This is my pick of the new releases today. The title track from a 6 track EP
released 11 Feb 2021. The top tracks are the title track ('Cold Wind') along with 'Arrows' and 'Grow Strong'. There is a remix of 'Cold Wind' which features Chicago
rapper Femdot.
Unfortunatley none of the other tracks are currently available on YouTube,
but you can listen on SoundCloud below.
If you go to her website and click on 'My Albums' she has a free download of her 'Heart Of A Lion' album released in 2009 under her real name Kamilah Sumner.
I guess this would be classified as soulful house? The first single for 25
years from Ten City, the 80s/90s Chicago house group. Group members Byron Stingily and
legendary Chicago house producer Marshall Jefferson teamed up for this new
track.
Their song
'That's The Way Love Is'
charted twice in UK, #9 in 1989 as Ten City and again in 2000 #32 by Byron
Stingily.
Be Free
Be Free (Emmaculate & Shannon Chambers Extended Mix)
Another 'fresh' one from the Platinum Vybe label, released 12 Feb 2021, The Platinum Remix of
Lover from Ricky Jones. The 'original' version was released 18 Nov 2020 by
Mountain Top.
I've posted both versions, but to my ears there's not a great deal of
difference. If anything, I think I prefer the original as I think the remix
has been 'doctored' to make it appeal to a younger audience who prefer
R&B.
Ricky Jones [2021] - Lover (The Platinum Remix) [Platinum Vybe]
A new verion of Aretha's classic 'Angel' written by her sister
Caroyln Franklin. I've done several posts on this song and various versions over the years. This
is jazz 'tilted' version from Terisa Griffin which was released yesterday
(12 Feb 2021) on Platinum Vybe, the same label that has just brought us Michon Young's latest single 'Your'e Number 1 In My Book'. The song should need no introduction.
British blue-eyed soul singer Abi Farrell from Oxfordshire released her
debut 5 track EP 'The Only Way I Learn' in Nov 2019.
Her follow up single 'I Will See You Through' was released digitally in Nov
2020 and is going to be released as the flip side to her latest single
'Empowered' (released 12 Feb 2021) as a limited edition 7" vinyl single. It's available for
pre-order at
Big AC Records.
This was released digitally on 23 Nov 2020 but is now being relased as
limited edition 7" vinyl on the flip to 'Empowered'. It has a bit of a
neo blue-eyed Northern Soul vibe about it.
Here's a track from a forthcoming album 'What could Possibly Go Wrong' due
on 2 Aptil 2021 from Dutch 5 piece band Tristan. This will be their 6th
studio album.
'Perfect Girl' will be the first single from it which features Jacylee on
lead. It has a neo Northern Soul/Acid Jazz feel about it.
A 6 track EP from THEHONESTGUY comprising of neo soul/R&B mellow
songs realeased 12 Feb 2021. The two standout tracks are 'Every Emotion' and
'Love Bomb'.
THEHONESTGUY is a Toronto based singer, songwriter. He's previously
released 7 singles since 2019, four of them ('Every Emotion', 'Morning Wood (Honey)', 'Love Bomb', 'Sunday (Feat.
Zenesoul)') are included on the EP, with 'Deserve You (More)' selected from the EP to
be the next single. The other 3 singles are 'Prelude To Love', 'Rider' and 'Beg For It'.
A new single from Yakul which is a reworking of 'Company' with the addition of Mereba's vocals, released on 12 Feb 2021.
I 'assumed' that with a name like Yakul they would be Japanese but it turns
out they are a 4 piece blue-eyed group from Brighton (UK). (Marian) Mereba is a R&B singer from Alabama.
Leela James
has been on the R&B scene since 2000 but didn't release her first album
until 2005. Since then she has released a total of 6 albums. This is her
first new solo material since 'Did It For Love' was released in 2017,
although she released a 6 track rock & blues EP as Leela James &
TheTruth Band 'Are You Ready' in April 2019.
She's had limited commercial success, which I can't understand as she's a
neo soul/R&B singer with soul roots and authenticity. I've also
included some additional tracks from her last couple of albums to showcase
her 'neglected' talent. I highly recommend checking out her previous
albums if you're not familiar with her recordings.
She, quite rightly, had a #1 on US R&B Adult with this song from 'Do It
For Love' album.
2017 - Good To Love You Feat. Dave Hollister
This is a good Neo/Modern soul cancer featuring Dave Hollister from the
same album.
2017 - There 4 U
Yet another good Neo/Modern soul dancer whith a throwback feel. Sounds
like something familiar in there - possibly some elements of O'Jays -
Backstabbers?
2017 - This Day Is For You
Another great track from 'I Did It For Love'
2014 - Say That Feat. Anthony Hamilton
A killer track from 'Fall For You' released in 2014, but released as a
single in 2013.
