Hil St. Soul [2022] - Back In Love [Shanachie] (Full Album)

Hilary Mwelwa of Hil St. Soul releases her fifth album "Back To Love" (which is her first for fourteen years since "Black Rose" 2008) next Friday (18 Nov 2022). Thanks to DSG Promotions we can give you a sneak preview. The album will be available digitally and on CD and will, of course, be re-posted in full on release.

The album contains her last five singles, the current single "A Feeling So Beautiful" (a new version should be out this week with a new Nigel Lowis Mix), "Blessed" feat. Noel Gourdin, the Ohio Players cover "Heaven Must Be Like This", "In My Groove" and "One Life". That leaves six new songs making their debut.

The new songs include the funky uptempo dance groove "Party On", a duet with Noel Gourdin on "Amazing", a classic modern soul number "Love and Fire", an acoustic song "Sweet Heaven" and my personal choice cut of the new songs  "Fingerprints" (along with "Love and Fire").

The spark that ignited the new album was her success in 2020 with "One Life" produced by Regi Myrix which saw a 7" vinyl release on Izipho Soul. Myrix produces the album along with Lorenzo Johnson (Ledisi, Calvin Richardson) as well as Prince Damon (Dwele).

Hilary was born in Lusaka, Zambia moving to London aged 5. She has a degree in Biological Sciences from London's Westminster University. She took a year out to pursue her music and collaborated with Victor Redwood-Sawyer forming Hil St. Soul and released a debut album "Soul Organic" on Dome in 1999 from which an acoustic cover of Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me" gained attention and airplay. Three albums followed: "Copasetik & Cool" (Gut 2002), "SOULidified" (Shanachie 2006) and "Black Rose" (Shanachie 2008). There is a a lovely version of The Isley's "For The Love Of You" on "SOULified".

If you'd like to catch up with some of the best of her earlier material we did a "Hil St. Soul ... The Best Of" feature back in March 2020.

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

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

05 - Party On

06 - Amazing Feat. Noel Gourdin

07 - King

08 - Love and Fire

10 - Sweet Heaven

11 - Fingerprints

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Shanachie
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/11/2022
Price:	£TBC

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Carmy Love [2021] - Rebel / Thinkin' About You [Big A.C]

Carmy Love's "Thinkin' About You" was released digitally on 26 Mar 2021 (posted here 27 Mar) and did well and was then put on the B side of "Rebel" on 7" vinyl which sold out on pre-order.  She has subsequently released "Together Again" both digital and vinyl.

Big A.C records has pressed up another 500 copies of "Rebel" / "Thinkin' About You" in white vinyl as the first press is currently selling for around £100 on Discogs!

Carmy Love (Carmella Davis) is from North West London and was a member of acid jazz group from London New Street Adventure (NSA) who she used to perform "Rebel" with at live shows. Prior to that she recorded on 'Just Dance' with Cool Million in 2010 on their 'Back For More' album.

NSA band leader Nick Corbin owns Big A.C records with his wife Sophie Heath. NSA disbanded when Nick decided to become independent, breaking away from the Acid Jazz label to focus on a solo career. He has released an album 'Sweet Escape' and several singles (available on vinyl from Big AC). He wrote 'Thinkin' About You' as well as other material for artists on the label.

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

Acoustic version feat. Nick Corbin 

(New Street Adventure and owner of Big AC records who also wrote the song)

Details

Rating:	9.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Northern Soul / Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	Vinyl/Digital
Label:	Big A.C
Cat No:	None
Year:	11/2022 (15/06/2021)
Key/BPM:	11B/171 / 1B/116
Value:	£15/ £2

David Ebo - A Profile

David Ebo (9 Nov 1950 - Nov 30 1993) had the unenviable task of replacing Teddy Pendergrass as lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes when Pendergrass left for a solo career in 1976. They were old school friends in Philadelphia. Ebo would have celebrated his 72nd birthday today.

When Pendergrass departed, the group left Philadelphia International Records and signed for ABC Records releasing an album "Reaching The World" in 1977. The title track became a R&B top 20 hit. Ebo sang lead on four albums starting with "Reaching for the World" (ABC 1977), "Now Is The Time" (ABC 1977), "The Blue Album" (Source 1980 from which the big Northern Soul play "Prayin'" came featuring Ebo on lead) and ending with "All Things Happen In Time" (1981).

Their second ABC album "Now Is The Time", produced by Harold Melvin, wasn't a commercial success but included the gem "Feels Like Magic" written by Jerome Jones.

He left the group in 1982 being replaced by Gil Saunders and in 1985 released his only solo album "I'd Rather Be By Myself" on Domino Records under his last name, Ebo, produced and arranged by Philly legend Allan Felder. Three singles materialised from the album with the title track peaking at #37 on the charts followed by "Count the Days" (an 80s style dancer) and finally a cover of Heatwave's "Always And Forever". 

Sadly, Ebo died on 30 Nov 1993 just 21 days after his 43rd birthday from bone cancer.

Post inspired by, and contributed to, by Gary Van Den Bussche.

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved