Soul Strutter: 11/24/22

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Victor Haynes [2022] - Love Is The Answer [Expansion] PROMO

Here's a sample from Victor Haynes forthcoming album "Love Is The Answer" with the title track.

Victor released the first single from the album "Back To Love" on 7 Oct and followed it last week with two mixes of "Newsflash".

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	None
Date:	TBC
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£TBC

David Oliver v Mahdi & Tracy Kerr [1978/1980] - Who Are You [Mercury #74071 / Indy 5 #IN 111]

Another post inspired by a play today on Gary Van Den Bussche's Starpoint Radio show. A sublime song "Who Are You" written and recorded by David Oliver on his sophomore album "Mind Magic" in 1978. It also came out as a single and is relatively cheap in the scheme of things (£25-£60) and certainly better value than spending the asking price of £200 for the new House Bros. single posted yesterday!

Oliver released four albums between 1977-80 all produced by ex-Crusader Wayne Henderson. He was the first to record the Cecil Womack and Edward 'Gip' Noble song "Love TKO" on his last album "Here's To You" in 1980 which went on to be a big hit for Teddy Pendergrass. He was also first to record "Friends And Strangers" which featured on his debut album "Jamerican Man" and was later recorded by both Ronnie Laws and Dave Grusin. Sadly Oliver died in 1982 aged only 40.

The song "Who Are You" was also recorded by Mahdi & Tracy Kerr on Indy 5 in 1980 which will cost a little more (£60-£75).

Tracy Kerr is the daughter of legendary writer/producer George Kerr. She released a single on Stang in 1972 as Little Tracy Kerr (a very young and naïve sounding cover of Michael Jackson's "We've Got A Good Thing Going" not quite the same standard as Jean Shy's version, Esther Phillips also recorded it in 1981!) and another in 1984 on 12" on her fathers' label Tra San. The label was named after his two daughters Tracy and Sandra who recorded an answer song to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean "(I'm) Billie Jean" on the label in 1984.

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Mercury / Indy 5
Cat No:	74071 / IN 111
Date:	1978 / 1980
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£50 / £65 approx.

Willie Davis [2022] - I Learned My Lesson / Why Did You Leave Me [Numero Group #NUM5731]

Another new digital reissue from Numero Group today from Chicago blues guitarist Willie Davis. He only appears to have released this one single with both sides being released on two labels, Cher Kee and Daran but with the side switched for each. Neither is dated, but going by other releases looks like it's a late 70s/80s recording but sounds much earlier.

One source lists it as 1974? He has a cassette single listed for 1993 which does seem to place this release as late 80s, others surrounding it on label discographies are listed as 1987. Also, he was a member of a group called The West Side All Stars who were active in 1987. An odd releases for those times but perhaps it had been in the can for a while?

The A side is a real 'wrist slashing', bluesy deep soul song "I Learned My Lesson" which was sampled by Elijah Blake in 2017 for "Hanging Tree". The flip "Why Did You Leave Me" is a 'jump joint' style blues song.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul / Blues / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM5731
Date:	24/11/2022
Key/BPM:	12A/71
Price:	£1.79

Nio Renee [2022] - GOOD ENOUGH [NYTY MUSIC]

Nio Renee (Niomisha Renee Wilson) is from L.A. and is the daughter on Bloodstone member Ron Wilson who replaced Charles McCormick (who died in April '22 aged 75) in the 80s.

She has featured in recordings by CeCe Peniston, 2Pac, Jonathan Butler, Marva King and Joe Cocker since the mid 90s and has emerged this year with several solo singles and now a six track EP "GOOD ENOUGH" on 20 Nov and has subsequently released another four singles since, which I've just had a scan through and are all Christmas songs!

The two tracks that stood out, for me, are the title track "Good Enough" and "You're The Truth".

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	NYTY MUSIC
Cat No:	None
Date:	20/11/2022
Price:	£5.94

Kevin Flournoy Feat. Phil Perry & Shannon Pearson [2022] - Tell Me If You Still Care [Self Released]

According to Kevin Flournoy's website this was supposed to have been released yesterday (23 Nov '22) but thus far I have not been able to find it on any of the digital platforms, therefore, for now, we will have to make do with the short sample in the video.

UPDATE Full Video now posted HERE

In my house, when Phil Perry appears on a recording then it must be listened to and a marvellous job he does too on a remake of The S.O.S. Band's classic along with Shannon Pearson, remember her from recently featuring on Output/Input's cover of Chaka Khan's "Eye To Eye"?

For good measure, included is the original video of "Tell Me If You Still Care" by The S.O.S. Band with Mary Davis and Abdul Ra'oof on lead vocals from 1983. The group had a total of twenty R&B chart entries with six going top 10 of which their debut single, "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", reached #1 R&B and #3 Hot 100 in 1980, "Tell Me" was their third R&B Top 10 hit.

Kevin Flournoy is as producer, keyboardist, songwriter, and arranger and CEO of Kay Flow Projects. He produced "Harvest for the World" for Ronnie Laws and has produced, written, performed, and recorded with many artists including Chaka Khan, Kenny 'Baby Face' Edmonds, Donny Osmond, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie, The Pointer Sisters, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Boney James and Ronnie Laws to name a few. His first major success was on Big Mountain's Unity album in 1994.

He released a single "No One" with Rebecca Jade in 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.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/11/2022
Key/BPM:	3B/81
Price:	£1

Parkes Stewart [2022] - Don't Forget [Eat Music Group]

As it's the fourth Thursday in November, it's Thanksgiving Day in the US today and the Americans seem to love their holiday songs far more than we do in the UK. I guess it's because there is just a month between Thanksgiving, when the festive spirit begins, and Christmas.

So to kick it off Parkes Stewart has released a holiday song "Don't Forget" which is EXCLUSIVELY available from EatMusicGroup. (NOTE it will NOT be available on the usual digital platforms!) A nice soulful song with a message, which brings out his gospel roots in sections, and has a steppers groove. I think it may be one of the best original songs he's done recently.

The song was written and produced by Parkes Stewart and Turhan Terrell who is the Musical Director for the Four Tops. It honours loved ones who are no longer with us and reminds us not to forget just how fortunate we are to have everything we have most importantly, family.

Parkes is a sought after Grammy nominated songwriter, producer, and speaker who has released four albums and five singles to date, the last being a tribute to The Whispers with a cover of "And The Beat Goes On".

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.

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

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Xmas
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Eat Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/11/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	$1