Everything Is Gonna Be Alright – Celebrating 50 Years of Westbound Soul & Funk – Various Artists CD (Westbound)

50 years ago Emanuel Lasky’s timely ‘A Letter From Vietnam’ appeared on a brand new light blue label with a royal blue label name: Westbound Records was born.

In the ensuing years it set about proving that post-Motown Detroit could still be a home to successful music-making, scoring hits and developing careers with a series of acts including Funkadelic, Denise LaSalle, the Detroit Emeralds and the Ohio Players, as well as registering pop hits with Byron McGregor, and recording incredible jazz on its Eastbound label.

“Everything Is Gonna Be Alright” looks at and celebrates the label’s achievements in the world of soul, funk and gospel. Named after Bill Moss’ uplifting gospel anthem, the journey takes you from the label’s very first single through the vocal group traditions of the Detroit Emeralds, the Magictones and Unique Blend, the funk of Funkadelic and the Ohio Players through to the Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore-dominated disco era with CJ & Co and others.

The compilation has a mixture of big hits and rarities – from the Northern Soul classic by the Houston Outlaws to the much-sampled Pleasure Web. All are presented in their original seven-inch edits, many of which have never been reisssued. – Ace Records