Soul Strutter: 09/12/22

Monday, 12 September 2022

The Notations [2022] - Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong [Silent Giant Entertainment]

Veteran Chicago group The Notations are back with another cover. This time The Whispers' "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong" from 1970 released on Soul Clock. A noble effort, but I'm afraid for me it can't touch the original which is also included below.

The song was written by Dee Ervin aka Big Dee Irwin and Lynn Farr and contained "Needle In A Haystack" as the flip another great song written by group member Gordy Harmon and Nick Caldwell.

The Notations actually also released it in March 2020 as a track on their "Blvd. Classics, Vol 1" EP . The current line-up includes original member Clifford Curry. The other two current members are Eric Rapier Bryant and Marzette Griffith who has quite a remarkable likeness to The Whispers' Scott twins.

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Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Silent Giant Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/09/2022
Key/BPM:	1B/83
Price:	£1

Esnc [2022] - Time [Greilee Records] (Full EP)

Esnc (Essence A Mobley) from Jersey City, NJ, released her sixth single since 2019 "Ain't Going Nowhere" on 28 Jul which did quite well in UK. She follows it on 11 Sep with a seven track EP "Time" which contains the last single but the other six songs all look new.

I have to say it's a little disappointing after the promise of the single as nothing really compares. The pick of the bunch would be "One In A Million" followed by "Special".

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	Y Track 4
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Greilee Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/09/2022
Price:	£6.49

Kenny Thomas [2022] - Contagious [Virtue Records]

It's a family affair today having posted a new three track EP "Keeping On" by Francisca Thomas which is out on Friday, and now husband Kenny Thomas with "Contagious" which is his first new material in ten years and is due out on 22 Sep 2022.

Kenny is no stranger to the UK pop charts having eight Top 40 singles and two Top 10 albums already to his name. He debuted in 1990 with a cover of The Gap Band's "Outstanding". It did nothing first time around and was reissued in 1991 and reached #12. His next hit was "Thinking About Your Love" which got to #4 and his next biggest hit reaching #11 was "Best Of You". His debut album the same year, "Voices", went to #3 on the albums chart. He has also received two BRIT-Award nominations for "Best Male Vocalist" and "Best Newcomer" in 1992.

The UK underground scene also picked up on one that didn't (for some reason) register on the charts "Crazy World", the title track of his third album in 2006. What makes it even more sought after is that it isn't available on streaming services! In fact I can't find any evidence of it being released as a single so is a CD only track. It was reissued by Richard Searling on his Go Ahead label in 2012 and was also released on 12" by Neil Rushton on SuSu which is dated on Discogs 2004 but must surely be incorrect as the album didn't come out until 2006, unless he got a mix of it before the album was released? I've included an official video for it from Kenny's YouTube channel for those that haven't already had the pleasure!

Anyway back to the matter in hand and his new single "Contagious". I think we can safely say he's back on form and this will undoubtedly be a UK Soul Chart success with Andy Tee already playing it on the UK Soul Chart Breakers show on Saturday. The promo comes in two sizes, the full length 5:45 version and a 3:21 radio edit.

Kenny has been hitting the road already this year with upcoming artist Acantha Lang guesting at some of the shows. He is headlining at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, on 10 Dec 2022. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Virtue Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/09/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

VA [2022] - Blue Note Re:imagined II [Blue Note]

Blue Note Re:imagined returns in 2022 with a new 16-track compilation featuring fresh takes on music from the illustrious Blue Note vaults recorded by a heavyweight line-up of the UK jazz, soul and R&B scene's most hotly-tipped rising stars.

Following the success of the first volume in 2020, which topped jazz charts around the world, "Blue Note Re:imagined II" once again infuses the spirit of the new UK jazz generation into the legendary label's catalogue, balancing tradition with its future and reflecting the diversity of talent within the current scene.

The first track to be released was from South London vocalist Ego Ella May's on 8 Jun reimagining Chico Hamilton's "The Morning Side Of Love", which first appeared on Hamilton's 1975 Blue Note album Peregrinations".

It was followed on 5 Aug by 9-piece afro-jazz outfit Nubiyan Twist's fresh spin on Donald Byrd's "Through The Noise (Chant 2)".

