Editorial STUFF

I think the word PROUD doesn't even come close when I think of Blues & Soul Magazine adorning the shelves of news emporiums across the land once more. In the back of my mind there is, for want of a better expression, a sense of irony (almost Yin & Yang even) as we are about to rise to new heights… The scuppered 'News of The World' title dives to unfathomable depths. Our choice to stop production of the physical magazine, four years ago, at a time of trouble for all magazines and seek a new home online has proved to be the right one. As we now enjoy the kind of readership figures the magazine, and magazines alike, were receiving in more prosperous times — this is without doubt an excellent springboard to lead Blues & Soul to the forefront once more. Also the fact that we have altered the course of this musical monolith while in a place where experiment is possible is by no means an accident. From in essence, a Hip-Hop magazine it morphed into before its closure as a hardcopy magazine - to the now returning to it's grass roots, soul orientated magazine with ever underlying integrity. This has been a result of 4 years of listening & planning AND planning & listening to our faithful. The plan now is a simple one, to perfect a mix of what YOU would like to see in a magazine - YOUR MAGAZINE! And you have my word from the very first page of the very first issue, we will not stop until we have that mix right. So it is with a tremendous sense of pride that I hereby relaunch the worlds longest running, most significant and dare I say iconic black music title back into all to familiar musical waters once more. And may I say, how fitting that Bobby Womack should kick this new chapter off in our esteemed history by announcing his long awaited return with the words "I am the last soul man standing!" Like Bobby, I would just like to echo that sentiment by saying "We are only just getting started!" Here's to the artists, the B&S writing staff and of course you, our readers… "Now lets make history!" In this inaugural bi-monthly edition of Blues & Soul Magazine we have interviews action aplenty from (Deep breath) Bobby Womack, Rahsaan Patterson, Alan Gorrie (AWB), Kindred, Candi Staton, Smoove & Turrell, Al McKay (EWF), Electric Empire, Kelly Erez, Greg Boraman (The Fantastics!), Jen Kearney and we say Happy 15th Birthday to BBE Records - Lee Bright (magazine only). We also have 6 of the finest minds in music on hand as our resident columnists bring you the latest news and views from their respective genres. Look out for Bigger's Smoove Grooves, Sharon Davis Motown Tracking, Ben Lovett The Grooveyard, Snowboy Jazz column, Andy Davies Modern Soul column and last but by no means least Frank Elson's Northern Soul column. We go live, via special invitation, to Ireland for The Commitments 20th Anniversary knees-up (magazine only) and 3 is definitely the magic number this month as 3 reviewers attend 3 first-class shows over 3 days! If you mix that little lot with Gil Scott Heron remembered (magazine only), a look back at the creation of one of the most famous album's in history - Marvin's 'What's Going On' AND Marvin, 'what happened next?' (within Motown Tracking - magazine only) I think you'll agree there's more than enough to get your teeth into this month. Lastly, there's just time to mention not only our reviews and chart section's but our 'Back In The Day' regular feature which this issue looks back to B&S Issues July/August 1980 (with funnily enough, Marvin Gaye on the cover! And who said we just throw this lot together?! lol) …AND, AND, AND don't forget to enter our competition's to win Rewind Festival Tickets (magazine only) and a stunning Supremes box set! (magazine only) Also featured this month online... B&S' SIMON REDLEY brings us reggae royalty in the shape of TOOTS HIBBERT, UK's very own reggae legend's UB40, soul icon PERCY SLEDGE and if that wasn't enough SIMON gets down and dirty as he singlehandly takes on the V FESTIVAL with 2 reviews from 2 days of non-stop action - all together... "GOOD MAN THAT MAN!" We also have more online from PETE LEWIS as KENNY THOMAS releases a new album + KERI HILSON and N'DAMBI hit town via Blues & Soul... tea, coffee or something a lil' stronger girls? See you October 1st, bright n' early!B&S