The Leonard Lothlen Project [2021] - The Journey Continues [Strait Street Music Group] (Full Album)

Leonard Lothlen is from Oakland, CA, and was a member of The Gospel Clouds (G.C's) who recorded a couple of albums, the first in 1974 and another in 1977, having previously released just one single in 1971. There was another group with the same name who released a single on Checker in 1967 (and another on Psalms) but I don't believe it's the same group. He was also involved with the gospel group Infinity in the 80s, writing all tracks on their self-titled debut album in 1981 and was guitarist on all four of their albums until 1994.

He released an album "The Journey Continues" on 19 Nov 2021 which most of us seemed to have missed (possibly as it was filed under Gospel on DSPs?) except for Patrick 'The Ear' Biggerstaff who will be releasing the opening track "In The Presence" along with the flip side to The Gospel Clouds only single "Let Us Pray"  on 7" vinyl on Izipho Soul in March. 

The Gospel Clouds' only single was a Canadian pressing on Spectrum in 1971, billed as G.C.'s, and is as rare as the proverbial rocking horse droppings. None have ever sold on Discogs and there are only seven listed on Popsike, the latest selling for almost $500. I would suspect that it is highly sought after by the lowrider scene. Patrick did consider putting "Peace And Harmony" on the flip but decided to go for something completely different. Please don't inundate Patrick with calls/messages about it for a while as he is focussing on the Down To Earth vinyl album release of "Still Ridin' High" at present which is due out on 25 Feb, so please wait until after then.

I was going to cherry pick tracks from the album as it's a 21 track album but decided to just post the full album so you can choose your own tracks. For what it's worth the ones that got my attention are:

"In The Presence" featuring Derick Hughes, the son of recently deceased Freddie Hughes who sounds so much like Rance Allen on this track it's untrue, and a great compliment as Rance Allen was surely one of, if not the, finest gospel/soul singers of our time!

"Everlasting Life" - a nice sweet soul/gospel harmony tune featuring Frank Morgan

"Hey World" and "Peace And Harmony" featuring BJ Kemp who released a six track EP "Adult Conversations" last Sep from which "Magic Lady" was very well received. 

"Heaven (Don't You Want To Go?)" - a mixed tempo track starting off as a ballad and then kicks into a bit of a modern soul dancer before reverting back to ballad pace. 

"Woman Of Mine" is a skip-along 60s/Northern soul style dancer 

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Contemporary Gospel
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Strait Street Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/11/2021
Value:	£14.99