Soul Strutter: 10/11/23

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Durand Jones & The Indications [2023] - Ride or Die b/w More Than Ever [Colemine #CLMN-222]

It's been a long time coming but two tracks from Durand Jones & The Indications Jul '21 album "Private Space" are being paired on a 7" vinyl release on 20 Oct. We can't believe that it's been over two years since the album release and these are two of the six particular tracks we highlighted from it: "Ride or Die" and the superb "More Than Ever", although we rated the whole album a 9/10 and it featured in our top 10 of "Top 25 Albums of The Year 2021".

They haven't released any new material since the album, although yesterday they released a live three track EP "Live At Paste" which was recorded in Aug 2017. Durand Jones released a solo album "Wait Til I Get Over" in May this year to a very mixed reception.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Colemine
Cat No:	CLMN-222
Date:	20/10/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/102 / 8A/83
Price:	$7.99

The Sounds Of Oakland [2023] - Music From The Streets [Chump Change Records] (Full Album)

A few weeks ago we received a couple of promo tracks from The Sounds Of Oakland "Music From The Streets" album and have this week received another two. The album is produced by Paul Tillman Smith utilising Bay Area artists under the banner The Sounds of Oakland, some of the songs previously released as Park Place (e.g. Lenny Williams "Invisible Man" the title track of a 2002 album). We chose not to post them previously as we posted the album in Oct '21. However, the latest version (which was officially released on 21 Apr '23) has a few changes.

There are three new songs and one of the same songs recorded by a different artist. The latest version is one track longer and two from the original release have been dropped to make way for the new songs, i.e. the last two tracks Freddie Hughes "Good Thang" and Bobby Reed "Be With Me".

The three new songs are Donnie Williams "Magazine Girl", Terrill Carter "Don't Run Over Me" and Bonnie Boyer "Just Like Magic", all well worth checking out. On the original release Derick Hughes sang a version of his father's classic "Send My Baby Back" which is sung on the latest release by Larriah Jackson (with a rap section by Mistah Fab).

Interestingly, one of the tracks we tipped in Oct '21 is the one that seems to be gaining most airplay now from the Soul Associates i.e. Niecey "Living Single" Robinson "Before You Know" along with the new version of "Send My Baby Back" (although we prefer Freddie Hughes' 1968 original), so we thought we had better (re) post the album!

Another of our 'bright lights' from our original review was "Bright Lights" feat. Derick Hughes, which is essentially a reworking of Lonnie Hewitt's "Is It Me" (1967).

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Chump Change Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/04/2023
Price:	£7.99

The Caressors / Sir Joe [2023] - I Can’t Stay Away / Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) [Soul Direction Origins #SDO1008]

Alan Kitchener set up Soul Direction in 2020 and has to date released around 20 singles on the main label. A subsidiary imprint called Origins was created to focus on particularly rare records and has it's eighth release due tomorrow (12 Oct).

It consists of two rarities from Baltimore's Ru-Jac label set up by Rufus Mitchell and Jack Bennet in 1963 and ran until 1974, although one further release materialised in 1980. The label released between 40-50 singles whilst in existence. In 2018 four compilations of the label's output "The Ru-Jac Records Story" Vol's 1-4" were released by Omnivore, from whom these tracks have been licensed. We noticed only last week that they re-emerged on Amazon's new releases, so assume that they are either being re-issued or re-marketed.

The two recordings being paired for Origins 1008 are The Caressors "I Can't Stay Away" and Sir Joe "Every Day (I'll Be Needing You)".

No one at the label recalls anything about The Caressors who recorded two sides for Ru-Jac in 1968. The song is credited to co-owner Rufus Mitchell and George Charles Brown. It has never sold on Discogs and only a handful are listed on Popsike (selling for around the £1,000 mark) along with a few bootlegs on Soulwax (which isn't listed on Discogs).

Sir Joe is Joe Quarterman from Washington D.C. possibly best known for his only hit single, the funky "(I Got) So Much Trouble in My Mind" as Joe Quarterman & Fee Soul on GSF in 1972.

