Louise Golbey [2022] - Renaissance [Self Released] (Full Album)

Louise Golbey is from Bournemouth and has been active since 2004 and is a much in-demand session singer have performed with Ed Sheeran as well as Katy B, Jessie J, Lianne La Havas, Anthony David, The Drifters, George Benson, Roberta Flack, En Vogue. The Stylistics, Roy Ayers, Heatwave, Omar, Eric Benet, Kool & The Gang, Level 42 and Brand New Heavies. Her voice can be heard on the Mercedes advert.

She released her sophomore album "Renaissance" today (25 Mar 2022), the title track was released as a single last year. It includes good version of Angie Stones' "Wish I Didn't Miss You".

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2022
Value:	£11.98

Max Kaplan & The Magics [2022] - Loving, I’m Leaving [Color Red]

Max Kaplan & The Magics are a blue-eyed retro soul band from Memphis, TN. They released only their second single "Loving, I’m Leaving" last week. It's a retro 60s/70s tune with those Memphis horns and a vast improvement (for soulies) on their debut "Mind On My Heart" (17 Sep 2021).

Thanks to Bill Buckley at soulandjazzandfunk for giving me the nudge on this as the post for it was drafted last week but for some reason never posted!

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul 60s
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Color Red
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/03/2022
Key/BPM:	12A/83
Value:	£1

A Tribute to The Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin would have been 80 today had the world not lost the undisputed and Queen of Soul on 16 Aug 2018.

Since her death a significant compilation simply titled "Aretha" was released which consists of 80 tracks including many rare and previously unreleased recordings. In response the same day it was released I posted an 'alternative' 55 track compilation and provided links to four tracks from the mid 70s which have never been available digitally.

Unbeknown to me beforehand these four tracks were selected and featured today as Gary Van Den Bussche's lunchtime sandwich on his Starpoint Radio show which is what inspired this post as we can never get enough of her music. Thanks Gary!

Last year also saw the release of a biopic movie "Respect" starring Jennifer Hudson as Aretha along with the soundtrack.

In 2017 an album "Brand New Me" was released  containing new orchestral arrangement of many of her hits.

Jaz Karis [2022] - 2 NIGHT / GAMES WE PLAY [Self Released]

South Londoner Jaz Karis (Jasmin Elizabeth Winifred) released a double single  "2 Night" / "Games We Play" today (25 Mar 2022).

Jaz debuted in Oct 2017 with a six track EP "Into The Wilderness". To date she has released an album ("Summer Stories" (2019)), three EPs and around ten singles, with new single being her first this year.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2022
Key/BPM:	2B/91 / 11B/80
Value:	£1.98

The Realm [2022] - Vybin' (The Funk Remix) [Self Released]

The latest single from Manny "The Realm" is a The Funk Remix of his UK soul chart hit  "Vybin'" which was first released last Sep (included below). The new mix is out today (25 Mar 2022) and Manny has kindly sent over a video for it.

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 Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Remix
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1

Nia SOUL [2022] - Love Notes [Self Released] (Full EP)

This appears to be a debut release from Nia SOUL who I can find no information for save that all tracks have writing credits to Ronisha Sheppard who transpires to be an aromatherapy specialist from Saginaw, MI. Her six track EP "Love Notes" was released today.

The two tracks that got my attention are "Got My Love" and "Can't Love You".

She confirms that this is her first project on facebook (so not to be confused with at least another two artists I found with the same name!) and posted this:

"I must give credit where credit is due! A huge shoutout to everyone who made my vision for “Love Notes” come alive! Huge shoutout to everybody who played a part! Tony Ray producing and engineering my EP and background vocals, Joshua McMillon for producing a track, Courtney Chatman Buford and Ronald Sheppard for producing a few tracks, Stephanie Rosado for the guitar licks, Jasmin Conway for helping me even get to Chicago to record this project and to all my friends and family that’s heard these songs over and over the last two  years I love y’all and I’m grateful beyond words!"

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2022
Value:	£5.49

Joe Simon [2022] - Nine Pound Steel: The Best Of Joe Simon (Remastered) [Sunset Blvd Records] (Full Album)

Joe Simon left us on 13 Dec 2021 aged 78 and inevitably a compilation of his greatest works was eventually going to materialise. Well, here it is "Nine Pound Steel: The Best Of Joe Simon", a 61 track compilation released today.

I haven't checked yet, but I wonder how many of the 50 tracks I selected for his tribute are included, and conversely which ones I missed (as it was governed by what was available on Spotify at the time)? 

Paul Simpson did a "Philadelphia Re-edit Session" on him in 15 Jan, but it was only available for two weeks, so if you missed it I guess you just need to hope it's re-released!

NOTE for some reason Spotify is only allowing 50 tracks to appear in the playlist so here's the link to the full compilation.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Sunset Blvd Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2022
Value:	£23.97 / £29.99

Stone Foundation [2022] - Outside Looking In [100% Records]

The new album from Midlands-based UK soul band Stone Foundation "Outside Looking In" was released today. Regular blog followers will know that several tracks have already been released. The title track, "Outside Looking In", sounds to me very like Talking Heads (as previously commented on the original post for it), "Now That You Want Me Back" which features Melba Moore, along with "Echoes Of Joy", "Stylin'" (feat. Sulene Fleming) and "Heaven Knows Why" (feat. Laville & Sheree Dubois).

However, there are plenty of other good tracks on this twelve tracker including, but not exclusively, the two opening tracks in particular "Soon You'll Return" (a moody smouldering ballad) and "Turning Up the Heat".

I guess the label has recognised that fact that five tracks have already been released and have priced the album accordingly at only £6.49 for 12 tracks! It is also available on vinyl, CD and even cassette!

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl / Cassette
Label:	100% Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2022
Value:	£6.49 / £9.99 / £19.09 / £9.56