Jeff Phelps - Magnetic Eyes

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5...according to our Business Lady on Thu 04 Nov, 2010.

OK, this is a good one. A re-issue of Jeff Phelps' super-rare private press electro soul LP 'Magnetic Eyes'. Having not heard Phelps' material before it's hard to believe this one's been over-looked in re-issue circles for so long as this guy's a fucking genius! Phelps dabbles in a rare form of soulful electronic music that brings to mind the likes of Steve Wonder, Sam Cooke, classic yacht rock (Loggins, The Doobies, Hall and Oates...that sort of bizzle) Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk, Prince and a bunch of jazz types, whilst remaining true to his own unique vision. This shit is so up my street that I can barely put my thoughts into any coherent sequence for y'all!! I just wanna turn this baby up loud and enjoy the funky flavour. The beats here probably make Dam Funk wild with jealousy (he provides the sleeve sticker write-up which doesn't surprise me at all...you know these two must be rocking the same Linn drum machines), the playing is totally spot on, the production is dry and crispy and there's a tune that reminds of the awesome Jermaine Jackson/Devo single 'Let Me Tickle Your Fancy', so, yeah... it's all good. Phelps also has a secret weapon, a young female singer by the name of Antoinette Marie Pugh whose style compliments Jeff's production to a tee, bringing a more soulful Madonna vibe to 'Don't Fall Apart On Me' and 'Hear My Heart'. It's sad to hear that a lack of music business experience led to this being Phelps' only recorded document. Given money and record label assistance these two could have been true pop contenders back in '85. Amazing record. Great sleeve too. A must have for electro-funk aficionados everywhere. Best thing I'll hear all week, for sure.

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* A rare electronic/soul classic now available worldwide for the first time

* State-of-the-art remaster from the original vinyl cut

* Original album artwork and liner notes.

* The album Magnetic Eyes, was composed, performed, and recorded by Jeff Phelps in 1985, on a Tascam Portastudio
244 in one of the bedrooms in his house at the time. Late in the project, Jeff Phelps met a teenage singer named
Antoinette Marie Pugh who had a voice so amazing, he wrote two songs specifically for her to be included on the album.
Antoinette could so naturally and effortlessly bring life to the musical ideas and chord structures and come up with
flawless and imaginative background harmonies. She sounded phenomenal without any type of effects, corrections, or
enhancements to her voice.

* The original efforts at marketing the album back in the 80ies were certainly enthusiastic, but suffered from a lack of
actual knowledge of the music business. In time, the musicians all just kind of "moved on" with their lives like so many
creative types that didn't understand the business side of music during the '80s. Several hundred copies, maybe close to
1,000 albums were sold locally.

* Three house moves and 20+ years later, Magnetic Eyes had reached a cult status among record collectors worldwide
and the recordings were surfacing on internet sites in different parts of the world, referencing the album and actually
Facebook, so it was pretty easy to find him.

* Magnetic Eyes is a masterpiece that has not gathered any dust during all these years. More than 25 years later it’s
sound in fresh and soulful and still finding new fans in music circuits.

* “One of the most enjoyable 'private press' records own. Beautiful chords throughout via warm synths & keyboards,
great drum machine usage, topped with unique vocals, resulting in satisfying aural 'electric- analog-soul' pleasures. Ever
since my friend Jon Blunck (Sweater Funk/Groove Merchant) turned me on to this LP years ago, it's remained a staple in
my bedroom listening & joy ride journey's. Fantastic music created by the one & only Jeff Phelps” - DâM-FunK -

TRACKLIST:

A1. Magnetic Eyes (Instrumental) 2. Don't Fall Apart On Me Vocals - Antoinette Marie Pugh 3. Super Lady 4. Wrong
Space, Wrong Time 5. Sometime Lover
B6. Phase Shift (Instrumental) 7. K-Shell 8. Hear My Heart Vocals - Antoinette Marie Pugh 9. On The Corner 10.
Excerpts From Autumn (Instrumental)

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