Monday, 16 May 2022

Pearl Dowell [1970] - It's All Over / Good Things [Numero Group/Saadia #0916]


A reissue of a rare soul single originally released in 1970 by Pearl Dowell "It's All Over" / "Good Things" appeared on Amazon on 12 May 2022.  

You will probably recognise the backing track of "It's All Over" immediately as "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face" originally recorded by Justine 'Baby' Washington in 1963 and covered many times (e.g. Aretha Franklin, Madeline Bell, The Monticellos etc.). In fact I did a feature on it some time ago on a version by Madeline Bell.

Writers credits on this recording go to, Miami based, Saadia label owner Frank Williams who produced it with Willie 'Beaver' Hale (aka Little Beaver). However, the original writers were James Wesley Voight (aka Chip Taylor) and Jerry Ragovoy so I'm not sure how they got way with that one? 

Note that on the original label her name is (mis)spelt(?) Dowdell not Dowell on the "It's All Over" side and original copies have sold for up to £685 on Discogs. It appears to be a one-off release for Pearl Dowell unless of course this was an alias and she recorded using another name.

The other side, "Good Things" is more of a late 60s/70s crossover/sister funk tune that are becoming more en vogue on the Northern Soul scene.

Whilst digging around I noticed that both sides were also released digitally by Numero Group on "Eccentric Soul: The Saadia Label31 Mar 2017. It also came out as part of a box set of 7" singles "Good Things - The Story Of Saadia Records" by Jazzman in 2006 which curiously isn't listed on Discogs. One, other or both have also appeared on various compilations over the years. For us anoraks it was also released on an orange Saadia label which I would guess from the values may be a re-press?


Details
Rating: 8.2
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Crossover
Format: Single
Media: Digital / 7"
Label: Numero Group / Saadia
Cat No: None / 0916
Date: 22/05/2022 / 1970
Key/BPM: 8A/102 / 8A/140
Value: £1.79 / £500-£685 approx.

Elaine Hudson [2022] - Black Alabama Blues [Self Released] (Full EP)


Don't let the title "Black Alabama Bluesput you off this EP from Elaine Hudson if you're expecting 'hard line' blues as, apart from the opening title track and the closing track "Nasty Girl" (which is bluesy funk), these are more, what I'd describe as, southern soul.

Unfortunately they are not available as yet on Spotify but I did manage to find the whole EP on YouTube. I'll post the best of the batch which are "Never Had A Love So Good" and "Ready Or Not", and a link to the full EP on YouTube if you wish to explore further. 

Whilst searching to see if the EP was available on Spotify I noticed that two of the tracks ("Hang On In There" and "Nasty Gil"( were released in 2018 on an EP "Hang On In There" and the title track also as a single that year as Elaine Hudson Campbell. Also, I wonder if she's the same artist who released an album and a few singles in 1990?

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.


Details
Rating: 7.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Southern Soul
Format: EP
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 15/05/2022
Price: £4.95

Billy Butler Feat. Jadea [2022] - You Just Don't Understand [JettMusic]


Back in March four tracks credited to Billy Butler were released together by JettMusic which contained new versions of songs released by Jay Player, Allan Harris and Crosswind. Another has been released yesterday with two versions of a song titled "You Just Don't Understand" which is credited to William Butler. I can't find any trace of a song on BMI with that name attributed to him so assume that it must be a previously unreleased song unless you know differently?

It sounds like a contemporary song rather than something retro from the vaults and the vocals are female and belong to a singer called Jadea.

NOTE: As stated in the previous post it's not the Chicago Billy Butler who is brother to Jerry Butler but another Billy (William) Butler from Baltimore who was a member of the 70s group The Optimistics on Turbo  who evolved into The Inclinations on Janus.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.


Details
Rating: 8.4
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: JettMusic
Cat No: None
Date: 15/05/2022
Key/BPM: 3B/112
Price: £1.98

Devon Howard [2022] - Your Love Is [Self Released] OUT NOW!


Devon Howard has had recent success with several remixes of "Forever & Always". He has a new single "Your Love Is" (posted from promo last week) out today (6 May 2022) which is from a forthcoming album "Morning Son". 

Devon is a singer/songwriter from Baltimore, MD, who grew up listening to his father's record collection which consisted of the likes of The Manhattans, Stylistics and Commodores. He was a member of several groups including Me-2-U who released a self-titled album on RCA in 1993 and subsequently three singles from it. He was known then as DeVaughn Howard.

His debut solo project "DH" was released in 2008 followed by "Return To Love" in 2015, therefore, "Morning Son" will be his third solo album.

