Soul Strutter: 05/18/23

Thursday, 18 May 2023

Rickey Calloway & The Tennessee Band [2023] - There Was A Time [Funk Night Records]

One of interest, perhaps, to the Northern Soul brigade is a new version of James Brown's "There Was A Time" by Rickey Calloway & The Tennessee Band. Although, as Brown once said himself, it may be a case that 'It's Too Funky In Here'?

It was was big on Northern Soul dancefloors via Gene Chandler's 1968 cover. A few other versions exist including one by Marvin Holmes & The Uptights ("Ooh Ooh The Dragon And Other Monsters" LP) and a couple of instrumental versions by The Soulful Strings and Dee Felice Trio all in 1969. Prince did a psychedelic version on "Musicology Release Party".

Calloway is from Florida who released an album via Henry Stone in 2010. His journey goes back further than that though as he released a single way back in 1970 on Jayville which was reissued by Kenny Dope and Keb Darge's Jay-Dee label in 2004 in the latter part of Keb's Deep Funk days. In fact Kenny Dope did a remix of Brown's version in 2008 on a compilation "Verve // Remixed⁴"

Another single appeared in 1984 and then a hiatus until the 2010s when he released a few singles which featured the Dap Kings followed by others with different backing bands such as The Soul Surfers, The Soul Motivators and now The Tennessee Band.

It's was released digitally yesterday (16 May) and more than likely to be on a "7 from Funk Knight shortly.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Funk / Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Night Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/05/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/132
Price:	£1

Tyjhier [2023] - Moods [Self Released]

The sophomore single from Tyjhier Goodman from Syracuse, NY, is "Moods" was released yesterday which follows her debut single "Better Off" from 14 Apr '23.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/05/2023
Key/BPM:	5A/73
Price:	£1

101 North [1988] - So Easy [Capitol #B-44227]

Speaking to DSG promotions' Gary Van Den Bussche yesterday regarding the new single by Lynn Davis he mentioned one of the multitude of tracks on which she has provided backing vocals.

The song is "So Easy" from 101 North's self-titled debut album in 1988 which also appeared on the follow up album "Forever Yours" in 1991. It was also released as a single on Capitol in 1988.

101 North only released the two albums and three singles and seems to have consisted of four session singers who had worked with Duke.

The album was written, arranged, produced and performed on by George Duke so no surprise that Ms Davis also featured, but the lead singers on this track are Carl Carwell (EWF 1994-97) and Josie James.

You may or may not be familiar with Josie James but if you've ever listened to Stevie Wonder's "Another Star" (who hasn't?) then she was his backing vocalist as well as on many other artists recordings including Patrice Rushen, George Duke (of course), The Jacksons, Randy Brown, Brothers Johnson, The Crusaders, Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson and even Heaven 17's "Penthouse & Pavement", Wham's debut album and "Inner Feelings" for Billy Ocean (so she must have been in the UK for a couple of years in the early 80s) amongst many others. From 1998 she toured with Burt Bacharach and was with George Duke until his death in 2013.

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Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	80s Soul / Quiet Storm
Format:	Single / Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Capitol
Cat No:	B-44227
Date:	1988
Key/BPM:	4A/59
Price:	£1

Secret Night Gang [2023] - Out of My Head [Brownswood Recordings]

Manchester's Secret Night Gang released their self-titled debut album last October and have since only released one single "Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings" on 5 Apr and today another "Out Of My Head" which are bundled together as they will be featured on their forthcoming album "Belongs On A Place Called Earth" due on 23 Jun '23. which will also be available on CD and Vinyl.

The group began as vocalist of Kemani Anderson and saxophonist Callum Connell who met aged 7 playing football in south Manchester and then later at high school music lessons. They were joined by bassist Stu Whitehead forming a trio with drummer Mike Ilson and producer Yvonne 'D'Alchemiss' Ellis coming on board afterwards along with guitarist Jack Duckham.

They have a few live dates lined up over the coming weeks. Ticket via their website.

28 May - London, Brockwell Park, Brixton

15 Jun - London, The Lower Third

30 Jun - Lewes, Love Supreme Festival

04 Jul - Sete, (France), Theatre De La Mer, La Ola

10 Aug - Dorset, We Out There

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Brownswood Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/05/2023
Key/BPM:	3B/93 / 12A/94
Price:	£1.59

Mystica [2023] - You Deserve It [Lover's Corner Inc.]

This moody, soulful, neo soul ballad, "You Deserve It", is a debut release by Mystica Mathis. If it sounds familiar then that's because it is as it must use one of the library samples as it was used by Ariaa on "Brown Skin" in Feb '23.

She is L.A. based but originally from Eatonton, GA, and is also an actor.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Lover's Corner Inc.
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/05/2023
Key/BPM:	8A/69
Price:	£1

Crystal Motion [2023] - There’ll Be Another / Million Dollar Baby [Soul Junction #SJ551]

A new single from Soul Junction contains two previously unreleased songs from Crystal Motion. The group was a vocal quartet from New Bedford, MA, but were originally from Cape Verde consisting of Kevin Gomes (lead vocals), his cousin Rodney 'Skeeta' Santos, Daniel 'Buddy' Monterio and John Paris (who came up with the group's name).

They are know in rare soul circles for their only other recording, "You're My Main Squeeze", on Frank Fioravanti's, Philly based, Sound Gems label in 1975.

A demo of the lead song, "There'll Be Another", was recorded at Metcalf Recording, New Bedford, in 1972 and offered to Fioravanti's Omega Sound Productions around 1974. The group were signed to Sound Gems but, instead of releasing the demo, Fioravanti selected the song above he'd written with Pal Rakes. The record had some local success along the east coast and, on the back of that success, the group prepared to record an album, however, only the original demo and another song, "Million Dollar Baby", made it to tape which have been languishing in the vaults until now.

John Paris had left the group, replaced by Dougie Meadows, after the release of "You're My Main Squeeze" and lead singer Kevin Gomes left due to personal reasons after the recording of "Million Dollar Baby" hence the album was never completed and the group dissolved soon afterwards.

Three of the members have now passed, Santos, Paris and his replacement Mendes, leaving just Gomes and Monterio who are joined by Santos' brothers Rene and Rory, Tony Simons and occasionally female vocalist Angela Kronillis.

Soul Junction has licensed the only other two known recordings by the group for release as their latest single. They are a departure from the Northern/Modern soul gem "You're My Main Squeeze" being early 70s sweet soul (ala Stylistics/Chi-Lites/Delfonics/Blue Magic sound of those times) which should appeal to the lowrider community.

Available to pre-order now from Soul Junction for release on 30 May '23

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Junction
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Natanya [2023] - Angel [AURA x MOVES Recordings]

Natanya Popoola from North West London emerged in 2019 with a single "Sunset Melody" and after three more singles released her fifth and latest "Angel" on Friday (12 May '23) which has a bit of a broken beats rhythm.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	AURA x MOVES Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/05/2023
Key/BPM:	1B/80
Price:	£1