Webster Lewis
Touch My Love

This particular set was released back in 1978 and is thankfully released here for the first time ever on CD as part of Expansion’s excellent focus on this great man’s work. “Touch My Love” is more of a straight late 70s fusion set than the previous album, which followed the then popular Disco trend. The excellent opening song, “Hideaway”, with its leading piano, darting strings and flavoursome female backing vocals really gets the album into top gear from the starter's orders. The quality is the result, most definitely because at this time major labels such as Columbia spent considerable sums on quality music. If only it were the same today. Everybody is – or should be – familiar with the CLASSIC “Barbara Ann”; a track that is a great mix of a lot of my favourite tunes of that era; Manfredo Fest’s “Jungle Kitten”, David Bendeth's "Feel The Real" and Eddie Russ’ “See The Light” to name but a few. This song has always been popular on the Club scene and has featured on a number of compilations. Following this monster comes a more disco flavour for “There’s A Happy Feeling” – this is OK, but pales to the superb title track with its infectious melody and full-blown vocals. This track is definitely one for the non-wallflowers like me out there.

“Believe In Yourself”, with its rousing piano, organ and clapping, takes Webster from the dance floor to the pulpit where Webster orates on self-belief. This is definitely tongue in cheek, or at least it's how it comes across to me! Much better is the sublime “Seasons” with it’s BIG instrumental intro. Almost worthy of Dexter Wansel, is this...the vibes, strings and wrenching sax work fantasticly together. What a tune! Worthy of a purchase for this alone, and once the track really kicks off, the orchestration gives us a sensation of Claus Ogermann. The gentle vibes of “Loving” will create a relaxed mood perfectly, but not one to listen to in the car after a long day at work! The guitar work on “We(e) Church” heralds a style reminiscent of Eric Gale, and the keys usher in warmer climes, to which the hitherto unreleased gem “Japanese Umbrella” surely relates. This track is easily as good as the man’s other great instrumental songs such as “Barbara Ann” or “El Bobo”. The keys are very much in the Bob James bag, and the cymbals crash nicely along with the electric guitar – think Carlos Rios or Eric Gale, and at over 8 minutes this is not a fleeting moment either. Another bonus cut is the superb “Spirit Of Love” which was recorded at the same session as “Japanese Umbrella”. This track is a full-blown vocal and will not disappoint those who appreciate the man’s style. All in all, this album, as are the rest, well worth a purchase.

Barry Towler