APERITIVO SOUL@BOLIVAR - OSLO - NORWAY

When ever in Oslo, Norway, make sure to catch us @ Bolivar, the perfect place to wine & dine. Get the Aperitivo between 5pm - 7pm, hang out in the Bar area or enjoy a full dinner in the Restaurant - whatever your choice - we'll satisfy your Soul 'till way past Midnight every Friday.

Map to Bolivar: please click here
Situated just off Oslo's most famous shopping street, Bogstadveien, for a picture of the outside: go here

HARD COVER - "Do You Care (Like You Say You Do)" Shanty Town 7" Mid 80's

Late H-D-H production and a 2-step groove to die for with ultra soulful male/female duo lead.  What more can you ask for! Though not stated on the label, some say this came out in '87, my tip is '85 due to the number on the record. The production also seems to have kept the warmth of the early 80's rather than the prototype '87 sound. Never the less - this is pure quality from the former masters of Motown and Invictus productions - Holland-Dozier-Holland.

THE HARDEN BROTHERS - "Deep Inside Of You" (H.B. Productions 7" 1981)

Another one of those singles that will take you by storm from the very first time you here it. Infectious mellow groove , the bass line, the acoustic guitar - the whole lot! An essential purchase for us both last year and a real treat for years to come. The information on this brother combo is scarce, but I believe they hail from Dayton, Ohio and were connected to the group Dayton in the early years. The 7" runs at 331/3 and not the standard 45.

THE BRIEF ENCOUNTER - "Just A Little Notion" (Twenty-Seven 7" 1974)

We just can't live without The Brief Encounter, a stunning group out of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Not a poor recording in sight - just pure class from start to finish. The group could have received a lot more attention if Capitol records had decided there would be space for another super group in addition to Maze, unfortunately it didn't happen so. With their quality recordings no wonder the singles that only got limited pressing on the Capitol label are going up in price these days. Their first and lone album on Seventy Seven is virtually impossible to track down. Welcome reissues in Japan and the UK in 2011 finally made it available to a wider audience. One out of several other gems that only saw a 7" release is the outstanding ballad "Just A Little Notion" with the heavy drums and the soaring lead vocals - unbelievable class! If music were to be valued as an  art form equal to the greatest painters this single should be valued  like "Guernica" - if you get what I mean!

THE LOST GENERATION - "Your Mission (If You Decide To Accept It)" (i2 - Innovation II 7" 1974)

In the next couple of weeks posts will be based on records that we've both discovered through each other and mutual fascination for digging the crates. We've both made several compilations over the years, though never commercially released. Micke's first "Favorite Records" hit me right in the face with some of those odd singles that never made it on any albums. The Lost Generation is one of those super fine Chicago groups out there. They first came to recognition with the title track off the debut album "The Sly, Slick and the Wicked" in '1970 - a top 20 R & B hit at the time. Their sophomore set for the same label Brunswick was released in '72 called "Young, Tough and Terrible". Essential stuff for every collector. Lowrell Simon hit the sweet spot under his own name Lowrell with the perfect jam and club classic "Mellow, Mellow Right On" for the AVI label in '79. Apart from that he's been a co writer and producer with Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites. "Your Mission" is a deep, funky, mellow groove and totally unpolished slice of Chicago soul at it's peak - enjoy!