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.

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

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

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Invitations [2024] - Look On The Good Side / They Say The Girl’s Crazy [Expansion Records #EXS042]

The Invitations are perhaps best known for a couple of Northern Soul monsters. They released their first three records on Bob & Dan Crewe's New York based DynoVoice in 1965-66. Their last for the label, "Skiing In The Snow", was arguably their biggest on the scene and was infamously covered by Wigan's Ovation in 1975 when mass media attention was focused on NS and Wigan Casino in particular, to much chagrin. However, the more soulful "What's Wrong With Me Baby" (also written by Randell & Linzer and recorded on the label by The Toys on their only album in 1966 but not released as a single until 1973 on Virgo), is much better in our opinion. Wigan's Ovation also had a bash at that song on their album "Northern Soul Dancer".

None of the three singles registered on the R&B chart yet they found their way to a major label, MGM, for their next two singles followed by just one on Diamond in 1968. Without any chart success from their first six singles up to 1968, they appear to have gone into hiatus until 1973 when they re-emerged on Silver Blue with Lew Kirton as their lead singer. Their, and the label's, first single was a cover of Jerry Butler's "For Your Precious Love" (co-written with former Impressions The Brooks Brothers (Arthur and Richard)) which gained them their first entry onto the R&B chart peaking at  #17 and just missing out on a Hot 100 position at #110. However, the flip side, "They Say The Girl's Crazy", is what it's sought after for nowadays having been a firm favourite on the modern soul scene for decades. If it's new to you then be prepared to be blown away as it's a superb example of mid 70s Philly soul and is still relatively cheap and easy to pick up on original vinyl, proving that you don't have to take out a mortgage to buy top quality soul records.

The group released three further singles for the label, all produced by Philly producer Bobby Martin, the last being "Look On The Good Side" which has been paired with "They Say The Girl's Crazy" by Expansion Records for release on 7" vinyl next month with the original Silver Blue design.

The group recorded just one more single on Red Greg in 1977. Kirton, of course, went on to have a solo career releasing four albums and had a Northern/Modern Soul favourite in his own right with "Heaven In The Afternoon" on Alston / T.K. in 1977. (posted HERE along with both sides on the reissue and a couple of others by Lew Kirton).

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Philly Soul
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Expansion Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	TBC (Apr '24)
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£12

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

John Edwards [2018] - Walls That Separate Our Love [Deep Soul #07]

A 1973 deep soul recording by ex Spinner John Edwards, "Walls That Separate Our Love", first appeared on a Kent CD compilation "Good Guys Don't Always Win (Hotlanta Soul)" in 1998. It took another 20 years for it to be issued on 7" vinyl for the first time on Kent's Deep Soul label in 2018.

There are several other previously unreleased gems on the compilation (compiled by Ady Croasdel and John Ridley (SirShambling)) which is well worth picking up.

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Deep Soul
Cat No:	07
Date:	2018
Key/BPM:	12B/63
Price:	£10.88

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Whatnauts [1973] - Instigating (Trouble Making Fool) / I Can't Stand To See You Cry [GSF #2897]

Another slow week for new releases so lets dig out some oldies.

A recent remake of The Moments & Whatnauts biggest UK hit "Girls" by Omar feat. Joss Stone, Morgan Munroe and SANITY, reminded us of this, perhaps, little known gem on GSF from 1973 a year earlier.

The relatively short-lived The New York label produced some recordings now regarded as classics, not least the highly sought after album by The Skull Snaps.

The A side, "Instigating (Trouble Making Fool)", is a smooth modern soul/crossover tune written by George Kerr, whilst the flip, "I Can't Stand To See You Cry", is a sweet soul ballad written by the Pointdexter brothers.

A great double sider which can easily be picked up for under a fiver!

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul/Crossover // Sweet Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	GSF
Cat No:	2897
Date:	1973
Key/BPM:	6B/117 / 10A/67
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Realinda [1973] - Hey Mr. Paul [Perception #P-525]

It gets a bit slow at the start of the week for good quality new releases so we've decided to dip into our vinyl vaults to dig out some, perhaps, lesser know recordings, many of which are not even on YouTube.

This appears to be a little know answer song to Billy Paul's Philly classic which we've had since the year dot. There is only one, poor quality, recording of it on YouTube so we dug it out and digitised it. Released on Perception in 1973 recorded by Realinda (Farrell) who had been appearing on the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar since 1971. It's her only (known) recording. The flip side is an instrumental.

Her full name was Realinda Alana Farrell McCoy born 3 Oct 1953 in Jamaica, NYC, and passed on 3 Mar 2009.

Her singing career began at her grandmother's church, Wyndon Memorial Church in Harlem. Having sung in all of her high school musical productions, she auditioned for a role in the Broadway's first rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and secured a role as one of three Soul Girls. She went on to perform in musicals 'Ain’t Mis Behavin', 'The Me Nobody Knows, 'Bubblin' Brown Sugar' and 'Hair'

She met fellow singers and Cathy Rich, the daughter of Buddy Rich, and formed a group named Zee who toured with Buddy Rich until his death in 1987.

Realinda also recorded commercials, jingles, demos and worked as a session/background singer.

The song was written by Ted Daryl with strings by Patrick Adams. As far as we know, it has never appeared on any compilations. It's not a particularly difficult or expensive record to find but seems to be under the radar.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul / Slow Jam / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Perception
Cat No:	P-525
Date:	03/1973
Key/BPM:	8B/77
Price:	£7-£10 approx.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Unity [2023] - The Other Side of You / Going To A Carnival [Soul Direction #SD018]

Soul Direction has recently released two singles from The Decisions who originated from Atlanta, GA,: "That Girl" / "Come Round Here" (SD-013 Nov '22) and "We're In Love" / "I Love You"(SD-005 Jul '21)

After releasing a couple of singles on their own York label in 1969 they were signed to Sussex Records and released three singles in 1971-72. They left Sussex after the third single in 1972 and re-formed as Unity who released just one single in 1973, "We Can Make It" / "Too Young", on a label set up by group member Fred White called Apex.

Soul Direction's Alan Kitchener has been given access to tapes recorded by Unity around 1973-75 consisting of previously unreleased sweet soul ballads and crossover soul. The first two songs, both written by Fred White who has made the tapes available, are set for release on 11 Aug with others lined up for future release.

The A side is a good uptempo number "The Other Side Of You" featuring Henry Little Jr. on lead vocals paired with a falsetto led sweet soul ballad "Going To A Carnival" with Fred White on lead vocals.

Only two of the group members are still with us, Fred White and Howard Simson as Harvey Pool Henry Little Jr. and Hildred Thomason are sadly now departed.

The single is lined up for release on 11 Aug '23 and will be available from the Soul Direction website. 

By the way, it's great to see that the Melvin Davis single, the proceeds of which were donated towards his healthcare bills, has now sold out!

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

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover / Sweet Soul / Previously Unreleased
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Direction
Cat No:	SD018
Date:	11/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Tomorrow's Promise v Glenn Jones - You're Sweet, You're Fine, You're Everything

We are just in the process of compiling some of the best tunes of 2006 for the next instalment of 21st Century Soul which has been dormant for a couple of weeks owing to holidays. This one from Glenn Jones' 2006 album "Forever: Timeless R&B Classics" stood out. 

It's a cover of a song "You're Sweet, You're Fine, You're Everything" written by James Sawyer who was a member of Tomorrow's Promise who recorded it for Capitol in Aug 1973 reaching #31 R&B.  

Sawyer was a Vietnam veteran who served two tours of duty there. Later in life he became a deacon. He died in 2013 aged 68.

It's a very cheap and easy record to pick up on vinyl, depending on condition. If it were rare then this would almost definitely sell for big bucks! Tomorrows Promise released just five singles between 1973-75, three on Capitol followed by two on Mercury,  before disbanding. 

Here are both versions of the song.

