Just out on 18 Feb 2021, is an updated version of their 2016 outing
('Incognito Play Jazz Funk Classics') of David Bendeth's 1979 Brit jazz/funk classic which reached #44 on UK
chart.
I haven't listened to Bendeth's original, for probably decades, and it sounds
fresh, although at the time is was overrun by so much other good material
around, yet today we have to scratch around in the multitide of new
material to find anything interesting, how times have changed!
Released in long (7:22) and short (5:02) digital versions as well as 12"
vinyl by Italian label Groove Culture owned by Micky More & Andy
Tee.
David Bendeth [1979] - Feel The Real [Sidewalk #12SID 113]
It just had to be done after the last post which is a cover from the same album, so here's his 'anthemic' 'Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)' from Maxwell's debut album 'Urban Hang Suite' released in 1996 (and his second single) which still sounds great 25 years later!... 'every home should have one'!
It's older than my youngest child who could well have been conceived whilst this album was on heavy rotation! .. I know 'too much information' ... I'll get my coat!
The full album 'Soulful Storm' was released 26 Jan 2021, but an edited version 'Soulful Storm (The Edits)' was also released 12 Feb 2021 with
shorter versions. I guess the long versions are OK for a club but
get pretty boring for just listening to, as for this track the edit is
4:00 and full LP mix is 6:22.
This track is a soulful house cover off Maxwell's seminal debut 'Urban Hang Suite'
which is unbelievably 25 years old this year. I don't need an 'excuse' to
post anything from that album so I've posted the official video for it
below. If you've been living in a cave for the last 25 years and haven't heard 'Urban Hang Suite' I suggest you look for it immediatley as it is
essential listening.
A neo sweet n deep soul ballad from Brendon Wattz self-released on 14 Feb 2021.
I believe he released his debut single 'You've Got The Love' in 2016, which has an old school 60s feel whilst retaining a contemporary sound. He released his debut album in 2018 titled 'Take Our Time', which is essentially a love ballad album that you can preview here.
The song is a cover of a Temptations 'My Love Is True (Truly For You)' from 1984.
There aren't very many new releases worthy of posting at the moment, so It will be a bit of a mixed bag today.
This track came out yesterday (19 Feb 2021) from Sydney Ranee' who has released other material, mainly as a featured artist on others records, but did release an EP 'Drop My Guard' in 2019.
She is a singer, songwriter and producer from L.A.
I posted a link to this the other day along with their
discography
but this deserves a post of its own as it is a wonderful slice of girl group soulharmony and also a good double-sider from 1971.
The Hill Sisters [1971] - Oh My Love, Sweet Love [Space
#45-309]
The Hill Sisters [1971] - My Lover [Space #45-309]
An unreleased Virtue acetate by
Eddie Holman
which was in the possession of Philly producer John Stiles who produced
it. It was recorded at Virtue Studios in Philly around the same time as
one of my favourite tracks by him 'Stay Mine For Heaven's Sake' in
1966.
He is probably only known to the non-soul buying public for his sweet soul ballad 'Hey There Lonely Girl' which was a #4 hit for him in the UK in 1974, although it was originally released in 1969 and released at least twice previously in UK in 1970 (Stateside) and 1972 (Probe), so I don't know why it became such a huge hit in 1974?
As well his 60s material, he released some good records in the 70s on Salsoul. His 1977 album 'This Will Be A Night To Remember' is a great album which is a mixture of sweet soul ballads and 4 good 70s Philly dancers ('Somehow You Make Me Feel', 'Time Will Tell', 'This Will Be A Night To Remember', 'Where Have You Been All My Life'). You can listen to the Full album here.
This is 'proper Northern Soul' and had it been found back in the day, no
doubt, would by now be a classic. It has been restored and released on
Soul Direction
for their second release on the newly established label started in Oct
2020 by Alan Kitchener. The B side is another unreleased Parkway(?)
demo.
The first release on the label, in Oct 2020, was Andrea Henry's version
of The Holidays'
'I Lost You'
flipped with her classic
'I Need You Like A Baby'
which is sold out and is already fetching up to £100 on Discogs ...
madness!
Here's some 'off -the-wall' tunes for you. I never thought I'd be
posting material by Mariah Carey, but as I've stated before, if it's good
enough it doesn't matter who it's by. Forget who it is and listen to the
groove.
Mariah Carey [1998] - The Roof (Back In Time) (Full Crew Radio Edit / No
Rap) [Columbia #665521 6]
A good 90s stepper. Failed to make any impact on the charts, peaking at
#87 in UK and wasn't released as a single in US.
Watch out for other version as most have Mobb Deep rapping in the
middle.
Mariah Carey [1995] - Underneath The Stars [Columbia #CAS 8945]
Non- charting single (anywhere) from 'Daydream'.
Mariah Carey [2020] - The Rarities [Columbia #19439814021]
On 11 Dec 2020 a 4 LP set (also released on CD/Digital on 2 Oct 2020) was
released containing 15 previously unissued tracks, demos and B sides and 17
tracks recorded live on 7 Mar 1996 at the Tokyo Dome. It was released to
celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of her eponymous debut album
in 1990.
The vinyl release was limited edition which sold out very quickly and are
now selling on Discogs for silly money, averaging £150 - there is one seller
demanding £400 for it!
Here's a few decent tracks from the album.
All I Live For
This is a 90s swing/stepper which was a 'reject' from the Music Box album.
Slipping Away
Released as B side to 'Always Be My Baby', and another swing style stepper.
Mesmerized
A track that was intended to appear in the 2012 crime movie 'The
Paperboy', but didn't make the cut. A decent neo/modern soul dancer.
Just Be Good To Me
Cover of S.O.S. Band's hit recorded Live At The Tokyo Dome
Mark Bicknell
has just announced on his
facebook
page that the next release on his Big Man label (BMR 1006) will be this
popular Northern Soul rarity by
Eric Mercury
& The Soul Searchers, the only release on Chicago label Sac. It is
scheduled for release early summer 2021.
An original copy sells for well into 4 figures. Only 7 are listed on Popsike since 2006 selling between £1,400-£3,140.
The song was written
by Ivy (Jo) Hunter
and
William ('Mickey') Stevens(on)
(who wrote too many Motown classics to even begin listing them) and is
registered on BMI to Jobete, which was Motown's publishing company, so it
would seem that Motown rejected the song?
However, Motown did record it with Brenda Holloway as
'Lonely Boy'
but it was unreleased until it emerged on a 1998 compilation
'This Is Northern Soul! The Motown Sound Volume 2'
before Motown 'farmed' it out, as they tended to do with songs they didn't plan to release.
For some reason this album from Shareefa (Farahah Cooper), originally released in 2006, has popped up in Amazon 'new releases' so perhaps it's be reissued.
It's her only album from which a few singles were released in 2006. It reached #25 in Billboard Top 200 albums (and #3 R&B), so I wonder why it hasn't been followed up, although it appears she has released a few singles since which had not charted.
The album is predominantly R&B/Hip-hop, but there are a couple of neo
soul steppers on there.
Released 12 Feb 2021 is a single out of New Zealand from Soul Prophet featuring the vocals of Jess Matthews. There's also a remix which has a 'broken beats' sound.
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