This is the first in what will likely be a long list of classic soul records mentioned on this site. Billy Stewart’s 1965 Chess Records masterpiece, I Do Love You, has been on my heavy rotation list for the past few weeks, and I strongly urge that you get a copy for yourself. If you haven’t heard any of this yet, it isn’t a typical soul record. Aside from the gospel influence that you would expect, there is a heavy dose of scat-inspired jazz style on here, too, that makes for a very interesting disc. Some of the highlights (you’ll notice a trend here):
- I Do Love You
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Love Me
- Why Do I Love You So?
- Fat Boy
- Sitting In The Park
Sadly, Billy Stewart died in a tragic car accident in 1970 after releasing only a handful of albums, cementing his place in soul music obscurity. I wasn’t familiar with Billy Stewart prior to picking up a copy of Time Life’s thorough “Soul Story” collection (yes, I was sold on the info-mercial). “I Do Love You” is on the set, and after a few listens, I had to go digging for more. My recommendation is to pick up the CD reissue
More info:
Allmusic.com
Wikipedia entry
