Brandon Wattz [2021] - Truly For You [Self Released]

Brandon Wattz released a new single a couple of weeks ago on 14 Feb 2021. It's a pleaseant neo soul ballad which is a cover of a Temptations 'My Love Is True (Truly For You)' from 1984. 

It looks like his first release since his 2018 album 'Fellin' Some Kinda Way' which you can listen to here. A couple of standout tracks are 'Save Some Love For Me', 'Old School Party', but it's a pretty good album throughout ... 'proper' soul, none of that 'whiny' R&B nonsense to be heard!

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	8B
BPM:	85
Value:	£1

Bobbe Green [2021] - Falling In Love Again / Same Way Again [Myriah] (Full Album)

Bobbe Green released a new album (his third to date) on 28 Feb 2020.

There's a couple of covers of some standards ('Feelings' and 'Misty'), and also a cover of The Eagles 'I Can't Tell You Why' (Feat. Fade to Blue).

Listen to Full Album here.

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Falling in Love Again

A cover of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds 1975 top 10 hit 'Fallin' In Love' also recorded in 1976 by The New Birth (a group formed by Harvey Fuqua & Vernon Bollock) as a single from their Love Potion' album.

Same Way Again

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Myriah
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	4A / 8A
BPM:	90 / 93
Value:	£7.99

Krishawna [2021] - Gonna Make It [Savannah Street Music]

A new 9 track EP 'Full Disclosure' released 1 Mar 2021 from Krishawna. Only 3 tracks are currently posted on YT. The best track is 'Gonna Make It' but here's links to two other tracks 'Blessed' and 'AdDICTion'.

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Details

Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Savannah Street Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	10B
BPM:	78
Value:	£7.99

Endre Blaq [2021] - Can't Stop Thinking About You [Vocal Flow Music] (Full Album)

A new album 'Daydreamer' from Endre Blaq was released 1 Mar 2021. The standout track is 'Can't Stop Thinking About You'.  'I Want You' and 'Dreams' are pleasant enough mellow ballads and 'Let's HaveSome Fun' is an uptempo number. I feel this is an album you'd have to listen to a few times to fully appreciate.

Listen to Full Album here.

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Vocal Flow Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	3B
BPM:	90
Value:	£7.99

Three Pieces [1975] - If I Could Only Prove To You [Fantasy #F-9476]

Superb 70s modern soul by Three (3) Pieces from Washington D.C. This is album only on original vinyl, but it was reissued on a 7" in 2009 by Fryers (part of Euen Fryer's Athens Of The North 'empire') with their other modern soul tune 'I Need You Girl' on the flip.

They released one album 'Vibes Of Truth' and a single 'I Need You Girl' in 1975 on Fantasy which was also released in UK with 'Short'nin' Bread' on the flip instead of 'Cool It' which was the US flip side.

Details

Format:	Album
Media:	LP
Label:	Fantasy
Cat No:	F-9476
Year:	1975
Key:	8B
BPM:	96
Value:	£1

VA [2021] - Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 7 [Kent #CDKEND #498]

The latest in the Kent series of 'Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities' (Volume 7) was released 17 Feb 2021.

It contains nine previously unissued tracks. Here's the track listing with links to any that have been released. 

NB: Title link for YT sound and Cat. No. link for Discogs.

01 - Carolyn Crawford [2019] - Ready Or Not Here Comes Love [Kent #6T-35]

Previously unreleased recording from 1971 until it was issued on the 6Ts 40th anniversay singe in 2019

02 - Kim Weston - It Takes A Lotta Teardrops

Previously Unreleased

03 - Melvin Hicks & The Versatiles - The Intruder

Previously Unreleased - It was thought to be acetate only but is in fact a missing number on an, as yet undisclosed, collectable label.

Here's another released on Deep Soul, 'I'm Just Passing Time' interestingly co-written by Ray Dahrouge

04 - The Lovers - She's Supreme

Previously Unreleased Acetate only

05 - Isaiah Smith - Why Would You Blow It 

Previously Unreleased

Originally recorded by Claude Huey

Claude Huey [1968] - Why Would You Blow It [Galaxy #768]

06 - Rocky Gil & The Bishops [1968] - It's Not The End [Teardrop #3181]

07 - Harvey Scales & The Seven Sounds [2020] - It's Midnight [Numero Group]

Released in 2020 by Numero Group on compilation "Twistin'" as 'Midnight Before We Meet'.

08 - Little Nicky Soul [1964] - You Said [Shee #SR-01]

09 - The Esquires [1968] - You Don't Care [Knight Owl #K-4500]

Originally released on a 1968 compilation 'Badger A-Go-Go' which has been reissued by Numero Group.

10 - Brothers Of Soul - I Need Your Love

Galaxy Previously Unreleased

11 - Joe Buckner & Major IV - I Wish I Knew

Previously Unreleased

I'm pretty sure this is the same song as recorded by The Ballads in 1975 as 'Butterfy' on Music City featuring the pipes of Freddie Hughes, and again as 'Butterfli' on Balja the same year which was a different mix.

The Ballads [1975] - 'Butterfy' [Music City #MC-45-897]

12 - The Family Brick [2019] - I'll Fly To Your Open Arms [Kent #KENT519]

Previously Unreleased

Originally recorded by Jack Ashford on his 1977 album 'Hotel Sheet'. This version was released in 2019 on 'Jack Ashford's Just Productions' CD on Kent.

Jack Ashford [1977] - I'll Fly To Your Open Arms [Magic Disc #MD-116]

13 - Ray Gant & The Arabian Knights [1971] - I Need A True Love [Jay-Walking #JW-014]

Another version of Eddie Parker's original from 1971 who released it twice on flip to 'Cryin' Clown' on Triple 'B' and then the flip to the deep soul classic 'But If You Must Go' on MAMs in 1976.

14 - Joe Hicks [1968] - Don't It Make You Feel Funky [AGC #001]

A Northern Soul classic

15 - John Wesley & The Four Tees [1965] - Love Is Such A Funny Thing [Melic #4195]

Also released by Williams & Watson's on their 1967 album 'Two For The Price Of One'.

Larry Williams & Johnny Watson [1967] - Love Is Such A Funny Thing [Okeh #OKS 14112]

16 - The Hesitations [1967] - Soul Kind Of Love [Kapp #K-810]

Promo only on 45 but was released on their 'Soul Superman' album in 1967.

17 - Joe Douglas [196?] - Crazy Things [Playhouse #P-1000]

18 - Cats 'n' Mouse - Love In My Heart

Previously Unreleased

They release one 45 on Buck Ram's Antler label. This is a version of The Oracles:

The Oracles [1967] - Love In My Heart [OM-1967] which has another superb Northern Soul track on the flip 'I Ain't Got Time'.

19 - The Performers [2011] - Farewell Goodbye My Love (Edit) [Omnivore #OVLP-38]

Released on a 2011 compilation 'The Music City Sessions Volume 3: Soul Show' by  Omnivore.

20 - Major Lance [1971] - Girl, Come On Home [Volt #VOA 4069]

21 - Jean Battle [1971] - I've Got To Come In [Clintone #CT-005]

Written by Sam Dees and also released in 1976 by Eboney Essence as 'Let Me In'

Eboney Essence [1976] - Let Me In [Goodie Train #GT-061]

22 - The Lyrics [1966] - So Glad [GNP Crescendo #GNP 381]

23 - The Perfections [1969] - The Right To Cry [AGC #3]

Another on AGC, one of only 5 releases on the label (and the rarest). Two of the releases were from Joe Hicks who released 'Funky' twice with different flip sides.

Originally recorded by Lenny Welch in 1967

Lenny Welch [1967] - The Right To Cry [Kapp #K-808]

Marian Love [1967 - The Right To Cry [Capitol #2032]

Erma Franklin [1968] - The Right To Cry [Shout S-234]

Sandie Shaw [1968] - The Right To Cry [Pye #NPL 18232]

Released on album 'The Sandie Shaw Supplement'

Lynne Randell [1968] - The Right To Cry [ABC #11112] 

(hands up those who think this sounds like Lulu?)

24 - The Exits [1967] - Under The Street Lamp [Gemini #1004]

Slickaphonic [2021] - Slickaphonic [Albina Music Trust #AMT 003]

A previously unreleased album from Portland nine-piece funk band Slickophonic has been restored from reel-to-reel tapes from a 1975 session by The Albina Music Trust, which preserves music from an under documented era in Albina and the Greater Portland area's history. It was released 1 Feb 2021 on vinyl only.

It is predomiantly funk but there is a good cover of 'I Don't Wanna Be Lonely Tonight' which is the song I'm highlighing (after hearing it on Mark Merry's Soul Sermon podcast). I've included a link to the complete album. 

It's a song written by James Taylor who released it in 1972. There's also a great version by Ty Karim from 1973 which lay unissued until it appeared on a 2013 compilation by Kent 'The Complete Ty Karim'.

Other tracks include 'I Shot Him Down' which is a cover of Bob Marley's 'I Shot The Sheriff' and there's also a version of Average White Band's 'Pick Up The Pieces'.

Satin v James Phelps v John Edwards v Nate Evans - The Look On Your Face / Your Loves Got Me

Here's a tune that has been recorded several times, three versions of the same song and another which is the same tune but different title by Satin.

It's 'interesting' that on each recording the writer credits are different even though according to BMI the writer is Floyd Smith, who is credited on all but the second release by Nate Evans.

Satin [1971] - Your Loves Got Me [Shell #PH-1004]

Approx. value: £1,000

Writer credits: Lennie Satin, Floyd Smith, Gene Smith

Satin is Lennie Satin who recorded the only other release on Fip (Festival International Productions), the same label as Mel Britt's Northern soul gem 'She'll Come Running Back'.

This is the same song with a different title.

James Phelps [1971] - The Look On Your Face [Apache #AP 2007]

Approx. value: £700-£800

Writer credits: Floyd Smith, D. Chapman, Rich Tufo

James Phelps started out as a gospel singer with Gospel Songbirds, Holy Wonders (who included Lou Rawls as a member), Clefs of Cavalry and then The Soul Stirrers which included Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor, who replaced Cooke when he left for a secular solo career.

In 1965 Phelps released his first solo single 'Love Is A 5-Letter Word' on Argos which reached #12 Hot 100 and he left The Soul Stirrers.  He released a total of 7 singles between 1965-72, 'The Look On Your Face' being his penultimate release before he left the music business. He died in 2010 aged 78.

John Edwards [1972] - The Look On Your Face [Bell #45-205]

Approx. value: £200-£300

Writer credits: Floyd Smith

The official A side to this record, a Phillip Mitchell song, 'It's Those Little Things That Count' has also been a popular crossover/modern soul tune over the years, making this a very sought after 45. It was also recorded the same year by The Artistics on Brunswick and by Mel & Tim on Stax in 1973 at a more ballad pace.

John Edwards released around a dozen 45s between 1969-76 on Weis, Twin Stacks, Aware, Cotillion and this one on Bell before joining The Detroit Spinners full-time in 1977 replacing Phillipe Wynne. He was lead singer on their biggest hit 'Working My Way Back To You' in 1980. He suffered a stroke in 2000 and retired being replaced by G.C. Cameron who returned to the group after leaving them when they left Motown in 1971.

Nate Evans & Buss [1972] - The Look On Your Face [DPR #003]

Approx. value: £200-£350

Writer credits: Graham, Rich Tufo, Walker

Nate Evans released it twice in 1972 with Buss and then with Mean Green. I can't really tell if there is any difference between the two recordings but for some reason the writer credits differ.

The A side 'This Time With Feeling' was quite a big tune on NS circuit in 1975/76 and has been reactivated more recently.

Evans also recorded another wonderful crossover tune 'Main Squeeze' on Twinight in 1973.

In 1976 Evans replaced Ralph Graham in The Impressions. He left in 1979 but rejoined briefly in 1981 to record 'Fan The Fire' album.

Nate Evans & Mean Green [1972] - The Look On Your Face [DPR #003]

Approx. value: £100-£150

Writer credits: Crenshaw, Floyd Smith, Rich Tufo.

Garcia Walker & Durrell [2021] - Get Into Your Life [Soul Intention #SI007]

A Modern Soul classic, originally released in 1977 by Beloyd, has been covered by Garcia Walker & Durrell and is due for release mid March 2021 on Soul-Intention (a UK label set up by Ian Dewhirst and Phil Dick, two veteran Northern soul DJ's). 

Dewhirst used the pseudonym 'Frank' when he DJ'd in the 70s at venues like Leeds Central and Samantha's in Sheffield and others. There's a great article/interview with him on Red Bull Academy in which he gives a bit of history of NS and his career afterwards. He is responsible, along with reknowned record dealer/bootlegger Simon Soussan, for Shalimar's 'Uptown Festival'.

Garcia Walker & Durrell [2021] - Get Into Your Life [Soul Intention #SI007]

Garcia is Vince (Vinny) Garcia who was an original member of Drizbone who left around 1995/96. Drizabone were Garcia and Billy April who drafted in female vocalists on their records starting with Sophie Jones (on 'Real Love'), who was replaced by Dee Heron (on 'Catch The Fire') who in turn was replaced by Kymberley Peer (on 'Pressure', 'Brightest Star' and the re-recording of 'Real Love'). Walker is Mark Walker from Leeds who was an original keyboardist in Drizabone's early years. Durrell is Vince Durrell a singer from L.A. who Garcia 'discovered' busking in Leeds.

Garcia Feat. Vince Durrell - Get Into Your Life (A Tom Moulton Mix)

An extended mix I found but without any details as to when it was released or what label it was on.

Beloyd [1977] - Get Into Your Life [20th Century #TC2353]

'Possibly' one of the best modern soul tunes released? The only solo release by Bernard 'Beloyd' Taylor. 

Beloyd was a member of  S.O.U.L. (Sounds Of Unity & Love) in the early 70s who were signed to Musicor and released another modern soul favourite 'This Time Around' amongst their 8 singles on Musicor, their final 45 being on the Dynamo subsidary in 1975. They also released two albums 'What Is It' in 1971 and 'Can You Feel It' in 1972.

The lead singer Larry Hancock was a member of Philly group The Intertains prior to S.O.U.L. and later joined Truth (who's other members came from The Imperial Wonders) formed by Bobby Massey (who arranged and produced 'This Time Around' and was a founding member of The O'Jays).

In 1981-82 Beloyd was a member of Earth, Wind & Fire and wrote several songs for them, the best known probably 'Getaway'.  He also wrote 'Lover's Touch' recorded by Chaka Khan in 1981 as the B side to 'What Cha' Gonna Do For Me'.

Beloyd played sessions for several artists, including guitar on Donald Byrd's 1976 Caricatures album. He died in 2014 aged 61 (07/09/1952 - 13/01/2014).

Both sides of the 20th Century single were reissued on a Jazzman 12" in 2007 and even these are selling for big sums. A mint one on Discogs currently for £278 which is a bit ridiclous as the original 45 sells for around that (whch is probably why the seller thinks he'll get it!).

Beloyd [1977] - Today, All Day [20th Century #TC2353]

Whilst researching him I discovered an unreleased Artisan Sound Recordings (Hollywood) acetate of a 7 track album he recorded around 1977 which contains both sides of his 20th Century 45. It sold on Popsike in May 2017 for $1,625 (approx. £1,200). Another from the same seller, but on a different label Whitney Recording Studio Inc. (Glendale only a few miles from Hollywood), sold on Oct 2017 for $1,850. The seller claimed that he owned 3 copies but these are the only two I found on Popsike.

The tracklisting is:

A:

Get Into Your Life

Wishing Well

Distant Dreamer

Today, All Day

B:

On Our Way Bring It Out

Stone Drag

Lovely Feelin'

The Sensations - Demanding Man c/w Jesse Fisher - You're Not Loving A Beginner [Big Man #BMR - 1005]

Forthcoming later this month (March 2021) from Mark Bicknell's Big Man records is a Northern Soul two sider from Cleveland's Way Out catalogue licenced from Numero Group.

The Sensations [1969] - Demanding Man [Way Out #2005]

This side has been previously issued as a single-sided 45 by Hip City Soul Club, Berlin as their 15th anniversary single in 2005 and also digitally by Numero Group (available on BandCamp), but is commercially available for the first time on vinyl 7" since it's release in 1969. An original is valued at approx. £2,500.

This is 'proper' Northern Soul written by group members John Washington and Rod Simmons.

Jesse Fisher [1971] - You're Not Loving A Beginner [Way Out #W104]

The other side came out twice on Way Out with slightly different versions, a white label with red text (harder to find) and a multi-coloured (pink, orange, white) label which seems a bit of a smoother/fuller mix. I'm not entirely sure which mix is being reissued, but both are good.  The record was originally played at the Blackpool Mecca on release. It was arranged by legendary Detroit arranger/producer Mike Terry who had a hand in many a Northern Soul classic.

Pink Mix