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Sunday 1 August 2021

The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Part 26 (Jul 2021 Wk 30) Spotify Playlist


My selection of the best releases this week (Jul 2021 Wk 30). 

After such a bumper week for releases last week, this week was always going to struggle to keep up, and right enough, apart from a couple of album releases, there is nothing majorly standout this week.

Three 'big' albums were released on Friday, GarciaWalker&Durrell, Leela James "See Me" and Durand Jones & The Indications. There was also another from quite an 'insignificant" artist!!!, Prince, but I said my piece on that one when it was posted!

I struggled to choose the the SoulStrutter Selection of the Week as only a couple of tracks stood out from the crowd, for me. One is a few weeks old now, Mulvey's Medicine (which is a long track and you need to listen for a while to get into it) and Lady Frequency, but neither of these would have had a shout in other weeks. So, I've gone for an album.

It was a duel between GarciaWalker&Durrell "Praying For Rainand Durand Jones & The Indications "Private Space". 

I was pleasantly surprised by "Private Space", as I wasn't expecting too much as two of the pre-released singles ("Witchoo" and "The Way That I Do") I didn't think were particularly good but the album has at least six very good tracks.

However, I don't think there is a bad track on "Praying For Rain", and there are plenty of beauties, so this weeks' 'honour' goes to GarciaWalker&Durrell. My vinyl copy dropped on the doorstep yesterday ... but it's still virgin, the 12" of "Get Into You Life" has been pre-ordered!

Footnote: I've just listened again to Mulvey's Medicine and it's a real slow burner ... it builds and builds, so don't judge it from the first couple of minutes, the second half is much better, it needs to be listened to all the way through!
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NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full



The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 19 (Jul 2021 Wk 30)



My selection of this week's best cover versions, remixes, reissues, previously unreleased and new songs using samples (Jul 2021 Wk 30). (In no particular order).

A few previously unissued tracks from JWE Music Group by Michelle Goulett, Harold Thomas Band, Dee Dee Joseph & David and one just credited to JWE Group. 

A few reissues, two from Charlie Mitchell and I've taken a bit of license for Straight Jacket as it has been re-recorded by group member Adell Shavers as Showship (but that isn't on Spotify!). 

Just the one remix of Dimitris Dimopoulos and four cover versions, two from Lillias White, one mix from several covers of Lonnie Liston Smith's "Expansions" and finally an epic cover of Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower".




Ashley Scott [2021] - The Thought Of You [Soulful Sounds International Records]


The latest offering from Ashley Scott, "The Thought Of You", was released on Friday (30 Jul 2021). His previous single "Don't Throw Our Love Away" was posted in April so for details about him please refer to that post.

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

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Soulful Sounds International Records
Cat No: None
Year: 30/07/2021
Key/BPM: 3B/92
Value: £1


Vedo [2021] - Yesterday [New Wav Music Group]


Vedo is from Atlanta, GA and made his fame after a couple of songs he he put up on YouTube went viral e.g. a song called "4 Walls" which currently has over 40m views!. He appeared in season 4 of The Voice (2013) mentored by Usher.

His latest single "Yesterday", I'd like to have said was released yesterday, but in fact it was the day before 30 Jul 2021!

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / R&B
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Year: 30/07/2021
Key/BPM: 6A/89
Value: £1


Stefan Taylor & The Signatures [2021] - Run For Cover [Static Wax]


Stefan Taylor & The Signatures are a ten-piece UK band specialising in Northern Soul covers. They have backed many legendary US artists when they have appeared in the UK.

Today (1 Aug 2021) they have released an album of ten covers of Northern Soul 'classics' titled "Run For Cover" ... which will have many NS devotees doing exactly that!

Northern Soul die-hards will wonder why? .. as covering Northern Soul classics is the antithesis of what NS is all about! 

Anyway, to the album, it covers the following, in order of appearance, Julien Covay, The Dells, Jackie Wilson, Nolan Porter, Darrell Banks, Gene Chandler, The Carstairs, The Originals, Al Wilson and finally The M.V.P.s. 

I was interested to listen to what they did with The Carstairs classic, as I don't know of any other covers of the song, a brave selection! I'll let you make your own mind up!

The album is also available as CD or Vinyl from Static Wax. (I wonder if this label is related to Sonic Wax?)

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"Time Wil Pass You By" Live @ Skegness 2019 (not on album)

.. and a cover of Eddie Holman - "Surrender" which they released as as single


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Details
Rating: 7.1
Genre/Style: Neo Northern Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Static Wax
Cat No: None
Year: 01/08/2021
Value: £7.99


Char Elizabeth [2021] - In2me [Self Released] (Full EP)


Char Elizabeth (aka Charlene Cockett) has been writing songs for other artists (3LW, Montifah, Run-DMC, Darcus - "Rain Falls" a good 90s stepper) since the mid 90s. She was born in Canada but raised in Galveston and Brooklyn and was signed to Def Jam subsidiary JMJ (Jam Master Jay aka Jason Mizell) as an artist/writer. 

Since 2019 she's released around ten singles and now releases her debut solo album/EP "In2Me" under a new moniker Char Elizabeth on 31 Jul 2021. It contains all new music i.e. none of her singles appear on it.

"I'll Never Know" is a classy smooth soul ballad, whilst "Rock With Me" is a good neo soul/R&B ballad/stepper and the final standout track is another ballad "Still Love". All in all, a nice six track EP/Album - I'm calling it an EP as there are only six tracks!

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Details
Rating: 8.6
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Year: 31/07/2021
Value: £5.49


Beverley Skeete [2021] - Liberty [Vocaphone] (Full Album)


The UK's Beverley Skeete's single "My Heaven" was released back in Jan 2021 which she followed up with "We Need Love" in Apr, a duet with Paul McLean (Hi-Tension / Brit Funk Association). Yesterday (31 Jul 2021) she released a new album "Liberty".

The album includes a soulful cover of Scott 'Mac' Davis song "In The Ghetto" which was a hit for Elvis in 1969, and the two singles above plus a single from 2020 "Can't Do Right (For Doing Wrong)". 

The title track "Liberty" is the most instant tune, a modern soul style dancer and the next track on the tracklist "Stay Calm" is also in the same vein. "What A Way To Start The Day" is a jerky jazz flava'd stepper, with "Freefall" being the only other track that stands out. 

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Details
Rating: 8
Genre/Style: Modern Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital/CD
Label: Vocaphone
Cat No: None
Year: 31/07/2021
Value: £7.99