Several other tracks (eight now in total - see playlist below) have been released over recent weeks prior to the full album release which is due on 30 Sep 2022. The differential between digital and CD is marginal (£10.29 v £11.92) so why wouldn't you just buy the CD?

Tracks include funk-pop duo Franc Moody's version of Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor", fast-emerging vocalist Cherise's take on Norah Jones "Sunrise", Maya Delilah covering Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" (which was recorded by Cassandra Wilson on her 1995 Blue Note album "New Moon Daughter"), Birmingham-born pianist "Reuben James' reimagining of Wayne Shorter's ballad "Infant Eyes", London tuba player and Sons of Kemet member Theon Cross with a version of the Thelonious Monk/Kenny Clarke composition "Epistrophy".

The highlights, for me, from the tracks still to be released would include Conor Albert "You Make Me Feel So Good", Cherise "Sunrise" and Daniel Cashmir "Lost".

It came as a bit of a surprise for me to learn that Don Was (Donald Fagenson), a member of 80s mutant disco band Was (Not Was), became president of Blue Note in 2012. This what he says about the compilation:

"For more than eight decades the artists of Blue Note Records have continually pushed the envelope of contemporary music, and Blue Note Re:imagined II once again honors that legacy by letting the UK's most creative young artists reinvent the treasures of the Blue Note catalog through their own lens."

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Track Listing

NOTE: A bespoke playlist already exists on Spotify of all eight tracks already released along with the original versions.

01 - Yazz Ahmed - I

(From Chick Corea Is (1969))

02 - Conor Albert - You Make Me Feel So Good

(From Bobbi Humphrey Fancy Dancer (1975))

03 - Parthenope - Don’t Know Why

(From Norah Jones Come Away With Me (2002))

04 - Swindle - Miss Kane

(From Donald Byrd Street Lady (1973))

05 - Nubiyan Twist - Through The Noise (Chant No.2)

(From Donald Byrd A New Perspective (1963))

06 - Ego Ella May - The Morning Side Of Love

(From Chico Hamilton Pereginations (1975))

07 - Oscar Jerome & Oscar #Worldpeace - (Why You So) Green With

Envy (From Grant Green Green Street (1961))

08 - Daniel Casimir ft. Ria Moran - Lost

(From Wayne Shorter The Soothsayer (1965))

09 - Theon Cross - Epistrophy

(From Thelonious Monk Genius Of Modern Music, Vol.1 (1948))

10 - Maya Delilah - Harvest Moon

(From Cassandra Wilson New Moon Daughter (1995))

11 - Kay Young - Feel Like Making Love

(From Marlena Shaw Who is this Bitch, Anyway? (1974))

12 - Venna & Marco Bernardis - Where Are We Going

(From Donald Byrd Black Byrd (1972))

13 - Reuben James - Infant Eyes

(From Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil (1964))

14 - Binker Golding - Fort Worth

(From Joe Lovano From The Soul (1991))

15 - Cherise - Sunrise

(From Norah Jones Feels Like Home (2004))

16 - Franc Moody - Cristo Redentor

(From Donald Byrd A New Perspective (1963))

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz / Cover Versions / Reimaginings
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/09/2022
Price:	£10.29 / £11.92 / £34.99

Francisca Thomas [2022] - Keeping On [Splash Blue] (EP)

Splash Blue announce the brand new EP release from Francisca Thomas "Keeping On".

It comprises of two beautiful, well-crafted and heartfelt tracks, both of which showcase Francisca’s considerable prowess, both as a writer and as a vocalist.

Francisca Thomas (nee Blasich) is from Cape Town, South Africa but has lived in UK since 2007 where she met and married UK soulster Kenny Thomas in 2008. She was a finalist in South Africa's Got Talent in 2003 but left the show during filming.

The lead track, a heartfelt ballad "Keeping On", was written and dedicated by Francisca to her 9 year old daughter Christina and all revenue generated from sales of the track will go directly towards the ongoing medical costs for Christina's care. If you weren't already aware, the funds are for specialist medical treatment for Christina, who has an inoperable brain tumour. She has been having treatment by medical experts in Germany which has succeeded in keeping her reasonably stable.

