Soul Strutter: 11/08/21

Monday, 8 November 2021

Letta Mbulu [1973] - You Touched Me [Tamla Motown #TMS 387]

Now here's an undiscovered gem unearthed today by Gary Van Den Bussche on his lunchtime Starpoint radio show.

"You Touched Me" was originally released by Letta Mbulu on her 1970 "Letta" album on Tamla Motown in South Africa but got a US release on Chisa which was owned by South African horn player Hugh Masekela.

It was also released on a 45 in US in 1970 and in Rhodesia on the Tamla Motown imprint and, although the copyright states 1970, it is believed to have been released in 1973.

Chisa was distributed by Motown which may explain it appearing on Motown outside the US.

It was issued as part of the "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11A: 1971" in 2008.

By sheer 'miracle' I managed to find a live performance of the song on a TV show Black Omnibus hosted by James Earl Jones from 1973.

This is one you may need to listen to a few times to then be hooked by it's quality.

Phil Perry & Renee Diggs [1993] - All My Love [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

The fifth and final track posted today from the BeBe's Kids compilation comes from Phil Perry and Renee Diggs (Starpoint) with "All My Love" which later featured on Renee Diggs' "Oasis" album in 1993.

A great modern soul stepper that was written by Chaka Khan and Marcus Miller. I'm not sure if anyone else recorded it.

The Emotions [1992] - I Want To Thank You For Your Love [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

Still picking through the tracks on the BeBe's Kids soundtrack from 1992. This is a track from The Emotions "I Want To Thank You For Your Love".

It has the same writers again Billy Griffin, John Barnes and Ronnie White but also one of the Emotions, Wanda Vaughn (nee Hutchinson).

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Joey Diggs v Jody Watley [1992] - Your Love Keeps Working On Me

Yet another track from the BeBe Kids 1992 soundtrack but with a difference this time. Joey Diggs was on the compilation but Jody Watley (Shalamer) also released "Your Love Keeps Working On Me" the following year and had a minor hit with it #26 R&B / #100 Hot 100.

This song was also written by Billy Griffin and John Barnes along with another member, a founding member with Smokey Robinson of The Matadors and then, The Miracles, Ronald (Ronnie) White. Ronnie White is also credited with introducing Stevie Wonder to Motown.

Curiously, the Jody Watley release credits Robert White which at first I thought was a linking error on Discogs but it actually states that name on the label, so who knows, but it's just about the only song he's credited for so perhaps a typo on the label? In fact looking closer it credits Griiffin, Robert White and Joey Diggs, so a bit of poetic licence perhaps?

Ronald Isley [1992] - Deeper [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

Another track picked up on from a play by Gary Van Den Bussche last week is an obscure stepper from Ronald Isley "Deeper" on a Capitol compilation for BeBe's Kids (an adult animated comedy movie released in 1992) co-written by Billy Griffin (The Miracles) and John Barnes.

Aretha Franklin [1992] - Standing On The Rock Of Love [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

After the weekend deluge of new releases things are pretty quiet on that front today so I will take the opportunity of posting some hidden gems.

A track picked up on from a play by Gary Van Den Bussche last week is an obscure track from Aretha Franklin "Standing On The Rock Of Love" on a Capitol compilation for BeBe's Kids (an adult animated comedy movie released in 1992).

It's by no means 'one of her best' but good for that era and probably not that well known? The song was co-written by Billy Griffin (The Miracles), Cindy Mizelle and John Barnes.

There are few other good tracks on the compilation including from Phil Perry and Ronald Isley (which I think Gary also played which I'll post if I can find it).

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T.W.O. Feat Phil Perry & Alyson Williams [2010] - Can I [T.W.O. Headz Music]

Last week jazz drummer Dante' Roberson released a new album "Caveat" which had a track "Can I" featuring Phil Perry and Alyson Williams. It was originally recorded in 2010 on T.W.O. "The Whispers Orchestra" album which also featured the same vocalists.

At first I couldn't really tell any discernible difference, but putting them side by side it does appear that it has been re-recorded for "Caveat"? This makes me wonder whether Dante' Roberson was a member of T.W.O.?

