Art Ensley & The Fabulous Echoes Band [2022] - Open The Door To Your Heart / This Is The Best Way [Numero Group]

Before you ask ... yes it is the Darrell Banks 1966 classic "Open The Door To Your Heart" (covered by so many) which may have the purists wincing, but I thought I'd put it up just out of interest. 

The flip side, "This Is The Best Way", although blue-eyed, is quite a nice deep soul ballad (which should appeal to the lowriders) penned by Art Ensley and Bobby Whiteside who wrote, recorded and produced and cut a few sides on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label in the 70s but mainly folk/country style tunes. However, he did also arrange and produce Carole Waller's 1967 Northern Soul double-sider on USA "This Love Of Mind" / "Stop And Get A Hold Of Yourself"  (originally recorded by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1965).

This digital release from Numero Group appeared on Amazon today so I assume it has been released today but the date on it is 1 Jan 1968 which is the year it first appeared on vinyl on Shiptown (although 45Cat lists it as 1969). 

Art Ensley & the Fabulous Echoes Band were a blue-eyed soul group who, I am guessing are, from Norfolk, VA, where the label was established? This is their only recording and only one copy has sold on Discogs and went for just under £150. 

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/02/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1.79

Hassanah & Astro-Fi [2022] - Journeys [Astro-Fi Music] (Full Album)

An album released on 14 Jan 2022 which has just appeared on the Amazon Hot New Releases in the last day or so (currently #2 at time of posting) from  Hassanah & Astro-Fi "Journeys". One of the better tracks "That's What I Want To Be" has a release date of 29 Jan which seem to indicate that it may have been released as a single although I can't find any evidence of it being a single on DSPs?

Hassanah (Nwanne Hassanah Grace Iroegbu) is a singer/songwriter from Miami. Her Bandcamp/website bio reads:

Singer/Songwriter Hassanah is known for her soothing yet powerful vocal style and songs of sweet melody and soulful substance. Of Nigerian and German/Pennsylvania Dutch background, she grew up all over the world from Nigeria to New Zealand, Honolulu to California, collecting various musical influences. Her music combines Jazz, Reggae, R&B and Afrobeat to create a sound that is uniquely her own.

That may give you an insight in what to expect on the album The two standouts are the track above, "That's What I Want To Be", along with "Let It In" which I believe Andy Tee has been playing on his Starpoint Radio shows as he tipped me on the album.

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

Details

Rating:	7.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Astro-Fi Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/01/2022
Value:	£7.49

Garfield Fleming [2022] - Garfield Fleming [Cordial Recordings] (Full EP)

A six track self-titled EP by Garfield Fleming was released digitally by Cordial Recordings on Friday (4 Feb 2022). Each track features a guest producer. Ourra features on the first three tracks with Daft Funk, Difusion and Ben Pirani each appearing on the last three. The EP was released on vinyl in 2018 as were the first "Ain't Nothing Too Good For My Woman" and last track "Hustlin'" on a 7".

I noticed that it was released on Bandcamp last year (14 Feb 2021) so perhaps this is the first release on the main DSPs?

Garfield Fleming is probably best known for his 1981 modern soul classic "Don't Send Me Away" which was his first recoding followed by "Let's Turn In Early" in 1984. As far as I'm aware this was his first (released) recording since.

I've included the video posted previously for the reissue of "Don't Send Me Away" where he does an impromptu PA in a Paris market record stall.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/02/2022
Value:	£3.49

Glory I. [2022] - Glory Days [Chocolate Girl Company] (Full Album)

Glory I. is Glory Iluyomade from Raleigh, NC, who released an album album "Glory Days" on 29 Jan 2022 which is subtitled 'The EP' even though it consists of ten tracks and is priced as a full album!

The standout track on the album is undoubtedly "It'll All Be Over" which sounds like a cover rather than a sample of The Supreme Jubilees' 1979 album track  "It'll All Be Over" which was sampled by JKabel recently and by Meicha on "Cry No More (One of These Days)" as well as a few others.

There is a so-called bonus track "Sucka For Love" which is also pretty good along with "The Seasons". I think it's one of those albums that you need to listen to a few times to appreciate as there are several other nice tracks that perhaps need a few plays.

The "Interlude" samples Tevin Campbell's "Can We Talk".

I'm not able to find any of the tracks on YouTube which is unusual.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Chocolate Girl Company
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/01/2022
Value:	£7.99

The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2022... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 1 (Feb 2022 Wk 02)

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 (Feb 2022 Wk 05 and a few from last week). (In no particular order).

