Moments In Soul (Dover, 1991)

Review
There was no Nite Flite release in 1991. To occupy the space on the record shop shelves, Dover Records put out Moments In Soul, an 18 track selection of “soft soul classics” complete with token silhouette lovers on the front cover. Top billing went to Simply Red, Soul II Soul, George Michael & Aretha Franklin, Kenny Thomas, Donna Summer, Oleta Adams, The Chimes. Relegated to a smaller font on the sunset sleeve were Lisa Stansfield, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Alexander O’Neal, Alyson Williams, Adeva.

Setting the scene: Soul II Soul’s glorious Keep On Movin’, by now a two year old memory from Club Classics Volume 1. It’s barely over before the plaintive keys of The Chimes’ I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For drops down. And my worst partial-mixing fears are realised with Kenny Thomas as his footloose and fancy-free Thinking About Your Love rudely interrupts the previous track’s departure. 1991 seems to be the peak for this atrocious fad. We step back in time for I Knew You Were Waiting For Me, a joyous collaboration between two of the finest singers of the era, followed by the talented pairing of Rufus (a band) and Chaka Khan. Ain’t Nobody was also in Breakin’, a 1984 movie that never seems to feature in Greatest Of All Time lists.

The early 1990s were surely the imperial phase for Lisa Stansfield. What Did I Do to You? was released as the fourth single from Affection in April 1990, reaching #25. The remix edit on the 7″ was by Mark Saunders. More romance: Oleta Adams was discovered in the US by Tears For Fears and featured on their 1989 album The Seeds Of Love. Get Here is a lyrical and beautiful R&B slow jam. Meanwhile Look How Long turned out to be the last studio album released under the Loose Ends name, and featured their final hit single, Don’t Be A Fool, a frankly awesome R&B jam with a powerful message. This particularly potent passage of play continues with Donna Summer’s swish State Of Independence before a downer appears in the shape of Simply Red – the slow set dead cert If You Don’t Know Me By Now. Still being caned by moustachioed DJs in clubs every weekend.

After Alyson Williams mournful I Need Your Lovin’, Black Box loom large with Fantasy, another winning single from the massive success that was Dreamland. We go laid back for Innocence’s soulful A Matter Of Fact and Alexander O’Neal’s If You Were Here Tonight. And then Luther Vandross’ ultra-smooth Give Me The Reason. Two old masters. Elsewhere there’s the buoyant uptempo groove of Circuit’s Shelter Me, a tune steeped in remixes. And now for a real curveball – anyone remember Angela Kaset, a singer / songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Something In Red was released as a single on the Dover label shortly before Moments In Soul. It’s a powerful piece but somewhat out of place here. Like a female Tom Pacheco. Finally, Adeva’s fantastic cover of Respect. The underground massive. Otis updated for the end of the decade and totally vital.

Favourite tracks
Oleta Adams – Get Here

Lisa Stansfield – What Did I Do To You?

Lest we forget
Loose Ends – Don’t Be A Fool