In conjunction with Soul Session, the next release from Izipho Soul
consists of two unreleased songs by Alvarez (aka Jesus
Alvarez). The two tracks are taken from the same session that produced
"Sooner Or Later" for Polydor and were intended for an album that never materialised.
"Sooner Or Later" was released only as a same sided white promo in
1977 and was included on a 2014 compilation "Step Inside My Soul (Rare '70s And Modern Soul)".
The two songs are "I Can’t Make It" and "I Can’t Stop Loving You" which, since being posted on Izipho Soul's website, Izipho Soul's
Patrick Biggerstaff informs us that it is his fastest selling single to
date. Therefore, if you want one, then you'd better get your pre-order
in quickly before they sell out.
The tracks have been taken from the only known copy of a 1977
Columbia Promotional Test Pressing LP, courtesy of Tamas Bogyo (Soul
Session).
Alvarez was born Jason Alvarez in Havana, Cuba, moving to the Newark,
NJ, on a freedom flight as a child. As a member of Brother To Brother
he met Shirley Robinson and became a backing singer for Shirley &
Company and featured on their 1974/75 hit "Shame, Shame, Shame" and on
a later single, "Disco Shirley" (which he co-wrote with Brother To
Brother's Michael Burton), received billing as Shirley & Company
feat. Jesus Alvarez.
We first came across his name from a 1975 All Platinum compilation
"It's All Platinum" on which he featured with The Rimshots on "Walking
Down The Highway" (a rock version of which was recorded by South
African band The Rockets in 1976). He also featured on another track
as a member of Brother To Brother who covered Gil Scott-Heron's "In
The Bottle" on Turbo in 1974.
He released three solo singles on Vibration in 1974/75: "Living,
Loving, Laughing" / "Ya, Ya, Ya" as Jesus, "Living, Loving, Laughing"
/ "Please Stay Don't Go" and "Queen Bee" / "Please Stay Don't Go" as
Jesus Alvarez prior to (or concurrently with) being a member of
Shirley & Company. "Please Stay Don't Go", which has been a modern
soul play for years, got a third release with "Costa Rica" in 1976
prior to "Sooner Or Later" on Polydor. He released just one more
single "Mona Lisa" / "I Need You" on Epic/Cleveland International in
1978.
As well as writing and singing his own recordings, he has several
credits for writing, arranging and producing. He contributed "Merry Go
Round" for Moments on "O'Jays Meet The Moments" (1974), "Love Me
Baby", "Leave Me Or Love Me" and "Woman" for The Nicky Newarkers
(1975/76), "Willowman" for The Willows (1976), "Taxi" Sylvia
(1976).
He suffered financial problems resulting in depression and with his
wife Gale (who he had met as a member of Brother To Brother) converted
to Christianity being ordained as a minister in 1982, Pastor Jason
Alverez and his wife founded The Love of Jesus Family Church in
Orange, NJ, which has just celebrated it's 37th year.
The single, licensed directly from Jason, will be released on 20 Oct and is available from
Izipho Soul
now to pre-order.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
| Rating: | 8.4 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | Modern Soul |
| Format: | Single |
| Media: | 7" Vinyl |
| Label: | Izipho Soul |
| Cat No: | ZP 94 |
| Date: | 20/10/2023 |
| Key/BPM: | N/A |
| Price: | £14 |
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