Carlton Jumel Smith / The Rayvelles - C Plays It Cool - 7" Vinyl

This raw, direct 45rpm is soul as it should be. 'C Plays It Cool' wears its blaxploitation influences proudly, all break-heavy grit and synth menace straight out of a Trouble Man (Ivan Dixon's 1972 blaxploitation classic movie, with a soundtrack including Marvin Gaye's 'T Plays It Cool') mood board, and knowing Carlton nailed the vocal in one take makes it hit even harder. 'Tumbling Down' flips the energy into something smoother, with The Rayvelles' backing giving it a more laid-back warmth without losing gentle funk momentum. This was recorded right before a big Liverpool show so everything about this feels loose but locked in.