Heavy Years: 2000-2010 (Ernest Jenning) is the latest release from Brooklyn-by-way-of-Chicago singer/songwriter Chris Mills. The 14-track retrospective compiles songs from his last four albums, along with two new tracks recorded with DJ Oktopus (Dalek). Mills is currently on the road supporting Heavy Years, and he will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Mills: This record is awesome. One of my favorite live albums ever, Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963 showcases arguably one of the greatest singers of all time at the peak of his powers. I don’t know how it was recorded, but the raw sound of the band and the energy of the crowd make you feel like you’re right there. I’ve never been to the Harlem Square Club, but this record sounds so real that I feel like I could give you directions to bar or the bathroom. Most live records leave me cold, but this one sends me. In your face sweet, sweet soul music. Don’t fight it. Feel it!
For further soul shaking, try the Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967 DVD, featuring live performances by Sam & Dave, Booker T. And The MG’s, Otis Redding and several other acts in the Stax/Volt stable. Performers with looks, voices and moves so sharp, you feel like you need to go back to school. I would literally kill someone to be able to sing and move the way these guys do.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_mKy-a6d1I
