Carl Jazzfunkings Blog: February 2016

Monday, 8 February 2016

Edwin Starr ‎– Hell Up In Harlem (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 1974

Blaxploitation has long been a favourite genre of mine! Most folk know the obvious (and probabaly most commercially successful) ones such as Isaac Hayes 'Shaft' and Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly'. However there is a wealth of additional superb titles to add to those. One that has caught my ears through a thankful digital release in 2001 is Edwin Starr's 'Hell Up In Harlem'. With productions and songs from Freddie Perren and Fonce Mizell, Hell Up in Harlem is the scathing and soulful soundtrack of the motion picture starring Fred Williamson. This was Edwin Starr's last album for Motown, which probably accounts for the woeful lack of promotion. This is a solid album throughout with quality production & vocals. The bone picker, however, is "Easin' In," a great midtempo number with cool backing vocals, and a great reading from Starr; it has chart buster written all over it, yet Motown never released it as a single. Pick up a copy play it from top to bottom it is pure genius.