Soul Strutter: 04/27/23

Thursday, 27 April 2023

Soul Associates Top 30 Playlist - 2023 Week 16 (w/e 23 Apr 2023)

The Soul Associates Top 30

Week 16 2023 (w/e 23 Apr 2023)

Note: two entries are not yet available on Spotify. i.e. #2 Natasha Watts "Music Is My Life, is website only and #21 Helen Bruner & Terry Jones is not available until 28 Apr.

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

Alfreda Brockington [2023] - Give Me What You're Givin' Her / Waitin' For Your Touch [MD Records #MD-121]

MD Records have unearthed two previously unreleased tracks by Alfreda Brockington for their forthcoming 7" vinyl release.

They first saw the light of day on a 2009 30 track compilation "The Best Of Lash Records - Rare R&B & Soul Productions 1961-1975"

Lash was a Philadelphia label formed by brothers Howard and Al Ravitsky and Gil Lipschitz. It released just four singles by four different artists between 1962-63.

The two sides by Alfreda Brockington "Give Me What You're Givin' Her" / "Waitin' For Your Touch" were left in the can until 2009 when the compilation was released. Both sides were written by Howard Ravitsky and Benny Sigler, the older brother of Walter 'Bunny' Sigler. There is no indication when they were recorded and sound more like 70s than 60s recordings but given that by 1969 she was signed to Phil L.A. of Soul then perhaps they are late 60s?

Brockington only had two singles released, both on Phil L.A. of Soul "Your Love Has Got Me Chained And Bound" / "I'll Wait For You" (1969) and "Crushing Me" / "You Made Me A Woman" (1970). All are deep soul songs except for "Your Love Has Got Me Chained And Bound" which was sufficiently popular on the Northern Soul scene to get reissued in the mid 70s (c 1976), even these sell for up to three figures now, possibly owing to the superb deep soul flip? On both singles the top side was written by Willie John Ellison of The Soul Brothers Six (he wrote their biggest hit "Some Kind Of Wonderful") with Brockington herself writing the flip.

Around the turn of the century another unreleased track was uncovered by Goldmine Soul Supply called "Spilt Milk" which is a cracking Northern Soul tune. I believe that it first appeared on a compilation "The Northern Soul Of Philadelphia Vol.3" and then a promo 45 was pressed. It was reissued by Record Shack in 2015 along with an alternate version by Elegant Shades from the same compilation above.

The single is available to pre-order from MD Records for release early May.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	MD Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

Reel People & Paula [2023] - Vibe (Moods Remixes) [Reel People Music]

Originally released in Apr. '21 as part of the EP "Hearts Collide", "Vibe" by Reel People & Paula gets a 'Moods Remix', vocal and instrumental versions. Moods is an alias for Rotterdam based producer by Hans Lubbersen.

The single is out officially tomorrow but available now on Bandcamp. The original version is also available on their latest album "Love2" released last month

Paula Champion from Atlanta was a backing singer for the late Gerald Levert and currently still tours with Angie Stone. Other artists she has worked with include Tyrese, Ne-Yo, Lalah Hathaway, Robert Glasper, Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony David, Aaron Hall & Chante Moore.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Reel People Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/04/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

André Ward feat. Chantel Hampton [2023] - Don't Ask My Neigbors [Orpheus Enterprises]

The latest single taken from veteran Chicago saxophonist André Ward's album "Africa Rising" is a jazz update of The Emotions', Skip Scarborough penned, "Don't Ask My Neighbors". It features the tasty vocals of Chanel Hampton who certainly isn't overshadowed by Sheila Hutchinson who took lead on the song for The Emotions.

The Emotions original is from their 1977 "Rejoice" album which featured several members of EWF (i.e. Maurice, Fred & Verdine White and Al McKay). It was their fifth biggest hit reaching #7 R&B with a run of 17 weeks on the chart and peaked at #44 on the Hot 100.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Orpheus Enterprises
Cat No:	None
Date:	TBC
Price:	£1

The Muthafunkaz [2023] - Galaxy 2023 [Quantize Recordings]

This one brings back memories of sweaty club nights. A huge club and soul weekender tune by War originally released in 1977.

The Muthafunkaz recorded their version of "Galaxy" in 2009 and bring three fresh new mixes for 2023: "Galaxy 2023", "Wakandans in Space Mix" and "Wakandans in Space Love Horns Mix", the latter two by Thommy Davis, Greg Lewis, & DJ Spen. DJ Spen (aka Sean Spencer and Quantize boss) also provides vocals alongside Shelia Ford.

