Soul Strutter: 05/14/23

Sunday, 14 May 2023

Lynn Davis [2023] - Beautiful You [Bella Records] PROMO

If you thought that the debut solo single from Lynn Davis, "Can I Come Over", a few months ago was good, then wait until you hear her new single "Beautiful You" set for release on Friday (19 May). Simply timeless soul music of the greatest quality, a beautiful song, beautifully sung, what's not to like? Already a certain candidate for the end of year selections.

Both songs are from her forthcoming album "Lynn Davis From The Vaults" and, if these two are any guide for the quality of what's to come then, we are in for a real treat!

Although her last single was her debut solo release, Ms Davis, is most certainly no newcomer and is hailed as one of the most recorded backing voices in the business (just click on the Wikipedia link below for a list of the many recordings she has appeared on).

She worked with George Duke for many years and sang on several of his albums and is perhaps best known for her lead on "I Want You For Myself" (1979).

For further information click on link above to her last single.

By the way, before another certain soul site tries to muscle in on the action ('again'), this is truly a 'world premiere" 🤣 courtesy of DSG Promotions.

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:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Bella Records / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Margie Joseph [1973] - Let's Stay Together [Atlantic #45-2954]

A song heard last night on Craig Charles Soul & Funk Show (BBC6 Music) which we haven't heard for yonks is a superb rendition of Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together" by Margie Joseph, Seldom does a cover stand up to the original but this one certainly does.

Margie began her recording career with Okeh for two singles in 1967/68 then moving to Stax imprint Volt for around eight singles between 1968-71. She recorded a duet with Donny Hathaway in 1972 on Atco before switching to parent Atlantic. Unfortunately for Margie, with a voice compared to Aretha Franklin, she was somewhat overshadowed by Aretha at Atlantic.

"Let's Stay Together" was her third single on Atlantic and featured on her first (self-titled) album for the label. It was paired with another cover, of "I'd Rather Go Blind" (included below). It was her third R&B chart entry reaching #46 in Apr 1973 but lasted only two weeks on the chart.

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / 70s Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Vinyl
Label:	Atlantic
Cat No:	45-2954
Date:	1973
Key/BPM:	6A/99
Price:	£N/A

Stevie Wonder - The 60s

Yesterday was Stevie Wonder's 73rd birthday but, with the weekend's new releases to contend with, we didn't have time to pay a proper tribute.

Where do you even begin to select songs by an artist who has won 25 Grammy awards and has been recording music for 62 years? Therefore, we have focused only on his 60s output and selected 20 upbeat songs which include a few hits but are mainly lesser known album tracks and B sides, some of which may be forgotten or even new to you.

The Intruders [1973] - I'll Always Love My Mama [Gamble / PIR #ZS7 2506]

Today is Mother's Day in the U.S. so to commemorate it there is only one song ... the classic Philly anthem by The Intruders and a video below of an appearance on Soul Train.

It is also the 50th anniversary this year of the record's release in Mar 1973. Back in those days there were no 12" singles, so the 6:36 album track (from "Save The Children") was spilt into two parts for release on 7".

Surprisingly, for such an iconic song, there are very few covers of it. We know of only three: Tony Strong (2012), an instrumental by The Armada Orchestra (1976) and a semi-instrumental by Dee Brown (2014). If you know of any others, let us know.

In case you missed it, Paul Simpson has done a set of his Philadelphia Re-edits for The Intruders which includes this song.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Vinyl
Label:	Gamble / PIR
Cat No:	ZS7 2506
Date:	1973
Key/BPM:	12A/120
Price:	£N/A

Carmen Nichole [2023] - Imperfections [Self Released]

Carmen Nichole from the DMV (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia) released her second single of 2023, "Imperfections" at the end of April, which is perhaps her best to date, although we also liked her last "Primrose".

She debuted in Aug '22 with a two track EP "The Planted Seed" and followed it in Nov with "Late To The Garden". Her third release was also another horticultural reference, "The Primrose".

Carmen was raised in the south and started singing from the age of 7 but, owing to the trauma of losing her father, she lost her voice and left music but has now returned changing her name from Inekhomon to Nichole. To confuse matters further her facebook address and Soundcloud state Smith but the name Inekhomon appears on some of the writing credits but discovered that her husband is film maker Chris Inekhomon so perhaps she has married recently.

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:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/04/2023
Key/BPM:	1A/92
Price:	£1

Carlton Jumel Smith [2023] - It's Gonna Be Alright [Golden Rules]

New Yorker Carlton Jumel Smith was born and raised in Spanish Harlem. His mother took him to see James Brown at The Apollo at 8 years old which left an indelible mark on the young boy.

He released his first recording in 1986, a house number titled "Excite Me", and then went under the alias Napoleon Soul-O in the 90s.

After releasing a couple of live albums and cover albums, fast forward to 2007 when he released an album "Diagram Of A Relationship" followed in 2019 by "1634 Lexington Avenue" for Finnish label Timmion for who he also released around ten singles.

His latest single, "It's Gonna Be Alright", though, is for German (Leipzig) label Golden Rules which is the third single from a compilation "The Originals Vol. 3".

He last featured here with a six track EP "Devoted To You" featuring Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink in Apr '22.

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:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Golden Rules
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/05/2023
Key/BPM:	12A/83
Price:	£1

Kevin Oxberry [2023-05-12] - The Friday Night Rotation [Starpoint Radio]

This week's The Friday Night Rotation broadcast on 12th May 2023.

The Friday Night Rotation is broadcast each Friday hosted by Kevin Oxberry between 19:00-21:00 GMT on Starpoint Radio. The format of Kev's two hour shows is that the in the first hour and last half hour he plays upfront new releases and sandwiched in between for the first half hour of the second hour he digs out some oldies.

Catch up with previous shows on Podomatic.

Playlist:

Artist	Title [Album]	Year
Hour 1 - UpFront
Heidi Tann feat. Nils	Baby Come Back	2023
Les Imprimés	Falling Away [Reverie]	2023
Kenya Vaun	Summer	2023
Nate Williams feat. Raquel Rodriguez	How Did We Get Here?	2023
Joe Leavy feat. Althea Rene	Do It Again	2023
Lalah Hathaway	The Energy	2023
Helen Bruner & Terry Jones	I Can't Call It [2nd Overture]	2023
Rudy Currence	Stained Glass Windows [Stained Glass Windows]	2023
Jeffery Smith feat. Destini Shelton	The Way You Touch Me	2023
Rogerhill Music feat. Cherrelle	All The Love I Need	2023
Misha, Debórah Bond, Jussi Halme, Soul Food Horns	A Night In Rio Pt. 2	2023
Angie Stone feat. Musiq Soulchild	The Gym [Love Language]	2023
Avalon Cutts-Jones feat. C. Xavier Davis	You & Me, Me & You	2023
Will Downing	Till We Meet Again	2023
October London	A Beautiful Woman [The RnB Masterclass EP]	2023
Terri Walker	Fearless [My Love Story]	2023
Hour 2 - Oldies
Andre Lee	Love Will Never Change [Straight From The Heart]	2008
Willie Clayton	Let's Dance [Heart And Soul]	2015
Vick Allen	The Same Thing [Baby Come Back Home]	2007
Portrait	Lovin' U Is Ah-ight [All That Matters]	1994
Babyface feat. LL Cool J & Shalamar	This Is For The Lover In You [The Day]	1996
G.C. Cameron	Live For Love	1980
Willie Hutch	Easy Does It [In Tune]	1978
Hour 2 - UpFront
Robb Scott & Leee John	Gotta Get Over You	2023
Jay Lamont	I'm Gonna Luv Ya [Just For You]	2023
The Realm feat. H'Atina	Love Hurts	2023
Stefen Scott	I'm Not The Type Of Man	2023
Helen Bruner & Terry Jones	You Got Me Feeling [2nd Overture]	2023
Tanqueray Hayward	Waiting For You	2023
Cornell CC Carter	It's So Nice (KZO Mix)	2023
Diane Marsh	Livin' It Up (Gettin' On Down)	2023