P R E S S :

I imagine everyone will already be aware of, and probably have a copy if they're willing to admit it, of Frank's legendary "Motown sessions", whether it be the bootleg CDR or the recent Frank McComb CDR release.
I had heard these sets and liked them, but was very sad at the quality - these were, after all rough demos. All that raced through my mind was "what the hell is wrong with Motown?!" (no prizes for any answers - there are far too many and none of us have the time! :-)
Steve the scotsman Harvey back in the summer of 2004 indicated that he was busy reworking these famed Motown sessions. Well, the man has done a great job and the sound quality is second to none.
There are all the tracks that we are already familiar with (minus "Shine" and "The Milk Of Human Kindness"), as well as some different songs recorded prior to the essential "Truth Vol. 1" album.
Every track is beautiful, and none comes more essential than "More Than Friends". When I first heard this song it brought a lump to the throat.Rarely does a record do that to me. This is seven and a half minutes of serious soul heaven. The warm keys, the hushed atmosphere and sympathetic accompaniment from Steve Harvey, Doc Powell, Paulinho Da Costa, the Nashville String Machine, Ron Huff and Sekou Bunch make this a killer track.The album is essential for this alone.
"Golden Lady" is a beautiful cover of Stevie Wonder's classic and has already gained a welcome release, but it is probably the four unreleased gems that you will be champing at the bit for! "Do You Remember" is a quirky, funky and very pleasing uptempo effort in the vein of Impromp2's "Give It Up". Steve Harvey's style is drenched through and through and his symbiosis with Frank is absolute magic. Freddie Washington is also a legend and does his thing like he only can.
"Labelled As Love" is a beautiful track featuring Bobby Watson on bass. Comparisons with Donny Hathaway are more than justified when you hear this sort of track. If for some crazy reason you doubt whether you will buy this set because you already have 2 versions of this set then prepare to reconsider. You cannot and should not overlook this album. The warmth that this particular song emanates is overwhelming. We really are hearing the masters at work here. The sincerity, tenderness and embracing nature of "Left Alone" is unquestionable. The instrumental, "Mr. Integrity", features a jazzier vibe and hats off to all concerned for it - especially saxophonist Louis Van Taylor who sure knows how to blow. Frank's keys remind me of Ramsey Lewis' 70s Columbia efforts and for me adds to the appeal and charm of the whole album.

Since there's two sides to every story, don't instantly believe everything you read or hear. Those who do want to support Frank directly can buy his own, inferior version of this. The Expansion issue of this excellent record IS the best one, musically and sonically. And whatever the real story may be, please be glad that these recordings, Franks very best he ever made, have been rescued from the Mojazz/Motown vaults. Without the efforts of Expansion they might have been unreleased forever...This is classic soul music, beautifully sung and near perfectly produced and arranged by the great Steve 'The Scotsman' Harvey. He's actually also the guy that partly paid for making the record...

This is a set of songs that has had a long, interesting and yet somewhat troubled history. Originally recorded back in 1994, they first appeared on a 1995 album called "The Motown Sessions". I remember a buzz that was created around that time but if anyone managed to get their hands on a copy back then, I certainly wasn't one of them. It wasn't until 2000 when "Love Stories" came out, that I got my first official Frank McComb CD and what an event that was.

Anyway, we later heard that some of the songs on the original album were floating around the internet. Bootleg copies were also available on stret corners on CD-R but (unmixed and unmastered) the sound quality was awful, apparently. The albums were being sold without any artwork or anything. I think that's when McComb decided to take matters into his own hands. Another CD called "The 1995 Bootleg" surfaced and there was talk of copies going for up to £75 a pop. I love soul music and I love Frank McComb but I wasn't that desperate.

Anyway, the songs are here at last, mixed and mastered and although, strangely, McComb still doesn't seem to have a major deal with a US-based label, at least we can now get his music without having to take out a mortgage on the house first. I'm happy.

PRESS :

Produced by Steve 'The Scotsman' Harvey, the same whizz-kid producer who brought us "The Truth, Vol. 1", not to mention other modern soul classics from the likes of Donnie ("The Colored Section"), Brigette McWilliams ("Too Much Woman") and Trina Broussard (Same Girl), Frank McComb fans will be well pleased. The ballads "More Than Friends", "Only In My Dreams", "So Lovely", "Labelled As Love" and "Intimate Times" clearly demonstrate why McComb is so often compared to the late Donny Hathaway. The sparse keyboards and that deep soulful voice combine beautifully. The cover of Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" is interesting and other highlights include the more groovy "Somebody Like You", "Do You Remember" and "Love Is on its way". Even if you have a bootleg copy, I recommend you get this as the sound quality is so much better. McComb is the nearest thing we have today to a genuine soul voice singing genuine soul songs and here is another album I definitely recommend to anyone who has an interest in that sort of thing. It's brilliant stuff.

PRESS :

"The Truth Vol.2" is again a collaboration with producer Steve Harvey and features an all star line up of musicians including Bobby Watson/Tony Maiden (ex-Rufus), Harvey Mason, Billy Preston, Paulinho Da Costa, Freddie Washington and the Seawind horns. Together with new work, the album (due to demand) includes songs previously only to be found as demos on an illegal bootleg known as 'The Motown Sessions'. Now fully produced and mastered, this glorious album is a huge release for 2006 and one of the most important soul albums of a decade.