Loleatta Holloway Discography 1971-1984

According to The Independent, Loleatta Holloway is "undoubtedly the most sampled female voice in popular music" and in 2016 Billboard named her the 95th most successful dance artist of all time!

It's a bit of a shame really as she was much more than just a dance/disco/house artist and I feel is grossly underrated for her earlier material. I intend to correct that by presenting some of the real soul gems that she recorded before she moved into the world of dance music.

In her career she had eleven R&B chart entries, only three of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 "Cry To Me" #68, Only You" #87 and "Good Vibrations" on which she featured for Marky Mark (actor Mark Wahlberg) & Funky Boys #1 hit, her last hit in 1991.

She did, of course, also feature (uncredited) on Italian outfit Black Box's UK #1 hit "Ride On Time" in 1989. It was a track on the B side to "Worn Out Broken Heart", "Dreamin'", in 1976 that launched her disco career which got to #72 on the pop chart.

It may not be common knowledge that she featured on Dan Hartman's disco hit "Relight My Fire" in 1979, who then wrote one of her biggest dance hits "Love Sensation".

This post is a belated birthday celebration of her music. She was born in Chicago on 5 Nov 1946 and therefore would have been 75 a few days ago but sadly died owing to heart failure in March 2011 aged 64. It covers her career from 1971 to 1980.

As you would expect from her powerful voice, she started by singing gospel with her mother in the Holloway Community Singers in Chicago and recorded with Albertina Walker in the Caravans gospel group between 1967 and 1971.

She was also a member of a troupe of 'Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope' where she met her future husband, jazz guitarist Floyd Smith who became her manager and produced her first recording which was a cover of a Curtis Mayfield song originally recorded in 1963 by Gene Chandler "Rainbow" which she updated as "Rainbow '71". It was one of only four releases (Feb 1971) on the tiny Apache label which included the wonderful James Phelps' original version of "The Look On Your Face" which was co-written by Smith. The single was picked up by Galaxy for national distribution (Jun 1971) with a different A side but failed to chart.

Coincidentally, The Sweethearts of Sigma which included Evette Benton, whose death was announced yesterday, featured on her first three Gold Mind albums, with Barbara Ingram being on her fourth and last on the label.

Here's a playlist of twenty of her best, mainly deeper, sides, in no particular order other than chronological.

Discography 1971-1984

Apache

1971 AM 2004 - For Sentimental Reasons / Rainbow "71"

Galaxy

1971 780 - Bring It On Up / Rainbow '71

Aware

In 1973 she was signed to Michael Thevis' Atlanta based Aware label where she released six singles between 1973-75 and two albums "Loleatta" in 1973 and "Cry To Me" 1975.

Many of the tracks released on Aware are included on the excellent Kent compilation "The Hotlanta Soul of Loleatta Holloway" (link to album on Spotify)

Albums

1973 AA 2003 - Loleatta

The Man I Love

We Did It

Our Love

Can I Change My Mind

Part Time Lover, Full Time Fool

So Can I

Only A Fool

Love Woke Me Up

Mother Of Shame

Remember Me

1975 AA 2008 - Cry To Me Listen HERE

Cry To Me

I Know Where You're Coming From

The Show Must Go On

The World Don't Owe You Nothing

Just Be True To Me

Something About The Way I Feel

I'll Be Gone

I Can't Help Myself

Casanova

H.E.L.P. M.E. M.Y. L.O.R.D.

Singles

1973 AW-30 - Part Time Lover... Full Time Fool / Only A Fool

1973 AW-33 - Mother Of Shame/ Our Love (#63 (R&B) / #43 (R&B))

1974 AW-39 - Help Me My Lord / The World Don't Owe You Nothin'

1974 AW-47 - Cry To Me / So Can I (#10 R&B / #68 Hot 100)

1975 AW-50 - I Know Where You're Coming From / The Show Must Go On (#69 R&B)

1975 AW-53 - Casanova / Only A Fool

Gold Mind / Salsoul

In 1976 she joined Norman Harris' Gold Mind Records where she released eight single plus another on the parent label Salsoul between 1976-80. she also released four albums.

Many of the tracks released on Gold Mind / Salsoul are included in a compilation A Tribute To Loleattta Holloway: The Salsoul Years (link to album on Spotify)

Albums

1976 GZS 7500 - Loleatta Listen HERE

Hit And Run

Is It Just A Man's Way?

