Marva Whitney, renowned soul sister, former James Brown protégé and sassy female projector of the funky groove (witness the JB assisted It’s My Thing album) has returned to the mic with a brand new release on Soulpower Records. Backed by Japanese funk mob, Osaka Monaural, Whitney still has her soul torch burning after all these years (although there is a lack of conviction here at times) and to her credit, has penned many of these original tunes alongside her Japanese counterparts to make an album that will probably please the casual funk fan or Marva Whitney completist.
The problem here is the attempted reproduction of the classic JBs sound that, let’s face it, just cannot be equalled. Smooth and slick, the JBs-Lite sound is distracting, especially after spending so much time being amazed by the dynamic originals. This is immediately apparent upon hearing the opening, title track and the following piece ‘I Got The Feelin’. I placed this album in the player and really wanted to be moved and amazed a la recent efforts by Candi Staton (as heard on the track ‘His Hands’ for Honest John’s Records) or Fontella Bass’s soaring emotion displayed on the latest Cinematic Orchestra offering Ma Fleur. Sadly, it didn’t happen.
This album really would have benefited by some gritty players such as The Soul Investigators, The Bamboos or El Michel’s Affair, although to be fair, there are some highlights worth noting on this record, none of them the funk tunes. ‘He’s Mine’ is a rolling piece of New Orleans R&B, a reading of the Ed Cobb classic, ‘Every Little Bit Hurts’, is a nice showcase for Marva’s soulful side and the gospel standard ‘Peace In The Valley’ receives a lovely treatment.
Overall, this isn’t an album I’d return to often, if at all. Pointless covers of James Brown’s ‘Give It Up Or Turn It Loose’ and a meandering diatribe on ‘Sister Wrapp’ are annoying, and whilst I admire this lady’s soulful spirit and staying power, her vocals just aren’t commanding enough to give this release the punch it needs.
Lyndon Pike
