East West Connection Feat. Pete Trotman [2021] - Once I've Been There [Chillifunk Records]

I occasionally have a little dig around Traxsource but to be honest much of the material is house rehashes of well known disco tunes from 70s/80s. However, occasionally a little gem crops up. Such is the case with this one, but then I do love the 1977 original by Norman Connors from the pen, and featuring the vocals, of one 'Prince' Phillip Mitchell!

This version of "Once I've Been There" by East West Connection featuring Pete Trotman (of Blacksmiths) will be released on Friday (12 Nov 2021) on the resurrected Chillifunk Records which is owned by Lofty and Dr. Bob Jones, who knows a thing or two!

The original mix was released in 2000.

Below are samples of the five mixes until it's official release.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soulful House / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Chillifunk Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/11/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	$6.99

R.I.P. Evette Benton (The Sweethearts of Sigma) 7th Nov 2021

Reports are coming in from various sources (e.g. Soulful Detroit) about the death of Evette Leontine Benton. A name you may or may not be familiar with but you will almost certainly have heard her voice if you've been listening to 70s/80s soul music, as she was a member of The Sweeties aka The Sweethearts of Sigma, The Philadelphia Angels. They were Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records equivalent of Motown's The Andantes as they were the main backup singers used on so many recordings.

The trio included Benton, Barbara Ingram and Ingram's cousin Carla Benson. Benson is now the only surviving member as Ingram died in 1994. She released a single on Butch Ingram's (Barbara's brother) Society Hill in May 2021 which was her solo version of MFSB's "Tell Me Why" on which she provided lead vocals for on the original. 

They are all from Camden, NJ, and were discovered by Thom Bell (who was married to a friend of Barbara Ingram's sister Frankie) in 1972 and were hence often referred to as Tommy's Girls.

They can be heard on recordings by Patti LaBelle, The Spinners, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Paul, Barbara Mason, The Stylistics, Archie Bell & The Drells, Trammps, Major Harris, Manhattans, Tymes, Eddie Kenricks, the list goes on, virtually anyone and everyone who recorded at the famed Sigma Sound Studios, including Elton John.

As far as I'm aware, Evette Benton didn't record any solo material.

There is a detailed history about The Sweeties on SoulTracks.

R.I.P Evette Benton and thank you for your contribution to the music we love. Sincere condolences to friends and family.

The Detroit Emeralds [2021] - Face 2 Face [MCM Global Team]

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for The Detroit Emeralds as their records were some of the first that got me into soul music in the early 70s with "Do Me Right" "You Want It You Got It", "Feel The Need" (live video below) and "I Think Of You" etc.

They were formed in the 60s by brothers Abrim, Ivory, Cleophus, and Raymond Tillmon in Little Rock, AK.  Two brothers, Abrim and Ivory, moved to Detroit and hooked up with James Mitchell and released a few sides on the legendary Ric-Tic label with "Show Time" and "Shades Down" getting exposure on the Northern Soul scene. Whilst "Shades Down" is credited to them, it's an instrumental, more likely to be by The San Remo Strings or possibly Al Kent who wrote and produced it!

In 1969 they moved to Westbound where they began a string of hits which were more popular in the UK than US. Surprisingly, "Feel The Need", which was a #4 pop hit in UK in 1973, didn't even get in the Billboard Hot 100 and neither did "I Think Of You" a UK top 30 pop hit (#27)!

The group began to disintegrate in the mid 70s with Mitchell leaving to form The Floaters in 1976. The following year they remade "Feel The Need" which scraped into Billboard at #90 whilst reaching #12 in UK. At the same time The Floaters had a world-wide smash hit with "Float On" co-written by Mitchell.

The Detroit Emeralds, led by James Mitchell, are back in 2021 with a new single "Face 2 Face" released on 1 Nov 2021.

Thanks to Paul Regan for highlighting this one.

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Details

Rating:	7.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	MCM Global Team
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/11/2021
Key/BPM:	3A/107
Value:	£1

RubyGld Smoke [2021] - Our Ancestors' Wildest Dreams [Quiet Kingdom Recordings] (Full Album)

RubyGld Smoke are a  husband and wife duo Terrence (T.L.) Williams and  Dani (Dandria) Jo Williams from Chicago. They released their sophomore album on Friday (5 Nov 2021)  "Our Ancestors' Wildest Dreams" which follows "Revolutionary Love" released in Nov 2020.

The two best tracks are the last single "Somebody Wants Your Love" (released 18 Jun 2021) and the album's first track "Can't Sleep" (tipped by Paul Regan), a lot of the other material is very pop oriented.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Pop
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Quiet Kingdom Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/11/2021
Value:	£7.99

Minus2 Feat. Derek Dunn [2021] - Levelling Up [In Seasons Music Group]

Another one of Paul Regan's tips is taken from a predominantly instrumental jazz/gospel album "The Journey, Part 1" (released 2 Nov 2021) by Minus2 (who are Eric & Daryl Minus) and features vocalist Derek Dunn.

The track "Levelling Up" is a jazz stepper which has already been released as a single on 10 Aug 2021, and, unless you like smooth jazz instrumentals, there's nothing else really of soul interest on the album.

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Details

Rating:	7.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Smooth Jazz / Stepper
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	In Seasons Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/08/2021 (02/11/2021)
Key/BPM:	3B/88
Value:	£1

Blue Soul Ten Feat. Dennis Lorenzo [2021] - This Is Worth It [Greenehouse Music]

Blue Soul Ten, whose musical career spans two decades, is from Washington D.C. and got his start as a radio deejay and would later go on to study music production at the prestigious Berklee College of Music for a brief time. 

His passion for his craft of choice can be heard through his song writing, production and collaborations with international vocalists and performers. Most agree the Blue Soul Ten sound is a blend of jazz, soul, hip-hop and  EDM. 

His latest single "This Is Worth It" features the vocals of Dennis Lorenzo and is due for release on Friday (12 Nov 2021).

His last album "The Incredible Sound Of Blue" was featured in April and also his last single "Her Eyes Tell A Story" featuring Syauqi Destanika from September.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Greenehouse Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/11/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£unreleased

krajenski. [2021] - Orbit [Künstlerhafen] (Full Album)

Lutz Krajenski is a German keyboardist/arranger from Hanover who has been recording since the 80s. 

He released an album "Orbit" on 29 Oct 2021 which features guest vocalists including Sharon Phillips and Alana Alexander who feature on the standout tracks "Enjoy This Moment" (Alana Alexander), "That Ain't Right" (Sharon Phillips) and "One On One" which features Myra Maud and is sung half in French and half in English.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital/CD/LP
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/10/2021
Value:	£7.99 / 15.64 £20.64