Soul Strutter: 07/25/23

Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Soul Associates Top 30 - 2023 Week 29 (w/e 23 Jul 2023)

		Top 30 Wk 29 (w/e 23 Jul 2023)
Pos	Last	Artist - Title/Artist - Album
1	1	Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire LP
2	3	R. Cory Johnson - Collages Of Music And Love, Vol. 1 LP
3	2	Zaimie - Fortuitous LP
4	6	Theo Forsett - Love At Your Fingatips LP
5	7	Reuben James - Champagne Kisses LP
6	10	Jalen Ngonda - Come Around And Love Me
7	11	The Paradise Projex feat. Charlotte Kelly - Here & Now
8	4	Jeff Bradshaw - Jeff Bradshaw 20 LP
9	NE	Output / Input - Forward Motion LP
10	5	Mike Di Lorenzo - Play It Cool LP
11	8	Nicola Conte - Umoja LP
12	20	Chris Ballin - Shining
13	17	Don-E - 30 LP
14	18	Ariel - Symfonia EP
15	13	Mama Terra feat. Rachel Lightbody - The Summoned LP
16	9	Lin Rountree - The Message LP
17	B3	Bléz - Certified Luva (The Virgo Lounge Mellifluous Vibe LP)
18	B1	Erica Falls - Up
19	B4	Cynthia Jones - Lifeline
20	12	Lynn Davis - Beautiful You
21	NE	Marlon Robinson - When It Comes To You
22	B2	Zoe Kypri - I SEE ME IN YOU
23	B5	robstocks feat. Chris X - Tonight (a.k.a. snuhgie EP)
24	NE	Shaila Prospere - Dance All Night
25	15	Aphrose - Good Love
26	21	Secret Night Gang - Belongs on a Place Called Earth LP
27	NE	Sound Of SuperBad feat. Joyce San Mateo - Into You
28	NE	Derric Gobourne Jr. - Until: Summer Songs Inspired by a Hummingbird LP
29	NE	Izo FitzRoy - Body Of Mine
30	NE	Felece Tillman - Brighter Love
		BREAKERS
B1	NE	Leela James - Right Back In It
B2	NE	Sweatson Klank feat. Aya - The Limit (A Free Mind LP)
B3	NE	Goapele - Time Heals
B4	NE	Dawn Joseph - Imitation Love (Georgie B Remix)
B5	NE	Andy Stokes - Turn Back Now

JadaLove [2023] - Around The Way [Self Released]

On face value JadaLove (Jada Dorsey) appears to be a new artist as she only has two singles listed on DSPs and both were who released on Friday, "Around The Way" along with "Play Me". The former is the better of the two.

However, whilst digging for information on her, it looks like she actually released both singles over a year ago as Jade Love and there is a music video for "Around The Way" from May '22.

We are unable to find much about the artist except that she's from Indiana.

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:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/07/2023
Key/BPM:	1B/55
Price:	£1

Roger Williams [2023-07-23] - The Soulsorts Sunday Soul Collection #26 [Starpoint Radio]

The latest show from the connoisseur's DJ, Roger Soulsorts Williams, whose SoulSorts Sunday Soul Collection 2023 #26 was broadcast live on Sun 23rd Jul 2023, on Starpoint Radio 22:00-00:00 GMT.

Roger's show is broadcast every Sunday between 22:00-24:00 (GMT) on Starpoint Radio playing his selection of the best new soul and jazz releases.

Roger Williams Profile

All podcasts are available from Podomatic, Mixcloud and Amazon

Playlist

Artist	Title / Album	Year
Output / Input feat. O'Bryan	Doin' Alright [Forward Motion]	2023
Papik, The Soultrend Orchestra & Nadyne Rush	Let's Fall in Love	2023
Gary B. Poole	Revival [Revival (The Soul Talk Sessions)]	2023
Andy Stokes	Turn Back Now	2023
Ernie & The Family McKone feat. Lex Cameron	Feels Like I'm in Love	2023
B. Golden	You	2023
Bléz	Certified Lova [The Virgo Lounge Mellifluous Vibe]	2023
Chris Ballin	Shinin'	2023
Jeff Bradshaw feat. Rebecca Jade	Destiny [Jeff Bradshaw 20]	2023
Don-E	Turn Around [30]	2023
Sweatson Klank feat. Aya	The Limit [A Free Mind]	2023
The Shindellas	Juicy [Shindo]	2023
Jessie Laine Powell feat. Sam Hankins	Pure Love	2023
Output / Input feat. Antonio McLendon	Time Of Our Lives [Forward Motion]	2023
Zaimie	When I'm With You [Fortuitous]	2023
Sandra-Mae Lux	Perfect Weather	2023
Izo FitzRoy	Body Of Mine	2023
Dara Tucker	Scars [Dara Starr Tucker]	2023
Zoe Kypri	I See Me In You	2023
Output / Input feat. Antonio McLendon	True Love [Forward Motion]	2023
Bird Williams	Love You	2023
Mariama Whyte	What If I Fall In Love Witchu	2023
Aston Grey Project feat. Keisha	Wanna Be Yours	2023
Erica Falls	Up	2023
Felice Tillman	Brighter Love	2023
Mike Di Lorenzo feat. Anna Moore	I Realize [Play It Cool]	2023
Cynthia Jones	Lifeline	2023
K. Huggs	As Long	2023

VA [2023] - Soul 1 [FirstCom Music / MasterSource] (Full Album)

We stumbled across this compilation "Soul 1" during our searches over the weekend releases which was originally released in Aug 2001. We tried to find the original release but all that it turned up was a subscription service for Universal Records. So it's a strange one as it seems like it's library music that is licensed. All the tracks feature either Jamie Dunlap or Paul Taylor.

