Sunday, 19 December 2021

The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Part 46 (Dec 2021 Wk 50) Spotify Playlist


My selection of the best releases this week (Dec 2021 Wk 50)
In no particular order other than tempo. 

It's been quite hard work finding good tunes in the run up to Christmas but those who have 'abandoned ship' are missing out on some gems as I hope this playlist will show as there are still some good tunes being released, albeit you have to dig a bit deeper than usual!

Although a lot fewer than normal to choose from, it was still tricky trying to limit it to just the dozen. I think, perhaps, from now on I'll make it fifteen so it will be closer to an hour.

A few releases stood out, the new album/EP from Jaszy Shavers "Red Light" and an album posted today, released on Friday by, a new artist to me, TJ. Taotua from New Zealand "Overdue" which has  two or three good tracks but the tune which has stuck with me is Sanura "Hey Baby". Also the debut EP from Las Vegas artist Londxxn (Lon'Don Childs)  "That One Time During Quarantine" is pretty solid throughout. 

There was also the 'belated' wider release of The Baylor Project album "Generations" (originally self-released in July) and, what I would guess is an older recording, from Andrea Moore "CJack Run Presents" which should appeal to those who like the jazzier side of soul.

So all in all it was difficult to narrow down this week's SoulStrutter selection but on balance I think it should go to Jaszy Shavers who's last few singles have been well received and this release contains four good tracks.

As always the playlist is in no particular order of merit simply ordered by tempo starting off with the slowies and building in tempo.


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

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Margo Thunder [2021] - My First Christmas (Without You) [Bigg Soul]


Please don't be put off by Christmas in the title as this is a superb deep soul ballad by a lady who has certainly paid her dues. Margo Thunder (Margaret Furtado) has been known to lovers of rare soul music for almost half a century, via her 1974 rendition of the Gamble & Huff song "Expressway To Your Heart" first recorded by The Soul Survivors in 1967 who had a #4 Hot 100 hit with it and the first hit for Gamble & Huff. On the flip side to her first single "Soul Of A Woman" (recorded when she was, unbelievably, only 13) was a Lambert & Potter song "Mama You're Alright With Me" in 1974 later recorded by the Four Tops the following year. She only released one further solo single in 1975. 
Margo was a member of Owch! in the 80s who were a trio of backing singers for Richard 'Dimples' Fields. They were later renamed as 9.9 and recorded a self-titled album and a few singles, "All Of Me For All Of You" reaching  #5 R&B and #51 Hot 100 in 1985 which I remember from back in the day but thought someone else recorded it? They were mentioned in a post only last week on the Norma Sole post as they did a very good cover on Linda Jones' Hypnotized on their album which Sole has also covered on her debut album ("Remembering The Good Times") released last week.
In the 90s she formed Lady Soul who, again, recorded just one album and two singles in 1992. They recorded a song and video for the movie "Sister Act" called "If My Sisters in Trouble".

A quick search on YouTube revealed that Margo has recorded several songs in the last decade, under the wing of Bigg Robb and this song was also written by him. So, along with her new single,  I'll post a few others. I believe that she started recording again in 2010 with an EP R&B 101 which included  a cover of Peabo Bryson's quiet storm classic "Feel The Fire" (posted earlier this year)

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.


Feel The Fire (Peabo Bryson)

If This World Were Mine with Ali Woodson

Singles

Margo Thunder
There is also an unofficial extended version by Juan Negro here

9.9




They also did a good cover of Linda Jones' Hypnotized on their album
Lady Soul
1992 - Don't Forget About Me (Edit) / Don't Forget About Me (Album) / You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else [Boston International #0-66430]


1992 - If My Sister's In Trouble [Hollywood (UK) #HWD125]

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Details
Rating: 8.4
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Deep Soul / Xmas
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Bigg Soul
Cat No: None
Date: 08/12/2021
Key/BPM: 5A/64
Value: £1
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TJ Taotua [2021] - Overdue [Self Released] (Full Album)


TJ Taotua is a singer/songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand who's released around ten singles since 2013. His sophomore album "Overdue" was released on 17 Dec 2021. 

There a few nice tracks on it with the standouts being the title track "Overdue", "Foreign Queen" and "You And I" along with the deep tune "Empire". There's is a cover of Tevin Campbell's "Can We Talk" which as been given a bit of a reggae feel.

