Mix - The Best Of 2021 - August

Here's a 60 minute blended mix of my selection of 19 of the best new releases for Aug 2021. (with links to original posts)

NOTE, this month I've decided to only feature tracks that have not made any of the soul charts (yet). There may be one or two that have, but possibly only had one week on the chart.

Mix - The Best of 2021 - Jul

Mix - The Best of 2021 - Jun

Mix - The Best of 2021 - May

Mix - The Best of 2021 - April

#Anthony Lofties - I'm So Sorry 

India Ivonna - Tell Me

#Josh Berkeley - Just As Friends

E.D.I.S Feat. Ariel Rae - Peaches 

Luna Elle - Flaws

Char Elizabeth - I'll Never Know

Jali - Kountry Love

CHERISE - Remedy

Ny'Aira - Tyme

LaTanya Hughes - Too Grown

#Ranay Shakara - I Been

Charli Dahni - Time Goes By

#Shannon Lauren Callihan - Used To Be My Love

Honey Mooncie - Four Reasons

Stazia - I Choose You

Acantha Lang - Sugar Woman

Brittany Turnipseed - Right Here

Jay King - All Your Love (All Nite Long)

Rita Ray - No Greater Love (was featured in The covers Dirty Dozen wk 32)

# indicates that the track was a SoulStrutter Selection of the Week.

A recap of August's "The Dirty Dozen" (links to mix on heading and to posts on titles)

Wk 34 3 Sep 2021

LaTanya Hughes - Too Grown

Charli Dahni - Time Goes By

Ranay Shakara - I Been

Ranay Shakara - Who Do You Love

Showship - You Put A Smile On My Face

Saint Jainz Feat. Maxine Jones - Get Over Your Love

Gwendolyn Collins Feat. Black Orchid & Tey Yaniis - Roll With Me

Brittany Turnipseed - Right Here

Kloud 9 Feat. Maysa - 24/7 Love

Scotty Sax & Kenton Lee - Angel Of Light

Show Tyme - Good Love

Hatty Keane - Coming Out

Wk 33 23rd Aug 2021

E.D.I.S Feat. Ariel Rae - Peaches (5A/57)

Sofyaah Lynn - The Best (4A/61)

Elshay - Pride (6B/64)

Jali - Kountry Love (9A/65)

JoJo - Worst (I Assume) (12A/81)

Shannon Lauren Callihan - Used To Be My Love (3B/84)

Novine - Pretender (9A/85)

The Carpet Shop Feat. KWAYE - Heaven On Earth (11A/87)

TanQueray Hayward - Can't Imagine (7B/99)

Acantha Lang - Sugar Woman (9B/90)

Sean Ardoin - For You (10B/99)

Yasmina - Don't Deserve This (6A/100)

Wk 32 17th Aug 2021

Josh Berkeley - Just As Friends (51.9)

India Ivonna - Tell Me (62.4)

Luna Elle - Flaws (64.1)

Ny'Aira - Tyme (67.4)

AIA - Note to Self (Interlude) (70.0)

Kim Tavar - 1 + 1 Don't = 3 (88.0)

Honey Mooncie - Four Reasons (87.0)

Stazia - I Choose You (88.1)

Jay King - All Your Love (All Nite Long) (90.0)

Will Downing - The Warmth Of You (90.0)

Jaguar Skills & Omar - Loving Someone (Pt. 1) (90.5)

Reva DeVito & Midas Hutch - One Shot (92.0)

Wk 31 9th Aug 2021

Anthony Lofties - I'm So Sorry (52.0)

Char Elizabeth - I'll Never Know (65.1)

CHERISE - Remedy (67.1)

Sidibe - First Water (80.0)

Marlo Wells - Loving You the Best I Can (80.0)

Swindle Feat. Poppy Ajudha & Daley - Darkest Hour (80.0)

Anthony Hamilton - Love Is The New Black (84.0)

Vedo - Yesterday (89.5)

K, Le Maestro Feat. Amaria - Out Late (91.0)

Victoria Monét - Coastin' (91.0)

The DreZone - Better Days Better Ways (95.0)

India Shawn - Don't Play With My Heart (100.0)

Alistair Blu [2021] - Heart Come Back [Self Released]

Alistair Blu (aka Evan Crofton) is from Montreal and is the co-lead singer of Busty & The Bass. He released his fourth solo single "Heart Come Back" on 3 Sep 2021, although there are a couple of others on his BandCamp store. 

Several of the band members are supporting him on this track (Scott Bevins (Trumpet), Chris Vincent (Trombone), Julian Trivers (Drums) and Milo Johnson (Bass) with background vocals provided by Gabrielle von Glasow).

The single is from a forthcoming EP "Shades Of Blu" due on 1 Oct 2021.

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

Details

Rating:	7.9
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/09/2021
Key/BPM:	4A/78
Value:	£1

R.I.P. Carl Bean (26/05/1944 - 07/09/2021)

Earlier this year I posted Valentino v Carl Bean. Carl Bean died on Tuesday (7 Sep 2021) and there is an obituary in The Guardian.

I revisited Valentino's original version on YouTube and noticed that Chris Spierer, the co-writer of the song, left the following comment:

"Thank you so much for posting this.

My name is Chris Spierer and I wrote this song with Bunny Jones back in 1974. It has been covered by many artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Magnus Carlsson, Jimmy Somerville, Johnny Rodriguez, Paul Oskar, Dimitri From Paris, Marty Thomas, Pour Homme, Another Gay Movie  as well as Carl Bean..It has also been sampled  numerous times.

You're hearing Stevie Wonder on drums!!

I am playing the guitar along with great musicians from New York."

Aretha Franklin [2021] - Respect - Biopic - in UK cinemas tomorrow

A reminder that the Aretha Franklin biopic "Respect" is released in UK cinemas tomorrow (10 Sep 2021). The reviews didn't look particularly favourable that I posted after US release along with the full soundtrack but go with an open mind.

In addition the 81 track compilation "Aretha" (alluded to on 19 Jul) drops tomorrow from which I will post the 'interesting tracks' as I don't think you'll want to plough through 81 tracks all at once!

Click image for full track list.

Claire Davis [2021] - Thrive / Playground [LRK Records#LRK-12]

Back in June Claire Davis (from Toronto) released a five track EP and I posted a couple of tracks that had already been released "Heartbreak" and "Playground" and (having received a promo for the EP) stated at the time that I thought "Thrive" was probably the strongest track. LRK records has released a 45 with "Thrive" c/w "Playground" which has already sold out on pre-order (they only went on pre-order last Friday!) and, owing to backlogs at pressing plants, is due for delivery early next year.

So you're only bet is to see if they are available at reputable record dealers or chance your arm on Discogs after release, or alternatively download the digital version from LRK's BandCamp store.

She has uploaded a live recording of "Thrive" on her YouTube channel today (9 Sep 2021) and I've included the full EP below.

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"
Label:	LRK Records
Cat No:	LRK-12
Date:	31/01/2022
Value:	£Sold Out / £2

Gary 'Lil G' Jenkins [2021] - That's My Baby [Everything G Entertainment]

Tipped on this one by Leigh 'The Flava' Taylor from Gary "Lil G" Jenkins who is a member of  Atlanta R&B group Silk. His latest solo offering "That's My Baby" was released on 7 Sep 2021.

He has produced a video for it on his YouTube channel but has disabled embedding so go here to view it.

He released a solo album "The Other Side" in 2005 (originally issued as G "The Otha Side") which got a UK release on Expansion.

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Everything G Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/09/2021
Key/BPM:	1B/82
Value:	£1

Turunesh [2021] - Tinga Tinga (Satin Cassette LP) [Neshå Empire]

"Tinga Tinga" is a track from Turunesh's sophomore album "Satin Cassette" released today (9 Sep 2021). Turunesh is singer/songwriter from Tanzania who debuted with a four track self-titled EP in 2017. 

The album is a melting pot of neo soul, R&B, jazz, tarrab and other genres. I selected "Tinga Tinga" as it's the most soulful track and a bit different.

She released "Cigarette" from the album as a single in May and uploaded a live recording of it on her YouTube channel on 20 Aug which I've added.

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

Details

Rating:	7.7
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Neshå Empire
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/09/2021
Key/BPM:	8A/73
Value:	£1