She's A Heartbreaker: UK Floor Fillers Volume 4

Anyone who ever thought that England imported better soul singles than it created only need look to these sets collected by The Bevis Frond’s Nick Saloman. This 2008 compilation picks right up where 2007’s Hide and Seek: British Blue Eyed Soul 1964-1969 left off: deep in British-born soul. The Gene Pitney—covered title track, as sung by Dave Hunter, leads off with a hard-driving groove punctuated by a bouncy Hammond organ that recalls Billy Preston. Tina Harvey gives the Holland-Dozier-Holland gem “Nowhere to Hide” a demure mod coolness before Kris Ife’s take on Joe South’s “Hush” rocks closer to the original than versions by Deep Purple and Kula Shaker. The soulful rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” by South African chanteuse Una Valli has more in common with Ray Charles’ cover (which was how Keith Richards originally envisioned recording it before his iconic fuzz guitar made it a household garage rock hit). And though the closing dance floor stomper by Kenny Bernard is titled “Ain’t No Soul,” ironically it's the most soulful cut here.