Kenny Thomas [2024] - Him [Chrysalis] (Full Album)

Released today is a Kenny Thomas album titled "Him" recorded in 1995 but left unreleased. It was thought to have been lost but the tape has been found in the label archive. 

Thomas has released it ahead of his UK HIM Tour which commences on 16 May where he will perform songs from the album for the first time. Tickets and information from KennyThomasMusic.com (dates on image below).

The title track was leaked (bootlegged?) years later on a white label 12" and became a big modern soul favourite.  It can now be bought legitimately. The only song officially released from the album was "When I Think Of You" as a single which peaked at #27 on the UK pop chart in 1995. There's some other gems on the album such as "Let It Rain" in particular and plenty more. A few, including the single and title track, have been remastered.

Thomas released a "Best of" compilation in Nov '23 and prior to that featured on Ronnie Herel's "The Sun Will Rise Again" (Aug '23). His last solo single was "Got It On Time" in Nov '22.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	90s Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Chrysalis
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Nigel Hall & DJ Harrison [2024] - The Burning Bush: A Journey Through the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire [Regime Music Group] (Full Album)

Having pre-released two singles from it already ("Earth Wind & Fire" (22 Mar) and "Happy Feelin'" (12 Apr)) Nigel Hall & DJ Harrison release their full EWF tribute album "The Burning Bush: A Journey Through the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire" today (10 May).

It includes amongst the 12 tracks some familiar and some perhaps less familiar songs from the EWF catalogue. They have avoided many of the 'obvious' songs, the most recognisable is probably their 1981 #1 R&B hit "Let's Groove" and perhaps "That's the Way Of The World".  Many are album only tracks or B sides of singles.

A well considered selection of EWF songs which highlights some that you may not have heard before or overlooked on albums or even B sides. It also introduces a younger audience to the music of one of the greatest soul/jazz/funk bands of all time so that they may perhaps visit their back catalogue and even so that us oldies may re-visit them as some of the older songs now approach 50 years old!

It's rather churlish attempting to choose highlights but one that does stand out is "My Love" from their 1981 "Raise!" album only released as a single in the UK as the B side to "Wanna Be With You" and in Australia and New Zealand to "I've Had Enough". Athens Of The North reissued it on 7" in 2017 as the B side to Brazilian Rhyme".

Another less familiar one worth highlighting is the jazz/funker "Runnin'" which again was only a B side on various A sides around the world (but mainly "Fantasy" and "Jupiter") from "All 'N All" (1977).

Aiding Hall & Harrison on the album are members of their respective bands i.e. Lettuce and Butcher Brown.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Regime Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/10/2024
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Spinners [2024] - Full Circle [Reservoir Recordings] (Full Album)

The first album of new material from The Spinners since "'Round The Block And Back Again" (Aug '21) is "Full Circle" released today.

Sadly the last remaining original founding member Henry Fambrough died earlier this year in Feb aged 85. He retired in 2023 after 69 years in the group. The album contains songs on which he sings before his death and marks the group's 70th anniversary, they were formed in Detroit in 1954 as The Domingoes.

The current line-up is Jessie Robert Peck, Charlton Washington, Ronnie Moss and C.J. Jefferson. However, the album sleeve image shows five members as Fambrough is included in the photo on the far right.

The album is not vintage Spinners and is a bit of a mixed bag but the tracks we'd highlight are "After Hours", "Dreamin Bout You" and the ballads "Rainy Saturday" and "Totally Beautiful". Perhaps it needs a few listens?

Released digitally today and will be available on CD on 24 May.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Reservoir Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Price:	£7.99 / £13.16

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Wari Wari [2024] - Something In My Heart [Self Released]

Here we go again, yet another song using a library backing that is becoming over familiar. It's a sound that we first encountered on Raahz's "Joyride" last June with another by King Creole "Kiss & Tell" later that month. We also came across it on Anne.'s "No Mistake" the following month and no doubt it's been used in others that we haven't come across.

This one is called "Something In My Heart" by Wari Wari and is only her second single following "Alternate Universe" on 27 Apr '24.

Needless to say we can't find any information on the artist. The song is credited to Xavier Bass who is also credited on the first single along with Adrianna Caleb (Wari Wari?).

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Key/BPM:	1B/70
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Bryony Jarman-Pinto [2024] - Below Dawn [Tru Thoughts] (Full Album)

With four tracks being released as singles from it already this year, the new album "Below Dawn" by Bryony Jarman-Pinto is released today. It's Ms Jarman-Pinto's sophomore album following "Cage & Aviary" in 2019.

The singles are "Moving Forward" (11 Jan), "Feel Those Things" / "Riverside" (22 Feb)  and "Willow" (28 Mar) leaving seven new songs to digest of which "Deep" and "Leap" are our choice cuts. Many have an acoustic or even orchestral feel.

The album is also available on vinyl.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / Vinyl
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Price:	£7.49 / £31.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved