Akai Karate [2021] - Smokin' & Samplin' [Official Recordings] (Full Album)

An album of samples by Akai Karate "Smokin' & Samplin'" released 22 Jan 2021 which I came across via Hodges, James & Smith "If You Wanna Love Me" which is sampled for track 4 "Cali Shine". 

I've had a bit of fun trying to identify the samples used. After input from the Soul Emperor there is one that I can't identify (3 - Soul Connections) and don't know for sure whether it's a sample or not. 

Track 5 is used by Ria706 but as that track seems to be released afterwards then they must both be using the same sample.

.

01/ Freshies (Alice Clark - Say You'll Never (Never Leave Me) [1968])

02/ Stay Lit (Player - Baby Come Back [1977])

03/ Solid Connections ?

04/ Cali Shine (Hodges, James & Smith - If You Wanna Love Me [1973])

05/ Hit Lix (Ria706 - Pull Up [2021] uses the same sample)

06/ Epilogue 34 (Cowode - Sunrays [1990])

07/ Give It Up (Doris & Kelley - You Don't Have To Worry [1967])

08/ On The Move (Lee Fields - Money I$ King [2009])

09/ Bubble Up (Al Green - Judy [1972] / The Stylistics Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) [1971])

10/ U Can Go Now (Little Ann - Deep Shadows [2009 prev. unreleased 60s recording])

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Samples
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Official Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/02/2021
Value:	£6.90

Starz Wint [2022] - Sunday [Good PumPum Music] (Full Album)

Starz Wint is a new artist who I believe is from Milwaukee, WI, who released two singles last year, "Brownin'" in Sep and "Positions" in Dec, both included on her debut album "Sunday" released on 26 Jan 2022.

Six of the ten tracks are explicit  which will probably prevent airplay and a couple of tracks have a reggae beat, the first single "Brownin'" and "Look Love".

The three best tracks are "Trouble Maker" (explicit), "Envy" and "Zen".

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	Y Tracks 1,2,3,5,8,9,
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/01/2022
Value:	£7.00

Tiana Krisai [2022] - Happy Birthday Aquarius [Fairy Realm Ent.]

I'm not quite sure what's happening at the moment as several tracks I'm finding recently are very short. This is another sub 2 minute track clocking in at just 1:24! I hope this isn't a new 'trend' as it is most dissatisfying as you're just settling into the track and it ends.  However, there are many tracks I listen to that I wish were even shorter but that's another story!

Tiana Krisai is a relatively new artist from Queens, NYC, who debuted in 2020, She released her fourth single to date on 2 Feb 2022 titled "Happy Birthday Aquarius" which is pretty good but just too short!

Her Instagram handle is FairyQueenTiana so presumably Fairy Realm Ent. is her own label meaning that this is more than likely self-released. Also the writer credits are to Tiana Mapp.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Fairy Realm Ent. / Self-Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	02/02/2022
Key/BPM:	3A/80
Value:	£1

Reesa Renee [2022] - I Tried It [Self Released]

Reesa Renee is from Washington, D.C. (metropolitan area) and debuted in 2011 with a single "Got Me Loose". She's released two albums since and on 1 Feb 2022 released her first EP "The Cure" from which  I've selected "I Tried It" to feature.

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/02/2022
Key/BPM:	11A/76
Value:	£1

R.I.P. Betty Davis (26 Jul 1944 - 9 Feb 2022)

The death of another soul related artist was announced yesterday. Betty Davis (nee Mabry) was born in Durham, NC, later relocating to Homestead, PA. Conflicting causes of death have been reported with some citing natural causes, however, Danielle Maggio (Associate Producer of 'Betty - They Say I'm Different' (Native Voice Films, 2017), a documentary about Betty Davis) posted on facebook that she died after a 'brief illness', apparently she was diagnosed with cancer only a week before her death aged 77.

At 16 she moved to NYC to study at art school (Fashion Instutue of Technology). Wiki credits her first single as "The Cellar" produced by Lou Courtney which I can find no trace of but as Betty Mabry she did release "Get Ready For Betty" on DCP International and a single as Betty & Roy (Arlington) "I'll Be There" / "I Love You So" on Safice (owned by Al Bell (Stax), Eddie Floyd and ex-Moonglow Chester Simmons) in 1964 followed by  "Live, Love, Learn" / "It's My Life" on Columbia in 1968. In between she wrote "Uptown" for The Chambers Brothers in 1967

In 1968, aged 23, after a relationship with Hugh Masekela, she met and married Miles Davis who credits her with introducing him to fashion and new music trends and Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone. However, the marriage lasted less than two years with Miles Davis filing for divorce in 1969 citing an affair with Jimi Hendrix which Betty denied (she references Jimi Hendrix on her 1975 "Nasty Girl" album track "F.U.N.K.") and claimed it was his violent behaviour.

