Ebony Shine [2022] - Uncontrollable Thoughts [Self Released]

Ebony Shine is a new artist from NYC who unleashed three singles yesterday, having released her first ("Abused") on 14 Dec 2021. The best of the three from yesterday is "Uncontrollable Thoughts". She has another four tracks on her Soundcloud.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/01/2022
Key/BPM:	11B/52
Value:	£1

Yung Bleu Feat. Ne-Yo [2022] - Walk Through The Fire [Vandross Music Group]

Although there is no rap to be heard on this track,  Yung Bleu is a rapper/singer from Mobile, AL. His new single "Walk Through The Fire" (released 21 Jan 2022) features Ne-Yo (aka Shaffer Chimere Smith). 

The thing that intrigued me was the label name Vandross Music Group, could there be some connection? Not really, as he has used the name Blue Vandross for a couple of album titles but his real name is Jeremy Biddle.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/01/2022
Key/BPM:	4A/58
Value:	£1

Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul [2022] - Back 2 Love [New Era Soul]

I posted this album "Back 2 Love" by Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul earlier this week via Bandcamp when only two tracks were available, but it has now been released in full, on 21 Jan 2022, so it's worth highlighting some of the new tracks available.

The first one to jump out, apart from "Sugar Love" previously posted, is "Wanna Be (Where You Are)" featuring Carmen Rogers which is the standout, for me, and also "Stay The Night" and a cover/update of Bill Withers "Lovely Day" featuring Eric Roberson. 

The title track "Back 2 Love" featuring Eric Roberson and Dwele doesn't really do it for me and there are a couple of tracks which include raps (e.g. "D.R.I.L.Y." and "N.F.L." probably not for radio play as uses the N word!) for those disposed to it! There are also two short interludes making up the rest of the album.

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	New Era Soul
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/01/2022
Value:	£9.90

Tim Jonz In Da Buildin [2022] The Year Of TJIB [Self Released] (Full EP)

Tom Jonz aka Tim Jonz in da Buildin is musician/drummer/producer Tim Jones from Chicago. His five track EP "The Year Of TJIB" was released on Bandcamp on 18 Jan 2022, but priced at $12 for only five tracks it may perhaps be considered rather pricey!

The track that first pricked my ears up on this EP was the unmistakable voice of Aretha Franklin who's 1980 track "Take Me With You" (from "Aretha" and B side to "United Together") is sampled on track 3 "Basica Simpson". 

He then samples The Dramatics "Hey You! Get Off That Mountain" (I originally had a brain blip and called it as The Montclair Hey You! Don't Fight It!)

Whilst "Smoove" Rockwell Hallman Feat. Shamyra appears to be an original, I thought I recognised something in it, and it is only at the end it is revealed i.e. Bobby Womack's "Woman's Gotta Have It" from 1972.

The opening track ("(L)ove (O)f (M)y (O)wn") samples Eric Benet's "Love Of My Own" from his sophomore album "A Day In The Life" (1999) and the second track ("Loop Your Energy") samples Ledisi "Same Love" from her last studio album "Wild Card" (2020).

Whilst we are here I looked into Rockwell Hallman and found a nice track he co-wrote with Tim L Shider in 2019 "Never Thought I'd Find Love" (posted below). Tim L Shider is the younger brother of Garry Shider of Parliament/Funkadelic who is currently writing and producing for 'The Queen of Philadelphia' Tanqueray Hayward who's latest single "Complicated (The Realm Remix)" was released yesterday. He released another two singles in 2020, one with Tim Jones "Promise", and "Please Don't Go". Someone to watch out for!

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Sample
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/01/2022
Value:	$12

VA [2022] - SmoothGrooves Rolitas Vol​.​2 [Smooth Grooves] (Full Album)

I know many appreciated the post of the Lowriders vinyl compilation "Lowriders Sweet Soul Harmony From The Golden Era" from Kent this week and in true London bus fashion here's another from Smooth Grooves in the form of "Smooth Grooves Rolitas Vol.2" with some really obscure sweet soul tracks, as well as a few known ones, on it. I must admit  there are only a few I have previously heard.

It's available only on Bandcamp along with Volume 1 (released Jun 2016) and includes 21 tracks for $20 which probably wouldn't even pay from one of them on original vinyl as the first track alone has sold for £740 on Discogs, with Ernest Bolden also now fetching four figures!  

In fact, intrigued, I researched them all and only a few of the tracks could be bought for $20 on vinyl i.e. Magic Touch  "Step Into My World" and / or "A Woman Will Do Wrong" / "Dear Mother" or (barely) Fugi "I'd Rather Be A Blind Man" (which was posted a few months back). Some tracks may have featured previously on compilations, but not many, so without shelling out an estimated £4,500 for these on original vinyl, this is probably the only way of acquiring many of these tracks.

Some of the highlights, and possibly better know tracks, include, James Conwell "I'm So Glad", North, South, East & West's 1974 version of Little Jimmy Gandy / Lovelites "I'm Not Like The Others", Friday Saturday & Sunday "There Must Be Something", Otisettes "Sitting Alone In My Lonely Room" and Mike James Kirkland "Play It Down". These five tracks alone would set you back about a grand on vinyl!

Thanks to GT for tipping me off on this one (and regularly many others) who modestly doesn't want a mention but gets it all the same.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul / Lowriders / Reissue
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Smooth Grooves
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/01/2022
Value:	$20

Kenyon Dixon & Tiffany Gouché [2022] - Love On Replay [Self Released]

A 'straggler' from last week's batch of releases, released 14 Jan 2022, from Kenyon Dixon and Tiffany Gouché "Love On Replay". This one leans more towards the R&B side of things. 

Kenyon Dixon was last featured here last July with "Escape", a collaboration with PJ Morton.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/01/2022
Key/BPM:	9B/62
Value:	£1