June Yamagishi feat. Bobby Womack [1988] - Give This Love A Try [Meldac #Med-41]

Following on from the Erica Falls post, where we alluded to this recording, this is a later re-recording of Bobby Womack's "Trust Your Heart" taken from his 1978 "Pieces" album (which had David Ruffin and Brandye on BGVs and Michael Henderson on bass), re-titled "Give This Love A Try".

It was released by June Yamagishi's on his 1988 "My Pleasure" album which featured Bobby Womack. The CD version is 12:47 with the vinyl version cut to just under 6 minutes. The prices of vinyl copies are around £300 but CD copies can be found for around £30-£40.

We'll post both versions (which aren't available on Spotify so they will be YouTube posts) along with the original 12" version of "Trust Your Heart" which was not originally on the "Pieces" album (12" vinyl only) until a CD reissue in 2012.

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

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	CD / Vinyl
Label:	Meldac
Cat No:	Med-41
Date:	1988
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£30-£40 / £300 (approx.)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Erica Falls [2023] - Up [Self Released] LIVE MUSIC VIDEO

New Orleans singer, songwriter, and former lead vocalist with Galactic, Erica Falls released a new single "Up" on 7 Jul from a forthcoming album "Emotions".

We posted more info on the original post as this is just a quickie as we have found a live video performance of the song at Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans, LA, which she posted on her YouTube channel last Friday (14 Jul).

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:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/07/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/68
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Erica Falls [2019] - It Ain't No Use [MunckMix] LIVE MUSIC VIDEO

By chance we came across this video of Erica Falls, the lady of the moment with her new single "Up", our selection of the week, which is getting a lot of attention.

A few things piqued our interest. Firstly we couldn't find the song "It Ain't No Use" on digital platforms but it was included on her 2019 live album "Recorded Live At The 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival" which is available to buy on CD and digital formats from MunckMix direct. 

It's a cover of The Meters' song from their 1974 "Rejuvenation" album. The Meters of course were also from The Crescent City (New Orleans). There are so many connections on this one that we could end up tied in knots, but two of the members were Art and Cyril Neville who were brothers of Aaron Neville (who later formed The Neville Brothers with another two brothers Ivan and Charles). The Meters were the house band for Allen Toussaint's Sansu Records and are often considered the originators of funk along with James Brown. 

Secondly the caption at the start of the video which was filmed at Loyola University New Orleans as it reminded us of an album we posted last week "4 The Culture Vol. 1: Gold Edition (R&B)" billed as Loyola University New Orleans which may have deterred some from listening but there are a few nice tracks on it.

Finally, the recording features, New Orleans based, Japanese guitarist June Yamagishi who recorded an album "My Pleasure" featuring Bobby Womack in 1988. The album included a 12:47 minute long version of "Trust Your Heart" (from Womack's 1978 album "Pieces") retitled "Give This Love A Try". Womack's album version was only 3:56 and a 12" version of it 5:18. A cut down version was issued on the vinyl release of "My Pleasure" (approx. 5:57).

Another track from the album "I'll Come Running Back To You" featured on Luxury Soul 2012 compilation.

We'll post both versions separately in another post so as not to confuse things. Posted 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:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Funk
Format:	Video
Media:	Video
Label:	MunckMix
Cat No:	None
Date:	2019
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Mark Scott [2023] - I Just Know This Feels Right [TayJay Records]

In just over a week's time on 28 Jul the ex-Miracles lead singer Mark Scott will release a solo album "I Just Know This Feels Right". The title track was released as a single at the end of May with his voice reminiscent of Smokey's, which is presumably why he was brought into The Miracles fold.

Scott was recruited to The Miracles in the mid 90s replacing Sydney Justin. Justin was formerly a member of one of the incarnations of Shalamar who were initially formed and produced by that man Simon Soussan (mentioned already today on The Lovelites post). The UK's Ian Dewhirst, who used the DJ name Frank in the 70s, was also involved in their breakthrough hit "Uptown Festival" which was a medley of Motown hits. 

Scott and Justin later created their own splinter groups, Scott's billed as The Miracles feat. Mark Scott (along with Damon Trice and Hassan Watkins) since the death of founding member Bobby Rogers in 2013. 

Scott is from Flint, MI, and his debut solo recording was "I Don't Wanna Come Down" which featured on the "Breakin' 2 - Electric Boogaloo" soundtrack in 1984. His brother was a member of The Mark-Keys who were associated with Detroit's Dave Hamilton and had a big Northern Soul tune "My Sweet Baby" (TCB 1969) which was featured on Kent's "This Is Lowrider Soul Vol 2" (don't ask!) compilation compiled by Sean Hampsey in Oct '21. 

We noticed trawling his releases that in 2018 he did a cover of Ronnie McNeir's Northern Soul favourite "Wendy Is Gone". It doesn't compare to McNeir's 1974 (Setting Sun) original but include it below for interest. If you wish to compare it then McNeir's version was posted in our Ronnie McNeir Profile which we did on his birthday last year.

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	TayJay Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/05/2023 /20/07/2018
Key/BPM:	8A/83 / 10B/116
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Click Bait Warning!

A few months ago releases were abundant with fake artist names i.e. songs using famous artist names to induce listening. 

It seem to have reared it's ugly head again as we found one released yesterday credited to Roy Ayers, which surprised us, and when listening of course it most certainly was not Roy Ayers. 

We have just found another, why it was in the R&B section is a mystery, so we were intrigued as it was billed feat. Billy Idol, Spandau Ballet & Tears For Fears, and of course none of the above were anywhere to be heard on the recording. 

So we assume that it is click bait to generate streaming fees out of curiosity, so don't be fooled (like we were!).

We thought about embedding them but then chose not to as that is exactly what whoever is posting them wants (i.e. streaming fees) but here are the Amazon links:

Roy Ayers - Paper In The Soul

FENON MIKEL feat. Billy Idol, Spandau Ballet & Tears For Fears - Back To Moon

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Alanna Royale [2023] - The Other Side [Trash Casual / Soul Step Records]

The second single (or third if you count "Fall In Love Again" which is included that was first released in Jul '21 (and again Jul '22)) from Alanna Royale's sophomore album "Trouble Is" (due on 8 Oct) is "The Other Side" released today.

The latest single isn't as instant as the previous two "Runaround" and   "Fall In Love Again" but has the same retro feel.

They are a Nashville based group led by Alanna Quinn-Broadus on vocals and her husband Jared Colby (guitar), Matt Snow (drums), Gabriel Golden (bass), Kirk Donovan (trumpet) and Diego Vasquez (trombone) who released a debut album "Achilles" in 2014 

Since we posted "Runaround" (released in May) a music video for it has been posted on YouTube a month later so is included below.

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 / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Trash Casual / Soul Step Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/07/2023
Key/BPM:	3B/92
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Berel [2023] - Mile High Fascination [Venice Music]

The new single from Berel Alexander, "Mile High Fascination", is perhaps best described as 'Yacht Soul' as it's blue-soul out of L.A. with a bit of a retro feel, so fits the 'definition'.

Berel was raised in Northern California without TV so spent a lot of time digging through his father's classic vinyl soul collection from which he acquired his musical direction.

He released his breakthrough album "Thirteenth Floor" in Oct '19. The current single is his first release since his EP "Cure For Leisure" in Dec '21.

We're not sure if there is any significance that the cover design depicts a vinyl label i.e. whether or not it is coming out on 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:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Venice Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/07/2023
Key/BPM:	12A/83
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved