Raja-Nee' Feat. Wilfred Frelix [2022] - Rolling At Midnight (Midnight Vibe Mix) [JARF Music Group]

The new single from Raja-Nee' whose hit "Come Get The Love" from last year is literally being shipped out on vinyl as we speak by LRK Records.

"Rolling At Midnight" has a bit of 90s bounce and was released on 18 Apr 2022. As with "Come Get This Love" it once again features, and was written and produced by, jazz guitarist Wilfred 'Nenja'  Frelix who himself has a current single out called "Play On".

A new remix 'Midnight Vibe Mix" has just been received on promo from Raja-Nee' via Steve Aggasild. Raja-Nee' has informed me that the only real difference is that there are 'breathy' talking sections in the 'Midnight Vibe Mix' which were removed for the 'released' version. Both versions posted for comparison.

The track is the third single following "Come Get This Love" and "Love In The Groove" to be released from her forthcoming album "The Sovereign of 14742".

Note that the 'Midnight Vibe Mix' will be the version included on the album.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	JARF Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/04/2022
Key/BPM:	9B/105
Value:	£1

Norman Feels [2022] - Don't / More Love [Soul Direction #SD009]

Nottingham based Soul Direction's latest vinyl 7" release is due next month. It contains two previously unreleased tracks from Norman Feels (aka Norman Solomon).

Norman Feels sang with his brother in The Souvenirs before a solo career in the early 70s releasing three singles (the third was promo only) and two albums on New York label Just Sunshine, a label famed for The Voices Of East Harlem and also recently deceased Betty Davis (one time wife of Miles Davis).

"Don't" appeared on his debut, self-titled album in 1973 but the mix on this new single is different mix which was recorded earlier in 1972 (10 Apr 1972 is noted on the original Sterling Sound Inc. acetate, so almost exactly 50 years old) as was "More Love". It is thought that perhaps these two tracks were recorded for a potential single for another label which didn't materialise.

I feel that "Don't" has a bit of a Marvin Gaye vibe about it, a cross between "Grapevine" and his early 70s material, whilst "More Love" is what I'd describe as a sweet soul ballad / stepper with hints of Smokey Robinson. The original album version of "Don't" is also included below.

Both his highly sought after albums, "Norman Feels" and "Where Or When", were reissued, for the very first time, recently (2020) by Light In The Attic/Tidal Waves on vinyl. 

The single comes with picture cover and sleeve notes on the back and will be available to pre-order from Soul Direction in due course.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Soul Direction
Cat No:	SD009
Date:	05/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£15

John Gary Williams [1974] - The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy / Ask The Lonely [Stax #STA-0205]

With being off for a week and spending the last couple of weeks trying to catch up I have been remiss in posting the weekly Wednesday Ukraine 'anti-war' tune. By sheer coincidence this modern soul gem by ex Mad Lads member John Gary Williams came up on my YouTube feed which seems very appropriate "The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy" which reminded me.

It's taken from his only album which was self-titled and released on Stax in 1973 but did get release as a single with his version of the Four Tops "Ask The Lonely" on the flip side. It was his second solo single of three.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Stax
Cat No:	STA-0205
Date:	1974
Key/BPM:	8A/110 / 3B/73
Value:	£60-£75

Malik Malo & The Notations [2022] - In the Rain [Silent Giant Entertainment]

Malik Malo from Bakersfield, CA, has teamed up with 60s/70s Chicago veterans The Notations on a cover of The Dramatics' 1972 classic "In The Rain" for his latest single released 10 Apr 2022.

The song was written by legendary Detroit writer Tony Hester and released on Stax subsidiary Volt and was The Dramatics biggest hit reaching #1 R&B and #5 Hot 100.

The song doesn't appear to have been covered that many times. One of the first covers was by Arthur Prysock in 1973 and Keith Sweat did a version in 1987. It may surprise you to learn that Birmingham's UB40 covered it in 2018, with an inevitable reggae twist.

Malik has recorded with The Notations previously on a single "Smile Now Cry Later" in 2020 which was posted on a feature on The Notations in Jan 2021.

As generally often the case with Silent Giant, they have produced an accompanying video for the song.

UPDATE: USMAN47's comments led me to dig a bit deeper and I found several other versions (see comments) but the best of the bunch, for me, is probably from 1997 by Xscape from a soundtrack for "Love Jones" (posted below).

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Silent Giant Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/04/2022
Key/BPM:	1A/72
Value:	£1

The Colleagues Feat. Teedra Moses [2022] - 90s Kinda Love [Self Released]

The second single to be pre-released from a forthcoming album "Love Lust Vulnerability" by The Colleagues (due on 6 May), "90s Kinda Love", which features Teedra Moses, was released on Friday (22 Apr 2022).