It must be an error on Amazon as they have the full album priced at just £1.79, so I'd suggest snapping it up while it's at that price, but feel a bit guilty if the artist is going to lose out!

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

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Details
Rating: 8.2
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 17/12/2021
Value: £1.79
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The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2021... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 38 (Dec 2021 Wk 50)



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 (Dec 2021 Wk 50 and a few from last week). (In no particular order).

There's not that many this week so I've stretched the criteria so that there are a dozen. I've included several tracks from the Jay Nemor Electrified album which was released a few months back but got released on DSPs this week. Also three tracks from the Clyde Anthony album, which although a new release, the tracks are at least seven years old.

Reissues: The Escorts x 2, Clyde Anthony x 3
Covers: TJ Taotua (Tevin Campbell)
Retro: Jay Nemor Electrified x 4,Jabari Clay, Baby Bash


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The Bleeding Edge - The A List of Hot New Soul Releases w/e 19th Dec 2021


This week's playlist of the better new neo soul / R&B / urban releases. 

There really isn't really anything of 'consequence' that's been released this week which I felt suitably motivated to create a separate post for. Given the time of year it's not really surprising. I've lumped anything that sounded half decent from samples into a playlist.

The 'A' List

Includes 73 minutes of music but is intended as a skip 'n' pick list.

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The Bleeding Edge - The 'B' List of Hot New Soul Releases w/e 19th Dec 2021


This week's playlist of the better new neo soul / R&B / urban releases. 

The 'B' List

This playlist represents the 'also rans', ones that didn't make the A list. They won't be given a full posting and are presented for those who like the more urban and R&B and quirky tunes.

The 50 tracks equate to almost 3 hours but intended as a 'skip 'n' pick' list.

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SoulStrutter Top 30 - 19th Dec 2021



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

Another bit of a clearout as entries reach their 30 days. Also with fewer good new releases as we reach the end of year the pack gets shuffled a bit more. 

Everis drops down from #1 to #28 as he no longer benefits from the pre-release posting and only the views of the release on 26 Nov (posted 2 Dec). A new #1 on only the third week is Nicholas Davis with his version of Levert and coincidentally(?) Eddie G is the highest new entry with his version released only six days ago.  Jafar Curry is the highest climber up to #3 from #21 last week. 

There are another two new entries straight along with Eddie G, David Mrakpor (one half of Blue Lab Beats with his debut solo single, and, surprisingly, Those Guys From Athens.

If compilations were included Luxury Soul 2022 would be #2 and Jean Carn's recent remix compilation and the two PIR compilations would all feature quite highly in the chart.

Last 30 Days

PosPrevArtist - TitlePostedDays
14Nicholas Davis - Baby I'm Real04/1215
26Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints
 - Feels So Good		03/1216
321Jafar Curry - Loving My Girl09/1210
49Nelccia - What You Make It20/1129
510Tyrand - 80's Baby LP21/1128
613Terrie Rimson [2021] - It's Not Worth It26/1123
7 Eddie G - Baby I'm Ready13/126
8 David Mrakpor Feat. James Coleman
& Blue Lab Beats - My Life		13/126
915Yvy Maraey & Mike Nasa Feat. Noah Slee
 - A Família		30/1119
10 Those Guys From Athens - Nice & Easy13/126
1125The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B
 - Best Believe It		04/1215
1218Montianna - Set You Free27/1122
1316Eugene Cole - Together Forever in Love27/1122
1420Morris Day Feat. Big Daddy Kane
 - Grown Man		26/1123
1519Lizzy - SevenStages LP22/1127
16 Ray Estaire - Born to Do It08/1211
17 Brian Temba - It's All You LP09/1210
1823Demi Jordanae - Smell Like You30/1119
19 Jaszy Shavers - Red Light LP13/126
20 Julian Jonah Feat. Ada Dyer
 - Comin' Back For Your Lovin'		13/126
2122Mezzoforte [2021] - Broke N Hip24/1125
2224Shalea Vintage - Lost Vinyl LP22/1127
23 Kenny Lattimore - Here To Stay LP09/1210
24 The Baylor Project - Generations LP15/124
25 Adele - 30 LP20/1129
26 Julia Logue - Here We Are15/124
27 Lauren Hashian - Love... And Other Things
(Side A) EP		13/126
281Everis - What U Doing 2 Me02/1217
29 Silk Sonic - Smokin Out The Window
(DJ Soulchild Remix)		15/124
30 Jamelle Feat. LB199X - Juice02/1217
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