We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together)

Dreamin'

Ripped Off

Worn Out Broken Heart

That's How Heartaches Are Made

What Now

1978 GA 9501 - Queen Of The Night

Catch Me On The Rebound

Only You

Good, Good Feeling

Mama Don't, Papa Won't

I May Not Be There When You Want Me (But I'm Right On Time)

You Light Up My Life

Two Sides To Every Story

I'm In Love

1979 GA 9504 - Loleatta Holloway Listen HERE

The Greatest Performance Of My Life

All About The Paper

There Must Be A Reason

That's What You Said

Baby It's You

There'll Come A Time

Sweet Mother Of Mine

1980 GA 9506 - Love Sensation Listen HERE

Love Sensation

Long Hard Climb To Love

Short End Of The Stick

I've Been Loving You Too Long

Two Became A Crowd

Dance What 'Cha Wanna

My Way

I'll Be Standing There

Singles

1976 GM-4000 - Worn Out Broken Heart / Dreamin'

1977 GM-4001 - Hit And Run / Is It Just A Man's Way

1977 GM-4007 - We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together) / That's How Heartaches Are Made

1978 GM-4012 - Only You (with Bunny Sigler) / Good Good Feeling

1978 GG-4015 - I May Not Be There When You Want Me (But I'm Right On Time) / Mama Don't, Papa Won't

1978 GM-4016 - Catch Me On The Rebound / Mama Don't, Papa Won't

1979 GM-4021 - That's What You Said / There'll Come A Time

1979 GG 503 - The Greatest Performance Of My Life / That's What You Said (12")

1980 GM-4024 - Love Sensation / Short End Of The Stick

1980 GM-4021 - I've Been Loving You Too Long / Two Became A Crowd

Salsoul

1977 SZ-2045 - Run Away / Run Away (Album Version) (The Salsoul Orchestra Featuring Loleatta Holloway) (12")

80s

1982 SG 376 - Seconds / Seconds (Special Club Version)

Streetwise

1984 SWRL 1130 - Crash Goes Love / Sweet Thing

The 1st SoulStrutter Readers' Poll 2021 UPDATE (1)

As it's getting close to the end of the year I thought it was about the right time to begin a poll for the best of 2021.

There are only 3 weeks left to get your votes in for the 2021 readers' poll.

Rather than just me choosing what I think are the best of the year, I'd like readers to send in their own nominations. You can either leave them in the comments to this post (ONLY) or send to soulstrutter@gmail.com. Entries in by 30th Nov please.

I will then collate them into a list. I may also post individual readers choices, so please don't leave your choices anonymously as they won't be included i.e. if you want to maintain anonymity then email them and state that you prefer them not to be posted.

To make it straightforward there are just four categories. Please choose a maximum of five and a minimum of one for each category and points will be allocated for each position and totalled up at the end to select the winners of each category.

Best Album

As it seems a bit confusing as to what constitutes an EP versus an album, the definition of an album for the purpose of the poll is that it must contain at least six tracks. Compilations are not included but if you'd like to nominate a compilation and there are enough nominations I could create a new category for them, likewise, I guess, with EPs.

Best Track

Can be a single or album track

Best Artist

Male, female or group

Best Newcomer

Must be an artist who hasn't released material prior to 2021 but may include artists making their first solo appearance i.e. previously in a group..

There are a lot of albums to choose from so, to remind you of some the the best, here's a list of approx. 83 of the best released this year in no particular order other than chronological order of release/posting. Note you don't have to choose from this list as it's just a memory jogger, not only for albums but for all categories. There are also links to all albums to refresh your memory.

NB Each week until the close of the poll I will update the list with new album releases.

Tristan - What Could Possibly Go Wrong

Deborah Bond - compass:I

Will Downing - The Song Garden

VannJess - Homegrown

Tru Soul Davis - Soul Fiyah

Portrait - Afro Trees

Kim Tavar - My Story

Myles Sanko - Memories Of Love

Terry - #TheElvolutionOfMe

Dav Hall - SoulSuite

Alvin Garrett - The Lightness Of Love