Brent Carter & Friends [2020] - Work To Do

Superb performance on this cover of The Isley Bros./AWB classic.  Standout vocalist for me has to be Cheryl 'Pepsii' Riley.  How on earth did they manage to mix this - over 7 mins with over 30 separated musicians?  Full credit.

If you enjoyed this then it's available for download via BandCamp and all proceeds to Save The Children COVID-19 appeal.

Michon Young

I thought I'd already posted some of these tracks but it seems that I haven't! So without further ado here's a selection of her best tracks.

She released her first album 'Possessing The Promise' in 2011 on Tree Of Life from which Always Remember was picked up on in the UK. Another great track is 'I'll Bless Your Name'.  In 2016  Love, Life Experiences came out followed by  Love, Life Experiences Vol. 2 Driving To Purpose in 2018.

Check out her website

So Glad Live @ The Hideaway, London Jan 2020

Honeydew

Her latest release from April 2020

His Good Thing

Single only release from June 2019

It's All About Me

From Love, Life Experiences Vol. 2 Driving To Purpose 2018

Let's Go To Work

From Love, Life Experiences Vol. 2 Driving To Purpose 2018

Let's Go To Work )Mystique Alternative Remix) 

Oooh!
From Love, Life Experiences 2016

Something About You Live in studio 
From Love,Life Experiences 2016

Features Molly Tentralli who backed Jarrod Lawson a few years ago and Lindsey Webster o backing vocals.

Love On Me

From Love, Life Experiences

Carmichael MusicLover - Lifeline - Top Tracks

It's ridiculous! I started this post thinking I'd highlight the best tracks from Carmicheal MusicLover's latest 14 track album and have really 'struggled' to narrow it down to just 6 tracks. This is his second album already this year (The Best Thing Yet is still my favourite album of the year so far) and his tenth independent album release since 2008 the quality of his material is excellent.  On some tracks he reminds me of Alexander O'Neal and on others Will Downing.

As I'm posting this Happy Place and Count The Stars have been playing in the background - both fine tracks - I feel a compilation coming up, which will be no mean feat trying to highlight his 20 best tracks!

If Carmichael is new to you, then do yourself a favour and visit his YouTube channel and then his website and order from his back catalogue  (only available there) which includes:

Lifeline

The Best Thing Yet

Fantasy Rain

Happy Place

Journey

Love Souljah

Pot Of Gold

All About Love

You Can't Break Me

Lifeline

A Little Inspirations

Focus On Lovin'

We Belong Together

Know Your Worth

House Party

Gloria Miller [2020] - I'm Doing Me [Perky]

Cool Million feat. Matthew Winchester - Keep On (Boogie Back Remix)

2020 update of James (D-Train) Williams' - Keep On - the Boogie Back Remix.

D-Train [1982] - Keep On [Prelude PRL D634 A98]

Mario Biondi [2020] - Paradise

Italy's answer to Barry White with his latest release just out.

Tina Mazyck [2020] - Rewind

Standout track from Tina Mazyck's new album Honestly.

Full Album

Saint Jaimz Feat. Sene [2020] - Being Gentle

Great new cover version of Frederick Feat. Janice Dowlen's - Gentle (Calling Your Name) from 1985.  I've included the original below to compare.

Frederick [1985] - Gentle (Calling Your Name) [Heat #HS12 2022]

A bonus track and another great 80s recording by Frederick - Games.

Frederick [1985] - Games [Heat #HS 2030]

Paulette McWilliams [2020] - Just To Keep You Satisfied / So Amazing [Blujazz]

Neo jazz/soul flavas from Paulette McWilliams taken from her new album A Woman's Story.

Just To Keep You Satisfied (Cover of Marvin Gaye)

So Amazing (cover of Luther Vandross)

Lord Finesse presents Motown State Of Mind [2020]

Legendary rapper, hip-hop producer, and founding member of the influential collective Diggin’ In The Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), Lord Finesse is back with his most ambitious project to date: Motown State of Mind, a set of handpicked Motown classics remixed and reimagined. In true DJ style, the remixes will be released as a 45 RPM box set on July 24 (2020) containing seven 7-inch records on black vinyl featuring the remixed version on Side A and the classic original on Side B.

