Raymond Barton Feat. Nolo Live [2021] - The Way to Your Heart [The Soul Imprint Records]

Released on Tue (4 May 2021) but already picking up airplay prior to release is the new single from producer Raymond Barton featuring South African singer Nolo Live (Barton also wrote the song).

If you like this, and are not familiar with Barton's previous releases (as I wasn't), then they are all in the same vein. From what I can discover, this will be his fifth release (four singles and an EP) using different singers on each, since 2017.

Barton was born in Baltimore in 1959 and has been writing and producing music for over thirty years. He released an album in 1992 called 'Screams Of Passion'. He says the album consisted of songs he had written for other artists such as Howard Hewett and Luther Vandross, but decided to release it to see if there was any interest. (source). 

More recently he as worked on several of Tracy Hamlin (Pieces Of A Dream) recordings since around 2013.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	The Soul Imprint Records
Cat No:	None
Year:	04/05/2021
Key:	12A
BPM:	89
Value:	£1

Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. [2021] - And I Love Her / Yesterday [BMG]

This may possibly be considered bordering on MOR, but this Lennon & McCartney written song (which wasn't released as a single in UK by The Beatles) has been covered by many of the greats such as Bobby Womack, Esther Phillips, Mary Wells, Nancy Wilson. Sarah Vaughan, Terry Callier and a couple of groups had a stab at it including The Friends of Distinction, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and The Detroit Emeralds. The Vibrations where one of the first soul groups to cover it in 1966 on OKeh.

The track comes from the new album from Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr, 'Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons'.  I do like their take on 'And I Love Her' and their voices still sound strong, Billy is now 82 and Marilyn 77! 

Other worthy tracks include a gospel take on 'Help' and a good rendition of 'Yesterday' and 'Got to Get You Into My Life'. They also do a bluesy take on 'Ticket To Ride'. I almost didn't bother listening to the album thinking it would be the same old stuff, but don't be put off as they do their own blues, soul, jazz and gospel interpretations of all the songs. Here's a link to the whole album.

They have been married now since 1969, 52 years this year, and were members of The 5th Dimension for ten years before branching out solo and hit the ground running with a #1 hit in 1976 with 'You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)' which was only their second release as a duo.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Cover Versions
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	BMG
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/04/2021
Key:	7A
BPM:	81
Value:	£8.69 / £11.27

Archie Bell suffers light stroke.

Only a few weeks ago I did a long post on some of Archie Bell & The Drells' lesser known sides. I'm very sad to learn that it has been reported that Archie suffered a stroke on 11 March but it was only announced on his facebook page on Saturday (1 May 2021). 

Fortunately the prognosis is good and hopefully he will make a full recovery. Here's wishing Archie a full and speedy recovery. I think the most fitting track to set him on his road to recovery would be 'Here I Go Again'.

Dondréll [2021] - If You Were My Woman [Dréllex Soundz]

This is a strange one, it's a cover of the Gladys Knight & The Pips top 10 hit from 1970, but at the start it sounds like a bad warbly tape recording. I note that there is a picture of a cassette tape on the sleeve, so, presumably it's intentional, but I find it a bit 'jarring'. 

He is 26 year old Dondréll Harris from Cherryville, NC who has been releasing music for ten years ... his 'debut' on SoundCloud is that well known classic called 'Sitting On The Toilet' .. I kid you not!

This is his latest release on 30 Apr 2021.

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Details

Rating:	7.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dréllex Soundz
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/04/2021
Key:	1A
BPM:	77
Value:	£1

Shareholder Tom Feat. Gary Harrison [2021] - Careful [Büro.9 Music]

A new version of 'Careful' from German producer Shareholder Tom featuring Gary Harrison was released earlier this year and will feature on a new album 'Paint Afresh' due 21 May 2021.

It's a soulful jazz tune with a latin rhythm.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Büro.9 Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	21/05/2021
Value:	€7

Oizah [2021] - Mama's Song [Self Released]

A debut single (released 4 May 2021) from a new Nigerian artist Oizah (aka Dorothy Ohiani) who starred as the lead role of Crystal in a movie called 'Crystal' in 2016.

She co-wrote the song, which is a soulful ballad, with Jeffrey Sagay.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	04/05/2021
Key:	4B
BPM:	66
Value:	£1