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Cantare [Release date 26.2.21]
In the continued absence of the original recordings by The Equals on digital platforms, and with previous CDs long deleted, this collection of tracks recorded for radio broadcast is most welcome. One of the few racially mixed bands of the late 60’s era, they influenced a host of other artists and this release adds to their legacy.
Sound quality is excellent throughout, and band member interviews with the legendary DJ Brian Matthew are interspersed between the tracks. Matthew’s track intros, in his inimitable style, are a joy.
Stellar versions of their three UK Top 10 hits are an obvious highlight. ‘Viva Bobby Joe’ is full of energy, while ‘Baby Come Back’ and ‘Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys’ are both pretty faithful to the original singles.
There are some choice covers too, including a killer take on the Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, a funk out on Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band’s ‘Do Your Thing’, and a driving run through the Canned Heat classic ‘Let’s Work Together’ (Eddy Grant taking the lead vocal on this to great effect).
A raucous ‘Softly Softly’ (which cleverly twists the riff from ‘Satisfaction’) is superb, and other gems include ‘I Get So Excited’, ‘I Won’t Be There’ and ‘Michael and his Slipper Tree’.
Hopefully Eddy will one day allow the band’s studio recordings to be released again. In the meantime, this fills a gap in the market nicely. ****
Review by Jim Henderson
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