Soul Strutter: 07/14/20

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

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