image note       view larger image

Unbelievable/Cross My Heart – Chess Recordings 1964 to 1969

$15.99 ... CD (€12.28 || £10.51 || ¥1634) (approx.)

Back to back killers from the legendary Billy Stewart – two great albums for Chess in one sweet set! First up is Unbelievable – a truly unbelievable album from Billy – maybe his standout moment of the 60s, and a record that set him apart from every other singer of his time! Stewart's famous vocals break out instantly on the huge hit "Summertime" – a leadoff number that really sets the record on fire – and sets the scene for an amazing batch of tunes that follow a similar format – familiar tracks that are completely recast in a new mode by Billy – pyrotechnic soul vocals that are as filled with feeling as they are shaped by technique! Backings are great, too – full and a bit jazzy at points – and with just the right sort of energy to keep things bouncing along all the way through. Titles include "Summertime", "A Foggy Day", "Canadian Sunset", "Time After Time", "Misty", "Moon River", "My Funny Valentine", and "That Old Black Magic". Cross My Heart is a collection of killer singles from the legendary Billy Stewart – put together by Chess after his too-early passing – but an amazing document of his completely unique talents as a soul singer! The work here is brilliant – vocals that soar and take off on the upbeat numbers, and reach deep deep levels on the mellower ones – and the set's a great one to take you past some of Billy's familiar hits, into territory of the great singles he issued with Chess in the 60s. Titles include the sublime "Cross My Heart", plus "Tell Me the Truth", "I'm In Love", "Fat Boy's Boogaloo", "Crazy 'Bout You Baby", "Why Am I Lonely", "How Nice It Is", "I'm In Love (Oh Yes I Am)", "What Have I Done" and "Why Do I Love You So".  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.