{"product_id":"jr-bailey-just-me-n-you","title":"JR BAILEY Just Me ’N’ You","description":"\u003cp\u003eA dramatic, string-drenched epic, James Ralph Bailey’s Just Me ’N’ You has been a sought-after soul masterpiece for decades. A lush suite of beautiful songs, it was conceived as a concept album; a sophisticated paean to love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally released by \u003cspan class=\"caps\"\u003eMAM\u003c\/span\u003e Records in 1974, Just Me ’N’ You is a breathtaking jazzy soul album. It’s similar in style to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On – particularly the performances, orchestrations and chord progressions – but dealing with a different universal subject matter. If What’s Going On was about romance instead of politics, it would sound like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFans of Marvin, Leon Ware, Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson and Willie Hutch will love this record. Not as well known – this is definitely an underrated gem – the work of James Ralph Bailey is no less mind-blowing. It’s got to be one of the best soul albums of all time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original productions were made on a basic home tape machine and enhanced with strings, rhythmic overdubs and a variety of other instrumentation. These are beautiful arrangements of strings and jazzy horns. Rhythm guitars and bouncy bass serve as the groove foundation, congas provide a Latin feel whilst the vibraphone and harmonica add colour. And then of course there’s JR’s voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis style recalls Hathaway, with a delivery akin to Marvin at the time. As he scats and sings, accompanying himself in sweet harmonies, there is still a rawness of pain and longing in his voice, the rawness familiar to all deep soul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an album, Just Me ’N’ You is no mere collection of songs. The tender, smooth tunes flow perfectly together into a fluid, single artistic statement. This is one where it’s hard to pick out any standouts. You may have heard the soaring title track before, maybe on Gilles Peterson’s Digs America compilation. The opening track “After Hours” sounds as fresh now as it ever was and segues beautifully into the majestic “Heaven On Earth”. Recorded by Hathaway the previous year, Bailey’s original of “Love Love Love” is incredible and arguably the definitive version. The powerful, dreamy, sax-and-harmony-laced “All Strung Out Over You” has echoes of the Chi-Lites, it’s that good. Goosebumps. And we could go on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMastered by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry, this Be With edition of Just Me ’N’ You sounds every bit as brilliant as it should. A joyous celebration of love, this album is perfect in every way. If you don’t already own a copy then now is the time.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eOriginally released by \u003cspan class=\"caps\"\u003eMAM\u003c\/span\u003e Records in 1974\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e2020 re-issue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003eOn 140g vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e BEWITH081LP -Artist-JR Bailey\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHandling Note: **Please allow an additional 5 business days for this item's shipment.**\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat Detail: LP Black\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternal ID: JIT\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Funk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 7\/15\/20\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"JR BAILEY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47548194881785,"sku":"IFR2B2-E8D1-DH","price":36.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0797\/1441\/8937\/files\/jr-bailey-just-me-n-you_ezQUc.jpg?v=1774152946","url":"https:\/\/bangervinyl.com\/products\/jr-bailey-just-me-n-you","provider":"Banger Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}