Originally conceived as a series of free downloads during the burgeoning early years of ATA records, “Second-Hand Soul” showcases the ever excellent ATA Records house band with a succession of singers, some of whom went on to record and release more on the label.
The selection begins with Label mainstay Rachel Modest and her emotive label debut “I (Who have nothing)” followed by her red hot rendition of Alice Clark’s “Never Did I Stop Loving You”, both tracks providing a perfect showcase for the range and power of her exceptional voice. Martin Connor follows, riding the wave of The Yorkshire Film & Television Orchestra’s brass onslaught throughout Georgie Fame’s “Somebody Stole My Thunder” closely followed by Jermaine Peterson’s oft-requested Northern Soul reframing of Ram John Holder’s “Saturday’s Child”. Maggie Sommers effortlessly glides through Shirley Ellis’s “The Name Game” while long time Leeds Soul & Blues stalwart Sam Thornton wraps his gruff vocal cords around B.B. King’s “So Excited”. Abstract Orchestra’s Akin Amusan rounds out the set with Clint Ballard Jrs much covered “You’re No Good”.
Initially released as individual tracks, the seven songs presented here garnered a positive response from listeners and djs, in particular receiving a great deal of support from bbc6 music’s Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show and Huey Morgan.