Deon Jackson - A Profile

A posthumous birthday tribute to one of the great 'unsung' 60s/70s artists Deon Jackson, whose material I have loved for many years. He was born in Ann Arbor (just outside Detroit) on 26 Jan 1946, departing this world on 18 Apr 2014 aged 68 so would have been 77 today. 

He began his career whilst still at school after being signed by Ollie McLaughlin who ran three labels named after his three daughters Karen, Carla and Moira and another named after his wife Ruth which all produced some classic tunes loved on the Northern Soul scene.

Jackson's first single was in 1963 on Atlantic (aged 17) which was followed by a second on the label in 1964 before he transferred to the Carla label and had his first, and biggest, hit with "Love Makes The World Go Round". It reached #3 R&B and #11 Hot 100 but he was never able to emulate the success of this record. but on the back of its success an album with the same title was released on Atco. It was reissued on CD in 1997 with additional tracks by Marginal and then again in 2006 with just the original twelve tracks.

His next two singles didn't make the R&B chart but the first was #77 and second #11 Hot 100. The next two singles didn't register on either chart but his fifth single on Carla "Ooh Baby" made #28 R&B and #68 Hot 100 and that was his last appearance on either chart in 1967. That's a bit of a surprise as his next two singles are in my opinion, arguably, two of his best; "I Can't Go On" (1968) and the 1969 double-sider "You Gotta Love" (covered by Matt Lucas in 1975 on Celebration promo only)  / "You'll Wake Up Wiser" (covered by Chuck Boris on Enterprise in 1969 and Betty LaVette on Atco in 1972).

That was all but the end of his recording career with only one further, Leroy Hutson written and produced, single appearing on Shout in 1972 "I'll Always Love You" / "Life Can Be That Way" which are another two superb sides that are overlooked.

A few reissues appeared. A notable one was on John Abbey (Blues & Soul) Contemporaries label which had "Love Makes The World Go Round" backed with an alternate take of "I Can't Go On" which has female backing vocals not on the original and has become an in demand item.

UK Hayley Records uncovered and released a couple of previously unreleased tracks in 2016 "Pain In My Heat" (which starts of with a similar hook to Darrel Banks/J.J. Barnes "Our Love (Is In The Pocket) / "I've Got So Much Love".

I think I'd be correct in saying that apart from his Shout, and previously unreleased Hayley, singles and the alternate take of "I Can't Go On", this compilation is his complete catalogue and what a gem ... and wait for it, unbelievably, it is only £4.99! You won't spend a better fiver on a such a collection of magnificent tunes. How Deon Jackson wasn't a soul superstar is beyond belief. Sadly he died of a brain haemorrhage in 2014 aged 68.

Note the tracks not on the compilation have been sourced from YouTube, however three of them are only available on Steve Edgar's excellent Soul Hawk channel and embedding has been disabled but just click on link 'Watch on YouTube' to listen.

1972 - I'll Always Love You [Shout #S-254]

1972 - Love Can Be That Way [Shout #S-254]

1975 - I Can't Go On [Contemporaries #CS 9031]

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

DJ Kool Keith [2022-01-24] - Soulful Vibes [Soul Groove Radio]

The Soul Emperor's selections of the latest releases broadcast on Tue 24th Jan 2023 on Soul Groove Radio. 

His Soulful Vibes show, in which he showcases new releases whether that be brand new music or reissues, has now moved from its previous Sunday slot to Tuesdays between 16:00-18:00 GMT.

DJ Kool Keith has two shows per week, his Soulful Vibes show Tue 16:00-18:00 (GMT/UK Time) on Soul Groove Radio and his Soulful Slow Jams show on Soul Radio Coast 2 Coast Sat 23:00 PST (Sun 07:00 GMT in UK).

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

Playlist:

Tristan  - Shadows In The Moonlight

Rico C - Earthquake (Remix)

TL - Give It Up

Friends - Mama He Treats Your Daughter Good

Mr Maph - Romeo & Juliet

David Sea - Back In Love Again

Lee McDonald - Let's Play Luck (Extended Version)

Norman Hutchins - God's Got A Blessing (With My Name On It!)

Bileo - You Can Win

Claire Davis - Intuition

30/70 feat. Allysha Joy - Acceptance

Soul Basement - Take Me Back

Norman Hutchins - I Really Love You (Extended Version)

Kenya feat. Noel Gourdin - Slow Motion

Carmichael Musiclover - Forgiveness

Ronfo & Kindred Spirits Orchestra feat. Sandi Everett of Whirlwind - Don't Let Him Get The Best Of You

Usher - Seduction (The Realm Remix) 

Austyn King - Dedicated 2 You

Armour Gomez - Feeling Uptight (Vocal)

We Are One X-Perience - If It Feels Good

Split Evolution  - Bedroom Eyes (Don't You Know I Love You)

Nandi - It Could've Been Anyone (Radio Edit)

Celina Graves - I Still Need Your Love

David Brinston - Woman In Love

Saint Jaimz - Bonafide (Radio Edit)

Alex Blair - The Eclipse

T. L. Williams - All Night Long

Gene Moore feat. India.Arie - Beautiful

The WRLDFMS Tony Williams - UBUBU

Jane Handcock - Girls Love Snoop (with Snoop Dogg)

Jane Handcock - Gudtyme

JeRonelle - Stuck

Lenny Williams - Baby, I'm Sorry

Jtreece - Could Have Been

Ollie Moore - Blue Pill

Maxine Scott x Alf.E  - Guard Down (Vocal Mix - Clean Version)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Luther Vandross [2023] - Live at Radio City Music Hall - 2003 (Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition - The Last Concert) [Sony] (Full Album)

A live recording of the last performance by the late great Luther Vandross has been expanded and is being released as "Live at Radio City Music Hall - 2003 (Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition - The Last Concert)" on 10 Feb 2023.

It is his performance at Radio City Music Hall on 12 Feb 2003 which originally contained eleven tracks and is now extended to twenty.

All of the songs on the original release are included along with eight new tracks added (flagged below with "-" in track listing).

-01 - Power of Love / Love Power

-02 - Happy Valentine's Day

03 - Never Too Much

-04 - Work It / Here And Now (Intro)

05 - Here And Now

-06 - Goin' Out Of My Head

07 - Stop To Love

08 - Love Won't Let Me Wait

-09 - Any Day Now

10 - A House Is Not a Home

11 - I'd Rather

12 - Take You Out

-13 - Say It Now

14 - Superstar

-15 - Band Introduction

16 - Intro about "Glow Of Love"

17 - Glow Of Love

-18 - Luther Vandross - Encore

19 - If Only For One Night

20 - Creepin'

For now, until the latest version is released, here is the 2003 original. Also included is some rare footage (circa 1988) of him performing one of his finest with Aretha Franklin, surely two of the finest soul singers who ever lived, both now sadly departed.

Luther suffered from diabetes and hypertension and had a severe stroke at his home on 16 April 2003 and was in a coma for nearly two months. It affected his ability to speak and sing and he was wheelchair bound until his death of a heart attack on 1 Jul 2005 but his music endures forever.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Live
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sony
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/02/2023
Price:	£12.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Energy MC2 [2023] - You And Only You / Let Me Make Love To You [Soul Junction #SJ549]

Following the release of The Mansion last November, Soul Junction's latest release consists of another two sides from Energy MC2 who have featured on the label previously with "If You Break It" / "Other Side Of The Mirror" (SJ536) back in Dec 2016 .

The full story regarding the group can be read on Soul Junction's website, but in summary they started out as a group of kids aged 10 and 11 whilst still at elementary school named Congressional Funk. They were entering and winning local talent shows and came to the attention of Ernest and Barbara Burt's Magic City label and featured on the first three singles for Mad Dog & The Pups. On the third single they had one side dedicated to them under the name The Soulful Hounds on an instrumental of "Why Did You Leave Me Girl". They were noticed in a performance by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield of Motown and were asked to sign for Motown but were under contract to Magic City who weren't prepared to release them.

