Soul Strutter: 06/08/22

Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Eboney Essence [2022] - Unsatisfied Man b/w Let Me In [Goodie Train / Numero Group #NUM5678]

These two sides by Eboney Essence have featured on the blog previously in Apr 2020 when they were posted alongside Jean Battle's original 1971 version of the two songs both written by Sam Dees (and may have been mentioned in the comprehensive five part Sam Dees feature done at he end of 2021).

Today (8 Jun 2022), both sides, "Unsatisfied Man" and "Let Me In", have been reissued digitally by Numero Group.

They were both originally on Jean Battle's 1971 debut single on Birmingham, AL, label Clintone (named after owner Clinton Moon) and Ebony Essence recorded them in 1976. Battle only recorded one other single the following year on Red Lite which again were both Sam Dees compositions. One side was an answer song to Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" i.e. "When A Woman Loves A Man".

As far as Eboney Essence is concerned this is their only listed single. "Unsatisfied Man" is a male answer to Jean Battles' version, however, the lead vocals on the flip side "Let Me In", I believe are by Frances Busby. She released quite a nice album in 2001 "Far Away From You" and a couple of singles in 2013 and 2014. The Eboney Essence single was released on Cleo Page's Goodie Train label based in L.A.

Barbara Stant also recorded "Unsatisfied Woman" on Noah Biggs' Shiptown label in 1972 and curiously Discogs lists the same catalogue number with Jean Battle's name on the label for this track and Barbara Stant for the B side so presumably a label misprint?

Jean Battle died after a long battle with breast cancer in Apr 2015.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul / Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM5678
Date:	08/06/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1.79

Steve Aggasild [2022-06-06] - SoulAndJazzFlavas [Soul Grove Radio]

This week's Soul & Jazz Flavas show from 'The Soul Master' Steve Aggasild on Soul Groove Radio 6th Jun 2022. Unfortunately due to a technical hitch no podcast is available for this week's show.

Steve does two shows on Soul Groove Radio: Mon 18:00-20:00 (BST) and Thu 14:00-16:00 (BST). In the first hour he delves into his music library for oldies ending with three slow jams and the second hour is dedicated to new releases.

Playlist:

1st Hour

01 - Diplomats Of Soul - Brighter Tomorrow feat Incognito & Imaani (2015 Expansion 12'')

02 - Montell Jordan - Get It On Tonite (1999 Get It On Tonite)

03 - Mary J Blige - Be Happy (94 MCA CD My Life)

04 - Jaheim - Put That Woman First (2002 Still Ghetto)

05 - Act of Faith - All Over Now (96 Expansion CD Release Yourself)

06 - Jamiroquai - Smile (2011)

07 - Fifth Of Heaven - Just A Little More feat Denise Johnson (89)

08 - Kiss The Sky - Living For You feat Jaki Graham (90 UK Fast Forward Records 12" 92 Motown LP Kiss The Sky)

09 - Ericka Yancey - So Good (1997)

Slow Jams

10 - Lin Rountree feat Jessica Jolia - Something More (2018 Stronger Still)

11 - Oli Silk - U Bring Me Joy feat Elle Cato (2020 '6')

12 - Ben Tankard - Smooth Sunday feat 1LV (2018 Rise)

2nd Hour

01 - Blair Bryant feat Beth Griffith-Manley - Kiss of Life (2022)

02 - The Degrees - Nothing Else feat Isha Campbell and Charlie Bierman (2022)

03 - Jully Black - Half Empty (2022)

04 - MS1 Project feat J Daphaney - Set It Off (2022)

05 - Desmond Parson - Possibly (2022 EP Resolution)

06 - Juanita Wynn - Make It Right (String Intro) (2022)

07 - Tank and The Bangas - Stolen Fruit (2022 Red Balloon)

08 - Tank and The Bangas - Cafe Du Monde (2022 Red Balloon)

09 - PJ Morton feat Jill Scott & Alex Isley - Still Believe (2022 Watch The Sun)

10 - Raheem DeVaughn - Waiting For Your Love feat Brendalynn McKinney (2022 Raheem DeVaughn Presents From Lust Till Dawn LP)

11 - Bobby Sparks II - Forever Mine feat Donessa Perry (2022 Paranoia)

12 - Nelly Moar - Rather Be Alone (2022 EP Nelly Moar) - Bergen, Norway

13 - Michon Young - Gonna Make Sure (2022 Love Life Experiences Vol 3 - Conversation Piece)

14 - Blue Soul Ten - I'm Afraid I Might (2022 This Is Worth It)

15 - Output-Input - I'm In Love feat Antonio McLendon (2022)

Shaun Escoffery [2022] - Set Me Free [Dome #601D]

Shaun Escoffery is a British singer/actor who debuted with a single "Got To Find Me A Love" in 1996 (which sounds to me like it may have elements of Gap Band's "Outstanding" within it and is well worth reactivation!).