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

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Details
Rating: 8.4
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 16/05/2022
Key/BPM: 10A/105
Value: £1

UK Soul Chart 16th May 2022 (Week 19)

16th May 2022

The new UK Soul Chart for 16th May 2022. 

Summary: There are 9 risers, 12 fallers, 5 non-movers, 4 new entries

New Entries:  Melba Moore, PJ Morton, Nigel Lowis Presents Soul City Connection, James Aaron

Highest Risers: Kim Tibbs, (+18), Dome 30 Years Vol. 1 (+6), Samuel Archer (+5)

Biggest Fallers: Rodney Shelton (-12), David Morales (-10), Down to Earth, Output/Input (-7)

Losers: Joe Leavy, Laura Rain & The Caesars, Time 2 B, Crutchfield Jones

PosLastChgArtist - Title
12+1Diane Marsh - Invade My Space LP
28+6VA - Dome 30 Years Vol. 1 LP
330Meli'sa Morgan - Footprints Of An Angel
440The Terry Green Project Feat. Randy Hall -
Turnt Up Tonight
57+2Lukas Setto - Best Part Of Me
61-5The Groove Association ft Georgie B -
Living The Good Life
76-1Regi Myrix Presents Michelle Brooks-Thompson -
Then I Met You
8  Melba Moore - Take Her Picture Down (Imagine LP)
92-7Output/Input ft Audrey Wheeler Downing & Brent Carter -
Here We Go Again
1028+18Kim Tibbs - Where Would I Be Without You
11  PJ Morton - Watch The Sun LP
12  Nigel Lowis Presents Soul City Connection - Brotherly Love   
135-8Shaila Prospere - Emotions
1416+2Raja-Nee' - Rolling At Midnight
1514-1Ashley Scott - Together (The Lovers Remix)
1615-1Soul Messengers Feat. Steve Lee - Sweet Soul Music
1713-4STR4TA - When You Call Me
1811-7Down To Earth - You Keep Loving Me
1922+3JDs Time Machine - Speak Love / Young Hearts
20200Dave Lee & Omar - Starlight
21210EKO - What's Deep In A Man
2212-10David Morales - Never Looking Back (Mixes) /
Life Is A Song LP
2325+2The Soultrend Orchestra - Live For Funk LP
2426+2David Morales Feat. Iossa - Why Me (Cevin Fisher Mix)
2530+5Samuel Archer - Soul Music Vineyard LP
26  James Aaron - Chosen (Made In Jupiter LP)
2724-3Royalty Duo - Marriage LP
2823-5Joanna Cooke - Like A Lover
29290Robert IMtume Owens - Don't Give Up
3018-12Rodney Shelton ft Dalia Reid & Terry Phillips - Going Down

Roszunn [2022] - Tonight [Nnuzsor Enterprise]


Released last week (6 May 2022) is the latest single from Roszunn (Ezra Roszunn Williams) "Tonight" which is currently topping the Amazon Hot New Releases as this is written. Played both as a breaker and on the New Music Hour by Franklin Sinclair on Global Soul at the weekend.

Roszunn is from Pinson, AL and debuted in 2011 with a single "Come Home With Me" followed by an album "I Am Rhythm And Blues" the same year. Since then he's gone on to release a further three albums: "S.O.U.L. (Signs Of Unconditional Love)" (2013), "Starlight" (2015) and "URBAN" (2017) and an EP "Just Call Me Phat" (2019).

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

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Details
Rating: 8.2
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Nnuzsor Enterprise
Cat No: None
Date: 06/05/2022
Key/BPM: 4A/80
Value: £1

DJ Kool Keith [2022-05-15] - Soulful Slow Jams [Soul Groove Radio]


Another smattering of soulful slow jams across all the decades from the 60s right up to date, excluding 2010s so Keith must try harder next time!

How good does the 1994 Chante Moore tune still sound after almost 30 years? Still sounds fresh to these old ears.

Listen to all DJ Kool Keith podcasts at Podomatic.


