Sunday, 1 January 2023

2022 Top 100 Albums of the Year



SoulStrutter's selection of the top 100 albums of 2022. There are in fact 101 as Carmichael Musiclovers' two volumes have been classed as a single album. All original material i.e. no reissues or compilations.

They are not ranked in order, simply listed by reverse chronological release date.

There are links to the original posts if you would like to revisit them.

Dec (5)

Baby Bash & The Bashtones - Souldies Nation [23 Dec]
Carmichael Musiclover - Black Elvis - Western Eyes Vol. 2 (P-Z) [8 Dec]
Carmichael Musiclover - Black Elvis - Western Eyes Vol 1 (A-L) [8 Dec] 
Victor Haynes - Love Is The Answer [2 Dec]

Nov (12)

Rita Ray - A Life of Its Own [28 Nov]
Backhouse Nation - Full Circle [25 Nov]
Stereonoon - Places we can go hide [25 Nov]
Tortured Soul - Take the Day Off [25 Nov]
Rodney Stith - The Soul Chronicles of Rodney Stith [20 Nov]
Hil St. Soul - Back In Love [18 Nov]
Claudia Campagnol - Right Now [18 Nov]
Luqman Frank - The Light of the Sun [17 Nov]
André Ward - Africa Rising [11 Nov]
Centric - Love Received [11 Nov]
STR4TA - STR4TASFEAR [11 Nov]
Nathan Johnston & Angels Of Libra - Nathan Johnston & Angels Of Libra [4 Nov]

Oct (10)

Raja-Nee' - The Sovereign of 14742 [31 Oct]
Swatkins - Friends And Other Necessities [28 Oct]
Candy Dulfer - We Never Stop [26 Oct]
Sir Spencer - The Second [22 Oct]
Kenya T - Writer's Room:Vol. 1 [21 Oct]
Rebecca Jade - A Shade of Jade [14 Oct]
Mikhala Jené - The Missing Peace [14 Oct]
Flwr Chyld - Luv N Chaos [14 Oct]
The Jack Moves - Cruiserweight [14 Oct]

Sep (15)

The Isley Brothers - Make Me Say It Again, Girl [30 Sep]
Beth - Get To Know Me [30 Sep]
Gloria Scott - So Wonderful [30 Sep]
DMo! - Also Known As [28 Sep]
Tamara Wellons - Months of Sundays [23 Sep]
Durand Bernarr - Wanderlust [23 Sep]
Kim Tibbs - The Science of Completion, Vol. 1 [23 Sep]
Jack Tyson Charles - Love Is Pain [22 Sep]
Melvin Gentry - Soul Weekend [17 Sep]
Zyah Belle - Yam Grier [9 Sep]
Ari Lennox - age/sex/location [9 Sep]
Lindsey Webster - Reasons [9 Sep]
IshMaleSings - A Hearts' Journey [4 Sep]
Jamison Ross - Jamo [2 Sep]

Aug (9)

J. DAPHANEY - SUPALOVE [29 Aug]
Princess Freesia - Return To Pleasure [26 Aug]
The R&R Soul Orchestra - The R&R Soul Orchestra (ReMastered 2022) [22 Aug]
Val B. King - So Many Ways [19 Aug]
Midnight.Blue - Breathe [18 Aug]
Sharon Rae North - Silhouette [12 Aug]
Candace Woodson - Perfect [8 Aug]
J-Darius - No Time Wasted [5 Aug]
B. Golden - Feelings [5 Aug]

Jul (5)

Avery*Sunshine - Four Songs & a Bootleg [29 Jul]
Khari Cabral & JIVA - 5 [22 Jul]
Yvonne Gage - Feel Love [15 Jul]
the della kit - moonbeams & frequencies [7 Jul] 
Toy Taha - EIGHT [1 Jul]

Jun (9)

JKABEL - Rhythm & Bible [22 Jun]
Mica Millar - Heaven Knows [19 Jun]
Morgan Munroe - Elvira [17 Jun]
Dave Lee - Produced With Love II [17 Jun] 
Kadeem Tyrell - As Time Goes By [16 Jun] 
Tyra Levone - Chronicles of Life [12 Jun]
Blue Soul Ten - This Is Worth It [3 Jun]
Mike Di Lorenzo - What We Need [3 Jun]

May (8)

The Ton3s - We Are The Ton3s [31 May]
Rockwell Hallman - Rockwell [24 May]
Tank & The Bangas - Red Balloon [13 May]
The SWR Band & Ona Onabule - Soul Encounter [13 May]
Raheem DeVaughn - From Lust Till Dawn [6 May]
Sabrina Claudio - Based On A Feeling [6 May]
Kenyon Dixon - Closer [5 May]

Apr (9)

PJ Morton - Watch The Sun [29 Apr]
Melba Moore - Imagine [29 Apr]
Reuben James - Tunnel Vision [29 Apr]
Sarah Mk - Wax & Gold [27 Apr]
Samuel Archer - Soul Music Vineyard [15 Apr]
Tanika Charles - Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly [8 Apr]
Laura Rain & The Caesars - Rise Again [8 Apr]
Eric Roberson - Lessons [1 Apr] 
Mamas Gun - Cure The Jones [1 Apr]

Mar (3)

Sunstone - Cosmo Sapiens [25 Mar]
Stone Foundation - Outside Looking In [25 Mar]
Krishawna  - Second Offering [1 Mar] 

Feb (8)

Blue Lab Beats - Motherland Journey [25 Feb] 
Wesley Bright - Must Be The Love [11 Feb] 
Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous [11 Feb] 
Moonchild - Starfruit [11 Feb]
aimi - Chosen One [9 Feb]
MoreSoul - My Love Story [7 Feb]
Lance Vantile Whitfield - UnBossed [6 Feb] 
Royalty Duo - Marriage [6 Feb]

Jan (8)

Samm Henshaw - Untidy Soul [28 Jan]
The Real Thing - A Brand New Day [28 Jan]
Lady Wray - Piece Of Me [28 Jan]
David Morales - Life Is A Song [27 Jan]
D'Sound - 25 [21 Jan]
Sunstone - Virtual Superstar [7 Jan] 
Nicole Henry - Time To Love Again [7 Jan] (re-released from Oct 2021)
Stan Taylor - Red Velvet [31 Dec]

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Maysa [2023] - I Don't Mind [Blue Velvet Soul Records]


The first posted new release of 2023 is the final single from Maysa prior to the release of her fourteenth solo album "Music For Your Soul" due in March 2023.

The single "I Don't Mind" is co-written with her musical director Damon Bennett and Incognito's Bluey (Jean-Paul Maunick).

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

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Details
Rating: 8.3
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Blue Velvet Soul Records / Self Released
Cat No: None
Date: 01/01/2023
Key/BPM: 4B/93
Price: £1
Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

A Tribute to soul related artist who left us in 2022

One of the unenviable year-end tasks is paying tribute to the soul related artists we have lost in 2022 along with a host of other famous names. 

The list, sadly, includes several giants of soul music including, most recently, Thom Bell, but also Jim Stewart the founder of Stax, Ramsey Lewis, Lamont Dozier and one of the legendary names in Northern Soul, J.J. Barnes.

Dec
31 - Anita Pointer (singer/songwriter Pointer Sisters) 74
22 - Thom Bell (songwriter, arranger, producer) 79
20 - Sam Hutchins (singer The Masqueraders) 79
16 - Bertha-Barbee McNeal (singer The Velvelettes)
10 - J.J. Barnes (singer) 79
05 - Jim Stewart (Stax President) 92

Nov
03 - Noel McKoy (singer) 60

Oct
27 - Geraldine Hunt (singer) 77
15 - Joyce Sims (singer) 63

Sep
24 - Pharoah Sanders 83
23 - Vernon Burch (singer) 67
17 - Marva Hicks (singer) 66
13 - Jesse Powell (singer) 51
12 - Ramsey Lewis (jazz pianist) 87

Aug
25 - Inez Foxx (singer) 84
25 - Mable John (singer) 91
09 - Lamont Dozier (singer / composer) 81
04 - Sam Gooden (singer The Impressions) 87

Jul
30 - Nichelle Nichols (actress / singer) 89
14 - William 'Poogie' Hart (The Delfonics) (singer / songwriter) 77
19 - Michael Henderson (singer) 71

Jun
17 - Ken Williams (singer / songwriter) 83
22 - Patrick Adams (producer) 72

Mar
12 - Timmy Thomas (singer) 75

Feb
09 - Betty Davis (singer) 77
06 - Syl Johnson (singer) 75
03 - Donny Gerrard (singer) 75

Jan
22 - Lew Kirton (singer) 73
20 - Meat Loaf (singer) 74
18 - Freddie Hughes (singer) 79
13 - Sonny Turner (The Platters) (singer) 82
13 - Fred Parris (singer) 85
12 - Ronnie Spector (singer) 78
09 - James Mtume (writer/producer) 76
07 - R. Dean Taylor (singer) 82
01 - Marvin Holmes (singer)


Previous years


Other soul artists and famous names lost in 2022 include:

Jan
01 - Nick Colionne (smooth jazz singer and guitarist)
05 - Jessie Lee Daniels (Force MDs) 57
06 - Sidney Poitier (actor) 93
06 - Calvin Simon (Parliament/Funkadelic) 79
11 - Rosa Lee Hawkins (The Dixie Cups) 76
15 - Greg Webster (The Ohio Players) (Drummer) 84
27 - Barry Cryer (British comedy writer) 86
30 - Philip Paul (King studio drummer) 96

Feb
02 - Darrell Crooks (guitarist) 64
13 - Clifton "Fou Fou" Eddie (jazz drummer) 78
14 - Sandy Nelson (drummer) 83
17 - David Tyson (The Manhattans) 62

Mar
01 - Richard Pratt (Blue Magic)
02 - Johnny Brown (singer and actor) 84
04 - Shane Warne (Australian cricketer) 52
13 - William Hurt (actor) 71
21 - Lashun Pace (Anointed Pace Sisters) 60

Apr
04 - June Brown (Eastenders actress) 95
04 - Joe Messina (Motown guitarist) 93
05 - Bobby Rydell (singer) 79
12 - Charles McCormick (Bloodstone) 75
24 - Andrew Woolfolk (saxophonists Earth Wind & Fire) 71

May
08 - Denis Waterman (UK YTV actor) 74
19 - Bernard Wright (keyboardist / singer) 58
26 - Ray Liotta (actor) 67
29 - Lester Piggott (jockey) 86

Jun
23 - Reggie Andrews (songwriter/pianist/producer) 74

Jul
05 - Reginald 'Sonny' Burke (keyboardist /arranger/producer/songwriter) 76
06 - James Caan (actor) 82
07 - Adam Wade (singer / actor) 87
14 - Ivana Trump (one time wife of the orange lump) 73
28 - Bernard Cribbin (UK TV actor/personality) 93

Aug
08 - Olivia Newton-John (singer) 73
11 - Darius Campbell Danesh (TV reality show celebrity) 41
22 - Creed Taylor (jazz producer) 93
31 - Bill Turnbull BBC news presenter/journalist 66

Sep
08 - Queen Elizabeth II 96
22 - John Hartman (Doobie Brothers drummer) 72
28 - Coolio (rapper) 59

Oct
04 - Loretta Lynn (country singer) 90
06 - Ivy Jo Hunter (Motown writer / producer) 82
07 - Art Laboe (DJ) 97
11 - Dame Angela Lansbury (actor) 96
14 - Robbie Coltrane (UK actor) 72
21 - Robert Gordy (Motown executive) 91
28 - Jerry Lee Lewis (Rock & Roll singer) 87

Nov
01 - Joe Tarsia (Sigma Sound engineer) 88
07 - Leslie Phillips (UK comedy actor) 98
25 - Irene Cara (singer / actress) 63
30 - Christine McVie (singer Fleetwood Mac) 79

Dec
05 - Kirstie Alley (Actor) 71
09 - Ruth Madoc (UK comedy actor) 79
15 - Shirley Eikhard (singer) 67
16 - Charlie Gracie (singer) 86
18 - Terry Hall (The Specials / Fun Boy 3) 63
23 - George Cohen (England World Cup winning footballer) 83
29 - Dame Vivienne Westwood (fashion designer) 81
29 - Pele (Brazilian footballer) 82
31 - Pope Benedict XVI 95

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R.I.P. - Anita Pointer (Pointer Sisters) (23 Jan 1948 - 31 Dec 2022)


The eldest, and only surviving, sister from the original Pointer Sisters line-up, Anita Pointer, died on New Years Eve from cancer aged 74. 

The group was set up by younger sisters June (d 2006 52) and Bonnie (d 2020 69) as a duo (Pointers, a Pair) in 1969 with Anita joining later. They were signed to Atlantic where they released just two singles in 1971-72. The flip side of the second in 1972, "Send Him Back", was huge on the Northern Soul scene a few years later.
The Pointer Sisters' breakthrough single was an Allen Toussaint song "Yes We Can Can", on which Anita sang lead, released on Blue Thumb in 1973 by which time they were joined by a fourth sister, Ruth. Bonnie left for a solo career in 1978 leaving them a trio once more.

Their music was quite eclectic to say the least with a single "Fairytale" winning a Grammy in 1975 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group and was also nominated for Best Country Song and their 80s/90s material was pop, rock, electro, disco. The song was written by Anita and Bonnie and later recorded by Elvis.

They had most commercial success in the 80s with songs like "He's So Shy", "Slow Hand", "Automatic", "Jump (For  My Love)" and "I'm So Excited". Two further Grammy's were awarded in 1985 for "Automatic" (Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices), "Jump (For  My Love)" (Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal).

In 1987 Anita released a solo album "Love For What It Is" from which "More Than A Memorywas a club hit (video below). She also released a duet with  Earl Thomas Conley "Too Many Times" which was a #2 Country hit. Apparently, she recorded a solo album in 1977 for ABC that was never released. She had been working on an album, "Take Me Away", which was a collection of unreleased recordings.

The Pointer Sisters released around fifteen studio albums between 1973-93.

Anita retired from the group in 2015 owing to ill health and in 2020 wrote a book "Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story". She died in her Beverly Hills home on 31 Dec 2022 surrounded by her family. Her only daughter Jada died in 2006 and a song ("Jada") was written for her on their debut, eponymous, album in 1973.

The group continues to perform with Ruth, her daughter Issa (with ex Temptation Denis Edwards)  and granddaughter Sadako.

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