UK Soul Chart - 15th Feb 2021

Links to new releases, all others you will be able to find by using search box.

Seven new entries this week, all but one previously posted on this blog. 

The entry not posted I considered posting, but chose not to as the original (and best version) is already posted (July 2020) and in Nov 2020 I posted several remixes. However, I've linked to all 4 new mixes on YT.  

This is a brilliant track that I still love and don't understand why it hasn't been a huge hit as it is 'anthemic', but perhaps there has been too much 'messing about' with it with so many different mixes?

01 (1) Will Downing - The Song Garden (Album)

02 (5) J.D's Time Machine ft Cleveland P Jones/AgapeSoul & U-Nam - Kiss Of Freedom

03 (3) Hil St Soul - Heaven Must Be Like This

04 (26) Raquel Rodriguez - Undone

05 (7) Ruff & Tumble - Love Spectrum (EP)

06 (2) Brian Power Feat. Lucita Jules - Optimistic

07 (4) Bey Bright - Soul Nostalgia 3 (Album)

08 (6) Sound Of Superbad Feat. Robert Imtume Owens - Vibration

09 (16) Tanqueray Hayward - Caught Up

10 (10) Laura Rain & The Caesars - Closer to The Win

11 (11) PrivatProjekt - Welcome (Album)

12 (NE) Sheree Brown - Take A Walk With Love

Already posted here

13 (18) Deborah Bond - Radio

14 (8) OsKeyz Ft Conya Doss - 6019 (Album)

15 (13) Jack Tyson Charles - Glory

16 (20) The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B - It's Been So Long (Album)

17 (NE) Ricky Jones - Lover

Already posted here

18 (NE) The Lovetown Allstars - Walk This Way

Already posted here

19 (NE) The Shapeshifters Feat. Billy Porter - Finally Ready (DFP mixes)

I posted the original mix last July (2020) and there have been many remixes since (I posted some in Nov 2020) but as far as I am concerned none have bettered the original mix. 

There are 4 new mixes:

Dimitri From Paris TSOP - The Sound Of Paris - Remix

Dimitri From Paris TSOP - The Sound Of Paris - Remix Club Dub

Extended Monologue Mix

Reprise

20 (9) Tony Lindsay - All Is One (Orig/Mixes)

21 (12) Michon Young - You're Number 1 In My Book

22 (14) Kea Michaels - Holla If You Hear Me

23 (8) Luxury Soul Family - Various Artists (Album)

24 (NE) The Bus Stop Band - Serenity

Already posted here

25 (30) Alex Puddu Feat. Fulminayo Ngozi - Shadow Dancer

26 (NE) Mario Biondi - Dare (Album)

Already posted here

27 (23) Tilly - Life After Love (Nigel Lowis mixes)

28 (NE) Maurice Mahon - Find Me

Already posted here

29 (NE) Beverley Skeete - My Heaven

Already posted here

30 (17) SouLutions - Anthology (Album)

Joss Stone - Collaborations and Lesser Know Tracks

My partner was visiting her elderly mother at the weekend and watched the final of 'The Masked Singer' with her and promptly texted me to ask me to find some Joss Stone (who won) material for her, as she said she hadn't realised what such a good singer she was. So I 'dutifully' researched her catalogue for 'she who must be obeyed'! I posted her latest single 'Walk With Me' a few months ago in Dec. 2020. 

It is quite remarkable that, although having been around for 18 years (she emerged on the scene in 2003, aged 16) that she is still only 33. In that time she has amassed 8 studio albums along with a several Live EPs and dozens of singles and collaborations.

Full respect to her as she stood by her principles and refused to be manipulated by her record company and bought herself out of her remaining contract with EMI in 2009 so she would be free to record what she wanted to and not what the record company wanted her to record. Read the full story on Metro Times.

Album Discography

2003 - The Soul Sessions

2004 - Mind Body & Soul

2007 - Introducing

2009 - Color Me Free!

2011 - LP1

2012 - The Soul Sessions Vol 2

2015 - Water From The Soul

2017 - Mama Earth

For me, Joss Stone is the best female blue-eyed soul singer to come from the UK.  If you are tempted to dispute that then you just have to consider the respect there is for her from the 'A' list of artists she has recorded with and listen to 'It's A Man's World', 'How Can I Mend A Broken Heart', '(Heaven Must Have Sent) Your Precious Love', 'Wild Honey' and many other tracks posted below.