He met Eddie Best (Gene & Eddie) and Don Downing and became lead singer with The Knights. After several of the members were drafted into the military he formed formed Sir Joe & The Maidens, later joining El Corols Band & Show who released a single "You Must Be An Angel" / "Chick, Chick" on Tiny in 1968. The single was also one of very few (3/4 listed) releases on Tommy Rouse's Washington D.C. Rouser label billed as just The El Corols in 1971 which sells for big bucks. 45Cat lists another release with an alternate title of "Ain't No Bragg" for "Chick, Chick" with a different cat. no. (but no label scan). All Rouser releases sell for well into four figures.

Quarterman wrote and recorded "Every Day (I'll Be Needing You)" in 1970 for Ru-Jac which was the official B side to "Baby, I'd Drop Every Thing". It is not even listed on 45Cat and we found only one listing for it on Popsike which sold for £348 in Nov 2012.

He had one other earlier release on Ru-Jac in 1967 both sides of which were released as the second Origins release (1002). Soul Direction tell us that "Nobody Beats My Love" along with an unreleased song "A Guy For You" were recorded using spare studio time at Edgewood Studios after the recording of The El Corals single. The flip, "If You Give Up Your Love”, was recorded later at Virtue.

The single is available now from Soul Direction website.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Direction Origins
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/10/2023
Price:	£15

Saint Mercedes [2023] - Cry Baby (The Realm Remix) [Self Released] PROMO

Due on 27 Oct is the latest remix from Manny 'The Realm' Rahelu. It's a remix of New Orleans artist Saint Mercedes' "Cry Baby" from her May '21 debut EP "Queen of Swords" .

The song was initially released as a single in Jan '21 reaching the UK Soul Chart Top 10.

We've been asked not to post the full track until release, so below is a sample along with Saint Mercedes' original version to remind you of the song.

It will be available on digital platforms on 27 Oct.

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The Realm

Saint Mercedes

Details

Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Remix
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/10/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

DJ Kool Keith [2022-10-10] - Soulful Vibes [Soul Groove Radio]

DJ Kool Keith's latest Soulful Vibes show broadcast on Tue 10th Oct 2023 on Soul Groove Radio.

His Soulful Vibes show showcases new releases whether that be brand new music or reissues.

DJ Kool Keith has two shows per week, his Soulful Vibes show Tue 16:00-18:00 (BST/UK Time) on Soul Groove Radio and Thu 21:00-2300 (BST/UK Time) Soul Music Radio.

All DJ Kool Keith podcast are available to listen/download from Podomatic.

Playlist:

Artist	Year
Sir Soundbender	Trust UR Heart (MS III Full Dizko Slap)
Bobby Bru	Don't Wanna Miss You (Radio Version)
Eugene Smiley & The Essence Of Love	Yes It's You
Sweatson Klank feat. Aummaah	Stuck Inside Your Love
Sweatson Klank	Move Freely
Beverley Knight	Queen Of Everything
Beverley Knight	Someone Else's Problem
Dwayne Scivally	What A Feeling
Relyae	Moonlight
Maya Blandy	Disco Nights
Freedom	High On You
The Sounds Of Oakland feat. Bonnie Boyer	Just Like Magic
Mitchell Yard feat. Lizzy	Room Full Of Love
Lisma & Gwendolyn	Superhuman
Soulpersona, Princess Freesia	Lifeline (Soulpersona Disco Remix)
The Lost Family	Blow My Mind
Avery Wilson	Kiss The Sky
Diane Marsh feat. Mather	Enough (R&B Mix)
Grace Weber	XTC
Emi Secrest	444
Robert Gee	Whatcha Wanna Do
Joy Denalane	Fly By
Aphrose	Soft Nuclear
Aphrose	In The Time Of Sorrow
Car'letta	Stop Whatcha Doing
Maleah	Feels Good
DMB	Can't Decide
The Sextones	This Could Last Forever
L. Young	Come Get To This
Saint Mercedes	Cry Baby (The Realm Remix)
Jorja Smith feat. J Hus	Feelings
Jorja Smith feat. Lila Iké	Greatest Gift
Kenyon Dixon	Wait
Juanita Wynn	We Need This
Johnnie Taylor	Let's Get Back On Track
Isabel	Future Fantasies
Sugar Rainbow	I Feel So Strong
Tucka	Work It
Tucka feat. Fat Daddy	Put It On Me