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Track Listings
| 1. People Gonna Talk |
| 2. No Smoke Without Fire |
| 3. You Can't Win |
| 4. Riot In My Heart |
| 5. 'Til Your Fool Comes Home |
| 6. Mollena |
| 7. I'll Walk Away |
| 8. Watch & Chain |
| 9. Kick It Around |
| 10. Don't Come Back |
| 11. It's Easy To Say |
| 12. Tell Her For Me |
| 13. Talk 'Bout My Love |
| 14. All Through Cryin' |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Van Morrison calls James Hunter 'the best voice and best-kept secret in British R&B and soul.' And the Colchester native and former busker does, indeed, sound like a one-man blue-eyed revival on his US debut, People Gonna Talk. He navigates 14 self-penned ska (the title track), soul-blues ("Kick It Around"), and primal funk ("No Smoke Without Fire") tunes with panache. Hunter's voice unerringly carves out graceful melodies and soars into falsetto at whim over his horn-sparked band as he digs through his vast bag of traditional, stinging blues'n'soul licks on electric guitar. But... there's something missing. Although the disc was cut live in the studio, it lacks the vibrant energy of his stage performances. And Hunter borrows so extensively from his influences that he sounds like he's covering Bobby Bland, Howard Tate, James Brown, and the Studio One roster rather than traveling his own path. Nevertheless, as Morrison intimates, Hunter's estimable singing and playing will please fans of classic R&B and soul. --Ted Drozdowski
Product Description
Like almost no other he knows how to transfer soul music of the 1960s into the present. His songs sound like timeless Ray Charles compositions - with a modern edge. As a guitar player, he has matured. He knows how to play a grooving rhythm, and a how to throw in short solos. The band supplies the perfect background for his soulful, sometimes velvet voice. A beautiful new album for all kinds of occasions. JAMES HUNTER - voc/gtr, DAMIAN HAND - ten, LEE BADAU - bar, JASON WILSON - bass, JONATHAN LEE - drums.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Who would have thought that a throwback CD that takes us back to the R&B days of forty years ago could come from a singer and musician from Colchester? I didn’t expect it but I’m glad I discovered James Hunter while flipping through the radio dials one day. I heard the tail end of “Don’t Come Back” (Track 10) and was hooked. The voice sounded familiar and I expected to recognize the name of the singer afterwards but I had no clue. Intrigued, I went out and purchased the CD. I was not disappointed and it will remain near the top of my play list for quite some time.
“People Gonna Talk” contains 14 excellent tracks, all written by Hunter. The title track, People Gonna Talk, Mollena, and Don’t Come Back, were particularly good. Hunter does well both on the upbeat tracks and the more mournful, bluesy tracks. His voice and his guitar playing work well on both types of song.
The arrangements are classic, relatively simple R&B arrangements that had a strong Memphis and Southern feel to it. Hunter has a distinctive voice with a good range that at times had echoes of Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Aaron Neville. This is not to say that Hunter can match any of those giants but it is clear that Hunter’s voice has some common musical DNA with all three which is pretty high praise. The downside to hearing these echoes is the concern that Hunter is more imitative than creative. That is a legitimate concern to be sure but after listening to the CD a number of times I think it safe to say that Hunter does have a style of his own even while paying homage to musicians he must have learned from while he was growing up.
If you like classic R&B you will like People Gonna Talk. The CD had the dual benefit of bringing back fond memories of the music of my youth with fresh new songs but a talented, young performer.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Ben
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
Just as Richard Hawley creates albums that seem beamed in directly from some time during the 1950s, James Hunter equally pulls off the trick of rekindling the vibe of some long forgotten soul album, without appearing cliched, ironic or cabaret.
I think "People Gonna Talk" is an exceptionally impressive record. The ingredients for a strong album are all there; it's brilliantly played by an understanding team of musicians and recorded wonderfully, and sympathetically, by Liam Watson in Toe Rag Studios (this being the man the White Stripes favour for his love and admiration of vintage recording equipment, which fits the music here perfectly).
Perhaps Hunter's strongest achievement is his restraint. Despite a hefty quota of great songs this is a record that consciously avoids flashy tricks or throwing in any obviously commercial "hit" songs. The band, and music, keep things reined in - only letting go at just the right moment. For example, Hunter's razor sharp guitar work, employed only on occasional numbers, appears in rather fleeting, exciting bursts. The real punch though is kept for his vocals, where his smooth but smoky phrasing fits the musical era he's trying to conjure. Hunter might remind you of Sam Cooke, but he doesn't imitate him.