Upon eventually leaving the label they underwent several name and line-up changes recruiting Ben Adkins from Energy and changed their name to Energy MC2 (after Einstein's E=MC2). Adkins would later leave to join Creative Source. He also worked with Lonnie Smith and then replaced Jermaine Jackson in The Jacksons.

As Energy MC2 they recorded a number of unreleased songs, four of which now appear on Soul Junction 7" singles for the first time along with another "Juliane" which featured on Soul Junction's CD compilation "We Got A Sweet Thing Going On Volume 2" (SJCD 5011) in 2016.

The group moved to Atlanta, GA, and signed with The Greer Agency who also represented, The Commodores, Brass Construction, Mother's Finest, New Birth, Brick and Little Richard etc. Around 1974 some of the members went on a road trip to L.A. and hooked up with Ray Parker Jr (who was the brother of member  Opelton Parker and later joined Michael Stokes in Natures Divine). It was in these sessions that they recorded the two songs on Soul Junction's latest release "You And Only You" and "Love To Make Love To You". Label owner Dave Welding already knew about these songs which were brought to his attention by DJ Dave Thorley and wanted to release them earlier but had to track down Ray Parker Jr., who wrote and arranged them, to seek approval for their release.

The A side "You And Only You" was recorded by Pockets on their 1978 album "Take It On Up" (included below). (Thanks to Roger Williams for that nugget of info).

After the sessions two members, Vince Bonham and Arnell Carmichael, joined Ray Parker Jr. and Jerry Knight in Raydio who were formed in 1977. Raydio went on to have several R&B Top 10 and Hot 100 hits such as "Jack And Jill", "You Can't Change That", "Two Places At The Same Time", "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" and many others including of course their #1 hit "Ghostbusters".

The single is available to pre-order now from vinyl retailers for release on 6 Feb 2023.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Junction
Cat No:	SJ549
Date:	06/02/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Rina Chanel [2023] - Je Ne Sais Quoi [PhillieBOP Productions]

Rina Chanel (from Virginia Beach, VA) was a backing singer with Tracy Hamlin before starting her solo career in 2020. She featured on Raymond Barton's 2017 EP "If Only For Love" on "Don't Give Up On Love".

Rina first appeared on the blog in March 2021 with her third single "More Than Enough" which followed up her UK Soul Chart top 10 hit "Made" (Sep 2020), which in turn followed her debut single "Worthy" released in Jan 2020. Her latest appearance was with her last single "E.S.P."  in July '22.

Her next single will be "Je Ne Sais Quoi" which, although it has literally 'a heart on the sleeve' is scheduled for 17 Feb and not Valentines Day.

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:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/02/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Richard Searling [2023-01-01] - Crossover Hot 100 Pt. 4 (53-37) [Solar Radio]

The fourth of seven podcasts of Richard Searling's Crossover Hot 100 broadcast on 1 Jan 2023 on solar Radio counting down from #53 to #37.

Catch up with previous episodes:

Part 1 - 100 - 084

Part 2 - 083 - 070

Part 3 - 069 - 054

Playlist Part 4:

53 - Celeste Hardie [1972] - You're Gone 

       [Reynolds #R-200]

52 - Ed Summers [1980] - I Can Tell 

       [Soya #SO. 1001]

       Alt Joe Anderson [1975] - You And I 

       [Buddah #BDA 480]

51 - New World [1972] - We're Gonna Make It 

       [Polydor #PD 14154]

50 - Pete Warner [1975] - Wanna Spend My Life With You 

       [Polydor #PD 14278]

49 - Margie Joseph [1975] - I Can't Move No Mountains 

       [Atlantic #45-3269]

       Originally recorded by Blood, Sweat & Tears and covered by many

48 - The Innersection [1975] - Let Me Love Yuh 

       [Group 5 #GFR 101]

