21st Century Soul - 2005 (The Best Of)

2005

Continuing the 21st Century Soul series with the sixth edition 2005.

Previous Years

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Alphabetical playlist by artist against individual who selected them. 

Tracks in bold included in playlist limited to 50 tracks (3 hours 45 mins).

Artist	Title (Album)
Kevin Oxberry	Starpoint Radio
Bethany Devine	Soul (Fruit Of The Spirit LP)
Chandra Currelley	Unconditional Love (Love Songs LP)
Dr. Norman Thomas feat. Lenora	So Good (Scriptures Chapters 1-7 LP)
Jeanette Harris Band feat. Joel Bowers	Find Yourself (Down Route 99 LP)
Kim Waters feat. Maysa	Daydreaming (All For Love LP)
Kloud 9	Special One (Yearning 2 Love LP)
Mariah Carey	Fly Like A Bird (The Emancipation Of Mimi LP)
Michael Avery	Best Friend (Destination Love LP)
Quedon	Love Song (Quedon LP)
Wade O. Brown	So Glad (All Night, All Love LP)
Will Downing	Put Me On (Soul Symphony LP)
Paul Goldsmith	Starpoint Radio
Anthony Hamilton	Change Your World (Ain't Nobody Worryin' LP)
Divine Brown	Another Affair (Divine Brown LP)
Earth, Wind & Fire	Pure Gold ( Illumination LP)
Eric Roberson	The Moon (The Appetizer LP)
Incognito	When Tomorrow Brings You Down (Eleven LP)
Kem	Find Your Way (Back In My Life) ( Album II LP)
Kirk Franklin feat. Stevie Wonder	Why (Hero LP)
Mary J. Blige	Cant Get Enough (The Breakthrough LP)
Pee Wee Callins	I Choose Love (Street Soul LP)
Ron E Beck	Let Me Show You (Soul Cry LP)
Steve Aggasild	Soul Music Radio / SOTAR
Anthony Hamilton feat. Sunshine Anderson	Last Night (Soulife LP)
Audio Caviar feat. Howard Hewett & The EWF Horns	Love Comes In Time (Transoceanic LP)
Brian Culbertson feat. Will Downing	It's On Tonight (It's On Tonight LP)
Brian McKnight	Grown Man Business (Gemini LP)
Chanel	My Life ( LP)
Chris Botti feat. Jill Scott	Good Morning Heartache (To Love Again, The Duets LP)
Eric Benet	I Wanna Be Loved (Hurricane LP)
Faith Evans	I Don't Need It (The First Lady LP)
Floetry	Let Me In (Flo'Ology LP)
Jamiroquai	Talullah (Dynamite LP)
Kem	Heaven (Album II LP)
Kenny Thomas	Him ( LP)
Kirk Franklin	Looking for You (Hero LP)
Lee Ritenour feat Grady Harrell & Kenya Hathaway	Is It You (Overtime LP)
Leela James	Music (A Change Is Gonna Come LP)
Lindsey Webster	You Change (You Change)
Mariah Carey	Fly Like A Bird (The Emancipation Of Mimi LP)
Mary J Blige	Be Without You (The Breakthrough LP)
Nicci Gilbert feat. Dave Hollister	She'll Never (Grown Folks Music LP)
Nivea	My Fault (Ghetto Apology LP)
Para Beats feat. Carmen Reece	U Got Me (Radio Edit) ( LP)
Prominent	Step Into My World (42 Grams LP)
Secret Stealth	Dream Of You (Ssshhh! LP)
Syleena Johnson	More (feat. Anthony Hamilton) / Another Relationship / Slowly (Chapter 3 The Flesh LP)
Usher	It Is What It Is (Rhythm City Volume I - Caught Up LP)
Vincent Montana Jr & The Philly Sound Orchestra feat. William 'Smoke' Howard	That's What Love Does (The Spirit Of Philadelphia 2 LP)
SoulStrutter
Anthony Hamilton	Change Your World / Never Love Again (Ain't Nobody Worryin' LP)
Avila Brothers	Let It Go (Feat. Shelea) / Love's Mystery / Smile / I Want You (The Mood: Soundsational LP)
Brown's Bag	Heaven / No More Love / Fall In Love (Labor Of Love LP)
Divine Brown	Warrior (Divine Brown LP)
Faith Evans	I Don't Need It (The First Lady LP)
Floyd Taylor	Unfinished Business / Baby, I've Changed (No Doubt LP)
Jazmín Sky	Sorry Can't Patch It Up / Wake Up Smell the Coffee (Jazmín Sky LP)
Joe Bataan	Cycles Of You (Call My Name LP)
John Legend	Live It Up (Get Lifted LP)
Keyshia Cole feat. Eve	Never (The Way It Is LP)
Larry Braggs	Help (mistitled Halftime) / Willing to Learn (Places LP)
Lee Cort feat. Wendi Williams	Never Have To Worry / Better Way (Love Letters LP)
Leela James	When You Love Somebody / Music (A Change Is Gonna Come (U.S. Release) LP)
Jamie Foxx feat. Mary J. Blige	Love Changes (Unpredictable LP)
Kirk Franklin	Keep Your Head / Looking For You / Why (Hero LP)
Lew Kirton	If it a'int cool (Forever LP)
LL COOL J; Mary J. Blige	Favorite Flavor (Todd Smith LP)
Mariah Carey	Circles / Fly Like A Bird / I Wish I Knew + others (The Emancipation Of Mimi LP)
Mary J. Blige	Father In You / I Found My Everything (feat. Raphael Saadiq)  (The Breakthrough LP)
Mica Paris	Walk Away from Love (Soul Classics LP)
Raheem DeVaughn	Until (The Love Experience LP)
Rhian Ayanna	Words (Rhian Ayanna LP)
Sounds Of Blackness	Try (Unity LP)
Stevie Wonder	My Love Is On Fire (A Time to Love LP)
Syleena Johnson	Special Occasion / More / Time / Still Open (Chapter 3: The Flesh LP)
Toni Braxton	What's Good (Libra LP)
Tweet	My Man (It's Me Again LP)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Force De La Vie / Force [2023] - Holy Moses [Cannonball Records #CBLL041]

