 'The Grass Is Greener' in particular. Note that 'The Grass Is Greener' is available on 7" for the first time on 13 Feb 2021 via Ekim Kaidoz, it's on Mango Hill website. I'll post it separately as there's a killer lowider on the flip Soul Superiors - Trust In Me Baby which I have vague recollections of posting some time ago but can't find it, so maybe not.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Happy Tunes
Cat No:	None
Year:	29/03/2021
Key:	1A
BPM:	100
Value:	£7.92