Born in Dallas, Texas, Tommie Young started her musical journey in a church choir, singing her faith every sunday. It wasn’t until she began singing in night clubs that she caught the eye of Bobby Patterson, a record producer for Soul Power, a division of the fabled Jewel Records, through which she released ‘Do You Still Feel The Same Way’. Legend has it that she entered the studio and recorded every song in a single take; unleashing one powerful vocal performance after another, until the 11-track record was completed.
While tracks such as “Hit and Run Lover” saw some popularity in the 90’s soul scene, Young truly shines when she shows her gospel roots. Title track and album opener “Do You Still Feel The Same Way”, sees Young let loose, and her Aretha Franklin-esque gospel vocals soar to previously unknown heights. The O.V. Wright-penned “That’s How Strong My Love Is”, is a beautiful soul ballad, showing both the power and tenderness of Young’s voice; a full showcasing of her incredible talent.
Almost half a century after its initial release, the Southern Soul of Tommy Young still stands the test of time. Perhaps it’s the freshness that’s provided by single take recordings, or the genius of Patterson, but the album’s combination of gospel, funk, and soul remains a perfect encapsulation of 70s soul. Don’t miss this amazing reissue, available with an obi-strip on limited edition vinyl, only from P-VINE Records!