I've not posted a covers etc. dozen since the week before Christmas as there hasn't been enough around to make up a dozen each week so here's the first of 2022 which are all from this week and last week.

Reissues: Al Johnson x 2, Jerry L Jones (Memphis), The Real Thing, The Symphonies, The Delegates Of Soul, Michelle David, Esperanto

Covers: D'Mott (LTD), Shante' (Erykah Badu), Funkatomic (Roberta Flack/George Benson),, Assal (Don Downing), Ken@Work (Randy Crawford), Celia Heavenly (Jean Carn) Lance Ferguson (Marcos Valle)

Remixes: Devon Howard, Cornell CC Carter, Ruth Koleva & Duke Diggs, Brettina & Incognito, Charles 'Buddy' Smith (although one posted is the original), Sean Jones & Regan Grey

2021

Pt 38, Pt 37, Pt 36, Pt 35, Pt 34, Pt 33, Pt 32, Pt 31

Pt 30, Pt 29, Pt 28, Pt 27, Pt 26, Pt 25, Pt 24, Pt 23, Pt 22, Pt 21

Pt 20, Pt 19, Pt 18, Pt 17, Pt 16, Pt 15, Pt 14, Pt 13, Pt 12, Pt 11,

Pt 10, Pt 9, Pt 8, Pt 7, Pt 6, Pt 5, Pt 4, Pt 3, Pt 2, Pt 1

UK Soul Chart 7th Feb 2022

7th Feb 2022

The new UK Soul Chart for 7th Feb 2022. There are 9 risers, 13 fallers, 1 no mover and 7 new entries, the highest of which is Patrick McLean Feat Deborah Bell at #6 followed closely by Sydney Renee' at #8.

I've received a few comments 'questioning' the validity of this chart yet at least 6 are also in the latest Global Soul Top 20 posted yesterday (artists in bold/underlined), 21 in Solar Radio's Sweet Rhythm chart (7 Feb 2022) and 20 in London Music Radio Soul Chart and don't forget the UK Soul Chart is always a week in arrears and uses digital tracking.

Highest Risers: Tanqueray Hayward (17), Don-E (6)

Biggest Fallers: J.D's Time Machine Presents (-16), Moonchild feat. Lalah Hathaway (-15), Hareston Clay (-11)

Losers: Groove Association, Sympli Whitney, Magoo, Aya Ito, Frank McComb & Kathy Kosins and Dayton Gray

Pos	Last	Chg	Artist - Title
1	2	+1	David Morales - Life Is A Song (Mixes) / Never Give Up / I Can Dream (Life Is A Song LP)
2	19	+17	Tanqueray Hayward - Complicated (Realm Remix)
3	1	-2	Lindsey Webster ft Brian Culbertson - I Didn't Mean It
4	7	+3	Dynasty - Still In Love / I Can Tell
5	11	+6	Don-E - Follow Your Heart / One Time Is Not Enough (Winter Warmers EP)
6	NE		Patrick McLean Feat Deborah Bell - Look Where You're Going
7	5	-2	Bey Bright - Sure Shot (SN4: Music, Beats & Life EP)
8	NE		Sydney Renee' - Wake Up & Get It
9	3	-6	Sandra-Mae Lux - You Me And Tomorrow
10	13	+3	The Temptations - Calling Out Her Name (Temptations 60 LP)
11	14	+3	Takim Brown - Say It Like You Mean It (Philly Soul Select Vol 2 LP)
12	12	0	Leee John Imagination - It Feels So Good (Mixes)
13	4	-9	VA - Luxury Soul 2022 LP
14	15	+1	Isaac Aragon & The Healing - Who's Standing With Me
15	6	-9	Nicole Henry - Time To Love Again LP
16	NE		Dave Mascall - Acid Lounge 6 LP
17	NE		Tabitha King - Unconditionally (I'm Gonna Make It)
18	17	-1	Julian Jonah ft Ada Dyer - Comin' Back For Your Lovin'
19	20	+1	Castella - So Into You
20	18	-2	Stan Taylor - Party / I Love You (Red Velvet LP)
21	10	-11	Hareston Clay - Never Settle For Less (I'm On Fire LP)
22	23	+1	Bobby Washington - Feanin' (DjSoulBr Remix) / Not A One Night Stand
23	8	-15	Moonchild feat. Lalah Hathaway - Tell Him
24	NE		Cale Austin - Whisper
25	9	-16	J.D's Time Machine Presents - Dream Again / Rain On My Star
26	NE		JKriv ft Norman Vladimir - The Way (Mixes)
27	21	-6	Roger Hill - Come Back To Me
28	27	-1	Calyco - Dance With U
29	26	-3	Wade C. Long - Right Moves (Nigel Lowis Mix/Org Mix)
30	NE		Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul - Stay The Night (Back 2 Love LP)

R.I.P. Syl Johnson (1 Jul 1936 - 6 Feb 2022)

Good Lord, yet another sad loss this year to the world of soul music. Syl Johnson aka Sylvester Thompson died yesterday aged 85. The news was passed to me by Gary Van Den Bussche who played his "Is It Because I'm Black" only last week on his radio show.