A second track "Forget Me Not" (vocal and instrumental versions) is a lovely, lilting ballad/stepper which is also being released as part of this EP package which will be available exclusively via the Splash Bandcamp on Wed 14 Sep and will be released worldwide on all of the major digital platforms on Friday (16 Sep).

Francisca last featured here in March 2021 with her last single "What Can I Say (Sir Piers 'curious' Radio Edit)".

I was chatting to Kenny only on Saturday regarding his new single "Contagious" which is due on 22nd Sep and he relayed that sadly his daughter has not been very well again in the last couple of weeks. Kenny was hospitalised last year with Covid so it's quite amazing with everything going on in their lives that they can still write and record music.

By sheer coincidence it is also Kenny's 54th birthday today, we wish him and his family all the very best in very difficult circumstances.

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Details

Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Splash Blue
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/09/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£TBC

Parkes Stewart [2022] - And The Beat Goes On [Eatmusicgroup]

Soul singer and multi platinum hit songwriter Parkes Stewart is back with a fitting tribute to the legendary group The Whispers. It follows the success of his last single "Blackpearl".

He treats this classic hit "And The Beat Goes On" with the utmost care and masterfully presents it in a smooth, soulful and classy way. It's available on Friday (16 Sep 2022).

If you haven't seen it already, The Whispers themselves have also just re-recorded it and released it on Friday (9 Sep) naming it "Whispers' Radio Edit".

Parkes Stewart is a soulspirational singer from Detroit who has to date released around four albums since 1991 "Parkes" (1991), "Another Chapter" (1996), "Heart & Soul" (2004) and "Extraordinary Christmas" (2020).

He sang background vocals and wrote many songs for the 80s/90s urban contemporary gospel group Commissioned and also wrote songs recorded by Yolanda Adams ("Open Arms" and "More Than Just A Melody" also recorded by Ashanti), Dave Hollister ("Ordinary Just Won’t Do") and 3m selling "Cry On" for 112 on the tribute to Notorious B.I.G.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Eatmusicgroup
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/09/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

The Whispers [2022] - And the Beat Goes On (Whispers' Radio Version) [B and a Entertainment]

I'm not quite sure why now, but The Whispers have re-recorded "And The Beat Goes On" and released it on Friday (9 Sep). Coincidentally, Parkes Stewart's new single, and follow up to "Blackpearl", is a cover of the song which is set for released this Friday (16 Sep).

The song was first recorded in 1979 and is the first of two R&B #1 hits by The Whispers. The other is "Rock Steady" (1987) .

In a career spanning almost 60 years, they were formed in 1964, they have amassed around 50 R&B hit singles (15 were top 10) but, as is often sadly the case, only a dozen of them crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 with, perhaps surprisingly "Rock Steady" being their biggest hit reaching #7 Hot 100.

The song featured here did much better in the UK reaching #2 on the UK pop chart in 1980 spending 12 weeks on the chart. They had another UK top 10 hit with "It's A Love Thing" reaching #9 the following year, and had a total of nine UK chart entries but only those two and one other (a cover of The Temptation's "My Girl" which made zero impact stateside as it wasn't released as a single there) were Top 40.

I've had a Whisper's post lined up for months just waiting for the right opportunity to post it. The mainstays of the group, who are still performing, are twins Walter and Wallace Scott and it is their 79th birthday on 23rd Sep, so perhaps that will be a good time. They have recorded some superb music especially in the 60s/70s before they 'made it big' and have to be one of my favourite male vocal groups.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/09/2022
Key/BPM:	10A/115
Price:	£1

Moody Bank$ [2022] - Work It Out [Publik Figure]

Born in southern CA, and now living in Austin, TX, is Moody Bank$ (Jordan Abernathy) who debuted in Apr 2020 with a single "Quaran'tea". After another single she released an EP "Full Blunts & Full Moons" in Oct 2020 with six new songs. She released two more singles in 2021 and gives us her first of 2022 "Work It Out" today (12 Sep 2022).

She sounds a bit like Sade in places, and the song reminds me of a Sade song which I can't quite place. ("No Ordinary Love")

Her sophomore EP "FEELING COLORS" is due for release on Friday (16 Sep)

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Publik Figure
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/09/2022
Key/BPM:	10A/90
Price:	£1