Soul Strutter: 07/18/23

Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Felece Tillman [2023] - BRIGHTER LOVE [FAT Records] UPDATE

We posted this single "BRIGHTER LOVE" by Felece Tillman on Friday which we assumed was a debut release, which we found difficult to comprehend as her voice is exquisite. We thought that she must have been at least been a background vocalist for many years, or thought perhaps that any earlier material may no longer be available?

We received a message from her this evening which, rather than paraphrase, we have put in the comments below. Felece is from Washington D.C. and the release of her single coincided with her birthday.

One of the best parts of doing this 'job' is that independent artist reach out with gratitude when all we do is try to find the 'diamonds in the rough' and post them so that they may be heard by perhaps a wider audience.

In summary, as we suspected/expected from her wonderful voice, Felece confirmed that she has been singing for many years, has not one, but two, degrees in music and works part time as a vocal coach (no surprise there!). She confirms that this is indeed her debut release and says that she has more music to come this year which we will certainly be looking forward to hearing based upon her first release.

When originally posted, we suggested that you don't skip or skim this one as it build and builds and needs listening to properly to fully appreciate her vocal talents (as we have) and that we looked forward to hearing much more from her. We also suggested that this will be a favourite amongst the Soul Associates and that has already begun to happen and expect that it will feature in most, if not all, of their playlists by the weekend.

Had we not already jumped the gun with last week's SoulStrutter Selection of the Week, which we posted early for the very first time on our facebook page thinking that nothing else would come near it but we were mistaken as, this most certainly would have been a strong candidate.

Felece will be performing at The Dolphin Bar & Grill in Gambrills, MD, on 27 Jul so if you're in that area then why not listen to her up close and personal?

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	FAT Records / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/07/2023
Key/BPM:	3B/83
Price:	£1

Mariama Whyte [2023] - What If I Fall In Love Witchu [Earth to Mars Entertainment]

Multi-hyphenated (singer, songwriter, recording artist, author, actor and speaker) Mariama Whyte from Cleveland, OH, has a new single "What If I Fall In Love Witchu" released on Friday (14 Jul).

It's a collaboration with Bryan Golden (B. Golden) who she wrote, arranged and produced the song with, which we understand is from an upcoming debut album, "Hey You It's Me".

Mariama has been featured in various films and regional and national advertising campaigns as well as in Broadway productions of "The Lion King" and "The Color Purple".

She has shared the stage with producer David Foster and opened for artists such as Stephanie Mills, Lisa Fischer and Rahsaan Patterson. Her recording career dates back to 2010 when she released a debut 5 track EP "Find Your Light".

We also checked out her last single, "I Really Like Myself With You", released in Aug '22 which seems to have been overlooked, so have also included it below.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Earth to Mars Entertainment / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/07/2023
Key/BPM:	11B/77
Price:	£1

Don Gardner [1969] - Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy / There Ain't Gonna Be No Loving [Mr. G Records #G 824]

We're not sure when, but this gem from Don Gardner has been reissued digitally. It was originally released in 1969, the same year that his hyper rarity "Cheatin Kind" was issued on Sedgrick. We've read that Gardner sent the tape to Sedgrick owner James Vanleer and heard no more about it, so even he was unaware that it had been released.

Only one original of the Sedgrick record is listed on Popsike (sold for £7,626 in Apr 2014) and legend has it that rare soul dealer John Manship sold a copy for around £8k to an Australian buyer which was run over by a truck when being delivered and smashed. He had it sent back and framed it, presumably, he was covered by insurance to take it so lightly?

This one is peanuts in comparison and can be found on original vinyl for £30-£40 unless you want a minter.

We did a feature on Don Gardner in 2020 if you want more info on him. This track was included then.

The B side "There Ain't Gonna Be No Loving" is a funky affair. The killer A side "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" was written by Morris Bailey who was a member of Crystal Clear who we posted a few weeks ago as their "Stay With Me" has been reissued by Soul Brother.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Mr. G Records
Cat No:	G 824
Date:	1969
Key/BPM:	2A/80 / 4A/95
Price:	£1

The Dynamic Superiors [1975] - The Dynamic Superiors [Motown #M6-822S1] (Full Album)

As we are scratching around trying to find new releases that we feel are good enough to share, an underrated, and perhaps lesser know except in rare soul circles, recording by The Dynamic Superiors for some reason popped into consciousness.

