Love City (Remastered & Expanded)

RHINO ソウル名盤リマスター・コレクション！【ボートラ付最強盤】

デトロイト・ソウルの真の裏名盤！ロン・マトリックが79年に発表した生涯唯一のアルバムが世界初CD化！中古レコード屋さんに足繁く通っている方ならば、かなりの高額プライスがついているこのスペーシーなジャケットを見た事があるかもしれない。47年デトロイトで生まれた彼のキャリアは、70年代初頭モータウン看板グループ、テンプテーションズを離れソロになったエディー・ケンドリックスとの共作「Feel Ｌｉｋｅ　Ｇｉｖｉｎｇ Up」からスタートする。デトロイトの名プロデューサー、マイケル・ストークスとの多くの仕事があるが、ソング・ライターとしてのヒットはキース・バロウの「You Know You Wanna Be Loved」。アルバムのプロデューサーは気心を知ったマイケル・ストークス。代表曲はなんといっても「I Can't Forget About You」で決まり！謎めいたストリングスのイントロから始まり、抜群なミディアム・フローターに移ってゆくスリリングな展開．．．ストークスの仕事っぷりがなんとも心憎く、バリトンでジェントリーなロンの声が重なったいき、夜の町を優しく彩るパーフェクトな名曲！他も「Feeling　Something」など魅力満載！

Though journalist-turned-crooner-songwriter Ronn Matlock is not known to many fans of '70s soul, his lone album is evidence of an overlooked talent. His husky, smooth, understated baritone and sensitive compositional skills merge to create an album free of the saturation of many of his contemporaries' efforts. It's the swooping ballads and swaying midtempos here, like the plush "Take Me to the Top (Of Your Mountain)" and the breezy "I Can't Forget About You," that truly show his essence. Michael Stokes' organic production and arrangement expertise is a steady complement to Matlock's unique stylings, whether it's on the low-key "Feeling Something" or the more agile "Back Street." Love City may not be considered a timeless masterpiece à la material of Barry White or the Isley Brothers from the same time period, but it's as impressive a companion for any retro listening party -- or rainy afternoon. [WEA's 2005, remastered edition included two bonus tracks.] ~ Justin M. Kantor|

Though journalist-turned-crooner-songwriter Ronn Matlock is not known to many fans of '70s soul, his lone album is evidence of an overlooked talent. His husky, smooth, understated baritone and sensitive compositional skills merge to create an album free of the saturation of many of his contemporaries' efforts. It's the swooping ballads and swaying mid-tempos here, like the plush "Take Me to the Top (Of Your Mountain)" and the breezy "I Can't Forget About You," that truly show his essence. Michael Stokes' organic production and arrangement expertise is a steady complement to Matlock's unique stylings, whether it's on the low-key "Feeling Something" or the more agile "Back Street." Love City may not be considered a timeless masterpiece a la material of Barry White or the Isley Brothers from the same time period, but it's as impressive a companion for any retro listening party -- or rainy afternoon. ~ Justin M. Kantor