The Decline Of The Album is Terrible For Creativity

When I got to Brighton I was  quite the Soul Boy snob- I bought Motown , Stax , Hi ,James Brown etc .......I was also quite possibly the worst-dressed Soul Boy ever,my favourite shirt was an orange needlecord shirt I bought from Harry Fenton in Swindon ,but that's another story for another day.
 I cannot place the exact record that made me realize that you didn't have to be Black to make Soul music - it may have been " How Long " by Ace or it may have been " Pick Up The Pieces " by Average White Band or even the realization that R Dean Taylor was indeed white.
 There can be no doubt however as to the two great albums ,that I still listen to today ,that opened my ears to the the fact that " Blue Eyed Soul " was indeed more than worthy of serious consideration........" Abandoned Luncheonette " by Hall & Oates and " Silk Degrees " by Boz Scaggs.
 Both albums are as close to perfection as is possible - if you're reading this and don't know either album then please buy/download them now and just sit back and listen to them ALL THE WAY THROUGH . Nowadays you're lucky if a 15 track album has more than 4 decent cuts .......on these there's not a single note out of place ,the vocals and arrangements are pefection.
 I'm very aware that I am older than the new generation of music buyer and I know you will find it hard to believe me when I say at times I NEARLY ( not quite ! ) feel sorry for today's  A&R's as nowadays hardly anyone  below 20 seems to buy tracks not albums ( at least My boys do ) ...........what's that all about ?
 It used to be " you're as good as your last album " ...now it's " You're as good as your last track " .
 How on earth can anyone be expected to create great art under that kind of pressure.........maybe that's why the best music is to be found on small indies who don't care about chart placings ?
 I got into the Music Biz by chance - I never gave a Fuck about commercial music - I encouraged great artists to express themselves over many albums by letting them know that if people at the label criticized them I would always take their side and defend their right to make the music they wanted to
 And thats's why I'm The Godfather Of British Black Music A&R ...none EVER fucked with me or my artists
The Soul Guru Loves YOU x