David Mrakpor Feat. James Coleman & Blue Lab Beats [2021] - My Life [Jazz Re:freshed]

David Mrakpor (aka producer Mr DM) is one half of London 'jazzatronic' duo Blue Lab Beats with beatmaker Namali Kwaten (aka NK-OK). He released his debut solo single "My Life" on 3 Dec 2021 which features James Coleman.

It's a bit of an epic, almost eight minute, nu jazz tune.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jazz Re:freshed
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/12/2021
Key/BPM:	2B/98
Value:	£1

Eddie G [2021] - Baby I'm Ready [K-Style Productions]

Last month (15 Nov) Nicholas Davis released his version of Levert's "Baby I'm Ready" (which is currently #4 on SoulStrutter Top 30 of most viewed posts) and another has turned up today by Eddie G.

Eddie G. last featured on the blog with a single "Oh No" released in June.  I'll also re-post the Nicholas Davis version here so you can decide which one you prefer, although I think they are sufficiently different interpretations of the song.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Slow Jam
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	K-Style Productions / Buttermilk Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/12/2021
Key/BPM:	7B/61
Value:	£1

Those Guys From Athens [2021] - Nice & Easy [Self Released]

"Nice & Easy" from Those Guys From Athens (DJ Snatch & Blacksoul who are 'naturally' from Athens, Greece) was originally released in Feb via Bandcamp. It would appear that this has now been distributed to the major DSPs as it has come up with a released date of today (13 Dec 2021).

It's a retro, essentially instrumental, disco tune with phat and funky bassline.

These guys often feature on the Yacht Disco Edits compilations which often turn  up some gems.

As suspected it's based on / samples a 70s track, Thanks to Kool Keith who informed me it's Eddie Drennon & The B.B.S. Unlimited "Do It Nice And Easy" from 1975, the follow up to their biggie "Let's Do The Latin Hustle" which reached #20 on UK pop chart in Feb 1976 and their only entry in US R&B chart. It was on their debut album "Collage".

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Details

Rating:	7.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Disco / Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/12/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1

The World Column - A Profile Of ...

This post was inspired by a recent post on Soul Discovery website by respected rare soul DJ Dave Thorley. He tells the story of how he researched the group The World Column and tracked down a surviving member of the group, Bob Redding.

"So Is The Sun" was one of the biggest tunes on the Northern Soul scene around 1975. I believe it was first 'broken' at Cleethorpes Pier / Winter Gardens and eventually gained a UK release in Feb 1976 by Capitol. As Dave's article alludes, many thought at the time that The World Column were a white rock group as around the same time another big tune was Babe Ruth's "Elusive" who 'were' a white rock group! The publicity photo above shows that they were a mixed race group and Dave has debunked the myth as Bob Redding is African American.

Discogs states that they were from Munster, Indiana which is on the outskirts of Gary (although Dave's article suggests that they were from Gary) which in turn virtually converges Chicago. They were originally called the Seagrams but didn't release any recordings under that name. The original members of Seagrams included Dave Meyer (vocals), Joel Kaplan and Dan Boller. Bob Redding (vocals), Joe Odum (vocals) and Delroy Bridgeman (vocals) were brought in sometime in 1968 after their first single, which is very psych rock, to give the group a more soulful sound and renamed The World Column.

They released two singles as The World Column, the first on Atco in July 1968 followed by their best known on Tower in Oct 1969.

The group underwent some line-up changes and eventually Bob Redding and Delroy Bridgeman became The Love Column who were joined by Miss Madeline (Madeline Strickland) on their only recording, a cover of "You Made Me So Very Happy" and "Can't Get Enough" on Chicago label Duo.

Miss Madeline was previously a member of The Young Folk (previously Baby Miracles) recording a solitary single "Joey"/ "Lonely Girl" on Mar-v-lus in 1967. Later that year she recorded a solo version of "Lonely" along with "Behave Yourself". She later went on sing backing vocals for Loleatta Holloway on her 1978 album "Queen Of The Night" and "Love Sensation" in 1980.

"Can't Get Enough" sounds like an answer song to "You Made Me So Very Happy" written by Floyd Smith (who was married to Loleatta Holloway, so there's the connection, and Smith has been mentioned on the blog previously on Loleatta Holloway Discography and the post on The Look On Your Face) and Leo Graham who later wrote and produced several hits for The Manhattans ("Shining Star") and Tyrone Davis ("Turning Point") and others including Jackie Wilson and Linda Clifford often performing backing vocals.

