Categories:
Cart 0

Your cart is empty

Billy Valentine|Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth

Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth

Billy Valentine

Available in
24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Subscribe

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

Billy Valentine is a Los Angeles-based soul singer, songwriter, and producer who has been performing for five decades. He scored some hits during the 1980s with his brother John in the Valentine Brothers, including "Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)" and "Lonely Nights," and has sung for film and television. He has held club residencies for many years, playing to sold-out houses. Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth collects eight topical, spiritual, and socially conscious soul and gospel songs. This is the first release from the newly revamped Flying Dutchman label run by producer Bob Thiele, Jr. It was founded by his producer father and was the home of seminal recordings by Gato Barbieri, Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gil Scott-Heron, and dozens of others. Thiele, Jr. is a longtime creative associate and business partner of Valentine's. In addition to his core band, they brought on an impressive cast of session players including vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, pianist Larry Goldings, bassists Pino Palladino, and Linda May Han Oh, trumpeter Theo Croker, drummer Abe Rounds, and guitarist Jeff Parker.
Valentine renders these classics with reverent authority and resonance. The set opener is an iconic reading of Curtis Mayfield's "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue." This anti-discrimination anthem is rendered with grace and poignancy amid cascading piano, upright bass, and slowly shuffling percussion. It's underscored by a modal interlude that showcases Wilkins' stellar alto sax. Scott-Heron's iconic "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" is introduced by a ghostly Rhodes piano, brushed snare, bass, and congas as Valentine inhabits the protagonist's spirit. Your mind's eye can see him on the street unloved and unwanted. Strings climb syllable by syllable as Valentine unfolds the emotion, alienation, and tragic irony in the lyrics as the band floats around him. "The Creator Has a Master Plan" was Leon Thomas' signature tune. Valentine's approach is rooted in a deep, seamless, spiritual soul. Framed by piano, saxophone, and a droning bassline, he allows the devotion and optimism in the lyrics to guide his ethereal phrasing as Rounds' drums push the band into overdrive. Prince's "Sign O the Times" is delivered organically. While there are electric keyboards in the smoky backdrop, a drum kit, trumpet, snare, and bass offer Valentine a rich color palette. He syncopates the melody as the band winds around him with lithe, nocturnal funk. The spiritual "Wade in the Water'' is a funky soul-jazz choogler with Valentine's expressive baritone framed by a gospel choir and Parker's bluesy electric guitar, rumbling electric bass, and piano. The set closes with a questioning, contemporary jazz read of War's "The Word Is a Ghetto." Its contemplative delivery is threaded with gauzy Rhodes piano and percussion rave-ups in the bridge and refrain, becoming an apocalyptic soul tune rife with meaning in the 21st century. Interestingly, five decades into his career, Billy Valentine & the Universal Truth may be the record that finally introduces him to a national audience, simply because it's the protest-soul album we need most right now.

© Thom Jurek /TiVo

More info

Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth

Billy Valentine

launch qobuz app I already downloaded Qobuz for Windows / MacOS Open

download qobuz app I have not downloaded Qobuz for Windows / MacOS yet Download the Qobuz app

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From 12.49€/month

1
We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue
00:05:37

Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Curtis Mayfield, Composer - Larry Goldings, FeaturedArtist - Immanuel Wilkins, FeaturedArtist - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

2
Home Is Where The Hatred Is
00:04:51

Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Pino Palladino, FeaturedArtist - Larry Goldings, FeaturedArtist - Jeff Parker, FeaturedArtist - Gil Scott Heron, Composer - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

3
My People… Hold On
00:05:29

Anita Poree, Composer - Leonard Caston, Composer - Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Pino Palladino, FeaturedArtist - Larry Goldings, FeaturedArtist - Jeff Parker, FeaturedArtist - Joel Ross, FeaturedArtist - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

4
You Haven't Done Nothin'
00:04:48

Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Stevie Wonder, Composer - Larry Goldings, FeaturedArtist - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

5
The Creator Has A Master Plan
00:07:01

Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - Leon Thomas, Composer - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Larry Goldings, FeaturedArtist - Jeff Parker, FeaturedArtist - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist - Pheroah Sanders, Composer

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

6
Sign Of The Times
00:04:44

Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Pino Palladino, FeaturedArtist - Jeff Parker, FeaturedArtist - Prince, Composer - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

7
Wade In The Water
00:05:09

Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, Composer, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Pino Palladino, FeaturedArtist - Jeff Parker, FeaturedArtist - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist - Trad. Arr. Bob Thiele Jr., Composer

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

8
The World Is A Ghetto
00:06:15

Lee Oskar, Composer - Harold Brown, Composer - Howard Scott, Composer - Bob Thiele Jr., Producer - Billy Valentine, MainArtist - DAVE WAY, MixingEngineer - Lonnie Jordan, Composer - Charles Miller, Composer - Pino Palladino, FeaturedArtist - Larry Goldings, FeaturedArtist - Jeff Parker, FeaturedArtist - Papa Dee Allen, Composer - The Universal Truth, FeaturedArtist - BB Dickers, Composer

2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd. 2023 Bob Thiele Jr. under exclusive license for the world excluding North America to Acid Jazz Acquisitions Ltd.

