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Elly Roberts reviews

Ali Campbell: Running Free

Distributed by
Crums

October 2007

Rating: 6/10

Ali Campbell, does reggae, obviously. No surprises there.

With star chums Mick Hucknall, Lemar, Beverley Knight, Smokey Robinson and more, Campbell does a host of covers and originals.

This second solo away from mothership UB40 has some real gems, with a couple of duds, nevertheless it’s a worthy album.

Tracks were recorded at Anchor studio Jamaica to get the sunshine feel, Eden and Townhouse in London and DEP in his native midlands. Campbell has used seasoned Kingston musos that include stelar rhythm section Sly and Robbie (Simply Red – Night Nurse). He’s also produced it. There isn’t a rootsy feel to this at any level, as it’s nothing more than a commercial slant of the genre, though soul and pop-geggae feature heavily.

Motown legend Smokey Robinson does a reasonable job on Marley’s Hallelujah Time, with Bitty McClean doing an original take on Charles and Eddie’s 1992 number one hit Would I Lie To You, though there is a mid-section reggae feel.

Surprisingly, Mick Hucknall is at his least effective on Smokey’s Being With You, despite being in his Soul comfort zone. Melua gives a dazzling vocal performance, probably the best here, shaking off the mellowness of her albums on a punchy Don’t Try This At Home. It would make a superb single. She raises the stakes in stiff competition from the legends.

Brother Robin joins in too, on Devoted To. Why this wasn’t kept for UB40 is a mystery. Bev Knight has turned into a genuine Soul star with her recent album, Music City Soul so it goes without saying she delivers the goods on opening title track Running Free, written by Campbell and Travis. The Drifters’ Don’t Go, a big favourite of Campbell’s gets a good dust - down and it’s quite effective.

Campbell, himself, remains one of the most underrated singers in the world. I should know, I’ve seen UB40, live. So there.

Weblink: ali-campbell.co.uk

The full list of tracks included are :

1. Running Free feat. Beverley Knight 2. Hold Me Tight 3. I’ll Be Standing By feat. Lemar 4. Don’t Go 5. Would I Lie To You feat. Bitty McLean 6. I Want One Of Those 7. Hallelujah Time feat.Smokey Robinson 8. Don’t try This At Home feat. Katie Melua 9. Flex 10. Being With You feat. Mick Hucknall 11. Gotta Get Away 12. Devoted To You feat.Robin Campbell 13. Village Ghetto Land feat. Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett and Don Yute 14. Cold Around My Heart

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

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