{"product_id":"the-hard-way","title":"The Hard Way - 6782","description":"Amazon.com\n\nWhen the notoriously private Van Morrison praises a particular musician, that individual merits a closer look. Meet British R\u0026amp;B sensation James Hunter, who counts the Belfast troubadour among his biggest boosters (Morrison also appears on his 1996 debut, ...Believe What I Say). Recorded at London's Toe Rag Studios, an analogue favorite of Billy Childish and the White Stripes, The Hard Way showcases a rough and ready voice that recalls Sam Cooke and Georgie Fame after a few smokes and a tasteful, minimalist six-string approach. If Hunter eschews modernity, The Hard Way plays more like a reinvention of 1950s forms than a mere throwback. In that sense, the Colchester native performs a similar function to former touring partner Chris Isaak. His fourth platter adds New Orleans flavor thanks to famed producer\/pianist Allen Toussaint, who guests on three tracks. With no covers and no filler, The Hard Way looks set to garner Hunter a second Grammy nod--if not a first win. As Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have proven, keeping soul alive in the 2000s isn't just about getting the sound right, but about nailing that non-ironic feel, and James Hunter performs his neo-classic tunes like he means every note. --Kathleen C. Fennessy\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B0016OMFPM\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: GGV.B0016OMFPM.LN\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Like New\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:James Hunter\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Audio cd\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Recycle4","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49690831651114,"sku":"GGV.B0016OMFPM.LN","price":10.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0773\/0819\/9210\/files\/skuimage_375077af-3371-4fd2-956f-5d4bdbb3bc10.jpg?v=1733866681","url":"https:\/\/recycle4.com\/products\/the-hard-way","provider":"Recycle4","version":"1.0","type":"link"}