With “Gar Francis Songbook, Vol. Two,” Bongo Boy Records reaches into the archives of songwriter Gar Francis and finds much more than a collection of forgotten songs. Performed through their Sapphire Star project, the album is a lively celebration of classic American R&B, soul, garage rock and pop: music that looks backwards for inspiration without feeling entirely trapped there.
produced by Monique Grimme, the 12-track album is built around songs written and arranged by Francis, several of which had existed for years primarily as demos or unreleased material. The opening track, “Girls Will Be Girls,” establishes the album’s vintage character immediately. Its doo-wop and early-’60s soul influences are paired with bright brass and prominent vocal hooks, recalling the era when girl groups, Motown and rhythm-and-blues singles dominated radio.
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Yet Gar Francis Songbook, Vol. Two rarely settles for straightforward revivalism. The production gives these older songwriting instincts a cleaner contemporary frame, which is evident on “All I Wanna Do Is Ride.” The track leans toward rowdy, horn-driven rhythm and blues, but carries a modern sheen that sets it apart from classic Motown dance records. There is an uncomplicated pleasure running through these songs: big rhythms, memorable choruses and arrangements designed to move.
SONG TITLES
1. Girls Will Be Girls 3:24
2. Diddle Diddy Dee 3:06
3. All I Wanna Do Is Ride 4:10
4. Touching Me 4:10
5. The Beat Don’t Stop 3:22
6. Natural Thing 3:40
7. Bad Girl 3:21
8. What’s Good for You 4:21
9. Wait 2:54
10. Turn Your Love on Me 3:50
11. Move With It 3:10
12. Fight Your Way Back 3:37
One of its most interesting moments is “Natural Thing.” Here, the vintage foundation begins crossing more visibly into modern soul and pop. Saxophone accents sit alongside touches of rock guitar, giving the song a slightly broader musical vocabulary. The album also knows when to ease off the accelerator. “What’s Good for You” provides a more measured contrast to the louder R&B material, with the arrangement drawing on Hammond-organ textures and gospel-influenced harmonies. It’s a nice shift from the album’s devotion to high-energy retro soul.
Gar Francis Songbook, Vol. Two works because its attention remains on the songs. Beneath the production choices and the project’s archival concept are melodies, grooves and hooks written in a tradition where a song had to stand on its own. For listeners who still value strong hooks, classic R&B energy and songwriting shaped by the traditions of rock ‘n’ roll, there is plenty here to enjoy.