Last year, Paul Weller compiled a collection of his favourite soul tracks. A highlight of That Sweet Sweet Music was Jon Lucien’s affecting “Search for the Inner Self.” Originally issued on 45 in September 1971, it’s a long-time favourite of deep-digging soul enthusiasts. As is Lucien’s dance floor-filler “We got Love.” However, the latter cut was not issued when it was recorded – or even soon after.
“We got Love” was first propagated by the DJ Snowboy. He’d played percussion for Lucien at a London show in 1995. Lucien gave him a home-made CD including tracks which had never been issued. Impressed with the CD’s “We got Love,” Snowboy pressed it up onto an acetate and began playing it out.
It turned out that “Search for the Inner Self” and “We got Love” were recorded during the same period, in 1969 – before the Tortola-born Lucien (1942–2007) signed with RCA Victor and issued his 1970 debut album I Am Now. An unconvincing and very un-now set, the LP featured covers of songs from the films Dr Doolittle, Oliver!, The Sound of Music and Romeo and Juliet alongside versions of “My Cherie Amour” and the bossa nova chestnut “Dindi.” RCA seems to have seen Lucien as an all-round entertainer, a Nat King Cole type destined for the stages of America’s supper clubs. It was unlike the fully formed soul of later – amongst which Lucien’s own songs featured. Although the “Search for the Inner Self” / “It's Bigger Than I” single came out after I Am Now was released, both sides were actually from a little earlier.
The CD Snowboy had been given included more songs recorded in 1969. Enough to see what was collected as an unreleased album. But only 100 copies were made, to sell at live shows. Now, the splendid Search For The Inner Self is out – making all ten of Lucien's 1969 tracks easily available for the first time (the credits and liner notes do not detail the audio source). The only cuts which have been as-such out before are the pair from that 1971 single. Promo copies of the 45 sell for around £50 to £100, while stock copies fetch more (£100 to £250) so it’s a fair bet the single wasn’t a seller.
Listening to the new Search For The Inner Self confirms why this phase of Lucien’s career is collectable and lauded. The collection kicks off with the self-penned “Search for the Inner Self.” Not far off Charles Stepney’s orchestrated take on soul, it’s a slinky winner. Next, the also self-penned “Precious is my Love” – the first of the eight previously unissued tracks – is a shuffling sensation; smooth and, though lacking the folk influence, in the Terry Callier bag. After this, “A Heart in Love,” another silky sensation from Lucien’s own songbook. Five of the tracks are by other writers: “Strawberries Don't Know Cherries” edges into contemporaneous Temptations territory – the song had been knocking around as a songwriting demo from about 1963; The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody” is given a Coral Electric Sitar-infused slant and has a similar flavour to Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson’s “Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries”. The final track, “Only an Illusion” – a credit for the original recording of the song is out of reach – is a flute-filled, baroque-pop nugget in a soft-rock style.
All these gems were recorded while Lucien was contracted to the production and songwriting duo Lockie Edwards Jr. and Beau Ray Fleming. After a 1966 debut single, Lucien hooked up with them in 1967. The partnership resulted in two singles, each on a different label, released in 1967 and 1969. What’s on Search For The Inner Self was recorded in relation to the hunt for another deal. When that didn’t happen Lucien parted ways with Edwards Jr. and Fleming, and ended up in the land of easy listening on RCA Victor in 1970. The 1969-recorded single then emerged.
Search For The Inner Self fills-out the Jon Lucien story. Moreover, it is great. While it is odd at this point that fantastic music from close-to 60 years ago is made easily available for the first time – surprisingly, this was not issued in the late 1990s – this is a very welcome release.
- Next week: Slightly belated new edition of Kraftwerk's Radio-Activity – with new Dolby Atmos and surround-sound mixes
- More reissue reviews on theartsdesk
- Kieron Tyler’s website
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