{"title":"Artist: Bobby Caldwell","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"bobby-caldwell-bobby-caldwell-lp","title":"Bobby Caldwell [Import]","description":"\u003ch3\u003e** This is a BACKORDER item. Please read our policies before ordering. Check our website for Est. Ship Date.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst ever reissue!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart of Bobby Caldwell Reissue Campaign\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003ePressed on 140g Black Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown principally as a smooth titan of blue-eyed soul, Bobby Caldwell transcended genre tags with consummate ease; he was a musical icon of real class and versatility, cherished the world over. Tragically passing away in March 2023 at the too young age of 71, it still feels as if Bobby's true artistry is profoundly under-appreciated. His double platinum self-titled album from 1978 is a timeless masterpiece of sophisticated jazzy soul brilliance and is strictly canonical. Yes, it's perfect, yet it's been out of press on vinyl for years. We're deeply honoured to present the long-awaited reissue this summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst Ned Doheny is known in Japan as 'Mr California', native New Yorker Bobby Caldwell has always been ''Mr AOR'' to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eString-swept opener 'Special To Me' immediately sets the tone with its lush instrumentation, rich harmonies, and Caldwell's velvety-smooth vocals. Next up, a huge one. The infectious, mid-tempo bounce of 'My Flame' showcases Caldwell's ability to effortlessly blend catchy pop hooks with soulful arrangements. It's an exquisite, emotive ballad that, at the same time, absolutely SLAPS. Game recognise game, and all that, so, accordingly, Notorious B.I.G. memorably ran with “My Flame” for his 1997 single “Sky’s The Limit”. The rolling, disco-very 'Love Won't Wait' is a slick, uptempo track containing heartfelt lyrics intertwined with elegant strings and a horn section to die for. Aching - and achingly cool - single ''Can't Say Goodbye'' is a real fan favourite, and it's no surprise. It's a laconic, slow-mo jazz-funk stepper, with fantastic, very deliberate playing that closes out the A Side quite exceptionally. 'Come To Me' slows proceedings down elegantly to open Side B before the universally agreed-upon masterpiece enters proceedings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'What You Won't Do for Love,' the standout hit that became a classic in its own right, perfectly captured Bobby's ability to infuse a contagious groove with introspective and relatable lyrics. With its instantly recognisable horn riff and Caldwell's soulful delivery, this timeless, chiller anthem continues to captivate audiences and define his musical legacy. He scored huge with the track, taking over the pop and R\u0026amp;B airways with this mellow soul stepper. It has remained a perennial favourite and has been heavily sampled, such is its unique allure; Aaliyah sang over snatches of it on ''Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number'' and you can hear Caldwell’s vocal sample used for the hook on Tupac’s posthumously released “Do For Love”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon submitting the finished album to his label, they requested more material in hope of a big single. As Bobby remembered to Wax Poetics a few years ago: “Now at this point, I’m mentally exhausted...and bear in mind that I got so close to all the songs I’d written. I gave each song a profound amount of thought, and maybe too much. So, in haste, I went in and cut this song, ''What You Won’t Do For Love''. Wrote it in a day, cut the rhythm track, overdubbed the horns, I sang the song, and literally turned it in three days after. And lo and behold, the one song I gave the least thought to,” Bobby laughed, “ended up being a national anthem.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mysterious, magical 'Kalimba Song' is a cosmic, kalimba-driven melodic-funk instrumental - short but oh, so sweet. It's followed by the supreme tear-jerker 'Take Me Back To Then', Bobby's otherworldly voice deeply longing for a simpler time, 'when life was mellow'. I think we can all get behind this sentiment. The final cut is arguably its deepest, its low-key finest moment. For us, it is, anyway. The glorious, driving, effortlessly funky guitar-soul jam ''Down For The Third Time'' is a huge melancholic Be With favourite and has been played by discerning genre-hopping DJs with significant glee for years. Hypnotic, melodic, beautiful. Like the album it elegantly rounds out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBobby sadly passed away on 23rd March 2023, after a long struggle with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress, due to an adverse effect from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The reissue of his wonderful eponymous album will be available on vinyl across the globe, ensuring that fans of his incomparable talent - and soul music enthusiasts worldwide - can radiate in the deep beauty of this seminal album. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecial To Me\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMy Flame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLove Won't Wait\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCan't Say Goodbye\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCome To Me\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat You Won't Do For Love\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKalimba Song\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTake Me Back To Then\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDown For The Third Time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4pBJRxtR5TQe8hfsUgZ1r2?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"Bobby Caldwell","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":42439803863231,"sku":"BEWITH158LP-BK","price":45.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/BEWITH158LP-BobbyCaldwell-BobbyCaldwell.jpg?v=1691381627"},{"product_id":"cat-in-the-hat-bobby-caldwell-lp","title":"Cat In The Hat [Import]","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst ever reissue!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart of Bobby Caldwell Reissue Campaign\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003ePressed on 140g Black Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBobby Caldwell's second album, Cat In The Hat, from 1980, is one of his greatest moments and another masterwork of soulful sophistication. Featuring the eternal 'Open Your Eyes', brilliantly sampled by J Dilla for Common's 'The Light', it's about as essential as records get. Like its eponymous predecessor, it's been out of print for far too long. To finally release the hugely-anticipated reissue is one of our sincerely proudest moments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst Ned Doheny is known in Japan as 'Mr California', native New Yorker Bobby Caldwell has always been 'Mr AOR' to his Far-Eastern friends. His distinct charm is an irresistible blend of soul, jazz, and pop influences. He possessed phenomenal songwriting prowess, smooth vocal performances, was both a great soul guitarist and dextrous keyboard player and known for genius chord progressions. It all added up to a multi-layered brilliance entering the studio, and the singular sound he landed on was laced with soulful, sweeping strings and funky horns, touching lightly on disco, while allowing his supple voice to carry the stunning tracks he'd crafted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRight from the off, it's easy to tell that Cat In The Hat is a deeply special record. It's fantastically produced and incredibly well-rounded, carving its own lane with deep soul, warm jazz and a stunning vocal delivery that really helped Bobby reach out to some big new audiences at the time. Goosebumps at the ready for the rolling power-piano funk of ''Coming Down From Love'', opening up the album with a track as good as anything Steely Dan or The Doobies ever crafted, with a vocal performance from the heavens. Pumping AOR wonder 'Wrong Or Right' is up there with the slick, classy rhythms of prime Ned Doheny whilst the cool, skipping soul of guitar-drenched 'To Know What You've Got' is a funky ballad par excellence, with elemental traces of 'What A Fool Believes'. No bad thing. Closing out Side A, the folk-funk of 'You Promised Me' is a bright, soulful strut with a wonderful vocal coda that just builds. Sensational.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe delicate bounce and falsetto self-harmonising of 'It's Over' offers a truly delightful introduction to Side B, and serves as a great precursor to what follows. Bobby's dynamite ''Open Your Eyes'' is likely the reason you're all here. As if he needed it, the eternal J Dilla further immortalised Caldwell in the hip-hop canon with his production of Common’s epochal “The Light,” which heavily samples the magical “Open Your Eyes.” On a post paying tribute to Bobby in March 2023, Questlove claimed that he 'got word Brother Bobby loved it'. Bobby's original has seen new life even more recently from the likes of Dwele and Kendrick Lamar and deservingly so, as its insistent drums and staccato piano created a modern-soul classic. You'd think that would be hard to follow, wouldn't you? Not so, when you're Bobby Caldwell. Indeed, the horn-drenched stepper 'Mother Of Creation' is absolutely ace, and, whisper it, possibly the album's finest track, all funky piano and guitars with horn lines to die for. Exquisite ballad 'I Don't Want To Lose Your Love' rounds out the album beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBobby sadly passed away on 23rd March 2023, after a long struggle with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress, due to an adverse effect from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. The reissue of Cat In The Hat will be available on vinyl across the globe, ensuring that fans of his incomparable talent - and soul music enthusiasts worldwide - can radiate in the deep beauty of this seminal album. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing Down From Love\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrong Or Right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo Know What You've Got\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou Promised Me\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt's Over\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen Your Eyes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMother Of Creation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Don't Want To Lose Your Love\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/61MrCsj5a0ZfgbgvcFHFl0?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"Bobby Caldwell","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":42439803895999,"sku":"BEWITH159LP-BK","price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/BEWITH159LP-BobbyCaldwell-CatInTheHat.jpg?v=1691381644"},{"product_id":"heart-of-mine-bobby-caldwell-lp","title":"Heart of Mine (2023 Reissue Edition) [Japanese Import]","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003ePressed on Black Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eCarefully curated compilation of Bobby Caldwell's by Japanese label Victor Entertainment\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeaturing several of iconic tracks including 'Heart of Mine' and 'Real Thing'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first analog release of the representative work of 'Mr. AOR' Bobby Caldwell, who sadly passed away in March of 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImmerse yourself in the timeless melodies and soulful artistry of Bobby Caldwell with his latest compilation album, 'Heart of Mine,' presented by Victor Entertainment. This carefully curated collection brings together some of Caldwell's most iconic tracks, spanning his illustrious career in the realm of R\u0026amp;B and soul music. From his early classics to his later hits, each song on this album is a testament to Caldwell's distinctive voice and his ability to capture the depth of human emotions. With a seamless fusion of smooth vocals and captivating arrangements, 'Heart of Mine' offers a musical journey through love, passion, and introspection. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to Bobby Caldwell's music, this compilation is a must-have, inviting you to experience the heart and soul of an exceptional artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHEART OF MINE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eREAL THING\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNEXT TIME (I FALL)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eALL OR NOTHING AT ALL\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSAYING IT'S OVER\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIN THE NAME OF LOVE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEVEN NOW\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFIRST TIME\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSTAY WITH ME\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCHINA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/46gUVHCEYikqQICidNn8ey?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"Bobby Caldwell","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":42446312046783,"sku":"NJS-775-BK","price":56.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/NJS-775-BobbyCaldwell-HeartofMine.jpg?v=1691916338"},{"product_id":"heart-of-mine-bobby-caldwell-2024-reissue-edition-lp-vinyl","title":"Heart of Mine (2024 Reissue Edition) [Japanese Import]","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e1xLP pressed on Clear Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eCarefully curated compilation of Bobby Caldwell's by Japanese label Victor Entertainment\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeaturing several of iconic tracks including 'Heart of Mine' and 'Real Thing'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginally released in 1989\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analog release of the representative work of 'Mr. AOR' Bobby Caldwell, who sadly passed away in March of 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImmerse yourself in the timeless melodies and soulful artistry of Bobby Caldwell with his latest compilation album, 'Heart of Mine,' presented by Victor Entertainment. This carefully curated collection brings together some of Caldwell's most iconic tracks, spanning his illustrious career in the realm of R\u0026amp;B and soul music. From his early classics to his later hits, each song on this album is a testament to Caldwell's distinctive voice and his ability to capture the depth of human emotions. With a seamless fusion of smooth vocals and captivating arrangements, 'Heart of Mine' offers a musical journey through love, passion, and introspection. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to Bobby Caldwell's music, this compilation is a must-have, inviting you to experience the heart and soul of an exceptional artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHEART OF MINE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eREAL THING\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNEXT TIME (I FALL)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eALL OR NOTHING AT ALL\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSAYING IT'S OVER\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIN THE NAME OF LOVE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEVEN NOW\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFIRST TIME\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSTAY WITH ME\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCHINA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/46gUVHCEYikqQICidNn8ey?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bobby Caldwell","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Clear","offer_id":43674419626175,"sku":"NJS-804-CL","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/NJS-775-BobbyCaldwell-HeartofMine.jpg?v=1691916338"}],"url":"https:\/\/helixsounds.com\/collections\/artist-bobby-caldwell.oembed","provider":"Helix Sounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}