We did a feature on Glenn Jones last year for his 60sth birthday, yet somehow managed to miss this gem from the playlist of 30 of his best songs!

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

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist. 

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Anthony White [2023] - The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simphouse Productions]

The last set of Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions from Paul Simson was a little obscure, being five tracks from Charles Mann. 

His latest set from Anthony White may also be to some but not to rare soul aficionados as the five of the six tracks are from his highly collectible, and only, 1976 PIR album "Could It Be Magic" (named after the inclusion of a cover of Barry Manilow's song of the same name). 

The remaining track "Hey Baby" is possibly his most sought after, a single only from 1975 on PIR. It was written by Bruce Gray of Dunn & Bruce Street with Mikki Farrow who was married to saxophonist, producer and one time Funk Brother Mike Terry. She recorded a big Northern soul double-sider "Could It Be" / "Set My Mind At Ease" (Karate 1966) before moving to Philadelphia in 1968 working with Gamble & Huff as a songwriter and backing vocalist for many Philly artists. She later met Billy Butler, through working with his bother Jerry, and they married.

As is 'de-rigueur' for these edits, all recorded at the famed Sigma Sound Studios but less involvement this time for Baker, Young & Harris although Norman Harris did contribute along with Ron Kersey, Allan Felder, Ron Tyson, Bunny Sigler and Dexter Wansell amongst others.

Track Listing

01 - Where would I be without you (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:27

02 - Stop & think it over (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 7:29

03 - Never let you get away from me (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:21

04 - Hey baby (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 3:40

05 - Only child's play (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:53

06 - Yes, you need love (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 3:26

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. 

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul
Format:	Album / EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/05/2023
Price:	$9.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Margie Joseph [1973] - Let's Stay Together [Atlantic #45-2954]

A song heard last night on Craig Charles Soul & Funk Show (BBC6 Music) which we haven't heard for yonks is a superb rendition of Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together" by Margie Joseph, Seldom does a cover stand up to the original but this one certainly does. 

Margie began her recording career with Okeh for two singles in 1967/68 then moving to Stax imprint Volt for around eight singles between 1968-71. She recorded a duet with Donny Hathaway in 1972 on Atco before switching to parent Atlantic. Unfortunately for Margie, with a voice compared to Aretha Franklin, she was somewhat overshadowed by Aretha at Atlantic.

"Let's Stay Together" was her third single on Atlantic and featured on her first (self-titled) album for the label. It was paired with another cover, of "I'd Rather Go Blind" (included below). It was her third R&B chart entry reaching #46 in Apr 1973 but lasted only two weeks on the chart.

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / 70s Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Vinyl
Label:	Atlantic
Cat No:	45-2954
Date:	1973
Key/BPM:	6A/99
Price:	£N/A

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Charles Mann [2023] - The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simphouse Productions]

Charles Mann will probably not be a particularly well known name except perhaps to rare soul aficionados who he will be known best for three songs, "It's All Over" (which was the last song played at the end of each Northern Soul All-nighter session at The Pier/Winter Gardens at Cleethorpes in the mid 70s) along with the modern soul dancer "I Can Feel It". 

The other is "Shonuff No Funny Stuff Love" (included below) which is a cracking modern soul dancer. It was released on Dave Crawford's LA Records in 1981, which sadly isn't, and can't, be included on this new four track Philadelphia Re-edit Session by Paul Simpson as it wasn't recorded or produced in Philly, even though some issues of the record were manufactured and distributed by Jamie/Guyden.  

The four tracks that Paul has edited are all from his first solo album "Say You Love Me Too" for ABC in 1973 which involved the usual Philly suspects Baker, Young & Harris along with Vince Montana as well as percussionist Larry Washington and recorded at Sigma engineered by Joe Tarsia. He released just one more album "High Qualities" in 1989.

The opening track is a rendition of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker penned Steely Dan song "Do It Again", the last "Stop" was written by Dave Crawford and Joe Hinton (which I seem to recall was recorded by someone else but don't remember by whom) with the remaining two written by Mann.

Track Listing

01 - Do It again (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 8:59

       Only released as a single in France & Germany

02 - It's all over (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 3:35

03 - I can feel it (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:25

       His first single on ABC

04 - Stop (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 3:24

       Released as a single only in Germany

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. We're not sure exactly when this was released but, to be on the safe side, bag it now if you want it as they have a limited shelf life before being withdrawn.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul
Format:	Album / EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/05/2023
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Delores Hall [2023] - Hall-Mark!! [RCA] (Full Album)

Appearing on digital platforms on Friday was a reissue of possibly a little known 1973 debut album "Hall-Mark!!" by Delores Hall. It's not a rare record and you may be able to pick up an original vinyl copy for less than a digital copy.

What makes it significant is that one Luther Vandross (spelt Van Dross on the credits) featured on backing vocals on "Who´s Gonna Make It Easier For Me" which is believed to be his first recording.

Most of the songs were written by Billy Jackson who wrote for The Tymes and she recorded the original version of The Tymes "Sha-La Bandit" (Trustmaker" 1974) which was also recorded by Sandra Wright ("Wounded Woman" 1974) and Aretha Franklin ("You" 1975). She also does a nice, more uptempo, take on the Bacharach & David classic "A House Is Not A Home" 

Hall made her name on stage in the musical Hair and progressed to TV and film. She recorded one further album, a self-titled one in 1979. Prior to her debt album she recorded a couple of singles on L.A. labels revered by Northern Soul aficionados, Mirwood (with Jackie Lee) and Keymen in the mid 60s.

Whilst it borders MOR territory in places, it's a very good album and Ms Hall certainly had a great voice. A few of our choice cuts / recommendations would include the dramatic 'ender' "The Sound Of The Drums" (which builds and builds with an incredible vocal performance), her rendition of "A House Is Not A Home" and "Where Do We Go From Here".

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital Reiussue
Label:	RCA
Cat No:	APL1-0204
Date:	28/04/2023 / 1973
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Petersons [2023] - Just What I've Been Looking For / What's It Gonna Be [Soul Junction #SJ550]

The latest single from Dave Welding's Soul Junction is a particularly rare record by The Petersons originally released on Mel Omega in 1973. None have ever sold on Discogs and we found only three listed on Popsike, all selling for four figures with one selling for just under £3k in 2016. The other two were only listed as 'good' condition.

The Petersons were a vocal trio from Waycross, GA, named after their founder founder, lead vocalist and drummer Kenneth Peterson with the other two members being Salem Chatman (keys) and Johnny Members (vocals/bass). They regularly performed shows along the east coast, and working in Philadelphia in early 1973 answered an advert in Billboard Magazine from Omega Sound Productions which was a fledgling independent recording company formed by Frank Fioravanti who was a budding songwriter who later formed Sound Gems and was behind William DeVaughn's evergreen "Be Thankful For What You've Got" as well as Crystal Motion's "Your My Main Squeeze" amongst others.

The trio were booked into Frank Virtue's recording studio to record two Fioravanti and the late Alan Felder penned songs, the up-tempo "What’s It Gonna Be" and "Just What I’ve Been Looking For" and released on Mel Omega. 

The single failed to make any impact and the group returned to their native Georgia where they continuing to perform and record but under the name of "Toll Darkness". They took the remaining copies of the single with them and pasted stickers with the name Toll Darkness over the artist name on the label to sell at their gigs.

Dave tells us that copies were found circa 2000 by John Anderson and UK soul guru Steve Guarnori acquired a copy and broke "Just What I've Been Looking For" at Soul Essence initially.

The up-tempo arrangement of "What's It Gonna Be" by Frank Virtue has been reused on a plethora of other Philly artists recordings, i.e. Fred Mark, Liza Mae, Michael Christian, Cody Michaels etc over different record labels, Melomega, Concept, Fox Century Plaza and Merben.

Released on 24 Apr '23 so available now from Soul Junction.

Credit to Dave Welding for background info.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Junction
Cat No:	SJ550
Date:	24/04/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£13

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Sharon McMahan [2023] - Do I Deserve It Baby / When Will Love Come To Me [Hit and Run #HR 1548]

The name Sharan McMahan may not be familiar to many other than die hard rare soul followers. She is possibly best known to them for her 1973 Columbia single "Get Out Of My Life" which was a modern soul spin and reissued by Expansion in 2011. However, prior to that she released two singles for Ollie McLaughlin's Karen label in the 60s and wrote several songs recorded by others. 

A side from each of her Karen singles were reissued together on 7" single by Mark Bicknell's Big Man Records in Dec. last year. The A side was her 1966 single "Got To Find Another Guy" which was originally flipped with a version of Barbara Lewis' "Hello Stranger 66". The B side being her earlier 1964 single "Love Is Wonderful". She wrote both songs.

Garry J. Cape's Hit and Run label has another pair of recordings from her as one of two new singles from the label. The top side is her 1969, probably songwriter's demo, version of "Do I Deserve It Baby" later recorded by Barbara Lewis on her 1970 album "The Many Grooves Of Barbara Lewis". The flip side is an early recording of "When Will Love Come To Me" recorded in 1973 for a planned album for Columbia that never materialised, but the song was re-recorded for her 2007 CD only album "Somebody Else".

As always, the single is available to pre-order  from Garry via PayPal hitandrunsoul45@gmail.com with a release date of 31 Mar '23 (£15.00 each + £3.00 UK postage (good for 1-3 records), US postage £6.00 per order)

Sharon began writing songs from the age of 12 and auditioned for Ollie McLaughlin who, as well as Karen, owned a number of Detroit labels in the 60s and early 70s, Ruth named after his wife and Karen, Carla and Moira named after his daughters.

Only three singles are listed for the Ruth label released between 1959-62 and the last consisted of two songs written by McMahan recorded by Gracie Darnell which I believe may have been her first recorded song. 

Other McMahon songs have been recorded by Barbara Lewis, Deon Jackson, Johnnie Mae Matthews and even a song posted in The Three Degrees playlist a while back, "You're The Fool", which was on their 1970 Roulette album and the B side of the single "I'd Take You" and was also recorded by Etta James and Mavis Staples the same year and Madeline Bell in 1971.

Popular Mersey Beat group, The Searchers, had a UK #11 pop hit with one of her songs  "Someday We're Gonna Love Again" in 1966, also recorded, and was a big Northern Soul tune, by Barbara Lewis.

The song recorded by Johnnie Mae Matthews is a rare record, "I Have No Choice", that is huge on the UK rare soul scene (reissued by Hit And Run in 2020). It was also later recorded on an album, "Talking To The People", by Matthews son's band Black Nasty in 1973. An unreleased recording of the song turned up, which was thought at the time to be her daughter Audrey Matthews. A 1967 demo version recorded by Sharon McMahan has subsequently been released on 7" by Hayley Records around 2015/16. Audrey claims that it is not her singing on the first version, rather Sharon, and Sharon also claims it is not her either on the first version, and both version are different so it's still a mystery who recorded the one attributed to Audrey. You can listen to all four versions HERE.

In the 70s one of her songs, 'Love Is  The Key", was recorded by Benny Golson on his "I'm Always Dancin' To The Music", and Northern Soul followers may be interested to know that one Jodi Mathis was the female vocalist on this track under the name Mortonette Jenkins (she also went by Mortonette Stephens). We did an article about Ms Mathis HERE.

More recently McMahon had a song, "Do Over", included on a Preston Glass CD "Soul In The Rear View Mirror" in 2014.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Hit and Run
Cat No:	HR 1548
Date:	31/03/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Benny Johnson [2023] - Visions of Paradise [BBE] (Full Album)

BBE records has been reissuing several albums from the Perception / Today catalogue over the last week or so. The Eight Minutes "An American Family" was reissue and posted last week when this one was also reissued but we didn't get around to posting it.

