Soul Strutter: 05/24/21

He also released his debut album this year 'If Only I Had A Band' and has another single called Hey Queen "Her Strut" (available only on his website) which is a laid back jazz instrumental.

The only other release I'm aware of is a single from last year called 'Fading Fast' featuring Kera O'Bryan.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Thom Hud Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	17/05/2021
Key/BPM:	7B/82
Value:	£1

Doc Shaw Feat. Lester L-2 Shaw & Retsel Shaw [2011] - The Sun Will Rise Again (My Life LP) [Pocket Power Productions #B0050GEDUM]

I've just been prompted to post this after it being mentioned today on SoulTracks who state that it is being released on Friday (28 May 2021) as part of '1921...The Black Wall Street Music Project' to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

The Tulsa Race Massacre occurred on 31st May 1921 / 1st Jun 1921 and is described as the worst incident of racial violence America has witnessed and was perpetrated on the wealthiest black population in US, at the time, hence called Black Wall Street, resulting in 36 deaths, 800 hospitalisations and 6,000 African-Americans being imprisoned.

The song is a very classy, deep and meaningful ballad and was originally released in 2011 by Doc Shaw on his 'This Life' album with his sons Lester (L2) and Retzel featured on this track. Doc Shaw hails from Tulsa and wrote the song in 1984.

Another single by Kerosene is also being released on Friday and both have been posted on The Ovation Agency SoundCloud page, who are sponsoring the project.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Pocket Power Productions #B0050GEDUM
Cat No:	None
Year:	2011
Key/BPM:	12A/60
Value:	£1

Sinead Harnett [2021] - Ready Is Always Too Late [Thairish Limited] (Full Album)

I keep listening to Sinead Harnett's material hoping to hear something other than R&B i.e. with a bit more soul. Her new album dropped on Friday (21 May 2021) and perhaps the title track 'Ready Is Not Too Late' is the nearest yet, which I believe is also the new single? A couple of other tracks 'Like This' and 'Last Love', and perhaps 'Distraction' may appeal to soulies.

She certainly has a great voice as can be heard on the attached video of a cover of Amy Winehouse's 'Love Is a Losing Game' which was a bedroom recording in 2017 before she broke through.

I wondered where she got a name Sinead from only to discover that her father is Irish and mother Thai (hence the name of her own label Thairish). She was born in North London (Finchley) but now lives in L.A.

The latest album will be her second, although she released a 'mixtape' in 2017 titled 'Chapter One'.

What the difference is these days between a mixtape and an album I have no idea, as for me a mixtape is (or should be) just that, a mixed/segued compilation of music by different artists where the tracks are skillfully blended (beat and key matched) into each other by a DJ/producer. A compilation of songs does not constitute a 'mixtape' it's just a compilation and a compilation of songs by the same artist ... a mixtape? .. I don't get it, surely it's an album/EP or a compilation? I suppose it's become 'trendy' like vinyl records being referred to as 'vinyls' ... don't you just hate that? Whilst I'm having a 'rant', what defines an EP? Back in the day it was a 4 track 7" record, but now I've seen anything up to eight tracks or more called an EP, and conversely, releases with less called albums! Then of course we get releases of up to half a dozen or more mixes of the same song, what are they, singles/EPs? I suppose for digital releases it doesn't really matter as I guess most of us just buy the tracks we want and leave the rest.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital/LP
Label:	Thairish Limited
Cat No:	None
Year:	21/05/2021
Key/BPM:	1A
Value:	£7.99/£11.49

Mestizo Beat Feat. Jamie Allensworth [2021] - Left Behind [F-Spot Records #FSPT-1020]

Mestizo Beat are an Afro-Latin soul/funk group from L.A. founded by brothers Aquiles and Agustin Magaña (originally from El Salvador) in 2016. They released their first single on Colemine in 2018, followed by another two singles before releasing a debut album 'Canoga Madness' in 2020. This is their second single on F-Spot.

It is available digitally and to pre-order on vinyl with a release date scheduled for 4 Jun 2021. The flip on the vinyl release is a cover of Marvin Gaye's 'I Want You' (not available digitally).

Their music is inspired by 70s funk from artists such as The Meters, War, Parliament/Funkadelic, James Brown and latin influences from Mongo Santamaria and the afrobeat of Fela Kuti. They attempt to obtain an authentic sound by recording to analogue tape.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Jazz/Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"
Label:	F-Spot Records
Cat No:	FSPT-1020
Year:	21/05/2021 : 04/06/2021
Key/BPM:	8B/85
Value:	£1 / $8.99

Cheri Maree [2019] - Time Waits (The Realm Remix) [Unofficial]

A Boogie Back remix of this track was released last week by BB Soul & Cheri Maree (another not available on streaming services). Whilst hunting for Manny 'The Realm's' remix of Jane Handcock's 90's Love I came across this remix he did back in 2019 so thought I'd share it. I don't think it's an official mix (i.e. unreleased).

'The Realm' is Manny Rahelu (originally from Slough, Berks.) He began his musical career as a turntablist/scratch DJ in the mid 80's. Starting off promoting and playing at local house parties and progressing to DJing at some of the best underground urban clubs in and around London. Early Hip Hop has always been his main genre although he has a wide knowledge of music, especially 80's boogie/soul/funk, 90's RnB, through to old school reggae.

He's built up a good reputation in recent years for the many remixes he has done.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Unofficial
Cat No:	None
Year:	14/06/2019
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£?

Jane Handcock [2021] - 90's Love (The Realm Remix) [The Realm Productions]

This one's been getting lots of airplay recently and I've been waiting for it to appear on digital platforms to post it. In fact I even contacted Manny 'The Realm' Rahelu last week to try to get a copy as it wasn't even available on his website.

It is only currently available on Amazon (released 21 May 2021) and unfortunately I can't find it anywhere with a sound file (i.e Spotify, YouTube, BandCamp, SoundCloud etc.), so to at least give you and idea of what it sounds like (if you aren't already familiar with it) I've posted the original version from 2019.

The Realm's remix beefs it up into a dancefloor winner.

Jane Hancock was born Myariah Summers in Oakland, CA, and moved to Atlanta where she was mentored by Raphael Saadiq and released her second album 'Raphael Saadiq Presents Jane Handcock Truth Explains A Lot' in 2017 which followed up her debut 'Truth Be Told' in 2016. She's since released a further four albums and around a dozen singles/EPs.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	The Realm Productions
Cat No:	None
Year:	21/05/2021
Key/BPM:	11A/95
Value:	£1