Joanna Cooke [2022] - Like A Lover [Self Released] VIDEO PREMIER

On Friday (18 Mar 2022) Joanna Cooke released her latest single, "Like A Lover", presumably from her forthcoming EP "Kaleidoscope", which is a heartfelt and personal ballad touching on themes of unwanted attention, sexual harassment and abuse. 

When I posted her last single ("Good Lover") I stated that perhaps it was her best to date but, for me, this one is even better, and has subsequently been chosen as SoulStrutter Selection of the Week.

This evening at 19:00 GMT a supporting video for the new single premiered on You Tube (below).

Joanna Cooke is from Lyme Regis (UK) and in recent years has supported major artists such as Paloma Faith and Rag'n'Bone Man. She now has three EP's under her belt and released her latest single is her eighth which will be included with "Good Lover" on her fourth EP "Kaleidoscope" due later this year.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/03/2022
Key/BPM:	9A/54
Value:	£1

Ebony Loren [2022] - Phone Static [Sunflower Records]

Ebony Loren is a 21 year singer/songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, now living in Chicago, who debuted with a single "Mine" on 12 Dec 2021 and releases her fifth single "Phone Static" today (22 Mar 2022).

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sunflower Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/03/2022
Key/BPM:	1A/72
Value:	£1

VA [2022] - Soul On The Real Side #14 [Outta Sight] (Full Album)

Out now on CD from Outta Sight is a 20 track compilation of rare 60s/70s Modern Soul gems "Soul On The Real Side #14" which they claim almost half (8) are new to CD (prefixed with *).

A footnote: It would appear that the guys at Outta Sight are superstitious as they have skipped #13 as #12 was released 24 Aug 2021 and, as far as I can ascertain, there has not been a #13!

I've managed to find 13 of them on Spotify. Those not found have links on title to YouTube.

*01 - The Winstons - Color Him Father

02 - Touch Of Class - I'm In Heaven

*03 - Continental Showstoppers - Never Set Me Free

04 - Eddie Billups - Try Something New

05 - Joe Simon - When

*06 - Jackey Beavers - Lover Come Back

*07 - Otis Clay - Come My Dear

*08 - Bull & The Matadors - If You Decide

*09 - Gerald Taylor - I'm Coming Home

10 - Gloria Lynne - I've Just Gotta Tell Somebody

*11 - Deniece Chandler - I'd Believe Him

12 - The Whispers - I Can Remember

13 - The Unexpected - Open Up Your Heart

14 - The Electrifying Cashmeres - What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)

15 - Lee Bates - Why Don't You Write

*16 - The DeVons - Groovin' With My Thing

17 - Razzy Bailey - I Hate Hate

18 - Three Shades Of Soul - Smooth Sailing

19 - Willie Hightower - Nobody But You

20 - Willie Hobbs - How Could My Baby Know

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album /Compilation / Reissue
Media:	CD
Label:	Outta Sight
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/2022
Value:	£13.99

Billy Butler, Jay Player [2022] - The Soulman Sessions, Vol. 1 [JettMusic] (Full EP)

This four tracker "The Soulman Sessions, Vol 1", credited to Billy Butler & Jay Player, was released on Saturday (19 Mar 2022) and is a bit of a mystery (the drawback of digital releases as there is no info!).  With it being titled Vol. 1 then watch out for future volumes.

Jay Player has only one listed release, which is well known and in-demand in rare soul circles, "Love Is The Answer" on Bevnick 1982. It was co-written by Billy Butler and Allan Harris. Harris recorded it and, from recollection, I believe that it was from an unissued album from which UK rare soul DJ Arthur Fenn cut a 7" acetate of it for playing out.  If you're interested in hearing it then it is in a video posted last year to commemorate Soul Sam's 80th birthday where there is a live DJ set in which Arthur gives it a spin.

This does shed some light on a couple of other tracks as these were also co-written by Butler/Harris and Harris recorded one of them "Just Let Me Know" in 1979 as Allan Harris & Perpetual Motion on Exact Change (again his only listed release). 

The other 'known' song is "No One But You" which was released by Crosswind on 12" so I would assume it was early/mid 80s (it is not dated on Discogs but they did release another recording on the same label (Harbor City) in 1987 with a much higher catalogue number).

Most, if not all, tracks were also arranged by Al Johnson (Alfred Johnson from Washington a former member of The Unicefs and who recorded many highly regarded solo tunes). 

Before I confuse you any further Billy Butler isn't the Northern Soul hero who released the legendary "Right Track" on Okeh, but a member of The Optimistics (Turbo) / The Inclinations (Janus) from Baltimore. Another member of The Optimistics / Inclinations was one James (Jay?) Player. The label for Allen Harris & Perpetual Motions was also Baltimore based.

The track that I can't trace is "Don't Let People Get You Down" so would 'assume' that it may be previously unreleased?