A Jamie Dunplap is listed on Discogs but only for appearances on half a dozen compilations, four of which are from the same source i.e. MasterSource, so it's more than likely the same artist. It gives his full name as James Ronald Dunlap who was a member of a group/duo named Lazarus Heart who released an album "Open The Sky" in 2002. All songs were written by Dunlap and Molly Pasutti who also only otherwise features on MasterSource or Killer Tracks compilations.

We gave up on Paul Taylor as there are literally dozens of artists with the name, but suspect the result will be the same i.e. a session singer who featured on MasterSource compilations.

Whilst many of the MasterSource compilations are listed on Discogs we could not find this one listed.

It seems a bit 'random' that it has been reissued all of a sudden and out of the blue and it wasn't available on Spotify until today.

It's a mixed bag with a lot of pop/blue-eyed soul and many of the tracks sound older than 2001. However, there is one 'jewel in the crown' credited to Jamie Dunlap, Scott Nickoley & Stephen Lang "Take A Little Time" (track 14) along the with perhaps the last track "More Than I Can Say" which reminded us of something and think it may be Heatwave's "Always And Forever" in parts).

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

Details

Rating:	N/A
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	FirstCom Music / MasterSource
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/07/2023
Price:	£9.99

Eugene Record [2023] - I Gotta Find A Way (Radio Edit) [Forty Five Records]

With all the fake releases, as reported last week, we took this one, "I Gotta Find A Way (Radio Edit)" credited to Eugene Record, with a very large pinch of salt, However, researching a bit further, it was announced on the artist's facebook page in April and also on an 'official' website.

Record died on 22 Jul 2005 (exactly 18 years prior to the date of this release which may be significant) aged 64, and the sites seem to be hosted by his son Bryan. The website bills it as Recordplayers feat. Eugene Record from a forthcoming album "Eugene Record Tribute" by Recordplayers. Therefore, we would guess that it is Bryan Record who is behind this release as he, his wife Jerraine and father Eugene are on writing credits. How much of the vocal is Eugene's, or where it came from, is up for debate?

Let's be brutally honest, it's not particularly good, but 'hounds' of retro music seem to latch onto these sorts of things and we only post it out of interest and intrigue as musically it's not great, in our opinion, and if it was not associated with Eugene Record there would be little interest in it.

Record, of course, was the lead singer with The Chi-Lites and a prolific songwriter and we would rather remember him for the many great songs he wrote and recorded rather that this one!

We did a Eugene Record Profile on 23 Dec '21 on what would have been his 81st birthday and direct you there for his solo material.

If you'd like the full lowdown on Record's career then his son Bryan wrote his biography "My Father In Lites" in 2015.

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

Details

Rating:	N/A
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Forty Five Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/07/2023
Key/BPM:	4B/88
Price:	£1

Steve Green & The Elevators [2023] - Dancing in Paradise [Self Released]

You may, or may not, know Steve Green who was the bassist for 70s Philly group Breakwater (who we mentioned on the Darrow Fletcher post for the upcoming Kent reissue as they recorded "No Limit" on their self-titled debut album in 1978).

Breakwater disbanded in 1980 and Steve went on to do session work for many of Philly artists such as as as Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls, The Stylistics, Jean Carn, Dexter Wansel, The Jones Girls, Phyllis Hyman. Steve’s bass can be heard on the Jones Girls' hit "Nights Over Egypt", Phyllis Hyman’s "Living All Alone", Patti LaBelle’s "If Only You Knew” and Jean Carn’s “Closer Than Close” to name but a few.

He now hosts The Steve Green Show on US television and Breakwater reunited in 2009 and still perform together now.

He released a single on Saturday as Steve Green & The Elevators "Dancing in Paradise" which features Warren Cooper and Mango Rose on vocals.

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:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/07/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/92
Price:	£1

L.J. Reynolds [2023] - Love Is About To Start [Volt] (Full Album)

A 1999 album, "Love Is About To Start", by L.J. (Larry James) Reynolds has landed on digital platforms over the weekend. Probably Friday (21 Jul) as it is listed alongside Friday's releases but the release date is shown as Nov 1999 so we can't be certain.

It contains a re-recording of his 1981 modern Northern Soul biggie "Key To The World" from his self-titled album on Capitol, also released as a single.