Album review

Billy Valentine is a Los Angeles-based soul singer, songwriter, and producer who has been performing for five decades. He scored some hits during the 1980s with his brother John in the Valentine Brothers, including "Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)" and "Lonely Nights," and has sung for film and television. He has held club residencies for many years, playing to sold-out houses. Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth collects eight topical, spiritual, and socially conscious soul and gospel songs. This is the first release from the newly revamped Flying Dutchman label run by producer Bob Thiele, Jr. It was founded by his producer father and was the home of seminal recordings by Gato Barbieri, Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gil Scott-Heron, and dozens of others. Thiele, Jr. is a longtime creative associate and business partner of Valentine's. In addition to his core band, they brought on an impressive cast of session players including vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, pianist Larry Goldings, bassists Pino Palladino, and Linda May Han Oh, trumpeter Theo Croker, drummer Abe Rounds, and guitarist Jeff Parker.
Valentine renders these classics with reverent authority and resonance. The set opener is an iconic reading of Curtis Mayfield's "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue." This anti-discrimination anthem is rendered with grace and poignancy amid cascading piano, upright bass, and slowly shuffling percussion. It's underscored by a modal interlude that showcases Wilkins' stellar alto sax. Scott-Heron's iconic "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" is introduced by a ghostly Rhodes piano, brushed snare, bass, and congas as Valentine inhabits the protagonist's spirit. Your mind's eye can see him on the street unloved and unwanted. Strings climb syllable by syllable as Valentine unfolds the emotion, alienation, and tragic irony in the lyrics as the band floats around him. "The Creator Has a Master Plan" was Leon Thomas' signature tune. Valentine's approach is rooted in a deep, seamless, spiritual soul. Framed by piano, saxophone, and a droning bassline, he allows the devotion and optimism in the lyrics to guide his ethereal phrasing as Rounds' drums push the band into overdrive. Prince's "Sign O the Times" is delivered organically. While there are electric keyboards in the smoky backdrop, a drum kit, trumpet, snare, and bass offer Valentine a rich color palette. He syncopates the melody as the band winds around him with lithe, nocturnal funk. The spiritual "Wade in the Water'' is a funky soul-jazz choogler with Valentine's expressive baritone framed by a gospel choir and Parker's bluesy electric guitar, rumbling electric bass, and piano. The set closes with a questioning, contemporary jazz read of War's "The Word Is a Ghetto." Its contemplative delivery is threaded with gauzy Rhodes piano and percussion rave-ups in the bridge and refrain, becoming an apocalyptic soul tune rife with meaning in the 21st century. Interestingly, five decades into his career, Billy Valentine & the Universal Truth may be the record that finally introduces him to a national audience, simply because it's the protest-soul album we need most right now.

© Thom Jurek /TiVo

About the album

Improve album information

Qobuz logo Why buy on Qobuz...

On sale now...

Keep Your Courage

Natalie Merchant

Keep Your Courage Natalie Merchant

The Köln Concert (Live at the Opera, Köln, 1975)

Keith Jarrett

You're the One

Rhiannon Giddens

You're the One Rhiannon Giddens

Owl Song

Ambrose Akinmusire

Owl Song Ambrose Akinmusire
More on Qobuz
By Billy Valentine

Home Is Where The Hatred Is

Billy Valentine

Home Is Where The Hatred Is Billy Valentine

Brit Eyed Soul

Billy Valentine

Brit Eyed Soul Billy Valentine

Old One

Billy Valentine

Old One Billy Valentine

Lady Day and John Coltrane

Billy Valentine

Lady Day and John Coltrane Billy Valentine

Travelin' Light

Billy Valentine

Travelin' Light Billy Valentine
You may also like...

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse

Back To Black Amy Winehouse

Thriller

Michael Jackson

Thriller Michael Jackson

FRI(END)S

V

FRI(END)S (Slowed Down)

V

FRI(END)S (Instrumental)

V