Debórah Bond [2021] - Radio [Splash Blue]

Out today is Debórah Bond with 'Radio' and it's good to finally hear it in it's entirety. Quite rightly, it's set to climb the UK Soul chart having already appeared in The Breakers earlier this week.

Wardell Piper - A Profile of...

Wardell Piper's name first came to my attention in 1979 when she had a funk/disco hit with 'Captain Boogie'. Prior to this she was a member of Philly girl group First Choice and was on their first album 'Armed And Extremely Dangerous' but left the group before the album was released in 1973 to pursue a solo career so wasn't on the cover photo. Piper was on support vocals for the classic 'Armed And Extremely Dangerous' and their first record 'This Is The House (Where Love Died)' which didn't hit, but was played on the Northern Soul scene in UK. 

A further Northern Soul link is that John H. (Henry) Fitch Jr. (who co-wrote most of the songs, played guitar on, and produced her 1979 self-tilted album), was a member of Philly groups Frankie Beverly & The Butlers and also The Show Stoppers.  Fitch also co-wrote Evelyn Champaign King's 1977 disco classic 'Shame' with the same writer Reuben Cross.

Piper released a few more singles in the 80s which were mainly electro/boogie/disco tracks and then seemed to disappeared.  

In recent years she's made a comeback with an album 'Spell' released on Society Hill in 2015 from which 'Keep Living' was released as a single. In 2018/19 she released another single/EP called 'Thankful' which had a 2019 version of 'Super Sweet' originally released in 1979, along with instrumental versions of both tracks. In Dec 2019 she released 'Distant Star' and her most recent release on 20 Nov 2020 is 'Legendary' which is a bit too 'clubby' for this blog. 

There's an hour long interview conducted on 24 Nov 2020 on her facebook.

I'll feature a few of her better 'soul' releases that are appropriate for this blog as much of her material is funky disco material and more latterly club based.

1979 - Win Your Love [Midsong]

1979 - If You Want To Make Love To Me [Midsong]

A very Chaka Khan feel to this funky dance track with strong sistah funk style vocals.

1980 - Gimme Something Real [Midsong]

This is a deep soul ballad written and originally recorded by Ashford & Simpson and was the ttile track of their 1973 debut album on Warner Bros. which Wardell Piper released as her third single in 1980.

1980 - The Power Of Love [Midsong]

Modern Soul / Funk Boogie from 1980 sounding again a bit like Chaka Khan.

2015 - I'm In Love With You [Society Hill]

The best track from 'Spell' is 'I'm In Love With You'. 

2015 - Make It Last with David Simmons

This is a cover of The Futures & Barbara Mason track released on Buddah in 1975.

2015 - I Want Cha

2015 - Don't I Ever Cross Your Mind

2019 - I'm Sure [Piper Girl]

She also released a single in 2019 called 'I'm Sure' on Piper Girl Records (which I'd guess is her own label) which is a retro style groover, prime for modern soul dancefloors.

Taylor Dayne [2008] - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (Live) [TGG Direct #1021-2]

Credit where credit is due. This one was a pleasant surprise. 

Al Green's version of this Bee Gees song is one of the deepest soul tracks you'll ever hear and his duet with Joss Stone from Sex And The City soundtrack in 2008 takes it to another level.  (previously posted here)

This live version by Taylor Dayne is probably the best blue-eyed version I've heard (notwithstanding Joss Stone) released on 'Taylor Dayne Live' album in 2008 but was recorded in 2002.

Ali-Ollie Woodson [2009] - Misty Morning [Self Released]

Detroit born Ali-Ollie Woodson joined The Temptations in 1983 and left in 1996 to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut album 'Right Here All Along' on UK Expansion label in 2001. He died in 2010 age 58 after battling leukaemia for 18 months, tragically he had also suffered from throat cancer whilst still with The Temptations and had received surgery several times for it over the years.

The album from which this track is taken 'Never Give Up' released in 2009, for some reason, is not listed on Discogs. It was also released on 'Soul Interpretations' released in 2020. It's a timeless, smooth and soulful ballad.

Gina Breedlove [1997] - Free To Be Me [Qwest #9 46678-2]

Rather than 'scrape the barrell' for new releases, here's a track that is almost 25 years old but still sounds really fresh today.

It's taken from a 1997 compilation 'Steel: Music From And Inspired By the Motion Picture' on Qwest. By all accounts, the movie was a 'turkey'.

Gina Breedlove was born in Brooklyn NY and, aged only 16, was a backing singer for Phyllis Hyman before touring as a featured singer with Harry Belafonte. She created the role of Sarabi for the Broadway production of 'The Lion King' and worked on two Spike Lee projects 'Living Da Dream' and 'Chi-Raq' and also appeared in 'Steve's Quest: The Musical'. (IMDB)

As far as I can ascertain she has released 3 albums between 1997 and 2013. The first self-titled album contains a track simply titled 'Free' which I would guess is probably the same track.

LaRose Jackson [2021] - How Did I Get Here [Dunham #DUN 121]

Retro soul/funk track released 22 Jan 2021 on Daptone imprint Dunham from LaRose Jackson. 

This is her debut solo single, although she released a duet with Charles Bradley back in 2014 with 'Luv Jones' / 'Change' also on Dunham (DUN 117). The flip side to this 45 vinyl release is the instrumental version.

The Marvelles [2021] - Buried Treasure [Diddy Wah #DWR 45001]

The first release on a new label Diddy Wah based in Nashville,TN and presumably a debut from The Marvelles with a throwback 60s soul sound.  

The vocals sound like they may well be blue eyed. It sounds 'OK', but I just feel that there are so many, usually white European, groups trying (and generally failing) to replicate the 60s soul/funk sound.  The track lacks depth to my ears, the vocals are thin (sounding a bit like Bananarama!) and the backing is sparse, but I'll post it, as there's not much else new at present and some may like it. The flip side is a 'mono' version.

Emma Noble [2021] - Woman Of The World [Self Released]

Emma Noble (one half of double-decking DJ duo Heath & Noble) has a 4 track EP due for release on 3 Mar 2021, you can pre-order on BandCamp, which, if you like this, is advisable as limited edition (300) vinyl sells out very quickly!

Emma Noble’s sound is influenced by her deep love for rare soul, funk and disco. She started out as a backing vocalist for ‘New Street Adventure’ (Acid Jazz) and went on to write with Lack of Afro (LOA Records) and has spent the last few years DJing in the UK & Europe as double-decking duo Noble & Heath (Sophie).

William Staggers [2021] - Glad To Find Love [Self Released]

A week or so ago I posted William Staggers 'Glad To Find Love' (which was released on 16 Jan 2021) with a link to Amazon to listen to a sample only as it wasn't then, and still isn't, available on YouTube.

I personally think it's one of the better new releases around for real 'soulies',  so persevered to try and find a full version which I have now managed to find on Spotify.

Will Downing [2021] - The Song Garden [Sophisticated Soul] (Full Album)

Finally released today (29 Jan 2021) is the new album 'The Song Garden' from Will Downing featuring the new single 'Stand Up'. Other top tracks include 'Right Where You Are' which has already previously been released as a single and 'Say Yes', 'Love You Better' and 'Give You'.

Listen to Full Album here