L.J. Reynolds was born in Saginaw, MI, in 1952 and released a couple of solo singles in 1969-70 before forming L.J. Reynolds & Chocolate Syrup in 1971 and releasing "What's A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)" / "The Penguin Break Down" (instrumental of A side). The song also received plays on the scene and the backing track has been used on other recordings such as Phil Lowman "Rock Me Till I Want No More" which received two releases first on Blue Soul followed by the rarer Palos release. Both Reynolds' and Lowman's were released in 1971 so we don't know which was first as both claim writers credits.

He left Chocolate Syrup in 1972 planning for a solo career and then met Ron Banks of The Dramatics backstage at the Apollo Theatre and a year later replaced William Howard in the group. In 1981 he left for his delayed solo career releasing his self-titled album on Capitol followed by another three solo albums before re-joining the group in 1986 but still released solo material on the side.

Another album was delivered in 1994 before this one on Volt (acquired by Fantasy after the demise of Stax) in 1999. Since then he has released another three solo albums, his last "Get To This" in 2011.

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:	New Soul / Reissue
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Volt
Cat No:	VCD-3411-2
Date:	21/07/2023 / 1999
Price:	£8.91 / 26.56

Incognito [2023] - Back On The Beach [Splash Blue] PROMO

Due for release on Bandcamp on 30 Jul is the new single from Bluey & Co aka Incognito with their new single "Back On The Beach". It will gain a wider release on the main digital platforms in early August.

The song is a summery laid back, mainly instrumental, (Bluey) guitar led jazzy groove, with trumpet/horns coming later, and a few sporadic vocal chants.

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:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Splash Blue
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Ike Noble [2023] - Your Love b/w Your Love Has Got Gusto [Numero Group #NUM4437]

A song we posted four different versions of a couple of years ago by Ike Noble has been digitally reissued by Numero Group. They have chosen the sparser first release of "Your Love" on Chanson in 1978 that has no female backing nor full strings like some of the later versions.

We won't repeat the full details here but if you wish to read about, and listen to, the other versions then check them out HERE. The last of the four versions, from his 1984 &1987 album "Lonely People", has been included below as it's the only other one available on Spotify.

A full Ike Noble Discography was also posted earlier in 2020 which was prompted by, the then current spins for, "It's Bad" tucked away on the flip side to a Northern Soul favourite "That's What I Get" an Alley from 1967.

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4437
Date:	10/07/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/82 / 8B/119 / 6B/82
Price:	£1.79

Tommy Rodgers [2023] - Give Me My Freedom / Tell It To The Wind // United Hearts Of America / Pass The Word [MD Records #MD122/MD123]

MD Records has obtained two unreleased songs plus two alternate mixes of the only released record by Detroit's Tommy Rodgers.

His single on jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal's, NYC based, AJP in 1969 found it's way into our collection via one of the, now legendary, Soul Bowl soul packs in the mid 70s and we always felt that both sides had potential but weren't picked up on by the Northern Soul fraternity until much later. It was a big in-demander circa 2015.

The official A side "I'll Tell It To The Wind" is mid-tempo, crossover tune whilst the flip, "Pass The Word", is a driving Motownesque dancer.

The single doesn't seem to be particularly easy to find and consistently sells for between £200-£300 with only two currently listed on Discogs at the higher end.

MD Records has split the released single over two releases pairing "Tell It To The Wind" with the unreleased "Give Me My Freedom" and "Pass The World" with "United Hearts Of America" but with a twist as they are alternate takes of both released songs.

The label's Jordan Wilson researched Mr Rodgers who was born Thomas Gilbert Rodgers in Dec 1942, his family migrating from Georgia to Detroit near the renowned Brewster-Douglass housing project. The same development where Diana Ross & The Supremes emerged from. In fact Diana Ross was Rodgers teenage sweetheart who he sang with!

Jordan discovered that Tommy had been invited by Otis Williams to audition with his group (who would of course become The Temptations) for Motown's Gordy imprint in 1961. Unfortunately Rodgers had to decline as he was drafted for the Vietnam war. A sad twist of fate as who knows what the outcome for Tommy would have been?

In Oct 1969 Rodgers cut five songs at Detroit's Pioneer Studio: "Summer Love", "Tell It to The Wind", "United Hearts of America", "Give Me Freedom (Or Give Me Love)" and "Pass the Word". These came to the attention of James Shaw who was A&R man at AJP who had connections to Detroit having previously worked at Golden World Studios and remaining in contact with Funk Brother's trombonist Don White. "Tell It to The Wind" and "Pass the Word" were released as the inaugural single on the AJP label on 11 Oct 1969.

The single failed to register and Tommy returned to normal life until 1974 when he made a comeback forming a group called The Brewster Crew. He wrote two songs with Doris Williams and James Nyx Jr, "Outta My Life" and "I'm One Who Know" released on Lifeline Records in 1974.

Rather than repeat the story over two post we have chosen to post both singles here. We've also posted the original AJP recordings as well.

Both singles are available now from MD Records.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single / Previously Unreleased
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	MD Records
Cat No:	MD122 // MD123
Date:	15/07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15 each