Brian Owens
Soul of Cash LP
scum stats: black vinyl version with different cover seems widely available, smoke version (this) limited to 100 copies, black/white insanity version limited to 20 copies (someone send me this one!)
Right around the two year anniversary of these record of the week missives, so it seems appropriate to go and revisit Soul Step, the label that released the first record I ever wrote about here (“Lemonade” by the Gills, FYI)
Melvin over at Soul Step is relentless, he just keeps on putting out stuff faster than I can listen to it. This one, with Daru Jones production/drum work on it along with Robert Randolph contributions AND the theme (soul covers of Johnny Cash) made it stick out from the rest.
And it’s solid here. Songs that are buried in the fiber of your being reinterpreted respectfully. The feeling where you know the lyrics to a tune but can’t place why, because the arrangement/instrumentation are totally unconnected to your ingrained memory…that makes your brain stronger.
In my opinion, labels like Soul Step are what actually keep the world of music interesting and exciting. On the front lines, exploring and discovering and sharing. Doing it for the LOVE of it all. I’ve seen folks come and go in this world, looking to MAKE MONIE$$$$$$ and you learn to be able to sniff ‘em out the moment they set foot in the pressing plant.
This isn’t something you do because you want to get rich. That’s what banking and the stock market are for. You get involved with music because you can’t stop yourself from doing it…whether it’s performance, running a label, whatever.
The feeling I get when ever a Soul Step package arrives, is “Damn right, keep it up.” I fully encourage you to support them (and ANY independent labels) in any way you can. They are what keeps new, young, creative talent moving. They are necessary. Your life would be a much worse place without them.
I’ve got a spare copy of the smoke vinyl version here, and it goes to the commenter here who tells the best true story about how they lost or found cash. I once found a $20 bill in the water at Metro Beach in Michigan. Went and bought some packs of Upper Deck hockey cards with it. Clearly you have a story better than that, right?
PS. I know the two year anniversary is actually next week, but with baby #3 due to arrive any minute, I’m not planning on a write-up then, so we’ve got an amazing piece of nostalgia lined up from TMR distro champion Cam Sarrett. Stay tuned.
