The Notations [2017] - Just Your Love [Triple 3]

A nice mellow sound released by The Notations in Jan 2017. The trio at this time consisted of original member Clifford Curry (centre) along with Eric Rapier (left) and Eric Bryant (right).  Wonderful harmonies of this track.

The Notations [2020] - I'll Always Love You [Silent Giant]

Veteran Chicago 70s sweet soul harmony group The Notations are making a comeback with a new single released 20 Dec 2021 on Silent Giant.  It's a cover of The Festivals 'I'll Always Love You' released in 1966 on Smash.  They also released a single in 2017, a more contemporary tune 'Just You Love' which I'll post separately to keep this post to Lowriders only.

They hit the US R&B charts five times between 1970-76 with 'I'm Still Here' on Twinight (covered in 2018 by Trish Toldeo) being there highest entry in 1970 before they switched labels to Gemigo (owned by Curtis Mayfield) were they scored with 'It Only Hurts For Little While', 'Think Before You Stop', 'It's Alright (This Feeling)' in 1975 and finally with 'Make Me Twice The Man' in 1976.

The only remaining original member is Clifford Curry who is joined by Eric Rapier (who released a couple of singles ('Can't Stop Dreaming' & 'Love You Now') in the late 80s on Keynote) and Marzette Griffith (who also released a 12" in 1988 ('Live Again' a pretty good modern soul tune) and an album 'Are You Going My Way' on EKG in 2002).

Here's a couple of promos:

We're Still Here

I'll Always Love You (The Festivals)

They've also performed a couple of collaborations with new artists in 2020

Monica Rocha & The Notations [2020] - Sorry Daddy [Silent Giant]

Malik Malo & The Notations [2020] - Smile Now, Cry Later [Silent Giant]

The Notations [2020] - Blvd. Classics, Vol. 1 [Silent Giant]

Last year (13 March 2020) they released a 5 track EP of 'Lowrider' covers.

Daddy's Home  (Shep & The Limelites)

Sitting In The Park (Billy Stewart)

Be Thankful (William DeVaughan)

I'm So Proud (The Impressions)

Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong (The Whispers)

Sykes [2021] - We And Us [Fluid Funk]

Released 13 Jan 2021 is 'supposedly' an EP from Sykes but as far as I can establish there's only a single track on it, but perhaps it's a teaser for remaining tracks still to come?

I find this one difficult to categorise. Smooth, mellow and jazzy with an intricate, almost jungle, beat as the track progresses.  The voice sounds white, but similar to Sade in places. 

It turns out that Sykes is a Rotterdam based singer, songwriter, producer and Fluid Funk is also a Dutch based label and also that it is from a forthcoming EP due 10 Feb 2021.

UPDATE: Fluid Funk have left a comment stating that EP will be released 19 Feb 2021.

It is certainly different and interesting which makes it stand out from the crowd. Whether or not it's soulful is down to the listener I guess?

Alycia Bella [2021] - Dark Art [Hurt People]

I've not come across many 'soul' releases in last few days so I've selected the only track of interest from a new album from Alycia Bella called 'Muse' released 22 Jan 2021.  Give it the first 20 seconds and then it turns into a bit of a 'groove'. The remainder of the album is the usual 'insipid' and 'cloned'  R&B.  I've just been through the Apple 'hot tracks' and must be showing my age because 'they all sound the same to me'!  This is the only track that stood out amongst the mire.

Ivan Makvel [2021] - A Family Affair [The Sleepers Recordz] (Full Album)

From an album titled 'A Family Affair' released 15 Jan 2021 containing 22 tracks but don't be fooled as only 11 tracks and then 11 instrumental versions of same tracks. Most of the album sounds to me like 80s funk & boogie throwbacks (I think they call it modern boogie now) with heavy use of vocoder on many of them.  The standout track is 'About You' featuring Toronto based singer Maya Killtron.

Ivan Mavel (real name Ivan De Gase) is a Bologna (Italy) based musician and label owner of The Sleeperz Recordz.

Stupid Human [2021] - Star In The Ghetto (Original Mix) [Self-Released]

A 'funked up' version of the Average White Band & Ben E. King track from 1977 by Stupid Human released 7 Jan 2021, which is actually a (digital) reissue as it was originally released 19 Dec 2011 on 12" vinyl.  

The B side is a cover of Steve 'Scotsman' Harvey - Something Special which was a UK club hit which reached #46 on UK chart in 1983, but not worthy of posting here as it just sounds like a mash up of beats!

Average White Band & Ben. E. King [1977] - Star In The Ghetto (Long Version) [Atlantic #3427]

I'd forgotten how good this record actually is ... far too good to chart in UK, although it did make #25 US R&B!

Wicked Lester [2009] - Gay With An E [Muto (DE)#MUTO015]

I'd completely forgotten about this record until I came across it on YT. It's a bootleg mix done by a pair of Canadian 'producers' Brian Carson and Scott Arkwell in 2009 going by the name 'Wicked Lester' (which was the name of a band who KISS evolved from). 

It only appears to have got released in Germany for some reason (possibly legal?).  It's actually a remix/mash up of Marving Gaye & Tammi Terrell's, Ashford & Simpson written, song  'Aint No Mountain High Enough'. It got a hammering on Northern Soul dancefloors.

Lyn Collins [1975] - Backstabbers / If You Don't Know Me By Now [People #PE 6605]

The McFadden & Whitehead remix post prompted me to seek this out.  They wrote Backstabbers with Leon Huff, which of course was the title track of the O'Jays first album on Philadelphia International which has become a classic.  

Here's two killer deep soul Philly covers from Lynn Collins from her second, and last, album 'Check Me Out If You Don't Know Me By Now': 'Backstabbers' and 'If You Don't Know Me By Now'.

Backstabbers

Cover of The O'Jays's written by Leon Huff, Gene McFadden & John Whitehead.

This is a completely different, deep soul, arrangement from Lyn Collins which features James Brown, although uncredited, on the track. Brown produced the album.  It was never released as a single.

If You Don't Know Me By Now

Cover of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff from the same album, but this one did get a single release, her last R&B charting single (#82) in 1975.

McFadden & Whitehead [2021] - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (The Eric Kupper Remixes) [Legacy]

The other day I posted Lenny Williams' version of this off his new album 'Chill' and now there's an Eric Kupper remix of the original, released in 2 versions the Eric Kupper Extended Vocal Mix (8:41) and Eric Kupper Classic Vocal Edit (4:41).  Personally the 4:41 version is more than enough for me!  

McFadden & Whitehead must have made a fortune from this track alone with various different mixes and cover versions over the years, never mind the hundreds of other songs they have written for other Philly artists such as O'Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Intruders, Billy Paul, MFSB, Peoples Choice, Trammps, Archie Bell & The Drells, Jean Carn, Bunny Sigler, Teddy Pendergrass as well as Melba Moore and The Jacksons before they even first recorded this.

They are both now deceased, Whitehead was shot dead in 2004 aged 55 and McFadden died  of cancer in 2006 aged 56. They were both members of The Epsilons who released 2 singles on Stax in 1969 and Triple G in 1972 before they joined Philadelphia International as writers. This is a different group than the one that recorded on Shrine and HEM.

Eric Kupper Extended Vocal Mix (8:41) 

Eric Kupper Classic Vocal Edit (4:41)