Flashback Soul: The Brand New Heavies Will “Never Stop”
There are some grooves that never grow tiresome. They are so in the pocket, so compelling, that your head can’t help but to nod and your hip, to shake. You wish they would never stop.
Flashback Soul: The Brand New Heavies Will “Never Stop”
There are some grooves that never grow tiresome. They are so in the pocket, so compelling, that your head can’t help but to nod and your hip, to shake. You wish they would never stop.
In 1991, with their aptly-titled single “Never Stop,” UK artists The Brand New Heavies rode one such groove up the British charts to number 43. The track also peaked here at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. Appearing on their second album, Brand New Heavies, which was their first fronted by the divine lead vocalist N’dea Davenport, the track showcases the Heavies’ skill in molding 70’s soul, R&B, funk, jazz and disco influences into their own sound, which was dubbed “acid jazz” by critics and which the Heavies are credited for bringing from the clubs into the mainstream. They relied on organic, real instrumentation and eschewed the higher-tech approaches of contemporaries like Soul II Soul, leaving their tracks still sounding fresh today. The band has had a number of other lead vocalists, including Sy Smith and Carleen Anderson, and a different incarnation still tours and has retained a significant fan following, but to my ear, the Davenport era remains their finest. Enjoy.
By Robb Patryk