With Love

The James Hunter Six, arguably the finest soul-blues band in the U.K, finally get compilation treatment. They issued five acclaimed studio albums (under Hunters name) between 1996 and 2008 for an assortment of labels. Since 2013, theyve released another four with Daptone as the James Hunter Six. That said, the label throws a curve in With Love. This compilation focuses on Hunters self-penned love songs and ballads. JH6 record lean and mean, often live in studio with only eight tracks and few overdubs. It gives their records a warm vintage sound. But Hunter is no mere revivalist; musically and lyrically he is from the era his music celebrates. Opener "Somethings Calling" is one of two selections drawn from 2016s Hold On (the other is the glorious, calypso-tinged soul tune "This Is Where We Came In"). Hunter directly evokes the influence of Chuck Jacksons uptown soul during the mid-60s with his emotionally wrenching yet silky, slow-burn vocal. "I Dont Wanna Be Without You" was the opener on 2018s Whatever It Takes. It employs a steamy rumba rhythm amid lithe, bumping horns, reverbed Telecaster, sultry horns, and simmering organ carrying Hunters tough, tender croon. (Hunter is the only male singer able to approach the level of Dion.) Also from that album, the jazzy soul number "Mm-Hmm" appears later in the track list, as does that records fine closer, "It Was Gonna Be You." "If I Only Knew" dates from 2013s Minute by Minute, and its one of the finest ballads in Hunters oeuvre. A shuffling rumba is appended by nylon-string guitars, claves, and brushed snares surrounding his rough, honeyed voice. "Carina" is the sets lone outlier; though recorded with JH6, it was drawn from Hunters 2008 pre-Daptone outing The Hard Way, and credited only to the bandleader. Its strolling saxophones, calypso-cum-ska rhythm, and layered backing vocal chorus add emotional heft and sensuality to Hunters falsetto and moaning delivery. There are also nearly a handful of cuts from 2020s widely acclaimed Nick of Time. "Whos Fooling Who" is a gorgeous R&B ballad set to a rolling rumba rhythm; it offers a Hunter croon akin to Jackie Wilsons. Other tunes from that set are the percussive, slippery, Latinized shuffle "Hes Your Couldve Been" and the Lonnie Donegan-Brenton Wood-influenced soul finger-popper "Take It as You Find It." (One can almost hear Hunters former employer Van Morrison covering it.) It also includes the doo wop-influenced R&B of "Never," a deeply resonant love song, as well as the aching, Platters-esque celebration of new love "Mm-Hmm." With Love is presented with the requisite care that Daptone brings to all of its releases. It presents the James Hunter Six not as a sweaty, swaggering barroom R&B outfit, but as a late-night soul band for lovers. This fine set serves as an excellent introduction to the bands particular brand of musical magic. ~ Thom Jurek