Micheal Jackson - I Wanna Be Where You Are (Underboss Remix)

Marvin Gaye - I Want You (Underboss Remix)

DeBarge - I Like It (Soul Synopsis Mix)

Switch - There'll Never Be (Solidified Soul Mix)

Eddie Kendricks - Body Talk (TBG Mix)

Sisters Love - Now Is The Time (The Mack Revisited Mix)

Jackson 5 - Tribute Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save (Underboss Remix)

Art Madison [2020] - Love And Affection (Remix)

Remix of Love And Affection from the album Young Soul (much better than the original mix)

Honey And Blue [2020] - Picture Perfect {Honey & Blue]

Latest release from Honey And Blue taken from their album 'Bloom' which has some pretty good tracks on it. Click mage to sample tracks.

Joe Leavy [2020] - Inside Of You {Karyn White Enterprises]

Quality track from Joe Leavy Taken from 2017 Gale & The Storm OST which stars Karyn White.

Will Downing [2020] - Right Where You Are [Sophisticated Soul]

Brand new single from Will Downing released on 10th July 2020.

UK Soul Chart - 14th July 2020

Here's the latest UK Soul Chart with links to tracks.

1 (1) Ruff n Tumble - Where Do We Go From Here / Baby I'm Scared Of You / Love Triangle EP

Buy from here

2 (3) Rose Spearman - Come Get The Love  from Album 'Trust'

3 (NE) Carmichael Musiclover - Lifeline

See previous post for full album

4 (18) PrivatProjekt feat. Stefanie S. & Nigel Lowis - Don't Walk That Way

5 (NE) JB Rose - Back To Love

6 (6) Dorrey Lyles - My Realized Dream - Album

Full Album 

7 (13) Charlie Wilson - One I Got

Borrows heavily from Uses Four Tops - Ain't No Woman Like The One I Got

8 (NE) The Groove Association feat. Georgie B - Love's In Our Hearts

9 (14) The Shapeshifters feat. Billy Porter - Finally Ready

Already posted here - to me this is the best single release of te year so far.

10 (11) Raymond Barton ft Yaya Diamond - Love In Your Eyes

11 (8) Jarrod Lawson - Embrace What We Are

12 (23) Deniece Williams - When You Love Somebody

13 (21) Full Flava feat. Donna Gardier - The Glow Of Love-Mixes

Cover of Change feat. Luther Vandross on lead.

14 (7) Matt Johnson - With the Music

Debut solo release from member of Jamiroquai with Herbie Hancock style vocoder.

15 (4) Lukas Setto - Lockdown

16 (NE) John Legend - Bigger Love  Full Album

17 (29) Davie - Testify

18 (16) - Romina Johnson - Heartbeat

19 (19) Opolopo ft Angela Johnson - Stay This Way

Cover of  The Brand New Heavies

20 (9) Ripple 2.20 - Exercise My Love / I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky

21 (10) Shaila Prospere - Let's Be (Soul Syndicate Mix) (Remixes)

Soul Syndicate Reflex Mix

Family Reunion Sugar Free Mix

22 (5) Regi Myrix presents Hil St Soul - In My Groove (Nigel Lowis /Org Mix)

Hints of Angie Stone - No More Rain!

23 (15) Soulful Emma Louise featuring Bryan Chambers - Falling

24 (24) Los Charly's Orchestra ft Andre Espeut - Living the Brooklyn Nights

25 (NE) Tall Black Guy - Restless as We Are- EP

Available from BandCamp

1/ Emerge and See Part I Feat. Kyotey Grey

2/ As The Night Moves Feat. Devin Morrison

3/ It's Hard To Be Blackalude

4/ Gimme Mine Feat. 80's Babies

5/ F.I.Y.E Feat. Tony Ozier

6/ Emerge and See Part II Feat. Kyotey Grey

7/ We Gotta Do Better Feat. Paul Theodore Chandler and Deborah Bond

26 (RE) Glenn Jones feat. Genobia Jeter - Trust In Me

27 (26) Gilbert Pryor ft Sylver Logan Sharp & William Smith - Lets Ride

28 (20) Bluey - Tinted Sky (Full Album)

29 (12) Daisy Hicks - Close To You (Sir Piers Curious Remix)

30 (2) Super DB Band - Kool Funk

The Shapeshifters Feat. Billy Porter ‎[2020] - Finally Ready [Glitterbox #GLTS060D2]

I'll stick my neck out on this one - the best new release I've heard so far this year!  It just isn't long enough .. so expect several remixes to emerge.  This is an anthem of the future.  'IF' this got the airplay it deserves it 'should' be a massive crossover hit.

