Primitive Americana, Country Soul and pre-Punk by one of the great unsung heroes of pop. This is the first time that Arthur Russell’s recordings from before his Disco and New Wave days are released.

The lion’s share of songs on this album documents the very first recordings Arthur made after moving to New York from rural Iowa via an intermission in a buddhist commune in California. None of this material has ever been released before and it shows Russell dipping into the pre-Punk Rock territory of the Modern Lovers and early Talking Heads.

They aren’t dodgy home recordings either. Arthur’s early recordings were instigated by CBS house producer John Hammond. Hammond’s star was shining bright as the man who had recorded Bob Dylan and signed Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen when he gave Russell his first break in 1974.

At this stage the plot thickens. Even though Hammond did bring Russell repeatedly into CBS’ studios on 52nd Street for a period of two and a half years between October 1974 and July 1977, CBS never released a single note from any of these sessions. Even though Russell caught the ear of both musicians and music executives all over town, he never got a stab at being the pop star he so desparately wanted to be.

Listen Now To Arthur Russell’s Unreleased Recordings

There is archive footage of Arthur playing these early songs in the recent documentary feature ‘Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell’ - A shy young dude with long, straggly hair, almost hiding in the folds of a not very rock’n'roll puffa jacket.

But that voice can’t hide. Whatever song Russell sings, whatever style he attempts, he always remains himself. Sometimes, the man and his material clash head on. Country Soul, for instance, does not necessarily suit Russels as a performer. But then again, it’s Russell’s brutal honesty that makes songs like ‘I Couldn’t Say It To Your Face’ and ‘Nobody Wants A Lonely Heart’ so special.

On most of the Hammond sessions, Russell is backed by a band led by former Modern Lover bass man Ernie Brooks. The band features, at various stages, New York New Wave luminaries such as Talking Heads’ keyboard player Jerry Harrison and avantgarde composer Peter Gordon.

Even after he found modest fame with recordings that combined the edgyness of New Wave with the groove of Disco, Russell would go back to recording rock songs with a Folky or even Country feel throughout the 1980’s. ‘Habit Of You’, ‘Big Moon’, ‘The Letter’ - First class songs that were only known to Russell and his inner circle. You might have heard the Disco tracks like ‘Go Bang’ or ‘Is It All Over My Face’, but the rock side of Arthur Russell has languished on literally hundreds of cassette and reel-to-reel tapes in a warehouse until now.

Thanks to Arthur’s former partner, Tom Lee, his archive recordings have been preserved and are now available unadultered. This is the real article, often to the extent that songs feel like rough sketches rather than polished showpieces.

‘Love Is Overtaking Me’ is a fascinating glimpse into the sonic diary of one of music’s true mavericks. The recordings that Russell released during his all too short career under his own name or as Dinosaur L and Loose Joints may be more accomplished, but ‘Love Is Overtaking Me’ is a disarmingly beautiful collection of songs.

Arthur Russell died of AIDS related illness in 1992. For a brief overview of his life, watch the trailer below.

Watch The Trailer For ‘Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell’

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You can download ‘Love Is Overtaking Me’ here from iTunes UK.

US Readers - Buy ‘Love Is Overtaking Me’ On CD Here!

UK And Ireland Readers - Buy Love Is Overtaking Me’ On CD Here!