That song being "One-Nighter" written by Ashford & Simpson and tucked away on the B side of both US and UK singles which both had different A sides "Leave It Alone" in US (their biggest hit #13 R&B) and "Deception" in UK.

Rather than just post the single we had a re-listen to their debut, self-titled, album on which it featured and it's a pleasant album. It contains their version of Ace Spectrum's "Don't Send Nobody Else" which has had serious spins on the modern soul scene for many years and was first recorded by Millie Jackson on "Hurts So Good" in 1973 and is another Ashford & Simpson composition. In The Netherlands it was released as a single with "One-Nighter" with a picture sleeve which, needless to say, commands quite a high price.

The album opens with the sweet soul tune "Show Shoe Shine" which, whilst it was their second highest R&B chart entry at #16, was their only Hot 100 hit reaching #68. We found some rather grainy old footage of them performing it on Soul Train (see below).

All tracks were written by Ashford & Simpson except "I Got Away" which was written by Valerie Simpson's younger brother Ray who later replaced Victor Willis in Village People in 1979.

The group were formed in 1963 in Washington D.C. as The Superiors and released just one single "I'd Rather Die" on Sue in 1969 before being signed to Motown in 1972. There first Motown single "Shoe Shoe Shine" arrived 1974. They released four albums for Motown in just two years between 1975-77. The first two alums produced two R&B hits each, their third none and the fourth their last R&B chart success.

Just one more album materialised, "The Sky's the Limit" on Venture in 1980, which features Tony Camilo replacing former lead singer Tony Washington. It's a very rare record and not even listed on Discogs but was reissued on CD in 2003 by P-Vine.

Only more recently (last ten years or so) has their material been reissued and available on CD.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	M6-822S1
Date:	1975
Price:	£5.99 / £28.89 / £various

Aphrose [2019] - Element [Magnephonic Records] (Full Album)

We promised to post the debut album "Element" from Aphrose (Joanna Mohammed) when she released "YaYa", the follow up single to "Good Love" which have been paired for a vinyl release. Now is a good a time as any as she has a sophomore album due from LRK Records later this year we believe.

The album was released on 8 Nov 2019 and included her previous five singles "Weak" (Nov '19), "Invincible" (Sep '19), "(Can't) Settle For Less" (May '19), "Make Your Mark" (Jan '19) and "Move On" (Feb '18).

Our choice cut is the single "Invincible" and as luck would have it, it is one of only a few that she has a full music video for, so is included below.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Magnephonic Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/11/2019
Price:	£7.99

The Sheppards [2023] - Stubborn Heart / How Do You Like It [Kent #REPRO 13]

In Northern Soul circles back in the heyday, not so much now, L.A.'s Mirwood label was revered for recordings by Jackie Lee, Bob & Earl, The Olympics, Jimmy Conwell aka Richard Temple, The Belles, The Mirettes and others, all receiving heavy rotation.

Another 'evergreen' is from The Sheppards who were actually from Chicago not L.A. with "Stubborn Heart". The song was written by Eddie LaShae and also recorded on La-Cindy by Ernest Mosley, later we presume given that The Sheppards is dated Jan 1967 and Mosley's is given as just 1967.

Mosley is by far the rarer of the two and has been bootlegged and reissued in 2014 on Jazzman's Fryers imprint and more recently digitally by Numero Group in Mar '23 which we posted at the time.

Kent is reissuing both sides of The Sheppards' only Mirwood single i.e. "Stubborn Heart" / "How Do You Like It", another Eddie LaShae song perhaps overlooked in favour of the A side, on their repro label series which is set for release on 25 Aug.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	REPRO 13
Date:	25/08/2023
Key/BPM:	6A/121 / 7B/125
Price:	£10

Clydene Jackson [2023] - I Need Your Love / We're In Love [Kent #CITY-091]

Having released just one single in 1972, a bit of a twee jazzy stepper ("Honest To Pete") written by Richard 'Dimples' Fields, Clydene Jackson was signed to Ray Charles' Crossover label and released an album, "Fresh", in 1975.

