Jim Ford - Point of No Return - Previously Unreleased Masters, a Lost 45 & Rare Demos (2008)

Digipak CD of James Henry Ford (born 1941- found dead Nov. 2007) was the composer of Aretha Franklin's 'Niky Hoeky'. He was Sly Stone's friend and a big influence on Nick Lowe. In 1969 Jim Ford blended the sounds of gritty R&B with down-home country on the now legendary album, Harlan County. Jim Ford had a tremendous impact on everyone who crossed his path. He is featured on Sly & the Family Stone's classic 'There's a Riot Going On' and during a short stint in London 1971, he helped ignite what would later be known as the UK pub rock scene. In the '80s, Jim Ford disappeared into a haze of drug abuse and erratic behavior. In 2006 Bear Family assembled a compilation, Sounds of Our Time, and finally Jim Ford got his long overdue recognition. In the liner notes Jim finally told his full and almost incomprehensible story. 16 tracks. 2008.

A potent gumbo of southern styles, sometimes funky, sometimes country, with thundering horns, spidery guitar licks, and a vocal style somewhere between Sam Cooke and Van Morrison. -- Uncut

An ex of Bobby Gentry's, so we know he had taste... -- Mojo