Sympli Whitney (SWP)
was born in Springfield, MA, to two Baptist ministers and raised
in Framingham, MA. Inevitably she started singing in church.
She got her big break in 2014 in the finale of 'Apollo Live'. Later that
year she contributed to an independent compilation "Indie Soul United 2"
featuring on two tracks "7 Days A Week" and "I'd Rather Say Good Morning".
Her debut album "Ryze of the Phoenix" was delivered in 2016 along with her first single "I Can See You And Me" which reached #4 on the UK Soul Chart. More recently in Mar 2021
she released a four track EP "Sleepless".
Her latest three track EP "The 45th Chapter" is due for release on 4 Dec 2021.
SWP has slowed down and delivered a smooth sensual collection of 3 tracks
which she describes "brings the listener through various stages of
intimacy from lust (Track 1 'Alright'), to the warmth of seduction (Track 2 'Baby I Want You'), finally, landing in the lap of blissful romance (Track 3 'So Amazing')".
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artist.
Due for release on 3 Dec 2021 on digital and vinyl 7" is this very
Hamilton Bohannon sounding track from United Disco Organisation
"Send The Rain" vocal and instrumental flipped with "Funky Thing" (vocal and instrumental).
Written by producer/bassist Neil Innes and guitarist/singer Chris Dawkins
who is the vocalist on "Send The Rain".
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.
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.
There are only 2 weeks left to get your votes in for the 2021 readers' poll.
To get the ball rolling I'm throwing my hat in the ring with my Top 20 Albums (which may change if something special gets released in the next couple of weeks).
1/ Carmichael Musiclover - Slow Motion
2/ Down To Earth - Still Ridin' High
3/ GarciaWalker&Durrell - Praying For Rain
4/ J'Cenae - Decency
5/ Silk Sonic - An Evening with Silk Sonic
6/ Cornell CC Carter - Next Life
7/ Durand Jones & The Indications - Private Space
8/ JKabel - Collective Thoughts
9/ D. Saunders - Let Me Sing To You
10/ Yuma Hara - Reality
11/ Ms. Kriss - Blacbuttahfly (EP)
12/ Will Downing - Sophisticated Soul
13/ Myles Sanko - Memories Of Love
14/ Bound - Bound I & II
15/ Doc City - Welcome To Doc City
16/ Rob Ruha - Preservation Of Society
17/ Funkee Boy - Elevate
18/ Alvin Garrett - The Lightness Of Love
19/ Keni Jackson - Keni Jackson
20/ Anthony Lofties - Sincerely, My Fault
21/ W3sst - Runnin'
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. 91 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.
Here's one of the best versions that I had completely forgotten about
until I came across it doing the Terri Wells post. A superb version of
Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love" by vibes maestro Roy Ayers from 1979 released as a single
and an extended album track from "No Stranger To Love" and features Terri Wells on backing vocals and, not surprisingly with such a tight sound, Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie on drums.
I guess when most of us think of Terri Wells we
immediately think of her cover of The Spinners "I'll Be Around" in 1984 and/or possibly her debut solo single "You Make It Heaven" in 1983 both on Philly World.
It may surprise many to learn that in fact (according to a couple of
sources) she was one of the backing singers on The Spinners original
version from 1972, although she is not credited on the album which
included two of "The Sweeties", Carla Benson and (the recently deceased)
Evette Benton
along with Linda Creed!
She is from Philadelphia and was a member of a local group
City Limits, who were signed to TSOP records and released just one single
in 1975 and one album "Circles" in 1976. City Limits evolved out of a gospel
choir Overbrook Singers which also produced The Debonettes
(aka First Choice) with Annette Guest, Rochelle Fleming and Wardell Piper who
progressed from the choir.
Reading the bio on Discogs it is inaccurate as it claims that Terri Wells
and Brandi Wells are the same artist which is incorrect, therefore the
claim that she toured with Fat Larry's Band is probably also false (as may
be the statement that she was a backing vocalist on The Spinners
original?). Brandi Wells is an entirely different artist who was a member
of Fat Larry's Band, Breeze and Slick before going solo in 1981. Brandi
Wells died in 2003 and as far as I'm aware Terri Wells is very much
alive.
After City Limits disbanded she was recruited by Dexter Wansel as a
session singer for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International records
and toured with various artists on the roster. She sang lead on Dexter
Wansel recordings of "The Sweetest Pain" (often mistaken as Jean Carn) ("Time Is Slipping Away") as well as "Together Once Again" ("Life On Mars") .
When Wansel retired from recording in 1979 she joined Roy Ayers who she
toured with and also recorded with writing and performing on "Let's Stay Together" on his 1982 "Feeling Good" album. She performed backing vocals for yet
another cover of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love" with Roy Ayers on "No Stranger To Love" in 1979.
One of her aliases is Terri Wells King and she co-wrote a few songs with
James and John King of The Futures who recorded them in 1982, so I am
guessing she was married to one of them?
She also co-wrote a song recorded by Patti LaBelle "I Can't Forget You" released on "Patti" in 1985 on which she also performed backing
vocals.
In 1986 she sang backing vocals on Phyllis Hyman's "Screaming At The Moon" on "Living All Alone" and also appeared on Loose Ends "Zagora"
album.
Her first of only four US solo singles was "You Make It Heaven" (only 12" in US) in 1983 followed by "Just Like Dreamin'" / "Who's That Stranger", "I'm Givin' All My Love" and "I'll Be Around" in 1984 (the last two had instrumental flip sides). Only
the first and last got released in the UK and both made the UK pop
charts #53 and #17 respectively. Another single "I Already Know" / "Falling Leaves" was only released in Germany in 1984.
The standouts, for me, on this album are "Uncle James" (written by Bruce Hawes and Cynthia Briggs) and "Love (I
Guess That's The Fool In Me)" the latter is a stunning ballad written by Joseph Jefferson who was the brother of Major Harris (not sure why their surnames are different?) and cousin of Norman Harris and finally a great Philly dancer "Words Without Love".
Terri Wells [1984] - Just Like Dreamin' [Philly World #90189-1]
This is an extended reissue of the original album which only contained
the first eight tracks. The additional tracks are mainly 7" or 12" and
instrumental mixes with the addition of the Pedro Edit of "I'll Be
Around". Everything she released as a solo artist is included.
Silver Platinum are a group from Miami who released a
self-titled album in 1981 from which six tracks appeared on three singles on
Spector International. They released another two singles in 1986.
All of the nine tracks on the original album appear on a 'new' album "Silver Platinum 2", I think they are the same tracks and not re-recorded, along with
another five previously unreleased tracks which I am guessing have been in
the can rather than being new recordings?
The 'new' tracks are "Baby Don't U Know", "Anyone But Me", "Cherry Wild",
"Ghetto Life", and "You're Worth It".
One of the members of the group, who I believe is responsible for the new
album, is Michael Sterling (aka Johnson) (the MS in MSMG) was a one time member of Inner Circle.
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