Soul Strutter: 06/26/23

Monday, 26 June 2023

Matt Masters feat. Mark Pearson [2023] - I've Opened My Eyes [Lazy Days Recordings]

London based DJ/producer Matt Master (aka Sam Matters) after a residency in Ibiza returned to London and started working for Freerange Records in 2004.

He released his debut album "Never Ending Nights" in 2019. Beware as there is a country artist with the same name and, as often happens, their music is listed together.

His latest release is a four track mix of "I've Opened My Eyes" vocal and instrumentals of the main mix and Art of Tones Remix.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Lazy Days Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/06/2023
Key/BPM:	8A/111 / 8A/116
Price:	£3.16

Groovemasta [2023] - Let's Go Back [Moiss Music]

This 'sampler' "Let's Go Back" is by Groovmasta who we believe is Bulgarian producer Velislav Alexiev.

We had this lined up to post more than a week ago but put it to one side as couldn't figure out the sample which was 'oh so familiar'. We had it confused with Evelyn King but of course it's Melba Moore "Let's Go Back To Lovin'" who were both having hits in the 80s around the same time with similar sounding dance songs.

It was on her 1981 album "What A Woman Needs" and released as the B side (UK/AU) to "Love's Comin' At Ya" in 1982.

The tempo is increased from 114 to the 'dance music standard' of 120 BPM and does get rather repetitive and monotonous but it's a good enough reason to post the, possibly overlooked, original which could do with an extended mix as the album version is only 3:30 and was only released on 7" B side in UK and Australia. Other countries went with an instrumental version of "Love's Comin' At Ya".

Melba is still going strong at 79 and released a version of Ashford & Simpson's "It Seems To Hang On" only on Friday.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Moiss Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Key/BPM:	1B/120 / 8B/114
Price:	£1

Raquel Rodriguez [2023] - Undone (Dave Lee's Disco Blend) [Z Records]

We go back to a track from Raquel Rodriguez's Apr '21 album "Sweet Side" for a new remix of "Undone" by Dave Lee (Dave Lee's Disco Blend) which is due out on 7 Jul. It's available as a promo from Traxsource if you can't wait until then

The tempo is upped from 108 to the 'obligatory' dancefloor beat of 120 BPM.

A live performance of the original is included below.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soulful House / Nu Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Z Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/07/2023
Key/BPM:	8A/120
Price:	£1

The Falcons [2023] - Love Look In Her Eyes / Love You Like You Never Been Loved [Big Man Records #BMR 1015]

Set for release on 28 Jun '23 by Big Man Records are two songs by The Falcons, one side each from two consecutive recordings on Big Wheel in 1967, "Love Look In Her Eyes" (Big Wheel 1971) and "Love You Like You Never Been Loved" (Big Wheel 1972).

The Falcons were a Detroit group formed in 1955. Their lead singer at this time was Joe Stubbs (brother of Four Tops Levi Stubbs and later a member of The Contours, The Originals and 100 Proof Aged In Soul). By 1960 he was replaced by Wilson Pickett. Other members included Eddie Floyd, Bonny (Sir Mack) Rice, Lance Finnie, Robert Ward and Willie Schofield.

The group disbanded in 1963 after Schofield was drafted into the military. However, the group's manager Robert West (who owned several Detroit labels The Falcons recorded for including LuPine) drafted in another Detroit group named The Fabulous Playboys who assumed the Falcons name and it is their members, Carlis 'Sonny' Monroe, James 'Ooh Wee' Gibson, Johnny Alvin and Alton "Bart" Hollowell, who made these two recordings.

To order send £20 + p&p (£4 K / £9 overseas) via PayPal (Friends & Family to avoid extra charges) to bicknellmark@aol.com (Very limited edition white label DJ copies are available for £30).

NB To keep up to date on all Big Man releases join their facebook group BigMan Records Rare Soul Releases

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Big Man Records
Cat No:	BMR 1015
Date:	28/06/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£20

LaVel Moore / Dauphine Williams [2023] - The World Is Changing / I Love You [Big Man Records #BMR 1016]

Mark Bicknell's Big Man Records has announced the next release as being two early 70s recordings out of Allan Merry's East St Louis Yodi label by LaVel Moore "The World Is Changing" (1972) b/w Dauphine Williams "I Love You" (1970).

Big Man is taking reserves for this release now which will be available mid summer (mid Jul?). We'd consider these pair as superb examples of crossover soul and as such will surely sell out quickly, so we recommend you reserve a copy if you want to make sure you get one.

To reserve send £20 + p&p (£4 K / £9 overseas) via PayPal (Friends & Family to avoid extra charges) to bicknellmark@aol.com (Very limited edition DJ copies are available for £30).

NB To keep up to date on all Big Man releases join their facebook group BigMan Records Rare Soul Releases

As mentioned here before (on another Numero Group Yodi reissue for The Georgettes), Allan Merry was a youth worker in East St. Louis who brought kids together to form The Young Disciples to keep them off the streets and named the label after them i.e. YoDi.

The two tracks selected for release are one-off recordings for both artists and have been licensed from Numero Group who featured them on a 2008 compilation "Eccentric Soul: The Young Disciples".

The LaVel Moore original now fetches around at least £200 going by Popsike. None have ever sold on Discogs.

