Review: Dan The Drum x Carmy Love - Hurt So Bad (Original ‘SHLJ’ Versions) EP 1 (F*CLR)

For F*CLR sake, can these guys get any closer to perfection than this cover version of Little Anthony & The Imperials' hit from 1965, 'Hurts So Bad', it's good!

Regular readers will know that we are big fans on Dan's cover version on 'JazzCazz' (see review HERE) as a disco-jazz-house cover version that featured Emma Noble on vocals only to be followed by a curve ball 'duet' with Stuart Patterson (Deviant, Faith and best mate of Terry Farley) and the history lesson that is 'UK House Sermon' (see review HERE), so what hurts so bad on this new release?

On the 60th anniversary of the original, you recognise that Little Anthony and the Imperials' back catalog has been raided before primilary for their hits that made it big on the Northern Soul scene back in the 60s and then in the Casino/Ballroom years; notably 'Better Use Your Head' and 'Gonna Fix You Good (Every Time You're Bad)'.

So a bit of a surprise that 'Spursy' Dan (see interview HERE) gets all jazz-funk soulful on the 'Hurt So Bad' cover with Carmy Love doing her usual excellent vocals, Balearic sax (Carl Davies), electric guitar groove (Joseph Nesbitt-Larking), strings plus the addition of Darren Morris (in a totally different guise to his Union I & II sets - see review HERE) and a Latin poolside vibe.

We know "dyed in the wool" Northern Soulers can be a bit elitist about "their music" and whilst I may have made it sound a bit of 'kitchen sink' approach, in reality it's so smooth and additive I'm not sure why this is 'EP1'; we're told, "there is also a series of exciting remixes forthcoming from soul guru, Terry Jones, remixer extraordinaire, Leo Zero, and Disco renegades, North Street West."  

All I can say is that they're going to have to be bloody good to touch this version!

BUY LINK: FCLR042 - Dan The Drum x Carmy Love ft Darren Morris - Hurt So Bad (The S.H.L.J Mixes) by Dan The Drum, Carmy Love, Darren Morris

Artist: Dan The Drum x Carmy Love ft. Darren Morris
Title:  Hurt So Bad
Release date: 10th October, 2025
Label: F*CLR Records
Cat. No: FCLR042
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp