Sean Jones [2021] - Weekend Lover [Self Released] (Full Album)

Sean Jones was a member of boy band In Essence in the 90s/00s. They disbanded in 2006. For the next ten years Jones focussed on song writing and production. In 2015 he released his debut album "Waiting For Midnight" and followed it up in 2019 with "The Boarding Sessions" His third album "Weekend Lover" was released last Friday (5 Nov 2021).

It is unashamedly a nod back to the 90s and some tracks sounding very pop oriented to these ears. The  best tracks are "Make Love" along with "All Fall Down" featuring STORRY and "Love Come Down".

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Details

Rating:	7.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Pop Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/11/2021
Value:	£7.99

Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly [1993] - Back To Basics [Warner Bros. #9 45297-2] (Full Album)

The last studio album recorded by the legendary Maze featuring Frankie Beverly was "Back To Basics" in 1993. They released ten albums in total with two of them being live recordings "Live in New Orleans" (1981) and "Live in L.A." (1986).

Maze were big favourites in the UK in the 80s for soul weekender goers with many of their tunes becoming weekender anthems "While I'm Alone",  "Silky Soul", "Somebody Else's Arms", "Golden Time Of The Day",  "Before I Let Go", "Joy & Pain" etc., so many great tunes, "Back In Stride", "We Are One", "Too Many Games", and I've still probably missed several!

GVB played "Love Is" from "Back To Basics" on his radio show today and listening to it it's hard to believe that it's almost 30 years old now as it still sounds fresh! Hearing it again prompted me to revisit the album and rather than just posting the single track the whole album is well worthy of another listen. 

Other highlights on the album include "The Morning After",  "What Goes Up", "In Time" and "Don't Wanna Lose Your Love". It also includes one of their 'surprise' club hits from 1985, "Twilight", which was played in clubs from the B side of "Too Many Games".

As an added bonus I've managed to find a full concert from the Hammersmith Odeon, London in 1995 which last 97 mins and features the following (including three tracks from "Back To Basics"):

01 Running Away

02 All Night Long

03 Can't Get Over You

04 Back In Stride

05 We Are One

06 The Morning After

07 You

08 Happy Feelings

09 Laid Back Girl

10 Joy and Pain

11 Before I Let Go

12 What Goes Up

13 Twilight.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Warner Bros.
Cat No:	9 45297-2
Date:	1993
Value:	£8.91 / £13.91

Grey & Hanks v Candy Bowman [1980/81] - Since I Found You (Love Is Better Than Ever) [RCA Victor]

A modern soul gem "Since I Found You (Love Is Better Than Ever)" written by Lucky Jamal Davis recorded first by Grey & Hanks. They were primarily songwriters but did release two albums "You Fooled Me" (1978) and "Prime Time" (1980) (on which this track was recorded) and a handful of singles. 

The better know singles (and the only charting ones) being "You Fooled Me", "Dancin'", "Now Is Fine". "Since I Found You (Love Is Better Than Ever)" was also released as a single on the flip to the title track of their second album and as far as I can ascertain they released only one more "Gotta Put Something In" from their first album which sunk without trace.

An artist named Candy Bowman recorded it (also on RCA Victor) in 1981 as the flip side to "I Wanna Feel Your Love". It only appears to have come out on a 12" in UK but there was a US 7" and is her only (listed) recording.

Thanks to BlueSky who left a comment (and also DJ Kool Keith who also messaged me) informing me that it was also covered by Crossroads featuring Natasha Springer on Be Yourself out of Milan (Italy) in 2015. It also featured on a Expansion compilation Soul Shine later that year.

Another post inspired by Gary Van Den Bussche's Starpoint radio show at lunchtime who played the superior Grey & Hanks original version, although I do like both versions.

Details

Rating:	8.9 / 8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"/12"
Label:	RCA Victor
Cat No:	PB-12016 / PD-12305
Date:	1980 / 1981
Value:	£?

Silk Sonic [2021] - An Evening With Silk Sonic [Aftermath Entertainment] (Full Album)

The long 'hyped' album from the Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak collaboration Silk Sonic "An Evening With Silk Sonic" is finally released tomorrow (12 Nov 2021). 

As you will be aware three singles have already been released, all of which have attracted a ridiculous and phenomenal number of views for their videos. The latest one "Smokin' Out The Window" released last week (5 Nov) already has 24m, "Skate" (30 Jul) almost 65m and "Leave The Door Open" (5 Mar) close to 430m.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Album Tracks
Media:	Digital
Label:	Aftermath Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/11/2021
Value:	£8.69 / £11.99

Regi Myrix presents Ty Juan & Shawndella [2021] - Its A Vibe (Nigel Lowis Mix) [Self Released]

The latest release from Regi Myrix features Ty Juan and Shawndella on a  Nigel Lowis remix of "It's A Vibe" due for release nest week (19 Nov 2021).

The original version (i.e. not the remix) of the song was released on his recent "BlackButtahVOL2" album in August.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Remix
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/11/2021
Key/BPM:	1A/110
Value:	£1

Willie Clayton [2021] - Soul Caesar [Endzone Entertainment] (Full Album)

Southern soul stalwart Willie Clayton released a new album "Soul Caesar" on Friday (5 Nov 2021). He must have released well over thirty albums since his first in 1988 but he had been recording since 1974 and released nearly twenty singles before his first album materialised.

It's a southern soul affair with my preferred tracks being the deep cuts "Don't Wanna Be Alone", "It Don't Hurt Now", "Same Girl", "Coming Back To You" and "How You Feel".

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Southern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Endzone Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/11/2021
Value:	£7.99