Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed & The True Loves
Roll With You
Q-Dee (US) QD-1038

A 24-year-old caucasian Boston-based singer (via the Mississippi Delta), Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed whoops and hollers in customary soul style on this fire-cracker of a CD bursting with spontaneity, verve and passion. Each of the eleven songs are well-constructed originals composed chiefly by ‘The Paperboy’ who is given a sympathetic, horn-driven and funky backdrop by his excellent seven-piece band The True Loves.
Eli kicks things off in robust and energetic fashion with ‘Stake Your Claim’ before asking his prospective lover ‘Am I Wasting My Time’, a melodic mid-paced affair. ‘It’s Easier’ is a stark yet stunning deep soul opus, one of the best. Replete with backing vocals, the high-octane ‘The Satisfier’ cooks up a head of steam full of macho bravado. The gospel-esque ‘Take My Love With You’ is simply irresistible with Eli’s guitar work reminiscent of Robert Ward and the gorgeous bass-led ‘I’ll Roll With You’ has a Sam Cooke aura. Band member Ryan ‘Man Hawk’ Spraker wrote the down-tempo ‘She Walks’ on which Eli pleads with restraint. The rousing ‘Won’t Give Up Without A Fight’ never lets up and Joe Tex would have been proud of the fervent ‘I’m Gonna Getcha Back’. ‘(Am I Just) Fooling Myself’ is a top-drawer mournful ballad that builds to its anguished finale. Propulsive drumming drives ‘(Doin’ The) Boom Boom’ a wild dance item with echoes of Junior Walker’s ‘Shotgun’.
For some genuine modern soul music steeped in the traditions of a bygone era, this refreshing knock-‘em-dead winner is a joy from start to finish!

A 45 vinyl single is available coupling ‘Take My Love With You’ with ‘(Am Just I) Fooling Myself’ (Q-Dee QD-1039).


Ray Ellis