Soul Strutter: 04/18/24

Thursday, 18 April 2024

Raelle [2024] - Pressure [Self Released]

The first solo release from South Croydon's Rebekah Lindo aka Raelle since her sophomore EP "Bloodlines" (May '23) is "Pressure".

Since emerging in 2020 Raelle has developed into an artist to be contended with. Several tracks from "Bloodlines" were superb, especially "(Oh) My Days" and the new single picks up where that left off and is in a very similar vein.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024
Key/BPM:	8A/85
Price:	£1

John P. Kee [2024] - Tribute To A Legend: Rance Allen, Chapter Two [Tyscot Records] (Full EP)

It will be four years in October since the loss of Gospel legend Rance Allen at the age of 71.

On 31st March last year John P. Kee released Chapter One of Tribute To A Legend: Rance Allen and has followed it with "Tribute To A Legend: Rance Allen, Chapter Two" consisting of covers of five of Allen's songs.

Three songs include guest vocalists with none other than Antonio McLendon featuring on "I Give My All To You". The song gaining most traction appears to be "Believe In Yourself" feat. Caleb Sean and Frank McComb.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Contemporary Gospel
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Tyscot Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024
Price:	£4.95

Gianluca Mosole feat. CeCe Rogers & Marco Tamburini [2024] - Georgy Porgy [Azzurra Music]

Another song that we posted a version of recently by Igor Gerzina feat. Anya Alu is "Georgy Porgy" now covered by Italian jazz guitarist Gianluca Mosole feat. CeCe Rogers & Marco Tamburini with a very George Benson jazz guitar styled rendition.

The song was written by Toto's David Paich and recorded on their debut album in 1978 with Cheryl Lynn on vocals. There are plenty of other versions, many we featured last year when we came across a Doctor Soul remix of Toto's original

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Azzurra Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024
Key/BPM:	10A/96
Price:	£1

Willie Hutch [2024] - Fully Exposed [Motown] (Full Album)

When 'legendary' Motown artists names are bandied around seldom, if ever, is the name Willie Hutch included. Hopefully the recent reissue of much of his Motown catalogue will rectify this because, as far as we are concerned, the man was a genius and his music has stood the test of time unlike many of his contemporaries.

We did an in depth profile of his work some time ago but he joined Motown primarily as a writer having had success writing for The 5th Dimension and was asked to write the lyrics for "I'll Be There", a #1 Hot 100 & R&B hit for The Jackson 5 in 1970. Maria Carey also has a Hot 100 #1 hit with it in 1992.

As quite often the case with many artists, Hutch came to the attention of the UK's Northern Soul scene via his debut solo single, a 1965 Dunhill recording "The Duck" / "Love Runs Out". He was a member of The Phonetics who released a handful of Hutch written singles on Trudel between 1964-65.

If you're unfamiliar with his work then here's the fourth recent digital reissue of his Motown work, "Fully Exposed", following "Color Her Sunshine", "Concert In Blues" and "Ode To My Lady" in recent weeks.

As with all his albums, this one includes several killer cuts including his rendition of Leon Ware's "I Wanna Be Where You Are", along with a few of his own compositions such as "Sunshine Lady", "Can't Get Ready For Losing You", "I Just Wanted To Make Her Happy", "California My Way" (a 2-step classic) and of course his own interpretation of "I'll Be There", similar to "The Way We Were" (on Ode To My Lady") he puts his own inimitable stamp on the song which is almost unrecognisable to the Jackson 5s version.

He released eight albums for the label between 1973-77 after two he released for RCA in 1969-70. Only two further of his Motown albums are not currently available digitally, "Foxy Brown" and his last "Havin' A House Party" (from whence this blog gets it name from the track "Soul Strut") so 'no doubt(?) these may also appear in the coming weeks.

He left Motown to join Norman Whitfield's label where he released two albums and returned to Motown for one album in 1985. Three further albums appeared on indie labels in 1994,1996 and 2002. Hutch died in 2005 aged only 60.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/2024
Price:	£8.91

Myles Sanko [2024] - I Feel The Same [213 Music]

The third single from Myles Sanko's upcoming sixth album, "Let It Unfold" (due 4 Oct), is "I Feel The Same" released 5 Apr. It follows "Dream Chaser" (2 Feb) and "Peace Of Mind" (1 Mar) and is perhaps the most commercial yet.

We're keeping the write-ups brief as we have two weekends worth of releases to catch up on but will focus on those that appear to have been missed i.e. those we haven't seen on Amazon Hot New Releases nor on DJs playlists (yet!).

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	213 Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024
Key/BPM:	12A/100
Price:	£1

Big Wade feat. Blake DeForest [2024] - Someday We'll All Be Free [Self Released]

Yet another cover of an iconic song (which we posted a version of only a few weeks ago by former Brainstorm / Cameo trumpeter Jeryl Bright) comes from LeWade 'Big Wade' Milliner feat. Blake DeForest.

Big Wade is a producer from Omaha and is also lead singer pianist with Big Wade & The Black Swan Theory. He released a debut solo album "Piano Man" in Nov '23 which is well worth checking out and includes a version of The Real Thing's "Children Of The Ghetto"

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/04/2024
Key/BPM:	4A/80
Price:	£1

John Houston [2024] - Treat Her Like A Lady [Visionary Music Group]

Contemporary gospel artist John Houston takes on The Temptations' 1984 hit "Treat Her Like A Lady" giving it an update with an R&B twist. It's more of an interpolation / interpretation than a cover.

Official video below of The Temptations version feat. Ali-Ollie Woodson on lead from It's showtime at the Apollo.

As an aside, a well known Northern Soul DJ started playing The Temptations song around the turn of the century. He was clearly oblivious to the fact that the song was a #2 R&B / #48 Hot 100 hit in the US and a #12 pop hit in the UK that was hammered to death in the clubs in the mid 80s.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	R&B / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Visionary Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024
Key/BPM:	6B/90
Price:	£1

Michelle David & The True-Tones [2024] - Brothers & Sisters [Record Kicks] (Full Album)

Having pre-released two singles ("Brothers & Sisters" and "This Is You") from their debut album for their new label Record Kicks, Michelle David & The True-Tones slipped out "Brothers & Sisters" on 5 Apr whilst we were on our Easter break.

It's a bit of a mixed bag of retro 60s style songs with out and out Northern Soul style stompers, to Southern Soul, gospel, and even one with rock-a-billy feel ("More Grace"?).

The two singles aside, "Miracles", "Karma" and "Cold Cold World" are the new songs that stand out for us on first listen with "If You Don't Try" having a raw/raucous appeal that borders on punk rock!

We felt that the first two singles were a tad 'derivative' i.e. "Move On Up" and "Walls Come Tumbling Down" and "If You Don't Try" also has similarities to something we can't quite place.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Record Kicks
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024
Price:	£7.49 / £17.98