OR   Search for Artist/Title    Advanced Search
 
you are not logged in...  [login] 
All Reviews    Edit This Review     
Review: 'Chi-Lites, The'
'(for God's Sake) Give More Power To The People'   

-  Label: 'Org Music'
-  Genre: 'Soul' -  Release Date: '2.11.20.'

Our Rating:
Finally The Chi-Lites third album (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People is being re-issued by Org-Music on Vinyl for the first time in decades, If you want the Colored vinyl rather than classic black you'll have to get it from Barnes and Noble.

Now I have to admit to never having been a soul-boy at any time in my life, but of course The Chi-Lites were still inescapable and the hits on this album are truly monuments, as well as containing at least one world class earworm that once I hear it takes weeks to get out of my head, even if I tend to prefer the reggae version of it. That said this album will make a perfect Xmas stocking filler for old school soul fans who still love vinyl and want to hear this album on audiophile grade vinyl that has been mastered from the original analogue tapes.

The album opens with Yes I'm Ready (If I Don't Get To Go) which is one of the songs I'm not familiar with, it is a beautiful sweet soul song of yearning wrapped in gorgeous strings as Eugene Records' vocals tell a sad vignette that could as easily be about lost love as it could be about not being drafted to Vietnam, he's ready no matter what he's friends say or do to him.

We Are Neighbours is earworm city and while I love David Issacs version with The Upsetters to death, I have to concede that the original version may well be better, with a killer brass section and some cool stereo effects. I love this hit so much and know every time I hear it that it will be stuck in my head for weeks to come, if you don't have the song already this albums worth getting just to own it, as you let the message sink in that We Are Neighbours and we should all get along together to make the world a better place. It was great fun playing it back to back with David Issacs version to hear which ones better.

I Want To Pay You Back (For Loving Me) Aww what a sweet sentiment and a sweet sweet song of love and thanks that would have made my younger self gag at how gushing and sickly it is, but with the benefit of time I now get where they are coming from and although I'm not sure if I could get away with dedicating this to Jo my girl of the last 22 years I totally get why you might want to play this to your girl.

Have You Seen Her is of course the monument on the album, a song of loss for the girl that left him and he sits asking everyone Have You Seen Her, a beautiful production if you don't already know this song I'd have to ask why your reading this review and where have you been . A song that will never stop being played.

Then they change things up with the superfly style intro to (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People a strutting street funk plea to stop homelessness starvation and poverty that rings just as true today as it did in the 70's, sadly the people still need more power to make sure every mouth is fed and housed and everyone has a more fair share, this has some cool effects used on it.

Love Uprising is another message that is timeless a plea to stop all the hatred and fighting and love one another as we hang up our boxing gloves that sit among the brass stabs and floating strings and soulful guitar for some sweet soul music to show some love too.

Troubles A' Comin is more is a soul stirrer with a tight funky bass and story of love and the eternal struggles to groove along with the incredibly tight harmonies and band.

You Got Me Walkin' hits you with heartbreak strings and that has him begging and pleading for a chance or another chance as he's got his marching orders again, wow to the production and arrangements on this it just sounds fantastic.

The album closes with What Do I Wish For is more begging and pleading for your love once more, will you give in to the strings the vocal harmonies or will he admit defeat once more in a classic sweet soul way and beautiful ending, no matter how the lyrics may just have him stuck at home alone hoping she'll come back.

Find out more at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/35239278?ean=0711574899661 for Yellow Vinyl and https://orgmusic.merchnow.com/products/v2/319476/for-gods-sake-give-more-power-to-the-people for Black Vinyl.
  author: simonovitch

[Show all reviews for this Artist]

READERS COMMENTS    10 comments still available (max 10)    [Click here to add your own comments]

There are currently no comments...
----------