Dorothy Ashby – Afro-Harping: Deluxe (Verve Vinyl 2LP)

Dororthy Ashby’s Afro-Harping: Deluxe Edition on 2LP. Features Eight Bonus Tracks. Remastered From the Original ¼ Inch Tapes by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios.

Afro-Harping is the first of a rarfied and outstanding trilogy of soul-jazz albums by Dorothy Ashby. Remastered from the original tapes, Afro-Harping is filled front-to-back with sumptuous and hypnotic grooves. Its African percussion, soulful orchestrations, in-the-pocket rhythms and Dorothy’s virtuosity take it beyond jazzy mood music and made it a favorite of beat heads and producers. This deluxe edition features eight bonus tracks – alternate takes from the surviving four-track session reels, including an explosive rendition of the single, “Soul Vibrations,” extended versions of the title track and “Little Sunflower,” plus two fantastic jazzy readings of “Theme from Valley of the Dolls.” 2 LP set.

Side A:

1. Soul Vibrations
2. Games
3. Action Line
4. Lonely Girl
5. Life Has Its Trials

Side B:

1. Afro-Harping
2. Little Sunflower
3. Them from “Valley of the Dolls”
4. Come Live with Me
5. The Look of Love

Side C:

1. Action Line (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
2. Afro-Harping (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
3. Theme from “Valley of the Dolls” (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
4. Lonely Girl (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]

Side D:

1. Soul Vibrations (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
2. Life Has Its Trials (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
3. Little Sunflower (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
4. Theme from “Valley of the Dolls” (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]