Soul Strutter: 12/14/22

Wednesday, 14 December 2022

DJ Kool Keith [2022-12-11] - Soulful Vibes [Soul Groove Radio]

The Soul Emperor's selections of the latest releases broadcast on Sun 11th Dec 2022 on Soul Groove Radio.

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 (Tue 07:00 GMT in UK).

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

Playlist:

Fragrance - Always

Fragrance - When The Night Is Right

The Wright Turn CAST feat. Bridgette Bryant, OKChanelle,

Silvia Mathis & Terrah Bennett Smith - Time Of Your Life (Original Mix)

Jordin Sparks - Stop This Feeling

Tortured Soul - It's Your Turn (feat. Saucy Lady)

Tortured Soul - U Live 2 Far Away

Los Charly's Orchestra (Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel feat. Andre Espeut)

- Music For The Soul Pt. II

Dwayne Scivally - Got You In My Life

Dwayne Scivally - Let Me So

B & The Family feat. Re-surface - Just Dance!

Phebe Edwards - Get It Right (feat. Mark Asari)

Centric - Timing (feat. C-Jae)

Galdive - A Friend

Carlin Taylor feat. The Soul Cartel Band - Keep It 100

Paul Taylor - Friday@5

Paul Taylor - Find A Way

Blake Aaron - Dreamland

Carmichael Musiclover - Play Me

Carmichael Musiclover - War

Mnelia - Closure

Cardell - I Deliver (R&B Mix)

Rochelle Williams - Still On My Mind

Backhouse Nation - Want You To Know

Willie Clayton - Legends

The Groove Association feat. Georgie B - You'll Never Know

Raelle - Cruel Nostalgia

I Am Will Star - Don't Come Over Tonite (Radio)

Bianca Star - A Good Day For Everybody

Dominique Mary Davis - Dangerous Man

Steve Aggasild [2022-12-12] - SoulAndJazzFlavas [Soul Groove Radio]

This Monday's episode of Soul & Jazz Flavas show from 'The Soul Master' Steve Aggasild on Soul Groove Radio 12th Dec 2022.

The same Monday night format as recent weeks with hour one looking back at some of the best music of 2022 and hour two focusing on just some of the brilliant fresh soul from the last week or so.

Steve's show on Soul Groove Radio between 22:00-24:00 BST tonight is another two hours of fresh new releases that he couldn't squeeze in last night.

If you have yet to listen to Steve's shows please do take a listen as he is one of the best UK soul radio presenters around with a 40 year pedigree.

Catch up with other SoulAndJazzFlavas podcasts at Mixcloud or from 27 Jun 2022 onwards Podbean

Playlist:

Hour 1

01 - Tyra Levone - I Like It (2022 Chronicles of Life LP)

02 - H'Atina - Be Mine (2022)

03 - Isaac Aragon & The Healing - Who's Standing With Me (2022)

04 - Tabitha King - Unconditionally (I'm Gonna Make It) (2022)

05 - Byamm - Shine (2022 The Anthropomorphic Fantasy EP)

06 - Devon Howard - Forever & Always (Steppers Mix) (2022)

07 - Roger Hill- Come Back To Me (2022)

08 - Maysa - Just Stay (2022)

09 - Sound of SuperBad feat. Monique MissVocalz -

A Little Something (2022)

10 - Baiana - Saudade Samba (2022)

11 - Dave & Omar - Starlight (Extended Album Mix) (2022)

12 - Rob Hardt - Be With You (2022)

13 - Zenesoul - Don't Mind (2022)

Hour 2

14 - Dawn Joseph - Imitation love (2022 Up Front EP)

15 - Stereonoon - Sun rays on your skin (2022 Places we can hide LP)

16 - Backhouse Nation - Your the One (2022)

17 - Carmichael Musiclover - Don't Say A Word

(2022 Black Elvis - Western Eyes Vol. 1 LP)

18 - Carmichael Musiclover - The One

(2022 Black Elvis - Western Eyes Vol. 2 LP)

19 - Glenn Jones feat. Y'Anna Crawley - Family Time (2022)

20 - CENTRIC feat. Anna Moore - Sunday Drive (Ride With You)

(2022 Love Received LP)

21 - CENTRIC feat. Sakar - Begin Againi (2022 Love Received LP)

22 - Kevin Flournoy feat. Phil Perry & Shannon Pearson -

Tell Me If You Still Care(2022)

23 - Richie Goods & Chien Chien Lu feat. Jamison Ross -

Someday We'll All Be Free (Radio Edit) (2022)

24 - Karlos Edwards feat. Elle Cato - With You (2022)

25 - Natalie Duncan - Let Go Release (2022)

Bianca Star [2022] - A Good Day For Everybody [Self Released]

Going by the name of Bianca Star for her music, Bianca Spear is also an actress and this song is the title track from a new movie "A Good Day For Everybody" in which she features in the role of Savannah. I don't know if the fil has been aired yet but found a trailer for it from Aug '22 (below).

This is her fourth single this year and she released four between 2019-21 but has one going back to 2012. Not only a singer and actor, she has also written/co-written all, or most, of her songs

From recollection, although not receiving a full post, her first single of 2022 "Please Stay" featured in a playlist posted "The Bleeding Edge"

Her 2020 single "All Mines" samples Main Ingredient's "Let Me Prove My Love To You" (also sampled by Alicia Keys for "You Don't Know My Name") so It's included below.

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:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/11/2022
Key/BPM:	1A/67
Price:	£1

Lola Ladae' [2022] - Call Me [Self Released]

After gaining Degree in Animal Science from the University of Missouri, St Louis native Lola Ladae' moved to Atlanta, GA, in 2018. She gigged doing open mic night and was invited to sing and play bass guitar with an all Black woman rock band, "The Txlips" and she spent the next two years on tour with them.

Her debut solo single "BOOTY" arrived in Apr 2018. She's subsequently released another single in 2020, four in 2021 and her latest "Call Me" is her second in 2022. It's a jazz flavoured neo soul song in the Erykah Badu style.

As the name Armani Versae Cross appears on all writing credits except one, my guess is that it's her real name.

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:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/12/2022
Key/BPM:	3B/67
Price:	£1

Nes [2022] - Everything About Me Is Dif'rent [SenSen Music] (Full Album)

Singer-songwriter Nes (Vanesa Powers), from Jersey City, NJ, now resident in Washington, D.C., was discovered by Stevie D (Steven Lundy) of the Force MD's who invited her to the studio to work on their album back in the 90s.

She has written songs recorded by Johnny Gill, Salt 'N Pea and our good friend Raja-Nee', writing and performing "Who's Givin' It Up" on Raja-Nee's 1994 album "Hot & Ready" on Perspective records produced by (Jimmy) Jam & (Terry) Harris. She's also worked with Ann Nesby and Queen Latifah. amongst others.

In November she released the title track from her new album "Everything About Me Is Dif’rent" as a single and now the full album is out.

Several tracks have already seen the light of day as singles starting with "Love Me Anyway" (Nov '20), "I'm Done" (May '21) , "Stick To Me Lie Rain" (Jan '22) and the title track (18 Nov '22).

From the new songs my choice cut is "Wait For Me". One track, "We Good", gives a nod to her D.C. home with a go go beat.

NOTE: It looks like Spotify has 'tinkered' with their interface again which has changed today. The last time they did that it caused problems, so fingers crossed!

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:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	SenSen Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/11/2022
Price:	£7.99

Michael Dunston [2022] - Dunston 2.0 [D-Menace Music] (Full EP)

Michael Dunston is originally from Charlotte, NC, but has been resident in Toronto for many years. He has been performing since 1969 and has appeared in several movies and TV series (starting out in "Death Wish" (1994)) and sung with many groups including most recently Crack O Dawn and Soul Stew.

