Sunday, 8 May 2022

The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2022... Part 18 (May 2022 Wk 18) Spotify Playlist

SoulStrutter selections of the best releases this week 
(May 2022 Wk 18)
In no particular order other than tempo. 

Back up to date with a selection of a dozen of the week's best new releases, mainly all from this week but including a few stragglers from last Friday (29 Apr). Now the tough job of choosing this week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week. 

A few tracks I keep coming back to, which is a good indication of those that standout, are the jazz/funk/house instrumental from Luis Radio "Barraka", Gavin Holligan "This Hotel Is Closed" and Morgan Munroe "Mutual". 

I'm going with the last track purely because Gavin Holligan was included in this week's UK Soul Chart Breakers show and as such should attract plenty of attention. As far as I'm aware no one is playing Morgan Munroe on radio yet, but hopefully that will change as this is a great blend of old and new as it samples The Ambassadors "I Really Love You" from 1969.

I forgot to mention the great new single from Color Me Badd "California Dreamin", which sadly may be overlooked just because of who it is, but 'should' be a smash, we'll see!
2022

2021

Playlist:
Lee Wilson & Jennie Laws - Gone (6 May)
Morgan Munroe - Mutual (4 May)
Gavin Holligan - This Hotel Is Closed (6 May)
Raheem DeVaughn Feat. Brendalynn McKinney - Waiting For Your Love (6 May)
Color Me Badd - California Dreamin (5 May)
Raheem DeVaughn Feat. Grenique - Memory Lane (6 May)
Tony Walk - More (6 May)
Renay - Good Without You (29 Apr)
J. Brown - My Queen (6 May)
Daniel Leon - Find A Way (Acoustic Version) (29 Apr)
Tony Walk - Good Vibes Only (6 May)
Luis Radio & Pietro Nicosia - Barraka (Walter G Remix) (29 Apr)
NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full
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The Neo Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2022... Part 8 (May 2022 Wk 18) Spotify Playlist

The SoulStrutter selection of the best Neo Soul releases for:
 Mar 2022 Wk 18 in no particular order.

I'm back up to date, having spent most of April catching up and have included a dozen and a half (62 minutes) this week, most are this week's releases, but a few hangovers from previous week's.

Playlist:
Sabrina Claudio - IOU (6 May)
Shamiya Battles - One Way (5 May)
Mya K - Tipsy (5 May)
Yola - Wateva (4 May)
Sabrina Claudio - Subtle Things (6 May)
Juiicy 2xs - Farewell (6 May)
Nathalie Olsson - Makeover (6 May)
Pip Millett - Downright (5 May)
Soul Nana - Intentions (28 Apr)
DIXSON Feat. Sevyn Streeter - CHERRY SORBET (6 May)
Sabrina Claudio - Impersonator (6 May)
hard.times & Lady Phyl - High with Me (20 Apr)
Ogi - Envy (5 May, released as a single 24 Mar) 
Jessiqa Jones - REHAB? (6 May)
Meadoe Janee - Soar (29 Apr)
Angela Nashed - Star (22 Apr)
Moonchild - What You Wanted (Kiefer Remix) (3 May)
Kenyon Dixon Feat. Gwen Bunn - WYTD (6 May)

2022
NB You must be logged on to Spotify to listen in full
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The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2022... Covers, Reissues, Remixes & Samples Part 8 (May 2022 Wk 18)



SoulStrutter selection for May 2022 Wk 18 of the best non-original songs i.e. cover versions, remixes, reissues, previously unreleased and new songs using samples or new releases with a retro feel. (In no particular order).

This is the first set since mid April as there hasn't been sufficient numbers to fill a dozen but I'll post a summary for April to catch up. Also, this week's has a bit of an overlap with the other playlists but was required to complete the dozen.

Covers: Julius Rodriguez (Stevie Wonder or if being pedantic recorded, but not released  until later, by Tammi Terrell in '66 and Brenda Holloway before Stevie released it in 1980), Raheem Devaughn (Minnie Riperton), Tony Walk (George Benson also a remix), Louie Vega (Cloud One/Patrick Adams) 

Remixes: Daniel Leon, Maurice Joshua & The Whispers, Yooks & Rona Ray

Samples: Supafly (EWF - mash-up of September)


2022

2021

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UK Soul Chart Breakers 7th May 2022 (Week 18)

Here are the latest UK Soul Chart Breakers for 7th May 2022 with links to tracks posted (or to Spotify for those not yet posted). 

You can catch the breakers show each Saturday at 7pm-8pm presented by Andy Tee on Starpoint Radio.
Seq Artist - Title Rel'd Post
1 Captain Sky - Under The N-fluence 05/06  
2 Soul City Connection - Brotherly Love 29/04 01/05
3 Alex Puddu Feat. Simone Miller - Undress My Mind 10/05  
4 Petawane - Music 15/05  
5 CJ's Connection - Just Friends 05/06  
6 Color Me Badd - California Dreamin 05/05 05/05
7 Full Flava ft Hazel Hernandes -
Nature Boy (Michele Chiavarini Lounge Mix) 		   
8 David Bray ft Lorraine Reed - Some Day
(Land Of Extremes LP) 		09/04  
9 Roberta Tola - Sunny Morning (Sunny Party)                      10/05  
10 Roger Hill - Do What You Wanna Do 09/05  
11 Brian Jackson - Little Orphan Boy 06/05  
12 Humphrey - This Is Not A Cover 29/04  
13 Acantha Lang - River Keep Runnin' 10/03 10/03
14 Katherine Timoney - Don't Fret 06/05  
15 Gavin Holligan - This Hotel Is Closed 06/05 10/05

NB tracks in yellow are forthcoming
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Kenyon Dixon [2022] - Closer [Self Released] (Full Album)


From one DIXSON (just posted) to another and an album I've been putting off posting as it is predominantly R&B based, from Kenyon Dixon. He has featured a couple of times previously on the blog in Jan 2022 with  Tiffany Gouché on  "Love On Replay" and Jul 2021 with PJ Morton on  "Escape".