By 1972 The Love Column had morphed into New World with Bob Redding and Delroy Bridgeman being joined by Doyle Cole and Maxine Crayton who had recorded a single "Don't Take Your Love" / "You Better Stop" on Gordon Keith's Steeltown label in 1967. Gordon Keith is credited as discovering The Jackson Five who recorded their first single "Big Boy" on Steeltown in 1968.

They recorded "Help The Man" / "We're Gonna Make It" on Polydor in 1972, with the latter being an in-demander written by Curtis Mayfield.

The Numero Group unearthed two previously unreleased recordings by New World which they passed to Dave Thorley for his radio shows. They have subsequently been released on vinyl 7" by Eastern Artists Recording Studio in 2020 and even in such a short time are fetching almost £500 on Discogs!

The World Column

1968 - Midnite Thoughts / Lantern Gospel [Atco #45-6604] 

1969 - So Is The Sun / It's Not Right [Tower #510]

Love Column

1970 - You Made Me So Very Happy / Can't Get Enough  [Duo #D-7460]

New World

1972 - Help The Man / We're Gonna Make It [Polydor #PD 14154]

2020 - Lolita / Stand By Me [Eastern Artists Recording Studio #EARS 003]

Norman Connors [1980] - Take It To The Limit [Arista #AL 9534] (Full Album)

The last post of a new single by Jonah Julian featuring Ada Dyer (aka Adaritha) prompted me to revisit the Norman Connors' 1980 album "Take It To The Limit" on which she featured on lead vocals on four tracks: "Take It To The Limit", "You've Been On My Mind", "Justify" and "You Bring Me Joy". The other vocal tracks on the album feature Glenn Jones on "Melancholy Fire" (what a tune!), Al Johnson on a cover of Lou Courtney's 1974 song "I Don't Need Nobody Else" (also recorded by Michael Henderson on "Wide Receiver" the same year and Eddie Kendricks on "Love Keys" in 1981) and Leon Ware on "Everywhere Inside Of Me".

As stated in the previous post, "You Bring Me Joy" was written by David Lasely who died at the age of 74 on Thursday (9 Dec). I believe that this is the first recording of the song which was later recorded by Anita Baker for her iconic sophomore album "Rapture" in 1986.

Adaritha also featured on his previous album "Invitation" in 1979 with the standout being "Be There In The Morning" a song co-written and recorded by Australian blue-eyed soul singer Renee Geyer in 1977.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	LP/ Digital
Label:	Arista
Cat No:	AL 9534
Date:	1980/2013
Value:	£10 (approx.) / £7.99

Julian Jonah Feat. Ada Dyer [2021] - Comin' Back For Your Lovin' [Jus Groove]

Julian Jonah's last single "A Little Lovin'" featured Lucita Jules in May and features as the opening track on Expansion's new "Luxury Soul 2022" compilation. 

He has a new single "Comin' Back For Your Lovin'" due on 14 Jan 2022 which features Ada Dyer., who the more astute will recognise as Miss Adaritha who featured on Norman Connors "Take It To The Limit" album in 1980. In particular on the superb title track and, more topically, on the original version (?) of the David Lasley (who died on Thursday 9 Dec) written song "You Bring Me Joy" later recorded by Anita Baker on "Rapture" in 1986.

The new single is available on pre-release from Bandcamp and should appeal to those who prefer more traditional modern soul.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jus Groove
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/01/2022
Key/BPM:	6B/114
Value:	£1.99

Lauren Hashian [2021] - Love... And Other Things (Side A) [Self Released] (Full EP)

I thought I'd posted Lauren Hashian's "What You Want (DeJa Vu) " but it seems only in The Bleeding Edge playlist on 3rd Dec 2021. It was released as a single on 30 Nov 2021, however, on Friday (10 Dec 2021) she released it along with another two tracks "One Way Ticket" and "Bout U" on "Love... And Other Things (Side A)".

Lauren is the daughter of John 'Sib' Hashian who was the drummer for rock band Boston ("More Than A Feeling" fame) on their first three albums. She recently married former wrestler, turned actor, Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/12/2021
Value:	£2.97