He was born in Mississippi and moved to Chicago in the 50s where he began singing the blues with Magic Sam and released his first solo single in 1959.

His first charting single came in 1967 with "Come Sock It To Me" followed by the much sampled  "Different Strokes" (reissued only last year by Numero Group and posted HERE).

He had seven R&B chart entries on Twilight (later renamed Twinight) before joining Willie Mitchell's Hi label in 1972 and continued with another ten R&B hits and recorded four albums for Hi as well as two on Twilight.

However, before signing to Chicago's Twilight label, he had recorded around ten singles between 1959-1967 including one that has been played on Northern Soul dancefloors for many, many years "Do You Know What Love Is" in 1966 which is one of only four listed singles on Monk Higgins' Special Agent label. It was released twice as the first two releases on the label with different B sides.

His biggest chart success came in 1975 with the first cover of Al Green's "Take Me To The River" reaching #48 Hot 100 and #12 R&B which also had a great ballad "Could I Be Falling In Love" on the flip.

In the 80s he released a few albums on his own Shama label with the title track of the second "Ms Fine Brown Frame" being his last hit in 1982 and then went into semi-retirement but made a comeback in the 90s after learning that "Different Strokes" had been sampled my many hip-hop artists.

There is an excellent 6 x LP or 4 x CD compilation from Numero Group from 2010 "The Complete Mythology". A 2015 documentary, Sly Johnson: Any Way The Wind Blows, has been made available online for the first time today on Vimeo.

It also transpires that his older brother, blues singer/guitarist Jimmy Johnson, died on 31 Jan 2022 aged 93. They recorded an album together in 2001 "Two Johnsons Are Better Than One". Deepest sympathies to the Johnson (Thompson) family at this very sad time.

As a tribute I've selected some of his best recordings from 60s-80s in playlist below and included a YouTube clip of his version of Nate Evans (Impressions) "Main Squeeze", a non-album track  which isn't on Spotify.

DJ Kool Keith [2022-02-06] - Soulful Slow Jams [Soul Groove Radio]

Our weekly instalment of DJ Kool Keith's Soulful Slow Jams show from yesterday 6th Feb 2022. You should know the drill by now, soulful sounds from across the decades, However, around a third (10) of this week's tunes are new releases.

You can catch up with all DJ Kool Keith's previous shows on Podomatic.

Playlist:

Chris Jasper - I Promise [2022]

The Players - That's The Way (To Tend To Business) [1967]

Richie Merritt - It's Never Too Late [1998]

Jerry L Jones - Inside My Love [2020]

Jesse James - Father We're Having Trouble Down Here [2022]

Cheryl Daniels - Key To My Heart [2011]

Fletcher Walker III - Guess I'll Never Understand (The Workings Of Your Mind) [1971]

Andre' Lee - Can't Stop Thinking Bout You [2022]

Ed Robinson - Temptation's 'Bout To Get Me [1971]

The Indigos - Magic [1982]

Donnell Isaac - I'm In Love [2022]

The Real Thing - Hope [2022]

Lady Wray - I Do [2022]

Charlene P.M. - Believe What I Say [1975]

Mike James Kirkland And Cold Diamond & Mink - Closer [2020]

Duane Williams - Promises [2007]

The Mighty Marvellows - You're Breaking My Heart [1969]

The Players - I'm Glad You Waited [1966]

Brief Encounter - Yes I'm Ready (feat. Sounds Of Soul) [2022]

The Futures - Breaking Up [1970]

Chazz - Make Up For Lost Time [2001]

Maysa - Just Stay [2022]

Xxception To The Rule - Angel In Disguise [2010]

The Symphonies - That's What Love Will Do [2022]

The 13th Amendment - Hard To Be In Love [2012]

Latimore - All You'll Ever Need [1988]

Ty Juan - Everything And Anything [2022]

Peter Colly - Love Is Good For You  [1984]

Sharon & The Bits O' Honey - Don't Push My Lovecup Aside (Lovecup) [1975]

Blue Magic - Since You've Been Gone [1983]