Soul Strutter: 07/13/22

Wednesday, 13 July 2022

Jaszy Shavers & Tavaras Jordan [2022] - Carolina Soul [Self Released] (Full EP)

Atlanta, GA, singer Jaszy Shavers has featured here several times in the last year with a few singles and her sophomore album "Red Light".

She has a new six track EP "Carolina Soul" in collaboration with Tavaras Jordan out today (13 Jul 2022) and a video for one of the tracks "Everything" premiered on YouTube last Friday.

Tavaras Jordan is a new name on me, he is a producer from Johnsonville, NC, who has five albums to his name since 2019. He co-wrote all the songs with Ms Shavers.

I wouldn't say there is a particular killer cut on the album but it is a solid set of mellow neo soul tunes that needs a few listens to fully appreciate. On first listen "All Good", "What You Want" and the opening and title track "Carolina Soul" all sound good to me, but I'm sure the others will sink in after a few listens.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/07/2022
Price:	£5.94

MasterSwitch [2022] - Loving You Still (Thicke Green Al Mash) [Self Released]

I've no idea why he has chosen the cover sleeve for this as it predominantly uses an acapella version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" for this mash-up. There are a few other bits n pieces in there, some sounding very like Marvin Gaye.

MasterSwitch is a DJ/Remixer from New York and has a few other mash-ups on his Bandcamp channel including two mashed versions of Maze's "Before I Let Go" with Beyonce's 2020 live version, which I think works better than this one, so it's been posted separately.

Details

Rating:	7.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Mash Up
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	02/07/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	$1.75

MasterSwitch [2022] - B4 Letting U Go (Mashed By Switch) [Self Released]

Like the proverbial London bus, no sooner does one turn up then there's another! Having already posted a Maze mash-up of "Twilight" earlier I came across another by New York's DJMasterMix, this time it uses Maze's "Before I Let Go" (1981) and Beyonce's live version, which was a bonus track on "Homecoming: The Live Album" (2020).

It also sounds to me like it has elements of Fatback Band "I Found Loving" in the intro?

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Mash-Up
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	??/07/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	$0.50

Allie Jay [2022] - Release It [Self Released]

Allie Jay (Alyssia Mayheugh) is another new artist who released a debut single "Dis.ap.ear" on 22 May 2022 and follows it today (13 Jul 2022) with "Release It". both songs are self-written and self-released.

It's a neo soul ballad with a retro feel. I thought I may as well also post her debut single which sits firmly in the neo soul category.

She's from Baltimore, MD and, whilst I did track down her website, I'm surprised that I can find no social media presence for her, and there are no links to them on her website.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/07/2022 /22/05/2022
Key/BPM:	12B/83 / 4B/76
Price:	£1

Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly [2022] - Twilight / God Made Me Funky (Shaun G Mix) [Self Released]

Another Shaun G(allagher) 'mash-up' this time using a tune from a Maze B side, "Twilight", that crossed over into the UK club scene in the mid 80s and was huge. The spoken parts are from Orange Muse's "Keep The Funk Alive" (2003), presumably CB's Spoken Mix.

It was the flip side to "Too Many Games" in 1985 and not really what you'd typically expect from Frankie Beverly's crew but it took off, possibly influenced by Harold Faltermeyer's synth instrumental Axel F ... as that what it reminds me of.

It was the group's only UK Top 40 single reaching #38 credited as "Too Many Games" but I'm sure many bought it for the flip side.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	80s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	02/07/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Howard Johnson [2022] - You're My Star [Six Nine Records # NP 37]

Posted a month ago from a Six Nine Records promo is a new single "You're A Star" from 80s veteran Howard Johnson which also has a Remix included. It is scheduled for a vinyl release but it has now been released digitally on 4 Jul 2022. The song was written by Leon Sylvers III and will be Johnson's fifth release for the label who consider him as their founding father.

Johnson is from Miami and got his start after being spotted singing in local clubs by Sandy Torana (guitarist/producer for Commodores, Phyllis Hyman) who was looking for a lead singer for a group he was putting together called Niteflyte. Torano was previously in a group named Tornador who released an album and three singles on Polydor in 1977. Niteflyte would release two albums (both self-titled) on Ariola in 1979 and 1981 and around four singles. Phyliss Hyman and Hamish Stuart (Average White Band) sang backing vocals on their first album. Stuart also played guitar.

After the release of the second Niteflyte album Johnson left for a solo career and hit with his first solo recording "So Fine" and had another four R&B chart entries between 1982-85. He is best known in UK for his second single "Keeping Love New" which came out in the UK with "So Fine" as the flip (both written by Kashif) which reached #45 on UK pop chart along with "Stand Up" in 1985 which got to #91.

Johnson continues to record and released his eight solo album "Jet Black Casinova" in 2018.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Six Nine Records
Cat No:	NP 37
Date:	04/07/2022
Key/BPM:	6B/101 / 6B/101
Price:	£1.79

Grady Tate [2022] - Lady Love / Moondance [Expansion #7DOS7]

Grady Tate (14 Jan 1932 – 8 Oct 2017) was an pioneering jazz and soul-jazz drummer and baritone vocalist born in Durham, NC who moved to NYC in 1963 to become the drummer for Quincy Jones.

He has played with many of the jazz greats including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Jimmy Smith, Astrud Gilberto, Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, Cal Tjader, Wes Montgomery, Eddie Harris and many others. He was Creed Taylor's session drummer of choice .

Discogs lists 37 albums that he has featured on with around thirteen of them solo albums between 1965-2018.

In 1974 he released a promo only single on Janus with a cover of Jon Lucien's "Lady Love" (Rashida 1973) along with "Morning In Your Eyes". Neither of which have featured on any of his albums so the only way to acquire them is via the original Janus promo, until now, as "Lady Love" is being released on 7" vinyl by Ralph Tee's Expansion Records.

Rather than the original promo flip, Expansion has gone with another cover, Van Morrison's "Moondance" (1970) which Tate recorded on his 1974 album "Movin' Day".

It is due for release in late August 2022 with pre-orders being taken via Simply Soul now.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	7DOS7
Date:	??/08/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£13

Felton Pilate [2022] - Here's What I'd Do For You [Jerningham Entertainment Group]

Felton Pilate (Felton C. Pilate II 5 Nov 1952) is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, trumpet, trombone) and record producer. He is perhaps best known as a member of the 70s/80s group Con Funk Shun, but he also produced MC Hammer from 1986-95.

He has released a single "Here's What I'd Do For You" on 9 Jul which is a sweet soul love ballad with a bit of added sax appeal.

He was born in Jackson, MS but as his father was a naval physician he moved around with the military until settling in Vallejo, CA.

Whilst still in high school he formed a band and performed locally. Michael Cooper asked Pilate to join his band during their final high school years and Project Soul was formed. They toured with The Soul Children and eventually relocated to Memphis, TN. They were offered a record deal and asked to change their name and Con Funk Shun was born who would record around sixteen albums between 1985 along with 26 singles entering R&B chart with 4 in Hot 100 and another 4 bubbling under.

Con Funk Shun's, Cooper and Pilate written, song "Love's Train", was recently covered by Silk Sonic. It came from their "To The Max" (1982) album and was only released as a B side to "I'm Leaving Baby" three years later in 1985.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jerningham Entertainment Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/07/2022
Key/BPM:	7A/88
Price:	£1

Court Lueven [2022] - Me Go [ A Beautiful Venture Entertainment]

Court Lueven (Courtney Luevenia Wade) from Dallas, TX, released her second single "Me Go" last Friday (8 Jul 2020) which follows her debut "Stay Around" last August.

At the time of writing it is #1 on Amazon UK Hot New Releases. It's pleasant enough but don't think it's gonna set the world alight. In fact I didn't post it on Friday as I felt there was better material around but as it's #1 on Amazon many must seem to like it.

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

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	A Beautiful Venture Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/07/2022
Key/BPM:	12A/87
Price:	£1