A record that has been burning up rare soul dancefloors over the last few years is a rare recording by Force "Holy Moses". It's quite surprising (or not if you know the rare soul scene) as it's more of a soft rock song (to my ears) than a soul tune.

It was originally recorded in 1974 on Streaker Records (promo only we believe) and was intended to be released under the band's original name, Life Force, who were Bart Zazzali (lead vocals), Frank Filipetti (songwriter and drummer), Rich Bora and Tommy Mandel (keys), Even Levee (bass) and Terry Alverado (flute). 

They previously went by the name Saratoga Trunk (the name of a 40s Western book/movie) who released three singles on three different labels (Capitol, Scepter and Uni) in 1970/71. United Artists in France released "Holy Moses" by Saratoga Trunk in 1975 which is a longer version than the Streaker promo version (i.e. 4:00 v 3:24) and apparently it was originally 5:00 long.  Filipetti used a pseudonym Frank Silketti for writing credits on that release. 

A previously unknown third recording of the song was made in French which turned up recently on an acetate in Barcelona.

So, coming out on Cannonball at the end of June, is a 7" single containing the original Streaker version and the new, previously undiscovered, French version of "Holy Moses". Limited to 250, these will surely fly off the shelves as this one has got under the skin of many rare soul followers, so get your pre-order in at Cannonball Records.

The song's writer, Filipetti, went on to become a seven time Grammy winning (plus another six times nominated) audio engineer, mixer, producer for Color Purple, The Book Of Mormon, Monty Python's Spamalot, Wicked, Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida and two for James Taylor's "Hourglass" album.

From humble beginning with his group, he has worked on projects for Foreigner, The Bangles, Survivor, Carly Simon, Barbara Streisand, Vanessa Williams, George Michael, 10,000 Maniacs, Frank Zappa, James Taylor, Billy Joel and Meat Loaf, Pavarotti Liza Minnelli and Elton John.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Cannonball Records
Cat No:	CBLL041
Date:	06/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£20

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jestofunk [2023] - Straight To You / I'm Gonna Love You [Tesla Groove #TSL020]

Cannonball Records' Tesla Groove imprint has entered into a brand new collaboration with Italy's top independent label Irma Records. Two new releases (one on Tesla Groove the over on 4/4) are available to pre-order now from Tesla Groove for release at the end of May.

The first on the Tesla Groove imprint consists of two tracks available on single for the first time ("Straight To You" b/w "I'm Gonna Love You") taken from Acid Jazz collective  Jestofunk's (formed by three Italian DJs: Claudio Moz-Art Rispoli, Francesco Farias and Blade (Alessandro Staderini)) 1994 album "Love in a Black Dimension".

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Acid Jazz / Soulful House
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Tesla Groove
Cat No:	TSL020
Date:	05/2023
Key/BPM:	7A/90 / 3B/108
Price:	£20

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Joe Johnson [2023] - What's The Matter With You / I Still Love You [Cannonball #CBLL039]

Alberto Zanini's Cannonball Records / Tesla Groove has just announced a batch of new and forthcoming releases over the coming weeks. 

The first, from Joe Johnson, we posted back in Feb which has been delayed but is now shipping. It consists of two tracks from a hard to find private press album ("Sounds Forever" on Gran Mill John)  available on single for the first time. 

The album is not dated but by the sound of the A side of the single "What's The Matter With You", and the sleeve images, it indicates late 60s/early 70s, with "I Still Love" sounding more like late 60s. The five tracks on the A side of the album all seem to be early 60s and even late 50s songs whilst the B side consists of original songs written by several of the band members with both sides of the single written by Cleo Parks.

The band was made up of Joe Johnson and family members(?) Ira Johnson (piano), Claude Johnson (electric piano), TJ Johnson (harmonica) and Randy Barker (bass guitar), Cleo Parks (lead guitar), Eddie Henderson (bass guitar), Louis Fields (drums).

