Johnny Pearson

My guest castaway this week is Johnny Pearson, presenter of one of my favourite weekly soul shows, the 'Record Room' on Starpoint Radio.

Johnny's show features rare soul from the 60's, 70's and 80's on it's original format.......vinyl. Podcasts of the 'Record Room' episodes are made available on Podbean.

"Five deserted island discs, easy right?   No........

I have one all time favorite record that hasn't changed for years, so that's a start, the other four are causing me all sorts of trouble.

So I've had to think what to me makes a great soul record, first off the lyrics have to mean something the song has to connect with a feeling within, sadness, happiness, anger, it must hit a nerve.

Secondly the vocals must be top notch, for me this is very important, they have to convey the feeling of the song add in the arrangement of instruments and Bang there you go!

With that in mind, here we go....."

David Ruffin - Walk Away From Love

"My all time Deserted Island Disc, so much so I wanted to have this as my 'First dance' at our wedding. It was vetoed, quite rightly.

No other record has hit me quite like this one, David's vocal is superb and Van McCoy's production hammers home the sentiment of the song."

William Bell - Man In The Street

"Why is this not being played on National radio? 

Timeless : Written as a comment on the economic situation in 1970's America, this could easily have been written yesterday.

We are all 'the man in the street'."

Gladys Knight & The Pips - It Takes A Whole Lotta Man For A Woman Like Me 

"This incredible song had passed me by, until a few months ago, so I'm eternally grateful to Sean Hampsey for posting this on YouTube... where would we be without it!

It's a great album but this track stands out a mile for me."

Shirley Brown - When You Really Love Somebody

"Just beautiful, brings a lump to my throat every time I hear it."

Shades Of Blu - Waiting For The Last Goodbye

"If you can get to the end of this record and not feel totally moved, then I would say Soul really isn't for you.

I could of gone for Gladys's or The Ebonys version, but this is the boss, sweet soul at it's best."

"No need to add any more comments to these, the records speak for themselves."

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I know that if you liked these tracks then you'll certainly love listening to more of the same. Listen to Johnny Pearson's the 'Record Room' on Starpoint Radio or on podcast :

Starpoint Radio

Johnny Pearson presents 

the 'Record Room'

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