She moved to London briefly in 1971 before returning to the US and recording five albums. Only three were initially released: "Betty Davis" (1973), "They Say I'm Different" (1974) and "Nasty Gal" (1975). Two further albums appeared years later "Crashing For Passion" (1995) which was a bootleg of recordings from 1979 and "Is It Love Or Desire" (2009) which was her unreleased fourth album from 1976. A lot of her material has been reissued since 2004 by Vampi and Light In The Attic.

The latest compilation "The Columbia Years 1968-69", released by Light In The Attic in 2016, contains previously unreleased tracks (except for "Live, Love, Learn"). There are a couple of tracks which may appeal to Northern Soulies "My Soul Is Tired" and "Down Home Girl". The first six tracks were recorded in New York in May 1969 and were co-produced and arranged by Miles Davis. Some heavy weight musicians performed on the tracks including members of The Crusaders Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample and Wilton Felder along with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock (members of Miles Davis' group) and Hugh Masekela amongst many others. The last three tracks are the two sides of her only Columbia single, the flip is an alternate version, and the aforementioned "My Soul Is Tired" which were recorded earlier in Hollywood in Oct 1968 and arranged by Hugh Masekela and produced by Jerry Fuller.

Commercial success eluded her as she was her own woman and wouldn't compromise on her art and was held as somewhat of a cult figure for lovers of rock and funk. Also the erotic nature of her material precluded them from airplay.

I've picked through her material trying to bring you some of her more soulful sides as I'm afraid the psychedelic rock/funk tracks are an acquired taste but I've included her only two charting singles "If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up" (#66 R&B 1973) and "Shut Off the Lights" (#97 R&B 1975).

Thee DeLites [2022] - Nobody's Fool [Demila Records]

What appears to be a debut single from Thee DeLites, "Nobody's Fool", was released on 7 Jan 2022. The whole thing, from the sound and the imagery, is retro 60s and will appeal to the lowriders. 

On first hearing I thought it sounded very like Trish Toledo and upon trying to find out a bit more about them checked the writers credits and lo and behold she is one of the song's writers, so I wondered if she is a member of the group and on closer inspection of the sleeve photo it is her in the centre!

The song was written by Arthur Adrian Orozco, Jacqueline M Mendez, Nira Perez and Tricia Toledo, so I would hazard a guess as to the other two members being Jacqueline M Mendez and Nira Perez.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Demila Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/01/2022
Key/BPM:	10B/106
Value:	£1

Hodges, James & Smith [1973] - If You Wanna Love Me [20th Century Records #T-425]

An album only track from Hodges, James & Smith from their debut album "Incredible" (1973) which was posted in June last year on a Kent compilation "Early Years And Unheard Pearls 1970-1973".

I was reminded of it from airplay today by Gary Van Den Bussche on his lunchtime Starpoint Radio show and it received a great reaction. As I couldn't place the track, thinking it sounded quite like The Emotions, I Shazamed it and it returned Akai Karate "Cali Shine" which is an instrumental that samples the song and was released on an album "Smokin' & Samplin'" on 22 Jan 2021. So I thought both tracks were well worth sharing.

On further inspection the Kent album track is credited to Love 'N' Stuff and is considerably shorter that the album version (2:20 v 3:43) so perhaps it was an earlier recording before they renamed themselves, so I've also included a You Tube clip of the full album version.

The Akai Karate has several other tracks sampling 60s/70s sweet soul / lowrider style tunes which I may post separately even though the album is now a year old.

If you wish to read about Hodges, James & Smith (& Crawford) then check out the "Early Years And Unheard Pearls 1970-1973" post. 

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul
Format:	Album Tracks
Media:	LP/Digital
Label:	20th Century Records / Official Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	1973 / 2021
Key/BPM:	N/A /10A/67
Value:	£15 (approx.) / £1

Brown & Brown [2022] - Good Life (Beat Rivals Radio Edit) [Rival Beat Records]

A new single from Brown & Brown "Good Life (Beat Rivals Radio Edit)" released 4 Feb 2022.

The female vocal is instantly recognisable as Jocelyn Brown ("Somebody Else's Guy" etc.) and the other Brown is Karl "Tuff Enuff" Brown, a producer from London.

