Thee Baby Cuffs [2021] - You're My Reason [Timmion]

I saw this latest single from Thee Baby Cuffs "You're My Reason" on BandCamp last week and decided that it wasn't really up to standard to post but it has been getting a few plays on at least three radio shows that I know of, so what don't I know? (except that I probably won't be buying it!) As the last two posts are in the same vein I thought I may as well post it. 

It's not due for official release by Timmion until 26 Nov 2021 and will be available on digital or vinyl 7" (black  €7.50 magenta  €10) with an instrumental flip by Cold Diamond & Mink (Jukka Sarapää, Sami Kantelinen, and Seppo Salmi the guys behind Helsinki based Timmion label) from BandCamp.

It will be Thee Baby Cuff's third single following "Where Did Our Pride Go" in 2017 and "My My My Baby" in 2018

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

Details

Rating:	7.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Sweet Soul, Lowridier
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"
Label:	Timmion
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/11/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	€2 / €7.50

La Niece McKay Feat. Avril Grant [2021] - Why Do You Love Another [Noriega #1014]

The latest vinyl release from Noriega Records comes from La Niece McKay Feat. Avril Grant "Why Do You Love Another" with Ray Childs "You're The Guy" on the flip  (posted separately).  The vinyl is priced at $25 for black or $50 for 'moon crest'! Also available as digital downloads.

Although both sides have a retro feel I don't believe that they are reissues, rather new recordings.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"
Label:	Noriega Records
Cat No:	1014
Date:	30/10/2021
Key/BPM:	6B/67
Value:	£1 / $25

Ray Childs [2021] - You're The Guy [Noriega Records#1014]

The latest vinyl release from Noriega Records comes from Ray Childs "You're The Guy" flipped with the deep La Niece McKay "Why Do You Love Another" (posted separately).  The vinyl is priced at $25 for black or  $50 for 'moon crest'! Also available as digital downloads.

Although both sides have a retro feel I don't believe that they are reissues, rather new recordings.

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"
Label:	Noriega Records
Cat No:	1014
Date:	06/11/2021
Key/BPM:	12B/122
Value:	£1 / $25

Smokey Vocals [2021] - What a Day [Casual Dad Records]

Smokey Vocals are beat makers/producers/DJs, Kent Stephany (who I think uses the alias DJ K-REc (King Rectangle) and Chris B Critter (Chris Bawtinheimer) from Vancouver, Canada. "What a Day" looks like their first single (under this alias at least) which was released today (9 Nov 2021), although I did find an EP from  2015 called "Time Peace" on BandCamp. Kent Stephany has been around since at least 2003

The lead vocalist sounds bit like Michael McDonald.

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

Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Casual Dad Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/11/2021
Key/BPM:	10A/94
Value:	£1

George Benson [1993/1996] I'll Be Good To You / Marvin Said [Warner Bros]

If you like all kinds of soul music, especially underplayed and undiscovered gems, then I recommend that you tune in to Gary Van Den Bussche's  weekday radio show between 11:00-13:00 GMT on Starpoint radio as he always delivers some great and rarely heard tunes. 

Unfortunately, as his show is daily, he doesn't produce podcasts which is why I regularly cherry pick many of the gems he uncovers to feature on the blog so they can be heard if you didn't catch the show.

Here's two of three tracks played today on a section he terms the 'lunchtime sandwich' where he features three tracks from a chosen artist. Today it was the turn of George Benson. These two tracks are album only "I'll Be Good To You" (from "Love Remembers" 1993) (did get a 12" promo only release) and "Marvin Said" (from "That's Right" 1996)

Damion & Denita [1980] - It's The Feeling I Get [The Rocket Record Company #PIG-3232]

Here's an interesting one. Denita is Denita James of Hodges, James & Smith and was Kim Weston's cousin. She released a solo single in 1966 on Flip "I Have Feelings Too" / "Wild Side" which she co-wrote with Clifford Davis and has had spins on the Northern soul scene. 

She was then a member of The Naturelles (aka The Natura'elles) who released a couple of singles on Venture in 1968 "Love Has Joined Us Together" / "Show Me The Way" and 1969 "Show Me The Way" / "So Much In Need". Venture was soul subsidiary of MGM run by former Motown writer/producer William 'Mickey' Stevenson. 

I'm guessing here, but Damion looks very like Damon Harris (Otis Robert Harris) of The Temptations (who changed his name when he joined them in 1971 as there was already an Otis, Otis Williams). If anyone can confirm or deny please leave a comment.

Damion & Denita released just one single and one album on Rocket in 1980. The selected track "It's The Feeling I Get" (cherry picked from Gary Van Den Bussche's Starpoint radio show today) is from their self-titled 1980 album and was co-written by Stevenson who also produced the album.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	LP
Label:	The Rocket Record Company
Cat No:	None
Date:	PIG-3232
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£5-£25 approx.

Gladys Knight [2015] - Soon [Many Roads Records]

If you've not heard "Soon" from Gladys Knight then you're in for a treat. A reworking of the Commodore's classic "Zoom" (1977) blended with S.O.S. Band's "Tell Me If You Still Care" (1983) (sampled recently by Yummy Bingham on her single "Tell Me"). 

It was released as a single in 2015 and followed her gospel album "Where My Heart Belongs" and has a gospel feel. It reached top 5 on UK soul chart in 2015.

Surprisingly, "Zoom" was never released as a single in the US (only UK and Holland) and the album it came from was titled "Zoom" in Europe and "Commodores" in US and rest of the world.

Thanks again to Gary Van Den Bussche who played it on his show today and also promoted it back in 2015. 

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / Gospel
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Many Roads Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/01/2015
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1