Soul Is...Pretty Purdie Bernard Purdie

£8.11

Genre:
Funk
Label:
Flying Dutchman
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDBGPM 282

This product is also available in these versions:
Soul Is...Pretty Purdie (MP3), MP3 (£5.53)

Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, one of the most recorded drummers in history, has played on thousands of sessions in a career that stretches from the early 1960s to the present day. A native of Maryland, he learned his trade by deputising for his music teacher who often had a little too much to drink. Arriving in New York, he used perseverance to obtain his first jobs. His reputation earned him the rest. By the late 60s he was one of the city’s first-call drummers, the album “Soul Drums” for Columbia’s Date subsidiary marking his debut as a leader. Over the next few years he recorded two more LPs for Prestige and became the drummer in Aretha Franklin’s band, creating his signature break on 1971’s ‘Rock Steady’ and playing on a number of her other hits.

Around that time he was made Musical Director at Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman label, which resulted in him appearing on records by Gil Scott-Heron, Leon Thomas and Gato Barbieri and cutting two albums of his own. The first, “Stand By Me”, appeared via Nashville label Mega. The second, “Soul Is…”, is unusual in that Purdie sings on two of the tracks: ‘Don’t Go’ and ‘Song For Aretha’. In addition to that tribute to his boss, he covers her ‘Day Dreaming’, as well as hits by Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and the Crusaders. The album ends with ‘Heavy Soul Slinger’, an original by Horace Ott, who also marshalled the band of top session players.

Purdie’s success with Franklin led to him being in even greater demand from outside his usual field of jazz, soul and R&B. The increased workload resulted in him not making his own albums anymore. If “Soul Is…” is anything to go by, that is very much our loss.

By Dean Rudland 

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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