Bridge [2000/2020] - Crying For Love [FER #CD3/LP1 / High Jazz]

Thankfully the technical issue experienced yesterday preventing posting images has resolved itself. However, there are still hardly any new releases worthy of posting, so I thought I'd 'treat' you to this classic modern soul album from Bridge which I noticed was reissued (digitally and vinyl) last year (Dec. 2020) by Swiss company High Jazz. It's crazy, as one sold on Discogs for £95 when there are some vinyl copies still available on BandCamp for 40CHF (approx. £31.50 plus postage)! 

(NOTE when I wrote this yesterday there were 3 still available but today there is only one so if you want it grab it quickly! ... and I've looked again just now (a few hours after initially posting) and there are 5 .. Hhmmm! ... sales tactics ... in any case don't pay a ransom on Discogs without checking BandCamp first!)

The album was originally recorded in Boulder, Colorado in 1981 for Bang Records, but lay in the can until Mark 'Fish' Coddington licensed it on his First Experience Records (aka Simply Soul) on both CD and vinyl in 2000. Unbelievably, the album on original vinyl is selling for up to £220.There is only one currently listed on Discogs for £231.40, I wish I'd bought a few vinyl copies at the time but only bought the CD version!

It's a superb album throughout, one you can just put on the decks and leave it and bask in the sixteen tracks for 62 minutes.  All songs were written by group member Paul Tillman Smith except for "Sweet And Wonderful" which was written by three other group members. Lead vocals were shared by Debravon Lewis (who recorded on Motown as Fizzy Qwick in the 80s), Derick Hughes (son of Freddie Hughes), and Freddie Hughes appears on a couple of tracks.

It is worth highlighting the killer tracks, but of course it is personal taste. The title track "Crying For Love" has an anthemic quality with Debravon Lewis on lead and Freddie Hughes on backing vocals.

"Stella", recorded originally on Norman Connors' 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 with vocals from Jean Carn and James Robinson. Debravon Lewis and Derick Hughes lead on this track.

"Listen" also originally recorded originally on Norman Connors' 'This Is Your Life' album with vocals from James Robinson. The great Freddie Hughes leads on this track, which, for me, is an even better rendition than the original.

"Reach Out" with Derick Hughes on lead.

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Details

Rating:	9.2
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital/LP
Label:	High Jazz : FER
Cat No:	None : CD3 / LP1
Year:	2020 : 2000
Value:	£32 / £140-£200 (approx.)