Hil St. Soul ... The Best Of ...

It's pretty 'criminal' that one of the finest soul singers produced in the UK has gone so long without due recognition.  The previous post of her latest 2020 single released on Izipho Soul has prompted me to 'put that right' with a selection of some of her best output.

Hil St. (Street) Soul are a duo consisting of Hilary Mwela, who moved to UK from Zambia aged 5, and Victor  Redwood-Sawyer.  Her own website positions her between Sade and Mica Paris i.e. 'not as reclining as Sade and not as overwhelming as Mica Paris' ... 'comfortable performing classic soul, smooth jazz, uptown funk and gospel'.

Official Website
Facebook

She also released a solo album in 2011 as Hilz - Bring Back The Love.

Here' s an interview she did promoting the album:

Before we start exploring her discography here's a clip from Spike Lee show where she is performing with Terence Blanchard singing 'People In Search Of A Life' from the soundtrack from the Spike Lee film 'Clockers'.

Hil St. Soul [1999] - Soul Organic [Dome 17]

A great album, I've selected 5 of the best tracks but it could have been almost the complete album.

Strictly A Vibe Thing

Nostalgia

Modern soul dancer.

Just A Matter Of Time

Until You Come Back To Me (Non-Acoustic Version)
Cover version of the Stevie Wonder song recorded by Aretha Franklin.

For Your Love

Great bit of Neo Modern Soul.

Hil St. Soul [2002] -  Copasetik & Cool' [Gut GUTCD22]

For The Love Of You

Cover of the Isley Brothers classic taken from 2002 album 'Copasetik & Cool'.

Alright

Neo soul groover.

Pieces

Soulful neo soul ballad/stepper.

All That (+ A Bog 'O Chips) (Strings Mix)

Hil St. Soul [2006] - SOULidified [Shanachie 5758]

Another great album from which it's tricky selecting only a few tracks.  Honestly, there is not a bad track on this album and the 5 selected are just my personal favourites and on another day could be a different 5.  Check out the album.

Goodbye

Smooth neo soul ballad/stepper.

Here's a video for 'Goodbye' but sound quality not great so included clip above.

Hey Boy

Smooth and soulful neo soul stepper in the Mary J. Blige groove.

Sweet On You

Can We Spend Some Time

We Don't Talk

Showing her deeper and jazzier side.

Hil St. Soul [2008] - Black Rose [Shanachie 5772]

Smile

Another neo soul ballad/stepper.

Hanging On

Neo soul stepper sounding very like Erykah Badu on this track.

Hil St. Soul [2009] - Release [Dome CD 99]

This is essentially a Best Of album as it contains no new material.

Regi Myrix presents Hil St. Soul [2020] - One Life [Izipho Soul ZP43]

New release on Izipho Soul limited to 300 vinyl copies which are already sold out.  You'll have to try your luck on Discogs for a copy.

Click on links below to open Soundcloud using original sound files from Izipho Soul.

Regi Myrix presents Hil St. Soul - One Life [Izipho Soul ZP43]

Regi Myrix presents Noel Gourdin - Step Into Love [Izipho Soul ZP43]

Just been posted on YouTube 1st April 2020 and available on Amazon via Shanachie.

Raquel Rodriguez & Stan Taylor [2019] - Sunday's Best [Blue Dream]

I recently came across the Sunday's Best EP by Raquel Rodriguez & Stan Taylor which sent me on a journey to explore some of their other material.  Raquel has been recording for several years and I enjoyed what I heard so decided to put together some of her earlier material for others to listen to and hopefully turn them on to her sound.  If you enjoy then please support the artist and buy from Amazon links provided.

Raquel Rodriguez has released 3 albums (to my knowledge - there may be others?) 

2013 - Miss Me

2016 - The 310

2018 - The 310 Pt. 2

Both Raquel and Stan have their own YouTube channels with lots of live videos so check them out.

Stan Taylor Channel

Raquel Rodriguez Channel

Their material is recorded and released by Blue Dream Studios in LA.

The latest EP Sunday's Best is a collaboration with Stan Taylor dueting on 5 soul classics from 60s & 70s: 

Be Thankful For What You Got (William DeVaughan)

Natural High (Bloodstone)

Ooh Baby Baby (Miracles)

La La Means I Love You (Delfonics)

Always And Forever (Heatwave)

Ooh Baby Baby Live @ Blue Dream Studios

La La Means I Love You Live @ Blue Dream Studios

A small selection of some of her earlier material:

Midnight Whispers Live May  2013

Incredible live performance with a 17 piece orchestra back in 2013.

Better Days 2015

From The 310 album released Nov 2016 available here

Don't Be Afraid Official Video Dec 2017

Written by  Raquel Rodriguez, Anris Mattson, Sam Brawner

Don't Be Afraid Live @ Blue Dream Studios

Talk Of The Town Live @ Blue Dream Studios May 2017

You Got Me Live @ Blue Dream Studios Jan 2017

From The 301 Pt. 2 released 2018 available here.

Mile High Live @ Blue Dream Studios July 2018

Mile High Live Official Video

Mile High Live @ Blue Dream Studios July 2018

with MxxWll "Anniversary x Palm Trees" Remix Live @ Blue Dream Studios July 2019

Otis Clay / Ann Peebles - It Was Jealousy [Hi 2270/2320]

Three versions of the deep soul song 'It Was Jealousy' written by Don Bryant, by Otis Clay, Ann Peebles (who married Bryant in 1974) and a lovers rock version by Toyin Adekale.

Otis Clay [1974] - It Was Jealousy [Hi 45-2270]

Otis Clay [1974] - You Did Something To Me [Hi 45-2270]

The other side (the official A side) is not too shabby either,  Southern style crossover.

Ann Peebles [1976] - It Was Jealousy [Hi 5N-2320]

Ann Peebles [1976] - Fill This World With Love [Hi 5N-2320]

Pedestrian southern soul beater which was the official A side.

Toyin Adekale [1991] - It Was Jealousy [Carla 12 CAR 020]

An uptempo UK lovers rock version by Toyin Adekale from 1991.

The flipside is a typical 'version' instrumental called Heart To Heart which I have not bothered to post as not relevant to here.

Don Bryant [2017] - It Was Jealousy [Fat Possum Records #FP1607]

COVID-19 31st March 2020

As predicted yesterday Italy now has over 100,000 cases and Spain has now more cases than China and within a few days it is likely that Germany will exceed the cases in China.

The great news is that it is 9 days now (21st March) since Italy saw its peak and new cases seem to be on the decline.

Germany's death rate continues to defy the trend in other countries.  I can't understand why the media has not focussed more on this.

I heard a remark on TV this morning that the reason Germany's death rate is so low is that they are testing people at less risk.  The figures speak for themselves 66,885 cases (i.e people who have tested positive and are infected) and 645 deaths equates to 1% death rate so I couldn't quite comprehend what he was saying so have looked further into it.

It is suggested that because Germany (and Austria) are testing far more people there are far more testing positive in the less high risk age group (under 60), hence less deaths.  If you look at it the other way (especially in UK) only those with symptoms severe enough to present to the health service are tested. Younger people with less severe symptoms who are recovering are not presenting to the health service are not recorded as they perhaps would be in Germany as testing is more wide spread. 

You should not be too alarmed at the death rate as the numbers are skewed because the death rate is of those presenting with severe symptoms and not on the population as a whole that have had less severe symptoms.

The main theory as to why Italy has seen so many deaths is the aging population so I thought I'd check the average age for each country to see if Germany had a much younger population and as you can see from the list they sit firmly between Italy and France and Germany in fact has the 4th oldest population in the world after Japan, Italy and Martinique.

Country / Average Age / World Rank (source Worldometers)

JP 48.4 1st

IT 47.3 2nd

DE 45.7 4th

ES 44.9 7th

FR 42.3 28th

UK 40.5 45th

CH 38.4 53rd

US 38.3 54th

Another interesting statistic is that the UK is the most densely populated of the 5 major European countries with also the highest urban percentage - so you would 'think' that spread 'could' be potentially higher.

Country / population per square mile / urban percentage.

UK 727 83.2%

DE 623 76.3%

IT 523 69.5%

FR 300 81.5%

ES 243 80.3%

Table shows latest new cases/deaths  compared with previous day:

Country	New Cases 30 Mar	New Cases 29 Mar	New Case Increase	Deaths 30 Mar	Deaths 29 Mar	Death Increase
IT	4,050	5,217	-1,167	812	756	-56
ES	7,486	6,803	683	913	821	-92
DE	4,450	4,740	-290	104	108	4
FR	4,376	2,599	1,777	418	292	-126
UK	2,619	2,433	186	180	209	29
US	20,353	18,822	1,531	672	263	-409

Table shows latest figures compared to previous day's figures

Daily	30-Mar				29 Mar (-1 Day)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	4,050	101,739	11,591	11.4%	97,689	10,779	11.0%
ES	7,874	87,596	7,716	8.8%	80,110	6,803	8.5%
DE	4,450	66,885	645	1.0%	62,435	541	0.9%
FR	4,376	44,550	3,024	6.8%	40,174	2,606	6.5%
UK	2,619	22,141	1,408	6.4%	19,522	1,228	6.3%
US	20,353	163,884	3,156	1.9%	142,460	2,484	1.7%

Table shows latest figures compared to previous weeks's figures

Weekly	30-Mar				23 Mar (-1 Week)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	4,050	101,739	11,591	11.4%	63,927	6,077	9.5%
ES	7,874	87,596	7,716	8.8%	35,136	2311	6.6%
DE	4,450	66,885	645	1.0%	29,056	123	0.4%
FR	4,376	44,550	3,024	6.8%	19,856	860	4.3%
UK	2,619	22,141	1,408	6.4%	6,650	335	5.0%
US	20,353	163,884	3,156	1.9%	43,781	555	1.3%

Table shows Daily/Weekly increase in percentages

	Daily		Weekly
Country	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor
IT	104.1%	103.3%	159.1%	119.8%
ES	109.3%	103.7%	249.3%	133.9%
DE	107.1%	111.3%	230.2%	227.8%
FR	110.9%	104.6%	224.4%	156.7%
UK	113.4%	101.1%	332.9%	126.2%
US	115.0%	110.4%	374.3%	151.9%

The Village Choir ... The Best Of ...