The mix of "Love Is The Answer" is a different mix which is shorter than even the original 7" mix i.e. 3:46 v 4:21 and obviously much shorter than the 12" mix which was 5:44.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	JettMusic
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/03/2022
Value:	£3.96

Down To Earth [2022] - You Keep Loving Me [Speegra]

Having had a UK Soul Chart #1 hit with their album "Still Ridin' High" in Autumn 2021, which is getting renewed airplay on the back of it's very recent vinyl release on Izipho Soul, the Down To Earth boys, Lol Williams and Stevie Paul, have been back in the studio to record their new album which should be out later this year.

As a teaser they have provided a sneak preview of the lead single "You Keep Loving Me" which is due for release the first week of April.

It's a mid-tempo modern soul stepper which should appeal to traditional and contemporary soul lovers alike and is a taste of things to come from their new album.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Speegra
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/2022
Key/BPM:	8A/95
Value:	£1

VA [2022] - Black On Black: Black Milk [Acid Jazz] (Full Album)

Black On Black was a label set up by Dr Bob Jones in the mid 90s. He released this ten track compilation "Black On Black: Black Milk" in 1995. It is now available digitally for the first time on Bandcamp. I noticed that it is also on Amazon for £9.90 but only £7.50 on Bancdcamp!

The compilation opens with the killer cut and the first release on the label from (Daniel) Tyson "Rebound" which was released on 12" in 1993. There some nice tracks including Inner Soul "Don't Walk Away" and a good cover of "Save The Children" by Kimberley Lawson.

As the Bandcamp listing doesn't give the artist names here's the full track listing:

01 - Tyson - Rebound (5:41)

02 - Inner Soul - Another Place, Another Time (5:08)

03 - Jaziacs - Destinys (8:58)

04 - Tyson - Ruthless (9am Mix) (5:45)

05 - Index - Made In Voyage (5:47)

06 - Index - Gotta Get It (4:33)

07 - Kimberley Lawson - Save The Children (5:54)

08 - Jaziacs - Farside (4:11)

09 - Inner Soul - Don't Walk Away (Club Mix) (5:18)

10 - Ski - Ain't Gonna Justify (Delta Mix) (9:12)

Cam Elle - Let It Flow (Sausalito Calling) (6:39) is on original not on digital issue.

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Acid Jazz
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/03/2022
Value:	£7.50

Kim Tibbs [2022] - Where Would I Be Without You? (Full Version) [Black Orchid / Izipho Soul] OUT NOW on DSPs

You will have already seen Kim Tibbs new single "Where Would I Be Without You?" posted a couple of times, from promo and then on Bandcamp release (13 Mar), but this is to let you know that it is now available on all the major digital platforms as of yesterday (21 Mar 2022).

It will also be getting a 7" vinyl release on Izipho Soul (around May) ahead of her full album "THE SCiENCE OF COMPLETiON VOLUME I".

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Black Orchid / Izipho Soul
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/03/2022
Key/BPM:	2A/114
Value:	£1

DJ Kool Keith [2022-03-20] - Soulful Slow Jams [Soul Groove Radio]

DJ Kool Keith's weekly look at soulful slow jams across the soulful decades with around half the tunes in the latest installment released this year.

Playlist:

Joe Leavy  - Love Me To My Soul [2022]

Hill District - You're Scared Of Falling In Love [2022]

Lisa Shaw - Better Days [2009]

Rebbie Jackson - This Love Is Forever [1988]

Aimi - Baby [2022]

Eddie Floyd - I'm So Glad I Met You [1975]

Parkes Stewart - Black Pearl [2022]

Richard Marks - Ups And Downs [2022]

Aesops Fables - Hidin' My Love [1966]

The Moments - To You With Love [1971]

Eddie Finley - Sad Honored Night [2022]

The Manhattans - Hurt (Paul Simpson Re-edit) [2022]

Diana Ross - Missing You (7'' Single Mix) [1984]

Chuck Bernard - She's Already Married [1966]

Eddie Giles - I Can't Get Over You [1979]

The Vibrations - Forgive And Forget [1966]

The Jous Band - You [2022]

Dorthy Johnson - If It's Not Love Don't Waste My Time [1974]

Raechelle (Rae) - Fool [2022]

John Gary Williams - Ask The Lonely [1973]

J Craig  - Let's Make Love [2022]

Richie Merrett - You'll Always Have Yesterday Standing By [2022]

Miche'ail - Why You Gotta Love Me Like That [2013]

Regina Belle - Please Be Mine [1987]

Meli'sa Morgan - Wrong Lane [1990]

Gary's Gang - Round & Round & Round [1979]

Foreign Blue Renaisance - Oh, Yes I Do [1974]

JKabel - Love You Still [2022]

Erroll Gaye And The Imaginations - You Don't Want My Love [1975]

David J & Lil' Dave feat. Curtis Kincaid - Relaxn At Home Sippn On Patron [2022]

Russell Thompkins, Jr. - Say Hello [2022]