Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Back in 1973, Atlanta-based gangster and pornographer Michael Threvis decided to start the record company General Recording Corporation as a means of legitimising some of his ill-gotten fortune. As an off-shoot of GRC, the Hotlanta label was born which, together with the establishment of a state of the art recording facility called Sound Pit Studios at Threvis' office complex, gave a number of less celebrated names in black soul music the chance to shine before the whole thing collapsed a mere two years later when Threvis was put on trial for multiple crimes. Given the label's shady background, it's perhaps surprising that a handful of Christians were on the Hotlanta roster but, nonetheless, gospel acts such as Dorothy Norwood, her Caravans colleague Loleatta Holloway and King Hannibal feature alongside their secular counterparts on this lovingly-compiled reissue by Kent Soul. In fact, it's Norwood who kicks things off with the distinctly gospel "Big Boat Ride" before a number of songs about no-good relationships - a prime example being the adultery-glorifying "I Can't Leave You Alone" by Jimmy Lewis - dominate the release. There are hints of the kind of defiant hope that formed the bedrock of '70s black soul but the ultra-smooth and occasionally bizarre delivery of most of the tracks on offer - King Hannibal's cautionary "The Party Life" for instance - make this very much a period piece with only a few scraps for gospel music lovers.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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