Soul Strutter: 01/10/23

Tuesday, 10 January 2023

Mighty Clouds Of Joy [2023] - The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simpson Uniquity] (Full Album)

Paul Simpson has a new set of Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions out today for The Mighty Clouds Of Joy. As always, only available for two weeks direct from his website.

No sound files will be posted as you can listen to the full tracks on his website HERE. If, when you click, they are not at the top of the page then they will have been removed as the two weeks has expired, although the previous set for First Choice (from 19 Dec 2022) appear to be still available to listen to.

The six tracks are taken from just two albums. The first three from "It's Time" 1974 and the last three from "Kickin'" 1975, both on ABC. the first was recorded at Sigma Sound Studio and included Philly musicians such messrs Baker, Young & Harris along with Vince Montana, Bobby Eli and Ron Kersey amongst many others. The second at David studios, Atlanta, but mixed at Sigma.

* 1974 - It's Time

** 1975 - Kickin'

Track Listing:

01 - Time (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:19 *

02 - Laugh (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:47 *

03 - Mighty cloud of joy (Paul Simpson Instrumental Re-edit) 5:39 *

04 - Mighty high (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:19 **

05 - Leanin' (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:09 **

06 - Everything is love (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:19 **

If you're interested in hearing the original version of "Mighty Cloud of Joy", and/or a new version of it, then there was a post done in Nov. for Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Gospel / Re-edits
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simpson Uniquity
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/01/2023
Price:	$9.99

David Sea [2023] - Back In The Day / Back In Love Again [Jai Alai #JAR08]

The latest vinyl release from Soul4Real on it's offshoot imprint Jai Alai, specifically set up to reissue CD only tracks on vinyl for the first time, consists of two tracks from David Sea's 1996 album "Groove Mission", namely "Back In The Day" and "Back In Love Again".

The single is available to pre-order now from Soul4Real (for release on 27 Jan 2023) via PayPal soul4realrecordlabel@gmail.com €14 plus postage (1-5 copies) (€3 (Spain) €6.90 (UK & Europe) €10.45 (rest of the world)).

David Sea was born in 1948 in Sumter County, AL, and raised in a suburb of Birmingham called Hueytown. Like so many soul singers, he began singing gospel music from the age of 5 and joined the family group The Spiritual Nightingales. In 1970 he formed David Sea & The Question Marks who later became known as David Sea & The Uptown Movement which was more of a rock n roll group.

He recorded a couple of solo singles in the early 70s at Neal Hemphill's Sound Of Birmingham Studios written and produced by Jerry Weaver. I don't believe that they were released at the time but two sides ("Believe In Me" & "Let's Just Get Together") appeared on a Shotgun 7" in 2007 after featuring on a 2006 compilation "The Birmingham Sound: The Soul Of Neal Hemphill (Vol 1)" with another track "Work Hard" featuring on Vol. 2.

Whether or not any other material was recorded, which is highly likely, he didn't surface again until 1981 with a single "Angel (You're The Sunshine)". It was initially released by Birmingham label Hy-Tyde (which is most likely a private press as this is the only release) and then picked up by Ted Jarrett who owned a Nashville based label T-Jaye (and also owned Ref-O-Ree and Spar and a few other labels) who re-released it in Aug 1982. It had a big underground following on the UK modern soul scene.

The song didn't seem to register at all in the U.S. and only one of his singles, his last, charted in 1991 with "Shake (You Make Me Shake)" on Magic City. In between he released around eight singles from 1982-91. Two for T-Jaye, Two for Crown Limited (owned by Hemphill) ("Do It Right Now" / "Who's Been Warming My Oven" and "Night After Night" / "When Did You Start To Stop Loving Me") and the remaining six on Birmingham label Magic City. He released two albums for the label "An Ocean Apart" (1988) followed by "Born To Sing" (1991).

After a worldwide tour he became popular in Japan, in particular, and proceeded to release a further three albums for Victor Entertainment between 1993-96, the third of which ("Groove Mission") is where the two tracks on this release were selected from. His final album appeared in 2006 on a Jackson, MS, label, Park Place, linked to Frederick Knight.

It is said that he was close to replacing Dennis Edwards (who was a neighbour from Fairfield, AL) when he left The Temptations in 1984 but opted for a solo career. There are further Temptations connections as Eddie Kendricks lived in nearby Ensley where he met Paul Williams and along with Kell Osbourne and another (some sources quote Jerome Averette and another Willie Waller) formed The Cavaliers, later moving to Cleveland, OH, becoming The Primes and then moving to Detroit. They disbanded in 1961 when Osbourne left for California and a chance meeting with Otis Williams of The Distants resulted in a merger of the two groups to become The Temptations.

In more recent times, rather than replacing Dennis Edwards in The Temptations, he has joined forces with him along with Paul Williams, Jr. (the son of Paul Williams), Michael Pattillo, Chris Arnold and Curtis 'CJ' touring as The Temptations Review and released a live album "Live At Casino San Pablo" in 2001 which consists of classic Temptations songs. A video trailer below shows them performing (Sea on far right/foreground of photo) and they have an active facebook page which indicates that they are still performing together at the turn of the new year.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Jai Alai
Cat No:	JAR08
Date:	27/01/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	€14 + postage

UK Soul Chart 9th Jan 2023 (Week 01)

9th Jan 2023

The first new chart of 2023 so there have been a number of re-entries from end of year plays over the quiet festive period. It seems like Carmichael Musiclover the best album of the year IMO has been drowned out by replays , how come this album wasn't hammered to death with nothing much else around with just so many tracks to choose to play?

Summary: There are 6 risers, 11 fallers, 3 non-movers, 5 new entries, 5 re-entries

New Entries: Bey Bright (7), B. Golden (9), Brian Power (11), Kenny Thomas (14), Kenny Hamber (19)

Re-entries: Lindsey Webster (12), Julian Jonah (13), Kim Tibbs (18), Down To Earth (29), Bob Baldwin ft Kathy Kosins (30)

Highest Risers: SouLutions (+20), Ten City (+10), Los Charly's Orchestra (+3)

Biggest Fallers: Ava Cherry (-18), Will Downing (-16), Raja-Nee' (-14)

Losers: Sir Spencer Feat. Raquel Rodriguez, Paris Jordan, Kim Tavar, Dave Mascall, LaTasha Spencer, Get To Know & Andre Espeut, Lynn Davis, Marcy Brown, Dawn Joseph, Melba Moore

Pos	Last	Chg	Artist - Title
1	1	0	Hil St Soul - Back To Love LP
2	2	0	Groove Association ft Georgie B - You'll Never Know
3	6	+3	Los Charly's Orchestra Feat Andre Espeut - Music For The Soul Pt.2
4	3	-1	Carmichael Musiclover - Black Elvis - Western Eyes Vol. 1 & 2 LP
5	7	+2	Victor Haynes - Love Is The Answer LP
6	26	+20	SouLtions - Just One More Christmas
7		-7	Bey Bright - Just A Little Bit
8	9	+1	Will Wheaton - The Lady In My Life
9			B Golden - Dance With Me 79 Mix (Revisions EP)
10	5	-5	Centric - Love Received LP
11			Brian Power ft The Lewis Sisters - Year Of Decision
12	RE		Lindsey Webster - Reasons LP
13	RE		Julian Jonah - Now's The Time For Us / Comin' Back For Your Lovin'
14		-14	Kenny Thomas - Get It On Time (Oplopo Remix)
15	15	0	Chris Kingdon - On The Good Foot
16	10	-6	Glenn Jones Feat. Y'Anna Crawley - Family Time
17	12	-5	Al Lindsey & Sugar Rainbow - Something Special
18	RE		Kim Tibbs - The Science Of Completion Vol. 1 LP
19		-19	Kenny Hamber - Open The Door (Mixes)
20	21	+1	Ingram Street - Natural High (The Realm Remix)
21	30	+9	Ten City - Love Is Love
22	4	-18	Ava Cherry - Love Shines So Bright
23	16	-7	James Aaron - All I've Been
24	8	-16	Will Downing - Kinda Guy
25	11	-14	Raja-Nee' - The Sovereign Of 14742 LP
26	13	-13	Backhouse Nation - Full Circle LP
27	14	-13	Sir Spencer Feat. Raquel Rodriguez - Maybe (The Maxi-Single)
29	28	-1	Penny Wells - I Wanna Be More (You Are)
29	RE		Down To Earth - What We Gonna Do / My Guiding Star
30	RE		Bob Baldwin & Kathy Kosins - Let's Rewind (Original & Nigel Lowis Philly Mix)

UK Soul Chart BREAKERS 7th Jan 2023 (Week 01)

