Thursday, 15 April 2021

Post Summary 2021-04-15

I'm trying this daily summary page out to help you preview what's been posted and help navigate the posts a little easier, let me know what you think.

It's that time of the week when the new releases start drying up before the weekend, so today is a mixed bag from a great compilation of Lowriders 'Soulful Thangs', a few deep soul tunes from Gloria Walker, Warren Raye & The Infernal Blues Machine and Anthony David, a pair of modern soul tunes from Sandra Wright, Maxine Brown and a couple of 90s modern dancers from Shanice and Vernetta Mitchell and finally a recent release by Pie.

Sandra Wright [1989] - I'll Come Running Back [Demon #FIEND 138]


An anthemic modern soul tune from an album she recorded for Truth (Stax) in the mid 70s (probably around 1974/75 when she released two singles on Truth) which never got released as Stax went bust in 1975. It was later released in UK by Demon in 1989 as 'Wounded Woman' on CD and vinyl. It's a superb album and has been reissued by UK's Soul Brother in 2015 on CD, vinyl and digital and also by Over-Easy on CD in US in 1996.

Listen to Full Album here.

This particular track has been reissued on vinyl a couple of times, the latest being 2019 on Outta Site/Real Side with Celeste Hardy 'You're Gone' on the flip.

Prior to her two singles on Truth in 1974-75, she released two singles on Coral in 1968. In 1985 she released a version of a blues song written by Ted Jarrett '(It's Love Baby) 24 Hours A Day', recorded by many other artists. Apart from these singles and the 'Wounded Woman' album the only other release, apart from reissues, was an album of jazz standards in 2003 'After Hours featuring Big Joe Burrell'

VA [2021] - Soulful Thangs [Latin Soul Recordings]


For lovers of classic/vintage soul an incredible compilation was released 26 Mar 2021 by Latin Soul Recordings titled 'Soulful Thang', 65 minutes of pure bliss. Nearly all of them are sweet and deep soul cuts from the 70s with the odd one from the 60 and 80s.

What a way to start the album with a couple of stone cold classics Masterplan '(The Girl In) Clinton Park' (a previously unreleased version by Jesse James was released on Soul Junction in Jan 2021 posted here)  and one of my all time favourite deep cuts from James Dee & A Piece Of The Action & The Primettes 'Jealous Over Love' (featured last year here) got me hooked from the start.

We then get We Three Ltd's 1972 outing on Astroscope mistitled as 'Girl, I'll Always Have You' instead of 'Girl, I'll Always Love You'. 

It continues with the super rare Carlos Wright (with Purple Mundi) 'Man From The Sky', released on the flip of Purple Mundi 'Stop Hurting Me Baby' on Cat in 1972. 

I won't go on further and just list them below. Every single one is a gem and nearly all are valued at least £100, some over £1,000 on original vinyl even if you could find them (many have never been reissued), so at 50p a track to hear tunes you're never likely to own is an absolute bargain.

All of these tracks (except 13,14,15) have featured on the Soulful Thangs series of ten CDs (Vol 1 - Vol 10) issued between 2005-2010. [(Vn) suffixed after each track]. These are well worth picking up if you can find them. They generally sell for between £15-£30. {NOTE - I don't know how legitimate they are, but would suspect they are not licensed!]

01 - Masterplan [1974] - (The Girl In) Clinton Park [Fos-Glo / De-Lite #005 / DEP 1564] £125 (V1)

02 - James Dee & A Piece Of The Action & The Primettes [1969] - Jealous Over Love [Enrica #1019] £225 (V2)

03 - Carlos Wright With Purple Mundi [1972] - Man From The Sky [Cat #1984] £1,650 (V3)

04 - We Three Ltd. [1972] - Girl I'll Always Love You [Astroscope #AS 109] £100 (V3)

05 - Solid Solution [1978] - This Must Be Love [Silver Spoon #SP 7118] £50-£70 (V4)
Album only 'Loving You' (reissiued on 45 by Soul 'O' Sonic')

06 - God's Gift To Women [1978] - Stop To Think It Over [Listening Post #103] £100 (V5)

07 - The Day-Tons [197?] - I've Got To Tell You About It (Part 1) [Day-Tons #DM 8417] £150-£300 (V5)

08 - The Moovin' Soothin' & Stone Funk  Band [1973] - Cryin' For Your Love [Philmore Sound #30953]  £150 (V6) (previously posted here)
Also recorded as Joy Incorporated [1973] - Cryin' For Love [Philmore Sound #30953] £250

09 - The Soul Sounds Unl [1968] - Lost In A Dream [June #none] £1,000-£1,250 (V7)

10 - Albert Jones [1973] - Reflections [Bumpshop #GM 153] £250-£400 (V8)

11 - The Dyshions [1976] - Wish I Could See You [Locked #DS 25022] £200 (V9)

12 - The Past - Present & The Future [1972] - If I Could Live To Eternity [Rouser #3542] £750 (V10)

13 - McArthur [1975] - It's So Real [Brown Dog #BD 9006] £200

13 - Minority Band [1980] - When You're Crying [JSR #JSR 1509] £1,400
Album only 'Journey To The Shore'

15 - H.Andrews Congregation [1974] - One More Chance [Balance #1,000.00] £400

16 - Sivilles [1982] - Falling In Like [Infinity + #IR 001] £200 (V10)
The average price is around £200 but the last one to sell sold for £1,461 ($2,000) in 2019!


Details
Rating: 9.5
Genre/Style: Lowrider
Format: Album Compilation
Media: Digital
Label: Latin Soul Recordings
Cat No: None
Year: 26/03/2021
Value: £7.99

Shanice [1992] - Don't Wanna Love You [Arista / La Face #73008-26006-2]


As far as I'm aware this was only released on the 'Boomerang' soundtrack in 1992. It was sandwiched between her two biggest hits 'I Love Your Smile' in 1991 (for which she was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Female Vocal) and 'Saving Forever For You' (from another soundtrack 'Beverly Hills 90210') in 1992.

It's a good, early 90s swing tune. For some reason I keep thinking of Color Me Badd's 'I Wanna Sex You Up' when I hear it, which sampled Betty Wright's 'Tonight's The Night' and Brothers Johnson's 'Strawberry Letter 23's (written by Shuggie Otis), but it's much better than that, I guess it's the rhythm thats similar.

Another curious fact is that it appears to have been released only in UK on vinyl, all other issues are CD.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.


FacebookTwitterInstagramWikipediaAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube Channel

Details
Rating: 8.5
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / Swing
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Arista /La Face
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: 7A
BPM: 102
Value: £10-£15 (vinyl) £2.50 (CD)

Vernessa Mitchell [1992] - Be For Real [Expansion #EXPAND 30]


What a wonderful tune from gospel singer Vernessa Mitchell! .. and still very cheap as you can easily pick one of these up on 12" for a few quid.  Just proves that you don't have to spend a fortune on good tunes.

It was also released on her 1992 'Destiny' album and also featured on a 1993 Expansion compilation 'Friends In High Places'.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.


FacebookTwitterInstagramOfficial WebsiteWikipediaAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerBandCampSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube Channel

Details
Rating:8.9
Genre/Style:Modern Soul
Format:Single
Media:12"
Label:Expansion
Cat No:EXPAND 30
Year:1993
Key:9B
BPM:112
Value:£3

Maxine Brown [1970] - I Can't Get Along Without You [Commonwealth United #C-3008]


A 1970 release on Commonwealth United by Maxine Brown which has received modern soul spins. It also got a UK issue on Major Minor. Written by Robert Dobyne and Charles Jones and previously recorded by Dobyne in 1966 on Kama Sutra. 

Her biggest selling records were from the early 60s 'All In My Mind', 'Funny' and 'Oh No Not My Baby', but she is probably best known in rare soul circles for several mid 60s recordings on Wand, specifically her classics 'One In A Million' and 'Let Me Give You My Loving'. She has had several other tunes played such as 'One Step At A Time', 'Since I Found You' and a few others, but these are her most popular. 

A couple of previously unreleased tracks were found in the mid 80s and released on Kent in 1985 'It's Torture' / 'I Got Love' and a Jo Armsetad and Ashford & Simpson written song 'I Want A Guarantee' was released on Kent in 2016. Also, a 1965 album track (Spotlight on Maxine Brown), written by Van McCoy, was released on Kent in 2020 'I Wonder What My Baby's Doing Tonight'.


Robert Dobyne [1966] - Can't Get Along Without You [Kama Sutra #KA 207]

Dobyne and Charles Jones were together in The Hit Pack who recorded two 45s on Colpix in 1964 and Tamla in 1965. Prior to that Dobyne was in The Love-Tones which included William 'Mickey' Stevenson who were mainly used as Motown backing singers.  He was also a member of The Artistics between 1960-64. 

Dobyne & Jones released a single together in 1972.

Gloria Walker [1971] - My Precious Love [People #45-2504]


A superb, deep soul tune that got plays on the modern soul scene. It was the first of her three releases on Federal between 1971-72, and this one also got a release on People in 1971.

Prior to this single she cut three 45s for Flaming Arrow in 1968-69, the last two as Gloria Walker & The Chevelles. Her first released in 1968, titled 'Talking About My Baby', was a take on Etta James' 'I'd Rather Go Blind' with her mainly rapping over the riff. Her material is mainly deep southern soul or sister funk in the same style as Marva Whitney and Lyn Collins.

Warren Raye & The Infernal Blues Machine [1976] - If You Wanna Love Me [London #5N-239]


An absolutely sublime deep soul tune from Warren Raye & The Infernal Blues Machine co-written and produced by William 'Mickey' Stevenson who wrote so many songs recorded by Motown artists. Curiously he is only credited on the issue and not on the promo!

The group released only one album in 1976 'Adios Amigo' as Infernal Blues Machine from which two singles were released. This was their third single, neither side appeared on the album. 

Their first single is another superb deep tune which actually saw a UK release called 'Ain't That Love' co-written by Stevenson and Curtis Colbert, which I'll also post below.

Warren Raye & The Infernal Blues Machine [1976] - If You Wanna Love Me [London #5N-239]


Infernal Blues Machine [1975] - Ain't That Love [London #5N-229]

A strange fast intro for 15 seconds and then the ballad starts.
It was later recorded by (Gregory) Bradford in 1990 on Pacific Rim, but is nowhere near as good as this version.

Anthony David Feat. Keisha Jackson [2006] - Lady [Brash #BRH 0024-2]


A killer track 'Lady' from Anthony David (Harrington) which features Keisha Jackson from the 2006 album 'The Red  Book Chronicles'. The track was also released as an additional track on the single 'Something About You' (cover of the Level 42 song) on Dome in UK in 2007.

Listen to Full Album here.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.


FacebookTwitterInstagramOfficial WebsiteWikipediaAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerBandCampSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube Channel

Details
Rating: 9.3
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Brash
Cat No: BRH 0024-2
Year: 2006
Key: 12A
BPM: 61
Value: £7.99