2020 Review - The Best Albums

Here's a list of ten of my favourite albums of 2020 in no particular order (NB click links on titles for full playlists). I think the top 4 albums have already chosen themselves as several tracks from each of Shaila Prospere, Jarrod Lawson, Carmichael Musiclover, True Music Group albums have featured in the UK Soul Chart throughout the year.

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

Starting with an album I first listened to way back in Febuary, when it was released, and announced at the time that it was going to be a candidate for album of the year. Well nothing has radically changed my view, it's one of those albums you can just let play all the way through and not be disappointed.

Standout tracks 'Don't Cross Me Out', 'Don't Wanna Play Around', 'Kiss & Tail', 'Pure Sweetness', 'Someday We'll All Be Free' (NB NOT the Donny Hathaway classic - a new song), 'That Kind Of Woman', 'On A Cloud' ... in fact the whole album ... there's not a bad track amongst the 17 tracks!

Available on CarmichaelMusiclover.com

Carmichael Musiclover - Lifeline [One Mic Music]

Follow up to The Best Thing Yet and his second album release of 2020 and tenth album since 2008. Not quite up to the high bar set by 'The Best Thing Yet' but stll a good album. Top tracks are 'House Party', 'You Look Good', 'A Little Inspiration', 'Runaway', ' We Belong Together' but the album is consistently good all through.  NOTE this is an independant release only i.e direct for his website and is not available via the usual channels, hence the sound clips on YT are 'jingled' to protect them.

Available on CarmichaelMusiclover.com

Jarrod Lawson - Be The Change [Dome]

The much and long awaited follow up to Jarrod Lawson's self-titled debut, 'Be The Change' arrived in November and the killer track for me was one I heard a live version of on YouTube in May 2019 which at the time was unknown as it was yet to be released, well thankfully 'Love Isn't Always Enough' was included on the new album. Other standout tracks are the title track 'Be The Change' and 'Why Don't You Call Me Baby Anymore'.

Available on Amazon

True Music Group - True Soul Vol. 1 [True Music Group]

Another that has been 'tickling my fancy', and growing on me with each play, throughout the year is True Music Group's 'True Soul Vol. 1'.  The track that's seems to be attracting most attention is 'Closer And Closer', as well as 'Just A Little Touch' both featuring DaQuela Payne along with 'How Many Ways' Feat. Temeka Stanley, but the track that is doing it for me is 'Play Me A Record' Feat. Alesia Miller.

Available on Amazon

Shaila Prospere - Under My Skin

Shaila Prospere's 'Under My Skin' has been well received with many of the tracks featuring on the UK Soul Chart throughout the year.  A couple of the tracks are available on YouTube, but it's only available direct from her website where you can listen to samples of most the tracks.

Notable tracks include 'Lets' Be Lover's' (a UK Soul Chart topper), 'Rhythm', 'Keep On Giving' and 'Sisters & Brothers', but a good album throughout.

Available on ShailaProsperMusic

Angela Walls - From These Lips [Airtight]

An album I tipped early in the year which doesn't seem to have got a lot of attention is Angela Walls' 'From These Lips'. Having opened shows for bigger artists for years, she has released her debut album and, if it is anything to go by, watch out for future releases from her.  The standout tracks are three deep and soulful ballads: 'Baby I Miss You', 'The Truth' & 'Are You Feeling Me?', and a few steppers 'And Then Some', 'Soul Sanga' (a more funky stepper), 'My Miracle', 'I Get Off'.  The title track is only a 58 second intro and the other 'weaker' track is a ballad 'Do You Wanna' which has two versions, the main version and an acoustic version.

Angela Wall website

Available on Amazon

Lindsey Webster [2020] - A Woman Like Me [Shanachie]

Blue-eyed soulstress who at one time provided backing vocals for Jarrod Lawson.  This is an impressive album throughout.  If you like your soul slightly on the jazzy side then this is the album for you. I can honestly say that there's not a bad track on the album, even here rendition of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' (which nearly every talent show contestant feels that they should sing!)   ... personally I've never liked the song but she does a good job with it!  The standout track for me is 'Close To You', with 'Running Around' a close second and the deep and soulful 'Always Love Me' is the best of the downtempo numbers.

Available on Amazon

Kem - Love Always Wins [Motown]

The sixth album from Kem (Kim Owens) on Motown since 2002. I've already included 3 of the tracks in my Best Singles post.  Standout tracks are 'Lonely', 'Love' (a very Curtis Mayfield influenced track), 'Lie To Me', 'Love Always Wins' (two versions - one features Erica Campbell probably just edges it as the female vocal adds to the track), 'Live Out Your Love' (again two versions and again the one that features the female vocals, this time from Toni Braxton, edges it for me).

Available on Amazon

Soulpersona & Princess Freesia - Extended Pleasure [Sunset City]

Soulpersona (aka Morgan Howell) & Princess Freesia (aka Lija Rolavs) with their seventh album since 2009. Standout track (also featured in Best Singles 2020 is 'Where Do I Go From Here').  A UK oriented album mainly of dance tracks.  From many years of listening to soul music I can distincly 'detect' UK releases from the 'real thing' as they tend to be geared towards a UK dancefloor.  Is this really 'soul' music ... or is it just dance music?

Available on Amazon

Big Mel [2020] - Big Mel [B.M.E.]

A consitent album all through from a new name to me Big Mel but I suspect he's has been around for a while as he's an accomplished singer.  I don't know where he's from but a 'wild guess' would be Chicago as the album is aimed at steppers. The standout track is 'Celebrate', with 'honoury' mentions for a remix of an earier single 'Heaven', 'Love's Calling', 'My Treat', 'OMW' and Do It For Love'

Available on Amazon