His first hit was with "Space Rider" in 2001 which reached #52 on UK pop chart followed in 2002 with "Days Like This" which got to #53 (videos for both included below). To date he's released six albums, the latest being "Strong Enough" in 2020, his third album for Dome.

Next Friday (17 Jun 2022), he has a new single "Set Me Free" which, apart from featuring on a few remixes, will be his first since "Forgotten Man" in 2020 from "Strong Enough". It think it may also feature on the second volume of Dome's 30 Years compilation due for release later this month.

He's appeared in several West End theatre productions including as Mufasa in The Lion King, Les Misérables, Smokey Joe's Café, Tommy and Mama I Want to Sing. In 2007 he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his work in the stage musical Parade.

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dome
Cat No:	601D
Date:	17/06/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Patrick McLean Feat. Deborah Bell [2022] - Look Where You're Going (The Remixes) [Expansion]

I received this a few weeks ago and have somehow omitted to post it so here it is. It was released on 20 May 2022 and is a set of three remixes of Patrick McLean's "Look Where You're Going" featuring Deborah Bell. The original mix was officially released by Expansion on 11 Feb but was available on Bandcamp a couple of weeks earlier on 27 Jan.

There is a Paul McLean Remix, an Extended Mix (5:12 v 3:38 on original) and an Instrumental.

Patrick McLean is one of the Brit-Funk pioneers and was a member (saxophonist) of Hi-Tension along with his brother Paul, David Joseph, Phil Fearon (Kandidate and Galaxy) and Courtney Pine who all went on to solo careers, along with several other members.

The group had two UK Top 10 pop hits with "Hi-Tension" and "British Hustle" in 1978 and another that made the top 100 later in 1984 "Rat Race".

Paul McLean reformed the group in 2014 with Patrick and original members Paul Philips, Jeffrey Guishard and Paapa Mensah.

Patrick has released a full album and several solo singles since 2015.

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	None
Date:	20/05/2022
Key/BPM:	6B/120 / 7B/120 / 7B/120
Price:	£2.97

DJ Kool Keith [2022-06-05] - Souful Vibes [In2Beats]

Here's a podcast of a cover show that DJ Kool Keith did for DJ Phoenix on In2Beats on Sunday evening (5 Jun 2022). That means he did a five hour shift on Sunday on two stations and in fact he did an additional 33 minutes overtime as the poddy is 3:33. Now that's dedication as a five hours of air-time is a lot of additional time preparation!

It's more of a contemporary show that his Soulful Slow Vibes with all new and recent releases/reissues.

Catch up with his podcasts HERE or listen/download from on Podomatic.

Playlist:

Patrick McLean feat. Deborah Bell - Look Where You're Going (Paul McLean Remix)

Claudia Campagnol - Do You Love Me (Dance Edit)

Swade - Fake

Ben Macklin and Le Flex - Twilight

CatchTwentyTwo - U Fill My Void

Uncle Wayne feat. Sweet Nay - Night Time Love

Jimmy Brown (Brick) & Curtis Reynolds (Ripple) - No Love Like Yours

Elias - Don't Stop

Lehla Samia - Call On Me

Mantis - When I Feel How You Love Me

Rita B - Party

Binky Womack - Anywhere

Ty Renee - Last Night

Swade - Close To The People Your Love

Blue Soul Ten - This Is Worth It (feat. Dennis Lorenzo)

Caro B. feat. Brooklyn B - You Can Be My Boo (Radio Edit)

Swade - When Your Love Is Real

Diane Marsh - Invade My Space

Diane Marsh - I'm Taken (I'm Spoken For)

Reva DeVito & Kartell - Dreamer

Jay Lamont - Celebrate

Terri Green - Caught Up

Duktus feat. Maya Killtron - So Natural

Kiara Lanier - It Gets Better

Corey Ronell - Feels

Le Flex - I've Been Missing You

The Ray Alexander Technique - Taking The Long Way Home

Clyde Anthony - Can I Do You Babe

No One But Me & One Universe - Never Ever

Kadeem Tyrell - I Want You

Alana - Give You Up

US - T'boo (Trackstar$ Remix)

Dayton James - Colour Me In

Josiah Taylor - Vintage Romance (Gedi Edit)

Space Ghost feat. Teddy Bryant - Little Bit Of Love

Anwar Marshall - Cold

Mary J. Blige - Tough Love (Gedi Edit)

Ley Vara - Touch

Que Derry - What's The Difference (Gedi Clean Edit #2)

Michon Young - Say What You Mean

Umi - Everything Will Be Alright

Chubby Tavares - If It's Written In The Stars

Ripple - Maybe It's You

Geovarn - Come Thru

Chris Jasper - I Promise

Roz Ryan - Love Changes

Franc Moody - I'm In A Funk

MS1 Project feat. J. Daphaney - Set It Off

Rockwell Hallman - Promise

Outer Stace - Stay (Gedi Clean Edit)

Ravyn Lenae - Where I’m From (feat. Mereba)

Nelly Moar - Rather Be Alone

Rockwell Hallman - Smoove (feat. Shamyra)

Kenyon Dixon, Tiffany Gouche - Love On Replay

Shai Monique - Afterparty

Captain Sky [2022] - Under tha n-Fluence [Creative Conceptz Entertainment]

Captain Sky is the alter-ego of Daryl L. Cameron who is a veteran P-funk musician from Chicago who has been active since 1978 releasing four albums between 1978-89. He was name checked by Sugarhill Gang in "Rappers Delight".

He has a new project in the pipeline "All Of The Above" which will be new material and some of his takes on some classics. The lead track from it is "Under tha n-Fluence" released on 6 Jun 2022.

His biggest hit was "Wonder Worm" from Dec 1978 which was his debut single from his debut album "The Adventures Of Captain Sky". There is some vintage footage of an appearance on the legendary Soul Train when he would have been 21. If you watch to the end there is a short interview with presenter Don Cornelius.

Another track from the album, "Super Sporm", has been sampled several times by Public Enemy ("You're Gonna Get Yours") and Salt-N-Pepa "Shoop". When you listen to the breaks in it you can begin to understand why the hip-hoppers have latched onto it! Apart from the album, it appears to have only been released on a white label, single sided, Dynamic Sounds 12" in Jamaica (the orange labeled one is a bootleg) and never a 7" as it's almost 12 minutes long.

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Creative Conceptz Enetrtainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	06/06/2022
Key/BPM:	11A/122
Price:	£1

Mica Millar [2022] - Heaven Knows [Golden Hour Music] (Full Album) Due 10 Jun

Regular blog readers will be aware of an emerging talent from Manchester in the form of Mica Millar whose career was curtailed after debuting in 2017 by an accident in 2020 in which she damaged her spinal chord almost resulting in paralysis. This delayed her debut album "Heaven Knows" which is set for release this Friday (10 Jun 2022) so thankfully she is making a recovery.

Four tracks from it have been released as singles, her debut single "My Lover" from 2017 followed by three this year "Preacher Man" (Jan), "Girl" (Mar) and "Heaven Knows" (Apr). (videos for each included below).

Our good friend Bill Buckley over at SoulAndJazzAndFunk has forwarded an interview he conducted with her recently which he has posted this morning.

The album has been uploaded to Bandcamp prior to release on Friday with the singles available to listen to now and the remaining tracks going live on Friday. It is also available on limited edition, signed, vinyl from Bandcamp and will, of course, also be available on all the major platforms on Friday.

I've had the privilege of hearing the full album and can wholeheartedly recommend it. It's a bit tough, and a bit churlish, attempting to choose a standout but if pushed then "More Than You Give Me" would probably be my favourite cut notwithstanding the previous singles.

Mica will be performing live at London's Jazz Cafe on 17 Sep 2022 followed by an appearance in her home town at Albert Hall, Manchester on 25 Sep 2022. (as well as links on venues above, tickets are also available here: Skiddle)

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / Vinyl LP
Label:	Golden Hour Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/06/2022
Price:	£12.50 / £35