The latest reissue from Expansions consists of two sides from the 80s by Charles Earland.
The top side is the single version of the title track from his 1980 album "Coming To You Live" which was his first single following his only UK chart success with "Let The Music Play" in 1978. The female lead vocal is uncredited but the album lists backing vocalists as Debbie McDuffie, Hilda Harris, Yolanda McCullough (Ullanda McCullough) and Yvonne Lewis. There only sounds like one voice to my ears (unless their harmonies are so tight) so if I had to guess it would be Ullanda McCullough who released three soul albums of her own between 1979-82. She also sang background vocals for Ashford & Simpson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones amongst others. Musicians on the track include Marcus Miller (bass), Doc Powell (guitar) with rhythm and horns arranged by Tom Washington aka Tom Tom.
It is flipped with another album title track, "Street Themes" (1983) which, until now, has remained an album only track. It's an instrumental
Earland was from Philadelphia and learned to play saxophone at an early age playing with Jimmy McGriff aged 17. He formed his first group in 1960 and released his first single in 1964 as Charlie Earland, Jr. And His Band. He then learned to play the organ and joined Lou Donaldson for a couple of years at the end of the 60s.
Although Discogs lists his first solo album as "Black Talk!" in 1970, he had released two albums prior to that as Charlie Earland Trio, "Boss Organ" (Choice 1969 but recorded in 1966) and "Soul Crib" (Choice 1969).
Earland died of heart failure in Dec 1999 aged 58.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
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