Soul Strutter: 07/02/23

Sunday, 2 July 2023

Trambeat [2023] - Don't Hold Back [LRK Records #LRK-22]

"Don't Hold Back" is the title of a new single by South London (Croydon) soul band Trambeat. It is being released on 45 by LRK Records (14 Jul) who are certainly not holding back with so many good releases of late i.e. Claire Davis album, and singles from Natasha Watts and Aphrose (with a full album from her in the pipeline) and an imminent vinyl album release they are keeping under wraps which we think will please many.

Trambeat were formed in 2012 by Graham Potter (guitar) and Des 'Jammy' James (drums) and are influenced by the 60s sound of the Motor City (which is evident in their new single) as well as Rocksteady, so traditional Mod fare.

Other members are Nipper Smith (bass), Emer O'Hanlon (organ), Nadia Barbosa (sax / flute), Mike Brown (guitar), Dave Cox (trumpet), Graham Lentz (percussion). The group has used various vocalists with Aimee Griner becoming their permanent lead singer.

Sadly founding member Paul Ogelby died in Jan 2021 (we believe to Covid-19) and the band recorded a tribute single "Rainy Night in Croydon" in Aug '21 using unused studio takes featuring Robin on sax and donated the proceeds to Robins preferred charities. The new single is their first since then as they were unsure whether or not to continue the band after his demise.

The band released the single digitally via Bandcamp on 19 Apr but have since withdrawn it and will be releasing it through LRK both digitally on 14 Jul and then on 7" vinyl .

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:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Self Released / LRK Records
Cat No:	None / LRK-22
Date:	19/04/2023 / 14/07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£name your price / £13

Tru [2023] - Never Give Up [Society Hill Records]

A single "Never Give Up" from Tru released on Friday (30 Sep) on Butch Ingram's Society Hill Records which he wrote and produced.

The lead vocalist has hints of the great Teddy P?

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Society Hill Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/06/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/90
Price:	£1

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones [2023] - 2nd Overture [Philerzy Entertainment] (Full Album) CD Now Available

Definitely in the running for one of the albums of the year is the sophomore album "2nd Overture" from Helen Bruner & Terry Jones.

It recently spent five weeks at the top of the Soul Associates Top 30, so for those who like/prefer physical media and don't want to spend double the price having it shipped from the US, Simply Soul in the UK has CD copies of the album in stock now.

We suggest that you don't sleep on this one as they are sure to sell out quickly.

The album has an intro, interlude and reprise/outro leaving eight full songs which includes a new R&B Remix of their last single "At Dinner 32". The track that has already been doing the rounds is "I Can't Call It" and the following track "Ever Stop To Think" may be even better along with "You Got Me Feeling" with a nice mellow cut "Deeper" sandwiched between.

A 'proper' soul album and another to be filed in the candidates for album of the year which comes as no surprise as they are Grammy nominated songwriters. As we have relayed previously, Terry Jones is the daughter of the legendary Linda Jones who was one of the finest soul singers we have had the pleasure of hearing who was taken far too soon at a the tender age of 27 in 1972.

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:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Philerzy Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/04/2023
Price:	£7.99 / £18

Roy Ayers [2023] Good Good Music / Chicago [Expansion (Uno Melodic Records) #EX7043]

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Roy Ayers "Silver Vibrations" album on Uno Melodic, Expansion Records has released two tracks ("Good Good People" and "Chicago") from it for the first time on 45.

NOTE, the tracks below are the full album tracks which have been edited down for 45 release.

We did a profile on Roy Ayers for his 82nd birthday last year, so to learn more about him click HERE.

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:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Jazz Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/06/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/127 / 8B/115
Price:	£12-£14

Rose Cornelius [2023] - Here / I Want You To Stay [Disco Bizzzare #DB03]

A 12" vinyl release on 20 May (which we posted from promo on 10 May) was surprisingly released digitally on 20 Jun.