This one is the only album by Benny Johnson who was earlier a member of The Spoilers who released a trio of singles on three different labels between 1967-70. His album "Visions Of Paradise" was released by Today (which was run primarily by Patrick Adams) in 1973 and produced two singles.

The album has been long in demand on both the modern soul and two step scenes in the UK and it's only reissue prior to this one was by London's Soul Brother in 2007 on CD and vinyl. It contains the two step classic "I Just Got To Know" along with the title track, "Visions of Paradise", "Second To None", "Baby I Love You" and "Stop Me" all being in demand on the modern soul scene as well as many great mid tempo tracks and ballads such as "Absolutely Positively", "Please Come Back" and "Wont You Stay". The songs were written by Edna Toles and Maurice Irby Jr. who wrote five each and Today artist Julius Brockington led the band.

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:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	BBE / Today
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/02/2023
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Sylvia v Janet Jackson - Pillow Talk

An unreleased demo recording by Janet Jackson,of a cover of Sylvia Robinson's 1973 R&B #1 R&B hit "Pillow Talk", is being released as her next single.

It was played by DJ Questlove on Questlove's IG Live few years ago (May 2020) from unreleased Damita Jo sessions in 2003 You can listen to the original broadcast @58:34 HERE.

Sylvia Robinson, who owned the All Platinum group of labels and was part of duo Mickey & Sylvia in the late 50s, wrote the song with Michael Burton and had hoped that Al Green would record it but when he turned it down she decided to come out of singing retirement to record it herself in 1973. The orgasmic moans included predates the sexual moaning of Donna Summer on her disco hit "Love To Love You Baby" by two years. It hit the top of the R&B chart for two weeks, reaching #3 on the Hot 100, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance losing to Aretha Franklin (Master Of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes)). 

Another, more disco oriented version, was released by Canadian singer Tanya Jackson in 1983 on 12".

However, as ever, the UK rare soul scene flipped it for the B side "My Thing" which was originally recorded by The Whatnauts as an album track on their debut "Reaching For The Stars" in 1971, followed by The Moments as title track to an album and as a single in 1972 and then Sylvia's version on the flip to "Pillow Talk" but she had released a different take earlier in 1972 on Stang 5026 which seems to be hard to find. The Chosen Few also did a reggae take of it on their album "I Love The Way You Love" in 1975. 

Michael Burton released a version of "Love On A Two Way Street" on Turbo in 1972 and then went on to form Brother To Brother who did a cover of Gil Scott-Herons "The Bottle" in 1974, also on Turbo.

Sylvia (nee Vanderpool) recorded as Little Sylvia from 1950 and the teamed up with Mickey (MacHouston) Baker as Mickey & Sylvia and had a smash hit with a Bo Diddley song "Love Is Strange" in 1957 with Diddley's blessing after sharing the bill with him at a show in Washington D.C. When they spit in 1958 she recorded using the name Sylvia Robbins, presumably a shortening of her married name Robinson after she married Joseph Robinson in 1959. In 1961 she got back with Baker releasing more singles under the name Mickey & Sylvia. They both featured on Ike & Tina Turner's first Grammy nominated song "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", Mickey provided vocals and Sylvia played guitar, so where is Ike Turner on this track you may ask? 

By 1966 the Robinsons moved to New Jersey and set up All Platinum Records which included subsidiary label Stang, Turbo and Vibration. They later formed Sugar Hill Records in the 70s (with the financial backing of Roulette Record's Morris Levy) and introduced rap to the world via one of the first commercially successful rap songs, "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugar Hill Gang, in 1979. You may or may not be aware that a female trio called The Sequence, who featured on the label, included a teenaged Angie Stone (Angela Brown) who at that time went by the name Angie B. The label folded in 1985.

Robinson died from heart failure in Sep 2011 aged 76 and only this year (2022) was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a non-performer.

Janet Jackson

Tanya Jackson [1983]

Mashup of "My Thing" by Whatnauts, Moments & Sylvia

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