Here are the latest UK Soul Chart Breakers for 7th Jan 2023 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 - Title	Rel'd	Post
Shaila Prosper - Faith (Rickstar Mix) Website Release only)	13/01
J'Cenae - Moving At Your Speed	30/12
Crutchfield Jones - Cloudy (The Crutchfield Jones Project EP)	06/01	06/01
Heston - Hey Micki	14/12
Tanqueray Hayward - You Lied	20/01
Dwayne Scivally - Let Me So (Soul Chapter II LP)	15/11	09/12
Masta - No Tears In Your Eyes	06/12	09/01
Captain Sky - Back Together Again	22/12	04/01
Tyrone - Soul N Samba (Memories of Brazil EP)	10/02
Ciara Leah - Love Money	02/01
Duane Parham - My Turn	07/01
Wade C Long feat. Hil St Soul - Celebrate You (A Long Story LP)	06/01	06/01
Desmond Parson - Lets Pretend (Like November LP)	11/11	15/10
Matt Lee - Dream Walk	09/01
Ramsey Renee - Phases (Phases LP)	05/01

NB tracks in yellow are forthcoming

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DJ Kool Keith [2023-01-07] - 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 (7 Jan / 8 Jan 2023).

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:

Cooperettes - Win All Your Love [1971]

Jarvis Greene - Got Me Thinking [2022]

Antonio McLendon - How I Feel [2022]

Lonne G - Too Late [2022]

Color Me Badd - California Dreamin' [2022]

Michon Young - Only You [2022]

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - I'm Just A Fool In Love [1973]

Eddie Cornelius - Don't Ever Be Lonely [1982]

Eric Benet - Stir It Up [2010]

The Chi-Lites - (Um, Um) My Baby Loves Me [1968]

Nicholas Cole feat. Le France - All The Way [2022]

The Realistics - You're My Sweet (Chocolate Drops) [1973]

Al Hudson & The Soul Partners - Baby Let Me Love You [1977]

Ben Tankard - Be With You (feat. Debbie Winans) [1990]

B. Golden - Sweet Angela (Cruise Mix) (Gedi Edit) [2022]

The Coalitions - Colour Me Blue [2013]

The Coalitions - I'm Your Gentleman [2013]

Leo McCarty - Just A Friendly Reminder [1975]

Tsharna - Curfew [2021]

Nicole Jackson - Say You Will [1995]

The O'Jays - I Miss You [1968]

Larry Rice - Love Looks So Good On You [1973]

Eddie Kendricks - When I'm Close To You [1983]

Baby Bash & The BashTones - Before I Met You (feat. Roney Boys) [2022]

Baby Bash & The BashTones - Me Plus You (feat. Mikey Jimenez) [2022]

Whatnauts - I Can't Stand To See You Cry [1973]

The Futures - Breaking Up [1970]

J'Cenae feat. J-Wonn - Moving At Your Speed [2022]

The Nu'Rons - Joy For Me And My Baby [2014]

Juanita Wynn - Make It Right [2022]

Sam Harris II - Do It Again [2010]

VA [2023] - Mountain of Soul Episode 6 [Charly] (Full Album)

The latest episode of Mountain of Soul, Episode 6, was released on Friday but wasn't available on Spotify until this morning.

Strangely, the Amazon listing only shows 9 tracks and states that it's not available for sale, so it may be streaming only.

The podcast for this episode is also available on Spotify so is included below if you'd like to listen to Kev Roberts' comments regarding each track.

01 - P.P. Arnold [1967] - Everything's Gonna Be Alright [Immediate (UK) #IM 040]

(Former Ikette (with Gloria Scott) Patricia Ann Cole recorded this track in London on Rolling Stones manger, Andrew Loog Oldham's, label after leaving The Ikettes).

02 - Little Richie [1966] - Just Another Heartache [Sound Stage 7 #45-2554]

(The only recording as Little Richie for John 'Little Richie' Richard Jarvis who recorded two further singles in the early 70s as Little Richie Jarvis and then Richard Jarvis which both appear to be country songs, the first produced by Bobby Goldsboro. He died in June 1980. This has been a NS classic 'forever', strong suspicions that the singer may be white?)

03 - Carole Waller [1967] - This Love Of Mind [USA #863]

(A double sider by blue-eyed Waller which has a cover of Gladys Knight & The Pips "Stop And Get A Hold Of Yourself" on flip).

04 - The Carlettes [1969] - I'm Getting Tired [BR #1001]

(Daughters of label owner Bobby Robinson and written and produced by Pat (Patrick) Adams)

05 - Marvin L. Sims [1967] - Disillusioned [Mellow #1001]

(Third single from Sims on American Breed (who later became Rufus) co-founder Chuck Colbert's label).

