>> Bobby Hebb
bio: "Love Games" producer James Flemming Rasmussen says that when he thinks about Bobby Hebb "I think of a wonderful human being, a warm and kind person with amazing talent. All that Bobby is - is so special" - and that is so accurate. Walking through the lovely town of Rockport, Massachusetts on Cape Ann on a summer day with Mr. Hebb, it was amazing to see the amount of people who would wave to him and stop him in the street to chat. He could run for Mayor - if towns in Massachusetts had mayors! And that's a big part of why these recordings are so very special - because they have that up-tempo optimism which makes you feel happy when you hear the re-make of "Love Love Love" or what this writer feels is the next Northern Soul classic, the moving and very danceable "Don't Tear Me Down".
A niche musical movement like Northern Soul has lasted for decades, but the original "Love Love Love" launched from the early days of that scene in 1971 six years after the "Sunny" album was released. In search of more Hebb music the rabid Northern Soul fans discovered the Gamble & Huff gem, "You Want To Change Me". This new album should satisfy those on the dance floor who want to move and groove - and the two new versions of "Sunny", a duet in English and a duet in French (only available on the soon to be released CD-Single), are the first instances where the original songwriter/singer of the classic is singing with someone else. The French version features Pat Appelton of De-Phazz while the English is a duet with Astrid North of Cultured Pearls.
Bobby had a dream 25-30 years ago, and in the dream Sylvia Robinson said: "This is a hit for you, Mojo" Sylvia telling Bobby (in his dream) how she wanted him to record the music, "so that's how I did it."
Bobby paused, and then added: "In the Congo you would hear drums; this was done with a rhythmic expression, (But) that’s still music. This is a form of communication -in my case I'm saying "relax".
You can now relax to the long awaited third album from Bobby Hebb. It fits into all sorts of genres - the cool vibe of the Lounge set with their hip 'Bachelor Pad" music; the pop fans who have waited 35 years for more tunes and emotions from Bobby Hebb, and those wonderful people who dance to Northern Soul - it is all here for all of them and more, and it's in glorious stereo.
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