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Sunday 31 October 2021

Halloween Mix


Just for a bit of fun here's a playlist of 20 Halloween 'related' tunes.



Riyah B. [2021] - Frequencies of da B [Self Released] (Album)


A seven track album/EP that slipped out relatively unnoticed on 4 Oct 2021 from Riyah B. titled "Frequencies of da B". 

Riyah B. is Mariyah B. Burton from Las Vegas.

It's an edgy vibe, I guess best described as neo soul/jazz hop. She's won awards in categories for neo soul (2019), jazz (2020) and hip-hop (2007). Check out her bio on her website link below.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.


FacebookTwitterInstagramOfficial WebsiteAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerBandCampSoundCloudYouTube Channel

Details
Rating: 8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 04/10/2021
Value: £6.93


The 1st SoulStrutter Readers Poll 2021



As it's getting close to the end of the year I thought it was about the right time to begin a poll for the best of 2021. 

Rather than just me choosing what I think are the best of the year, I'd like readers to send in their own nominations. You can either leave them in the comments to this post (ONLY) or send to soulstrutter@gmail.com. Entries in by 30th Nov please.

I will then collate them into a list. I may also post individual readers choices, so please don't leave your choices anonymously as they won't be included i.e. if you want to maintain anonymity then email them and state that you prefer them not to be posted.

To make it straightforward there are just four categories. Please choose a maximum of five and a minimum of one for each category and points will be allocated for each position and totalled up at the end to select the winners of each category.

Best Album
As it seems a bit confusing as to what constitutes an EP versus an album, the definition of an album for the purpose of the poll is that it must contain at least six tracks. Compilations are not included but if you'd like to nominate a compilation and there are enough nominations I could create a new category for them, likewise, I guess, with EPs.

Best Track 
Can be a single or album track

Best Artist
Male, female or group

Best Newcomer
Must be an artist who hasn't released material prior to 2021 but may include artists making their first solo appearance i.e. previously in a group..

There are a lot of albums to choose from so, to remind you of some the the best, here's a list of approx. 75 of the best released this year in no particular order other than chronological order of release/posting. Note you don't have to choose from this list as it's just a memory jogger, not only for albums but for all categories. There are also links to all albums to refresh your memory.

Deborah Bond - compass:I
Will Downing - The Song Garden
VannJess - Homegrown
Tru Soul Davis - Soul Fiyah
Portrait - Afro Trees
Kim Tavar - My Story
Myles Sanko - Memories Of Love
Dav Hall - SoulSuite

Alvin Garrett - The Lightness Of Love
Shaila Prospere - Under My Skin
Kindred The Soul Family - Auntie & Unc
Zo! & Tall Black Guy - Abstractions
Deirdre Gaddis - D-E-I-R-D-R-E Keep Pushin'
Davante Thornton - Luh And Circumstance
Raquel Rodriguez - Sweet Ride
Roderick Harper - Back To Love
Mississippi Humin Boy - Crunch Time

Keni Jackson - Keni Jackson
Wil Key - Globetrotter:B
Hassan Farrow - So In Love
V9 Collective - Message In The Music
Yuma Hara - Reality
Raheem DeVaughn - Love Sick
Children Of Zeus - Balance
Sam Wills - Breathe
Dimitris Dimopoulos - Take Me Out Tonight

Lin Rountree - Fluid
Doug Wonder - The Black Man Matters
D Mills - Prism
Nigel Hall - Spiritual
James Vickey - Songs That Made Me Feel
Bridge City Revival - Introducing
Durand Jones & The Indications - Private Space

Leela James - See Me
GarciaWalker&Durrell - Praying For Rain
Tanqueray Hayward - Definition Of A Woman
Showship - School Soul Vol. 1
Carmichael Musiclover - Slow Motion
Regi Myrix - BlakButtahVol.2
Victor Haynes - Can We Talk
Jazz Amadi - Late Bloomer

Wendy B - Here 2 Stay
Marshella Muzik - Moodz
Down To Earth - Still Ridin' High
Anthony Lyric - With You In Mind (NB this appears to have been withdrawn from Spotify!)
Golden Browne - Golden Browne
Anthony Hamilton - Love Is The New Black
Jay King - Soulful Bossanova
Mink Slide - Funk On Wheels
Kayla Williams - Love Letters
Cornell CC Carter - Next Life

MF Robots - Break The Wall
Jessica Domingo - Butterfly Paradise
Secret Night Gang - Secret Night Gang
BeMyFiasco - Where I Left You
D. Saunders - Let Me Sing To You
Teddy Bryant - In The Beginning
Tony Lindsay - Soul Soldier
Funkee Boy - Elevate

Siloam Pool - Simple Complexity
Tom Bailey - Goodbye To Yesterday
Erica Johnson - Life, Love & Inspiration
Derrick Givens - Once Again
MS1 Project - Remedy 4 The Mind Part 1


SoulStrutter Top 20 - 31st Oct 2021



The SoulStrutter Top 20 of the most viewed posts in the last 30 days (i.e. blog readers choices).

No massive changes again this week but Marvin Gaye & Beverley Knight has bounded ahead by quite a considerable margin (so no doubt attracting a wider audience than just soul visitors?). I wouldn't be surprised if we see the next track from the album Jimmy Ruffin & Mica Paris on "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" (released on Friday) enter high next week if it follows the trajectory of the first track from the album.

Five new entries, the highest from Melba Moore at #3 and a top 10 entry for Secret Night Gang's debut album. Last week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week D. Saunders enters at #14. The remix of Eugene Cole's single and BeMyFiasco's album are the other two new entries. 

Rina Chanel hangs on in there for the third week even though it isn't officially due for release until next Saturday (6 Nov. her birthday).

MS1 Project climb ten places owing to the boost of the official release on Friday.

There will be a big change next week as around 8 entries will exit after 30 days.

Last 30 Days

PosPrevArtist - TitlePostedDays
12Marvin Gaye Feat. Beverley Night - Abraham,
Martin & John
06/1025
21Candace Woodson - All I Need (Rob Hardt Mix)13/1018
3 Melba Moore - So In Love28/103
44Raja-Nee' - Love In A Groove08/1023
53Cornell CC Carter - Next Life LP07/1024
65The Kount & Marc Rebillet - The Way You Make
Me Feel
13/1018
78Laura Rain & The Caesars - Rise Again14/1017
87Rob Ruha - Preservation Of Society LP08/1023
9 Secret Night Gang - Secret Night Gang LP22/109
1020MS1 Project - Remedy 4 The Mind Part 1 LP11/1020
116Down To Earth - I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby (Live)07/1024
1211Tygressa - Shake It For You05/1026
1313The Whispers - It's Been Too Long14/1017
14 D. Saunders - Let Me Sing To You LP20/1011
1517Ms. Kriss - Blacbuttafly EP12/1019
1616Rina Chanel - Sweetest Of Melody12/1019
1715Derrick Sena Feat. Roxiie Reese - Invisible Tears08/1023
18 Eugene Cole Feat. Felton Pilate - Why Are You
Holding Back (Remix)
21/1010
1919Mink Slide - Funk On Wheels LP02/1029
20 BeMyFiasco - Where I Left You LP17/1014


The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Part 38 (Oct 2021 Wk 43) Spotify Playlist


My selection of the best releases this week (Oct 2021 Wk 43)
In no particular order other than tempo. 

Possibly one of the poorest weeks that I can remember for good quality new releases. It's not that there weren't many releases but, unfortunately, just very few that were considered a good enough standard to post.

However, the cream always rises to the top, so I've selected a dozen of the best for you to enjoy.

More than half of the selections are album tracks including Pat Williams, Rev. Evan E. Newman, Erica Johnson, Tom Bailey, MS1 Project, Funkee Boy and Siloam Pool. 