The Daphine Williams originals seem to sell for between £300-£400 or more depending on condition. Note the original Yodi single is billed as Daphine Williams, the Numero Group comp as Daphin and the Big Man single as Dauphine, so take your pick!

Another imminent Big Man release is due on 28 Jun which consists of sides from two consecutive 1967 Big Wheel recordings by The Falcons "Love Look In Her Eyes" (a long time favourite that we were very fortunate to receive in a soul pack for pennies) paired with "Love You Like You Never Been Loved Big".

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Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Big Man Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	TBC (estimated mid Jul)
Key/BPM:	8B/90 / 8A/98
Price:	£20

Ronald Isley feat. The Isley Brothers [2023] - Last Time [RI Top Ten]

The latest single from The Isley Brothers is "Last Time" released today and taken from their "Make Me Say It Again, Girl" album last year (30 Sep) billed as Ronald Isley feat. The Isley Brothers.

The title track is a remake of their 1975 album track ( fom "The Heat Is On") which they pre-released as a single edit featuring Beyonce.

The Isleys have been making music since 1954 and only two of the brothers, Ronald and Ernie" remain in the group but their legacy is continues with Ernie's daughter Alex (who has featured here several times). Father and daughter released a duet together in the last week or so.

Ronald Isley last appeared on the the blog in Dec '22 on a remake of Masego & Devin Morrison's "Yamz" (Nov 2021) with "Sweet Yamz" on which he featured with Charlie Wilson and Fetty Wap.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Slow Jam
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	RI Top Ten
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/06/2023
Key/BPM:	6A/80
Price:	£1

VA [2023] - Win Or Lose [Soul4Real #S4RLP02] (Full Album)

Blibao based label Soul4Real has announced that their second compilation "Win Or Lose" is available to pre-order from their website for release on 15 Jul '23.

It's a compilation of twelve songs all previously unissued at the time, although most have later featured on CD or digital compilations and appear on vinyl the first time.

It's a mix of deep and mellow soul ballads, mid-tempo items and four-on-the-floor Motown songs all dripping with "Soul" for lovers of the real deal. The highlights to these ears are the superb mid-tempo gem "It's Here For You" from Etta James and Brenda Holloways' version of the Ashford & Simpson song "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" recorded by many including Syreeta, Loleatta Holloway, Walter Jackson as well as The Temptations and others.

The A side consists of six tracks from the vaults of Chess and Duke by Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Etta James and Fontella Bass. Another enigmatic Chess artist Joy Lovejoy, about whom nothing is known, had a huge Northern Soul tune "In Orbit" and it has been speculated over the years that perhaps it was another known artist using a pseudonym. Perhaps it's Fontella Bass given she recorded this song "Joy Of Love" which 'may' be a clue and her voice is quite similar on "Rescue Me" to "In Orbit"? This is purely speculation and why she would record under pseudonym when she continued to record into the 70s is strange. However, she left Chess/Checker in 1967 (when "In Orbit" was released) and moved to Paula, so perhaps it was released as Joy Lovejoy after she left for contractual reasons or Chess decided not to credit her as she left acrimoniously over not being given writing credits for "Rescue Me" which was the label's first million seller in 10 years since Chuck Berry?

The B side is dedicated to unreleased Motown songs by The Velvelettes, Brenda Holloway, Johnny Bristol and David Ruffin.

A Side

A1 - Bobby Bland - For Men Only

A2 - Bobby Bland - This Time I'll Be True

A3 - Etta James - Can't Shake It

A4 - Etta James - I Never Meant To Love Him

A5 - Etta James - It's Here For You

A6 - Fontella Bass - Joy Of Love

B Side

B1 - The Velvelettes - Your Heart Belongs To Me

B2 - Brenda Holloway - Love Woke Me Up This Morning

B3 - Johnny Bristol - Tell Me How To Forget A True Love

B4 - David Ruffin - One Lucky Day I Found You

B5 - David Ruffin - You Ought To Know Me

B6 - Marvin Gaye - I Wish I Didn't Love You So

We have gathered together into a playlist those tracks available on Spotify (bold above). We couldn't find Johnny Bristol's version of the song so have included The Spinners version of "Tell Me How To Forget A True Love" and have also included an alternative version of the Marvin Gaye song "I Wish I Didn't Love You So".

The three 'missing' tracks are included below from Alex Subina's (Sou4Real) YouTube channel.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Vinyl
Label:	Soul 4 Real
Cat No:	S4RLP02
Date:	15/07/2023
Price:	€24

Maeta [2023] - Questions [Roc Nation Records]

Maeta Hall hails from Indianapolis (but is now based in L.A.) and gained attention via posting clips on Soundcloud and Instagram. After a few singles, she released a debut EP "Do Not Disturb" in Nov 2019 and has now released a further three EPs along with around eighteen singles and a full album.

We first came across Maeta only a couple of weeks ago via her single "Through The Night" (19 May) which we fell in love with and made it our SoulStrutter Selection of the Week. Two weeks later she released a debut album "When I Hear Your Name" (9 Jun).

One of the tracks that has been receiving attention is, predictably, not the single as ballads don't seem to receive a great deal of airplay, but the track "Questions" (produced by Montreal's Louis Kevin Celestin aka KAYTRANADA) for which she has published a music video. It is not officially the next single (yet?).

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	R&B
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Roc Nation Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Price:	£1