Ol Virginia Soul Pt 1 Jump Up & Down/ Var - Ol Virginia Soul PT 1 Jump Up & Down / Various

Reviews of 'Ol' Virginia Soul Pt. 1: Jump Up and Down' (Arcania International) 'A great document of a soul scene we know little about... but are finding that we love. This 27-track package offers up a rich array of underground soul from '60's Virginia... there's a really rough feel to a lot of this work - coming across with almost a Birth of Soul feel at times. The package features some well-written notes and the setlist features a load of gems.' - Dusty Groove 'The first CD is a 27-track number, with plenty of exuberant party numbers, plus some expertly sung ballads and love tunes. . . thankfully, this anthology does have extensive liner notes and group histories - details that many non-jazz reissue labels often consider an unnecessary bonus. Hopefully the second volume will be coming shortly because the first is excellent. - Ron Wynn, The Nashville City Paper 'This 27-cut anthology features regional should-have-beens like Sebastian & The House Rockers, the Honey Bees, Gene & The Team Beats, Bee Gee Stans and the criminally obscure Barbara Stant, who could teach Joss Stone a thing or two about feeling a song. The sound here is of it's time musically (and technologically), but not much socially. There are no 'I'm black, I'm proud' moments, but plenty of opportunities to shake-your-tail-feather or feel good or bad about the lover you're with (or not). If you've been numbed by the over-produced velveteen pap that passes for soul these days, this is your antidote. *** 1/2 (Three & a Half stars).' - Tim Finn, Kansas City Star.