The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2022... Part 06 (Feb 2022 Wk 06) Spotify Playlist

My selection of the best releases this week (Feb 2022 Wk 06)

In no particular order other than tempo. 

So far this year has been a bit of a rollercoaster of feast or famine for good new material and after last week's drought we've had an exceptionally bumper week for good quality new releases with still plenty more to post as and when I can get around to it.

There were quite a few of albums from Mary J. Blige, Moonchild, Joss Stone, Greg Ware and Lance Vantile Whitfield and deluxe editions of previous albums with new material from Jazmine Sullivan and Sevyn Streeter (yet to be posted), along with many EPs from Shel, Ms.Nae, Divin818 and Brandy Haze.

It's going to be a tall order attempting to pick just twelve tracks this week but, before I even start, the clear standout for me this week is the new single from Melba Moore featuring Carmichael Musiclover which simply has to be the SoulStrutter Selection of the Week. That is no slight on any of the other tracks and is only my personal choice as there is some very good music around this week.

Jennifer Holliday is back in fine form with "So In Love", with "Failing In Love" being my choice cut from Mary J. Blige's new album and the killer track from aimi's new album is "Baby". The standout track on the new Joss Stone album, for me, is "When You're In Love". Tony Walk's new single "Stay" is a real grower and Marcus Valentine is back with a vengeance with his new single "Some Kind O Woman".  I've gone with "Only Give It Up To Me" from Vince Vantile Whitfield's album. One I only heard last night from The Lady Lovebird Jinda with the stepper "Lover's Groove". The list wouldn't be complete without at least one track from the new Moonchild album which was a difficult one to choose from but I've selected "The Long Way Home"

Then we have several tunes that have been around a week or two on promo from Maysa, H'Atina and Patrick McLean (and Tony Walk for that matter). A couple of tracks from very good neo soul EPs by Shel and Ms.NAE and another from Divine818's. Swatkins & Moorare Masa and DOE make up the extended playlist to eighteen tracks this week and there were plenty of others that just missed out.

2022

Pt 01, Pt 02, Pt 03, Pt 04, Pt 05

2021

Pt 46, Pt 45, Pt 44, Pt 43, Pt 42, Pt 41

Pt 40, Pt 39, 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

NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full

Whitney Houston [1997] - Dionne Warwick Medley [Live Washington D.C.]

This came up on my YouTube feed the other day so I thought I'd save it for a Sunday post. I distinctly remember buying Whitney Houston's debut album when she burst onto the scene in 1985 and thinking what a talent she was. Sadly the record execs saw dollar signs and steered her towards the pop/MOR market which was allegedly a contributory factor to her going off the rails with alcohol and drugs as she wasn't entirely happy with the direction her career was being steered. I wonder how she would be regarded in soul circles if she had gone the soul route but sadly we will never know.

In this 11 minute clip she sings four of her cousin Dionne Warwick's, Burt Bacharach (now 93) and Hal David (died in 2021 aged 91) written, 60s hits:

• Walk On By
• A House Is Not A Home
• I Say A Little Prayer
• Alfie

SoulStrutter Top 30 - 13th Feb 2022 (Week 06)

The SoulStrutter Top 30 of the most viewed posts in the last 30 days (i.e. blog readers choices).

Twelve new entries and a new #1 this week. Devon Howard climbs to the top spot with a remix of last year's track "Forever & Always" and apparently there are several more remixes of the song in the pipeline.

I'm not sure whether Ward Brown has even been officially released yet, but he holds on to the #2 spot for the second week.

The highest new entry is from veteran artist, and Isley Brothers cohort, Chris Jasper.   Laura Rain is hot on his heels with a track released digitally from her forthcoming album "Rise Again".

The biggest movers are H'Atina (+12) and Maysa (+11), both boosted by their official releases on Friday. The Real Thing's album moves up ten places and Ruth Koleva also gets a leg up with the release of the remix of "Beyond Borders".

The debut album from Lance Vantile Whitfield seems to be gaining a lot of attention with Andy Tee (Starpoint Radio) featuring it as his album of the day on Wednesday (and it getting posted on the blog simultaneously) pushed it to #1 on the Amazon Hot Releases temporarily. I notice that it is there again as I write this post and great to see Melba Moore ft Carmichael Musiclover at #2 which I fully expect to enter this chart next week as it has only marginally missed out this week after only two days since release.