The Colleagues are a team of producers founded by Karl 'KP' Powell from Tampa, FL, in 2008 and include Ryan Christian, Harrison Johnson and Karl Powell (the last two write this song). The first single "Dive In" was let loose on 8 Apr.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/04/2022
Key/BPM:	9A/90
Value:	£1

Space Ghost Feat. Teddy Bryant [2022] - Heaven Sent [PPU Records]

A three track release from Sudi 'Space Ghost' Wachspress on production and Teddy Bryant on vocals includes "Heaven Sent", "Little Bit Of Love" and "Relax Your Mind".

You may recall a good album last year from singer, composer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Teddy Bryant from Conway, SC, titled "In The Beginning".

Space Ghost is a DJ/producer from Oakland, CA, who has released a dozen or more albums since 2010.

All three tracks are contemporary soul with an old school vibe. This release is also available as a 12" single on vinyl via Bandcamp.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 12"
Label:	PPU Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/04/2022
Value:	£1 / $10.99

The Originals [1975] - California Sunset [Motown #M6-826S1] (Full Album)

Last week, on a quiet day for new releases, I posted a Lamont Dozier produced album by Ben. E. King from 1976 mainly for the title track "Let Me Live In Your Life" which is an album only cut. 

Regular blog reader BlueSky left a comment that it was in fact originally recorded by The Originals on their 1975 "California Sunset" album (again an album only track) also produced by Lamont Dozier. I should have recalled that, as I have the album, but thanks for reminding me. 

He also pointed out that a couple of other tracks also feature on both albums (i.e. "Fifty Years" and "Sweet Rhapsody") and another three tracks from the Ben E. King album are featured on Lawrence Hilton Jacobs 1978 self-titled album which I'll have to try and dig out. Purely coincidentally, another song by The Originals was posted the same day as Ben E. King i.e. "I'm Someone Who Cares".

There are few other nice cuts on the album (including, but not restricted to, "Financial Affair", "Why'd You Lie", "Good Lovin' Is Just A Dime Away"), which was released on the cusp of the birth of  Disco, so here's the full album.

Only one single was released from the album "Good Lovin' Is Just A Dime Away" c/w "Nothing Can Take The Place (Of Your Love)", although it would appear that "Fifty Years" c/w "Financial Affair" was scheduled for release but remained unreleased.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Motown
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital/LP
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	M6-826S1
Date:	1975
Value:	£7.99 / £5-£10 approx.

The Boom Tang Boys Feat. Chin Injeti [1992] - Love Trip (Vocal Mix) [Boomtang #12 BOOM 3]

Whilst researching the last post for Boomtang All-Stars I came across the original mix of their last single "Love Trip" which was released on 12" in 1992 as The Boom Tang Boys.

It was issued as Boomtang All-Stars Feat. Four80East & Chin Injeti last June (also posted below) as a 4:40 edit/new mix of the 1992 7:10 original.

It was also featured on a 1993 CD compilation  "Cool Struttin' Vol. 1"

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	12"
Label:	Boomtang
Cat No:	12 BOOM 3
Date:	1992
Key/BPM:	9B/99
Value:	£2-£4

Jade Novah [2022] - Lost In You [Let There Be Art]

Jade Novah last featured on blog in Feb with the her last single which was the remix of "I Wanna Know" featuring Tarriona "Tank" Ball (Tank and the Bangas).

She's back with a new single "Lost In Love" on 22 Apr 2022.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Let There Be Art
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/04/2022
Key/BPM:	4A/76
Value:	£1

Boomtang All-Stars Feat. Michael Dunston & Four80East [2022] - Soul Revolution (Soul Cruisin' Edit) [Boomtang]

A track played on the UK Soul Chart Breakers show by Andy Tee a couple of weeks ago which was due for release on 15 Apr but doesn't seem to have materialised on DSP's as yet.

I'll stick my neck out and assume that this is in fact a reissue from Michael Dunston's 2010 EP "My Love" as it is the same length and on first impressions sounds the same but I'll post both versions and you can decide as it may be a slightly different mix. 

This time around though it is billed as Boomtang All-Stars featuring Michael Dunston & Four80East and only the "Soul Revolution (Soul Cruisin' Edit)"  has been released which is slightly slower slower and a little more laid back than the main mix.

The modern soulies will know the Boomtang label for the Sean Oliver 1997 floorfiller "You And Me" which was re-issued on vinyl 7" for the first time last year on Paul Mooney's One World.  The full album / 12" version was also posted, so if you don't know it, then 'get to know', you won't be disappointed.

Michael Dunston has been performing since 1969 and has appeared in several movies and sung with many groups including most recently Crack O Dawn, Soul Stew.

Big thanks to Bill Buckley (soulandjazzandfunk) for passing on.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	15/04/2022
Key/BPM:	4B/96
Value:	£1