Soul Strutter: 08/10/22

Wednesday, 10 August 2022

Dione Bullard [2022] - Here's To Life [Self Released] OUT TODAY

Posted just over a week ago from promo is the debut single from Edward Chef Dione Bullard which is released today (10 Aug 2022). It's a cover of a song "Here's To Life" written by Artie Butler and Phyllis Molinary first recorded by Shirley Horn in 1992 as the title track to an album of the same name.

I can't find any other recordings from him but with such a classy voice surely he can't be a newcomer, perhaps he used a different name? I discovered from his facebook page that he is from L.A. and turned 48 on 30 Jun 2022.

I've requested some information and am told that he is working on his bio, so watch this space.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/08/2022
Key/BPM:	10A/85
Price:	£1

dex. Feat. Shacir [2022] - deadeye [Self Released]

This single released today by dex. feat. Shacir, "deadeye" would appear to be a debut release. Nothing is given away on his profile or on songwriter credits so I'm afraid I can tell you nothing about him. However, Shacir has released around five singles since 2021 and dex. featured on his last one "War" released on 5 Aug.

It's not 'earth shattering' but has a quite a nice soulful R&B feel. I've certainly heard far worse already today!

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Details

Rating:	7.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/08/2022
Key/BPM:	10A/63
Price:	£1

Ghostbusterz [2022] - Hangin' On A String [Mastermix Records]

Another producer(s) plundering the 80s, this time the 'victim' is UK trio Loose Ends' biggest hit "Hangin' On A String (Contemplating)" which reached #13 on UK pop chart and #1 US R&B chart (#43 Hot 100) in 1985. I was surprised to discover that they had another three US R&B top 10 hits with "Slow Down" (#1 1986) , "Watching you" (#2 1988) and "Don't Be A Fool" (#10 1990).

Loose Ends was formed in 1980 (as Loose End) by Steve Nichol, who also toured with The Jam (Paul Weller & co.), Jane Eugene and Carl McIntosh. They had seventeen UK pop chart entries with six reaching top 40 and three of those top 20, "Hangin' On A String" (#13 1985), "Magic Touch" (#16 1985) and "Don't Be A Fool" (#13 1990).

Unsurprisingly, as you may expect, I can find no information about Ghostbusterz, but to be honest I didn't spend much time looking as most of their other material is very 'cheesy'! There is a Japanese DJ duo from Tokyo who use the name but I'm not convinced it's the same outfit as they specialise in trance music, but it might be.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	NuDisco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Mastermix Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/08/2022
Key/BPM:	11B/116
Price:	£1

Azuro [2022] - So Easy [Routine Espresso Recordings]

Here's another that will raise the hackles of the Kool one (DJ Kool Keith) which 'uses' Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway's 80s UK soul weekender anthem "Back Together Again" written by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas without any credits being given.

It's by Azuro and he's titled it "So Easy" which he's notched up 12% from the original 111 BPM to 125 BPM.

From what I can ascertain, Azuro is DJ/producer Oscar Schraenkler who was born in London to Norwegian/German parents and learned his DJ skills whilst attending Warwick University, now living and Djing in NYC (Brooklyn). He released his debut single "Prospect" in Nov 2019.

It's due on Amazon on 12 Aug but according to Spotify was released on 29 Jul 2022, go figure?

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Details

Rating:	7.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	NuDisco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Routine Espresso Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/07/2022
Key/BPM:	12A/125 / 12A/111
Price:	£1

DJ Kool Keith [2022-08-08] - Soulful Slow Jams [Soul Radio Coast2Coast]

The first episode of DJ Kool Keith's Soulful Slow Jams show to be broadcast on L.A. station Soul Radio Coast 2 Coast Mon 22:00 PDT (Tue 06:00 BST in UK). The show went out on 8 Aug 2022 in US, 9 Aug UK.

This show format is the same as it was on Soul Groove Radio with 'The Soul Emperor' taking you on a soulful journey across the decades bringing you some hidden gems and also some new releases and reissues.

His Sunday show on Soul Groove Radio has been moved to an earlier time slot between noon and 2pm when he will be playing more upfront and upbeat music with the odd reissue thrown in for good measure.

All DJ Kool Keith podcast are available to listen/download from Podomatic.

Playlist:

Buddy Smith - When You Lose The One You Love [1967]

George Jackson - Aretha, Sing One For Me [1972]

Here And Now - Let's Start Over Again [1993]

Antonio McLendon - How I Feel [2022]

Nicholas Cole feat. Le France - All The Way [2022]

Gloria Scott - All Of The Time, You're On My Mind [2022]

Kings Brothers - Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) [2018]

Rochelle Williams - I Deserve [2020]

Infatuations - Who Is To Blame [1980]

The Chi-Lites - There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At The Conference Table) [1974]

Grace Blackford - Inside My Head [2022]

V. Cartier - Touching [2021]

Vasti Jackson - I'm Still In Love With You [2022]

Vasti Jackson - I'm So Glad (We Are Back Together) [2022]

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

William Bell - Crying All By Myself [1965]

Lee Jones & The Sounds Of Soul - This Heart Is Haunted [1968]

Verne 'VA' Allison - Missin' You (feat. The Dells & Marvin Junior Jr) [2022]

Lynita Renea - LOML (Love Of My Life) [2022]

Lo-Key? - My Desire [1994]

Mario - Never [2002]

Vernon Steve Weakley - Now And Forever [1981]

Jay Nealy - Old School Love Song [2022]

The Fantastic Four - Girl Have Pity [1966]

Bull & The El Capalara's - No Sign Of Sadness [1971]

Patti Labelle - Love, Need And Want You [1983]

Solex - Speak Your Heart [2022]

Midnight Star - Slow Jam [1983]

The Blue Notes - Memories [1977]

Michael Henderson - Take Care [1981]

Indigo Marshall [2022] - Summer Nights [93:00 Records]

Indigo Marshall (Adele Marshall) is a relatively new R&B artist from Birmingham (UK) who has been supported heavily by BBC Introducing and 1Xtra and released her debut single "Emotional" in 2019.

Her last release was her debut (five track) EP "The Fall" (4 Mar 2022) which contained two previous singles "Questions" and "Enough". She has a new single "Summer Nights" out today (10 Aug 2022), and we are in for a few hot summer nights here in the UK over the next few days with temperatures forecast to reach 36C in the south!

I recommend giving this one a few listens as it's a real grower.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	93:00 Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/08/2022
Key/BPM:	12A/66
Price:	£1

The Northern Soul of The Impressions (A Tribute to Sam Gooden R.I.P.)

As alluded to yesterday in the sad tribute to Lamont Dozier, I've been sifting through The Impressions catalogue to bring you a playlist in tribute of founding member Sam Gooden who died last week.

It is impossible to put them all in just one playlist, such is the breadth and depth of their music, so I've split them up and the first one represents their more upbeat material, many of which have graced the dancefloors on the Northern Soul scene over the years, some from the very early days.

They are in no particular order other than chronology.

Michael Dunston [2022] - So Sensitive [D-Menace Music]

A new single from Michael Dunston,"So Sensitive", has been out almost a month (since 15 Jul 2022) but has just appeared on Amazon (UK) Hot New Releases. He has also posted a live version on his YouTube channel on 3 Aug (see below).

Michael Dunston is originally from Charlotte, NC, but has been resident in Toronto for many years. He has been performing since 1969 and has appeared in several movies and TV series (starting out in "Death Wish" (1994)) and sung with many groups including most recently Crack O Dawn and Soul Stew.

He featured on the blog back in April as a featured vocalist with Boomtang All-Stars on "Soul Revolution (Soul Cruisin' Edit)" along with Four80East. I believe that it was simply a reissue of a song he recorded on a 2010 EP "My Love", but may have been a new mix.

I noticed that he featured on a 2016 single by Rhythm Express which is a cover of James Fountain's Northern Soul classic "Seven Day Lover" so have included it below. It's still available on Bandcamp if you're interested.

Fountain's version was originally released on William Bell's Peachtree label in 1970 and was one of the first 'most expensive' NS records, reportedly selling for £50 in the mid 70s (which was about a month's wages in those days), and is still as rare as hen's teeth commanding four figures these days, if you could find one. It was reissued in the UK on short-lived Manchester label Cream to meet demand in 1976.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	D-Menace Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	15/07/2022
Key/BPM:	8A/82
Price:	£1

Brenten J. Rhone [2022] - Love Story [Self Released]

I meant to post this yesterday and title it "Tuesday Torture"! In an endeavour to present the cream of the crop I listen to plenty of garbage when hunting for new material to post but I have to say that this one must take the biscuit. I have never heard anything so dreadful in all my life. Not only is the 'singing' (if you can even call it that) completely out of tune compared to anything on this planet, the whole production is absolutely abysmal, distorted beyond comprehension. These releases should come with a health warning as it's made me homicidal!

Take a look at the track lengths, nothing under 4.5 mins and the total running length of the album is almost 90 minutes! So if you are into a bit of self-flagellation then I recommend this album wholeheartedly!

It's got to be a wind up surely, as they cannot be serious! Sadly, it's not a one-off as he released another equally bad album in 2020.

Consider this a public service announcement so that you can advise anyone to avoid at all costs.

If you have heard anything worse than this then please keep it to yourself for your own safety.

Boney James Feat. Lalah Hathaway [2022] - Coastin' [Concord Records]

The second single to be pre-released from a forthcoming album "Detour" by L.A. jazz saxophonist Boney James (James Oppenheim) due on 23 Sep 2022.

It will be his 18th studio album since his first, "Trust", in 1992 and this year, the four time Grammy nominee, is celebrating 30 years since his debut.

"Bring It Back" feat. Dontae Winslow was released on 15 Jul followed on 5 Aug by "Coastin'" featuring Lalah Hathaway.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Smooth Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Concord Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/08/2022
Key/BPM:	8B/79
Price:	£1