Last 30 Days

Pos	Prev	Artist - Title	Posted	Days
1	7	Devon Howard - Forever & Always (Always Steppers Mix)	31/01	13
2	2	Ward Brown - I'm Coming Home	18/01	26
3	6	Donnell Isaac - Wine & Relationship LP	29/01	15
4	4	David Morales Feat. Michelle Perera  - Life Is A Song (Ol' Skool Mix)	18/01	26
5	16	Maysa - Just Say / Make Sure You're Sure	02/02	11
6	5	Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul  - Back 2 Love	19/01	25
7	19	H'Atina - Be Mine	01/02	12
8	13	Ruth Koleva & Diggs Duke - Beyond Borders	21/01	23
9	9	Sydney Raneé - Wake Up & Get It	18/01	26
10		Chris Jasper - I Promise	27/01	17
11		Laura Rain & The Caesars - I'm Yours	05/02	8
12	11	Zsa - The More Things Change	28/01	16
13	15	Juliette Farrell - Ocean Eyes	20/01	24
14	17	Roger Hill - Come Back To Me	22/01	22
15	18	Samm Henshaw - Untidy Soul LP	28/01	16
16		Courtney Mickens - What Kinda Lady EP	05/02	8
17	27	The Real Thing - A Brand New Day LP	28/01	16
18		Lance Vantile Whitfield - UnBossed LP	09/02	4
19	28	Byrd Pressley - Feeling Your Love	21/01	23
20	23	Joanna Cooke - Good Lover	29/01	15
21		DJ & The Yams - Let's Ride! EP	22/01	22
22	24	Lovescene Feat. Blind Mic  - Show Me What I'm Missing (Radio Edit)	14/01	30
23	29	Mamas Gun - Party For One / Looking For Moses	14/01	30
24		Cornell CC Carter - The Moment (Steppers Remix)	31/01	13
25		Lukas Setto - Here You Are	27/01	17
26		Brettina & Incognito - Simple Pleasures (Remixes)	05/02	8
27		Karl Kirven - Trust Me And You'll See	16/01	28
28		Lee Fields - Ordinary Lives	23/01	21
29		Ty Juan - Mood 22 LP	01/02	12
30		Whodini - Music Is Life, Vol. 1 LP	28/01	16

UK Soul Chart Breakers 12th Feb 2022 (Week 06)

Here are the latest UK Soul Chart Breakers for 12th Feb 2022 with links to tracks posted (or to Spofity for those not yet posted).

You can catch the breakers show each Saturday at 7pm-8pm presented by Andy Tee on Starpoint Radio.

NB tracks in yellow are forthcoming

1	The Lady Sondbird Jinda - Lovers Groove
2	Swatkins ft Moorea Masa - Lost & Alive
3	Melba Moore ft Carmichael Musiclover - Company
4	Sound Of Superbad ft Monique Miss vocalz - A Little Something
5	Lance Vantile Whitfield - Hold On (Unbossed LP)
6	Brian Jackson - All Talk
7	Ashley Scott - Together
8	Todd Breed - The Way You Move
9	Trey Merritt - Love You
10	K.Zia - Home (Genesis LP)
11	Yvonne J ft Dave Howard & Jonathan 'JC' Smith - Smile
12	Juls - Summer In The Ends
13	Kevin Robinson BB&Q Band - I Cant Stop Dancing
14	Arika Kane -  Burnin 4 Ur Luv
15	Moresoul - All Night Party (My Love Story LP)

Global Soul Chart BREAKERS 12th Feb 2022 (Week 06)

12th Feb 2022

The Global Soul "Breakers" featured on the Global Soul Chart show Sat 12th Feb. 

	The Essential 5
Seq	Artist - Title	Rel'd	Posted
1	B Golden - Someone Like You (forthcoming)
2	BYAMM - Shine (EP)	11/03	05/02
3	Love, Mae C. - Go	31/01	13/02
4	Viwe Feat. Lincoln Long - What's Love (LP)	04/02	04/02
5	aimi - Baby (LP)	09/02	12/02
	Breakers
Seq	Artist - Title	Rel'd	Posted
1	Phono 48 - So Pure	18/02	09/02
2	Ms.NAE - ComeBack Love	11/02	11/02
3	Cloudpocket - It Better Be All Night	28/02
4	Sevyn Streeter - High Life (LP)	11/02
5	Glory I. - 70's Night (LP)	29/01	07/02
6	Tony Walk - Stay	11/02	03/02
7	K.Zia - Coco (LP)	11/02	13/02
8	Jazmine Sullivan - Roster (LP)	11/02	11/02
9	Divine818 - Nowhere Fast (EP)	11/02	12/02
10	Shel - Likethat (EP)	28/01	11/02
11	Nanette Maxine - The Walls	22/01	13/01

Global Soul Chart 12th Feb 2022 (Week 06)

12th Feb 2022

The Global Soul chart broadcast on Sat 12th Feb as it is every Saturday between  5pm-7pm (GMT) on Global Soul Radio.

Interspersed between chart entries are the "Essential 5" and  'Breakers' which will feature in a separate post as many are more interested in those. This week there were thirteen.

Moonchild move up one place to the top of the chart, and inevitably with the release of their new album with ten new tracks will, help it stay there for a while!. There are seven new entries with H'Atina heading the bunch as, although only released on Friday, it has been doing the rounds getting plenty of airplay from promo. The superb five track EP from Ivy Lo was released and then withdrawn as apparently she has signed to a record company who want to re-promote it and is due for re-release tomorrow (14 Feb) with the single "Sipi N' Dip" due for release on 1 Apr.