He featured on the blog back in April as a featured vocalist with Boomtang All-Stars on "Soul Revolution (Soul Cruisin' Edit)" along with Four80East. I believe that it was simply a reissue of a song he recorded on a 2010 EP "My Love", but may have been a new mix.

He has a new five track EP "Dunston 2.0" out which contains "So Sensitive", which was released as a single in August.

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:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	D-Menace Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/12/2022
Price:	£4.95

Ronnie McNeir - A Profile Of... 60s/70s Recordings

Another 'unsung' artist celebrating his birthday today is Ronnie McNeir (71) who I first became aware of from his ultra rare Northern Soul classic "Sitting In My Class" which was his first recording on De-To in 1966 aged 16 which now fetches up to nearly £2k (or probably more now if you were lucky enough to find one). I've had to make do with a 70s 'pressing' to this day.

I think I'm correct in saying that it has only ever been released on CD once via Goldmine Soul Supply on "The Essential Northern Soul Story" in 1990 but stand to be corrected if you know otherwise. It has had various legal, or otherwise, 'reissues' since. The flip side is "Isn't She A Pretty Girl" which received a cover by fellow current Four Tops member Alexander Morris this year on Izipho Soul (posted in April). What a terrific double-sider of Northern Soul 'loveliness'!

Whilst on the subject I noticed that Doc Smallwood did a pretty good cover of it on Sonic Wax in the last year or so.

Ronnie replaced the legendary Levi Stubbs in the Four Tops in 1999 when Stubbs became ill and has been a member ever since.

For some reason his next single didn't materialise until 1972 but it was another gem. "In Summertime" on RCA Victor. It was released twice with two different B Sides, the first with "Young Girl" (the better of the two) and then again in 1973 with "Keep Your Hands Off My Lady" which was probably originally scheduled as the A side as a same sided demo exists. Whilst at RCA Victor he released his debut self-titled album in 1972.

His next single "Wendy Is Gone", another long time favourite, with "Give Me A Sign", appeared on his own label Rising Sun in 1973 and was then reissued on Motown vice-president Barney Ales' Prodigal label where he released a further two singles ("For Your Love" / "You Better Come On Down" and "Saggitarian Affair" (as misspelt on label) / "You Better Come On Down") and another self-titled album in 1975 which has a few killer cuts that didn't make it to 45 such as "I'm Your Lover". Motown artist Kim Weston, who was a friend of McNeir when he moved to L.A. in 1971, provides backing vocals.

Through his connection with Barney Ales, his next album, "Love's Comin' Down", was on Motown in 1976. Ralph Tee's Expansion label plundered the Motown vaults and reissued the album along with many unreleased gems on CD in 2010 which is well worth picking up. He released just one single for Motown "Selling My Heart To The Junkman" / "Love Proposition", although there was a promo for "Have You Ever Seen Them Shake (Shake It Baby)" which doesn't appear to have been issued.

His final single of the 70s was on Tortoise International Different Kind Of Love (Feat. Rena Scott) / Good Side Of Your Love in 1978.

For now I'm just going to cover his 60s/70s material otherwise the post will get too big but will do another post of his later material.

Here's a small 'showcase' of some of his best 60s/70s sides followed by a Discography of his releases for this period.

Singles

De-To

1966 - Sitting In My Class / Isn't She A Pretty Girl [De-To #DS 2878]

RCA Victor

1972 - In Summertime / Young Girl [RCA Victor #74-0777]

1973/05 - In Summertime / Keep Your Hands Off My Lady [RCA Victor #74-0958]

Prodigal

1975 - Wendy Is Gone / Give Me A Sign [Prodigal #P614]

1975/08 - For Your Love / You Better Come On Down [Prodigal #P-619]

1975/11 - Saggitarian Affair / You Better Come On Down [Prodigal #PLP 0620F]

Motown

1976/08 - Selling My Heart To The Junkman / Love Proposition [Motown #M 1396F]

Tortoise International

1978/09 - Different Kind Of Love (Feat. Rena Scott) / Good Side Of Your Love [Tortoise International #YB-11381]

Albums

1972 - Ronnie McNeir [RCA Victor #LSP-4723]

Full Album HERE

Extra, Extra (4:07)

Daddy's Coming Home (2:58)

The Tears In My Heart (3:24)

Gone Away (2:59)

Trouble's A Loser (3:02)

Young Girl (2:58)

You Better Make Sure (2:30)

I'm So Thankful (2:50)

In Summertime (2:45)

Keep Your Hands Off My Lady (3:57)

Girl You're Gonna Lose Your Groove (2:55)

1975 - Ronnie McNeir [Prodigal #PLP-10007]

Full Album HERE

For Your Love (3:02)

Since I Don't Have Your Love (3:08)

Now She's Gone (3:51)

I'm Your Lover (3:27)

Baby Come Back Home (4:29)

Sagittarian Affair (2:49)

You Are Everything (3:15)

Spirit Of Love (4:00)

Nothing But A Heartache (2:57)

Wendy Is Gone (2:45)

Give Me A Sign (3:24)

1976 - Love's Comin' Down [Motown #M6-870S1]

Full Album HERE

NB the link is to an expanded edition of the original album released on CD in 2010 by Expansion which has an additional 7 tracks.

You're All I Need To Survive (3:58)

Selling My Heart To The Junkman (3:56)

My Love Is Comin' Down (4:11)

Say You Will (4:04)

2-1= Loneliness (3:21)

Have You Ever Seen Them Shake (Shake It Baby) (3:12)

Funky Situation (3:45)

It Won't Be Long (When We're All Gone) (3:31)

Goodbye After Sunday (4:27)

Mama And Daddy (5:29)

Expanded Edition tracks:

These are all, presumably unreleased, gems left in the can by Motown!

Some stunning tracks in here!

Betcha I'll Prove (3:57)

Dream Come True (4:45)

For Those Who Don't Believe (4:29)

I Can't See Myself (Without You) (3:36)

Just You Babe (7:03)

Love Proposition (3:58)

Start Over As Your Man (9:54)

Linda Jones - A Profile

Today (14 Dec) would have been Linda Jones' 78th birthday had she not tragically died of a diabetic coma aged only 27 on 14 Mar 1972 whilst she was at her artistic peak.

She was born in Newark, NJ on 14 Dec 1944 and began singing aged six in her family's gospel group, the Jones Singers. Her first recording was under the pseudonym Linda Lane which was a cover of the Jackie Wilson's 1958 hit "Lonely Teardrops" on Cub Records in 1963. Another two singles were released on Atco in 1965 and Blue Cat in 1966 produced by George Kerr which also failed to make any impact.

Kerr took her to Russ Regan's Loma label (a Warner Bros. subsidiary) in 1967. Her first recording for the label became her biggest hit and the label's best selling record "Hypnotized" reaching #4 R&B #21 Hot 100. The flip side "I Can't Stop Lovin' My Baby" would later be picked up on by the UK Northern Soul scene, as would several other of her Loma recordings such as "My Heart Needs A Break" and "I Just Can't Live My Life (Without You Babe)" in particular but there were others.

She released seven singles and an album titled "Hypnotized" on Loma before moving to Gamble & Huff's Neptune label for two singles in 1969-70 and then on to Sylvia Robinson's Turbo label in 1971 for four singles in 1971-72 before switching to another Robinson label Stang for a one-off with The Whatnauts before reverting back to Turbo for her last two. The last five singles were released posthumously. Turbo also released three albums by her in 1972, "Your Precious Love" with the last two "Let It Be Me" and "A Portrait Of" being released posthumously.

Her catalogue has been fairly extensively covered in several compilations.

Albums

1967 - Hypnotized [Loma #LS 5907]

Full Album HERE

Hypnotized (2:38)

I Can't Stop Lovin' My Baby (2:03)

Give My Love A Try (2:30)

You Can't Take It (2:20)

What've I Done (To Make You Mad) (2:20)

I Can't Stand It (2:20)

The Things I've Been Through (Loving You) (3:10)

If Only (We Had Met Sooner) (2:38)

Make Me Surrender (Baby, Baby Please) (2:34)

A Last Minute Miracle (2:31)

Seeing Is Believing (3:14)

1972 - Your Precious Love [Turbo #TU-7007]

Full Album HERE

Your Precious Love

Don't Go (I Can't Bear To Be Alone)

Behold

Stay With Me Forever

Not On The Outside

Dancing In The Street

Let It Be Me

I Can't Make It Alone

Doggin Me Around

1972 - Let It Be Me [Turbo #TU 7008]

Full Album HERE

Fugitive From Love (3:20)

Things I've Been Through (3:25)

Let It Be Me (3:50)

Hypnotized (3:15)

I'm So Glad I Found You (3:15)

If Only We Had Met Sooner (3:25)

When Hurt Comes Back (3:55)

I Do (3:26)

1972 - A Portrait Of Linda Jones [Turbo #TU-7004]

All but two of these tracks appear in albums above.

When The Hurt Comes Back (2:35)

Hypnotized (3:10)

Don't Go (I Can't Bear To Be Alone) (3:00)

If Only We Had Met Sooner 93:35)

Behold (2:40)

Stay With Me Forever (3:20)

I Love You (I Need You) (3:50)

I've Given You The Best Years Of My Life (3:10)

I Can't Make It Alone (3:12)

Singles

NB All from Spotify except 5 prefixed '*' from YouTube

1963/06 - *Lonely Teardrops / *Cancel The Celebration [Cub #K9124]

1965/03 - Take The Boy Out Of The Country / I'm Taking Back My Love [Atco #45-6344]

1966/07 - Fugitive From Love / You Hit Me Like T.N.T. [Blue Cat #BC 128]

Loma

1967/05 - Hypnotized / I Can't Stop Lovin' My Baby [Loma #2070]

1967/09 - What've I Done (To Make You Mad) / Make Me Surrender (Baby, Baby Please) [Loma #2077]

1967?? - You Can't Take It / I Can't Stop Lovin' My Baby [Warner Bros (FR) #WV 5080]

1967/12 - Give My Love A Try / I Can't Stand It [Loma #2085]

1968/02 - My Heart Needs A Break / The Things I've Been Through (Loving You) [Loma #2091]

1968/06 - What Can I Do (Without You) / Yesterday [Loma #2099]

1968/09 - It Won't Take Much (To Bring Me Back) / I Who Have Nothing [Loma #2105]

1969/04 - My Heart (Will Understand) / I Just Can't Live My Life (Without You Babe) [Loma #2091]

Neptune

1969/10 - I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow / *That's When I'll Stop Loving You [Neptune #N-17]

1970/05 - Ooh Baby You Move Me / *Can You Blame Me? [Neptune #N-26]

Turbo

1971/05 - Stay With Me Forever / *I've Given You The Best Years Of My Life [Turbo #TU 012]

1971/11 - I Can't Make It Alone / Don't Go (I Can't Bear To Be Alone) [Turbo #TU 017]

1972/02 - Your Precious Love / Don't Go (I Can't Bear To Be Alone) [Turbo #TU 021]

1972/05 - Not On The Outside / Things I've Been Through [Turbo #TU-024]

Stang

1972/06 - Linda Jones & Whatnauts - I'm So Glad I Found You / Whatnauts - World Solution [Stang #ST-5039]

Turbo

1972/09 - Let It Be Me / Don't Go (I Can't Bear To Be Alone) [Turbo #TU-028]

1973-01 - Fugitive From Love / Things I've Been Through [Turbo #TU-032]

Here's a couple of playlists highlighting most of her best recordings, split into deep soul and Northern Soul in no particular order other than chronological. There are two different versions of "If Only (We Had Met Sooner)" in the Northern Soul sides playlist.

The Deep Sides

The Northern Soul Sides