Various Artists : Mirwood Soul Story Vol.2

Kent's follow-up volume to the well-received 'Mirwood Story' upholds the high quality of its predecessor, with more sublime Northern Soul dance favourites from one of the most famous uptempo, uptown soul labels ever. Like the previous volume, it offers a potent mixture of the known, the semi-known and the previously unheard, including major US R&B hits from the Olympics and Jackie Lee, more girly group magic from Patrice Holloway's Belles, the Darlettes and the Mirettes, and exceedingly good big ballads from Bobby Garrett, JW Alexander and Jimmy Conwell - whose 'Second Hand Happiness' is a big 'low rider' classic out in East LA right now. Highlights among the proven Northern classics on show include Bobby Lee Timberlake's vinyl rarity 'You Hurt Me', the Belles' originally-unissued 'Let Me Do It' and 'Cigarette Ashes', the storming instrumental track to Jimmy 'Richard Temple' Conwell's 'That Beatin' Rhythm' that broke the record price for a soul 45 in the mid 70s.