Tommy Hunt "The Complete Man: 60s NYC Soul Songs" (Kent UK) 02/22/2019

Tommy Hunt’s reputation as a major soul artist was built on his Scepter and Wand sides and augmented in the UK by his dance tracks, belatedly issued from those labels’ tapes along with his later independent UK waxings in the 70s.

Recent tape research has revealed five more unissued Scepter recordings, including a great take on Van McCoy’s ‘What’s The Matter Baby’ – originally cut on the Shirelles. ‘I’m Lonely For You’ and ‘One Of These Days’ are beat ballads in his popular early 60s style, while ‘Who You Gonna Thrill Tonight’ and ‘Girls Are Sentimental’ are the sort of romantic ballads that New York studios specialised in. All the tracks are fully orchestrated.

‘The Pretty Part Of You’ was a 100 Club floor-filler from its tape discovery in the mid-80s, around the same time his effervescent version of ‘The Work Song’ became a favourite. The popularity of ‘Never Love A Robin’ dates back to the earliest Northern Soul clubs. It is the first time on CD for most tracks, including the rare alternate B-side ‘How Young Is Young’, the scarce Scepter LP-only ‘You’re So Fine’ and some hard-to-find Dynamo recordings, including a later recording of his biggest hit ‘Human’.

Tommy’s four immediate post-Scepter recordings for Atlantic and Capitol in 1965 and 1966 are reissued for the first time and sound magnificent; the Atlantic recordings were actually cut in Chicago.

Tommy’s intriguing life story is a read in itself and his black music history, covering so many eras, is enthralling.

Compilation and notes by Ady Croasdell.

Tracklist
1. I Don't Want To Lose You
2. Hold On
3. I'll Make You Happy
4. The Clown
5. I'm Lonely For You
6. The Pretty Part Of You
7. Never Love A Robin
8. The Work Song
9. What's The Matter Baby
10. One Of These Days
11. Who You Gonna Thrill Tonight
12. And I Never Knew
13. Human
14. Searchin' For Love
15. The Complete Man
16. Searchin' For My Baby [[Lookin' Everywhere)
17. I Need A Woman Of My Own
18. You're So Fine
19. I'm With You
20. The Door Is Open
21. How Young Is Young
22. Girls Are Sentimental
23. Son, My Son
24. Born Free
25. I Believe
Amazon USA
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MTJMHHJ/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MTJMHHJ/?tag=imwan-21