Norma Sole [2021] - Remembering The Good Times [New York Disco/Essential Media Group] (Full Album)

Having released two singles, both covers, Gloria Barnes' "Home" followed by Betty Wright's "Tonight's The Night", Normal Sole released her debut album "Remembering The Good Times" today (10 Dec 2021).

From the title, and her previous releases, you'd be right in assuming that they are mainly covers of 60s/70s soul gems.  In order of track listing Gloria Barnes (1971), Chyvonne Scott (1963), Linda Jones (1967), Barbara Mason (1965), Ruby Andrews (1967), James Carr (1969), Betty Wright (1985), Betty Wright (1974), Candace Love (1969), Chyvonne Scott (1963), Valerie Carr (1964). Playlist of originals below.

It's hardly a criticism, as not many would possibly even attempt to cover Linda Jones' classic (and biggest hit) "Hypnotized", but it just doesn't have the same depth or emotion as the original. I think the best efforts were by Teena Marie on "Passion Play" in 1994 and Vaneese Thomas (daughter of Rufus and sister of Carla) on a 2009 album "Soul Sister Vol.1". Carolyn Crawford had a go at it in 1990 and from the sounds of it (and the UK spelling) I would guess Ian Levine was behind it as it has his trademark synthesised sound. There was also a 1980 version by Barbara Stroman, a 1982 version by The Elegants and another from Boston female trio 9.9 (who included Margo Thunder and were originally called Owch! and were backing vocalists for Richard 'Dimples' Fields who also produced the album) on their self-titled album in 1985 which is the best of the three 80s versions (actually it is a very good alternative version), all relatively cheap and easy to pick up. Another version I found was done by The Persuaders which first appeared on a 2003 album "Greatest hits Vol. 1" and then got issued on vinyl 7" by It's Soul Time the following year. I would guess that this version had been in the can for a while, possibly since 1972 when the song's writer Richard Poindexter co-wrote material for, and arranged, their debut album including their biggest hit, and title track of the album, "Thin Line Between Love And Hate". 

UPDATE Whilst doing a post for the new Escorts album reissue I've also just come across another few versions. The Escorts on a 1992 album "Back To Love", another from 1983 by Van Jones & Mary Diggs tucked away on the B side to, believe it or not, a cover of Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy"! The other is an album track by a Veronica (Vazquez) on "Rise" from 1997. I've not come across this artist before but she was backed on this track by Tawatha Agee and Fonzi Thornton and Coati Mundi (Kid Creole & The Coconuts) arranged it and played the vibes and produced it with John "Jellybean" Benitez.

Not many have attempted Ruby Andrews' evergreen "Casanova". Andrews did a different take on it as "Casanova '70'" in 1970 on her "Everybody Saw You" album whilst Wayne Bennett did it as an instrumental on the writer, Jo Armstead's, Giant label in 1967.  Loleatta Holloway recorded it in 1975 which was released as a single from "Cry To Me". Coffee did a disco version of it in 1980 which pre-empted some horrendous house and jungle versions in the later 80s/90s e.g. Jazz & Brothers Grimm and Baby D. The only other version I know of is by a French blue-eyed group called The Lightnin' 3' featuring Brisa Roché from their "Morning, Noon & Night" album in 2012.

Barbara Mason's self-written and biggest selling song, "Yes, I'm Ready", has been recorded at least a couple of dozen times. Some of the better versions include Jeffrey Osborne's 2005 version and a more recent 2017 version by Dee Dee Bridgewater and not forgetting The Empress of Soul's (Gladys Knight & the Pips) version from 1967 from the "Everybody Needs Love" album. Other noteworthy versions came from The Royalettes (1965), Carla Thomas (1966), Shirley Ellis (1967) and The Ambassadors (1969).

There's not too many, if any, covers of the other songs so I'll leave it there before this post grows even bigger!

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / Cover Versions
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	New York Disco/Essential Media Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/12/2021
Value:	£7.99

D. Love [2021] - Search'N [D-Ray Productions] (Full Album)

D. Love is Donald Love from Bolton, Mississippi who debuted last year with two singles, followed up with a dual single of two tracks which appear as the first two tracks on his debut album "Search'N" released today (10 Dec 2021).

I didn't find anything 'immediate' from first play but "L.L.L." and "From Heavens View" stood out. It's a solid album throughout of mellow neo soul tunes.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	Y Tracks 1,3,7
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	D-Ray Productions / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/12/2021
Value:	£7.89

FELIVAND [2021] - Where Were You [Sweat It Out]

FELIVAND is 22-year old singer, songwriter and producer Felicity Vanderveen from Brisbane who has ten singles and two EPs under her belt since emerging in 2017. The latest single "Where Were You" released today (10 Dec 2021) comes with a studio and a live version.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sweat It Out
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/12/2021
Key/BPM:	7B/89
Value:	£1

Thuy [2021] - Snowing In LA [Self Released]

Thuy released an album "I Hope U See This" only at the end of October and is back on 8 Dec 2021 with a new single, "Snowing In LA" which i guess 'technically' is a Christmas single but, apart from one reference to it in the lyrics, you would hardly know.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/12/2021
Key/BPM:	5A/64
Value:	£1

Anna Kolesova [2021] - I Wouldn't Change A Thing [Bomba-Piter]

This cover of Johnny Bristol's "I Wouldn't Change A Thing" (also covered by Coke Escovedo's on his 1976 "Comin' At Ya!" album) is from the sophomore album "Worldgrooves II" by Russian singer Anna Kolesova. I listened to her first album ("World Grooves") when it was released at the beginning of November and the only track of interest was a cover of Sade's debut single "Your Love Is King". The new album is basically MOR jazz tracks so I will just post this track.

Coke Escovedo began his career with Cal Tjader before joining Santana with his brother Pete. Together they formed Azteca in 1972 and Coke featured as vocalist on Malo's debut album, In 1975 he recorded the first of three solo albums. He was the father of Prince protégé Sheila E. He died in 1986 aged only 45.

The featured song was written and recorded originally by Johnny Bristol on his 1975 "Feeling The Magic" album. It was originally an album only track from Coke Escovedo but has had a couple of reissues on 45, first on German label Unique in 2006 and more recently as a double-sider on Expansion in 2018 on a look-a-like Mercury label with Escovedo's other modern soul spin "Rebirth" on the flip which appeared on his first solo album and as the B side of a single. Another of his singles worth checking out is a cover of Lamont Dozier's "Why Can't We Be Lovers" which was his first single from his debut album.

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Details

Rating:	7.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/12/2021
Key/BPM:	8B/197
Value:	£7.99

Mia Carson [2021] - 2AM - Chill Neo Soul [Warner Chappell]

This album from Mia Carson "Chill Neo Soul" does what it 'says on the tin' i.e. archetypal wispy neo soul stuff but with a hint of jazz.

I can't find any info about Mia Carson except on the Warner Chappell website. She wrote the songs with a Daniel Delaney and according to the website the album was released on 15 March but has only appeared on DSPs today (10 Dec 2021) so perhaps they are having another go at promoting it?

I think it will take a couple of sittings to fully appreciate the twelve tracks, but on first listening I would select "Shine", "Holding Me Back" and "Lavender And Purple Violets" as my standouts.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/12/2021
Value:	£7.89