 

She has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the world including Elton John, Mick Jagger, Van Morrison, Dean Martin, Annie Lennox, Ringo Starr, Santana, Buddy Guy, James Morrison, Jeff Beck, Ricky Martin, Jools Holland, Dave Stewart as well as soul artists Al Green, Smokey Robinson, Betty Wright, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Tower Of Power, Raphael Saadiq, Lemar, Shaun Escoffery, Beverly Knight and David Sanborn to name just a few!

Rather than post her solo offerings (which would be predictable) here are 20 of her collaborations and a few non-album and OST tracks which may not be as well known. These are in chronical order not any implied order of merit, although what a way to start!

2004 - It's A Man's Man's Man's World (Live)

B side to single Super Duper Love

2004 - Alfie

From 'Alfie Soundtrack'

2004 - w Mick Jagger, Nadirah "Nadz" Seid · Wicked Time

From 'Alfie Soundtrack'

2005 - Treat Me Right (I'm Yours for Life)

From 'Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives'

2006 Sly & The Family Stone with Joss Stone, John Legend, Van Hunt - Family Affair 

From compilation 'Different Strokes by Different Folks'

2006 - Lemar - Anniversary

From 'The Truth About Love'

2008 - Al Green - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

From 'Sex and the City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'

2008 - Raphael Saadiq - Just One Kiss

From 'The Way I See It'

2009 - Smokey Robinson Feat. Joss Stone You're the One for Me· 

From 'Time Flies When You're Having Fun' album

2009 - Tower of Power - (Heaven Must Have Sent) Your Precious Love

From 'Great American Soulbook'

2009 - Tower of Power - It Takes Two

From 'Great American Soulbook'

2011 - The E Family - The Other Half of Me

From 'Now & Forever'

2011 - Betty Wright & The Roots - Whisper In The Wind

From 'Betty Wright: The Movie'

2012 - While You're Out Looking For Sugar

From her 2012 album The Soul Sessions Vol 2

Originally recorded by The Honey Cone in 1969 on Hot Wax

Is it just me or does this sound similar to Ann Sexton - You've Been Gone Too Long?

2012 - We Shall Overcome 

From 'Soundtrack for a Revolution'

2012 - Eyes On The Prize

From 'Soundtrack for a Revolution'

2014 - Nitin Sawhney Feat. Joss Stone -  I Ask You 

From 'OneZero'

2015 - Van Morrison - Wild Honey

From 'Duets' - This is a great version!

2016 - The Infamous Stringdusters - Have a Little Faith

From 'Ladies & Gentlemen'

2016 - Shaun Escoffrey - Evergreen

From 'Evergreen'

Kashious [2007] - Bad Luck [Gordon] (Full Album)

Sit back and absorb this quality tune released on a 2007 self-titled album from Kashious, his only album so far but he has released a couple of singles.

The album is exceptional and highly recommended -'real soul for those who feel it!'. The album is no longer available on Amazon or Spotify, only his singles, and there are none currently for sale on Discogs. I've had a dig around and it is still available on iTunes

The album is so good I 'could' post every track so here's a link to Full Album

It gets a 'Ten from Len' on this one!

Bad Luck [10B/67]

Time [10B/91]

 A single released in 2008 that's not on the album.

Maysa [2006] - Playing Your Game, Baby / Come Go With Me [Shanachie]

Call it 'synchronisity' (or whatever) but having just posted a couple of cover versions of Barry White's 'Playing Your Game' AND Mac The Southern Gentleman who sampled Teddy Pendergrass - Come Go With Me, it reminded me that both of these tracks were also masterfully covered by Maysa (Leak) in 2006 on her 'Sweet Classic Soul' album.

Playing Your Game, Baby [7B/83]

Come Go With Me [8B/85]

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital/CD
Label:	Shanachie
Cat No:	SH 5136
Year:	2006
Value:	£5-£10

Zo! [2013] - Just Visiting Three [Self Released]

Zo! released a 7 track EP back in 2013 'Just Visiting Three' which he made available free (see link below). I was just reminded of it after listening to the cover of Barry White's  'Playing Your Game'.

01. Black Cow (Feat. Phonte and Sy Smith)

02. Let It Go (Feat. Nicholas Ryan Gant)

03. Driving (Feat. Sy Smith)

04. Marzipan (Feat. Eric Roberson and Phonte)

05. Everything She Wants (Feat. Phonte)

06. Same Ole Love (Feat. Jeanne Jolly)

07. Playing Your Game, Baby (Feat. Anthony David)

The last 3 tracks are covers 5 - George Micheal, 6 - Anita Baker, 7 - Barry White

Listen to Full EP here.

Available for FREE download at Foreign Exchange Music 

Zo! Feat. Anthony David - Playing Your Game, Baby

Zo! Feat. Jeanne Jolly - Same Ole Love

Mac The Southern Gentleman [2021] - Tales Of Mac The Southern Gentleman [Southern Music Group]

This is an interesting one - an album by Mac The Southern Gentleman 'Tales Of Mac The Southern Gentlemen' released 1 Feb 2021 which is essentially R&B/Hip-Hop but samples some old school classics such as Teddy Pendergrass' 'Come Go With Me' on 'Take Flight' and Dionne Warwick's 'Deja Vu' on 'Do You Remember' and  The O'Jays 'Darlin' Darlin' Baby on 'So Amazing'.

Take Flight [10A/85]

Teddy Pendergrass  - Come Go With Me [7B/77]

Do You Remember [11A/72]

Dionne Warwick - Deja Vu [12A/73]

So Amazing [10A/108]

The O'Jays - Darlin' Darlin' Baby [10B/108]

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Southern Music Group
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021

Alexis Nicole Jackson [2021] - 100% That Boss [The Glamour Witch]

The best, and probably only 'soul', track from a new EP from Alexis Nicole Jackson 'Elixir & Smoke, Vol. 1' released 1 Feb 2021. This track sits in the Erykah Badu neo soul mould.

Details

Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	The Glamour Witch
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	9A
BPM:	76
Value:	£1

Trusoul Davis [2021] - Soul Fiyah [White Lion Audio] (Full Album)

A new album released by Trusoul Davis "Soul Fiyah" released 14 Feb 2021. A bit undecided on this one on first hearing as it seems mainly neo soul/R&B but probably needs a few listens.  Standout track is 'In Love'. Other soul related tracks are 'Impression' and 'All Night'.

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	White Lion Audio
Cat No:	None
Year:	14/02/2021
Value:	£7.89

Bobby Oroza - [2021] I Got Love [Big Crown #BC098-45]

New single from Bobby Oroza is avalable digitally but 7" vinyl is not available until 29 Mar 2021 but is available for pre-order on BandCamp.

It's another Lowrider neo sweet soul tune from the Finnish artist who signed for Hlsinki based Timmion in 2016. You can read more about him on Big Crown who signed him after his debut album 'This Love' was released on Timmion imprint Skylark.

facebook

Rytmi Live!

If you like his sound then here's a 37 minute 'concept' live video.

Details

Format:	Single
Mesia:	Digital/7"
Label:	Big Crown
Cat No:	BC098-45
Year:	2021
Key:	11A
BPM:	77
Value:	£1

Ali Cheri [2021] - Bare [Writer's Block] (Full EP)

Debut EP from Ali Cheri 'Bare' released 13 Feb 2021. I can't find any info on her or any other releases, so presume this to be her debut.  The EP consists of five mellow, laid back neo soul/ R&B tracks. The best one is the lead track 'Bulletproof'

Listen to the Full EP here

Details

Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Writer's Block Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	9A
BPM:	75
Value:	£1

Austyn King [2021] - Self-Love & Therapy [Self Released]

New self-released album from (George) Austyn King 'Self-Love & Therapy' released 14 Feb 2021.  Another that is predominantly R&B but does have a couple of neo soul tracks. Featured track is 'Crush'. 'Why Can't You?' is OK until the rap kicks in half way through which interrupts the 'groove'!

Listen to Full Album here

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self-Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	9B
BPM:	89
Value:	£1