This started out to be less about tiny Severn Records and more about two really strong vintage sounding releases that the Maryland based blues label has released for 2009. Severn is a good record label in an era where the label of being a label has become somewhat of a liability…at least for the major labels. It’s the smaller companies that have stuck to solid A&R principles and the willingness to experiment and do the ground work that are making solid, exciting music. In Severn’s case its roots music.

So back to Severn Records. A couple weeks ago I got a package with a few albums from their promotion department. Among them was the Charles Wilson album Troubled Child. Well a change is gonna come for sure. This is as classic a soul sound as I have heard in some time. It’s arranged and produced and performed in the style of classic 70’s soul. If you think The Moments, The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites or Bobby Bland you’re thinking right. If you are fan of that music, as I am, don’t miss this one. Wilson’s voice is as smooth as the arrangements of the big horns and strings assembled by Willie Henderson whose work with Tyrone Davis, The Chi-Lites and Jackie Wilson is well documented. Severn Records actually boasts a “house band” like the great soul labels of the bygone era of classic soul like Avco or Motown. Bassist and co-producer Steve Gomes and guitarist Mike Welch are well known in traditional blues circles but it’s their work here reveals a broader scope of expertise. Welch can rip with the best of any guitar player alive today but his subtle fills and sense of rhythm is striking on Troubled Child. Wilson’s vocal timber is reminiscent of say Eugene Record or Darrell Banks minus the falsetto fills but the quiet storm smoothness and impeccable grooves rank with some of those relatively unknown giants of soul music.

Darrell Nulisch has been among the top ‘blue-eyed’ soul singers since he surfaced as the vocalist for Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters in the late 1980’s and probably before that. He’s quick to dismiss his vocal style as anything but “natural” but Darrell Nulisch can flat out sing the blues in the traditional soul/blues infused style of say, Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye.

On his new release, ‘Just For You’ he’s on track for another run at the Blues Music Association’s ‘Vocalist or Album of the Year’ honors which narrowly escaped him on the 2007 release ‘Goin’ Back To Dallas.’ There are plenty of blues smokers on the album which features six originals by Nulisch and some well chosen covers including ‘Work For Love’ originally recorded by Severn artist Lou Pride back when 70’s Soul ruled the earth. Nulisch’s take on the J.J. Malone classic ‘It’s A Shame’ is all about Uptown Saturday Night with The Persuaders and had me dreaming of a duet with Ann Peebles. Nulisch’s vocals are stronger than I’ve ever heard them throughout this musical journey. Of particular note are the soul pop ‘Let a Woman Be a Woman’ with the blazing organ and guitar fills that frame Nulisch’s delivery and the Memphis soul-food platter ‘You Don’t Know Me’ complete with a wall of horns, juke joint piano and a ‘phat blues guitar’ that will drop your jaw. The arrangements are tight and the band even tighter around the “house band” of Steve Gomes (bass), Benjie Porecki (keys), Johnny Moeller (guitars) and the massive horn attack put together by the legendary Willie Henderson. This album smokes from all the stacks or would that be STAX.