Highest Risers: Whodini (+13), Ivy Lo (+11), Samm Henshaw (+10), 

Biggest Fallers: Sydney Ranee' (-9), Zaki Shabazz (-7) , The Temptations (-7)

Losers: Saint Jaimz, Amp Fiddler, Michael Anthony Williams Feat. Tameka 'Big Baby' Goodman, Mamas Gun, Minni Manchester, Tanqueray Hayward, Tabitha King

Pos	Last	Chg	Artist - Title	Rel'd	Posted
1	2	+1	Moonchild - The Long Way (LP)	01/02	04/02
2	1	-1	Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul  - Back 2 Love (LP)	21/01	19/01
3	13	+10	Samm Henshaw - Take Time (LP)	28/01	28/01
4	15	+11	Ivy Lo - Sip N' Dip (EP)	29/01	01/02
5	8	+3	Piper-Grace - Caught Up	28/01	29/01
6	6	0	Blue Soul Ten Feat. ShaMain - Up To You	25/01	27/01
7	20	+13	Whodini - I Need (LP)	28/01	28/01
8	3	-5	Crutchfield Jones - Crazy Ass	07/02	15/02
9	NE		H'Atina - Be Mine	11/02	01/02
10	10	0	Kevin Church Johnson  - More Of Your Loving (LP)	21/01	29/01
11	18	+7	Floyd Fuji - Inside	26/01	29/01
12	NE		Daniel Leon - Love Tonight (LP)	04/02	04/02
13	6	-7	The Temptations - Calling Out Your Name	14/01	14/01
14	5	-9	Sydney Ranee' - Wake Up & Get It	21/01	18/01
15	NE		Corey Ronell - Feels (LP)	28/01	13/02
16	NE		Vonné - Won't Hold You	21/02	28/02
17	NE		Jane Handcock - Til We Meet Again	04/02	04/02
18	NE		Mary J. Blige - Here With Me (LP)	11/02	11/02
19	12	-7	Zaki Shabazz - The Only One	29/12	13/02
20	NE		Courtney Mickens - What Kinda Lady (EP)	04/02	05/02

Zaki Shabazz [2021] - The Only One [AlaJam Productions]

Better late than never! "The Only One" by Zaki Shabazz escaped me over the festive period (released 29 Dec 2021) and has spent a couple of weeks on the Global Soul chart but looks like it's on it's way out next so I thought I'd better post it before it disappears off the chart.

Zaki Shabazz is from Portsmouth, VA, and seems to have re-emerged last year after releasing an album in 2015 and a mixtape in 2020, with five singles and two EPs all released in 2021.

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	AlaJam Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/01/2022
Key/BPM:	3B/87
Value:	£1

Corey Ronell [2022] - Feels [Bottzworld]

A couple of weeks ago (28 Jan 2022) a compilation was released by Bottzworld "The Cookout Vol. 1" which is mainly urban/R&B tunes so I decided not to post it. However, there were a few tracks I did consider posting but didn't get around to it. One of them is a new entry into the Global Soul chart this week so I feel duty bound to post it.

The track in question is Corey Ronell "Feels". Corey Ronell is from Indiana and started out as a backing vocalist for artists such as Eric Benét, Ginuwine, and J. Holiday. He released a debut album "Time to Let Go" in 2018.

Whilst we are her I have also posted the other two tracks which may appeal to soul listeners Ms. Delilia & Tytanic "Pull Up" and Perri Jones "Body Open".

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

Details

Rating:	7.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Bottzworld
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/01/2022
Key/BPM:	8A/97
Value:	£1

K.Zia [2022] - Genesis [Self Released] (Full Album)

K.Zia last appeared on  on the blog back in May 2021 as a featured artist on Yuphoric's' single "Meant To Be".

She is a Berlin-based Afro-European R&B artist born in Brussels who began her career in 2017 and released her debut EP "RED" in Sep 2018.

Her debut full length album "Genesis" was released on Friday (11 Feb 2022). It contains her last three singles "I Got Your Back", "JFMB" and "Sanctuary".

The album is a mix of soul, R&B and afrobeat tunes, some sung in French,  more suited to lovers of urban music. The more soulful tracks are "Sanctuary", "Coco", "I Got Your Back". "On The Low" and "Home",  Remaining tracks leave this listener cold I'm afraid.

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

Details

Rating:	7.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	R&B
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/02/2022
Value:	£8.49

Todd Breed Feat. Christopher Hall & Indigo [2022] - The Way You Move [Self Released]

Todd Breed is the urban alter ego of headRocka (aka Jeff McDonald) from Dudley, West Midlands (UK). 

The latest single "The Way You Move" features Christopher Hall & Indigo and was released 11 Feb 2022. It a classy, jazz flavoured and soulful vibe.

Another credit to Andy Tee as this is another picked up off his UK Soul Chart Breakers show (12 Feb 2022).

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/02/2022
Key/BPM:	9A/136
Value:	£1