A couple more previously unreleased tracks from Philip Ballou, written in collaboration with John Simmons and David Nathan, which have been released in 2020 by Super Disco Edits. Read the full story on this post.
Phillip Ballou was born in Pittsburgh in Feb 1950 where he spent his early years singing gospel.
In the 70s he moved to New York and formed the group Revelation with Bennie Diggs and Arthur Freeman (from The New York Community Choir) and Arnold McCuller.
They recorded for RSO, achieving some US R&B chart success with 'You To Me Are Everything' (a cover of The Real Thing's pop hit the same year), 'Feel It' and 'Stand Up'. They also had a disco hit with 'Get Ready For This' which The Brothers 'adpated', as a more instrumental version, as 'Are You Ready For This' which was a huge NS tune back in the day (Blackpool Mecca) and reactivated in recent years. Phillip also sang on albums by NYCC on RCA and continued with Revelation until 1982.
He teamed up with UK soul music journalist David Nathan (Blues & Soul) and John Simmons, a former member of The Reflections (a 70s NY group who recorded on Capitol, whose biggest success was 'Three Steps From True Love' in 1975 written by J.R. Bailey and Ken Williams which sounds a bit like a faster version of Detroit Emeralds 'Do Me Right' to my ears), to write songs for a proposed solo record contract which didn't materialise. One of those songs was 'Ain’t Nothing Like The Love' which got interest from Thom Bell who presented it to The O’Jays but it was turned down by Kenny Gamble. However, John Simmons recorded his own version for a small independent label Sabina in 1981.
Phillip continued touring and recording with James Taylor and Todd Rundgren. He was also on sessions with George Benson, Billy Ocean, Kashif, Nona Hendryx, Jonathan Butler, Teddy Pendergrass and Melba Moore. In 1981 he began recording with Luther Vandross and became a part of Luther’s touring band for many years, as well as singing on Luther's productions for Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and others. His association with Vandross continued until Luther’s stroke in 2003. He then returned to his gospel roots as Minister of Music at a Brooklyn church and passed away after a stroke a couple of years later, at the age of only 55, in March 2005.
Credit: Info extracted from Super Disco Edits promotional material.
In 2017 Super Disco Edits issued Ballou's previously unreleased version of the song on the Nefer imprint.
John Simmons [1981] - Ain't Nothing Like The Love [Sabina #106]
This is John Simmons' version released in 1981 on Sabina. John Simmons, as mentioned above, was a member of the NY group The Reflections from Harlem which was a quartet and included his brother Edmund, who he co-wrote the ballad 'Trust Me' recorded by Ace Spectrum on their 1975 'Low Rent Rendezvous' album. He became music director for Stephanie Mills but sadly died young, aged 45, in 1989.
Pomo [2017] - Ain't Nothing
In 2017 a Canadian producer from Montreal called Pomo released a version of the song. There's an article about it on SoulBounce
Phillip Ballou [2017] - Are You For Real [Nefer #SDE30]
To 'round off' this article, here's the B side to Phillip Ballou's release, another peviously unissued side, recorded in 1979.
A great 'new' track released 14 Dec 2020. Only a 2:46 sample is available (full song is 4:38), but you can download from link on image from Amazon. I'm unable for find any info on the label or artist but from the blurb in the video it may be a previously unreleased track as they state 'From our catalog of over forty years of music production'.
Apparently it was originally issued on a 2008 compilation album 'New Black Music Vault Treasures' which I found on New Black Music website
Another reissue of a highly sought after, and rare, album from William Stuckey 'Love Of Mine' originally released on Symplex out of Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1979. Only this album and a single 'Razorbackers' (which wasn't on the album) were released. As you could probably guess from the title, 'Razorbacks' is a heavy funk tune.
Athens Of The North are reissuing it on 29 Jan 2021.
The track featured here is a modern soul / rare groove tune called My First Time.
William Stuckey [1979] My First Time [Symplex #NI 79-1980]
Not a new release, but has just been re-released on a compilation
'Society Don't Let Us Down'
which was issued by Funky Delicacies in 1996. The 45 was
originally released on
In-Grooves probably in the 70s (around 1973).
It's typical of falsetto led early to mid 70s Sweet Soul.
I'm pretty much up to date on new releases so today I'll focus on new and
recent reissues.
A good excuse to post this modern soul classic as it had it's first issue on
45 by Expansion (UK) in 2020.
Previously only available on the 1981 'Turn The Hands Of Time' album on
Capitol or Soul Boulevard (80s soul for Connoisseurs) compilation released by
EMI in 1998.
Relased 30 Oct 2020. Featured track is 'Can't Get Over You' (below) with other standouts being the deep and bluesy southern soul style 'I'm Gonna Cry Me A River', mid-tempo groover 'Deeper' and 'Read Your Mind'. This is real soul with a hint of blues.
"The album [Tales Of The Soul] opens with three covers, the sources of which neatly define the overall direction of the disc. Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland’s “Love To See You Smile” is a great opener, “I’m Gonna Cry A River” was a Little Milton single on Stax and Joe Simon hit with the Gamble and Huff penned “Something You Can Do Today”. Devin B Thompson Music's light tenor delivers a delightful version of the much-loved Bobby Bland tune, “River” is enhanced by Robben Ford’s contribution and the Joe Simon song provides something of a template for the deep soul ballads that dominate the album." -Blues Blast Magazine
In a very simialr vein to Laura Rain & The Caesars 'Closer To The Win' (posted last week) is this new single from Ron Preyer released 3 Jan 2021 on limited edition vinyl and digital. I'm not sure if this is a new recording or a previously unreleased track as he was active in the late 70s and 80s. If it's the same Ron Preyer (which I beleive it is), he was also a member of The Younghearts who recorded the Northern Soul classi 'A Little Togetherness' on Canterbuy in 1967 and did some great modern soul cuts on 20th Century in the 70s.
All indications are that it is a new recording (and listening again his voice does sound a bit older) although it has a very authentic 70s sweet soul feel.
Following up on his 2019 (debut?) album 'Southern Soul Food' is a new single from Mississippi Humminboy released 9 Jan 2021 which features Sir Charles Jones, Omar Cunningham & K Monique.
Not available on YT (yet) and strangely the track isn't even available on his own website but you can hear a clip on Amazon (the only place I can find it) by clicking on image below.
You just can't keep a good song down unless you're Mz Connie who 'murdered' it on her new album I posted a few days ago.
Published on YT 3 Dec 2020 but I don't believe it has actually been released yet, here's a good male version by Stacey Merino. Stacey Merino Dawson is an established soul singer performing in his home town of Memphis, TN and appeared in X Factor USA series 3 in 2013 although he didn't reach the finals. There are quite a few videos on YT of his live performaces, some go back as far as 1987 so he's been on the circuit for some time and it's about time he got a break! I found an album he released in 2013 called 'My Tribute' which has some decent covers (such as Fire & Desire and Love Won't Let Me Wait), and another self-titled album he released in 2000.
Krystal Kleer 2019 (unreleased)
I'm not sure whether I've already posted this which I found quite a while ago. I love this 'amateur' version. This just oozes soulfulness. She feels every word. I left a message over a year ago saying that she should record and release it. I for one would definately buy it.
Jennifer Hudson 2004
JHud's version taken from American Idol season 3 CD which she didn't actually sing in the contest. She was eliminated in week 11 of the finals (coming 7th).
Gladys Knight 2015
Just to be fair to the previous versions I've saved the definitive version by the lady who 'owns' this song until last. A live performance on Skyville Live in Jan 2015, looking and sounding terrific.
A new 'steppers' version of McFadden & Whitehead's philly classic by ex Tower Of Power frontman Lennie Williams Feat. Lonnel Williams (his son?).
This is from his new album 'Chill' but also released on a compilation 'Philly Soul Select' released 8 Jan 2021 by the same label SoulMusic Records which is what alerted me to the track. Sadly the remainder of the compilation comes across like one of those budget Top Of The Pops hits compilations from the 70s. I was hoping to find a few gems but unfortunatley it comes across as 'has beens' or 'wannabes' performing philly hits on a low budget. It's even got soul journalist (ex Blues & Soul) David Nathan performing 'Foolish'!
The only other tracks on Lennie William's new album that standout (to me) are 'Baby, Take It Off' and 'I Do'. I was looking forward to hearing his version of Hall & Oates' 'Sarah Smile' hoping that he'd get really deep on it but was a little disappointed as his voice (understandably) isn't as strong as it was so he doesn't 'let rip' as I would have liked and expected years ago, but it's still a nice version.
Released on 15 Jan 2021 is a neo soul outing from Side FX Of Genius.
From what I can ascertain, Side FX of Genius is Michael Whint (aka Bigg eMs) from London. If you like this is your sort of thing then he has more material on his SoundCloud page.
UPDATE 29 Jan 2020. I received an anonymous comment informing me that Side FX OF Genius comprises of 3 main group members: Jacob Eggay Muhammad (LinkedIn), Cameron Cobham and Michael Whint. Thanks go to the person who left the comment.
I can't find any info on Cameron Cobham but both Michael and Jacob appear to have previously released material which is listed on Discogs (follow links on names).