By avoiding any obvious 'showing off', or using corny lyrical sentiments, Hunter and his band have crafted an impressive, enjoyable and extremely cool record.
I think "People Gonna Talk" is an exceptionally impressive record. The ingredients for a strong album are all there; it's brilliantly played by an understanding team of musicians and recorded wonderfully, and sympathetically, by Liam Watson in Toe Rag Studios (this being the man the White Stripes favour for his love and admiration of vintage recording equipment, which fits the music here perfectly).
Perhaps Hunter's strongest achievement is his restraint. Despite a hefty quota of great songs this is a record that consciously avoids flashy tricks or throwing in any obviously commercial "hit" songs. The band, and music, keep things reined in - only letting go at just the right moment. For example, Hunter's razor sharp guitar work, employed only on occasional numbers, appears in rather fleeting, exciting bursts. The real punch though is kept for his vocals, where his smooth but smoky phrasing fits the musical era he's trying to conjure. Hunter might remind you of Sam Cooke, but he doesn't imitate him.
By avoiding any obvious 'showing off', or using corny lyrical sentiments, Hunter and his band have crafted an impressive, enjoyable and extremely cool record.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Iain Ross
Format:Audio CD
I feel so stupid in not finding out about James Hunter years ago.
Not in a long time can I say that I have been more excited about hearing an album than this one. Every track is great- how many albums can you say that about!.
As other people have commented, James is a cross between the wonderful Sam Cooke with a James Brown type backing,with shades of the Drifters stuck in there for good measure.
But it's the whole sound that gets you. The songs are great, the voice and guitar, exquisite.
Probably James is the best soul/blues singer guitarist ever to come out of Britain.
If you like proper soul/r+b,(not the mush that masquerades as it nowadays),then you'll probably like James.
Not in a long time can I say that I have been more excited about hearing an album than this one. Every track is great- how many albums can you say that about!.
As other people have commented, James is a cross between the wonderful Sam Cooke with a James Brown type backing,with shades of the Drifters stuck in there for good measure.
But it's the whole sound that gets you. The songs are great, the voice and guitar, exquisite.
Probably James is the best soul/blues singer guitarist ever to come out of Britain.
If you like proper soul/r+b,(not the mush that masquerades as it nowadays),then you'll probably like James.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
FIFTIES NOSTALGIA
For me this was truly awful. I bought this album due to a blisteringly glittering review on Amazon which acclaimed this guy as one of the best up and coming blues guitarists in the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by FastHand
5.0 out of 5 stars
blue eyed soul bad boy
this is different, original and very cool. listen to a couple of songs on youtube then buy it. hurry while stocks last !
Published on 19 Mar 2011 by the groover
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant.
How on earth can someone from the UK have such a great sense of R&B and soul? James Hunter has clearly been listening to a lot of the great music that came out of the US in the... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2010 by Silver Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exquisite
This was my first James Hunter purchase and still the best. I like his follow up "The Hard Way" but for me this just pips it still. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2009 by Luv2Shop
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haircut From Hell, Music From Heaven
It's as if Sam Cooke, James Brown and Georgie Fame had come back from the dead - all in their peak 1960s form (apologies for prematurely burying Georgie). Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2008 by James Gimpeau
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW !!!!!
All i can say is.... WOW !!!.
Van Morrison,,,,sam cooke,,, early Drifters , jackie wilson and a touch of Gene chandler all rolled into one. Read more
Van Morrison,,,,sam cooke,,, early Drifters , jackie wilson and a touch of Gene chandler all rolled into one. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2007 by Mr. John Finney
5.0 out of 5 stars
People Gonna Talk
Oh My God....are there anymore stars than 5?
I haven't been this excited since the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Read more
I haven't been this excited since the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2006 by Smokey Topaz
5.0 out of 5 stars
People ARE Gonna Talk ...
... And rightfully so! This is the most exciting music I have heard in the entire span of 2006. Fresh sounding yet still alluring and nostalgically familiar, there's not a duff... Read more
Published on 20 July 2006 by Laura MacMahon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Van Morrison says:
"One of the Best voices, and best kept secrets, in British R'n'B & Soul. Check Him Out."
- Van Morrison.
If Van rates him, you know he's good. Read more
- Van Morrison.
If Van rates him, you know he's good. Read more
Published on 5 July 2006 by Chiefbird
4.0 out of 5 stars
The artist formerly known as Wilf
This is a really well put together affair. Hunter sings like Sam Cooke and plays guitar like Hubert Sumlin. The horns sound like early James Brown and the Famous Flames. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2006 by doublegone
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