The Lord's First XI aka The Lord's First Eleven is a 2006 album by Lord Large. It features collaborations with artists such as Clem Curtis, Roy Phillips, and Linda Lewis. The material includes northern-soul type songs and funk.
Background The Lord's First XI is an album by Lord Large in collaboration with other artists. It features vocals by Andrea Britton, Ashley Slater, Clem Curtis, Dean Parrish, Glenn Tilbrook, Linda Lewis, Louise Marshall, Robert Bradley, and Roy Phillips.Discogs - Lord Large – The Lord's First XI, CreditsThe Malta Independent, Friday, 11 January 2008 - Andrea Britton Live on ‘Bla Agenda’ After its release, Lord Large's popularity in London grew.London SE1 - What's on, The Lord Large Experiment
The album came about after Clem Curtis collaborated with Lord Large, recording the single, "Stuck in a Wind Up" bw "Move Over Daddy", which was credited to Lord Large featuring Clem Curtis. It was originally released on 2 Bit 2BIT45-1, a label that was created for the release. Having some airplay on Radio 2, it was then released on the Acid Jazz label (cat no. AJX174S) in 2005. The label offered to release an album with Clem Curtis and other artists.45Cat - Lord Large Featuring Clem Curtis - Discography, All CountriesBiskleta Productions, Friday, July 17, 2009 - PAUL WELLER PENNED TUNE DONE BY LORD LARGE
As legend or fact may have it, Roy Phillips, leader of The Peddlers became involved with the project resulting from producer / drummer Andy Jones taking his honeymoon in New Zealand and finding a new drinking buddy in Roy Phillips.Hammond Family - Roy Phillips (1941-2025) Roy Phillips recorded his vocals for the song "Closer" at Midnight Studios in Christchurch, New Zealand.Scoop, Wednesday, 19 July 2017 - The Voice of ‘the Peddlers’
Drummer Andy Jones handled the album's production.Ronnie Scott's Rejects - Ronnie Scott's Rejects: The Band, Andy JonesHammond Family - Roy Phillips (1941-2025)
Reception The record made freelance journalist Pierre Perrone's Top 10 in Music Week for the week of 2 September 2006. He also said "Lord Large engineers another northern soul revival".Music Week, O2.09.06 - Page 19 My Top 10, PIERRE PERRON, Freelance Journalist
The album was reviewed by Mojo. The reviewer called "Stuck in a Wind Up" "the perfect northern soul floor filler.Mojo, Issues 158-161 - Page 94
The Metro review by Arwa Haider was published on 12 February 2007. Besides mentioning the opening track, "Sun in the Sands", the northern soul classic, "What Did I Do?". " Don't Stick Around Too Long" and the hidden jam if the CD is left playing, Haider called it "wickedly winning stuff" and "a great innings for contemporary British soul".Metro, February 12, 2007 - Lord Large: The Lord's First XI - Arwa Haider
A short review of the album by the Daily Express, published 13 March 2007 mentioned the two men from a northern soul band who get it just about spot on, and Dean Parrish's song "Left, Right & Centre" which was written by a fifteen-year old Paul Weller. It finished off with, "it is almost as if the Wigan Casino never closed".Express, Tue, Mar 13, 2007 - LORD LARGE: THE LORD'S FIRST XI
A review by Jason Draper of Record Collector was published in early September 2007. After praising "Stuck in a Wind Up" and calling it a slice of breezy, upbeat soul that was so authentic one would swear it was recorded in the late 60s, and saying that most of the album sounded like the work of some Midwest US nutter who kept his stuff hidden for over 30 years, he said that it ran the gamut of string-laden soul, barnstorming dancefloor fillers and Stevie Wonder-like synthy grooves.Record Collector, 05 September 2007 - The Lord's First XI - Reviewed by Jason Draper
The review by The Huddersfield Daily Examiner was positive with the reviewer saying that the album was a faithful reproduction of quirky organ-laced funk, Motown stomp and northern soul. He singled out the Paul Weller composition of "Left, Right & Centre as the album's best moment.Pinterest - The Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Albums, LORD LARGE, The Lords First XI.
Andy Parker of Dimebag Darrell Magazine said that the album re-created the sound that has people hoofing all night in Wigan and additionally recruited stars of the genre to help out. He said that it was excellent stuff and with the contributions of ex-Foundations man Clem Curtis, Linda Lewis and northern soul legend, Dean Parrish made it a must-hear album for vintage soul fans.Pinterest - Dimebag Darrell Magazine, Lord Large, The Lord's First XI review, The Burton Mail, Albums by ANDY PARKER
Track listing + The Lord's First XI (vinyl LP) Acid Jazz AJXLP182 No. Track Credit Time Notes A1 "Sun in the Sands" A2 "Stuck in a Wind Up" Clem Curtis A3 "Closer" Roy Phillips A4 "What Did I Do?" Clem Curtis A5 "Work It Out" Linda Lewis A6 "Julianna" Clem Curtis B1 "Heath Robinson" B2 "The Auctioneer" Ashley Slater B3 "Way to Go" Andrea Britton B4 "Fading Light" Robert Brandley B5 "Left, Right & Centre" Dean Parrish B6 "Don't Stick Around Too Long" Glen Tilbrook
+ The Lord's First XI, Octave OTCD-2136 (Japanese CD release with bonus tracks) No. Track Desc Credit Time Notes 01 "Sun in the Sands" Instrumental 4:09 02 "Stuck in a Wind Up" vocal. Clem Curtis 3:15 03 "Closer" vocal. Roy Phillips 4:18 04 "What Did I Do?" vocal. Clem Curtis 3:17 05 "Work It Out" vocal. Linda Lewis 4:10 06 "Juliana" vocal. Clem Curtis 3:53 07 "Heath Robinson" Instrumental 3:30 08 "The Auctioneer" vocal. Ashley Slater 3:22 09 "Way to Go" vocal. Andrea Britton 3:37 10 "Fading Light" vocal. Robert Brandley 4:17 11 "Left, Right & Centre" vocal. Dean Parrish 3:09 12 "Don't Stick Around Too Long" vocal. Glen Tilbrook 14:02 13 "Move Over Daddy" vocal. Clem Curtis 2:59 bonus track 14 "The Hawley Arms Race" Instrumental 4:16 bonus track 15 "The 4th Earl of Nunhead" Instrumental 3:55 bonus track
References
External links Lord Large – The Lord's First XI, Discogs.com Reviews/comments on Lord Large 'First Eleven' Album, Savoir Faire Entertainment