Split Decision Band [2022] - Crystal Powder / Say Woman [Izipho Soul #ZP80] ...PLUS

Split Decision Band were a group from Des Moines, Iowa, consisting of Gordon Starr Flipping (guitar, synthesizers and lead vocals), Cocoa Brown (vocals), Jerry MacMahon (bass), Ronnie MacMahon (drums), Gary Jackson (keyboards), Del Jones (saxophone), Kevin Walls (trumpet) and John Stillwagon (keyboards). 

They released just one single in 1978 on Network Records "Watchin' Out " / "Dazed". It's been in-demand on the UK modern soul scene for many years and now commands four figures. Ignore the prices on Discogs as many are listed on Popsike for four figures with the highest price paid being $2,121 in 2011.

The single was reissued on vinyl in 2014 by Athens of the North in the UK  and Now-Again Records in US who also reissued it again in 2017.

Now-Again also issued an album of previously unreleased songs titled "Split Decision Band" on vinyl and CD in 2017. Alan Kitchener's Soul Direction picked up on two of tracks "You're The One" / "My Love Just For You" and released them on a 7" earlier this year. Copies are still available at Soul-Direction website. A further two tracks, that were not on the album, were released digitally by Fervour in 2018 "Get With It" / "Love Maker". (I assume that they are the same group as they are listed together but the photo appears to have different line-up, so I don't know whether they have regrouped and this is a recent release, or possibly a different group?)

Izipho Soul has also selected two tracks from the unreleased sessions for their next release, "Crystal Powder", a beautiful stepper on which Cocoa Brown takes lead (which, to me ears,  has shades of Sister Sledge's "Thinking Of You") and "Say Woman", a classy mid-tempo tune with Gordon Starr Flipping on vocal duties with a tone not too dissimilar to Gil Scott-Heron in places. 

The single is available to pre-order from Izipho Soul website for release on 8 Jul 2022. It will be Izipho Soul's 80th 7" single release which is pretty prolific for an indie label only started in 2017! Congratulations are in order for label owner Patrick Biggerstaff not only for the number, but also the quality of releases.

As the full album is available on Spotify, and 6 tracks have been mentioned, it would be silly not to simply post the full album, and also the two tracks released digitally by Fervour which are not on the album.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Izipho Zoul
Cat No:	ZP80
Date:	08/07/2022
Key/BPM:	11B/87 / 12B/89
Price:	£12

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