A couple of tracks from it have been played over the years on the UK modern soul scene. One of them, "I Need Your Love", gained a reissue as a one sided single on Glenn Gunton's short-lived Joe Boy Records around 2001. The other track, "We're In Love", has only been available as an album track until now as Kent is reissuing both sides as a 7" single on 28 Aug.

Both songs were written by Jackson and the, predominantly jazz, album produced by Ray Charles.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CITY-091
Date:	28/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£10

Darrow Fletcher [2023] - Hope For Love / No Limit [Kent #CITY-088]

Darrow Fletcher is a firm favourite here at SS who, apart from in rare soul circles, has been criminally overlooked. Kent Records has put that right over the years with several compilations of his music and Kent supremo Ady Croasdel inviting him to perform at the now defunct legendary Cleethorpes Soul Weekenders.

We did a full discography for him many years ago in 2009 which was migrated here from a previous blog in 2020.

A song he recorded in the early 70s as a demo, to try to gain interest from Ray Charles' Crossover label (who he later signed for), that has never made it onto vinyl until now, is "Hope For Love" which Kent received via a master tape from Grapevine Records some years ago. The song first surfaced on a Kent CD compilation "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul (Volume 2)" in 2009 (an excellent CD well worth acquiring if you don't already own it as it is full of gems).

It is now being made available from 28 Aug on a 7" paired with "No Limit" which first saw the light of day as an unissued side on Kent Select in 2012 with his Northern Soul stormer "What Good Am I Without You" originally on Jacklyn 1967. "No Limit" was written by Grey & Hanks and recorded by Philly group Breakwater in 1978 on their self-titled debut album and was later released as single on 7" and 12".

With so much great music that he recorded it's difficult to choose a favourite but if pressed it would his 1975 Crossover release "It's No Mistake" which Kent reissued along with another previously unissued Grey & Hanks song (with Jerry Butler) "(Love Is My) Secret Weapon" in 2019. We're kicking ourselves as could have bought a Crossover original many moons ago for £40 but passed on it and they are now selling for approaching £200 if you can find anyone willing to part with it.

Included below are a few videos shot at a performance at Scottish Soul Weekender, Dumfries in Nov 2012, The first begins with "No Limit" as the first track then "My Young Misery" (1966 Groovy). The others include "(Love Is My) Secret Weapon" and his debut single "The Pain Gets A Little Deeper" released on Groovy in 1965, followed by "Changing By The Minute" (Uni 1970).

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CITY-088
Date:	28/08/2023
Key/BPM:	11A/81 / 8A/103
Price:	£10

Top 50 Jan-Jun 2023 - Roger Williams (Starpoint Radio)

We were planning to do a Top 100 tracks for the first six months of 2023 (as we did with Neo Soul Top 100) and asked several members of the Soul Associates to provide their Top 50 so that we could then compile the Top 100 from them thinking that there would be considerable overlap and the 100 would simply 'fall out'.

Surprisingly, there isn't as much of an overlap as we expected i.e. less than 20%. Therefore, we have decided, rather than wait whilst we attempt to compile a Top 100 from their submissions, that we would simply post their Top 50s first.

Here's the first set from Roger 'Soulsorts' Williams (Starpoint Radio) with a full text track listing ordered by date of release.

