UK Soul Chart 21st Feb 2022 (Week 07)

21st Feb 2022

The new UK Soul Chart for 21st Feb 2022. There are 12 risers, 11 fallers, 3 none mover and 3 new entries and a re-entry.

Highest Risers: Sandra-Mae Lux (+15), JKriv Featuring Norman Vladimir (+9), US (+8)

Biggest Fallers: Dynasty (-20), Tanqueray Hayward (-19), Don-E (-17)

Losers: Binky Womack, Ivy Lo, Luxury Soul, The Real Thing

NOTE: For the UK Soul Chart 'haters' I have compared this chart against the latest Solar Radio Sweet Rhythms Chart (21st Feb 2022) and can confirm that 18 tracks appear in both. The Sweet Rhythms chart has 9 'newer' tracks which will almost inevitably feature on UK Soul Chart in the coming weeks which is always a week in arrears e.g. Silk Sonic, Melba Moore & Carmichael Musiclover, Phono 48, The Sound Of Superbad, Brian Jackson, Ashley Scott.

Also four are currently in the Global Soul Chart (H'Atina, Moonchild, Maysa and Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul) and at least another seven have already featured in it but are no longer present.

Pos	Last	Chg	Artist - Title
1	1	0	David Morales - Life Is A Song (Mixes) / Never Give Up      / I Can Dream (Life Is A Song LP)
2	8	+6	H'Atina - Be Mine
3	2	-1	Patrick McLean Feat Deborah Bell - Look Where You're Going
4	3	-1	Moonchild - Tell Him / Love I Need / Too Good
5	9	+4	Cornell CC Carter - The Moment (Steppers Mix)
6	4	-2	Castella - So Into You (Let Me Love You EP)
7	5	-2	Raheem DeVaughn & Bee Boy$oul - Back 2 Love (LP)
8	10	+2	Maysa - Just Say / Make Sure You're Sure
9	16	+7	Lukas Setto - Here You Are
10	19	+9	JKriv Featuring Norman Vladimir - The Way (Mixes)
11	12	+1	Devon Howard - Forever & Always (Always Steppers Mix)
12	18	+6	Tabitha King - Unconditionally (I'm Gonna Make It)
13	21	+8	Chris Jasper - I Promise
14	29	+15	Sandra-Mae Lux - You Me And Tomorrow
15	15	0	Cale Austin - Whisper
16	13	-3	Sydney Renee - Wake Up And Get It
17	22	+5	The Temptations - Calling Out Her Name (Temptations 60 LP)
18	NE		Saint Jaimz - Its Gonna Get Betta
19	27	+8	US - Fly Away (EmCee Remix)
20	NE		Laura Rain and the Caesars - I'm Yours
21	NE		Brettina And Incognito - Simple Pleasures (Incognito Mix)
22	14	-8	Dave Mascall - Various Cuts (Acid Lounge 6 LP)
23	6	-17	Don-E - Follow Your Heart / One Time Is Not Enough (Winter Warmers EP)
24	24	0	Takim Brown - Say It Like You Mean It (Philly Soul Select Vol 2 LP)
25	17	-8	Leee John Imagination - It Feels So Good (Mixes)
26	25	-1	Lindsey Webster ft Brian Culbertson - I Didn't Mean It
27	7	-20	Dynasty - Still In Love / I Can Tell
28	30	+2	Bey Bright - SN4 Music Beats & Life EP
29	RE		Stan Taylor - Party / I Love You (Red Velvet LP)
30	11	-19	Tanqueray Hayward - Complicated (Realm Remix)

Idris Muhammad [2022] - I'm A Believer / Jean Shy - What Can I Do I'm So In Love With You [Outta Sight #OSV205]

Another 7" vinyl release from Outta Sight is this double-sided modern soul gem. Both tunes on original vinyl would set you back up to £200 each.

Idris Muhammad (born Leo Morris in New Orleans) was a jazz drummer probably best known for his 1977 dance hit "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This", but he recorded with some of the jazz greats such as Bob James, Pharoah Sanders, Ahmad Jamal and Lou Donaldson and can be heard on Fats Dominos "Blueberry Hill" in 1956. "I'm A Believer" was his second single from 1972 on Prestige which featured his wife Sakinah Muhammad (née Dolores Brooks) on vocals aka La La Brooks who sang with The Crystals.

Jean Shy "What Can I Do I'm So In Love With You" was released as a B side on Fantasy in 1976 and was only on stock copies and not promos and has never been previously reissued. The song was co-written by Shy (aka Andria Jean Alexander) and her husband Edward (Alexander) Walker (who was a member of Strutt) along with Harvey Fuqua and Vernon Bullock (who together formed New Birth).

