VA - Ian Levine's Solid Stax Sensations (2015)

DJ and record producer Ian Levine was one of the prime movers in establishing Northern Soul as a youth cult in the UK in the early to mid-70s. His sets at Blackpool Mecca's Highland Rooms were innovative and he was at the forefront of the scene's musical development through the 70s. His Solid Soul Sensations for Pye Records in 1975 set a benchmark for Northern Soul LPs and was a major seller. Ian has applied that knowledge and taste to Stax's highly esteemed catalogue of recordings and chosen 25 superb soul songs aimed primarily for the dancers. Big spins from the 70s such as Barbara Lewis The Stars and Margie Joseph's One More Chance have been combined with floor-fillers from today including Charlene & The Soul Serenaders Can You Win and (Let Hurt Put You In The) Loser's Seat by Joni Wilson (under the guidance of George Clinton). Although he concentrated on producing in the 80s and 90s, Ian already knew many of the big Stax sounds, such as Paul Thompson's Special Kind Of Woman and Ilana's Where Would You Be Today through his own impressive Stax collection. Inevitably Ian has come up with some leftfield numbers from Proud As Punch, the Cheques and Bobby Whitlock and there is a super vault discovery from Sylvia & The Blue Jays. The major players are covered with tracks from David Porter, Rance Allen, the Dramatics, William Bell and Northern Soul's first superstar, Major Lance.