Soul Strutter: 12/02/22

Friday, 2 December 2022

Tamara Dos Santos [2022] - J's Interlude [LMenT Sounds]

Tamara Dos Santos is from London released a seven track album "To Endure..." and in May we posted her fourth single and her first since 2019 "Would You Wait?" which really should have done a lot better if DJs had got behind it.

She follows that single with "J's Interlude" released today (2 Dec 2022).

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	LMenT Sounds
Cat No:	None
Date:	02/12/2022
Key/BPM:	5A/73
Price:	£1

De'Marcus Walker Feat. Caleb Sean [2022] - Thankful [Self Released]

De'Marcus Walker is from Tyler, TX, now living in Josephine, TX. He plays bass guitar and tuba but also leaned to play piano aged eight. He graduated from the Univerisity of North Texas after studying music education receiving the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Brass Award.

His first album "Salt And Light" was released in Jan 2018 and has since released two singles both this year. The first was "Lady" with Frank McComb in Feb and the latest "Thankful" features Caleb Sean which came out on 1 Dec 2022.

He is also working on a sophomore album "Purpose In You" which perhaps these two track will be featured on.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/12/2022
Key/BPM:	2A/98
Price:	£1

Backhouse Nation [2022] - Full Circle [Sihaba] (Full Album)

BackHouse Nation was founded by writer/producer Mbaji aka Bradley Ridgell who started as a lyricist. His first published song was "Let Yourself Go" recorded Eddie Kendricks on his "For You" album on Tamla in 1974. He expanded his skills to learn to write melodies and music. In the mid 70's several of his songs, co-written with his writing team Sigidi and Harold Clayton (who often used the alias Harold Jackson or H. Jackson), were recorded by Donald Byrd including the jazz funk classic "Dominoes".

His music is a mix of R&B, Jazz, Funk and Pop and he has had other songs recorded by The S.O.S. Band, Erykha Badu and J Dilla and sampled by Ice Cube, Tribe Called Quest, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, De La Soul and Wycleff John.

The first Backhouse Nation album "Full Circle" was released last week (25 Nov '22).

The track that sees to be picking up most attention and airplay is "Your The One" which was actually released on the 2012 album "Retrospect (Back To The Music)" featuring Pheather Harris but the new version is a different take on it.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sihaba
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/11/2022
Price:	£7.99

Clifford Curry [1968] - I Can't Get A Hold Of Myself / Ain't No Danger [Elf #90,013]

Clifford Curry, not to be confused with an artist with the same name who is still performing as part of The Notations, was from Knoxville, TN, born in 1936 and later became known as "The King of Beach Music" and was inducted into the Beach Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

He was a member of several groups in the 50s initially joining The Echoes. They took a song Curry had written called "Mr. Moon" to Atlantic Records who declined it so they then took it to Savoy who released it in 1955 changing the group's name to The Five Pennies. They were later renamed The Chimes and Freddie Scott joined them but by this time Curry had left in 1956.

His next recordings appeared in 1959 first as a featured singer with The Continders and then his first solo outing on Ridgecrest billed as Clifford Curry Jr. In 1964/65 he released two singles on Excello as Sweet Clifford and then his first, and only, hit record on Elf in 1967 with "She Shot A Hole in My Soul" (video below with a short interview afterwards) which reached #3 R&B and #95 Hot 100. He released another seven singles on Elf up to 1969 but couldn't emulate the success of the first hit.

However, one of those singles on Elf from 1968 has been a big tune on Northern Soul dancefloors with "I Can't Get A Hold Of Myself" being christened at The Twisted Wheel but quite how the B side "Ain't No Danger" was overlooked is anyone's guess, probably because back in those, amphetamine fuelled, days it may have seemed 'pedestrian' compared to the A side, but it is certainly no slouch! It got a later release in the UK on Pama in 1970, no doubt due to the demand for it on the Northern scene.

He continued recording through the 70s,80s and 90s on various labels and I would guess was embraced by the North Carolina Beach Scene in the 80s as his first record in 1980 was titled "Shag With Me".

Every single write up I've seen regarding Clifford Curry says what a great person he was, sadly he died in 2016 aged 79.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Elf
Cat No:	90,013
Date:	1968
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£80-£100 approx.

Valerie Holiday (The Three Degrees) - A Profile

Today is the longest serving Three Degrees member, Valerie Holiday's, 75th birthday, she was born 2 Dec 1947.

In April 2021 Valerie released her debut solo album "In Bloom" which is an album of jazz covers that includes a version of Shirley Horn's "Here's To Life" recorded recently by Dion Bullard. Although this is her first solo project, she is no stranger to performing alone as she was a solo artist before joining The Three Degrees in 1967, and has done live shows by herself over the years in between the group's tour dates.

The Three Degrees are the longest running female vocal group in history and will be 60 years old next year. They started out as a trio in 1963 consisting of teenagers Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner formed by singer/songwriter/producer Richard Barrett who was a member of 50s doo-wop group The Valentines and is credited for discovering Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Chantels and Frankie Lymon who he also managed

Turner and Porter were soon replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott. They were signed to Philadelphia label Swan Records and released their first single Gee Baby (I'm Sorry) in Dec 1964 followed by another six singles on the label between 1964-66, none of which registered on even the R&B chart.

Helen Scott left the group in 1966 to start a family and was replaced by Sheila Ferguson and later Janet Harmon was replaced by Valerie Holiday leaving Pinkey as the only original member, however this trio stayed together through their Philadelphia International heyday.

In 1968 they released a one-off recording on Warner Bros Seven Arts. The A side "Contact" became big on the UK Northern Soul scene in the 70s and it contains a sublime ballad "No No Not Again" on the flip side highlighting the group's incredible harmonies. Two further singles were released on Metromedia, followed by one on Neptune (an early Gamble & Huff label) before they signed to Roulette in 1970 where they had a hit with their second release "Maybe" (a cover of a song recorded by The Chantels) with Valerie Holiday on lead which reached #4 R&B and #29 hot 100. A further four hits were achieved on Roulette who they recorded nine singles for between 1970-72.

They then re-joined Gamble & Huff on their newly formed Philadelphia International Records in 1973 and the rest, as they say, is history. They hit with their first single and had a string of consecutive hits right through to the end of 1975 with songs such as "Dirty Ol Man", "TSOP", "Year Of Decision", "Love Is The Message", "When Will I See You Again", "I Didn't Know", "Take Good Care Of Yourself". Surprisingly only three crossed over to the Hot 100: "TSOP" (#1), "Love Is The Message" (#85) and "When Will I See You Again" (#2) which has become their signature song.

They were famously Prince, now King Charles', favourite group, who he invited to his wedding with Lady Diana Spencer, and had perhaps more success on the UK pop chart with a #1, five Top 10 and ten Top 40 hits, certainly after their PIR period in late 70 and into the 80s..

Their hits started to dwindle upon leaving PIR and Helen Scott re-joined the group to replace the only remaining original member Fayette Pinkey in 1976 (who died in 2009). Scott and Holiday have remained with the group to this day with Sheila Ferguson being replaced with various members when she left in 1986. The longest serving being Cynthia Garrison from 1989-2011 who left for health reasons being replaced in 2011 with existing member Freddie Poole.

Although their most successful commercial period was between 1973-75 on PIR, they only released two studio albums for PIR, their self-titled debut for the label followed by "International" along with two Live albums.

The playlist below avoids the 'obvious' hits which I'm sure most are familiar with and attempts to show a different side of the group. Also the early Swan singles are not included as Valerie Holiday was not a member at the time and the material after PIR which was more pop oriented so has not been included.

I think some of the highlights, and ones not to skip if you're not already familiar with, include "No, No Not Again", a lovely cover of Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover" and "Find My Way" which was also recorded by The Tymes and The Players aka Cameo who did a dance version of it in 1975 which got NS spins. It was originally released as The Players and reissued as Cameo when they changed their name to avoid confusion with The Ohio Players. I think my favourite Philly era song is probably "I Didn't Know".

Will Wheaton [2022] - The Lady In My Life [Platinum Bass Records] OUT NOW

Posted from promo a couple of weeks ago which we believed at the time was due out on 21 Nov, but which has only just appeared on Spotify.

It's a new single by Will Wheaton which is a cover of Michael Jackson's "Lady In My Life" written by Rod Temperton included on the "Thriller" album (which has been reissued in a 40th Anniversary edition recently). Jackson never released it as a single. Another version of the song featured on the Bemaji Tillman "Algorhythms" album in the last month.

This is a classy rendition with shades of Will Downing in his tone, so it may not surprise you to learn that he has written songs for Downing as well as Tevin Campbell, EWF, Anastacia. Dare I say it, I prefer this version to the MJ original.

Will was born in Mississippi and raised in Los Angeles and has a background in gospel. In 1992 he won Dick Clark's USA Music Challenge talent contest and received an MCA recording contract. He has released two albums "Consenting Adultz" (1998) and "Old School Soul" (2005) and has worked extensively as a backing vocalist for the likes of Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Coolio, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Luis Miguel, Montel Jordon, Kenny Loggins, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and Rod Stewart and this year has featured on Michael Bublé's current album "Higher".

Check out his albums by following the links to Spotify above.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Platinum Bass Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/11/2022
Key/BPM:	9A/73
Price:	£1