The title implies that these are recordings cut south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but with an uptown sound; the concept is flawed. Just as you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you use southern musicians and producers, the product is going to sound likewise. If
Diana Ross
used these same hookups, she would sound like
Ann Sexton
or
Betty Wright
. However, the compilation deserves kudos despite its gray area because its selections are so scarce. To have them accessible on one CD is a musical godsend. Highlights among the 24-tracks include
Roger Hatcher
's glorious
"Sweetest Girl in the World"
;
Marva Whitney
's tumultuous
"Don't Let Our Love Fade Away"
Skip Mahoney & the Casuals
'
"Running Away From Love"
Bits 'N' Pieces
"Keep On Running Away"
the Wallace Brothers
"Thanks a Lot"
; and
ZZ Hill
's
"Our Love Is Getting Better."
Other saucy entrees include tracks by
the Kelly Brothers
,
the Avons
(a little-known female group), and
Lucille Mathis
. ~ Andrew Hamilton