Sunday, 21 November 2021

The 1st SoulStrutter Readers' Poll 2021 UPDATE (3) Top 20 Albums & Top 100 Tracks



As it's getting even closer 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 just over a week left to get your votes in for the 2021 readers' poll.

To get the ball rolling here's my Top 20 Albums (which may change if something special gets released in the next couple of weeks) and Top 100 (73 so far) Tracks. A list has also been provided by Starpoint Radio's Gary Van Den Bussche.

2021 Selections by Gary Van Den Bussche

Albums
Down To Earth - Still Risin' High (Album)
Regi Myrix - BlakButtahVOL2!! (Album)
Cornell CC Carter - Next Life (Album)
GarciaWalker&Durrell - Praying For Rain (Album)

Tracks
Cleo Soul - 23
Silk Sonic - Leave The Door Open 
Odyssey Feat. Lillian Lopez - New York City
Alexander Morris - Loves Knockin'
Brooklyn Groove Machine - Deja Vu (Baby Powder Mixes)


SoulStrutter's Top 20 Albums of 2021

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/ W3sst - Runnin'

SoulStrutter's Top 100 Tracks of 2021
(not really in order of 'merit') NB 73 so far but will make it up to 100

1/ Carmichael Musiclover - Time For The Sunshine
2/ GarciaDurrell&Walker - Now That You're Gone
3/ Down To Earth - Right From The Start
4/ Tom Bailey - Love And Happiness
5/ Myles Sanko - Streams Of Time
6/ Alanna Royale - Fall In Love Again
7/ PenzillaTheGreat - Stay A Little While
8/ W3sst - Midnight
9/ Eugene Cole Feat. Felton Pilate - Why Are You Holding Back
10/ Kadeem Tyrell Feat. Omar - All My Love
11/ Derrick Sena & James Sena Feat. Senco - I Can’t Help It 
12/ Eric Roberson - Lessons / Lessons (Remix)
13/ LeVelle Feat. Anthony Hamilton - Fell In Love 
14/ PJ Morton - Please Don't Walk Away
15/ Estee Pierce  - Spoil You
16/ Vince Bryant - Gitwitu
17/ Tarrey Torae - IN TIME
18/ Nicholas Davis - Let's Work It Out
19/ RASida - Don't Go Back
20/ Alexander Morris - Loves Knockin'
21/ Funkee Boy - A Better Way
22/ D. Saunders - Lucky Or Blessed
23/ J'Cenae - On The Avenue
24/ Ms. Kriss - Honeydeux (Honey Do)
25/ Rob Ruha - Alamein 
26/ Ranay Shakara - Who Do You Love / I Been
27/ Anthony Lofties - I'm So Sorry / Go Back
28/ Keni Jackson - Thinking About Your Love
29/ Timothy Bloom - Losing My Mind
30/ Silk Sonic - Leave The Door Open
31/ Sunni Colon - Provide
32/ Wesley Bright - Look At Me
33/ Keni Myles - The Last Time
34/ Hassan Farrow - I'd Do Anything / So In Love
35/ Tomeka Williams - The Beginnings Of Me And You
36/ Durand Jones & The Indications - Love Will Work It Out
37/ Isabelle Eberdean - Falling In Love
38/ Yuma Hara Feat. Monique Marian - Stay With Me 
39/ Jacob G. - Never Late
40/ Eric Shaun - Man Torn
41/ Roderick Harper - Heart's Desire
42/ Lamone Feat. Najee - You Complete Me
43/ Ledisi  - Nothing But You
44/ Breonna B. - Throwback Love
45/ David Scott - You Don't Have To Be Hard
46/ The Bruce Gardner Experience - JUSWANNALUVU
47/ Binky Womack Feat.The Womack Sisters - Vitaman B
48/ Marlow Jones - It's About to Go Down
49/ Davante Thornton - Give All My Luh
50/ Cha Star - Vibe
51/ Elaine E’ssential  - Dreamin'
52/ Stokley Feat. Snoop Dogg - Jeopardy:Verbalize
53/ Secret Night Gang -  Wanna Be With You
54/ Rob Ruha  -  Running Away
55/ Ms1 Project - Life's Celebration
56/ Michon Young - Your That One
57/ Cornell CC Carter - Next Life
58/ Radio Galaxy Feat. Carl Thomas - YU
59/ Jasmine Bailey - Cherry Pie
61/ Rev. Evan E. Newman - Confirmation
62/ Caino  - Starship
63/ Latonius - Back 2 Soul
64/ Mad Yella - With Your Love
65/ Rachael Marks - Need You
66/ Will Downing - Never Wanted Anyone
67/ Samm Henshaw - Grow
68/ Durand Jones & The Indications - More Then Ever
69/ Rob Hardt & Ferry Ultra Feat. Sharon Phillips - If These Walls Could Speak
70/ Teedra Moses Feat. Uncle Chucc & Brody - Make Me
71/ Alvin Garrett Feat. Kim Scott - The Lightness Of Love
72/ Lady Ri Feat. Heaping Teaspoon - Black Girl
73/ LaTanya Hughes - Too Grown

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. 90 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.

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
Dav Hall - SoulSuite

Alvin Garrett - The Lightness Of Love
Shaila Prospere - Under My Skin
Kindred The Soul Family - Auntie & Unc
Zo! & Tall Black Guy - Abstractions
Deirdre Gaddis - D-E-I-R-D-R-E Keep Pushin'
Davante Thornton - Luh And Circumstance
Raquel Rodriguez - Sweet Ride
Roderick Harper - Back To Love
Mississippi Humin Boy - Crunch Time

Keni Jackson - Keni Jackson
Wil Key - Globetrotter:B
Hassan Farrow - So In Love
V9 Collective - Message In The Music
Yuma Hara - Reality
Raheem DeVaughn - Love Sick
Children Of Zeus - Balance
Sam Wills - Breathe
Dimitris Dimopoulos - Take Me Out Tonight

Lin Rountree - Fluid
Doug Wonder - The Black Man Matters
D Mills - Prism
Nigel Hall - Spiritual
James Vickey - Songs That Made Me Feel
Bridge City Revival - Introducing
Durand Jones & The Indications - Private Space

Leela James - See Me
GarciaWalker&Durrell - Praying For Rain
Tanqueray Hayward - Definition Of A Woman
Showship - School Soul Vol. 1
Carmichael Musiclover - Slow Motion
Regi Myrix - BlakButtahVol.2
Victor Haynes - Can We Talk
Jazz Amadi - Late Bloomer

Wendy B - Here 2 Stay
Marshella Muzik - Moodz
Down To Earth - Still Ridin' High
Anthony Lyric - With You In Mind (NB this appears to have been withdrawn from Spotify!)
Golden Browne - Golden Browne
Anthony Hamilton - Love Is The New Black
Jay King - Soulful Bossanova
Mink Slide - Funk On Wheels
Kayla Williams - Love Letters
Cornell CC Carter - Next Life

MF Robots - Break The Wall
Jessica Domingo - Butterfly Paradise
Secret Night Gang - Secret Night Gang
BeMyFiasco - Where I Left You
D. Saunders - Let Me Sing To You
Teddy Bryant - In The Beginning
Tony Lindsay - Soul Soldier
Funkee Boy - Elevate

Siloam Pool - Simple Complexity
Tom Bailey - Goodbye To Yesterday
Erica Johnson - Life, Love & Inspiration
Derrick Givens - Once Again
Judi Jackson - Grace
Dante' Roberson - Caveat
Will Downing - Sophisticated Soul
CaiNo - Awakened
Nightmares On Wax - Shout Out! To Freedom...

Nicole Henry - Time To Love Again
krajenski. - Orbit
J'Cenae - Decency
Robert Brown - One God One Love
Ty Causey - U-Turn
Ms. Kriss - Blacbuttahfly
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SoulStrutter Top 30 - 21st Nov 2021



The SoulStrutter Top 30 of the most viewed posts in the last 30 days (i.e. blog readers choices).

Twelve new entries into the top 30 this week. Silk Sonic 'inevitably' tops the chart this week. I'm pleased that the quality of the J'Cenae album (last week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week) has been recognised by entering the chart at #7. It's unfortunately highly unlikely to make any of the UK soul charts though as it's a connoisseurs album for the minority who appreciate deep soul music.

The highest climbers are Regi Myrix, JKabel, The Buttshakers, Nicole Henry, Doc City (another quality album that probably won't trouble any other chart) and Judi Jackson. I'm also pleased to see Dames Brown's jam enter the chart, one of the best funky dance tunes around for weeks if not months.

