Billy Butler, Jay Player [2022] - The Soulman Sessions, Vol. 1 [JettMusic] (Full EP)

This four tracker "The Soulman Sessions, Vol 1", credited to Billy Butler & Jay Player, was released on Saturday (19 Mar 2022) and is a bit of a mystery (the drawback of digital releases as there is no info!).  With it being titled Vol. 1 then watch out for future volumes.

Jay Player has only one listed release, which is well known and in-demand in rare soul circles, "Love Is The Answer" on Bevnick 1982. It was co-written by Billy Butler and Allan Harris. Harris recorded it and, from recollection, I believe that it was from an unissued album from which UK rare soul DJ Arthur Fenn cut a 7" acetate of it for playing out.  If you're interested in hearing it then it is in a video posted last year to commemorate Soul Sam's 80th birthday where there is a live DJ set in which Arthur gives it a spin.

This does shed some light on a couple of other tracks as these were also co-written by Butler/Harris and Harris recorded one of them "Just Let Me Know" in 1979 as Allan Harris & Perpetual Motion on Exact Change (again his only listed release). 

The other 'known' song is "No One But You" which was released by Crosswind on 12" so I would assume it was early/mid 80s (it is not dated on Discogs but they did release another recording on the same label (Harbor City) in 1987 with a much higher catalogue number).

Most, if not all, tracks were also arranged by Al Johnson (Alfred Johnson from Washington a former member of The Unicefs and who recorded many highly regarded solo tunes). 

Before I confuse you any further Billy Butler isn't the Northern Soul hero who released the legendary "Right Track" on Okeh, but a member of The Optimistics (Turbo) / The Inclinations (Janus) from Baltimore. Another member of The Optimistics / Inclinations was one James (Jay?) Player. The label for Allen Harris & Perpetual Motions was also Baltimore based.

The track that I can't trace is "Don't Let People Get You Down" so would 'assume' that it may be previously unreleased?

The mix of "Love Is The Answer" is a different mix which is shorter than even the original 7" mix i.e. 3:46 v 4:21 and obviously much shorter than the 12" mix which was 5:44.

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

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	JettMusic
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/03/2022
Value:	£3.96