The Village Choir Feat. Lee McDonald [2021] - All Purpose Love / Sweet Hot Lips [Izipho Soul #ZP69]

Last year I did a feature on The Village (Soul) Choir, so it came as a nice surprise to discover yesterday that the next release on Izipho Soul is a double header of two great in-demand tunes from them. The limited edition 7" is released on Friday (29 Oct 2021) and is available to pre-order in either transparent red or black vinyl from Izipho Soul website.

"Sweet Hot Lips" was originally released on 12" in 1976 on N.Y.C. Street Sound. It was written and produced by Sir Charles Matthews. The Izipho Soul release is the full 12" version.

A long time favourite of mine is "All Purpose Love" which is an album only track from their second album "Street Opera With A Blues Waltz" (on SCM Ringer Records and Tapes), and again written by Sir Charles Matthews who has claimed that the album was never officially released (and he should know as it's his label as SCM are his initials) hence the high value of between £400 median and £700 max selling prices on Discogs.

The Village Choir consisted of Charles Matthews, Clip Hightower, Deloris Ragsdale, Lee McDonald and Margaret Berry.

Lee McDonald, born Cleveland Parker, released several solo singles in the late 70s/early 80s including another UK modern soul favourite "I'll Do Anything For You" in 1981 along with "We've Only Just Begun" both from his debut album "Sweet Magic" and both sides were reissued by Soul Brother records in 2002 on 7"single.  He sadly passed away in Feb 2018. Ron Foster, who was his manager, producer, writer and friend has been on a mission to gain wider recognition of his exceptional talent through various independent record label releases.

Ron Foster released an album by Lee McDonald in 2003 titled "Sweet Magic (Plus 7)" which you can listen to here which contains fifteen superb modern soul tunes.

NOTE: Izipho Soul have made best endeavours to contact the copyright owner and all proceeds from this release will go to Lee's widow and have stated that they will not take any profit from this sale of this release.

At this juncture it is opportune to thank and congratulate Patrick Biggerstaff who has brought us some wonderful releases this year including the great double sider from Alexander Morris "Isn't She A Pretty Girl" / "Love's Knocking", the Rena Scott single, Cornell CC Carter album plus two 45s from it and now this superb double-sider from The Village Choir along with a vinyl release of Down To Earth's "Still Ridin' High" album in the pipeline for early next year.

IZIPHO SOUL · SWEET HOT LIPS

Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP69
Date:	29/10/2021
Value:	£13

Joe Barr with Breezy Rodio [2021] - Soul For The Heart [Self Released] (Full Album)

A new album from Joe Barr "Soul For The Heart" for those who like the raw and rootys/bluesy kinda soul.  His latest album is full of covers of some classic soul tunes in order of appearance: Ray Charles, Tyrone Davis,  Bobby Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Garland Green, Johnnie Taylor, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, Teddy Pendergrass and The Impressions.

My own choice cuts would be "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "Jealous Kind Of Fellow" and "My Latest Greatest Inspiration".

Joe Barr was born on the South Side of Chicago and grew up around Jerry Butler and Sam Cooke. He had his first gig at the age of 17 playing for Howling Wolf.

I found a great 67 minute video recorded live at Rosa's Lounge Chicago last November (2020). It includes the following Bobby Bland "Pity The Fool" and Tyrone Davis "Are You Serious", Sam & Dave "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", Bobby Bland "I Wouldn't Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)", Marvin Gaye "Let's Get It On", Sam Cooke "A Change Is Gonna Come", Bobby Womack "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", Tyrone Davis "A Woman Needs To Be Loved", Bobby Bland "To Know You Is To Love You" and B.B. King "Don't Answer The Door".

A nod again must go to Paul Regan for unearthing this one.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Southern Soul / Cover Versions
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/LP
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/10/2021
Value:	£7.99 / £12.50

VA [2021] - Teddy Douglas Presents Baltimore Philadelphia International (A Tribute To Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff) [Quantize]

Philly International meets Baltimore DJ legend Teddy Douglas who does his soulful house remixes on ten Philly tunes for release on fellow Baltimorean DJ  Spen's (Sean Spencer) Quantize label. Available on Traxsource now for pre-order for release on Friday (29 Oct 2021) with the official release being 12 Nov.