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Outta Sight
Cat No:	OSV205
Date:	02/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£11.99

Jimmy Thomas [2022] - The Beautiful Night / Above A Whisper [Outta Sight #OSV216]

Jimmy Thomas was a member of  the Ike & Tina Turner Revue and emigrated to the UK, I assume around the time that this single on UK Parlophone was released in 1969 (18 Apr 1969 is recorded on the demo). It is a UK only release and believed for years to be a green demo only until a black stock copy was unearthed.

The A side "The Beautiful Night" was discovered by 'Major' Bob Crocker (who died tragically in a car accident aged 19) at The Catacombs in Wolverhampton in 1971 and went on to be a massive sound at The Torch all-nighters in Stoke-on-Trent. However, in more recent years, as a result of the Sunday Soul Sessions scene, it is the B side "Above A Whisper" that is getting all the plaudits and no wonder, what a tune!

Both sides have been remastered and released on 7" vinyl by Outta Sight.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Outta Sight
Cat No:	OSV216
Date:	02/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£11.99

Dusty Springfield [2022] - Dusty Sings Soul [Ace #CDCHD 1612] (Full Album)

Whilst 'plundering' the new vinyl singles due from Kent Select I noticed this compilation out the same day (25 Mar 2022) from parent Ace.

"Dusty Sings Soul" does what it says on the title, Dusty Springfield singing 60s soul songs and in Tony Rounce's (Ace) words "is a long overdue and carefully curated collection of recordings from Dusty’s 60s singles and albums, designed to demonstrate that she was not only the UK’s finest female singer but also its finest soul singer of her era and, for many, of all time. There is no shortage of Dusty compilations out there, but this is the first one to exclusively concentrate on this particular side of this great artist’s work.".

Scanning through the track listing, most are covers.

Available to pre-order from Ace.

Most songs will need little introduction.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Album / compilation
Media:	CD
Label:	Ace
Cat No:	CDCHD 1612
Date:	25/03/2022
Value:	£11.50

Blues & Soul #78 18 Feb - 2 Mar 1972 - 50 years ago Today!

I thought it might be an interesting new feature to occasionally summarise the contents of Blues & Soul magazine at various snapshots in time. This issue is from 50 years ago this week #78 from 18 Feb - 2 Mar 1972. 

Blues & Soul ran fortnightly and was the only mainstream magazine featuring soul music at this point in time in the UK. It started life as Home Of The Blues in Oct 1967 which ran for 11 issues before renaming to Blues & Soul. 

A monthly magazine, Black Music, would arrive in 1974 and a weekly newspaper style magazine Black Echoes in Jan 1976. Black Music was eventually merged with Blues & Soul in 1984. Both Blues & Soul and Echoes, as it was later  renamed, are still running today with monthly online and print editions.

This issue contained 24 pages and had a photo of Joe Simon on the front cover. Articles included pieces on the following artists: James Brown, Donnie Elbert, Maceo & The Kings Men, Chuck Berry, The O'Jays, The Dramatics, Maxine Brown, The Last Poets, The Detroit Emeralds and Don Gardner.

Each issue contained the UK and US Singles and Album charts and reviews of the new UK singles and album.

UK Top 60 Singles

Top 10 were:

1 Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her

2 Al Green - Let's Stay Together

3 Donnie Elbert - Where Did Our Love go

4 The Temptations - Superstar

5 Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair

6 Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me 

7 Stylistics - You Are Everything

8 Cha Ka Chas - Jungle Fever

9 Dennis Coffey - Scorpio

10 Michael Jackson - Got To Be There

There were UK single reviews for (B&S review rating out of 5 stars in brackets):

Joe Simon - Drowning In A Sea Of Love (5)

Donnie Elbert - I Can't Help Myself (5)

Jerry Butler - Moody Woman (5)

Chuck Moore - Shelley's Rubber Band (4)

Fontella Bass - Who You Gonna Blame (4)

Eddie Holman - Hey There Lonely Girl (5)

Millie Jackson - A Child Of God (It's Hard To Believe) (5)

O'Jays -  Working On Your Case (3)

Ben E. King -  Take Me To The Pilot (3)

Bo Diddley -  I Said Shut Up Woman (2)

Melba Moore - Take Up A Course In Happiness (not rated but described as junk!)

Ponderosa Twins Plus One  - You Send Me (3)

Simtec & Wylie - Maggie May (2)

James Brown - I'm A Greedy Man (3)

The M.G.'s - Jamaica This Morning (4)

Billy Preston - I Wrote A Simple Song (3)

Flirtations - Need Your Loving (2)

5th Dimension - Together Let's Find Love (4)

The Enticers - Calling Your Name (4)

Phillip Mitchell - Free For All (5)

Free Movement - The Harder I Try (2).

UK Top 30 Albums 

Top 10 were:

1 Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Going On

2 Isaac Hayes - Shaft

3 Stevie Wonder - Greatest Hits Vol. 2

4 Chi-Lites - Give More Power To The People

5 Santana - Third Album

6 Al Green - Gets Next To You

7 Curtis Mayfield - Roots

8 Four Tops - Greatest Hits Vol. 2

9 Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

10 VA - Motown Memories

Album reviews included (B&S review rating out of 5 stars in brackets):

Detroit Emeralds - Do Me Right (4)

War - All Day Music (4)

Bobby Byrd - I Need Help Live On Stage (3)

Marvin Gaye - The Hits Of Marvin Gaye (5)

Buddy Miles - Live! (3)

James Brown - This Is (not rated)

Isaac Hayes - Black Moses (4),

US Top 100 Singles

The top 10 were:

1 Al Green - Let's Stay Together

2 Bobby Womack - That's The Way I Feel About Cha

3 Wilson Pickett - Fire And Water

4 Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman

5 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Make Me The Woman You Go Home To

6 Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager - Ain't Understanding Mellow

7 Detroit Emeralds - You Want It You Got It

8 Joe Simon - Drowning In A Sea Of Love

9 Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Penguin

10 Cha Ka Chas - Jungle Fever

US Top 50 Albums

The top 10 were:

1 Isaac Hayes - Black Moses

2 Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

3 Stylistics - The Stylistics

4 Jackson 5 - Greatest hits

5 Laura Lee - Women's Love Rights

6 James Brown - Revolution Of The Mind

7 Grover Washington - Inner City Blues

8 Roberta Flack - Quiet Fire

9 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Standing Ovation

10 Luther Ingram - I've Been Here All The Time

Wee Willie Walker [2022] - I Don't Want To Take A Chance / I Ain't Gonna Cheat On You No More [Kent Select #CITY082]

The fifth and final release due on Kent Select on 25 Mar 2022 are two sides from Wee Willie Walker which featured on "Goldwax Northern Soul" and "The Goldwax Story" in 2013. The top side "I Don't Want To Take A Chance" was previously released on vinyl in 2004 on The 100 Club 25th Anniversary single that year. A previously unreleased vocal version of the classic instrumental by Checkerboard Squares "Double Cookin'" by The Magicians titled "(Just A Little) Faith And Understanding" was on the A side. This 45 now commands up to £300!

"I Don't Want To Take A Chance" is a smooth crossover style tune whilst the flip, "I Ain't Gonna Cheat On You No More" is more of a driving southern soul style R&B dancer.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Kent Select
Cat No:	CITY082
Date:	25/03/2022
Key/BPM:	8B/102 / 2B/157
Value:	£10.68

Hodges, James & Smith [2022] - Wishful Thinking / Kim Weston - It Takes A Lotta Teardrops [Kent Select #CITY081]

Last summer (Jun 2021) Kent released a compilation of Hodges, James & Smith's early recordings titled "Early Years And Unheard Pearls 1970-1973". The opening track on the CD is "Wishful Thinking" which is the next in the series of 7" releases from Kent Select due on 25 Mar 2022.

It is paired with another tune dug out from "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 7" which is  a previously unreleased track by Kim Weston "It Takes A Lotta Teardrops"  which is archetypal Motown/Northern Soul at its best but recorded in the late 60s after she left Motown. It's another from the  Mickey Stevenson vaults, who was married to Kim Weston.

Available to pre-order from Kent.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Kent Select
Cat No:	CITY081
Date:	25/03/2022
Key/BPM:	8B/113 / 3B/130
Value:	£10.68

Ronnie McNeir [2022] - Say You / I'm Sorry [Kent Select #CITY080]

Another Kent Select release due on 25 Mar 2022 from Ronnie McNeir this time with two previously unreleased sides recorded in the early 70s around the same time he released his debut self-titled RCA Victor album in 1972. Kent has acquired the tapes from Mickey Stevenson who produced the album and will be releasing a full album of unreleased material on Ronnie later this year.

"Say You" is an update of The Monitors 1965 V.I.P. single, whilst "I'm Sorry" is  a self-written slow-burning crossover tune.

As you are probably already aware, Ronnie replaced Levi Stubbs in the Four Top when Stubbs fell ill in 1999 and has remained a member ever since.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul/ Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Kent Select
Cat No:	CITY080
Date:	25/03/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£10.68

Brothers Of Soul [2022] - I Need Your Love / Can’t Nobody [Kent Select #CITY079]

Yesterday I posted a new single due on 25 Mar 2022 from Kent Select by Melvin Hicks & The Versatiles "The Intruder". Kent are also releasing another 7" on the same day by Brothers Of Soul "I Need Your Love" / "Can’t Nobody". Both A sides featured on last year's compilation "Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 7" and until then were previously unreleased.

