Reviewed by Stephen Luff

Blue-eyed soul singer Eli 'Paperboy' Reed has had a fascinating music career so far. Learning his musical chops and probably Christian faith playing in the Chicago Church of Mitty Collier (who in the '60s had a major soul hit with "I Had A Talk With My Man" - a secularisation of a James Cleveland gospel song); went on to record critically acclaimed soul albums before being persuaded by a major label to cut more pop-orientated material; bounced back with an independent full-on gospel album; and, for this latest release, visited the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis. Contained here are 12 self-penned songs with a distinctly retro feel. Helped by producer Matt Ross-Sprang and outstanding background support from local vocal group The Masqueraders, this is a collection that manages to recreate the sweet soul sounds of the '60s. The opener, "News You Can Use" has it all, infectious hook and soulful vocals, while "Bank Robber" will get your feet tapping and singing along in no time! Two songs, "Tryin'" and "A New Song", have made the Cross Rhythms playlist while the closing track "Couldn't Find A Way" slows the pace down, allowing Eli's voice to shine, as he explores life's challenges and demonstrates his love of gospel. This is an exceptional album from an outstanding artist.

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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