Soul Strutter: 08/31/22

Wednesday, 31 August 2022

Spotify Embedding Issue

Sometime this afternoon Spotify has changed their embedding code. The play button is now on the right and does not seem to want to play!

I have tried this in raw html with the same issue so it is not a Blogger issue. Oddly albums and playlists are not affected it only appears to be a problem with single tracks. I don't know whether this is a temporary glitch owing to their change to code or signs of things to come so will have to try and contact Spotify to find out.

In the meantime to listen to a track, click on the Spotify icon in top right hand corner of the player you will be taken to the Spotify web application and can play the track.

UPDATE: I've been on to Spotify and the issue isn't resolved yet ... however it must be an issue with Google Chrome as it works in MS Edge and Tor Browsers and Chrome Incognito Mode. So I suggest trying one of those until Spotify resolve the issue!

It only seems to be an issue with single tracks .. albums and playlists still work fine!

UPDATE 2: I have spent several hours on chat with Spotify and thus far no resolution has been found. So I am very sorry but until they fix whatever they have 'broken' by changing their embed interface I can only suggest using Edge or Chrome in incognito mode until the issue is rectified. Believe me I will keep on at them until it is! In the meantime I will post from YouTube wherever possible moving forward.

Sunnie [2022 ] - Take Me High [Soultronica]

Sunnie Allen is from Willingboro, NJ, and released her latest single "Take Me High" on Friday (26 Aug 2022). She has around another eight singles going back to 2020.

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/08/2022
Key/BPM:	1A/78
Price:	£1

Shamba Feat. Luke Bar$ [2022] - Green Light (Remix) [Kalombo Records]

Shamba Hadiah is an Atlanta, GA, based artist originally from New Jersey. Her mother was a Def Jam recording artist and father a DJ, so music is in her blood. She debuted in 2018 and has two albums and around twenty singles to her name already.

In July she released "Green Light" and has just released a remix featuring Luke Bar$ on 25 Aug 2022.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	Y
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/08/2022
Key/BPM:	7B/60
Price:	£1

Outer Stace [2022] - Won't Do [Exotic Mob Music] (Full EP)

Outer Stace is Stacey Angela from San Leandro, CA (Bay Area) released her third single "Stay" on 20 Apr 2022 which followed "Won't Do" (17 May 2022) her first single "Tonight" (31 May 2019).

The last two singles feature on her debut four track EP "Won't Do" released last Friday (26 Aug 2022).

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	Y ALL
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Exotic Mob Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/08/2022
Price:	£3.49

Sammy Acuña [1982] - I Never Found A Girl [Sly #KA-111051 /New Wave #SA0003]

As alluded to in the last post for The Ad-Libs, another track from the forthcomimg compilation "With Love: Vol. 1 (Compiled by Miche)" (due 23 Sep 2022) is a one-off by Sammy Acuña.

It's excellent version of Eddie Floyd's "I Never Found A Girl" which Floyd wrote with Booker T Jones. It was released on two labels, his own label Sly (billed as just Sammy, Sly was his nickname) and New Wave. Neither listing on either Discogs nor 45Cat are dated but I would guess it was around 1981/82 going by the cat. no.s on the other New Wave releases.

The flip side of both issues has an instrumental version which features a sax solo by Gerald Albright with arranger Arrion Nesbitt on keyboards who worked with Al Green and Willie Mitchell at Hi.

Sammy Acuna was a member of a group called Pop-A-Groove who some may remember for "Dance Your Ass Off" (1975) which received some spins mid 70s. I seem to recall reading somewhere that Pop-A-Groove was the name of a (probably gay) night club in San Francisco and this recording was commissioned by the owner, but don't recall where I read it.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Sky / New Wave
Cat No:	KA-111051 / SA0003
Date:	1982 approx.
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£200-£300 approx.

The Ad-Libs [2022] - I Don't Need No Fortune Teller [Mr Bongo Records]

A second track has been released today from a forthcoming compilation "With Love: Vol. 1 (Compiled by Miche)". "Serrado" by Quintaessencia was released on 15 Jul and today a modern soul hard to find classic by The Ad Libs with "I Don't Need No Fortune Teller". Miche is London DJ and crate digger Michael Davis.The album is due for release on 23 Sep 2022 and is available on vinyl from Bandcamp.

The song was originally released in 1982 on their own Passion label and was the only release. It was later reissued on the reactivated Soul City label in 2002 paired with "New York In The Dark". The label was originally set up by record shop owner (named after his shop) and Blues & Soul columnist Dave Godin in 1969 and released nineteen singles between March and October that year before going bust. It was reactivated in 2000 and released another 36 big Northern Soul singles (from 123 to 160) (there was no 138 or 139 for some reason).

The lead voice on this particular track is Chris Bartley who joined the group around 1975. The only remaining original member from their early/mid 60s outings was David Watt, although Mary Ann Thomas would rejoin for their late 80s recordings on John Isaac Taylor (this song's writer) label Johnnie Boy Records where they released their last few singles.

Several of the Ad Libs recordings have been featured on Northern Soul dance floors over the years including "The Boy From New York City" (covered by Darts in 1978, who had a UK pop chart #2 hit with it, and also by Manhattan Transfer in 1981), "Nothing Worse Than Being Alone", "New York In The Dark" probably being their biggest tunes but there have been others.

The song has already been digitally released by Mad About Records

Another special track to look out for when the compilation drops is Sammy Acuna's excellent version of Eddie Floyd's "Never Found A Girl" which Floyd wrote with Booker T Jones which I think I'll post separately. Also Smoke Inc "Waitin For Love" and Spare Hare "Ain't No Doubt About It" may be of interest to modern soul lovers. A lot of the remaining tracks are 70s/80s boogie / funk.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track / Single
Media:	Digital / 7"
Label:	Self Released / Passion
Cat No:	None / 1
Date:	31/08/2022 / 20/11/1982
Key/BPM:	7B/104
Price:	£1 / £600-£700 approx.

DWY [2022] - Pull Up [Dreaming With You]

DWY (pronounced Dewey) is Andrew Amoah born in Miami and raised in Lewisham, South London, and is now based in L.A. since just before the Covid-19 pandemic.

He released his tenth single, "Pull Up", since his debut single "Over You" in April 2018, on Friday (26 Aug 2022). It is from his forthcoming sophomore six track album "Self-Contained".

The new single is a mournful, soulful ballad, as is much of his earlier material that I listened to so, if you like this, you'll probably appreciate his earlier releases as well.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dreaming With You
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/08/2022
Key/BPM:	3A/61
Price:	£1

Whales Ofili & The Real Beat Band [2022] - The Caravan Of Love [Screwed Up Entertainment]

Whales Ofili is originally from Nigeria migrating to Sweden in 1999 whee he began performing with ska band Club Killers.

He's released around four singles since 2020 and "The Caravan Of Love" (released last Friday 26 Aug 2022) is his debut album which features The Real Beat Band. It consists of retro soul and funk tracks with a few nice deep ballads. I think my choice cut on first listen would be "Take You Everywhere I Go".

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/08/2022
Price:	£7.99