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Monday 5 December 2022

2022 Tracks of the Year?


Well it's that time of the year already to start considering the best tracks of 2022. To get you in the mood here's a reminder of SoulStrutter's selection for 2021. At this present moment in time I personally don't think there have been as many 'outstanding' tunes as last year, but no doubt reviewing this year's many will emerge that may perhaps have been forgotten, but I probably already know my top 10.
01/ Carmichael Musiclover - Time for the Sunshine
02/ Penzillathegreat - Stay A Little While
03/ Down to Earth - Right from the Start
04/ GarciaWalker&Durrell - Now That You're Gone
05/ Derrick Sena & James Sena Feat Roxie Reese - I Can't Help It
06/ Myles Sanko - Streams of Time
07/ Tom Bailey - Love And Happiness
08/ Stokley Feat. Snoop Dogg - Jeopardy:Verbalize
09/ Kadeem Tyrell & Omar - All My Love
10/ Sunni Colon - Provide
11/ Eric Roberson - Lessons
12/ Alanna Royale - Fall In Love Again
13/ Samm Henshaw - Grow
14/ Radio Galaxy Feat. Carl Thomas - YU
15/ Silk Sonic - Leave The Door Open
16/ Estee Pierce - Spoil You
17/ Alexander Morris - Love's Knockin
18/ PJ Morton - Please Don't Walk Away
19/ Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints - Feels So Good
20/ Eugene Cole Feat. Felton Pilate - Why Are You Holding Back
21/ Joyce Wrice - Chandler
22/ Cha Star - Vibe
23/ Wesley Bright - Look At Me
24/ Secret Night Gang - Fall in Love
25/ Yuma Hara  Feat. Monique Marian - Stay With Me

All 25 were included in a blended 94 minute mix below, not in the order above but mixed by key and tempo.


Playlist:

Myles Sanko - Streams of Time
Eric Roberson - Lessons
Down to Earth - Right from the Start
Derrick Sena & James Sena Feat Roxie Reese - I Can't Help It
Estee Pierce - Spoil You
GarciaWalker&Durrell - Now That You've Gone
Alexander Morris - Love's Knockin
Tom Bailey - Love And Happiness
Cha Star - Vibe
Silk Sonic - Leave The Door Open
Penzillathegreat - Stay A Little While
Stokley Feat. Snoop Dogg - Jeopardy:Verbalize
Kadeem Tyrell - All My Love
PJ Morton - Please Don't Walk Away
Alanna Royale - Fall In Love Again
Carmichael Musiclover - Time for the Sunshine
Secret Night Gang - Fall in Love
Joyce Wrice - Chandler
Sunni Colon - Provide
Radio Galaxy Feat. Carl Thomas - YU
Samm Henshaw - Grow
Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints - Feels So Good
Wesley Bright - Look At Me
Eugene Cole Feat. Felton Pilate - Why Are You Holding Back
Yuma Hara  Feat. Monique Marian - Stay With Me

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Carmichael Musiclover [2022] - Black Elvis - Western Eyes Vol 1 & Vol. 2 [One Mic Music] (Album Samples)


We've not heard much from Carmichael Musiclover this year, the duet with Melba Moore in Feb. with "Company" and that's it, but fear not as he has not one, but two, albums due on Thursday (8 Dec 2022).  He's titled them: "Black Elvis - Western Eyes Volume One (A-L)" and "Volume Two (P-Z)" don't ask what happened to M,N & O? They are available for pre-purchase from 25 Nov (links on cover images below). 

Both albums contain thirteen tracks and it is the smooth and mellow soul we have come to expect from Carmichael. 

Links to samples were posted on 25 Nov, but the albums have now dropped on promo and, as anticipated, it is a superb set on both volumes. Assuming that it is available on digital platforms on Thursday, the full album will be posted then, but normally it's a website release only first and then later made available on the digital platforms, we'll see.

This, I would predict, will be a certain #1 on the UK Soul Chart as there are just so many killer cuts, I'm struggling even to narrow it down to a dozen from the 26 tracks, but here are my picks on a first full listen:

Vol. 1
02 - Bring It Home
04 - Don't Say A Word
05 - Empowering Me
08 - Forgiveness
09 - Happy
10 - Holla

Vol. 2 
04 - Take Your Clothes Off
05 - The Last Day Of Summer
06 - The One
07 - Sing
08 - Thug Life
12 - War

I think at present the three favourites are "The Last Day Of Summer", "The One" and "Thug Life" from Vol. 2 .. but that could change such is the wealth of good songs.

For the last two years his albums have been SoulStrutter albums of the year ("Slow Motion" (2021) and "The Best Is Yet To Come" (2020)), perhaps he's managed to squeeze in again this year by the skin of his teeth .. but which volume, or both?

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist. 

Listen to samples HERE
FacebookTwitterInstagramOfficial WebsiteAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube ChannelYouTube Channel
Details
Rating:9
Explicit:N
Genre/Style:New Soul
Format:Single
Media:Digital
Label:One Mic Music
Cat No:None
Date:08/12/2022
Price:$15 each
Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


UK Soul Chart BREAKERS 3rd Dec 2022 (Week 48)


Here are the latest UK Soul Chart Breakers for 3rd Dec 2022 with links to tracks posted (or to Spotify for those not yet posted). 

You can catch the breakers show each Saturday at 7pm-8pm presented by Andy Tee on Starpoint Radio.

Artist - TitleRel'dPost
The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B. -
You Will Never Know
02/1203/12
Freda Payne - Do You Ever Dream About Me?
(The Love Mix)
11/1101/12
James Aaron - All I've Been On  
Will Wheaton - Lady In My Life21/1119/11
Michael B. Sutton - Delorosa Street  
Tortured Soul - U Live 2 Far Away (Take The Day Off LP)       25/1126/11
Eric Seats - That Good Love03/11 
Soulutions - Just One More Christmas (website release only)  
Nio Renee - Good Enough (Good Enough EP)20/1124/11
Layfullstop - I Need You30/11 
Backhouse Nation - You're The One (Full Circle LP)25/1102/12
The Past Feat. Robbie Rosen - Better Off25/1125/11
Carmy Love - In The Morning02/1230/11
Raquel Rodriguez - Hurry Up This Way Again18/1121/11
Tenelle - Fill My Cup25/11

NB tracks in yellow are forthcoming

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


UK Soul Chart 5th Dec 2022 (Week 48)

4th Dec 2022

The new UK Soul Chart for 4th Dec 2022. 

Summary: There are 9 risers, 11 fallers, 4 non-mover, 6 new entries

New Entries: Chris Kingdon (9), Paris Jordan (17), Get To Know & Andre Esuet (18), Cool Million (21), Kim Tavar (22), Ava Cherry (29)

Highest Risers: Caludia Campagnol / Glenn Jones Feat' Y'Anna Crawley (+12), Kenny Thomas (+9)

Biggest Fallers:  Bob Baldwin Feat. Kathy Kosins (-16), Candace Woodson (-15), Daryl Anders Agapesoul (-10)

Losers: Lisa Dietrich, The Jack Moves, Sound of Superbad Feat. Joyce Mateo, Kevin Robinson (BB&Q Band). Kim Tibbs, Victor Haynes

PosLastChgArtist - Title
110Hil St. Soul - Back To Love LP
25+3Raja-Nee' - The Sovereign Of 14742 LP
315 Glenn Jones Feat. Y'Anna Crawley - Family Time
416+12Claudia Campagnol - Right Now LP
52-3Julian Jonah - Now's The Time For Us /
Comin' Back For Your Lovin'
67+1Will Downing - Kinda Guy
74-3SRTR4TA - STR4TOSFEAR LP
814+6The Shapeshifters - Let Loose LP
9  Chris Kingdon - On The Good Foot
109-1Maysa - Whatever
116-5Hil St. Soul - A Feeling So Beautiful (Nigel Lowis Mix)       
1221+9Kenny Thomas - Got It On Time
1317+4Lindsey Webster - Reasons LP
1419+5Sir Spencer Feat. Raquel Rodriguez -
Maybe (The Maxi-Single)
158-7Lynn Davis - Can I Come Over
1618+2The Realm - Stuck In The Middle
17  Paris Jordan - Feelin' Fine
18  Get To Know & Andre Espeut - Nowhere Plans
193-16Bob Baldwin & Kathy Kosins -
Let's Rewind (Nigel Lowis Philly Mix)
2011-9Penny Wells - I Wanna Be More (You Are)
21  Cool Million Feat. Susanne Ørum -
Maybe You're The One
22  Kim Tavar - Problems
2313-10Daryl Anders AgapeSoul - Heart Conditions EP
2422-2Marcy Brown - Never Give You Up
2523+2Acantha Lang - Carry The Weight
26260Andre Ward Feat. K-Jon - Casualty Of Love (Remix)
27270Ten City - Love Is Love
2813-15Candace Woodson - Step Into This Love Song
(Nigel Lowis Mix)
29290IshMaleSings - A Hearts Journey LP
30  Ava Cherry - Love Shines So Bright

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Frank Wilson - A Profile


Frank Edward Wilson (5 Dec 1940 - 2 Sep 2012) was a singer/songwriter/producer for Motown Records in the 60s and 70s. He would have been celebrating his 82nd birthday today.

Let's get it out of the way, he is most famous for what is regarded as the rarest soul record in the world, although some would dispute that as there are some records for which only one copy is known to exist and I believe that three Frank Wilson's have now been discovered.
It is said that Berry Gordy gave Wilson an ultimatum of either being and artist or a writer and when he agreed to be a writer Gordy ordered all copies of his 1965 single "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" (which was pressed on white promo only on Soul #35019) to be destroyed. A couple of copies, some claim six, were held in the Motown archives until one found its way out and fell in the hands of renown Northern Soul bootlegger Simon Soussan who pressed up some acetates and sent them to Northern Soul DJs to build demand and then bootlegged copies on the In label 'covered-up' as Eddie Foster (whose name was already know on the scene for a record on In "I Never Knew") for consumption by the UK Northern Soul market around 1977. For more details a couple of posts have been made over the years when the record has been sold twice, in 2009  for an alleged £25,742 and again in 2020 when it is claimed it sold for in excess of £100k! Therefore, if you wish to discover more read those posts. The record was subsequently released in 1979 on Tamla Motown UK to satisfy demand. Even these, and subsequent reissues of it, are selling now for three figures! The true identity of the record was discovered in 1978 when Simon Soussan sold his record collection to UK collector Les McCutcheon. 

There are many myths circulating regarding the history of the record and I've just read one that states that Marvin Gaye recorded it. If he did it's the first I've heard of it and has never seen the light of day as far as I'm aware, as surely it would have, so I don't think that is true, but would gladly be corrected if it is. However, it was recorded, but not released until many years later, by one of Motown's first white singers, Chris Clark and of course The Boss has just recently recorded it to the disdain of most on the NS scene .. how very dare he!

Wilson was born in Houston, TX, in 1940 and moved to L.A. in 1958 becoming a gospel singer with The Angelaires but after hearing Brenda Holloway sing decided to start a career in secular music releasing a handful of records using pseudonyms: Eddie Wilson, Sonny Daye and Chester St. Anthony (Chester Fields). The latter was recorded at Hollywood's Gold Star Studio in May 1965 which is another that appears to be white promo only and some promo copies and stock copies credit it as Chester Fields on a different cat. no. i.e. 768 v 766. Some sources list this artist as actually being Chester Pipkin  (who shares a first name with the artist?) who co-wrote the A side with Wilson and co-wrote the B side with his cousin (not brother as claimed on Discogs) Gary! 

Discogs also incorrectly lists Chester Pipkin with an alias of Marc Gordon. How do I know this ..because Marc Gordon died in 2010 and Chester Pipkin is very much alive (or was in May 2020) and is a pastor at ReJOYce IN JESUS Ministries). Gordon became president of Motown's west coast operation and co-wrote other songs with Wilson including the flip to his rarity "Sweeter As The Days Go By" and Darrell Banks "Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You" as well as producing several records for Al Wilson including "The Snake", The Marvellos ("Something's Burning") and The 5th Dimension. He owned Rocky Road Records and also managed The 5th Dimension, Thelma Houston, Al Wilson, The Staple Singers, Tony Orlando and Dawn and Willie Hutch.

Pipkin wrote a few other NS songs such as Judy Hughes "Fine, Fine, Fine", Wooden Nickels "Nobody But You" and the co-wrote Mary Love "You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet", Paris "Sleepless Nights with his cousin and Marc Gordon along with one recorded by Brice Coefield "Ain't That Right".

Wilson became friendly with Hal Davis and Marc Gordon and when Berry Gordy decided to open a Motown office in L.A. Wilson was asked to join them. His first record was Patrice Holloway "Stevie" issued in Dec 1963 on the V.I.P. subsidiary and was the first release by the west coast operation. He was then asked by Gordy to relocate to Detroit and continued to write and produce for virtually all of the Motown roster including artists such as Barbara McNair, Brenda Holloway, The Miracles, Four Tops, Temptations, Isley Bros., Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Eddie Kendricks as well as other non Motown artists.

You may be wondering how he could have released songs either by himself or by others whilst contracted to Motown. There is a very good thread here on Soul Source contributed to by many experts which explains how Jobete songs were released on, or leased to, other labels.

Wilson left Motown in 1975 and produced a few more artists such as Lakeside, Alton McLain & Destiny, New Birth, Lenny Williams, Freda Payne and Renee Geyer but then left secular music to become a born again Christian and eventually an ordained minister. He died in Sep 2012 with prostrate cancer aged 71.

He visited the UK in 2001 performing at the Fleetwood Togetherness Weekender where he signed the copy owned at the time by Edinburgh DJ Kenny Burrell.

Discography

Sonny Daye [1964-04] - Come Back Sandy / When Are You Coming Home [Power #203]

Sonny Daye [1965-02] - Long Long Road To Happiness / Bridge Of Love [Power #P-008]

Sherl Matthews & Sonny Daye [1965-05] - Come Back To Me / Ooo Wee Baby [Power #210]

Eddie Wilson [1964-11] - Just Call On Me / Toast To The Lady [Tollie #9033]

Chester St. Anthony / Chester Fields [1965-04] - Together / Without You [A&M #766 / 768]

Frank Wilson [1965-12] - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) / Sweeter As The Days Go By [Soul #35019]

This Frank Wilson should not be confused with another Frank Wilson who was also from L.A. and a member of The Remarkables and released a couple of singles on Revue as Frankie Vance, later working with Barry White. 


The playlist below highlights some of the many recording he either recorded himself, wrote and/or produced.

Note: video below is an Ian Levine re-recording but is the only footage found for Frank Wilson.


Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


DJ Kool Keith [2022-12-03] - Soulful Slow Jams [Soul Radio Coast2Coast]


The Soul Emperor's Soulful Slow Jams show broadcast on L.A. station Soul Radio Coast 2 Coast Sat/Sun (2 Dec / 3 Dec 2022).


DJ Kool Keith has two shows per week, his Soulful Vibes show Sun 12:00-14:00 (GMT/UK Time) on Soul Groove Radio and his Soulful Slow Jams show on Soul Radio Coast 2 Coast 23:00 PST which has now been moved to Sat (Sun 07:00 GMT in UK).

All DJ Kool Keith podcast are available to listen/download from Podomatic.


Playlist:
Raquel Rodriguez - Hurry Up This Way Again [2022]
The Visitors - Until You Came Along [1968]
The Fiestas - I'm Gonna Hate Myself  [1977]
Dennis Taylor - (My Love) Give It Right Back [2020]
I.N.D. (Into New Dimensions) - I'm Not Ready [2022]
Kevin Flournoy feat. Phil Perry & Shannon Pearson - Tell Me If You Still Care [2022]
Thee Illusions - Baby Don't (Waste My Time) [2022]
Al Lindsey & Sugar Rainbow - Something Special [2022]
Billy Butler feat. Jay Player - Just Let Me Know  [2022]
Thee Heart Tones - Don't Take Me As A Fool [2021]
Soul Children - If You Want A Woman This Time [2022]
Insiders - I'm Better Off Without You [2022]
Nio Renee - Soul Searching [2022]
Margie Alexander - What'cha Tryin' To Do To Me [1977]
Bobby Thurston - We Got So Much To Stay Together For [1978]
Will Wheaton - The Lady In My Life [2022]
Brenda Norman - Yes I'm Ready [1985]
Roland Johnson - I Wish We Could Talk Again [2011]
Roland Johnson - What Am I Gonna Do [2011]
The Imperial Wonders - Never Go Looking For Love [2005]
Y'anna Crawley - Made It [2021]
Elijah Blake - Hanging Tree [2017]
Tony Drake - Let's Play House [1969]
Thee Heart Tones - Will You [2022]
Backhouse Nation - Ice Cold [2022]
Backhouse Nation - Work It Out [2022]
Vanessia Mathis - Angel In Disguise [2022]
Lifestyle - Love Can Make You Cry [1977]
The Independents - It's All Over [1973]

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved