Singer / songwriter Mike Francis hails from Florence, Italy, and is better known in UK Soul circles for his superb 1985 duet with Amii Stewart, “Friends”. Mike has recorded a great number or tunes and I have fallen in love with many of them. I chose, however, this top Club mix which is the B-Side to his extremely rare 1987 12” released here in the UK on the now defunct Club imprint through Phonogram. There is no credit to actually remixed the track, which, in it's original form is rather...unremarkable and rather bland. This gem is one that always reminds me of summer and as you only hear 2 minutes, you don't get to feel the real guts of the track, but it's absolutely essential I promise you. Fans of Jeff Lorber's more soulful 80s output – think “In The Heat Of The Night” and “Step By Step” and bob's yer uncle. You would expect, then, from that comment that the track is choc-a-bloc with keyboards and synths, and you would be correct. At seven minutes and 13 seconds, “Features Of Love” is a self-contained expression of 80s dancefloor genius from Europe, but with a seriously soulful West Coast soulful acoustic guitar a la Sheree Brown, giving it a truly transatlantic flavour. Only Mike's vocals belie the fact that he is no American. Almost sounding like the superb Bruce Hornsby in places, this club tune will enchant and delight. One for inclusion on your playlist for a drive along the coast, the summer of 1987 would have been a lot poorer and less warm for me without it.
Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe
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