It would appear that the radio edit was released on 4 Feb but the full mixes and remixes are due on 22 Feb 2022 on Traxsource.

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soulful House
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Rival Beat Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/02/2022 22/02/2022
Key/BPM:	3A/124
Value:	£1

Dave Lee [2022] - Record Room Sessions #3

On Sunday I posted a track from Destiny II first heard (but didn't recognise) on a Dave Lee mix "Record Room Sessions #1" back in Dec 2020, which is due for release tomorrow (11 Feb 2022). 

Since the first two hour mix Dave has done another two, the latest one Record Room Sessions #3 on 5 Feb 2020 (which is 3 hours and 24 mins long) and another 3 hour plus marathon Record Room Sessions #2 last March which I'll get around to posting soon. 

Thankfully someone has posted a playlist up in the comments yesterday and has identified all but two of the forty four tracks (anyone able to identify tracks 6 @24:30 and 11 @45:30?). 

It's mainly old school with many of his own edits/remixes and couple of recent releases such as David Morales, JKriv, Dames Brown (a real banger) and includes the new track Destiny II "Play 2 Win" from Record Room Sessions #1.

Try and find three and a half hours to listen to a master at work in live action.

You may of course know Dave by his previous pseudonym Joey Negro which he decided to change in Jul 2020. You can read the full story about why in the NME article from 22 Jul 2020.

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Playlist:

01 - Roberta Flack - Lovin' You (Is Such An Easy Thang To Do)

02 - Gladys Knight - If You Ever Need Somebody (Remix Dave Lee coming soon) 

03 - JKriv, Norman Vladimir - The Way

04 - Firefly - Love Is Gonna Be On Your Side (Dave Lee Love Emergency Mix)

05 - Gino Soccio - Try It Out

06 - ?

07 - Captain Rapp - Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)

08 - Dames Brown - What Would You Do? (feat. Andrés & Amp Fiddler)

09 - Vick Lavender - The L.O.V.E. Song (From Chicago to New York) (All Soul Dub Mix)

10 - Brenda Russell - Way Back When (Joey Negro Extended Disco Mix)

11 - ?

12 - JohNick - Play The World 

13 - Art Of Tones - All Night (Extended)

14 - Lenny Williams - You Got Me Running 

15 - Thelma Houston - All Of That (Joey Negro Club Mix)

16 - DJ Kemit & Luke Austin present The Lounge Lizards - Intro To Dance

17 - The Sunburst Band -  Magnificent Mango (Dave Lee Journey To The Fruit Mix)

18 - Stephanie Mills - Latin Lover (MAW 12" Mix)

19 - Wipe The Needle feat. Sacha Williamson - On Time (Wtn 4x4 Mix)

20 - G Club Banda Sonora - Guitarra G (Warren Clarke Dub Mix)

21 - ID - ID2 (From Simon Dunmore b2b Mike Dunn at Defected Croatia 2021) (Mixed)

22 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Don't Leave Me This Way 

23 - KOKOMO - Use Your Imagination 

24 - Roy Ayers - Hey, Uh, What You Say Come On

25 - GALXTC - Life Is A Mirror

26 - Destiny II - Play 2 Win (Dave Lee Destination Boogie Mix)

27 - D Train - Keep On 

28 - Jungle - Keep Moving (Dave Lee Jungle Boogie Mix)

29 - Mike Lindup - Atlantia (Dave Lee’s Extended Remix)

30 - Shafty - Deep Inside Of You (Soul Trance Mix Joey Negro Edit)

31 - Roberta Flack - Uh-Uh Ooh-Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes) (Steve Hurley's House Mix)

32 - Master At Work - it's what we live, it's what we are 

33 - Matty & Monique - Now What (Sean McCabe Remix)

34 - Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers - Power To Move Ya (Smoove Power Mix)

35 - David Morales and Michelle Perera - Life Is a Song (New Remix) 

36 - Cafe 432 - Homage (Original Mix)

37 - The DJoon Experience & Kenny Bobien - Old Landmark (Greg Gauthier Dance Culture Mix)

38 - Chain Reaction - Dance Freak 

39 - Sylvester - Dance (Disco Heat)

40 - L.E.B Harmony - Feeling Love (Joey Negro Edit)

41 - Social Lovers - Time Warp 

42 - Tommy Rawson - Illusions

43 - Destroyer - Love Like This (Dj Spen & Karizma Vocal Mix)

44 - Inner Life - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough