Meli'sa Morgan Feat. Freddie Jackson [2005] - Back Together Again [Orpheus #80246 90949 2 3]

A UK soul weekender anthem in the 80s by Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway from 1979, this is Meli'sa Morgan & Freddie Jackson's version from 2005 from her 'I Remember' album.

It is claimed that Morgan started her career with B.B.P. (Business Before Pleasure) in 1978 who released just one single '(I'm In) The Prime Of Love' on Stang. If this is the case (and it does sound like her) then she would have only been 14 at the time.  The track was reissued by Outta Site in UK in 2014 with the title stating Featuring Meli'sa Morgan. Ila Vann was also connected with the group but I don't know if they were both in the group at the same time. 

Her next group was Shades Of Love, a New York female group which included Lisa Fischer (backing singer for Luther Vandross). They released a handful of singles and had a dance hit (#52 R&B) with 'Body To Body (Keep in Touch)' in 1982.

She then joined trio High Fashion which included Eric McClinton (Eric & The Vikings) and Alyson Williams.  They released 2 albums and about half a dozen singles with little succes except for one R&B entry at #32 with 'Feeling Lucky Lately'.

Morgan left High Fashion in 1983 and released her debut single in 1985 and had a #1 US R&B hit with 'Do Me Baby' which was a cover of a 1982 Prince single which didn't chart. She continued to have 14 R&B entries (5 of them top 10) but only 'Do Me Baby' crossed over to Hot 100 (#46).  

In the UK she had 3 entries in the pop chart with 'If You Can Do It, I Can Too' (1986 #41), 'Fool's Paradise' (1987 #86) and the title track of her 1988 album 'Good Love' 1988 #59) 

My favourite tracks from her are 'Fool's Paradise' (although very Chaka Khanish and similar to the Rufus song, it's not the same song as that was written by Gavin Christopher) and her duet with Kashif 'Love Changes', written by Skip Scarborough and originally recorded by Mother's Finest in 1978 with Joyce Kennedy on lead vocals.

A couple of other tracks of interest on the album are 'I'm Your Sistah' and 'Do You, Do You Want It?'.

Jean Carn [1978] - Don't Let It Go To Your Head [PIR #ZS8 3654]

In the 50th anniversary year for Philadelphia International Records here's an 'unsung' classic.  It's an absolute 'scandal' that only one of Jean Carn's singles ever crossed over to pop charts, and that one was under the auspices of Norman Connors on a duet with Michael Henderson with 'Valentine Love'.

I think I should do a profile on her as she has so many great recordings. Tracks like 'If You Wanna Go Back', '(No, No) You Can't Come Back Now', 'My Love Don't Come Easy', 'Was That All It Was', 'Bet Your Lucky Star', 'Sweet And Wonderful', 'I'm Back For More' (with Al Johnson), 'We Got Some Catching Up To Do', 'The Sweetest Pain' (with Dexter Wansel), 'Sweet And Wonderful', 'Ain't No Way', 'Closer Than Close' and that's just a dozen off the top of my head, there are many others.

Emerald Jade [2003] - A New Classic [Breeze #BRZ 0001] (Full Album)

A classy jazz stepper from 2003 album 'A New Classic' by Emerald Jade.  It appears to be her only release which is surprising as the whole album sounds pretty good to me.  Still available for download on Amazon. 

Listen to Full Album here

I did notice that she does have two tracks which appear to have been released in 2018 on her YouTube channel.

You Bring Joy To My Life

The 'killer' track is You 'Bring Joy To My Life'. There are two versions, one is titled 'Joy 2 My Life (Dialogue)', but there's not much difference apart from some underlying dialogue at the beginning and towards the end of the latter.

Angie Stone [2008] - More Betta [4847 Records]

This is a 'hard one' to find as it was only released on a 2008 compilation CD 'Shades Of A Woman: Reflections Of Love & Life', and only one has ever sold on Discogs (£40). 

Angie Stone 'burst' onto UK modern soul scene in 2000 with the wonderful 'No More Rain (In This Cloud)' (which samples Gladys Knight & The Pips' 'Neither One Of Us') from her solo debut 'Black Diamond' and she has given plenty more material since then including the 'Backstabbers' sampler 'I Wish I Didn't Miss You' in particular, from the follow up album 'Mahogany Soul', and her duet with Betty Wright 'Baby' from 'The Art Of Love And War'.  Not forgetting some of her earlier tracks with Devox on their 1996 album such as 'Tell Me', 'You Can't Hide Love', 'Tonight', 'Let It Go' (also previously recorded by Maysa and a later deep house version by Joi Cardwell in 2000). 

'More Betta' is a nice neo soul stepper.

Michelle Williams [2004] - My Only Love [Columbia #CK 89081]

A solo project from ex Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams from her second solo album 'Do You Know' from 2004. Album (CD) only except for a 6 track album sampler on vinyl 12".

VA [1996] - The Best of Society Hill (Full Album)

I've only recently came across a CD compilation of rare tracks released by Hot Records in 1996 titled 'The Best Of Society Hill Records'. The Society Hill label (named after one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the centre of Philadelphia) was primarily an 80s/90s label which released material mainly from Barbara Mason and Odyssey, but also from other relatively unknown artists. Most releases were on 12". 

The compilation features many tracks previously unreleased.  It was reissued by Essential Music Group on CD and is available for download.

I've linked to, what I consider, the best tracks on the album below.

Listen to Full Album here

Booker Newberry III - Since You've Gone

The best track on the album, a previously unreleased, deep and soulful balled/stepper from Booker Newberry III.

Marki [1995] - Tell Me, Tell Me [Society Hill #HAL 12654]

A soulful stepper with hints of jazz, released in 1995 on 12".

Vera Brown - Little Did I Know

Vera Brown was a member of the second generation of the Ritchie Family joining in 1978. As far as I can ascertain this soulful track was previously unreleased.

Julius Brown [1983] - Never Too Late [West End #WES 22168]

Modern Soul / Boogie from 1983 which got a national release on West End.

Roz Ryan [1983] - Boy, Where Have You Been [Mirage #0-96969]

Modern Soul / Boogie

Peachy Keen [2021] - Tunnel Vision [ECDC Music]

A 5 track, self-titled EP from Peachy Keen was released 2 Feb 2021.  Here's the best track.  It won't set the world alight but is one of only a few new releases I can find today.  The other tracks are a mixed back, R&B, pop and even soft rock, so I suspect it's a blue-eyed artist but I can't find any info on her.

Dav Hall [2021] - SoulSuite [Davhallmuzic] (Full Album)

'SoulSuite' was released 3 Feb 2021 by Dav Hall.  Contemporary neo soul and solid throughout.  No track really stands out on first listen except perhaps for 'Still Lov'n You' but that's most likely because of familiarity as it's a derivative of Al Green's 'Still In Love With You'.

The better tracks on first listen are "Fall On You", "Hurts Funny", "So Fly", "Still Lov'n You", and "Thru It All".

Aretha Franklin [2003] - Holdin' On [Arista #82876-50174-2]

The 'Queen' was still making contemporary music in 2003 with this cool neo/modern soul tune from her album 'So Damn Happy'.  

This would be her penultimate album with original material with only 'A Woman Falling Out Of Love' following it in 2011 other than live or covers albums.

Sound of SuperBad Feat. Robert Imtume Owens [2021] - Vibration [Izipho Soul#ZP56]

I've previously posted a sample of this track with an Izipho Soul SoundCloud link but both versions are now available in full on YouTube, so here they are with links on images to Amazon for downloads to buy or 7" vinyl direct from Izipho Soul.

Vibration

Vibration (S.O.S Vibe Mix)