This album appeared on Amazon new releases today (13 May 2022), so I
don't know whether it's the first time digital or not.
Once you've got over the initial shock of seeing the title and
scoffing, get ready to eat some humble pie, because apart from a couple
of the blatant cash-ins on the Bruce Lee movies and the popular David
Carradine TV series of the day there are a few pretty decent tracks on
this album that soul connoisseurs will already be aware of.
For starters there's his modern soul spin "I Want To Give You My Everything" originally recorded by
Newby & Johnson
in 1970,
Tyrone & Carr
(1972) and
Candy & Sweets
(1973).
Donny & Marie Osmond
also had a bash at it in 1977 produced by Holland, Dozier & Holland no
less (before you scoff again) and it isn't half bad! Many others have also
recorded the song, most recently
Cherry Boop
in 2013 released by Outta Sight on 7". Curiously, an artist called
Rochelle also covered it in 1971 with a B side titled "Blue-Eyed Soul" but
it's not the same song as Biddu's version on the album, but I wonder if
that's where he got the title from or just a coincidence?
The next track to highlight is (my standout) "Never Had This Dream Before" an album only track written by Lee Vanderbilt and later recorded by
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds on the flip side to "Now Is The Time" in 1976.
Then there's another album only track "I Don't Care What People Say" penned by Vanderbilt and Biddu
"Kung Fu Fighting" was a UK pop chart #1 for three weeks in Sep/Oct 1974 and had a 13 week
run on the chart. It was followed by "Dance The Kung Fu" which didn't fare as well but did just make the top 40 at #35. The only
other single from the album was "Blue-Eyed Soul" which is actually an instrumental and Carl Douglas obviously isn't
blue-eyed so I guess this was just an album filler by Biddu.
The digital version contains two extra tracks "Gambling Man" (the B side to "Kung Fu Fighting") and part 1 of "Blue-Eyed Soul".
Rating: | 8.2 |
Explicit: | N |
Genre/Style: | Classic Soul |
Format: | Album |
Media: | Digital/LP |
Label: | Pye |
Cat No: | NSPL 18450 |
Date: | 1974 |
Value: | £7.99/£5 (approx.) |
1 comment:
Absolutely right. Above all, don't stop at the title of the album. Apart from 1 or 2 titles, only superlative tracks.
Yves
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