Wednesday, 23 March 2022

Glays Knight Live 2022 @ Arena Theatre Houston


As it's pretty quiet today, I stumbled across this live video of The Empress Of Soul performing live in Houston. The video was posted on 6 March so I presume it was recorded just before.

The video/audio quality is not brilliant but the lady still has it aged 77! I'm sure it's not the usual packed house she is used to performing to but she's still the consummate professional. I had the privilege of seeing her at The Flamingo in Las Vegas (in 2003 if memory serves me correctly).

Angel Sessions [2022] - You Missed a Good Thing [Atlas Elite]


Angel Sessions is an urban gospel artist from Louisville, KT, now resident in L.A. She was signed to Ichiban records in 1998 and released around four secular albums before switching to gospel and has, to date, released eighteen albums.

Her latest single "You Missed a Good Thing" was released last Friday (18 Mar 2022) and sounds like a bit of a 90s throwback to my ears and, 'oh dear', a rap kicks in at around 2:37! I thought it was a bit of an odd single (for 2022) and had a dig around and, right enough, the track was released on her debut album "Introducing... Angel Sessions" in 1998, but as they say, 'I've started so I'll finish' as there's not much else around!

Angel has performed with Lenny Williams, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, Brenda Holloway, Freda Payne, Ali Woodson ( The Temptation), The Dells, Mary Wilson (she toured with May Wilson as a Supreme), The Dramatics, L.J. Reynolds ( lead singer of the Dramatics), Maurice White (Earth Wind and Fire), James Brown, Teena Marie, Tamia, Montel Jordan, H Town, The Whispers and Eric Benet. 

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

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Details
Rating: 7.4
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Retro Soul, 90s Soul / Reissue
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Atlas Elite
Cat No: None
Date: 18/03/2022 / 1998
Key/BPM: 1A/104
Value: £1

Normani [2022] - Fair [RCA]


It's pretty grim out there again this week for good quality new releases, therefore I'm revisiting some from Friday's shortlist that haven't made it to a full post yet.

Normani Kordei Hamilton is a 25 year old singer/dancer from Atlanta, GA, who emerged as a solo artist in 2018 after auditioning as a solo act for X Factor in 2012 but was reassigned to a group Fifth Harmony who came third in the competition and were signed by Simon Cowell. When the group took a hiatus in 2018 she released a duet with Khalid "Love Lies" for the film "Love, Simon" which was a US top 10 hit.

She also had a UK & US top 10 hit with Sam Smith in 2019 "Dancing With A Stranger".

Her latest single "Fair" was released last Friday (18 Mar 2022) which is neo soul with an R&B  edge.

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / R&B
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: RCA
Cat No: None
Date: 18/03/2022
Key/BPM: 4A/94
Value: £1

TREW [2022] - Kashif Everywhere [Self Released] (Full EP)


TREW is Chicago DJ/producer Nigel Trew Ridgeway who tends to release his material via Bandcamp and also posts it on Soundcloud.

I heard a track from this EP played by Bash on Starpoint Radio this afternoon so hunted down the EP "Kashif Everywhere(available on Bandcamp) and also found one or two other bits which I may post later.

As the EP title suggests, it consists of four Kashif tracks overlaid with newer material. The standout is Angie Stone "I Wish I Didn't Miss You" which is overlaid on Kashif's "Help Yourself To My Love" from his debut self-titled album from 1983 (if fact all tracks used are from his debut).

I'll let you figure out the other Kashif tracks used for yourself (but answers below if you're struggling).

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Details
Rating: 7.9
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul / Samples
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 02/02/2022
Value: $6

Shirley Davis & Silverbacks [2022] - Keep On Keepin' On [Lovemonk] (Full Album)


A few singles have been pre-released (and posted i.e. "Take Out The Trash") from the new album "Keep On Keepin' On" by Shirley Davis & Silverbacks which gets a full release today (23 Mar 2022).

It's retro 60s tunes following the footsteps of Sharon Jones & The Daptones and, for me, "Take Out The Trash" is still the standout.

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Retro Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital / CD
Label: Lovemonk
Cat No: None
Date: 23/03/2022
Value: £7.99 /£12.52

Gil Scott-Heron [1971] - Save The Children [Flying Dutchman #FD 10143]


A few month ago Gil Scott-Heron's seminal album "Pieces Of A Man" was posted. Today I've selected a track from it as the weekly anti-war song showing solidarity for Ukraine as they enter the fifth week of conflict. 

The track is "Save The Children" which is not the same song as the Marvin Gaye one with the same title also released in 1971. 

It was later released as a single edit (3:00 v 4:55) billed as Gil Scott-Heron & The Pretty Purdie Boys as the flip to his classic "Lady Day And John Coltrane" which means it fetches big bucks (only two currently for sale on Discogs for £400). Even the album on original vinyl seem to sell for well into 3 figures.

Whilst I've posted the label scan for the single, it is the full album version sound clip.

I have been informed by DJ Kool Keith that the best version, although written by Scott-Heron, is The Intruders' version and the title track of their 1973 Philadelphia International album, and I think I would probably have to agree with him.


Details
Rating: 8.5
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Classic Soul
Format: Single
Media: LP / 7"
Label: Flying Dutchman
Cat No: FD 10143 / FD 26015
Date: 1971 / 1972
Key/BPM: 6A/76
Value: £up to £350 / £400