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Tuesday 21 March 2023

21st Century Soul - 2001 (The Best Of)

Artwork by Roger Williams
Continuing a series highlighting top tracks for each year throughout the 21st Century on a week by week basis, here's this weeks selections for 2001.

Previous Years

As with last week's batch you may know many of them but, hopefully, there will be a few surprises that you may have missed or forgotten about.

As the guys have dug deep, again there are some not available on Spotify (highlighted in red below) so obviously only the ones that are will be in the playlist but many of the others you may find on YouTube. 

Steve Aggasild's selections are missing this week as he is unwell and was taken into hospital last night so we wish him well for a speedy recovery. So SoulStrutter has stepped into the breach to fill the gap. 

Note Jaheim and Karen Bernod album selections may be 2000 not 2001 but no one included them last week.

The playlist is simply alphabetical by artist against each DJ who selected them. 

Artist Title (Album)
Kevin Oxberry Starpoint Radio 
Blu Cantrell Blu Is A Mood (So Blu LP)
Boney James
feat. Trina Broussard
Heaven (Ride LP)
Charles & Gwen Scales Something New (So Good LP)
Cooly's Hot Box What A Surprise (Take It LP)
Faith Evans Where We Stand (Faithfully LP)
Jaheim Happiness (Ghetto Love LP)
Joe Let's Stay Home Tonight (Better Days LP)
Marcus Johnson
feat. Alyson Williams
Got To Give A Little Bit
(Comin' Back Around LP)
Michael Jackson Butterflies (Invincible LP)
Vaneese Thomas Sweet Breath Of Life (Talk Me Down LP)
Yolanda Adams A Song Of Faith (Believe LP)
Paul Goldsmith Starpoint Radio  
Aquabox I Keep Runnin' Back
(The Evolution Will Not Be Televised LP)
Joe Let's Stay Home Tonight
(Better Days LP)
Kenny Lattimore Come To Me
(Weekend LP)
Lafayette Reed He'll Never Be A True Gentleman
(I'm Ready LP)
Nathan Heathman Until We Meet Again
(Right Here Right Now LP)
Phil Perry More Of Your Sweet Love
(Magic LP)
Tonia Woods Will You Do It (You Make Me  High)
(All That Glitters LP)
Transitions Back In Da Days
(Back In Da Days LP)
Ali-Ollie Woodson Drama In The Bedroom
(Right Here All Along LP)
Roger Williams Starpoint Radio  
Allure Enjoy Yourself
(Sunny Days LP)
Bass X As I Am
(Vol. 1 The Beginning LP)
Beverlei Brown Love You Yes
(Next To You LP)
Blu Cantrell I Love You
(Bittersweet LP)
C-Nario Don't Take Your Love Away
(Turn Around LP)
Case Wishful Thinking
(Open Letter LP)
Darrius Willrich Blissful (Darrius LP)
DeLouie (Avant) Debrorah's Song
(King Before His Time LP)
Eddie M (Mininfield) Baby Leave The Lights On
(Eddie M LP)
Fontella Bass &
The Voices Of St Louis
Waiting
(Travellin' LP)
Gary Taylor Erotica
(Under The Nightlight LP)
Incognito There Will Come A Day
(Life Is Stranger Than Fiction LP)
Janita Angel Eyes (I'll Be Fine LP)
Jimmy Sommers
feat. Eric Benet
Stay A While
(360 Urban Groove LP)
Jon B Jon B - Don't Talk
(Pleasures U Like LP)
Joy Enriquez Joy Enriquez - Tell Me How You Feel
(Joy Enriquez LP)
Koffee Brown Koffee Brown - After Party
(Mars & Venus LP)
Ledisi Ledisi - Autumn Leaves
(Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue LP)
Lexi Lexi - Conversation
(And That's The Way It Is LP)
Maurice J Maurice J - Beautiful Thang
(Devoted LP)
Prophet Jones Prophet Jones - Cry Together
(Prophet Jones LP)
Regina Belle Regina Belle - Don't Wanna Go Home
(This Is Regina LP)
Remy Shand Remy Shand - Take A Message
(The Way I Feel LP)
Ren Ren - Breathe Again (Ren LP)
Romina Johnson Romina Johnson - Never Do
(Superbad LP)
Syleena Johnson Syleena Johnson - I Am Your Woman
(Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness LP)
Vaneese Thomas Vaneese Thomas - The Magic Of You
(Talk Me Down LP)
SoulStrutter
Aaliyah I Care 4 U
(Aaliyah LP)
Angie Stone Wish I Didn't Miss You / Snowflakes
(Mahogany Soul LP)
Beverlei Brown Somebody Knows How You Feel (VRS Mix)
/ In The Summertime (Next To You LP)
Bilal Soul Sista / You Are / Love Poems
(1st Born Second LP)
Brian Culbertson Nice & Slow / Without Your Love
(Nice And Slow LP)
DeLouie Avant, Jr.
& Sara Devine
Baby I'm Scared Of You
Dennis Taylor Steppin'  / Lover For Life
(Unconditional LP)
Howard Hewett Joy
(The Journey LP)
Jaheim Could It Be / Just In Case
(Ghetto Love LP)
Karen Bernod Do Ya Wanna Do / Reminiscin' On Yo Kissin' /
The Pocket (Some Othaness For U LP)
KeKe Wyatt If Only You Knew
(Soul Sista LP)
Key Don't Know Why / Stroke
(Thoughts From Key LP)
Ledisi I've Got It
(Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue LP)
Lina Too Good
(Stranger On Earth LP)
Lisa Stansfield 8-3-1 / Face Up
(Face Up LP)
Marcus Johnson Got To Give A Little Bit (Late Nite Mix)
(Comin' Back Around LP)
Michael Bohannon Build A Fire / Make Love Last Forever
(Build A Fire LP)
Michael Jackson Break of Dawn (Invincible LP)
Phil Perry Living For The Love Of You
(Magic LP)
Romina Johnson I'll Always Find You
(Superbad LP)
Sandra St. Victor Holding Out
(Gemini Both Sides LP)
Sir Charles Jones I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much
(Sir Charles Jones LP)
Sunshine Anderson Heard It All Before / Where Have You Been /
Last Night (ft. Anthony Hamilton & Dolo Pichino)
(Your Woman LP)


Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Soul Associates Top 30 Playlist - 2023 Week 11 (w/e 19 Mar 2023)


The Soul Associates Top 30 
Note: four entries are not yet available on Spotify. i.e. #5 Natasha Watts "Music Is My Life, is website only and available from 24 Mar '23. as is #6 The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B. "Reflections". P.D. Williams (#11) and Frank McComb & Walter Williams (#29) are currently is Bandcamp only.

The album entries, the tracks are varied each week so it doesn't necessarily mean that these are the tracks being played..

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Sounds Of Blackness [2023] - #URGONNAWIN [Atomic K Records]


The new single from the Sounds Of Blackness, "#URGONNAWIN", is released today (21 Mar '23) and is a rousing gospel stomper which we have learned to expect, with flashes of previous classic such as "Optimisitic" during the intro.

The song features Jamecia Bennett, Rodney Patrick Fair, Len Jones, Micah Eubanks, & Tasha Prince. 

A music video for the single premieres tonight at midnight GMT.

Sound Of Blackness are three time Grammy winning gospel ensemble founded in Minneapolis in 1969 who rose to prominence in the 90s with hits such as "Optimistic" "The Pressure", "Testify" and "I Believe"

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


FacebookTwitterInstagramOfficial WebsiteWikipediaAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerBandCampSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube Channel
Details
Rating: 8.1
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Soul Gospel
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Atomic K Records
Cat No: None
Date: 21/03/2023
Key/BPM: N/A
Price: £1
Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Frank McComb & Walter Williams [2023] - Learn How To Love [Boobeescoot]


We are pleased to inform you that the latest single, "Learn How To Love", from Frank McComb in collaboration with Walter Williams (posted last week from promo) is now available to buy from Bandcamp as of yesterday (20 Mar '23).

Williams, who will be 80 in August this year, along with Eddie Levert, are the only two remaining members of the original O'Jays quintet which was reduced to a trio by the time they the joined Philadelphia International in 1971. The only other surviving original member is Bobby Massey who left the group in 1971. William Powell, who was the third member during the Philly heyday, died in 1977 and Bill Isles, who left the group with Massey in 1971, died in 2019.

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

FacebookTwitterInstagramWikipediaAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerBandCampSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube Channel
Details
Rating: 8.6
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: New Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Boobeescoot
Cat No: None
Date: 20/03/2023
Key/BPM: N/A
Price: £1
Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Jalen Ngonda [2023] - If You Dont Want My Love [Daptone Records]


Jalen Ngonda made a noise with his first two two singles for Daptone at the tail end of 2022 with  "Just Like You Used To" (7 Sep) and  "What A Difference She Made" (11 Oct) which were also paired on a vinyl release.

The good news is that he has a Daptone debut album "Come Around And Love Me" being released on 9 Aug '23 which will include both singles. That's quite a way off yet, so to give us another taste, a third track from it, "If You Don't Want My Love", is due out on Thursday (23 Mar '23).

A native of Wheaton, Maryland, Jalen Ngonda is now based in London via Liverpool where he relocated to in 2014 to study music at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts.  He was credited as Top Emerging Solo Artist at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2018 and has released round seven singles and an EP since 2016. 

The new single is a surefire winner for lovers of 'proper' retro soul as Jalen glides soulfully through this song with Motown roots and a lush string arrangement. With all three tracks released so far, the album will be highly anticipated and, with the album being six months away, I'm sure we will be treated to others before its release, not least to pair it with this one  for a vinyl release?

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

FacebookTwitterInstagramAmazonApple musicSpotifyDeezerBandCampSoundCloudDiscogsYouTube ChannelYouTube Channel
Details
Rating: 8.8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Retro Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Daptone Records
Cat No: None
Date: 22/03/2023
Key/BPM: 10A/93
Price: £1
Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


VA [2023] - Shrine Northern - The 60s Rarest Dance Label [Kent #KENT 526]


A few years ago we posted a feature and full discography for the Shrine label set up by Eddie Singleton and Berry Gordy's ex wife Raynoma Mayberry who joined by her brother Mike Ossman. 

The label had it's trials and tribulations mainly, it is alleged, from Berry Gordy who didn't want the label becoming successful and competing with Motown. He exerted pressure on radio stations, record shops and distributors not to play or stock Shrine records. The label inevitably went bust in 1966 as sales were limited. 

The story doesn't end there as the unsold stock was stored in an office in Washington D.C. owned by Singleton which, when sold, the stock was destroyed. Other remaining stock was stored in a warehouse which was burnt down during the civil right riots in 1968. This has resulted in a scarcity of singles in circulation which has been ripe for the Northern Soul scene to exploit. 

Ace Records, having previously released Shrine material (i.e. "Shrine (The Rarest Soul Label)"  [CDKEND 160 (1998)] and "Shrine - The Rarest Soul Label, Volume 2"  [CDKEND 190 (2002)]) has just bought the Shrine label and all Eddie Singleton's independent productions and to celebrate is releasing a vinyl only album "Shrine Northern - The 60s Rarest Dance Label" on 28 Apr '23 which selects the more Northern Soul oriented tracks from the previous two CD compilations.

Side 1
01 - Eddie Daye & The 4 Bars - Guess Who Loves You
02 - The Cautions - No Other Way
03 - Bobby Reed - Baby Don't Leave Me
04 - Les Chansonettes - Don't Let Him Hurt You
05 - The D C Blossoms - Hey Boy
06 - The Prophets - If I Had (One Gold Piece)
07 - Shirley Edwards - Dream My Heart

Side 2
01 - The Cairos - Stop Overlooking Me
02 - The Enjoyables - Shame
03 - J.D. Bryant - I Won't Be Coming Back
04 - The Counts - My Only Love
05 - Little Bobby Parker - I Won' t Believe It Till I See It
06 - Leroy Taylor & The Four Kays - Takin' My Time
07 - Ray Pollard - This Time (I'm Gonna Be True)


None seem to be available digitally (on Spotify at least) so to give you a taste of one of the most desirable, Shirley Edwards "Dream My Heart" is included from YouTube below.

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

Details
Rating: -
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Northern Soul
Format: Album / Compilation
Media: Vinyl
Label: Kent
Cat No: KENT 526
Date: 28/04/2023
Price: £15.80
Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved


Tunnie Smith [2023] - Join Together / U And Me Together [Pass the Baton #SDE67]


Available to pre-order  now for release on is a vinyl 7" from Super Discos Edits new imprint Pass The Baton by Tunnie Smith consisting of two previously unreleased songs, "Join Together" NS "U And Me Together". A release date of mid Apr '23 has been given. 

In the early 70s Smith was a member of a group named The 13th Amendments who performed throughout Louisiana. He gained a recording deal with Rick Hall's Fame label and released his only single "Finders Aren't Always Keepers" / "Do That To Me" in 1973 which won national distribution on United Artists.

He left Fame to join Stax and recorded an album with David Porter scheduled for release around 1973/74 but through an unfortunate twist of fate Stax was beginning to have financial difficulties after it's distribution deal with CBS ending and the album was never released. The flip side of the new single  "U And Me Together" is a song intended for that album.

Tunnie returned to Louisiana and performed with a new band Sweet Music Orchestra. In 1983 he met Chicago producer and arranger George 'Paco' Patterson, a musical director who had worked with The Isley Brothers Wilson Pickett and many other well known artists. They formed a partnership and along with some top session musicians recorded some new songs. One of the songs was "Join Together" is from the same session as a previous Super Disco Edits release, "Dancing On Da Clouds"

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: Pass the Baton
Cat No: SDE67
Date: TBC 2023
Key/BPM: N/A
Price: £12
Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved