Soul Strutter: 06/11/21

Friday, 11 June 2021

Conya Doss Feat. Eric Roberson [2021] - It Ain't Easy [Self Released]

A little teaser/taster of a track from Conya Doss's new album "Through Rose-Colored Glasses" due for release on Sunday 13 Jun 2021.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	13/06/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£7.99

Durand Jones & The Indications [2021] - Love Will Work It Out [Dead Oceans]

The second single, "Love Will Work It Out", to be pre-released from the album "Private Space" (due 30 Jul 2021) was released on 8 Jun. The other single is "Witchoo" which was posted on 12 May which isn't in the same league as this.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dead Oceans
Cat No:	None
Year:	08/06/2021
Key/BPM:	7A/82
Value:	£1

4th Kingdom [1972] - Gotta Get To You [Janion #JS 102]

4th Kingdom from The Bronx, NY. with a sweet soul song written by J.R. Bailey & Ken Williams.

As far as I can tell they released this single and followed it with another written by Ken Williams & Kermit Moore 'Loneliness' in 1973 on a different label Elmcor, and that was it.

I think Janion and Elmcor were part of the same group as there were two releases on Janion 101 & 102 and two on Elmcor 103 & 104. The odd cat nos. were both by Brother Soul who I believe are the backing band on the other two releases by 4th Kingdom. The cat. no.s then continue from 105 thru 117 from 1973-1977 on Leo Mini with the first two releases being by Brother Soul.

Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul Harmony
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Janion
Cat No:	JS 102
Year:	1972
Key:	N/A
BPM:	N/A
Value:	£100-£150 (approx.)

Wayne Henderson [1979] - Dancin' Love Affair [Polydor #PD 2013]

Wayne Henderson was a trombonist who was one of the founding members of The Crusaders along with Joe Sample, Wilton Felder and Stix Hooper (all except Hooper are now deceased).

Henderson left in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He released a few singles with Roy Ayers in 1978, but a record that has always stayed with me is "Dancin' Love Affair" from 1979. The vocals on the track are from Ron Banks founder of The Dramatics (also now deceased).

Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"/12"
Label:	Polydor
Cat No:	PD 2013
Year:	1979
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£15-£40 (approx.)

Bobby Thurston [1978] - The Sweetest Piece Of The Pie [Mainline #12747]

How good does this sound when you haven't heard it for a while? From his rare first album of the same name from 1978 before he hit (UK Top 10) with "Check Out The Groove" in 1980. Curiously, COTG wasn't a hit in US, not even an R&B chart entry, and his only US hit was "You Got What It Takes" which only reached #78 R&B in 1980.

Many seem to rate "Just Ask Me" but this one does it for me, along with "Treat Me The Same Way" and his version of Billy Stewart's classic "I Do Love You", he later also covered "Sitting In The Park" on his next album.

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Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	LP
Label:	Mainline
Cat No:	12747
Year:	1978
Value:	£200-£300 approx.

Patti LaBelle [1979] - It's Alright With Me [Epic #8-50659]

Having recorded with The Chordettes and The Blue Belles, later Patti LaBelle & The Blue Belles in the 60s, and shortening their name to LaBelle in the early 70s, Patricia Louise Holt embarked on a solo career in 1977, recording on Epic until 1980.

She released a couple of duets with Bobby Womack on Beverly Glen in the 80s and also a few singles on Philadelphia International before settling with MCA.

One of the best solo releases was the title track from her 1979 album "It's Alright With Me" written by Skip Scarborough'. It did nothing on the Hot 100 but reached #34 R&B. It's a great late 70s modern soul dancer which stands out from a lot of disco dross that was circulating at the time..

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"/12"/LP
Label:	Epic
Cat No:	8-50659
Year:	1979
Key/BPM:	9B/118
Value:	£5

Dayton [1980] - Eyes On You [United Artists #UA-X1374-Y]

Dayton were an 80s boogie/funk band (from Dayton, OH, naturally!) which included members previously with Magnum and Sun and are probably best known for "The Sound Of Music". They released five albums between 1980-85.

I posted another track from them "Promise Me" earlier this year. The track featured here, "Eyes On You", is their second single, released on United Artists in 1980, which sank without trace. It appeared on their eponymous debut album.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Rare Groove
Format:	Single
Media:	7"/LP
Label:	United Artists
Cat No:	UA-X1374-Y
Year:	1980
Key/BPM:	2A/121
Value:	£10-£0 (approx.)

The S.O.S. Band [1982] - Have It Your Way [Tabu #ZS4 03527]

A lovely, deep 'n sweet soul ballad by The S.O.S. Band from their 1982 'S.O.S. III' album, released as a single in US but not UK.

The group is from Atlanta and were originally named Sounds Of Santa Monica, they changed their name to S.O.S. Band (Sound Of Success) in 1979. This is was their third album, but the first produced by Jimmy Jam Harris and Terry Lewis who had the 'Midas touch' in the 80s.

This album also includes, what I consider to be, their best record 'Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')', which did virtually nothing chart wise in US as it only appears to have been released as a 12" single, but reached #72 in UK charts. The 12" version is longer than the album version (below). It also has another great track 'High Hopes' (below)