Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Ely Bruna & Papik [2021] - In Sweet Harmony [Irma Records] (Full Album)


An album that seems to have passed many of us by was released by Ely Bruna on 10 Dec 2021, perhaps it got lost in the run up to Christmas.

"In Sweet Harmony" features Papik headed by Italian producer Nerio Poggi and is an album of mainly, if not all, covers, although "Our Unusual Love" appears to be an original song.

A few of the highlights include The Isley's "For The Love Of You", Simply Red's "Holding Back The Years" and, believe it or not, The Beloved's 1993 top 10 hit "Sweet Harmony".

I guess you'd describe this as lounge/smooth jazz music.

Ely Bruna is Mexican-born with Italian blood, US raised and is now based in Italy. She featured on several tracks on Papik's 2020 album "Rhythm Of Life".

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Details
Rating: 7.6
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Smooth Jazz / Lounge
Format: Single
Media: Digital / CD
Label: Irma Records
Cat No: None
Date: 10/12/2021
Value: £7.99 / £22.58 (very pricey for a CD!)

PJ Morton [2022] - Ready To Love [Self Released]


PJ Morton's last single "Please Don't Walk Away" (released on 1 Oct 2021) was that week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week. He follows it up on 28 Jan 2022 with "Ready To Love" which sounds like a song Stevie Wonder could have written and recorded.

For some reason, perhaps an album in the pipeline, he has released a new video for "Please Don't Walk Away" on 3 Feb 2022 which I, have to say, much prefer to the new single.

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 28/01/2022
Key/BPM: 3B/110
Value: £1

Greg Ware [2022] - Classic Soul [Self Released] (Full Album)


"Classic Soul" is the second solo album from Greg Ware which was released on 7 Feb 2022.

The album's got a distinct 80s feel to it which isn't surprising when you learn (assuming he is the same artist?) that he was involved in many 80s recordings as songwriter and producer and was a member of duos, along with Jon Lundy,  4-Play and Funkmaster General.

Greg is also an author and a stand-up comedian.

I like "My Nookie" (sorry couldn't resist that tee up) and also "If I Hadda Known",  "Get Home" and "Good Man" with the standout track probably being "Baby I'm Back".

I tried in vain to discover who the featured female vocalist is on several of the tracks. One of my bug bears of digital music ... little or no information!

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Details
Rating: 7.9
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Classic Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 07/02/2022
Value: £7.99

Lance Vantile Whitfield [2022] - UnBossed [DeBaddi] (Full Album)


A new album from Lance Vantile Whitfield "UnBossed" was released on 6 Feb 2022. It was Andy Tee's album of the day today on his Starpoint Radio morning show and he has tipped tracks "Hold On" and "Emotional" and also played  "Action" and the title track "UnBossed".

In addition, my own picks are the two which feature Sue Ann Carwell "Only Give It Up To Me" and "All I Wanna Do".  It's a great album if you like soulful jazz.

It's his debut album and he's released "Fired Up!" as the lead single from it.

His other claim to fame was as an uncredited child actor in the film "All The Presidents Men" in 1976. He is also a graphic designer who has a page on Discogs for several sleeve designs in addition to movies in IMDB.

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Details
Rating: 8.5
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Soul Jazz
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: DeBaddi
Cat No: None
Date: 06/02/2022
Value: £7.99

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes [2022] Where Are All My Friends (John Morales M + M Mix) [BBE] (Forthcoming)


How do you make a brilliant recording even better? Well John Morales has done an absolutely tremendous job on "Where Are All My Friends" in particular from his new album "John Morales Presents Teddy Pendergrass, The Voice, Remixed With Philly Love" which was due for release by BBE on 25 Feb but has now been put back to 11 Mar 2022. Available to pre-order on BBE website.

Samples of all the tracks were posted just over a week ago but I think you need to hear "Where Are All My Friends" in it's full glory which might just sway you to buy the full album if you were undecided.


Details
Rating: 9.5
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Philly Soul
Format: Album Track
Media: LP/ CD
Label: BBE
Cat No: None
Date: 11/03/2022
Value: £30 / £20

Lenny Williams Feat. Shirley Jones [2022] - Can't Nobody [Self Released]


Astute readers will recall I posted the original version of is song last week in lieu of this new recording of it with Lenny Williams drafting in the services of Shirley Jones. "Can't Nobody" is due for release on Friday (11 Feb 2022). It's got a Southern soul vibe.

As stated on the previous post, Lenny has recorded the song as "Can't Nobody Do Me Like You" on three of his albums between 2004 and 2015.

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Details
Rating: 8.2
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Classic Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 11/02/2022
Key/BPM: 11B/93
Value: £1