The Village Choir [1972] - Talk To Me Sometime [SCM 1000]

Stunning deep soul cut written by Sir Charles Ezra Matthews.

The Village Choir [1973] - The Mind Of A Fool, Wisdom Of A Genius [Paramount PAA_0254]

Mind-blowing deep soul ballad.  This must be 'as yet' undiscovered as you can still pick it up very cheaply.  Get it while you can.

P.S. Sound not great and cut by 90 seconds ... but the only clip available.

The Village Choir [1976] - Along The Beach - Part One [N.Y.C. 1000]

This is the slower version.

The Village Choir [1976] - Sweet Hot Lips [N.Y.C. 1000]

This was also released on 12" 4:47 long.

The Village Choir [197?] - Along The Beach [SCM 3XXX] - faster version

SCM stands for Sir Charles Matthews who wrote most of The Village Choir's material and produced them.  I would guess that this was released before the N.Y.C. issue but no date available - possibly 1973 (on the basis that 1000 was 1971 and 2000 was 1972 ... and guessing that 3XXX may be 1973).

The Village Choir [197?] - Street Opera With A Blues Waltz  [SCM 3XXX]

Epic ballad.  This is quite simply a superb piece of music.  They also released an album with this as the title track. 

The Village Choir [197?] - All Purpose Love [SCM 2000]

Superb 70s dancer which has Lee McDonald on lead vocals. Taken from the extremely rare album 'Street Opera With A Blues Waltz'.  There is a note for the entry on Discogs that Sir Charles Matthews claims that the album has never been released, (and he should know as it's his label) but a/ I cannot verify the source of the comment and b/ there are copies in existence .. so what are they ... promos/test pressings/bootlegs?

Chuck Ray - Discography

Chuck Ray released 5 45s between 1967 and 1974, on 4 different labels (Tam-Boo, Five-O (2), Buddah,  Gemigo).  He's another artist that I can find absolutely no info about.  

Discography

1967 - I Don't Mind / Come Alive [Tam-Boo 6719]
1970 - Baby Please Don't Let Go / There AIn't A Thing You Can Do [Buddah 207]
1970 - Double Dog / Come Alive [Five-O F-501]
1972 - I Go For That / Silvers & Ray - Stroke Your Yoke [Five-O F-502]

1974 - Reconsider Baby  / I'll Be There Baby [Gemigo GMA 101]

Chuck Ray [1967] - I Don't Mind [Tam-Boo 6719]

This track is his first from 1967 which is 'real deal' soul on the deep side of crossover in my book which should also appeal to Lowriders.

An interesting note on Discogs for the 'repress' was that it was repressed with a shorter time (2:37 v 2:47) so as not to discourage radio play as DJ's tended to ignore tracks longer that 2:30 (so why not 2:27 instead of 2:37?)

There is only one other release listed on Tam-Boo 6720 by Ricky Allen - Cut You Lose / Soul Street. (Driving funky northern which is a remake of the original 1963 R&B version on Age) / northern on the R&B side)

Chuck Ray [1967] - Come Alive [Tam-Boo 6719]

Fairly pedestrian run-of-the-mill 60s soul. Nothing special to my ears at least.

Chuck Ray [1970] - Baby Please Don't Go [Buddah 207]

Early 70s northern dancer.

Chuck Ray [1970] - There AIn't A Thing You Can Do [Buddah 207]

A fairly average / non-descript funky/soul plodder.

Chuck Ray [1970] - Double Dog [Five-O F-501]

Only included for completeness. This track provides me with no musical satisfaction ... enough said! 

Chuck Ray [1970] - Come Alive [Five-O F-501]

I 'assume' that this track is the same as the flip on Tam-Boo from 1967?

Chuck Ray [1972] - I Go For That [Five-O F-502]

Northern soul with a funky beat.

Silvers & Ray [1972] - Stroke Your Yoke [Five-O F-502]

Nothing to do with Chuck Ray apart from it being on the flip side to I Go For Love.

Chuck Ray [1974] - Reconsider Baby [Gemigo GMA 101]

His last recording on the Gemigo label in 1974, shut your eyes and this could be Tyrone Davis with echoes of If I Could Change My Mind!

Chuck Ray [1974] - I'll Be There Baby [Gemigo GMA 101]

The flip side is another that is right in the Tyrone Davis school. i.e. southern soul Chicago style.