 
keeping soul alive (bosstrainer)
1-Arriviste
Username: bosstrainer
Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 217.44.8.94
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:43 am: �� |     ���  |
Willie Walker, the legendary Goldwax and Checker artist has been back into the studios and recorded a new album of 14 original songs. Willie�s soul drenched vocals were nurtured in Memphis and Muscle Shoals in the 60�s. Now he is singing �full circle soul� with the Butanes that captures the essence of those early days of soul. Keeping Soul Alive Limited has been working with Curt Obeda, the leader of the Butanes for over a year on the production of this album
I first made contact with Curt through his website in order to interview Willie for an article which was published by Dave Cole in Issue 29 of the UK soul music magazine In The Basement in February 2003.
I was impressed that Willie still had his ultra soulful voice and hoped that one day he would return to the studio to record an album of original songs. I discussed this possibility with Curt and he eventually sent me a series of demo songs, which cried out for Willie's vocals. We met up in Memphis in April 2003 while I was there to for the opening celebrations for the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. This meeting cemented our friendship and we decided to work together on a new album.
Originally, the idea was for Keeping Soul Alive to find a label to record the album. My company shopped the demos around but without an acceptable offer we decided to set up our own label called One On One Records. Over the last year, Curt and I have worked together from the rough demos through Willie's scratch vocals to the recordings in Minneapolis which were completed in January 2004 to produce an album which would compliment Willie's soul drenched vocals.
The concept of this album was to prove that you could still record a classic southern soul styled album with real instruments, which had a live feel and that the musicians would provide a backdrop for the singer to perform. I feel that we have achieved this but it is always difficult to be objective with your own product!!!
Full reviews will be appearing in In The Basement in the next issue due out in late April and Juke Blues in the near future and hopefully other magazines as well.
If anyone would like an electronic press kit, which contains snippets of 3 of the new songs and recent photos then please contact me and I will send you one.
Curt and I would like to thank everyone on the forum who have encouraged us to produce this album and we hope that you will continue with your support.
The album is due for release in late May 2004.
Best wishes
Colin Dilnot
Keeping Soul Alive Limited UK
0044 151 639 8496
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