Playlist:
Melba Moore  - Take Me Away [2022]
Michon Young  - Cause I Love You  [2022]
E.J. & The Echoes - Put A Smile On Your Face [1967]
J.Gabrielle - Worth [2022]
Ronnie Dyson feat. Vicki Austin - Are We So Far Apart (We Can't Talk Anymore) (12" Mix) [1991]
The Moments - I've Got To Keep On Loving You [1970]
Nelson Sanders - I Hold The Key [1970]
Chante Moore - Old School Lovin' [1994]
Color Me Badd - California Dreamin' [2022]
Smokey Robinson - Love Is The Light [1990]
Pierre Anthony - Remember [2022]
Gary Taylor - Hold Me Accountable [1993]
Raheem Devaughn - Waiting For Your Love (feat. Brendalynn McKinney) [2022]
Windy City - Win Or Lose [1977]
Thee Sacred Souls - Trade Of Hearts [2022]
Uptights Band - Mirrors Don't Ever Lie  [1976]
Petawane - Music  [2022]
The Velvet Touch  - Don't Let Me Down [1989]
Walter Jackson - I Won't Remember Ever Loving You [1978]
Ray, Goodman & Brown - You Turned My World Around [1982]
Blue Magic - It's Like Magic [1989]
The Ethics - Not Enough Love [2003]
Eddie Kendricks - Never Gonna Leave You [1976]
Mac Band feat. The McCampbell Brothers - Girl Your Love's So Fine [1988]
Nicole  - Desire [1988]
Crosstown Express - Let Me Try [1977]
Vesta Williams - Person To Person [1991]
The True Reflection - Helpless Man [1973]

The SWR Band & Ona Onabule [2022] - Soul Encounter [SWR Music]


Having already posted a promo of "Soul Town" last week, the full album "Soul Encounter" by The SWR Big Band & Ona Onabule slipped out on Friday (13 May 2022).

Apart from the obvious choice, "Soul Town", the other choice cuts are "Be A Man",  "The Meaning Of Love" along with "Let Love Alone" (released as a single in March) and "Where The Past Goes".

What an incredible and classy voice Ola Onabule has, which reminds me of shades of the great Johnny Mathis in places! An impressive and classy set indeed.

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

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Details
Rating: 8.7
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Soul Jazz
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: SWR Music
Cat No: None
Date: 13/05/2022
Value: £7.49

Marvin Gaye [1976] - I Want You - cover art sells for $15.3m


A painting by Ernie Barnes depicting a group of black dancers at the Durham Armory in North Carolina in the 50s named "The Sugar Shack", and used for Marvin Gaye's 1976 album "I Want You", has just sold for $15.3m at Christie's auction on Thu 12 May sailing past the estimated guide price of $150k-£200k.

Contrary to rumour the buyer wasn't Global Soul's Franklin Sinclair it was a Houston based energy trader Bill Perkins.


Archie Bell & The Drells [2022] - The Philadelphia Re​-​edit Sessions [Simpson Uniquity] (Full Album)


The next installment of the Paul Simpson's Philadelphia Re-Edit Sessions is a set from Archie Bell & The Drells. Whilst famously from Houston, evident from their line 'Hi everybody I'm Archie Bell and the Drells from Houston Texas' in their first and iconic hit "Tighten Up" from 1968, they recorded for Gamble & Huff's TSOP and then Philadelphia International Records from 1975 to 1979 and the tracks featured are from that period. 

A few highlights include one of their very best "Where Will You Go After The Party Is Over", which is pure Philly magic, along with one of their biggest UK hits "The Soul City Walk" (#13 1976), "Let's Groove", "Everybody Have A Good Time" and a few modern soul spins such as "Old People", "It's Hard Not To Like You" and plenty more.

A real highlight is the re-edit of "Hard Not To Like You" where he's blended Melba Moore's 1978 ("Melba") version with Archie Bell's from 1977. 

Grab it while you can as like all the others these are only available for two weeks and then they're gone! Available only via Bandcamp.

Track List:

01 - Let's groove (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 06:31
02 - The soul city walk (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:07
03 - Everybody have a good time (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 06:58
04 - Dance your troubles away (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 06:08
05 - Don't let love get you down (Paul Simpson Re-edit2) 07:02
06 - Where will you go when the party's over (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:43
07 - It's hard not to like you (Paul Simpson Re-edit4) 07:55
08 - Old people (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:29
09 - Disco showdown (Paul Simpson Re-edit2) 05:04
10 - Let's go disco (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:46
11 - I could dance all night (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 03:33
12 - Show me how to dance (Paul Simpson Re-edit2) 05:17
13 - Real good feeling (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:11
14 - We've got something (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:32
15 - I can't get enough of your love (Paul Simpson Re-edit3) 06:34
16 - Nothing comes easy (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:18
17 - Glad you could make it (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:34
18 - I bet I can do that dance you're doin' (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 02:57
19 - Strategy (Paul Simpson Jam Reprise) 03:23
20 - It's hard not to like you (Paul Simpson Duet Re-edit with Melba Moore) 04:53


Details
Rating: 9
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Philly Soul
Format: Album
Media: Digital
Label: Simpson Uniquity
Cat No: None
Date: 16/05/2022
Value: £9.99