Last 30 Days

PosPrevArtist - TitlePostedDays
12Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic LP11/1110
23Melba Moore - So In Love28/1024
35Will Downing - Sophisticated Soul LP01/1120
47Teddy Douglas - Presents Baltimore Philadelphia
International LP		25/1027
5 Michelle Brooks-Thompson - Live It Up16/115
620Regi Myrix presents Ty Juan & Shawndella
 - Its A Vibe (Nigel Lowis Mix)		11/1110
7 J'Cenae - Decency LP12/119
8 Blue Soul Ten Feat. Dennis Lorenzo
 - This Is Worth It		07/1114
9 Abi Farrell - Don't Follow Me22/1030
1019Doc City - Welcome to Doc City LP05/1116
1111Siloam Pool - Simple Complexity LP29/1023
1214Sugar Rainbow - Game Of Life
 (DJ Sammy Noire Remix)		03/1118
131Candace Woodson - All I Need (Rob Hardt Mix)15/1037
1426The Buttshakers - Arcadia LP03/1118
1529JKabel - Keeper Of My Soul06/1115
1624Judi Jackson - Grace LP01/1120
1716Funkee Boy - Elevate LP30/1022
1818Tony Lindsay - Soul Soldier LP23/1029
1930Nicole Henry - Time To Love Again LP02/1119
2027Rahsaan Patterson [2021] Heroes & Gods 2.0 LP03/1118
21 Everis - What U Doing 2 Me16/115
22 W3sst - Lessons Learned LP14/117
2323Samuel Archer - Soul Music Vineyard LP01/1120
2425Temica Key [2021] - I Am Temica Key EP02/1119
25 Dante' Roberson - Caveat LP01/1120
26 Dames Brown Feat. Andrés & Amp Fiddler
 - What Would You Do?		15/116
27 Joss Stone - Never Forget My Love12/119
28 Debonnaire Music - THEN/NOW LP06/1115
29 Evil Needle Feat. QUIN - Liquid Light26/1026
30 Jay Diggs - JAMS LP06/1115
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The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Part 42 (Nov 2021 Wk 46) Spotify Playlist


My selection of the best releases this week (Nov 2021 Wk 46)
In no particular order other than tempo. 

Not so many album tracks this week only three Robert Brown. MALIYA and Thuy with another from an EP D Mills. The remainder are all singles.

Choosing this weeks SoulStrutter selection wasn't easy as I try to steer away from non-original material as there are several good ones in this weeks Covers etc, Dozen such as Tony Hightower, the new remix of Marvin Gaye's "Save The Children", Teddy P etc. 

So I narrowed it down to three which are all completely different, the funky jam by Dames Brown, JKabel's gospel soul an another gospel song with jazz flavours by Robert Brown. . The album track "Universe" from Thuy is also really growing on me as is Zenesoul. After due consideration I've gone for Robert Brown's "Hold Your Head Up" but it really could have been any one of them.

NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full

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The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 35 (Nov 2021 Wk 46)



My selection of this week's best cover versions, remixes, reissues, previously unreleased and new songs using samples or new releases with a retro feel (Nov 2021 Wk 46). (In no particular order).

Quite a lot to choose from this week with a couple of Motown remixes of Marvin Gaye and Undisputed Truth and also one from Teddy Pendergrass. I was tempted to include a few tracks in the main dozen but one is a cover (Tony Hightower), another a sample (Snoop Dogg etc.) and the other a remix although it was only an album track originally from Regi Myrix.

Reissue: Silver Platinum x2, Judy Freeman & Blackrock x2
Remixes: Marvin Gaye, Undisputed Truth, Regi Myrix, Teddy Pendergrass
Samples: Snoop Dogg & DJ Cassidy Feat. Mary J. Blige (Al Johnson)
Covers: Lance Ferguson (The Sunset Band), Tony Hightower (Creative Source/EWF) Shaina Shepherd (Lee Fields & the Expressions)

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Judy Freeman & Blackrock [2021] - Judy Freeman & Blackrock [RCA / Legacy] (Full Album)


Those of a certain age and background will remember Judy Freeman & Blackrock for their Northern Soul monster "Hold On" which later appeared on one of the very early NS compilation albums "Jumping At The Go Go" compiled by Wigan Casino's Richard Searling on RCA in 1976. It sounds like it would have been the sort of sound broken at Blackpool Mecca before getting spins elsewhere, but reading the sleeve notes it would appear that this was little known until it appeared on the compilation due to the scarcity of the 45. Searling's sleeve notes for this track reads:

"Black Rock were formed in 1969 and, even today, a big crossover hit eludes them. "Hold On" will, I imagine, be new to most 'Northern Soul' lovers, mainly because copies are extremely difficult to come by. The record therefore has not had much disco exposure, but I'm sure with it's inclusion on this compilation soul fans everywhere will at last be able to 'dig' what I consider to be a latent 'Northern Soul' smash."

Judy Freeman & Blackrock released just two singles both in 1971 and both on RCA. "Hold On" was the B side to their second single which had "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" as the A side. The first single "Don't Do It Anymore" c/w "All We Need Is A Miracle" has never sold on Discogs and there isn't even a label scan although there is one on 45Cat but only of a promo, so I'd imagine that it was never issued, but curiously there is also a same sided promo with the other side "All We Need Is A Miracle" with the same catalogue number so it looks like they couldn't decide which side to release as the top side. A search on Popsike turned up only one which sold for a snip for such a scarce record at $22 in April 2016. Presumably the remaining five tracks have lain in the vaults since then. So that's four of the nine sides on the album taken care of.
"Walk A Mile In My Shoes" was written and recorded earlier by Joe South (of "Games People Play" fame) in 1969 on Capitol.

"All We Need Is A Miracle" is a Motown / Jobete song which was written by Pam Sawyer and LeVerne Ware (aka Gloria Jones of "Tainted Love" and married to T Rex's Marc Bolan fame) and originally scheduled for recording by Glady's Knight & The Pips, David & Jimmy Ruffin and The Devastating Affair but Motown never used it until Glady's Knight & The Pips had left Motown for Buddah and it was eventually released on "A Little Knight Music" album on Soul in 1975. The same album on which "No One Could Love You More", another Ware/Sawyer composition which became a huge Northern Soul tune many years afterwards, appeared. The album is well worth seeking out as it also has a version of Edwin Starr's "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" (yet another Ware/Sawyer song) on it. Dee Edwards recorded "All We Need Is A Miracle" in 1972 on RCA.

I think it has been known for some time that a test pressing of the album has existed and that the album version of "Hold On" is a longer version i.e. 4:15 v 2:28.

I can't find any information about this album which was released 'unannounced' last Friday (12 Nov 2021).
The only information I can find on Judy Freeman is what is on Discogs which states she was born on 5 Feb 1940 in New York and left New York in 1969 to go to California. She sounds like a gospel singer so, unless she changed her name, it looks like these are her only recordings.

Aside from the obvious "Hold On" the outstanding track is the incredibly soulful "Don't Do It Anymore" which is soul as deep as you like! 

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Details
Rating: 8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Classic Soul / Previously Unreleased
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: RCA / Legacy
Cat No: None
Date: 12/11/2021
Value: £6.99
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Irini [2021] - Tribute [Self Released] (Full Album)


This is essentially a reissue of Irini's 1995 album "Don't Make Me Wish" excluding a few tracks. It has been re-titled "Tribute".

Irini Toufexis was born in Cyprus in 1971 and emigrated to London in 1974. She met Light Of The World's Everton McCalla whist studying music at Pimlico Institute in 1976. The following year she was discovered as a model and during a modelling session was offered a recording contract. However, after a while she found the contract too restrictive and broke free to release a couple of independent singles, the first being "24/7 Love", followed by several singles on a label set up with her sister Marina. An album "Don't Make A Wish" followed in 1995.

In 1996 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and moved back to Cyprus to be with family and sadly passed away exactly a year ago on 20 Nov. 2020 which is possibly what has prompted the reissue of the album on the first anniversary.

I have to say that most of the tracks still 'stand up' and if Em-Cee can have a UK soul chart #1 with an album containing songs that are almost 20 years old then why can't this one do well?

It is also worth nothing that "24/7" was remixed and 'housed up' in 2003 and uses samples from Phyllis Hyman's "You Know How To Love Me" (included below). Also, on the new album, it has been mis/re-titled "Love".

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Details
Rating: 8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Modern Soul / 90s
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 20/11/2021
Value: £7.49
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Mac Kay [2021] - Jazz EP [Self Released] (Full EP)


Mac Kay (Marek Stanisław Kozłowski is a producer from Poland. He released a five track EP "Jazz" on 19 Nov 2021. All five tracks have been previously released as singles and feature 'Guest Julka' (Julia Marta Ludwiczynska) and the pair of them wrote all tracks together. 

The standout track is "Selfish" which was released as a single last Dec. (2020).

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Details
Rating: 7.6
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: EP
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 19/11/2021
Value: £5.94
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