It's a set of previously unreleased music from Florida's Rose Cornelius of Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose who will probably be best remembered for their million selling #2 Hot 100 hit "Too Late To Turn Back Now", covered by many (e.g. Chi-Lites and the recently deceased Renée Geyer), from late 1972. Sister Rose being Rose Cornelius who was a soloist and member of the Gospel Jazz Singers in the late 60s, and even made a solo appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in Jun 1967.

However, at her mothers request, in 1970 she returned home to join her brothers Carter and Eddie (who were performing as a duo the Cornelius Brothers) and use the contacts she'd made to progress the group. The Cornelius Brothers became Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose and released their first single, "Treat Her Like A Lady", in 1970 on Platinum, a small local Miami, FL, label owned by sound engineer Bob Archibald who also produced all their later recordings at his Music Factory studio. The single was picked up by United Artists who signed the group and the record peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 in 1971.

They recorded three albums for UA, an eponymous debut in 1972, by which time they were joined by sister Billie Jo, followed by "Big Time Lover" in 1973 and "Greatest Hits" (1976). Around nine or ten singles were released by the label, all but the last two taken their three albums.

The group disbanded in 1976, presumably due to lack of success and being released by United Artists? The brothers found religion, Carter joining a Black Hebrew sect and Eddie becoming a born again Christian and that was that, or was it?

Rose rekindled her solo career and recorded a number of songs at The Music Factory (produced by Shirley Cowell who later received a Grammy nomination for her work with Lena Horn). The music industry was in the grip of Disco by this time and the session produced "Here" and "I Want You To Stay With Me" but didn't gain release and the recordings sat collecting dust.

However, in 2018 well known, Berlin based, rare soul DJ/collector Dave Thorley (who, for those who don't already know was behind the, now legendary, Stafford 'Top of The World' Northern Soul all-nighters in the 80s) spotted and bought an acetate for sale online credited to Rose Cornelius. It was initially purchased for use in his DJ sets but he offered it to the Disco Bizarre crew from Berlin's KitKatClub for their label who approached Rose for permission for its release. In addition they obtained approval to do some remixes/re-edits. New York producer DJ Duke was commissioned to do the remix and San Francisco Disco authority Jim Hopkins did the restoration and re-edit.

Each song has been restored by Jim Hopkins and "Here" has a re-edit by him whilst "I Want You To Stay" has a 'No Sax' remix and all four tracks will be released on 12".

Vinyl copies are £17 plus postage (UK £12, Germany £6, Italy £11, USA £15.50).

To order contact Dave Thorley davethorleyuk@gmail.com

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	12" Vinyl / Digital
Label:	Disco Bizarre
Cat No:	DB03
Date:	20/05/2023 /20/06/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£17 / £3.16

Joseph Lawrence [2023] - No Good For Me [RCA] (Live Session)

We posted the latest single from Joseph Lawrence, "No Good For Me", on Friday. It was released bundled with his last three singles ("BeGod" (Mar '23), "Empty House" (Dec '22) and "Tomorrow" (Oct '22) so we also posted live performance videos for those tracks but, at the time, one wasn't available for the latest single, but now is.

His only other release was a single "Hourglass" in Sep '21 which we assume must have been his solo debut.

Lawrence is originally from Ipswich, now living in London and honed his skills on London's jazz scene and playing the legendary Ronnie Scott's club.

He is working on a new album in collaboration with Fryars (Mark Ronson, Pharell) and Dave Okumu (Jesse Ware, Lianne La Havas).

He is/was part of a duo Joseph Lawrence & The Garden (multi-instrumentalist/producer Gibbi Bettini) who began in 2018.

Most definitely an artist to watch who has a very bright future based on these recordings.

If you enjoyed this performance then check out others for the remaining three tracks HERE.

We accept that it may not be perhaps to everyone's taste but we're sticking our neck out and choosing this as our SoulStrutter Selection of the Week, as the more we listen the better it gets. It is just so different to much of the 'run of the mill' material being released.

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:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	RCA
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/06/2023
Key/BPM:	12A/86
Price:	£1