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Cannonball Records
Cat No:	CBLL039
Date:	05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£20

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron [2023] - Live For Love [Soundway Records] (Full EP)

Set for full release on 9 Jun '23, digitally and on 12" vinyl, by Soundway Records is a four track EP by G.C. Cameron. It includes both side of his 1981 in-demander "Live For Love" / "If I Love You" on Flamingo (which as a UK single only 7" & 12" which now fetch up to £200) along with two previously unreleased songs from the same session, an instrumental version of "If I Love You" and "Thank You Baby".

So far the instrumental version of "If I Love You" has been released, and today the vocal. The official A side of the Flamingo single was reissued on Expansion's Soul Togetherness 2014 (so is included below). It reminds us in sections of a mix of Beloyd's "Get Into My Life" and Eugene Record's "Overdose Of Joy" which will give you and idea of how it sounds i.e. late 70s/early 80s modern soul of the finest quality. 

Watch this space for "Thank You Baby" when it surfaces as it should be a killer as it includes vocals from Martha Walsh. (who sang backup for Sylvester with Izora Armstead and formed Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls) and Jeanie Tracy (who also started out as a backing singer for Sylvester).

Vietnam veteran George Curtis Cameron was, of course, the lead singer of The Spinners until they left Motown in 1971 when he, being married to Berry Gordy's sister Gwen, decided to remain at the label and released five solo albums before leaving the label in the late 70s. 

These songs were recorded at a session at Fantasy Studios, San Francisco in 1977 with the intention of completing a full album. Cameron teamed up with Harvey Fuqua (also a previous husband to Gwen Gordy), Greg Crockett and Elgie Stover to produce the work. Only two tracks were released from the session, strangely, via the short-lived UK Flamingo label which released around 20, predominantly dance/disco singles between Apr 1979-Nov 1981.

Available to pre-order via Bandcamp.

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	EP  / Reissue / Previously Unreleased
Media:	Digital / 12" Vinyl
Label:	Soundway Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Price:	£2.49 / £14.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Patric Pleasure & Ruck P feat. Emilia Anastazja [2023] - All Night Long (Ruck P Remix) [Kawaii Agentur]

Originally released last Nov by Swiss DJ Patric Pleasure (aka Patric Menzi), a new Ruck P Remix of "All Night Long" was released at the end of April.

There was also another remix done by Amerigo Gazaway in Feb which is perhaps more soulful (until the rap by Ryler Smith kicks in for some!) so we've also included it below. Both feature the vocals of  London/Basel based Swiss singer/songwriter Emilia Anastazja.

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:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Kawaii Agentur
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/04/2023 / 10/02/2023
Key/BPM:	6A/108 / 8B/93
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Grant Alexander [2023] - Approach [Deepwater Records]

The first release from Grant Alexander since his five track EP "High Tide Vol. 2 Winter's Moon"  from last Aug (9 Aug '22) is a single titled "Approach".

He tells us that he's from the 747 area which will probably mean nothing outside the States so, as every day's a school day, pay attention at the back, it's Norfolk, VA, i.e. Hampton Roads metropolitan area including Williamsburg, Franklin and Suffolk in the west, and Virginia Beach, Norfolk and the Eastern Shore to the east.

He debuted in Jul 2019 with a single followed by "High Tide Vol. 1" in Feb 2020 and has released two further EPs and now his third single since then.

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:	Y
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Deepwater Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/04/2023
Key/BPM:	11A/58
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints [2023] - One Night of the Week / Raise Your Mind [Dala Records #DALA-105-45]

The latest single taken from the excellent debut album "Bridge Of Love" by Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints is "Raise Your Mind" which was released digitally on Friday (12 May '23)  along with the album.

It is also available in a very limited edition (200 run) 45 paired with a previous digital single "One Night of the Week".

This is sure to sell out quickly so grab your copy from Bandcamp.

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:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Dala Records
Cat No:	DALA-105-45
Date:	12/05/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/116 / 8A/121
Price:	$2 / $7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Nea & The Regulars [2023] - Cosmic Inconvenience [In Spite Of The Cold Weather Records] (Full Album)

A new group to us is Trondheim (Norway) based Nea & The Regulars who released their debut album "Cosmic Inconvenience" on 10 Mar. We came across it on Bandcamp which gave a release date of 3 Oct (month and day must have been transposed). 

They are an 8 piece group of musicians from varied backgrounds from garage rock to jazz who place themselves musically somewhere between Stevie Wonder and Hiatus Kaioyte and have been playing live for the last two years. 

To date, prior to the album, they have released just two singles, the first in Oct '22 ("Snake Eye Popsicle") followed by another ("Opaline") in Jan '23, both included on the eight track album.

They have a unique tight, contemporary, funky sound with elements of jazz and neo soul. The opening track ("Social Butterfly Baby") reminds us of "Funky Nassau" (Beginning of the End) as it intros. However, they transition into neo soul/jazz for half of the tracks (i.e. "Brunswick" "Opaline", "mmm" and "Untitled Cosmic Nihilistic Rant" in particular).

A very nice album which is too good to be missed so let's hope the first play / one play merchants don't ignore it because, God forbid, it's now two months old!

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:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Jazz / Funk
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	In Spite Of The Cold Weather Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/03/2023
Price:	£7.92

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved