The new album from Down To Earth, following their highly acclaimed and chart topping "Still Ridin' High" (Sep 2021), is "LoveLifeAndHarmony" due for release on Friday (23 Feb '24).
The album has been been a labour of love over the last couple of years but, owing to health issues, which are now hopefully being resolved
(we wish both Lol Williams and his wife Debs a speedy recovery), it's finally ready for release.
All songs have been written and produced by Lol Williams and Stevie Paul
with their good friend keyboardist David Foster (who's played with Billy
Paul, Peabo Bryson and Loose Ends to name but a few) co-writing on three
tracks (1, 3, and 7).
They tell us that it's a personal and meaningful album reflecting life challenges that
can affect anyone unexpectedly at any time and has been designed to be listened to in full in track running
order.
There is something for everyone ranging from ballads, mid-tempo steppers to
dance songs with four songs already released as singles: ("Keep On Loving Me" (Apr '22), "What We Gonna Do" feat. Stacey Lee / "My Guiding Star" (Sep '22) and "In The Shadows Of The Night" (Apr '23).
The new songs are:
"That Loving Touch" an 80s/90s style groove with Stevie Paul bringing out his inner Larry
Carlton jazz/funky guitar licks and chugs away very nicely with a steppers
kinda groove.
"Girl" also has an 80s feel and just builds and builds.
"Waiting No Longer" a lovely soulful mid-tempo ballad/stepper featuring long time collaborator Bobbi Shepherd on lead vocals.
All three above, we believe, would do well as singles.
The remaining four new songs are all ballads. The album opener, "Beautiful Day", a jazz flavoured mid-tempo ballad. "What We've Both Been Waiting For" starts off as a bit of a crooner but don't be deceived as it builds and
builds and develops into a mid-tempo stepper with Stevie's jazz guitar in evidence throughout. "Everything To Me" has a similar groove to Mike Post's "Theme from Hill Street Blues" (on
which Larry Carlton featured) and features Karen Lenihan on backing vocals.
"Perfect Company", is a duet with Lol Williams and Bobbi Shepherd.
Another solid set from the East End boys which is going for radio promotion
this week so will, quite rightly, receive lots of airplay in the coming
weeks, so watch out for it on several of the UK soul charts.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the
artist.
01 - Beautiful Day
02 - You Keep Loving Me
03 - Shadows Of The Night
04 - Waiting No Longer (Bobbi Shepherd on lead)
05 - Guiding Star
06 - That Loving Touch
07 - What We've Both Been Waiting For
08 - What We Gonna Do
09 - Everything To Me (backing singer Karen Lenihan)
10 - Perfect Company (duet with Bobbi Shepherd)
11 - Girl
| Rating: | 8.6 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | New Soul |
| Format: | Album |
| Media: | Digital |
| Label: | Speegra |
| Cat No: | None |
| Date: | 23/02/2024 |
| Price: | £7.99 |
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