He released a new album, "Closer", on Thursday (5 May 2022). The opening track is titled "Marvin Gaye" but I haven't figured out why, but perhaps because he's used the phrase 'sexual healing' in the lyric? The single "Love On Replay" is included. 

Probably the best track features Gwen Bunn, hot on her success on the Global Soul Chart with "2MANYTHINGS", on "WYTD".

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

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Details
Rating: 7.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / R&B
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 05/05/2022
Value: £11.88
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DIXSON Feat. Sevyn Streeter [2022] - CHERRY SORBET [Roc Nation Records]


After spending years in the background as a producer and vocal arranger, multi-instrumentalist DIXSON (aka Darius Scott), from Atlanta, GA, took part in The Voice in 2016 reaching the top 20 mentored by Pharrell Williams. 

He has a new single "CHERRY SORBET" featuring Sevyn Streeter (Amber Streeter) released on Friday (6 May 2022). I couldn't help noticing that Lennon & McCartney have been added to the writing credits along with DIXSON & Streeter. I assume it must be for a sample used but I don't easily recognise a Beatles song, but the intro is very 60s sounding, so could it be "Here, There And Everywhere" from Revolver (1966)?

Whilst not marked specifically as explicit, I don't think we need to stretch our imagination as to what Cherry Sorbet refers to!

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

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Details
Rating: 7.9
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Roc Nation Records
Cat No: None
Date: 06/05/2022
Key/BPM: 9B/83
Value: £1
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Roz Ryan [2022] - Love Changes / Funky Way To Treat Me [7th Galaxy #SDE64]


Another pair of previously unreleased tracks from Roz Ryan (Rosalyn Bowen), which were discovered on a tape reel from 1980, are due as the next release on Super Disco Edits on their 7th Galaxy imprint. Both sides produced by Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey. 

The top side is a two-stepper "Love Changes" also recorded by O.C. Smith and was the title track of his 1982 debut, and only, Motown album. Curiously the song writing credits of O.C. Smith's South Bay edition, presumably a local release prior to Motown, name Chapman, Drutry & Brown, whilst the Motown and SDE release lists Leroy Crawford and Nelson Pigford. Even more curious is the 7" version on South Bay credits Leroy Crawford and Nelson Pigford whilst the 12" version credits Chapman, Drutry & Brown. A strange and mysterious world this music business!

The flip side is a boogie/funk disco tune "Funky Way To Treat Me".

Roz Ryan is best know and loved in UK rare soul circles for her 1970 outing on Volt "You're My Only Temptation", a crossover song written by Detroit legends Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie and Tony Hester. Apart from now three issues of previously unreleased recordings via Super Disco Edits, she released only one further recording in 1983 "Boy Where Have You Been" as she turned her hand to musical theatre and acting appearing in many Broadway shows, TV series and movies. You can read her bio on her website.

As often the case SDE releases white label promos followed by the official release which is due on 24 Jun 2022 from Super Disco Edits.

Listen HERE
Listen HERE

Details
Rating: 8.3
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Modern Soul
Format: Single
Media: 7"
Label: 7th Galaxy
Cat No: SDE64
Date: 24/06/2022
Key/BPM: N/A
Value: £20
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hard.times & Lady Phyl [2022] - High with Me [Self Released]


hard.times are from Vancouver Island, Canada, who consist of  Matt Aasen (guitar), Rob Elo (keyboards), Steven Taddei (bass), and Jesse McNeill (drums). In their own words they, "play jazzy grooves and make music in three formats: instrumental jazz, lo-fi beats, and neo-soul with vocalist Lady Phyl and have a pretentious predilection to analogue tape-recording".

From what I can gather, they debuted in Apr 2019 with an album "Portland" and have since released another on 1 Apr 2022 "After A Year" along with a four track live EP "Live at The White Room" and "High with Me" is only their second single which features vocalist Lady Phyl (Felicity Baker).

It's been around a couple of weeks, released 20 Apr 2022, and is explicit but I noticed that the version uploaded on their YouTube channel is a clean version.

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

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Details
Rating: 8.4
Explicit: Y
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / Jazz
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 20/04/2022
Key/BPM: 2A/85
Value: £1
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The Intruders [1973] - I'll Always Love My Mama [PIR #KZ 31991]


Today in the US is Mother's Day, whilst the UK celebrated it on 27 March.

Here's an obvious selection from The Intruders with the unexpurgated album version ("Save The Children") of their 1973 Philly classic "I'll Always Love My Mama" written by Gamble & Huff along with McFadden & Whitehead.


Details
Rating: 8.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Philly Soul
Format: Single / Album Track
Media:LP
Label: Philadelphia International Records
Cat No: KZ 31991
Date: 1973
Key/BPM: 12A/120
Value: £-
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Gavin Holligan [2022] - This Hotel Is Closed [Groove Lab Music]


Gavin Holligan is an ex-professional footballer spending three years with West Ham United between 1998-2001. An injury in 2006 ended his footballing career and he pursued his love of music having turned down an opportunity of a scholarship in music to become a pro footballer.

He released "This Hotel Is Closed" as a single yesterday (6 May 2022) from a forthcoming album, and a very good soul jazz tune it is too.

This is definitively a candidate for this week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week.

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

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Details
Rating: 8.6
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Soul Jazz
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 06/05/2022
Key/BPM: 7A/72
Value: £1 / £2.97
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