HSD Top 10 Albums 2016 - No 3

3 Charles Bradley – Changes

Charles Bradley is a true soul man. He has been through so much in his life and faced so many terrible situations, that the average person would have been pushed over the edge. Charles has never lost hope or given up – and for that we must all be thankful, for we would be without his incredible, heart wrenching, emotive voice and the amazing soul music which he creates with his fantastic band. There is so much love for Charles Bradley. He sings every line as if his life depends on it, every word like it could be his last. He has that very real essence of an artist who has experienced suffering, heartaches and pain. He has a very pure innocence to his personality and only wants to see the good in people. If only we all carried less cynicism in our hearts. I saw him at the Forum in March, on the eve of the release of his latest album Changes (HSD - Charles Bradley Gig Review) and the love flows both ways. To see this 67 year old man – The Screaming Eagle Of Soul – with a searing shriek of a voice, joyously shaking his thing, is a sight to behold. He is celebrating being alive, having the opportunity to make his music and being able to do what he loves. His label, Daptone Records and his band The Extraordinaires, must take great credit for Charles Bradley’s emergence as a soul star. The musical backing he is given on stage is supreme and puts the funk into his soul. After having had a sensational year, 2016 closes on a sour note, with Charles having been recently struck down by stomach cancer. My thoughts are with him in his latest battle. We're with you Charles...

Check out the Tune:

Charles Bradley - Good To Be Back Home