Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Paloma Faith & Gregory Porter [2020] - Christmas Prayer

Sorry, but it is the 'silly season' so here's another new Christmas tune with a 60s 'Motownesque' vibe. Gregory Porter teams up with Paloma Faith.  I don't really listen to commercial radio but would guess that this will be getting a hammering at present?

BPM: 151 Key: 7B (F Major)

Donny Hathaway [1972] - You Had To Know - Unreleased


This is song that Hathaway wrote for Cold Blood for their 1972 album 'First Taste Of Sin' which he produced for them.  It is believed that this track may have been a demo he recorded for them to prepare for the recording session.  It has never been released, and you need to listen to it fast as it has already been removed from Soundcoud so who knows how long it will remain on YouTube for, it was only posted a few days ago (4th Dec)?

This is so soulful.  Makes you wonder what else was left in the can?

Cold Blood [1972] - You Had To Know [Reprise #MS 2070]

Cold Blood were an Easy Bay Area ('Easy Bay Grease') band (in the same vein as Tower Of Power, Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears). Their  lead singer was Lydia Pense. 

They recorded 'You Had To Know' on their 1972 album 'First Taste Of Sin' along with another Hathaway written song 'Valdez In The Country' which they relased on 45 as flip to Down To The Bone in 1972.

Kirk Whalum  Feat. Lalah Hathaway [2010] - You Had To Know [Mack Avenue #REN5145]

This is a version recorded in 2010 with Hathaway's daughter Lalah for a tribute album 'Everything Is Everything (The Music Of Donny Hathaway)'

Whitney Houston [2020] - One Wish (For Christmas)


To complete a trio of Christmas record postings, Sony have released the first official video of Whitney's 'One Wish (For Christmas)', which was the only single released from her 2003 'One Wish: The Holiday Album'.

She is in fine voice on this gospel 'tinged' Christmas ballad.

BPM: 67 Key: 8B (C Major)

Beverley Knight [2020] - A Christmas Wish, The Theme to The Loss Adjuster


Hey, this isn't half bad! Birmingham's own Beverley Knight pulling out all the stops on a new Chritsmas single which encapsulates the best of previous 'winners' i.e. Mariah Carey and Phil Specter's classic 'Wall Of Sound' style Christmas singles from the 60s.  A lush production with strings, a choir, sleigh bells, it's got a real 60s feel to it. The video was filmed in London's West End at The Noel Coward Theatre as a gesture to the 'hit' the theatre industry has taken in 2020.

BPM: 150 Key: 10B (D Major)


It's actually from a new movie 'The Loss Adjuster' released in Nov 2020 by Pink Flamingo Films which stars Luke Goss, Martin Kemp, Kym Marsh and Joan Collins.  See trailer below, looks like it's in the spirit of 'Love Actually', directed by Vincent Woods.

Warning IMDB rates it only 3.5/10!

Donny Hathaway [1970] - This Christmas [Atco #45-6799]

Hard to believe that this song is 50 years old this year and to celebrate the golden anniversary a new video has been created by cartoonist Lonnie Milsap.   So let's get into the Chrstmas spirit (with only 10 days to go) in this most 'annus horribilis' of years with probably the most soulful Xmas singles ever.

BPM: 93 Key: 7B (F Major)

Joss Stone [2020] - Walk With Me

Joss Stone has released her first new material for three years, and what a tune.  Authentic deep southern soul with gospel influences.  Hard to believe that this young girl from Kent is still only 33 as she seems to have been around forever.  She debuted with her 'Soul Sessions' album in 2003 aged just 16.

I've also included the incredible duet she did with Rev. Al Green on his cover of The Bee Gees How Can You Mend A Broken Heart originally released (as far as I can tell) on Sex And The City soundtrack in 2008.

Walk With Me

BPM: 105 Key: 7B (F Major)

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

BPM: 78 Key: 12B (E Major)

UK Soul Chart - 14th Dec 2020


Latest UK Soul Chart for 14th Dec 2020.
Links to new releases. For previous entries visit UK Soul Chart.

01 (1) The Groove Association feat. Georgie B - It's Been So Long (Album)
02 (2) SouLutions - Stop What You're Doing
03 (13) True Music Group - True Soul Vol. 1
04 (16) Reel People ft Eric Roberson - Dancing On The Moon EP
05 (12) Cool Million featuring D-Train - Be a Star Tonight
06 (11) Ingram Street - Paint The Town (Album)
07 (9) H'Atina - Authentically Me (Album)
08 (5) The Brit Funk Association Feat. Chris Amoo - Smilin' (Mixes)
09 (3) Dave Mascall ft Hannah White - Gotta Trust In Love (Mixes)
10 (7) CJ's Connection - Tell Her
11 (4) Shaila Prospere - Under My Skin (Album)
12 (6) Patrick McLean - One Heart One Beat/Album
13 (15) Dyson The Singer Feat. Ollie Ali Woodson - Love At The Same Time
14 (19) The Realm - Diamond Cut (Mixes)
15 (8) Bradd Marquis - Always / Thrill Is Gone
16 (10) Jack Tyson Charles - Something

17 (NE) Al Castellana - Love Is Here

BPM: 97 Key: 7A (D Minor)

Blue-eyed Italian soul from Al Castellana.


18 (NE) Output / Input - Eye To Eye

BPM: 102 Key: 6B (A# Major)

Cover of Chaka Khan's - Eye To Eye from 1984 with Shannon Pearson on lead who does a great job.  I'm liking this version!


19 (NE) Fostina Dixon Feat. Larry Blackmon (Cameo) - Get On The Floor

BPM: 116 Key: 8B (C Major)

New single from saxophonist Fostina Dixon which features Larry Blackmon of Cameo on drums whcih comes across as a 80s jazz funk throwback. She led her own group Collage in the 80s, but noth the group of same name on Solar.  I discovered that she played flute on the legendary 1978 album by Leo's Sunshipp 'We Need Each Other'


20 (14) Jarrod Lawson - Be The Change (Album)
21 (23) George Anderson/Joyce San Matteo - Lets Celebrate Life

22 (NE) Kindred the Family Soul - The Best Things

BPM: 88 Key: 10A (B Minor)

New material from Kindred the Family Soul.


23 (NE) Delegation Feat. Rick Bailey - I Surrender

BPM: 112 Key: 9B (G Major)

I assume that this is an off shoot / reformation of the 70s UK group Delegation from Birmingham. Rick Bailey was one of the original members.



24 (NE) Dayon & Ed Mills - Come Back Again

BPM: 99 Key: 8B (C Major)


25 (25) Adika Pongo ft James D Train Williams - Touch My Heart

26 (NE) Tilly - Life After Love (Nigel Lowis Mix)

BPM: 90 Key: 8B (C Major)



27 (NE) Carmen Rodgers - Again and Again

BPM: 83 Key: 8B (C Major)

First release since her Stargazer album in 2015.



28 (NE) Kim Cage Riley - Family Friends and Favors (Album)


A fairly laid back album ... listen to Full Album Playlist

Find Me is a track that's currently in the 'Breakers'

BPM: 100 Key: 7A (D Minor)


29 (NE) SA-HA-RA - Lets Be One Tonight

BPM: 83 Key: 10B (D Major)

This was released back in 2017 ... so not sure what the story is that 3 years later it's entering the chart?!


The Smooth Mix

BPM: 83 Key: 6A (G Minor)


30 (28) Devon Gilfillian - What's Going On (Album)