Bridge feat. Freddie Hughes [1999/1981] - Listen [F.E.R.#FER-CD3]

The late Freddie Hughes takes lead vocals on the a Paul Tillman Smith song "Listen". It was first recorded for Norman Connors & Starship Orchestra "This Is Your Life" album in 1977 with James Robinson on lead vocals. 

This version is from Bridge's unreleased "Crying For Love" album recorded around 1981 but not released until 1999 thanks to Mark Coddington's First Experience Records (F.E.R.).

It was first issued on CD and then vinyl. The vinyl copies now fetch as much as £250, when they are for sale, as there are no vinyl copies currently for sale on Discogs.

A desert island disc for sure and if ever the phrase 'masterpiece' applied then surely it is fitting here?

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	9.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	CD
Label:	F.E.R.
Cat No:	None
Date:	1999 (1981)
Price:	£N/A

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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.)

Bridge [2000] - Crying For Love [FER LP1]

Modern soul classic (well it is in my book!). Anthemic tune that was hammered on the modern soul scene back in 2000.  An album recorded for Bang in Boulder, Colorado in 1981 that lay dormant and unreleased since then, was finally issued in the UK on Mark Coddington's First Experience Records (FER).

A marvellous album which features Freddie Hughes and his son Derick Hughes and former members of Vitamin E (Paul Tillman Smith) who released the fabulous 'Sharing' album on Buddah in 1977 produced by Norman Connors.  All tracks were written by Paul Tillman Smith.

Debravon Lewis (who also recorded under alias Fizzy Quick on Motown mid 80s) leads on this title track with Freddie Hughes on background vocals.

Bridge [2000] - Stella [FER LP1]

Another killer cut from the album is 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.

Bridge [2000] - Listen [FER LP1]

Listen was written by Paul Tillman Smith and was originally recorded originally on Norman Connors 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 with vocals from James Robinson. The great Freddie Hughes leads on this track.

Bridge [2000] - Reach Out [FER LP1]

Derick Hughes is on lead vocals on this one.

If, like me, you only own the original issue, the 2014 Japaneses reissue includes 2 extra tracks 'Magic' and 'Back Here Again' that weren't included on the first issue, so I've included them here. (But I have to say neither track makes me want to rush out and replace the original!)

Magic

Back Here Again