Trish Toledo

I discovered Trish Toledo on YouTube a couple of years ago. She has released 3 EPs of cover versions of lowrider classics and an original on vinyl

2017 Dedicated To The Ones I Love Vol. 1 [Silent Giant]

Patti Drew's - Tell Him

The Notation's - I'm Still Here

Billy Stewart's - I Do Love You

The Vanguard's - Somebody Please

Etta James' - I'd Rather Go Blind

2018 - Dedicated To The Ones I Love Vol. 2 [Silent Giant]

Trish Toledo [2018] - I Want You Back

The band looks like Thee Sinseers - the one on the left is definitely Joey Quinone.

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The Persuaders' - Thin Line Between Love And Hate

Aaron Neville's - Tell It Like It Is [Silent Giant] with Frankie J

Barbara Lewis' - Hello Stranger

The Sapphires' - Who Do You Love

2018 - Dedicated To The Ones I Love Vol. 3 [Silent Giant]

Sly, Slick And Wicked's - Confessin' A Feeling

Brenda & The Tabulations - Dry Your Eyes

The Miracles' - Ooh Baby Baby

Bread/Ralphi Pagan - Make It With You

The Elgins' - Darling Baby

Trish Toledo & Baby Bash [2018] - Do You Love [Silent Giant]

Joey Quinones [2019] - Don't Tell Me [Silent Giant]

Just literally stumbled across this on YouTube and thought it too good to pass by.  Perhaps already well known to the lowrider scene but if not then here's one for you.  This appears to be his only release to date and came out last year April 2019.

I also found his 'official' video and (unless it's a illusion) as well as writing the song he appears to be playing all the instruments, drums, sax, guitar as well as singing.

Further investigation has discovered that he is the lead singer with Thee Sinseers. 

Thee Sinseers [2019] - It Was Only A Dream [Colemine CLMN-173]

Thee Sinseers [2019] - I Don't Mind [Colemine CLMN-173]

James Brown cover

Thee Sinseers [2019] - Seems Like (Live)

The Sinseers [2019] - What's His Name (Live)

Trish Toledo & Thee Sinseers [2020] - The Only One [Trish Toledo]

Freddie Hughes Discography

The mention of Freddie Hughes in the last post prompted me to post some of his material.  One of my favourite singers who has been greatly overlooked.  Hopefully some of the material here will turn you on to him if you are not familiar with him.

Discogs states that he was a member of the following groups: Cymbals, Markeets, The Four Rivers, The Ballads, The Music City Soul Brothers.  I can find no evidence that he was a member of The Ballads even though a bootleg CD Fred(die) Hughes & His Groups was released listing 4 tracks with The Ballads. Perhaps he stood in for some recording sessions?

In any case I do not intend to cover his work with these groups as a lot of the material is 50s and early 60s.

Vitamin E [1977] - Sharing [Buddah BDA 574]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.9

Let's kick-off with one that may easily pass you buy as he does NOT seem to be credited on the album or 45 produced by Norman Connors and James Mtume.  The only way to listen to it is the full length album version which is 90 seconds longer than the 45.  This tune is absolutely faultless getting the top rating on this blog so far.

Right with that off my chest and out of the way, let's work through Freddies discography.

The Casanova Two [1966] - I Was A Fool [Early Bird 49658]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Northern Soul on San Francisco's Early Bird label from 1966 with his unmistakable vocals.  Early Bird released around 11 45s between 1966-67, two of which were from The Casanova Two (II). The Casanova Two were Freddie Hughes and Wylie Trass (an ex-Holiday [Music City]).

The Casanova Two [1966] - We Gotta Keep On [Early Bird 49658]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

Northern Soul favourite.

Freddie Hughes [1968] - We Got To Keep On [Wand WDS 664]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9

He did a different (more jazzy) version of the song on his only album Send My Baby Back on Wand in 1968.  I love both versions but if pushed would choose this one.

The Casanova II [1967] - Maybe They're Right [Early Bird 49661]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.6

The Casanova II [1967] - Love's Philosophy [Early Bird 49661]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.5

Freddie Hughes [1967] - Take Me As I Am [Hip Star H-1013]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Out and out Northern Soul from 1967 with an instrumental version on the flip side.

Freddie Hughes [1968] - Send My Baby Back [Wee 1006]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6

Crossover from 1968 which saw a national release on Wand.

The flip side is 'Where Is My Baby' which to my mind isn't as good as many other releases so I haven't posted it in order to limit posting to the best ones.

Freddie Hughes [1968] - My Baby Came Back [Wee 1011]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Skip-a-long Northern Soul from 1968.

Freddie Hughes [1968] - Natural Man [Wand WND 1192]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.0

Freddie's rendition of Aretha's classic. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

Freddie Hughes [1968] - I Gotta Keep My Bluff In [Wand WND 1192/1197]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.5

Released initially as the flip side to Natural Man and then as A side to He's no Good.

Freddie Hughes [1968] - He's No Good [Wand WND 1197]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.8

Written by Lonnie Hewitt, this is very similar to Tammi Terrell - I Can't Believe You Love Me.

Freddie Hughes & The Chevelles [1972] - I've Got My Own Mind [Janus J 196]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

Great toe-tapping crossover from 1972.

Freddie Hughes & The Chevelles [1972] - I Just Found Out [Janus J 196]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.6

Superb deep soul / crossover from 1972.

Freddie Hughes & The Chevelles [1973] - Will You Be There [Happy Fox 504]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

Promo only (?) sweet / deep soul / crossover from 1973 that also got a promo release on Janus J 208.

Freddie Hughes [1977] - Sarah Mae [Greg-U-Rudy 002]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

Deep soul on label owned by Greg Crockett (writer/arranger) and Rudy Henderson (producer).  As far as I know they only released one other 45 on the label Tap Dance by Yowza (which I've never heard).
The sound clip here is a later re-recording not the original.  I'll have to get my own copy out an try and post it on YouTube.

Freddie Hughes [1977] - Don't You Leave [Greg-U-Rudy 002]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.6

Modern Soul from 1977 which got a few spins on release.

Leon Haywood [1969/1975] - Consider The Source [Capitol / 20th Century]

Two versions of this classic from Leon Haywood, the original (faster) version from 1969 on Capitol and the re-recorded slower versions from 1975 on 20th Century.

Leon Haywood [1969] - Consider The Source [Capitol 2584]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.4

Northern Soul/Crossover classic.

Leon Haywood [1975] - Consider The Source [20th Century TC-2264]

Soulstrutter's Rating: 8.6

Slowed down version of the 1969 release which gives it a completely different feel.  Reminds me of the sort of material Freddie Hughes / Lonnie Hewitt were recording e.g. Got To Keep My Bluff In and Is It Me.

Leon Haywood [1969/1975] - Just Your Fool [Capitol 2584 / 20th Century TC-2264]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Same recording of this track on both releases.

Lou Ragland [1973] - I Didn't Mean To Leave You [Warner Bros. WB 7734]

A record I've had since the 70s on UK issue has at last been seeing some action in recent years for the topside, but I'm posting this mainly for the other side which shouldn't be overlooked. Lou is accompanied by an unnamed male group (Hot Chocolate?) making this right up the street for the lowrider scene's love of group soul harmony.

Lou Ragland is best known on the UK soul scene for his 1967 Northern Soul classic 'I Travel Alone' on Amy. This was Lou Ragland's only UK release which was overlooked at the time as it was released before 'I Travel Alone' was discovered by the scene in 1974 so no one knew who Lou Ragland was at the then.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.8

Group soul harmony/crossover

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Lou Ragland [1973] - Since You Said You'd Be Mine [Warner Bros. WB 7734]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

70s Modern Northern Soul

Greate Lakes Orchestra (Feat. Lou Ragland & Devanna) [1982] - This Is The Night For Loving [Great Lakes GLR 101]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.8

80s modern soul

Greate Lakes Orchestra (Feat. Lou Ragland) [1982] - Didn't I Tell You [Great Lakes GLR 101]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6

80s modern soul

Lou Ragland [1967] - I Travel Alone [Amy 988]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.85

Northern Soul classic Top 500 sound

Lou Ragland [1967] - Big Wheel [Amy 988]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Mid-tempo Northern Soul which would have been too slow to play back in the day but perfect for today's dancefloor. Don't know if it's ever been played out but I've heard far worse records played out!

Mandrill [1979] - Love Made Me Over [Arista 9527]

Here's one that you may not be aware of.  Taken from Mandrill's 1979 album 'Getting In The Mood' a nice modern soul LP only track 'Love Made Me Over'.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75

Lynn Varnado [1973] - Wash And Wear Love [Gatur G1202]

Pretty well know in Northern Soul circles as this was a big record around 1976. Originally a Blackpool Mecca spin which took off all over the country but was bootlegged (very easy to spot as bootleg label is yellow/black not colour) which I guess instantly killed it.  It has always stuck in my mind and you never hear it played these days, probably because it is a very rare record on original, but not as rare as her earlier (first?) 45 Second Hand Love / Goodbye And God Speed on Yumie which was also bootlegged.  She did cut one side of another 45 in 1979 'What Is This Life' (a bluesy number) with Margie Evans on the flip and there have been 2 issues of previously unreleased tracks from Hayley (2005) and BGP (2016).

'Wash And Wear Love' sits very firmly in 'crossover' territory and quite surprising that it was such as big a sound as it was at all-nighters, not because of its quality, but it is simply not a typical Northern Soul record of the time.  Quality always rises to the top!

Lynn (Alleane) Varnado is now known as Dr. Alleane Varnado Lang and turned to gospel music. Some more info at SirShambling.

Alleane Varnado Facebook

An anecdote I came across is that Lynn Varnado is Snoop Dogg's aunt and Daz Dillinger's (of Dogg Pound) mother.

Lynn Varnado [1973] - Wash And Wear Love [Gatur G1202]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9

Lynn Varnado [1973] - Tell Me What's Wrong With The Men  [Gatur G1202]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8

Sista funk A side.

Lynn Vernado [1971] - Second Hand Love (Is Not For Me) [Yumie 1000]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.2

70s Modern Northern Soul that got spins mid 70s and was bootlegged. Extremely rare on original as dealer John Manship states that he has only held 3 copies in 50 years.
Note the (mis)spelling of her name.

Lynn Vernado [1971] - Goodby And God Speed [Yumie 1000]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.8

A deep soulful mid-tempo floater.

Alleann Varnado [1979] - What Is This Life [ICA ICA-025-1]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.1

A southern soul bluesy number.

Margie Evans [1979] - You Are To Me [ICA ICA-025-1]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.2

Nothing to do with Lynn Varnado, but for completeness have included the flip side to What Is This Life.  A pleasant enough 70s modern soul dancer.

Lynn Vernado [2005] - Ain't That Something [Hayley HR010]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.2

Previously unreleased version of the Ashford & Simpson song released by Hayley (UK) in 2005 with 'Wash And Wear Love' on the other side.

Lynn Varnado [2016] - Staying At Home Like A Woman [BGP 052]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.2

A previously unreleased slice of sistah funk with 'Tell Me What's Wrong With Men' on the other side.

COVID-19 23rd March 2020

For the last 2 days we have seen new cases in Italy decline.  Let's hope that this is a sign that after 2 weeks of lockdown new infections are reducing.  However in Spain and France new cases have doubled (ES 3,272 - 6,368, FR 1,559 - 3,838) and Germany increased by 67% (DE 2,509 - 4,183) and in UK increased by nearly 50% (UK 665 - 967).

As predicted yesterday the UK government has now told everyone except for essential workers to stay at home except under strict conditions.

The UK is exactly where Italy was when they locked down on 8th March i.e. IT 6,387 cases and 366 deaths UK 6,650 cases and 335 deaths.

For anyone in any doubt about how serious this is and that the rest of Europe is following Italy take a look at this graph produced by John Burn-Murdoch of The Financial Times.

Click to enlarge

For those who think this is 'just the flu' be aware that this virus is far more contagious than the flu. The R0 factor (basic reproduction number) for flu is 1.3, current estimates for COVID-19 is 2 to 3. That means for every person infected they can infect 2 to 3 others who in turn can infect 2 to 3 others etc.

REALITY CHECK even with the low end number of 2, after only 5 cycles that one person could have been the seed for 65,536 cases (2; 4; 16; 256; 65,536; 4,294,967,296).  If each of the 65,536 infect 2 more people each then the number is a staggering 4.3 million!  The numbers after that don't even bare thinking about.  Of course things are quite as linear as that but it shows the impact if we don't socially distance.

Source Rachael Rettner Live Science - Viral Transmission

Daily	23-Mar				22 Mar (-1 Day)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	4,789	63,927	6,077	9.5%	59,138	5,476	9.3%
ES	6,368	35,136	2,311	6.6%	28,768	1,772	6.2%
DE	4,183	29,056	123	0.4%	24,873	94	0.4%
FR	3,838	19,856	860	4.3%	16,018	674	4.2%
UK	967	6,650	335	5.0%	5,683	281	4.9%

Weekly	23-Mar				16 Mar (-1 Week)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	4,789	63,927	6,077	9.5%	27,980	2,158	7.7%
ES	6,368	35,136	2,311	6.6%	9,942	342	3.4%
DE	4,183	29,056	123	0.4%	7,272	17	0.2%
FR	3,838	19,856	860	4.3%	6,633	148	2.2%
UK	967	6,650	335	5.0%	1,543	55	3.6%

	Daily		Weekly
Country	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor
IT	108.1%	102.7%	228.5%	123.3%
ES	122.1%	106.8%	353.4%	191.2%
DE	116.8%	112.0%	399.6%	181.1%
FR	124.0%	102.9%	299.4%	194.1%
UK	117.0%	101.9%	431.0%	141.3%

Source Worldometers