{"product_id":"bobby-caldwell-bobby-caldwell-2023-reissue","title":"BOBBY CALDWELL - Bobby Caldwell (2023 Reissue)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLP - Black Vinyl. \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMeticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnown principally as a smooth titan of blue-eyed soul, \u003cstrong\u003eBobby Caldwell\u003c\/strong\u003e transcended genre tags with consummate ease; he was a musical icon of real class and versatility, cherished the world over. Tragically passing away in March 2023 at the too young age of 71, it still feels as if Bobby's true artistry is profoundly under-appreciated. His double platinum self-titled album from 1978 is a timeless masterpiece of sophisticated jazzy soul brilliance and is strictly canonical. Yes, it's perfect, yet it's been out of press on vinyl for years. We're deeply honoured to present the long-awaited reissue this summer.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhilst \u003cstrong\u003eNed Doheny\u003c\/strong\u003e is known in Japan as \"\u003cem\u003eMr California\u003c\/em\u003e\", native New Yorker \u003cstrong\u003eBobby Caldwell\u003c\/strong\u003e has always been \"\u003cem\u003eMr AOR\u003c\/em\u003e\" to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eString-swept opener \"\u003cem\u003eSpecial To Me\u003c\/em\u003e\" immediately sets the tone with its lush instrumentation, rich harmonies, and Caldwell's velvety-smooth vocals. Next up, a huge one. The infectious, mid-tempo bounce of \"\u003cem\u003eMy Flame\u003c\/em\u003e\" showcases Caldwell's ability to effortlessly blend catchy pop hooks with soulful arrangements. It's an exquisite, emotive ballad that, at the same time, absolutely SLAPS. Game recognise game, and all that, so, accordingly, Notorious B.I.G. memorably ran with “My Flame” for his 1997 single “\u003cem\u003eSky’s The Limit\u003c\/em\u003e”. The rolling, disco-very \"\u003cem\u003eLove Won't Wait\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a slick, uptempo track containing heartfelt lyrics intertwined with elegant strings and a horn section to die for. Aching - and achingly cool - single \"\u003cem\u003eCan't Say Goodbye\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a real fan favourite, and it's no surprise. It's a laconic, slow-mo jazz-funk stepper, with fantastic, very deliberate playing that closes out the A Side quite exceptionally. \"\u003cem\u003eCome To Me\u003c\/em\u003e\" slows proceedings down elegantly to open Side B before the universally agreed-upon masterpiece enters proceedings.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eWhat You Won't Do for Love\u003c\/em\u003e,\" the standout hit that became a classic in its own right, perfectly captured Bobby's ability to infuse a contagious groove with introspective and relatable lyrics. With its instantly recognisable horn riff and Caldwell's soulful delivery, this timeless, chiller anthem continues to captivate audiences and define his musical legacy. He scored huge with the track, taking over the pop and R\u0026amp;B airways with this mellow soul stepper. It has remained a perennial favourite and has been heavily sampled, such is its unique allure; Aaliyah sang over snatches of it on \"\u003cem\u003eAge Ain’t Nothing But A Number\u003c\/em\u003e\" and you can hear Caldwell’s vocal sample used for the hook on Tupac’s posthumously released “\u003cem\u003eDo For Love\u003c\/em\u003e”.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eUpon submitting the finished album to his label, they requested more material in hope of a big single. As Bobby remembered to \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWax Poetics\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e a few years ago: “Now at this point, I’m mentally exhausted...and bear in mind that I got so close to all the songs I’d written. I gave each song a profound amount of thought, and maybe too much. So, in haste, I went in and cut this song, \"\u003cem\u003eWhat You Won’t Do For Love\u003c\/em\u003e\". Wrote it in a day, cut the rhythm track, overdubbed the horns, I sang the song, and literally turned it in three days after. And lo and behold, the one song I gave the least thought to,” Bobby laughed, “ended up being a national anthem.”\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe mysterious, magical \"\u003cem\u003eKalimba Song\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a cosmic, kalimba-driven melodic-funk instrumental - short but oh, so sweet. It's followed by the supreme tear-jerker \"\u003cem\u003eTake Me Back To Then\u003c\/em\u003e\", Bobby's otherworldly voice deeply longing for a simpler time, \"when life was mellow\". I think we can all get behind this sentiment. The final cut is arguably its deepest, its low-key finest moment. For us, it is, anyway. The glorious, driving, effortlessly funky guitar-soul jam \"\u003cem\u003eDown For The Third Time\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a huge melancholic Be With favourite and has been played by discerning genre-hopping DJs with significant glee for years. Hypnotic, melodic, beautiful. Like the album it elegantly rounds out.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBobby sadly passed away on 23rd March 2023, after a long struggle with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress, due to an adverse effect from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The reissue of his wonderful eponymous album will be available on vinyl across the globe, ensuring that fans of his incomparable talent - and soul music enthusiasts worldwide - can radiate in the deep beauty of this seminal album. Meticulously remastered and cut by both \u003cstrong\u003eSimon Francis\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eCicely Balston\u003c\/strong\u003e respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Be With Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Vinyl","offer_id":46953704391001,"sku":"SDZ-04498","price":28.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/Bobby_Caldwell_-_Bobby_Caldwel_-_2023_Reissue.jpg?v=1690295662","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/bobby-caldwell-bobby-caldwell-2023-reissue","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}