I'm afraid it's the straight mix that's doing it for me, as it's closest to War's original I guess, a case of 'I know what I like and I like what I know'!

War's original version is included below for posterity just to show youngsters what they are missing as stuff like this just doesn't come out now. Almost 50 years later it still sounds hot ... something I don't think we will be saying in years to come for much of the neo soul material that's for sure as much of it is instantly forgettable and disposable!

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Jazz Funk / Soulful House / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Quantize Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/04/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/124 / 10B/124 / 10B/124
Price:	£2.97

The Ethics [2023] - Standing In The Darkness (Remastered) [Jamie Record Company]

A digital reissue of a Norman Harris and Thom Bell written song "Standing In The Darkness" recorded by The Ethics in 1970 on Vent. It's a great example of the embryonic Philly Sound and was played on the Northern Soul scene.

The Ethics formed in 1967 and members included Ron Tyson who left in 1970 to join The Temptations. The group had two minor R&B hit as The Ethics "Farewell" (the flip "I Want My Baby Back" was also picked up on by the UK Northern Soul scene) and "Tell Me".

By 1974 they had changed their name to Love Committee (with Tyson re-joining them having left the Temptations) who had three minor R&B hits between 1976-78. ("Heaven Only Knows", "Cheaters Never Win" and "Law And Order").

Their debut album "Law And Order" was posted last year which inlcudes their last two hits

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

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jamie Record Company
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/04/2023 / 11970
Key/BPM:	8A/158
Price:	£1

Tygressa [2023] - Pillow Talk [Self Released] PROMO

A classic 70s tune "Pillow Talk" recorded by Sylvia Robinson, the lady behind Sugar Hill Records, was posted along with an unreleased version by Janet Jackson (and a couple of others) in Dec '22.

A new cover of it is due out on 3 May '23 by Tygressa who hit #1 with her debut release "Hey You (A Minute With You)" in Jul '21. We understand that a music video for it will also be released.

If you recall, Tygressa (Jones) is from Fort Washington, MD, and regularly performs tribute shows "Tygressa Sings Natalie…Remembering Natalie Cole, a tribute".

Apart from her version of "White Christmas" released at the end on Nov last year, it is her first single for a year since "My Love's Coming Down" in Feb '22.

Our good friend Steve Aggasild interviewed Tygressa in Aug '21 just after she broke through (interview below).

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

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Clifton Dyson [2023] - Hypnotize [Numero Group]

Earlier this year Numero Group reissued two tracks from Clifton Dyson's first album "Slow Your Body Down" (1981), i.e. "So Lonely" / "I'm Giving Up". The two songs were previously released on a QS single in 1980.

Then they reissued the title track "Slow Your Body Down" from the album bundled with the two previous tracks. We surmised that the only other remaining track "Hypnotize" (which features Debra Wilson on vocals) would follow at some point and that day has come with "Hypnotize" being released today along with the other three tracks.

We actually posted the song in Nov '21 along with an alternate version by Ci Ci released on Creative Funk.

It's not yet available on Spotify so has been posted from YouTube until it is.

Original vinyl copies sell for between £60-£100 but it has been reissued on vinyl twice, by P-Vine in 1997 and original label After Hours in 2007.

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

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	80s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/04/2023 / 1981
Key/BPM:	2B/67
Price:	£1 / £3.49

Lee Fields [2023] - Waiting On The Sidelines / You Can't Count On Me [Daptone #DAP-1150]

Following his recent album "Sentimental Fool" last Oct. Lee Fields is set to release a brand new single on vinyl on 12 May '23.

It consists of a new song "Waiting On The Sidelines" paired with "You Can't Count On Me" which was only previously released on a limited edition five track 12" EP "Ordinary Lives" in 2022 which was only for sale at his shows or direct from Daptone.

Many vinyl stockist have listed this today (e.g. Simply Soul and Juno) from where you can pre-order. Both sides are killers so this is an essential item that will undoubtedly sell out quickly and be in-demand thereafter for a king's ransom!

None seem to have a sound sample for the flip so included below is a live performance of it @3:25 from a show at Koko's in London earlier this year.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Daptone
Cat No:	DAP-1150
Date:	12/05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£9 plus postage