Bloodstone Ultimate Collection CD

This is one for the time capsule or at least a permanent slot in the CD changer. Heart-rendering soul music by one of its best purveyors, buoyed by two excellent falsetto singers -- silky smooth Charles McCormick and the exciting Henry Williams -- Bloodstone's music is absolutely compelling. This excellent compilation features new songs, rekindled versions of their own hits, and stunning remakes. Renditions of Tower of Power's "You're Still a Young Man," Linda Jones' "Hypnotized," the Drewvells' "Tell Him" (as "Tell Her"), and the Fuzz's "I Love You for All Seasons" are unexpected, delightful surprises. Traditionalists and purists will quibble that "Natural High," "We Go a Long Way Back," "Outside Woman," "Never Let You Go," and some others are recuts, rather than the originals, but the voices and the songs are as riveting as ever. ~ Andrew Hamilton

Additional personnel includes: Charles Crews (guitar, keyboards); Dean Roubicek (saxophone); John Mason (French horn); Michael Harris, Joe Campbell, Jeff Kaye, Mark Underwood (trumpet); Bernard Baisdon, Ken Tussing (trombone); Carle Vickers, Fernando Harkless (saxophone); Karl Hunter, Greg Smith (baritone saxophone); Hense Powell (piano, trumpet); Al Duckwonh, Chris Smith, Scott Hitchings (keyboards); Jarold Davis (bass); Rob Edwardsen (drums); Ira Wilkes (percussion).

Engineers: Billy Cobb, Anne Catalino, Jeff King.

Personnel: Harold Williams , Charles McCormick (vocals); Fernando Harkless, Dean Roubicek, Carle Vickers (saxophone); Greg Smith , Karl Hunter (baritone saxophone); Hense Powell (trumpet, piano); Mark Underwood, Michael Harris, Jeff Kaye, Joe Campbell (trumpet); John Mason (French horn); Kenneth Tussing (trombone); Scott Hitchings, Chris Smith (keyboards); Rob Edwardsen (drums).

Arrangers: Hense Powell; Chuck Crews.

Bloodstone: Willis Draffen, Charles Love (vocals, guitar); Harry Williams, Charles McCormick (vocals).