Bobby Caldwell

Bobby Caldwell

Be With
27.95 €
icon/play-white
Add To Cart
Tax included, Shipping not included
Known principally as a smooth titan of blue-eyed soul, Bobby Caldwell transcended genre tags with consummate ease; he was a musical icon of real class and versatility, cherished the world over. Tragically passing away in March 2023 at the too young age of 71, it still feels as if Bobby's true artistry is profoundly under-appreciated. His double platinum self-titled album from 1978 is a timeless masterpiece of sophisticated jazzy soul brilliance and is strictly canonical. Yes, it's perfect, yet it's been out of press on vinyl for years. We're deeply honoured to present the long-awaited reissue this summer. Whilst Ned Doheny is known in Japan as "Mr California", native New Yorker Bobby Caldwell has always been "Mr AOR" to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted. String-swept opener "Special To Me" immediately sets the tone with its lush instrumentation, rich harmonies, and Caldwell's velvety-smooth vocals. Next up, a huge one. The infectious, mid-tempo bounce of "My Flame" showcases Caldwell's ability to effortlessly blend catchy pop hooks with soulful arrangements. It's an exquisite, emotive ballad that, at the same time, absolutely SLAPS. Game recognise game, and all that, so, accordingly, Notorious B.I.G. memorably ran with “My Flame” for his 1997 single “Sky’s The Limit”. The rolling, disco-very "Love Won't Wait" is a slick, uptempo track containing heartfelt lyrics intertwined with elegant strings and a horn section to die for. Aching - and achingly cool - single "Can't Say Goodbye" is a real fan favourite, and it's no surprise. It's a laconic, slow-mo jazz-funk stepper, with fantastic, very deliberate playing that closes out the A Side quite exceptionally. "Come To Me" slows proceedings down elegantly to open Side B before the universally agreed-upon masterpiece enters proceedings. "What You Won't Do for Love," the standout hit that became a classic in its own right, perfectly captured Bobby's ability to infuse a contagious groove with introspective and relatable lyrics. With its instantly recognisable horn riff and Caldwell's soulful delivery, this timeless, chiller anthem continues to captivate audiences and define his musical legacy. He scored huge with the track, taking over the pop and R&B airways with this mellow soul stepper. It has remained a perennial favourite and has been heavily sampled, such is its unique allure; Aaliyah sang over snatches of it on "Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number" and you can hear Caldwell’s vocal sample used for the hook on Tupac’s posthumously released “Do For Love”.

Share Article

Details

Release Date

30.09.2023

Cat No

bewith158lp

Tracklist

Track 1
icon/play-white
Track 2
icon/play-white
Track 3
icon/play-white
Track 4
icon/play-white
Track 5
icon/play-white
Track 6
icon/play-white
Track 7
icon/play-white
Track 8
icon/play-white
Track 9
icon/play-white
Soul
icon/play-white
LP
Bobby Caldwell
28.95 €
Cat In The Hat Be With
Add To Cart
Funk/Soul
LP
icon/play-white
Bobby Caldwell
28.95 €
Cat In The Hat Be With
Jazz
LP
Alan Tew
27.95 €
Drama Suite Part I Be With
Preorder
Jazz
LP
Alan Tew
27.95 €
Drama Suite Part I Be With
Jazz
icon/play-white
LP
Alan Tew
27.95 €
Drama Suite Part II Be With
Backorder
Jazz
LP
icon/play-white
Alan Tew
27.95 €
Drama Suite Part II Be With
Library
LP
Various
27.95 €
Image (kpm) Be With
Preorder
Toolz
LP
Various
27.95 €
Image (kpm) Be With
Jazz-Funk
icon/play-white
LP
Vecchio
26.95 €
Afro-Rock Be With
Add To Cart
Jazz
LP
icon/play-white
Vecchio
26.95 €
Afro-Rock Be With
Balearic
icon/play-white
LP
Wally Badarou
26.95 €
Colors Of Silence Be With
Add To Cart
Disco
LP
icon/play-white
Wally Badarou
26.95 €
Colors Of Silence Be With
Fusion
icon/play-white
LP
Barbara Moore
26.95 €
Vocal Shades And Tones Be With
Add To Cart
Jazz
LP
icon/play-white
Barbara Moore
26.95 €
Vocal Shades And Tones Be With
Soul
icon/play-white
LP
Bobby Caldwell
27.95 €
Bobby Caldwell Be With
Add To Cart
Funk/Soul
LP
icon/play-white
Bobby Caldwell
27.95 €
Bobby Caldwell Be With
Balearic
icon/play-white
LP
Johnny Lamas
32.95 €
Danza Cósmica Trueclass
Add To Cart
Disco
LP
icon/play-white
Johnny Lamas
32.95 €
Danza Cósmica Trueclass
Ambient
icon/play-white
12“
Jonny Nash
22.95 €
Point Of Entry Melody As Truth
Add To Cart
Electronica
12“
icon/play-white
Jonny Nash
22.95 €
Point Of Entry Melody As Truth
Ambient
icon/play-white
LP
Earthtones With Kevin Nathaniel
22.95 €
Meditations For Synthesiser + Mbira Nyunga Nyunga Temples Of Jura
Add To Cart
Electronica
LP
icon/play-white
Earthtones With Kevin Nathaniel
22.95 €
Meditations For Synthesiser + Mbira Nyunga Nyunga Temples Of Jura
80ies Funk
icon/play-white
12"
Space Ghost feat. Teddy Bryant
15.95 €
Heaven Sent Peoples Potential Unlimited
Backorder
Funk/Soul
12"
icon/play-white
Space Ghost feat. Teddy Bryant
15.95 €
Heaven Sent Peoples Potential Unlimited
New Beat
icon/play-white
LP
Danton's Voice
25.95 €
Danton's Voice Selected Works '89 Sound Migration
Add To Cart
Techno
LP
icon/play-white
Danton's Voice
25.95 €
Danton's Voice Selected Works '89 Sound Migration