Jean Carn(e) is prominent with three of her recordings involved, including "Was That All It Was, "Free Love" and "Time Waits For No One". A common misnomer/misconception (which I also believed for years) is that it was Jean Carn singing on Dexter Wansel's "Sweetest Pain", which is also included, but it was in fact Terri Wells. London's S.E.L. (Soulful Emma Louise) was drafted in for this new version. She, of course, recorded the song as a single in 2018 and it also appears on her latest album "Loc'd In Consciousness" released in May.

Other songs include versions of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes original of "Don't Leave Me This Way" (a hit at the same time for Thelma Houston's cover of it) and "Bad Luck", Teddy P's "You Can't Hide From Yourself", The O'Jays' "Stairway To Heaven". There is also a version of Angie Stones, O'Jays "Backstabbers" sampling, "Wish I Didn't Miss You".

The final track "Without Your Love", which is an instrumental, I don't recognise so may be an original?

The album title has a strapline 'A Tribute To Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff' but that must be more of a nod to the PIR label than their compositions as only three of the included songs were written by them "Free Love", "Don't Leave Me The Way" and "Stairway To Heaven". Leon Huff co-wrote "Backstabbers" ("Wish I Didn't Miss You") with McFadden & Whitehead.

Thanks to Bill Buckley's excellent Soul&Jazz&Funk for the tip on this one.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Soulful House / Philly / Cover Versions
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Quantize
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/10/2021 12/11/2021
Value:	$9.99

Erica Johnson [2021] - Life, Love and Inspiration [Self Released] (Full Album)

Erica Johnson debuted in 2006 with an album "Reach For Your Dreams". She followed it with an EP "Today" in 2010 and has released around three singles.

Her sophomore album "Life, Love and Inspiration" was delivered on Saturday (23 Oct 2021). It consists of original songs co-written with Emmanuel Johnson II and a cover of Bill Withers' "Lovely Day" which has a broken beats rhythm.

My choice cut is "Coffee", nothing else really 'floated my boat' on first listen but perhaps there may be a few 'growers'?

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/10/2021
Value:	£7.99

Rev. Evan E. Newman [2021] - Better Than Blessed [Self Released] (Full Album)

One picked up on by Paul Regan and a track played on the Soul Sermon last night by Mark Merry from a gospel soul album "Better Than Blessed" by Rev. Evan E. Newman  which was released on Friday (22 Oct 2021).

The standouts for me are "Confirmation", "All I Need Is You", "Changed My Life" which are all steppers, and on the deeper side "Yes God Is Real" which is more of a ballad/stepper.

Rev. Evan E. Newman is from Catlett, VA, and has released three singles since 2018. This is his first album.

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

Rating:	8.3
Genre/Style:	Gospel Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/10/2021
Value:	£7.99

O25 Feat. Danielle Oda [2021] - Back To Sleep [OceanFrontSounds]

I can't find much about O25, but I believe Danielle Oda is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, now based on L.A., and she was part of a duo called Perry & Danielle.

She is featured on a single released today (25 Oct 2021) from O25 titled "Back To Sleep".

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:	OceanFrontSounds
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/10/2021
Key/BPM:	7A/71
Value:	£1

Louise Golbey [2021] - Ain't My Lover [Music Gateway]

Louise Golbey's new single "Ain't My Lover" (released today 15 Oct 2021) has a slight hint of reggae. On the sleeve the credits are i2eye Feat. Louise Golbey. 

I thought I'd posted her last single "Renaissance" (which had more of a reggae feel as it samples Aswad's "Warrior Charge") but it couldn't have got past draft status so I've included the video for it.

Louise is from Bournemouth and has been active since 2004 and is a much in-demand session singer have performed with Ed Sheeran as well as Katy B, Jessie J, Lianne La Havas, Anthony David, The Drifters, George Benson, Roberta Flack, En Vogue. The Stylistics, Roy Ayers, Heatwave, Omar, Eric Benet, Kool & The Gang, Level 42 and Brand New Heavies.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Music Gateway
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/10/2021
Key/BPM:	5A/85
Value:	£1