Winfield Parker [2024] - I Wanna Be With You / My Love For You [Celestial Echo Records #CER001]

The last secular recording by Winfield Parker was in 1979 on his own P&L (P(arker) & L(yles) his manager at the time) label.

The official top side "My Love For You" was a re-recording of his first single on Ru-Jac in 1963 which we suspect was far too dated to make any impact in 1979 but the flip, 'I Wanna Be With You', is regarded as a modern soul anthem in the UK. In the 80s he turned to gospel music. Only one album is listed for him, a gospel album, "Miracles", in 2005.

Both sides of the P&L single have been reissued digitally by Celestial Echo Preservation Group and are available via Bandcamp.

We did a feature on Winfield Parker on his death in Jan 2021 if you wish to learn a little more about his career. There's also a more detailed account HERE based on an interview with David Cole (In The Basement) in 2004.

A little teaser, he was originally lined up by Otis Redding to be the vocalist for the 60s classic "Sweet Soul Music" but owing to a mix up of recording venues, Redding told him to go to Cincinnati instead of Muscle Shoals, Arthur Conley, who had been opening for Parker's shows and was already in Muscle Shoals, got to record the song instead!

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Celestial Echo Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/04/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/117
Price:	£2

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Blue Lab Beats [2024] - Blue Eclipse [Blue Adventure Records] (Full Album)

Grammy winning duo Blue Lab Beats release their fourth studio album, "BLUE ECLIPSE" today (19 Apr 2024). It's just over two years since their last album "Motherland Journey".

It heralds a new era for the pair with the twelve songs revealing the depth and breadth of producer NK-OK and multi-instrumentalist Mr DM's musical ambition. It features guests on nearly all tracks including Mercury Prize nominated Kojey Radical alongside Daley, on "Take Time", IDK & Jay Prince on "Say Wow", Farah Audhali & Amber Navran on "Wait A While" and Poppy Daniels on the title track. 

They have named the album "Blue Eclipse" as a nod to their first EP "Blue Skies" as they wanted to embrace some themes and sounds that they've used throughout their career to make an album truly representative of their work. They say that using sky titles acts as a reminder of people in their lives who have inspired them. 

The lead single "Wait A While" was released on 26 Jan featuring, once again, Farah Audhali and Moonchild's Amber Navran. They have followed that single with three more, "Take Time" (29 Feb), "Guava" (1 Mar) and "Say Wow" (5 Apr).

Our clear favourite is the closing track "Brother" feat. Natalie Lindi.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Blue Adventure Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/05/2024
Price:	£10.99 / £14.33 / £30.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Luther [2024] - Luther [Primary Wave Music] (Full Album)

In Feb this year it was announced that the Vandross family estate had agreed to reissue two albums by Luther originally released in the 70s on Cotillion. Vandross bought back the rights to these albums from the label when the group was released preventing the label from reissuing them and they have lay dormant for almost 50 years. The announcement was heralded by the release of Luther's second single "Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)" from the first album, "Luther" (1976).

The full album has been reissued for the very first time (digitally on CD and vinyl) today (19 April) and includes a bonus track, an instrumental version of "The 2nd Time Around". It is also the day before his birthday, he would have been 73 on 20 Apr 2024.

The second Luther album, "This Close To Me" (1977), will also be reissued on 7 Jun. and contains three bonus tracks "Can’t Get Enough Good Loving", "Come Back To Love (Instrumental)" and " Don’t Wanna Be A Fool (Instrumental)". It includes two massive modern soul gems "Follow My Love" and "Don't Wanna Be A Fool".

Physical copies are available to pre-order via LutherVandross.com. NOTE The bonus tracks are NOT available on the vinyl releases.

The albums are being reissued to coincide with a documentary "Luther: Never Too Much" directed by Dawn Porter which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 21 Jan '24.

Only three singles materialised from these two albums: "It's Good For The Soul (Pt I & II)", "The 2nd Time Around" / "Funky Music (Is Part Of Me)" and "This Close To You" / "Don't Wanna Be A Fool", with the latter being sought after by the rare soul scene and sells for up to £300.

Whilst the act uses his name, Luther was a five piece group consisting of Luther Vandross, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa Reed and Christine Wiltshire  (Class Action, Musique, Phreek). Vandross wrote all songs on both albums. The three singles all charted on the R&B charts (#28, #34 and #94 respectively) but the albums didn't sell particularly well and the group was released by Cotillion.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / 70s Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Primary Wave Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/04/2024
Price:	£7.92

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

BYAMM [2024] - Lost In Sanity [Self Released] (Full EP)

Posted from Bandcamp on 28 Feb, the new EP, "Lost In Sanity", from BYAMM. was released on the main DSPs on 5 Apr.

Their name comes from the first initials of the members Barima Yaw Asante (songwriter / keys / producer) and  Matt Myatt (beats / co-production)

We posted their debut EP "The Anthropomorphic Fantasy" in Feb '22 which was only available on Bandcamp but released on other DSPs in March last year. It is now also available on vinyl.

Similar to the last EP, the latest is 80's infused synth soul with the opening track, "Life Comes From The Sun" probably the standout.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/04/2024 / (28/03/2024)
Price:	£3.96 / (£5)

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved