Dan Brantley

Brantley is one of those soul singers who only made a handful of 45s, but whose small output and personal obscurity hides great quality – wrote most of his own songs as well. I love the original cut of the rocking “Please Accept My Love”, a version of the famous instrumental “Soul Serenade”. It has great energy derived from a “walking” bass line, crisp drums and horns and Brantley’s forceful but still melodic approach. Even the meandering flute doesn’t jar too much.

Both sides of Brantley’s Hollywood 45 are quite superb. “Keep On Trying” is a gorgeous deep soul opus, featuring a charming xylophone fill over a Memphis guitar and a tasteful horn section. Brantley’s slow burn vocal is complemented by the tight harmonies of the Micronites (who?). The flip, “I’m So Lonely” is almost as good a ballad, with mournful horns and more fine male backing, making the disc a 5 star classic. Sadly the recut of “Please Accept My Love” isn’t a patch on his first version, but “Get It Together And Do What You Should” isn’t at all bad – good southern soul. His second De Luxe 45 has found some admirers on the funk scene but both tracks are a bit messy to be honest.

Another marvellously rendered deep soul number, “Begging Just Ain’t My Bag”, on his only Federal 45, put him right back amongst the winners however. Perhaps this heavily echoed vocal cut was his finest performance, emoting over a very churchy organ, intricate guitar lines and a big horn background. When I finally found a copy of his Southbound 45 it proved to be a big disappointment – best avoided. But his other discs should be in every southern soul fan’s collection.

 

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