Soul Strutter: 06/22/23

Thursday, 22 June 2023

Bill Albright [2023] - In the Middle of the Night [Self Released]

We posted the forthcoming Soul Junction vinyl release for Bill Albright (due on 7 Jul) on Tuesday. However, it seems that the information we received regarding the digital release of the flip side wasn't accurate as "In the Middle of the Night" was released digitally yesterday (21 Jun '23). We were led to believe that it would be US only and released the same day as the vinyl release.

Please refer to the link above for further information on Bill and the vinyl release.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/06/2023
Key/BPM:	7A/91
Price:	£1

Karlos Edwards [2023] - Welcome To My World [Digital Jukebox Records] (Full Album)

We posted two tracks from Karlos Edwards new album "Welcome To My World" in Nov. The stunning "With You" feat. Croydon's Elle Cato which not many seemed to pick up on at the time, but no big surprise as these 'truly' soulful songs rarely seem to do well on radio. We paired it with a previous single (Apr '22) which is featured on the album, a cover of Stevie's "Summer Soft" feat. the vocals of Everton Peters. The only two fully vocal tracks on the album as the other tracks are predominantly instrumental.

Karlos is the younger brother of Junior and Philip Edwards who formed Paradise in the 80s and he performed with them as percussionist. They re-emerged in 2021 as Paradise Projex.

In 2015 he released a CD album "Karlito's Way" which is a London affair featuring Omar, Don-E, Natalie “The Floacist” Williams, Paul Johnson, Junior Giscombe and Chris Ballin and consisted of new takes on some 70s/80s classics.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Digital Jukebox Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	20/06/2023
Price:	£7.99

Jeff Bradshaw feat. Eric Roberson [2023] - Make Some Time [Music Matters Entertainment] MUSIC VIDEO

Having been riding high In the Soul Associates Top 30 for several weeks since release on 19 May (currently #5 for the second week), Philly trombone virtuoso Jeff Bradshaw's latest single, "Make Some Time" featuring Eric Roberson, has a new music video.

It has been released just ahead of his new album "Jeff Bradshaw 20" (due tomorrow) which celebrates his 20th year of recording since the release of his first album "Bone Deep" in 2003.

Bradshaw has shared the stage with Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, EWF, Erykah Badu and supported artists such as Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Music Matters Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/05/2023
Key/BPM:	4A/88
Price:	£1

Foo Funkers feat. Becka [2023] - Love Enough 'Better Place' (Angelo Ferreri Remastered) [MONOSIDE]

This is one of those annoyingly familiar, but can't quite place, tunes. The recurring riff is almost certainly a sample from a 70s dance song ... is it Sister Sledge "I'm Thinking Of You" on speed perhaps? More dance than soul music but undeniably catchy.

It's "Love Enough 'Better Place'" by Foo Funkers feat. Becka. We've no idea who Foo Funkers are (probably DJ(s) / producer(s) our guess would be that it's Italian Angelo Ferreri himself?) but Becka Ward is a singer from Leeds who has featured on many EDM artists recordings over the last 20 years (as well as some mainstream ones such as Elton John, Kylie Minogue, George Michael). The Foo Funkers appear to have been around since 2018.

They originally released the song in Feb '21 as an instrumental. If you find the new vocal version irresistible, then there is a longer 4:58 version on Traxsource.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soulful House
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	MONOSIDE
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/06/2023
Key/BPM:	2B/123
Price:	£1

ReelSoul & Groove Junkies [2023] - It Seems To Hang On (Groove N' Soul Classic Vox) [MoreHouse Records]

A release we alluded to last week on another version of the song by Germany's Andy Bach, that was forthcoming at the time, was a set of new mixes of Ashford & Simpson's "It Seems To Hang On" by Reelsoul & Groove Junkies.

It is now out on 19 Jun and comes with four mixes (full, radio, reprise and instrumental) of the song and features vocalists Tertulian Thomas and Mijan who are on the sleeve made to look very similar to Nick and Val.

I'm afraid from our perspective it adds nothing (except a faster house tempo) to, and we much prefer, the original. Compare for yourself as we've (again) included the unexpurgated 1978 12" Ashford & Simpson version along with the 2017 Tommy Musto Re-Touch.

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DJ Spen Edit 2012

(thanks to bluesky for the suggestion)

Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soulful House / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	MoreHouse Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/06/2023
Key/BPM:	10A/123
Price:	£3.96

JoannieJ [2023] - You Bring Me Joy [Geme Records] PROMO

JoannieJ is the music alter ego for Joan Josephs who is originally from Birmingham. She released a six track EP "Introducing" in 2020 that has been on her Soundcloud channel since around 2012 which, we assume from the title, was her debut release.

However, she has been singing since 1986 performing cover versions live in pubs and clubs and also performs with several groups,SistaWithSoul (SWS), SoulFusionSeven (SFS) and Soul Queens and is currently working on her debut album planned for release next year (2024). We discovered that she sang on Steel Pulse's 1991 "Victims" album, so she has paid a lot of dues!

She has a new reggae/lovers rock single due for release on 7 Jul called "You Bring Me Joy" which is an original song not, as you may expect, a cover of Anita Baker's song.

Joannie is also a presenter on LWR Radio (London World Radio).

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Lovers Rock
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Geme Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Spring The Artist [2023] - Move [Self Released]

Spring The Artist is on a roll! Since posting her debut EP "Summer Daze", less than two weeks ago on 9 Jun (released on 1 Jun), she has released a further three singles, "Ha" (9 Jun), "Gold Star" (19 Jun) and the latest, "Move", today.

If you have seen any of the previous posts for her music, you will know that she is Spring Alexandria Birts from Austin, TX, who only started releasing music just over a year ago in May 2022. After four singles last year, she has already self-released seven singles and a four track EP in 2023.

We particularly liked "She Knows" and her latest, "Move", we think, is also pretty good which is difficult to pigeon hole as it has traces of Sade in places and elements of jazz and both neo and more traditional soul and should have across the board appeal. It's definitely a grower so give it a few listens.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/06/2023
Key/BPM:	10A/110
Price:	£1

Will Downing & Maysa UK Dates Oct 2023

Will Downing along with guest Maysa will be performing two dates (so far) in the UK in October 2023. Kicking off at O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, on 23 Oct and then at Manchester's Band On The Wall the following evening 24 Oct.

Doors open at 19:00 and tickets can be found at Tickemaster (other ticket sites are available).

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Windrush Day

After World War II the British economy was suffering, so in order to help repair it the government recruited Afro-Caribbean migrants.

On 22 June 1948 it is reported that 492 of them arrived at Tilbury Docks on the ship Empire Windrush. However, the passenger list states that there were over 1,000 passengers and that 802 of them were of Caribbean origin, so what happened to the other 308?

On the 70th anniversary in 2018, after a campaign by Patrick Vernon, Windrush Day was introduced in the UK to commemorate the event and celebrate their contribution, although it is not a public holiday.

Ksienna [2023] - Little Lovely Crime [Self Released]

From our investigations, Ksienna is Russian singer Ksenia Khokhlova who, to date, has released just one single and an album since her first single in 2019. Her second single "Little Lovely Crime" is released today which we would describe as a funky and jazzy pop tune.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Pop / Jazz / Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/06/2023
Key/BPM:	4A/115
Price:	£1