06 - The Accents [1965] - Who You Gonna Love [One-derful! #4833]

(Chicago group formerly known as The Ascots, released just 3 singles)

07 - Gene Chandler [1966] - Bet You Never Thought [Constellation #C-166]

(Superb, largely overlooked track from Chandler)

08 - Maurice Williams [1986] - What Can a Man Do [Charly R&B #CRB 1109]

(Unissued Deesu song from Rare Uncovered Soul Vol. 2 compilation)

09 - Buckner Brothers [1966] - Love You From The Bottom Of My Heart [Sanla #3001]

(Chicago duo Raymond & Charles Buckner who released just this single but also wrote the wonderful "Falling In Love With You Girl" for The Star-Tells.)

10 - Pam Bowie [1969] - He's All I Need [Aquarius #AQ 4011]

(Class crossover and another out of Chicago which was a one-off recording for Pamela Bowie Smith)

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:	Northern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Charly
Cat No:	None
Date:	06/12/2023
Price:	£N/A

Fayette Pinkney (The Three Degrees) - A Profile

Fayette Pinkney (10 Jan 1948 - 27 Jun 2009) was an original member of the Philadelphia group The Three Degrees from it's inception in 1963 with Linda Turner and Shirley Poole. The group was formed by veteran writer/producer Richard Barrett who was behind the success of Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Chantels and Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers in the 50s.

Pinkney was only 15 and still at school and remained with the group through their Philadelphia International heyday until 1976. Turner and Poole were replaced by Helen Scott and Janet Harmon before they released their first single "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)" in 1963 (on which Pinkney sang lead vocals) and by 1966 Scott was replaced by Sheila Ferguson and Harmon by Valerie Holiday in 1967 and this was the trio who joined Gamble & Huff in 1973.

Their early recordings were on the Philly Swan label until it closed in 1967 whereupon they released a one-off single ("Contact") for Warner Bros / Seven Arts in 1968 (which later became a big tune on Northern Soul dancefloors), two singles on Metromedia in 1969 and another on Gamble & Huff's Neptune imprint in 1970 before signing to Roulette in 1970. Their first hit came from their debut album "Maybe" in Jun 1970 with the title track, a cover of The Chantels 1958 #2 hit, which reached #4 R&B and #29 Hot 100. They had also recorded a, more uptempo, version of it earlier in 1966 on Swan.

In the UK the group is regarded as one of the biggest girl groups of the 70s. They were the first all girl group to have a #1 hit since The Supremes in 1964 and achieved ten UK Top 40 pop hits (with five of them being top 10). Yet in the US, surprisingly, they achieved only two Hot 100 Top 10 hits with "T.S.O.P." (helped by the fact that it was used as the theme tune to the TV show 'Soul Train' which was syndicated nationally in 1973) and "When Will I See You Again" and only four Top 10 R&B hits, the two former records plus "Maybe" and the follow up to it "I Do Take You".

Barrett decided to take the group to CBS in 1976 at which point Pinkney left the group being replaced by the returning Helen Scott. She recorded a solo album "One Degree" in London in 1979 after which she changed direction. She worked as project coordinator for Opportunities Industrialization Center in North Philadelphia from 1979 to 1983 and then studied Psychology at Temple University and obtained a Masters Degree in Human Services from Lincoln University. She subsequently worked as an education co-ordinator at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1994, and from 2001 an intake counsellor at United Behavioral Health in Philadelphia.

Although not credited on the album, Pinkney was involved in the recording of David Bowie's "Young Americans" album at Sigma Sound Studios in 1974 on which Ava Cherry and Luther Vandross also provided backing vocals. Bowie wanted to use MFSB but they weren't available.

Pinkney died of acute respiratory failure after a short and sudden illness aged 61 in June 2009, she would have been 75 today.

Quite a comprehensive playlist of Three Degrees tunes was posted only a few weeks ago for, remaining member, Valerie Holiday's 75th birthday on 2 Dec 2020. So some different tracks have been selected, including a few more of the hits up to 1976 which were intentionally omitted, although there will inevitably be some overlap, but best to view/listen to both playlists. Just to spice it up a bit, included is a brand new cover of "Year Of Decision" by Brian Power & The Lewis Sisters). Videos include an award ceremony (presented by Helen Scott's nephew Ashley Scott), an interview with The Three Degrees and two solo performances by Fayette.