47 - Skip Jackson &  The Shantons [1969] - I'm Onto You Girl 

       [Dot-Mar #YB-324]

46 - Odyssey - Battened Ships 

       [MoWest #MW 115L] (Odyssey LP)

45 - Sandra Wright [1989] - I Come Running Back 

       [Demon #FIEND 138]

44 - Van McCoy (c/ as Chris Bartley) - I Go Out Of My Mind 

       [TM Acetate]

43 - Rhetta Hughes [1969] - I Cry Myself To Sleep 

       [Tetragrammaton #T-111] (Re-Light My Fire LP)

42 - Les McCann [1966] - Sad Little Girl 

       [Limelight #LS 86041] (Les McCann Plays The Hits LP)

41 - Betty Everett [1969] - You're Falling In Love 

       [UNI #73048] (There'll Come A Time LP)

40 - Patty Stokes [1969] - Is It True 

       [Mir-A-Don #M-D-1005]

39 - Virgil Henry [1970] - You Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New 

       [Colossus #CS-115 / Tamla #T 54212F]

38 - Freddie Terrell & The Blue Rhythm Band [1970] - You Had It Made 

       [Capitol #P-2728]

37 - Robert Parker - Caught You In A Lie 

       [Nola #738]

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Tristan [2023] - Shadows In The Moonlight [Isolde Records]

Five-piece Dutch soul band Tristan are set to release their seventh album, aptly titled "Seven", on 3 Mar 2023. Having already released the lead single "Something Like This" from it last September, the second single "Shadows In The Moonlight" is due out on digital platforms tomorrow (27 Jan '23).

We've had the privilege of receiving the full album in advance and there are several  outstanding tracks including "Tell Me", "Burned Chicken", "New Dawn Rises" and "Another Season" in particular, so watch out for the album in a few weeks time which we will post nearer to the release date. In the meantime enjoy the latest single or why not check out their last album from April 2021, "What Could Possibly Go Wrong" with that?

The band will be touring Europe this summer with dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belgium and UK to promote the album. UK dates include:

7 Jun - London, Pizza Express

8 Jun - Southampton, The Brook

9 Jun - Ambleside, Zeffirelli's

10 Jun - Brighton, Verdict Jazz

11 Jun - Colchester, Colchester Arts Centre

28 Sep - Swansea, Jazzland

30 Sep - London, Hampstead Jazz Club

Full schedule with links to tickets available on Tristan website

Thanks to Coen Molenaar for advancing the album and Jaycilee for the drops.

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
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Isolde Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/01/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Anita Baker - A Profile

Anita Baker is 65 today. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the release of her debut album "The Songstress", so to celebrate this landmark she is touring the states this year with "The Songstress Tour", and is set to release her first new material for 19 years since "My Everything" (if you discount the live album in 2004 and a Christmas album in 2005).

Baker, along with Luther Vandross, was one of the biggest soul artist to emerge in the 80s with her iconic 1986, 5 time Platinum selling US (8m worldwide), album "Rapture" but soul connoisseurs were already on the case from her highly regarded debut solo album "The Songstress" prior to that in 1983 and also from her work with Chapter 8 in the late 70s featuring in their debut, eponymous album in 1979.

From numerous nominations, Baker has now won eight Grammys, seven Soul Train Awards, four American Music Awards and a Canadian Smooth Jazz International Artist of the Year award and has four Platinum albums, along with two Gold albums from her seven studio albums (which includes her 2004 Christmas album which is the only one that hasn't gone at least Gold).In 2005 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Baker was born in Toldeo, OH, on 26 Jan 1958 (a vintage year which also saw the births of Michael Jackson and Prince) and was raised by a foster family in Detroit after being abandoned by her mother. When 16 she began singing in nightclubs in Detroit and was given an audition for Chapter 8 by group founder David Washington who'd seen her perform. She joined the group in 1975 and the group toured until they secured a recording contract with Ariola in 1979 releasing a self-titled album. I'm sure I've written this on the blog on a previous post but, amazingly, when Ariola was acquired by Arista the group was dropped as some hair-brained executive considered that Baker didn't have 'star potential'. How wrong was he, I wonder if he retained his job? Baker then took work as a waitress and receptionist until she was approached by Otis Smith to record for his Beverly Glen label. 

Smith had already secured Bobby Womack who released one of his best albums for the label, "The Poet", in 1981 and went on to release "Poet II" and "Someday We'll All Be Free" (often referred to a The Poet III). Johnnie Taylor also recorded for the label. Baker recorded her debut album "The Songstress" which was released in 1983. The label only lasted a short time, closing in 1985 and, apart from the three previously mentioned, only had another two artists on the roster, Chapter 8 and Kevin Wells. Perhaps the downfall of the label was due to Smith allegedly not paying artists their royalties, as Baker asserts. 

The album produced four R&B charting singles "No More Tears" (#49), its B-side "Will You Be Mine" (#87), "Angel" (#5), "You're the Best Thing Yet" (#28) and "Feel The Need" (#67) but none crossed over to the Hot 100. 

Baker left Beverly Glen acrimoniously over unpaid royalties and Smith delaying the release of a follow up album. Smith in turn sued her for breach of contract but the court ruled in Baker's favour. She signed to Warner's Elektra subsidiary in 1985 and released "Rapture" in March 1986. Sales, whilst initially slow following the release of the lead single "Watch You Step", soared after the release of the next single "Sweet Love" which made #2 R&B, #8 Hot 100 and #13 UK pop chart. Three further singles came from the album, "Caught Up in the Rapture" (#6/#37),  "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)" (#8#44) and "No One in the World" (#5/#44).

Her follow up album "Giving you The Best The I Got" topped the albums chart (selling over 5m copies) and produced another three singles, two topped the R&B chart and made the Hot 100. Whilst "Sweet Love" is probably regarded as her signature song, it was not her highest charting single, that privilege goes to "Giving You The Best That I Got" (#1 R&B/ #3 Hot 100) and its follow up "Just Because" also topped the R&B chart and reached #14 Hot 100. The third single from the album "Lead Me Into Love" did well R&B, reaching #4, but did not crossover.

Two albums were released in the 90s, "Compositions" (1990), a more jazz oriented album, which sold over a million and spawned three singles "Talk to Me", "Soul Inspiration" and "Fairy Tales" and her fourth consecutive million selling album "Rhythm of Love" (1994), which fared better than her last selling over 2m copies, and featured the Top 40 single "Body and Soul", the Grammy winning song "I Apologize" along with "It's Been You".

 

Baker took a hiatus to raise her family between 1994 and 2004 when her next album "My Everything" released on Blue Note. Three singles came from it, "You're My Everything", "How Does It Feel" and  "Serious". 

This was her last album of original, contemporary, material as she released a live album in 2004 and a Christmas album in 2005, but in 1995 she released a forgettable bland ballad  duet single, "When You Love Someone", with James Ingram from the movie 'Forget Paris' which was a lowly hit reaching #71 R&B and #111 Hot 100.

In 2012 she released a cover of Tyrese's "Lately" which was from a proposed album "Only Forever" which was cancelled.

Baker has so far achieved twelve top 10 R&B hits and all but three of her sixteen R&B charting singles since the release of "Rapture" have made the Top 20.

The playlist below cherry picks some of the not so obvious tracks, most not released as singles and avoids the singles that crossed over as I'm sure most are already familiar with them (although there are a few videos of the classics), if not so much some of the album tracks. Note "My Everything" is the only studio album not available on Spotify so there are no tracks from it in playlist.

Album Discography

1983 - The Songstress

1986 - Rapture

1988 - Giving You the Best That I Got

1990 - Compositions

1994 - Rhythm of Love

2004 - My Everything

2005 - A Night Of Rapture - Live

2005 - Christmas Fantasy

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved