Carmicheal Musiclover [2019] - Happy Place [One Mic]

Carmichael Musiclover [2019] - Happy Place [One Mic]

The title track from Carmichael Musiclover's Happy Place' album from 2019.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.2

Carmichael Musiclover [2019] - Me And The Ocean [One Mic]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.1

Official Website

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - The Best Thing Yet [One Mic]

Carmichael Musiclover's The Best Thing Yet (his 7th album since 2008) couldn't be more aptly titled as this is easily the best album of 2020 so far.

Born in Alabama he moved to Atlanta to pursue his dream and released his first album 'All About Love' on his own One Mic label in 2008.  His albums are consistently good.

I've already posted the killer track from his 2018 Journey album Count The Stars (which has a Maxwell feel about it) and I'm sure there will be plenty more as I wade through his previous albums.

The latest album has 17 tracks so I've selected a handful of the best tracks.

Do yourself a favour and click the album cover image below and purchase the full album for £7.99 ... less than 50p a track.

In the meantime enjoy the 5 tracks I've selected.

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - Don't Cross Me Out

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.2

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - Don't Play Around

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - Pure Sweetness

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - Work Of Art

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.7

Carmichael Musiclover [2020] - Chicago Style

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.0

Official Website

Will Downing [2020] - Close To You [Sophisticated Soul]

The best tracks for his new mini LP / EP Romantique, Pt. 2

Will Downing [2020] Close To You

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.5

Will Downing [2020] Ready, Willing And Able

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.3

Gg [2020] - Butterfly (Rod Layman Mix) [Gg]

Soulful house jazz from Gg.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

Gg [2018] - Hopscotch Heart (Rod Layman Mix Radio Edit) [Gg]

More soulful house jazz from 2018.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.0

Official Website
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Dave Mascall Feat. Julia Quinn [2020] - Reading My Mind

This is a new release by Dave Mascall Feat Julia Quinn - Reading My Mind but it was released on Dave Mascall's 2016 album Acid Lounge Vol.3 and to be perfectly honest I prefer the original version to the new version.  I can only find a 62 second sample of the new version but see if you agree which version is best.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.4

Dave Mascall Feat. Lydia Kitto & Dave Plumley [2016] - Reading My Mind

The original 2015 version on self-released album.
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SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.4

Dayon Feat. Astyn Turr [2020] - Don't Talk To Me That Way [Epidemic]

Back the present for this one. A new release from Dayon Feat. Atsyn Turr. Smooth soulful jazz flavours.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.7

Johnnie Taylor [1983] - Just Ain't Good Enough [Beverly Glen BG2007]

Following on from the previous post for The Shapeshifters ,who sampled Johnnie Taylor for Lola's Theme, reminded me of another great modern soul track from the same album - the title track 'Just Ain't Good Enough'.

I've posted the label of the 45 but the sound clip is the extended album version.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

The Shapeshifters Feat. Kimberly Davis [2020] - Second Chance [Glitterbox GLITS052D2]

Old school Philly style dancer from The Shapeshifters (that reminds me of something that I can't quite place at the moment).  Featuring Chic's vocalist Kimberly Davis.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6

The Shapeshifters Feat. Kimberly Davis [2019] - Life Is A Dancefloor [Glitterbox GLITS033D]

Another in the same vein from 2019.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

The Shapeshifters [2003] - Lola's Theme [Nocturnal Groove]

These are the guys that did a great dance track in 2003/4 which featured the wonderful 80s modern soul track from Johnnie Taylor - What About My Love (Beverly Glen) written by the late great Patrick Moten.

Johnnie Taylor [1981] - What About My Love [Beverly Glen BG-2002]

Modern soul classic from 1981 released on 12" & 7" and LP 'Just AIn't Good Enough' on Beverly Glen.

Imani Feat. Oscar Ornelas [2010] - Rollin' [Bong Mines]

On first hearing, this reminds me of Erykah Badu's 'On And On' (not sure if it's sampled).  It's definitely got samples of Al Johnson & Jean Carn's 1980 classic 'Back For More'.

This is Imani's debut release and is from a projected album 'YEAR 3076'

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6

Official Website

Al Johnson & Jean Carn [1980] - I'm Back For More [Columbia #1-11207]

Erykah Badu [1996] - On And On [Motown]

Lorraine Clarke-McGhie [2020] - Closer [New Life]

Lorraine Clarke-McGhie is from South East London.  As far as I am aware she's released a 6 track LP/EP and 3 singles since 2015.

A little bit more Info here.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.3

Lorraine Clarke-McGhie [2016] - I Got U [New Life]

Here's a single she recorded in 2016 entitled I Got U.

She also released a 6 track LP (EP?) in 2015 simply titled LCM (her initials). One of the tracks (Higher) was released as a single.

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Jose James Feat. Cecily [2020] - Feels So Good [Rainbow Blonde]

New single from 'No Beginning No End 2' album featuring Cecily.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

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PrivatProjekt Feat. Stephanie S [2020] - Only Heaven Knows

PrivatProjekt is an independant 3 piece band from Hamburg who use featured artists  this track is from their forthcoming 3rd studio album 'Welcome' available from BandCamp.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

Click to play

Brandon Wilson Feat. Eric Roberson [2019] - Don't Give Up On Love [Soulasis]

Follow up single to 'In Love' from his 2nd  'The Love Factor' album released on his own Soulasis label.

It is 5 years after his 1st grammy nominated debut album XII in 2014

More info at Urban Music Scene

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.3

Brandon Wilson

Eric Roberson

Official Website

Nola Adé [2019] - Good To You [Meeting Everyone Through Art Inc.]

New single by Nigerian/American singer Nola Ade from forthcoming album 'Asaro And Yarns'

Nola is from Chicago and launched her career backing the likes of Bilal and Avery Sunshine before releasing her debut 7 song EP 'The Love Dance' in 2016 followed by 'Good Feelin'' in 2017.

She was nominated for Artist Of The Year by Soul Tracks in 2018.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6

Official Website

Facebook

Philip Bailey [2019] - We're A Winner [Verve]

First new single for 17 years from ex Earth, Wind & Fire man Philip Bailey.  The track is The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield penned and led, song from 1968 and  features Bilal. It is from  his new album 'Love Will Find A Way'.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Cornell C.C. Carter [2019] - I See Live [Izipho Soul #ZP39]

First single from the new album 'Absolutely' released on Izipho Soul.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.3

Chris Jasper [2019] - For The Love Of You [Gold City]

Chris Jasper former member of The Isley Brothers (1973-83) and Isley-Jasper-Isley (1984-87) released a new version of the Isley's classic For The Love Of You originally on Isley's 1975 album 'The Heat Is On' in Oct 2019.

This is a slower version than the original.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.2

Isley Brothers [1975] - For The Love Of You [T-Neck ZS8 2259]

10 Versions of 'Dead'

Following on from the Salvation post and the eccentricities of Major Bill Smith, (William Arthur Smith) here's another track that the squeezed his money's worth out of.  'Dead' / 'I Don't Care No More'

Written by Moses Dillard and Joe Huffman, the track has been recorded by several artists. They lyric changes on different releases - I believe the original had 'razor in my hand ' but was changed to 'phone in my hand' on many recordings.

P.S.  Major Bill was notorious in claiming that he Knew Elvis Presley and that he was still alive. Have  look here.  He even released a cassette in 1981 entitled Elvis Lives.

Carolyn Sullivan [1967] - Dead [Philips 40507]

(Phone lyric)

Dana Gillespie [1968] - Dead [London PS 540]

(Razor lyric)

Cresa Watson [1969] - Dead [Charay C-91]

Uses lyrics 'with tears in my eyes' instead of 'with razor/phone in my hand'.

Phyllis Brown [1969] - Dead [Soft S-1037]

(Phone lyric)

Irv Jackson [1972] - Here Comes The Rattlesnakes / Dusty [Le Cam LC-312]

Uses the backing of Dead but completely different lyrics as it uses lyrics from Wendy Bagwell's 1971 hit 'Here Comes The Rattlesnakes'. The B side is an instrumental similar (same as?) to Cutty Sark below).

Tower Of Power Feat. Lydia Pense [1972] - Dead [Blue Thumb BTS 6004]

Lydia Pense (of Cold Blood) along with Tower of Power covered this tune on an album called 'Lights Out San Francisco' that goes on for 7:11 min.

(Phone lyric)

Edith Jones (Ede Robin) [1973] - I Don't Care No More [Le Cam LC 316/355]

This was released twice on Le Cam in 1973 on 315 and then 355 both on the B side.

(Razor lyric)

Berry Street Station Feat. Carolyn Sullivan [1976] - I Don't Care No More [LeCam LV-630]

This is a mid 70's repress of 'Dead' with original lyrics (reference to razor vs phone) censored on original Phillips pressing. i.e. this is the track recorded on Soft 1020 1967.


(Razor lyric)

Cutty Sark [1971] - Dusty [Zuma Z-652]

This is a pseudo vocal! ... i.e. some spanish lady whispering some lyrics throughout but basically it's an instrumental.

Cutty Sark [1971] - Dusty (Inst) [Zuma Z-652]

Salvation

Charay label was owned by Major Bill Smith in Fort Worth, Texas.  It was a subsidiary of Le Cam along with Austin records and had a couple of subsidiaries itself namely Soft and Zuma. Major Bill was renowned for reusing backing tracks and reissuing the same songs.  Here is an example of one such track 'Salvation'. I have found four different versions all on Charay.

Robert Thomas [1969] - Salvation [Charay C-87]

This was the first version of this track discovered/played in mid 70s (Cleethorpes Pier).  It was also repressed on on Charay G-100 and G-103 billed as Robert Thomas & Six Feet Under with Soul Of  A Man on flip.  It has recently been reactivated since other versions have been found and played, hence price has risen rapidly and now you'd have to find £250-£350 or more for an original.

There is an article on SirShambling regarding Robert Thomas which it incorrectly states that all other versions of Salvation are instrumentals. Actually only the Men From Macon's version is an instrumental, the other from Cresa Watson and Rita Lee (who may actually be Cresa Watson) are vocals. See below.

Robert Thomas' only other solo outing was on Venture (Ve-617) Bye By Baby / True Love Is Hard To Find in 1968.

Thomas recorded with his cousin Matt Brown under the name Matt & Robert. They cut 3 45s as Matt & Robert (on Soft, Uni & Le Cam) and one as Matt & Robert 'The Soul Cousins' on Jar-Val all around 1969-70.  They were mainly cover versions e.g. Marvin Gaye's Pride And Joy and Otis Redding's These Arms Of Mine and Mr, Pitiful.

Matt Brown recorded a few solo 45s  several of which received NS spins
Everyday / Baby I'm A Want You [Jar-Val JV 0004]
Thank You Baby / Sweet Thing [Jar-Val JV 0006] 
Funky Soul Train / Love Me Just A Little Bit [Sew City SC 108] as Mathew Brown
NB 'Love Me Just a Little Bit' was covered-up as Johnny Bartel.

Both the Jar-Val 45's were reissued in UK by Grapevine JV 006 in 2001 and JV 0004 in 2003.

In true Major Bill eccentricity he also released tracks recorded as Matt & Robert by Matt Brown i.e. 
A Man Without A Woman / Soul Of A Man [Soft S-1035]

Soul Of A Man / A Man Without A Woman [Le Cam LC 357]

Soul Of A Man was written by Major Bill and it was released at least 6 times 1 by Robert Thomas, 2 by Matt Brown and 2 by Matt & Robert and it also by The Men From Macon as instrumental.  He like to get his money's worth out of a track!

Cresa Watson [1969] - Salvation [Charay C-90]

This track was released twice with the same catalog no. but with different B sides:

'You're No Good'

'if You Stopped Loving Me'

and to compound things here is also a C-90 release with these two paired without Salvation resulting in 3 issues with the same catalog no.!

Men From Macon [1971] - Salvation [Charay C-100]

This is an instrumental version by The Men Form Macon believed to be Robert & Matt.

Rita Lee [1971] - Salvation [Charay 101]

It is believed that this was a repress done by Major Bill in the 70s because of the demand for Robert Thomas.  It may or may not be the Cresa Watson reissued with a different name.

UPDATE 21st March 2020

You may be wondering why some older material has suddenly appeared on the blog.  As stated a day or so ago, I have been migrating posts from my other blog ModernSoul over to SoulStrutter.  I will no longer update ModernSoul but will not delete the blog so the existing material once migrated will be on both ModernSoul and SoulStrutter.

COVID-19 21st March 2020

New cases continue to rise in Italy. From thinking they were stabilising around 3,000-3,500 new cases per day a few days ago with the hope that new cases would start to decline, they have almost doubled again as yesterday there were 5,986 new cases reported.  This is even more concerning when you consider it is now a week since the whole country was locked down.  Does this mean the virus is spreading even under lockdown conditions? Or were these people infected before the lockdown and symptoms are now only just surfacing?  If lockdown IS working we should expect to see the number of new cases reducing soon.

The table below compares the latest figures with a/ previous day and b/ previous week.
Source Worldometers

Daily	20-Mar				19 Mar (-1 Day)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	5,986	47,021	4,032	8.6%	41,035	3,405	8.3%
ES	3,494	21,571	1,093	5.1%	18,077	831	4.6%
DE	4,528	19,838	68	0.3%	15,320	44	0.3%
FR	1,617	12,612	450	3.6%	10,995	372	3.4%
UK	714	3,983	177	4.4%	3,269	144	4.4%

Weekly	20-Mar				13 Mar (-1 Week)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	5,986	47,021	4,032	8.6%	17,660	1,266	7.2%
ES	3,494	21,571	1,093	5.1%	5,232	133	2.5%
DE	4,528	19,838	68	0.3%	3,675	8	0.2%
FR	1,617	12,612	450	3.6%	3,661	79	2.2%
UK	714	3,983	177	4.4%	798	11	1.4%

The table below shows the daily and weekly rates of increase as percentage.

	Daily		Weekly
Country	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor
IT	114.6%	103.3%	266.3%	119.6%
ES	119.3%	110.2%	412.3%	199.3%
DE	129.5%	119.3%	539.8%	157.5%
FR	114.7%	105.5%	344.5%	165.3%
UK	121.8%	100.9%	499.1%	322.4%

The UK figures have more than doubled twice in a week i.e. 800 x2 = 1,600 x2 = 3,200 and now stand at almost 4,000.  This is where Italy was on 5th March and the rate of increase is a similar rate to that seen in Italy i.e. doubling every 3 days.  If they continue at this rate then we could see over 16,000 cases by this time next week (4 x2 = 8 x2 = 16) which will be around where Spain, German and France are today. If we do see rates around 15,000 -16,000 in a week's time then we must assume that UK is following the same trajectory as Italy as on 5th March Italy had 3,838 cases and 12th March 15,113 cases.

The UK government announced the closure of pubs, clubs, restaurants and theatres last night commencing today. Anyone with any common sense will have not been near these for some time but let's hope that this is not too late to curb the outbreak.

The only way to stop the spreading of this virus is for individuals to take personal responsibility and implement the official advice given i.e. wash hands regularly, social distancing and self-isolate where appropriate.

Please stay safe and do your bit!