Single version

Extended

Grayson Hugh - [1989] Finally Found A Friend/How 'Bout Us [RCA 9163-7-R]

Blue-eyed soul from a guy called Grayson Hugh which is on the flip side of a duet he did with Betty Wright on a cover of Champaign's - How 'Bout Us.  Sounds very much like Timmy Thomas' - Why Can't We Live Together in the background - not sure if it was 'officially' sampled or not?

Grayson Hugh [1989] - Finally Found A Friend [RCA 9163-7-R]

Demo Version

Grayson Hugh & Betty Wright [1989] - How 'Bout Us [RCA 9163-7-R]

Sam Moore [1970] - Give You Plenty Lovin' / Tennessee Waltz [Atlantic #45-2762]

Ultra rare and the rarest release on Atlantic is this 1970 debut solo outing by Sam Moore of Sam & Dave.  Thought initially to have been unreleased as the only known copies were a same sided white demo of Tennessee Waltz (the A side) which is a decent southern deep soul version.

UPDATE 30th June 2020 - This record (M-) was auctioned by John Manship on 29th Jul 2020 and sold for £2,215! 

This is John's review:

"The very rarest Atlantic Soul 45 by quite some distance and it is utterly BRILLIANT!

Way beyond rare! Initially thought to be unreleased, with promo only "Tennessee Waltz" mono / stereo both sides being pressed. Recorded at Muscle Shoals 1970 by three of the studios stalwarts Dave Crawford, Brad Shapiro and Wade Marcus. As Muscle Shoals Alabama leaves the 60's decade with Sam Moore at the mike and these three virtuoso's constructing the most perfect Northern Soul dancer featuring the hints of the 70's Soul this legendary studio were about to create.

Subtle bongo intro, squealing Soul Sisters choruses, a full string section, horns, relentless guitar pulses, screaming saxophone intrusions; all woven together to accommodate that rasping seasoned know-how from Sam Moore. Be prepared to be carried away on wave of joyous Soul of the like you may not have encountered before, as Sam rises to the occasion becoming more and more persuasive as the session unfolds. Building up momentum that leaves the dancer or the listener in a state of Northern Soul bliss, by the finale of this astonishing recording.

WHAT A TUNE!! an off-the-scale rarity and insanely good and this is one of only a handful known. IT ticks all the boxes."

Give You Plenty Lovin' has real across-the board appeal and should be appreciated by lovers of all genre of soul music.

Written by Dave Crawford who wrote material for Wilson Pickett, Jackie Moore, James & Bobby Purify, Baby Washington, Tami Lynn, Sam & Dave, Sweet Inspirations, Dee Dee Warwick and many others in 60s & 70s.  His best known songs are probably Candi Staton's  - Young Hearts Run Free and Lynda Lyndell's - What A Man later recorded by Laura Lee, Salt 'N' Pepa Feat. En Vogue. Other notable songs that he wrote are Mighty Clouds Of Joy - Mighty Cloud Of Joy and Jackie Moore / Otis Clay - Precious Precious.

Sam Moore [1970] - Give You Plenty Lovin' [Atlantic #45-2762]

Sam Moore [1970] - Tennessee Waltz [Atlantic #45-2762]

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - Lifeline [One Mic]

Hot on the heels of his last release aptly entitled 'The Best Thing Yet' (and one I regard as a contender of album of the year already), Carmichael Musiclover released his latest (and his 10th independent) release 'Lifeline'.

He consistently releases great material so if you like what you hear please support him and buy his music direct from his website.

Here's a sampler of the latest album

Promotional video from Carmichael on Jul 5th

Lifeline

Focus On Lovin

Know Your Worth

House Party

Hey Sunshine

When The Storm Comes 

We Belong Together

You Look Good

My Money

Runaway

Teach Me How To Love 

Slow Wind

A Little Inspiration

Good Love