Please please tell me there are people up in this joint who know about her

I bought Morcheeba's "Back to Mine" album and one of the cuts was from a woman named Alice Russell. "Back to Mine" is a series of discs where a band/artist basically creates their own mix CD of music that they love. You can find all kinds of gems on this series of discs. In the liner notes, the band/artist comments on the song and why they chose it for the disc.

Under the song "Someday" one of the band members wrote:

"I have no idea who Alice Russell is, but she is the bomb."

And I got really nostalgic, thinkin...they sure don't grow em like that anymore I looked around on the net, in record stores and *nothing* by Alice Russell. I figured she was probably with a group and would never figure out their name and I would likely never get to hear her amazing voice again.

Then something like a year later, I'm browsing through a record store in LA and I see an album titled "Under the Munka Moon" by Alice Russell. I was like I grabbed it and flipped it over to look at the date and it was dated 2004. Ok, this either had to be a re-issue or this is not the same Alice Russell. I held that CD and thought....this can't be her but I decided that I had to take the chance of spending $18.99 to find out for sure.

I get to my car and pop the CD in and .... Oh hell, I cannot accurately describe the feeling I felt when I heard that first track. The kind of soul you just do not hear anymore. The kind that died when commecialization became king. I played that song literally like 10 times in a row, with tears in my eyes. Worth every single cent of that $18.99. Not only were the music and voice absolute heaven but the lyrics.....salvation ....which made my find that much more amazing.

The next track that came on was the song from Morcheeba's "Back to Mine" so this was the same Alice Russell. But I was really confused. I didn't expect that they'd make a soul record like this in 2004. It just felt like the days of old when you could feel that the singer was living her song. Then I flipped through the CD booklet and This was a white chick Ok not to stereotype, but it aint every day you get a white girl can blow like this. I mean serious blowin, and real, not tricked out through electronic wizardry. You gotta give it up for the black songstress. One of God's most amazing gifts to planet earth Chaka, Labelle, Mills, Franklin, Knight....nope they don't grow em like that no more and here I'm listening to this English chick throw down

Then the next song comes on and it's not soul As this record unfolded ( , I still call em records, you know I'm from old school ) I was treated to an ecclectic mix of music. Lots of different styles. I love albums like this. Turns out that this album is a collection of stuff she did with The Quantic Soul Orchestra. They sure know how to work this woman's gift

I cannot recommend this album enough. One of my top purchases from last year. There is no listening option on CDnow.com so you'll just have to trust my recommendation

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

ahh makes sense. I have seen her album in the electronic section before:

SOMEone got me this CD for my supafunky org secret santa holiday prezzie and i love it! it's a really refreshing piece of music - something i like to listen to when i don't know what i wanna throw in the stereo, but i know i don't wanna be bored. ya know? good stuff.

CinisterCee said:

Never heard of the Quantic Soul Orchestra but I'm gonna be lookin around for their stuff. I absolutely love this chick

Anxiety said:

Supafunky org secret santa holiday prezzie huh?