Brothers Of Soul of course were Fred Bridges, Richard Knight and Bobby Eaton, who also recorded as The Creations and were prolific writers for Ric William's Zodiac and associated labels, predominantly for Ruby Andrews.

The A side "I Need Your Love" is a soulful mid-tempo tune and "Can't Nobody" is a lowrider  (which was previously unreleased until it featured on "This Is Lowrider Soul Vol. 2" last Sep.) Both songs were recorded in 1969.

Now available to pre-order from Kent.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Kent Select
Cat No:	CITY079
Date:	25/03/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£10.68

Royalty Duo [2022] - Marriage [Original Royalty Recordings] (Full Album)

Royalty Duo are husband and wife duo Tony Tatum and Shira Yarona Israel from Georgia. They released an album "Marriage" on 6 Feb 2022 on which Tony wrote all thirteen songs under his full name Antoine Deshone Tatum.

It's a mixed bag of styles with traditional soul songs and some more contemporary. My picks on first listen would be "This Is The Most High", "Forever", "Communicate", "Bada Ba Ba (Stay Together)" (which sounds like it could be an EWF song) and "What I Need" which has a reggae/lovers rock beat..

I can't find any other recordings by them but they are by no means a new duo and have been performing for several years.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Original Royalty Recordings / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	06/02/2022
Value:	£7.99

Chris Lujan & Electric Butter Feat. Adre Cruz [2022] - The Real Thing [Lugnut Brand Records] (Full Album)

Having posted three singles already pre-released from Chris Lujan's new album "The Real Thing" on 14 Jan, I missed the release of the full album last week (14 Feb 2022) so here it is.

A couple of highlights from the tracks not previously released as singles (i.e. "The Real Thing", "Somewhere Else", and "My Back Hurts (From Picking Up The Pieces Of My Broken Heart)" are "I Think I'm In Love With You" and "You're The One For Me".

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul 60s
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Lugnut Brand Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/02/2022
Value:	£7.99

Beth-Ann-Wynn v Vivilore Jordan [2021/1975] - Put My Loving On You [Sound Gems]

Frank Fioravanti's Sound Gems released Vivilore Jordan "Put My Loving On You" (Discogs states 1975 and 45Cat 1977 but the Cat. No. suggests 1975 is more likely) which has had plays on the UK rare soul scene. I've just come across a new version by Mary-Ann-Wynn released 15 Nov 2021.

The song was written by Richard Marks, Bill Wright and Barney Conway. Vivilore Jordan released only four singles and her last "All Work And No Play" on Task in 1977 was another modern soul spin which was covered by Serena Johnson in 1982 on Big 2

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital/7"
Label:	Sound Gems
Cat No:	None / SG 106
Date:	15/11/2021 / 1975
Key/BPM:	5A/105 / 6B/106
Value:	£1 / £40 (approx.)

DJ Kool Keith [2022-02-20] - Soulful Slow Jams [Soul Groove Radio]

The latest soulful slow Jams show by DJ Kool Keith broadcast on 20 Feb 2022 on soul Groove Radio.

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

Playlist:

Cardell - When We Make Love (Remix) [2015]

The Majestic Arrows - Doing It For Us [1973]

Norman Brown - Stay With Me [2007]

Katie Love & The Four Shades Of Black - It Hurts So Good [1971]

The Elements Of Love  - Love And Understanding [1973?]

Ju-Lia - Deja Vu [2022]

T.K. Soul - I'm Gonna Win [2021]

Latoya London feat. Anthony Hamilton - On Everything [2022]

The Stylistics - Keeping You To Your Promise [1996]

Derek Damian - Never Felt So Good [2011]

D'mott - Love Ballad [2022]

Willie Clayton - Love Don't Hurt Me [2020]

Whodini & Arieleno - Waistline (Gedi Clean Edit) [2022]

Brother Wheeler Jr. - You Were Heaven Blessed [1975]

Bloodstone - Something's Missing [1973]

Spice - Don't Fight It [1976]

Greg Ware - I Love U So Much [2022]

Lyde, Fisher & Giles - I'll Always Love You [1977]

Keedron Bryant - Everything [2022]

Tax Free - Love Me [1972]

Force M.D.'s - Tears [1984]

Alfreda Brockington - I'll Wait For You [1969]

G.C.'s (Gospel Clouds) feat. Hymes Hollis - Let Us Pray [2022]

Millie Jackson - There You Are [1976]

Don Hart & James Shorter - I Shed A Tear [1966]

Father's Children - Gone Bad [1979]

Da Liberal Soul aka Charles Dixon - Her Pain [2011]

Blue Mist Band - Give Me One More Chance (Gedi Edit) [2011]