Both MS1 Project and Candace Woodson have been out for a couple of weeks via BandCamp but both received a general release on Friday.

For this week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week four albums were considered, Erica Johnson "Life, Love & Inspiration", Siloam Pool "Simple Complexity", Rev Evan E. Newman "Better Than Blessed" and Funkee Boy "Elevate", all worthy contenders and recommended listening.

Although I suspect that some, if not all, of the tracks on the Funkee Boy album may have been in the can for a while, for consistency across the whole album, that's this week's choice. Notwithstanding other tracks on the album, I think "A Better Way"  would probably have been SSSotW on it's own.


NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full



The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 32 (Oct 2021 Wk 43)



My selection of this week's best cover versions, remixes, reissues, previously unreleased and new songs using samples or new releases with a retro feel (Oct 2021 Wk 43). (In no particular order).

A 'baker's dozen this week as there were so many to choose from including just about everything on the excellent Soul Brother "Wants List 5" compilation which have had to be omitted as there was no space left in the list. There were also a few great vinyl only reissues which couldn't be included from Rance Allen, Ursula Ricks and The Village Choir.

Reissues: The Counts (Soul Junction 45), Indygo
Samples: Mz'vocalz (Zhane - Hey Mr DJ)
Covers: Wayne Brady (Sam Cooke), Joe Barr (Garland Green), Josh Berkeley (Isley, Jasper, Isley), Emily Williams (Aretha Franklin), Jonah (Aretha Franklin), Normal Sole (Betty Wright), Mirror Ball Hustlers (William DeVaughn), Erica Johnson (Bill Withers).




Betty Michaels [2021] - Moving, Growing, Changing [Self Released] (Full EP)


Betty Michaels, a producer and multi-instrumentalist from Seattle, WA, who, for the avoidance of any doubt is male, seems to have emerged in 2019 and has made five releases, two of them being four track EPs. 

His latest four track EP "Moving, Growing, Changing", due on 5 Nov 2021, is only currently available via BandCamp.

I heard one of the tracks ("Beauty" featuring Greg Lou) last night selected as a breaker by Russ Cole and played by Franklin Sinclair on the Global Soul Chart show.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.


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Details
Rating: 8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: EP
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 05/11/2021
Value: $5


Alicia Keys [2021] - Best Of Me [RCA]


Last month (9 Sep) Alicia Keys released the first single from her forthcoming album "KEYS" titled "LaLa (Unlocked)" which featured Swae Lee and sampled Tyrone Davis's "In The Mood". I'm still surprised that it didn't seem to receive much airplay.  

Yesterday (29 Oct 2021) she released another pair of tracks "Best Of Me (Original)" and "Best Of Me (Unlocked)". The song samples Sade's "Cherish The Day" (from "Love Deluxe" 1992).

The "KEYS" album will consist of 26 tracks and is set for release on 10 Dec 2021. It appears that each song on the album will have an original and an unlocked (i.e. remixed) version.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single / Album Track
Media: Digital
Label: RCA
Cat No: None
Date: 29/10/2021
Key/BPM: 7B/80 / 5A/80
Value: £1


Jarina De Marco [2021] - Give It To Me Baby [Self Released]


A cover of Rick James' "Give It To Me Baby" which has been out a while by Jarina De Marco. who is originally from Dominican Republic, now based in L.A.

Amazon has it listed with a release date of 15 Oct 2021, yet elsewhere it's listed as 22 Jul, so perhaps it's being re-promoted?

Not really soul music is it, but posted out of interest as the song has not been covered many times.

I'm not sure if the song has been covered previously. The only other 'decent' cover was by Smutty & Funky in 2013 so I've included a video for it below along with a video for Rick James' original from 1981.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

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Details
Rating: 7.5
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / Cover Version
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 15/10/2021 (22/07/2021)
Key/BPM: 6B/106
Value: £1