Makes A Move (Vinyl LP)

The tapes for Ronnie McNeir Makes A Move were found in Mickey Stevenson’s extensive master tape collection. A full new LP of classic McNeir is an absolute treat for his many soul fans; particularly in Europe where he is so admired.

Ronnie recorded over twenty tracks with Mickey Stevenson’s production company in 1971. Eleven of these were featured on his RCA LP Ronnie McNeir, but another ten were left in the vaults.

The title track, Let’s Make A Move is an urgent, exciting funk sound, composed with Ronnie’s frequent writing partner, Andre Moore. I’m Sorry is an earlier version of Gone Away which featured on the 1972 RCA Ronnie McNeir LP, without the female singer’s vocal response track.

Say You is the Motown song first recorded by the Monitors in 1965. It has a more laid-back treatment here, giving it a whole new dimension. We issued the single version on a Kent Select 45 in 2022; both versions are featured on the CD. Another re-envisaged Motown number is The Girl’s Alright With Me which features Hodges, James, Smith and Crawford’s backing vocals − as do other tracks on this album. Surprisingly, Bob Dylan’s Blowing In The Wind is also covered; in a pleasing, jaunty treatment.

My Day Will Come is a slow-burning number Ronnie co-wrote with his wife Mona. It is one he is particularly proud of and has been picked up by moderns soul DJs as a potential crossover hit. Tell Your Mama is a sensuous, Marvin Gaye-influenced groove, while East Side, West Side is more streetwise, dealing with the social problems that face many young people.

As a multi-instrumentalist, heavily influenced by jazz, it comes as no surprise that Ronnie would record two jazz / soul instrumental jams which he simply named Ronnie’s Bag #1 and Ronnie’s Bag #2. The tracks are keyboard-lead, piano and possibly organ – or more likely one of the early synthesisers that Ronnie pioneered. Ronnie’s Bag #1 is more jazz-oriented, while Ronnie’s Bag #2 goes funky.

Tracklist:

1. Let's Make A Move
2. I'm Sorry
   
3. My Day Will Come
   
4. Eastside, Westside
   
5. Ronnie's Bag #1
   
6. Ronnie's Bag #2
   
7. The Girl's Alright With Me
   
8. Say You
   
9. Tell Your Mama
   
10. Blowin' In The Wind