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Artist	Title	Release Date
Che Sampson	Walk With Me	2023-01-13
Gene Moore feat. India.Arie	Beautiful	2023-01-20
Band Of Pockets	You're The Sweetest Thing	2023-02-02
Will Downing	You Deserve Better	2023-02-10
Bella Brown & the Jealous Lovers	What Will You Leave Behind	2023-03-03
Brian Power feat. Roachford	Got To Be	2023-03-03
B & the Family feat. Antonio Mclendon	Forever	2023-03-09
Erin Stevenson feat. Marion Meadows	Smooth Soul	2023-03-17
Johnny Britt feat. Blair Bryant	Ocean Waves	2023-03-17
Frank Mccomb feat. Walter Williams	Learn How To Love	2023-03-20
Nia Sultana	Some Feelings Never Go Away	2023-03-24
P.D. Williams	Dream	2023-03-24
The Shindellas	Last Night Was Good for My Soul	2023-03-24
Zenesoul	Let me go	2023-03-24
Isla George	Be Kind to The People	2023-03-31
Maysa feat. Chris Walker	Down With Me	2023-03-31
Baltic Jazz Recordings feat. Ni Maxine	Changing Every Day	2023-04-03
King Sis	day 1	2023-04-14
Claire Davis	Here Comes The Fall	2023-04-21
Shayna Steele	A Perfect Frame	2023-04-21
Roderick Harper	Genuine	2023-04-24
Izo FitzRoy	Small Mercies	2023-04-28
Misha feat. Deborah Bond, Jussi Halme & Soul Food Horns	A Night In Rio Pt. 2	2023-04-28
Chris Shards feat. Gloria Tells	Just a Little Bit	2023-05-02
Lalah Hathaway feat. Ariza & KOLE	The Energy	2023-05-05
Haile Supreme feat. Statik Selektah	TNT	2023-05-10
Valentina Russo	Sometimes Something	2023-05-10
PJ Morton	The Sweetest Thing	2023-05-12
Angie Stone	Love The Feeling	2023-05-19
Aphrose	Good Love	2023-05-19
Kei Chaney	You Are My Angel	2023-05-19
Lynn Davis	Beautiful You	2023-05-19
3TOB	My Baby	2023-05-21
Brandon Delagraentiss	My Work	2023-06-02
Mike Di Lorenzo feat. Anna Moore	In Your Arms	2023-06-02
Jason Morales	Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe	2023-06-04
Lin Rountree feat. Algebra Blessett	One You	2023-06-16
Nicola Conte feat. Myles Sanko	Into The Light Of Love	2023-06-16
Output / Input feat. Antonio McLendon	Someone I Used To Love	2023-06-16
R. Cory Johnson feat. QrownVIQ & Rick Watford	The Meaning of Love	2023-06-16
Wendy Hicks	How Does Your Love Taste?	2023-06-16
Karlos Edwards feat. Everett Peters	Summer Soft	2023-06-20
Ed Motta	Safely Far	2023-06-23
Jeff Bradshaw feat. Rebecca Jade	Destiny	2023-06-23
Secret Night Gang	Find a Way	2023-06-23
Derric Gobourne Jr. feat. Jazzmin Carson	Out of This Bed	2023-06-29
Jalen Ngonda	Come Around and Love Me	2023-06-29
Nate Williams	Love Is All We Need	2023-07-01
The Paradise Projex feat. Charlotte Kelly	Here & Now - Radio Edit	2023-07-03
Carla Prather	Spice Of Life	2023-07-07

Sound Of Superbad feat. Joyce San Mateo [2023] - Into You [Self Released]

The new single from Sound Of Superbad, "Into You", feat. Joyce San Mateo has now dropped on Bandcamp (17 Jul) with a general release on 28 Jul.

This is their first single since "Loving You (Ubiquity Mix)" from Oct '22 which was a remix of a song from the EP "You're The Best Thing", released in Aug '22.

Once again it features Netherlands based singer Joyce San Mateo on a mellow groove with a bit of an 80s S.O.S. Band style vibe (think "Just Be Good To Me") going down.

The Sound of Superbad are Andy Welland and Sarah Perrett (aka Sassy P). Joyce San Mateo is a singer, originally from the Philippines who has been living in the Netherlands for a long time, who takes lead vocals. She's co-written songs on the albums of the legendary jazz funk trumpeter Tom Browne's "Legacy" (2016), and "Come What May" (2020) and also on the latest album of Shakatak bassist, George Anderson's 2021 album "Songs from Tomorrow".

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/07/2023 / 28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1