The collected works of the Flint, Michigan soul singer/songwriter and his band. Contains the crossover masterpiece “It’s A Bad Feeling” and entries by Hunts Determination Band, 21st Generations, Reggie and Vann and Brilliance. Presented as a CD and 2LP. Worldwide street date March 27th.
Although Flint, Michigan’s Regional Garland toiled in regional obscurity for years, he managed to pen, sing and produce a series of 1970s soul songs that have been appreciated for decades in various musical circles around the world. Some – like The Perfections’ “Girl, You Better Hurry” and the 21st Generations’ “I Need Love” – have been lionized by the soul-collecting cognoscenti. Others – such as Mixed Sugar’s “It’s A Bad Feeling” and “Fifteen Ain’t Young No More” – were played in the hallowed halls of Northern Soul Parthenon Wiggan Casino in the mid-’70s and helped anchor the 80s Modern Soul scene.
Still relevant in 2011, Garland’s songs have inspired a second generation of fans, many of whom weren’t even born when Garland originally recorded them. This anthology pieces together the disparate elements of Garland’s recording arc; it spans from his earliest songwriting efforts for Flint vocal combos who released their music on independent imprints, to his demos recorded for Chicago soul-impresario Jerry Butler, through music he produced and released on his proprietary imprints through the late 70s to mid 80s. As such, this is a varied album, which encompasses symphonic soul, heavy funk, pleading ballads, proto-disco and boogie.
Much of the audio contained on Mixed Sugar: The Complete Works, 1970-1987 came from master tapes and is previously unreleased. CD comes with a 32 page booklet; 2LP comes with a 16 page booklet. Both includes a wealth of photos and ephemera and extensive liner notes by Ronnie Reese and Egon.
Below, we’re offering a download of Mixed Sugar’s “It’s A Bad Feeling.” This song will also appear on our forthcoming Soul Cal anthology, scheduled for early April 2012.
Buy: Regional Garland – Mixed Sugar: The Complete Works 1970-1987.”
Download: Mixed Sugar “It’s A Bad Feeling.”