Leon Ware

This customarily smooth set from 1981 is perhaps most famous for featuring three unforgettable tracks made with Marcos Valle. Rio's pop-soul wunderkind was exploring soul textures at the same time as Leon was absorbing the rich flavour of Brazilian harmonics. Together, they crafted rhythmically sophisticated and melodically adventurous soul. As with all Leon records, the lyrical themes are deeply eternal throughout, whilst the music is elegant, soulful and sensual. Beyond the Valle co-writes, the soaring instrumental ''Don't Stay Away'' is a real highlight, possessing an intricate melody and another heavenly string arrangement from the incredible Page. On the pleading sultry soul of ''Sure Do Want You Now,'' Ware's uniquely expressive vocals are especially impassioned and polished. This officially licensed reissue enables a wider audience to now discover its undoubted genius. The sumptuous artwork of the original jacket and inner sleeve have been faithfully restored; the latter featuring Leon's memorable lyrics. Simon Francis' sensitive mastering elevates the sound throughout and, as ever, it has been pressed at a reassuringly weighty 180g. ''When we started to write, we found how easy it was, and at the same time how new it was, combining the feeling I had and the feeling he had'', Valle explained to Wax Poetics on the subject of his fruitful partnership with Leon. The magic conjured up by fusing R&B with Brazilian rhythms and touches of jazz, funk, and pop resulted in a modern-soul/boogie essential.

• 1 A Little Boogie (Never Hurt No One)
• 2 Baby Don't Stop Me
• 3 Sure Do Want You Now
• 4 Our Time
• 5 Rockin You Eternally
• 6 Got To Be Loved
• 7 Don't Stay Away
• 8 In Our Garden