Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Prince Ronnie Love [2021] - I’m The One


New single, released 7 Feb 2021, a deep soul ballad from Prince Ronnie Love who I think from his facebook page is now based in the Phillipines.

Born Ronald Dunnigan in Brooklyn, NY.  He became a member of the 3rd generation of The Temptations. There's an interview with him here.

He released his debut solo single 'Will You Marry Me' in 2011 (see below).



Prince Ronnie Love [2011] - Will You Marry Me [Self Released]

Debut solo single from 2011.



Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: N/A
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 2B
BPM: 60
Value: £1

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes [2013] - The Love I Lost (Tom Moulton Remix) [Harmless #HURTXVINYL112]


This just popped up on my feed - how can you better a Philly classic such as this and extend it to nearly 13 minutes and keep the listener interested. Well the master Tom Moulton has managed just that!

From a compilation album: Tom Moulton [2013] - Philadelphia International Classics The Tom Moulton Remixes [Harmless #HURTXVINYL 112], this is the dogs doodahs!  

There are another 30 tracks spread over 8 x 12" vinyl discs and available on CD. There are a few comments about poor mastering though!

The vinyl copies are selling on Discogs for an median price of £280! There are only two currently for sale for £390 and £430.


Details
Format: Album
Media: 12"/CD
Label: Harmless
Cat No: HURTXVINYL112
Year: 2012/13
Key: 10B
BPM: 123
Value: £300

Ed Nelson / Apples & 3 Oranges [1970/71] - I’ll Give You A Ring / True Love Will Never Die [Sagittarius #A-ONE / 12-5-1 / Izipho Soul #ZP60]


A forthcoming release on Patrick Bickerstaff's Izipho Soul, due 4 Mar 2021, consists of two sides both originally released on Ed Nelson's Sagittarius label out of L.A. which released 4 singles in 1970-71 by Nelson and Apples & Three (3) Oranges who he was a member of.

I'd advise you to pre-order now, if you're interested, as it is limited to 300 copies.

Another upcoming release (due the same date and limited to 300 copies) is a three track 45 from Richard Marks. There's not much point in me regurgitating the info here as it's all up on Izipho Soul with YT clips of all three tracks.

Ed Nelson [1970] - I’ll Give You A Ring (When I Come, If I Come) [Sagittarius #A-ONE]

Originally released in 1970 on Sagttarius. An original now sells for 4 figures. 

It featured on a 2013 album 'Free And Easy' from Now & Again records billed as Apple & Three Oranges, but I suspect it's the Ed Nelson version on the album.

Probably best described as soul group harmony / crossover.


Apple & The 3 Oranges [1971] - True Love Will Never Die [Sagittarius #12-5-1]

The Izipho Soul B side was originally released on Sagittarius in 1971 as the B side to 'Down Home Publicity'. The original sells for around £400-£500.

This is a deep soul harmony lowrider.

Michael Lington Feat. Kenny Lattimore [2014] - Gonna Love You Tonite [Copenhagen Music #CM4814-02]


It's pretty quiet on the new release front this week, but I came across a new release from Michael Lington which is a cover of Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' featuring Javier Colon, but I can't get past the original.  But here's a link to it if you want to check it out.

He also released a 'quarantine' version of this featured track which was originally released in 2014 on 'Soul Appeal' album with Chante Moore's ex Kenny Lattimore. 

Both tracks will appear on a new album 'Alone Together, The Duets', due 26 Mar 2021. 

I can't tell much, if any, difference between the 2021 and 2014 version, so here's a live version of the original. 


Details
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Copenhagen Music
Cat No: CM4814-02
Year: 2021
Key: 4A
BPM: 102
Value: £1

R.I.P. James Burke (The Five Stairsteps) (19/09/1950 - 22/02/2021)


Keni Burke has announced on his facebook page the death of his older brother James on 22nd Feb 2021 aged 70.


They were both members of The Five Stairsteps, a group of four brothers and a sister who were dubbed 'The First Family of Soul' after a five year chart run beginning on Curtis Mayfield's short-lived Windy C label in 1966, Buddah and then on Mayfield's Curtom label. Apparently the group name was created by their mother (Betty) who thought they resembled stairs steps when were lined up by age.


The original line-up was Alohe (b 1948), Clarence Jr. (b 1949), James (b 1950), Dennis (b 1952), Kenneth (Keni) (b 1953). Their father, Clarence Sr., managed  them, co-wrote songs and also played bass guitar.  They met Curtis Mayfield via a friend and neighbour, Fred Cash of The Impressions and signed to Windy C in 1966.

For a period the group were named The Five Stairsteps & Cubie (b 1964) who at the time was their 5 year old brother (the 6th and last member of the family). 

Cubie died in 2014 aged 49 and both Clarence Sr. (2020) and Clarence Jr. (2013 aged 64) are also deceased.

Alohe left the group in 1972 and they disbanded in 1976. Keni Burke started a solo career in 1977 and recorded some modern soul gems such as 'Risin' To The Top''Let Somebody Love You', 'One Minute More', 'Indigenous Love', 'Nothin' But Love' amongst many others.

In 1978 Clarence Jr. formed The Invisible Man's Band and recruited his three brothers (James, Keni & Dennis) along with Dean Gant (keyboards) and Steve Ferrone (drums).

The Five Stairstep's biggest chart hit was 'O-o-h Child' which reached #8 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, after which they changed the name to just The Stairsteps.

I think I own all of their Windy C records, which are cheap and easy to find, and they are all great examples of mid 60s Chicago soul. There were only 8 releases on the label (#601-#608 between  Mar 1966 and Jul 1967) and 7 of them are by The Five Stairsteps, the other (#606) is by June Conquest.

There's some more info about the group at SoulWalking.

O-o-h Child

Performing live on The Barbara McNair Show 4 April 1971


Clarence Burke Jr. singing a song written by James, 'All Along The Way', at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar in NY.  This would have probably have been one of his last live performances. The song was recorded by The Invisible Man's Band on their second album 'Really Wanna See You' in 1981 and also as B side to the album's title track on 45 in 1982.

Discography

Singles Discography Playlist

Rather than adding or embedding links for their discography, I've created a YT playlist which contains their full 45 Discography with the exception of one track 'Every Single Way' from 1972 on Buddah which was a non-album single that didn't chart.

Click on link above to listen to A & B sides of all singles in chronologial order.

Album Discography

Tracks prefixed '##' are album only tracks, all other tracks were issued on 45 (either A or B side) and are featured in the singles playlist above.

The Five Stairsteps [1967] - The Five Stairsteps [Windy C #WC-6000]

All 11 tracks were released as singles and are featured in the 45 playlist.

Come Back (2:52)

The 5 Stairsteps & Cubie [1968] - Our Family Portrait [Buddah #BDS 5008]

Full Album here

Bad News (3:05)
Tell Me Who (2:55)
##Find Me (2:35)
##I Remember You (3:00)

5 Stairsteps & Cubie [1969] - Love's Happening [Curtom #CRS 8002]

Also released in UK as Stairsteps [1971] - Stay Close To Me [Buddah (UK) '2365015].

##Love's Happening (2:51)

The 5 Stairsteps [1970] - Stairsteps [Buddah #BDS 5061]

Full Album here

##Getting Better (2:30)
Dear Prudence (3:32)
##Sweet As A Peach (2:27)
##Vice The Lights (3:00)
O-O-H Child (3:17)
##Up & Down (2:52)
Madame Mary (Bonus Track)

Stairsteps [1971] - Stairsteps [Buddah #BDS 5079]

Full Album here

##My Sweet Lord (3:41)
Hush Child (3:45)
Snow (3:14)
Easy Way (2:35)
Look Out (2:36)

Stairsteps [1976] - 2nd Resurrection [Dark Horse #SP-22004]

Full Album here

Pasado (3:09) (UK 45)
##Theme Of Angels (3:19)
##Lifting 2nd Resurrection (3:45)
Time (3:48)
Throwin' Stones Atcha (3:04) (UK 45)
##Far East (1:06)
##In The Beginning (2:53)
Tell Me Why (4:31)
Salaam (4:34)

The Invisible Man's Band

The Invisible Man's Band [1980] - The Invisible Man's Band [Mago #MLPS 9537]

Full Album here

##Full Moon (4:53)
X Country (6:19)
Rent Strike (6:54

Invisible Man's Band [1981] - Really Wanna See You [Boardwalk #NBI-33238]

Full Album here

Rated X (5:28)
##Circles (5:18)
##Party Time (4:15)
Along The Way (3:50)
Same Thang (7:15)

Finally they released a 12" single in 1983.

1983 - Sunday Afternoon (5:41) / Sunday Afternoon (4:37) [Move'n Groove #MG 004]

Pokey Cold [2021] - Closer [Self Released]


It's 35 years since his last recording in 1986 with 'Let Me Love You' on a Kangaroo 12" with 4 diferent mixes, the only release on the NY label.

This ballad was released 17 Feb 2021.


Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 8B
BPM: 78
Value: £1

UK Soul Chart - 22nd Feb 2021 - The Breakers


This week's UK Soul Chart Breakers

01 - Tristan - Looking Back (2021 What Could Possibly Go Wrong)
Posted here

02 - J Daphaney - Love Star (2021)
Posted here

03 - Beverlei Brown - Gonna Get Over You (2021 Gil Cang Main Mix)
Posted here

04 - Saint Mercedes - Crybaby (2021)
Posted here

05 - Loony - Raw (2021)
Posted here

06 - Raquel Rodriguez - Don't You Know (2021)
Posted here

07 - Tatianna Mott - Come Home (2021)
Posted here

08 - Matt Cappy Feat. B Slade & Brenda Roy - Look at Us Now (2021)
Posted here

09 - Alvin Garrett Feat. Kim Scott - The Lightness of Love (2021 The Lightness Of Love)
Posted here

10 - Yas VW - Be The One (2021)
Posted here

11 - Andrew Ford Feat. Lauren Evans - More Love (2021)
Posted here

12 - Leela James - Complicated (2021)
Posted here

13 - Mac Ayres - Where U Goin' Tonight (2021 Magic 8ball)
Posted here

14 - Cleveland P. Jones - Never Listen (2021)
Posted here

15 - Dav Hall - Still Lov'n You (2021 Soulsuite)
Posted here

Beverlei Brown [2021] - Gonna Get Over You (Gil Cang Remix) [ Dome]


Originally released in 2002 by Birmingham's Beverlei Brown, this is the Cali Cang Remix for 2021. Not officially available until 26 Feb 2021 but it is up onTraxsource.


Details
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Dome
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: N/A
BPM: N/A
Value: £1.75 ($2.45)