Truth & Devotion [2024] - Heaven At Last [Holy Grail Records #HGR-002] (Full Album)

Truth & Devotion were a gospel/soul group from Anderson, IN, who released a solitary album, "Heaven At Last", on Tyscott Records in 1981 and one single from it on Champ Records. The single included a non-album track "To Know Him" along with "I'm So Happy" and sells consistently for around £100 with the original album fetching up to £200 plus.

The album has been reissued digitally and on vinyl in Jan this year by Holy Grail Records prompted by hop-hop producers sampling the title track, which is worth the price of the album on it's own. 

It's the Worcester, Massachusetts, based label's second release after reissuing Tomorrow's Wish "On My Mind" album on vinyl last year. 

The group was led by Dewayne Johnson (keys / vocals) and included Bobby Simonds (guitar & vocals), James L. Dixon (drums), Edgar M. "Mickey" Woodall, Bill Miller (vocals), John L. Hester (bass and narration on "Heaven At Last"), Garland L. Simmons (percussion) and Horace Brooks (guitar).

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

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Gospel Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital / Vinyl
Label:	Holy Grail Records
Cat No:	HGR-002
Date:	15/01/2024
Price:	$15 / $25

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Betty Wright [1981] - Make Me Love The Rain [Epic #14-02602]

A topical one... no NOT the just announced General Election on 4 Jul, the other thing Brits talk about incessantly, and with good reason recently, the weather and more specifically the RAIN!

Betty Wright from her self-titled 1981 album on Epic and nice 2-stepper, "Make Me Love The Rain", not available for download, although it was reissued on CD in 2016.

The album's not expensive and well worth seeking out for the deep soul killer "One Bad Habit (And That's Loving You!)" (which we will also include, why not?)

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Epic
Cat No:	14-02602
Date:	10/1981
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£10-£25

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Tommy Tate v The Controllers [1981/1978] - Listen To The Children [Juanna]

An underplayed/overlooked (possibly even under the radar?) gem from Tommy Tate's 1981 self-titled Juana album.

"Listen To The Children" was written by Joe Shamwell and features The Controllers on BGVs who recorded it in 1978 on their  "Fill Your Life With Love" album, also on Juana.

Neither of them released it as a single, so both are album only tracks.

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

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Juana
Cat No:	JU 1003 / 200,002
Date:	1981 / 1978
Price:	£10-£20 approx.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Bridge feat. Freddie Hughes [1999/1981] - Listen [F.E.R.#FER-CD3]

The late Freddie Hughes takes lead vocals on the a Paul Tillman Smith song "Listen". It was first recorded for Norman Connors & Starship Orchestra "This Is Your Life" album in 1977 with James Robinson on lead vocals. 

This version is from Bridge's unreleased "Crying For Love" album recorded around 1981 but not released until 1999 thanks to Mark Coddington's First Experience Records (F.E.R.).

It was first issued on CD and then vinyl. The vinyl copies now fetch as much as £250, when they are for sale, as there are no vinyl copies currently for sale on Discogs.

A desert island disc for sure and if ever the phrase 'masterpiece' applied then surely it is fitting here?

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

Details

Rating:	9.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	CD
Label:	F.E.R.
Cat No:	None
Date:	1999 (1981)
Price:	£N/A

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron [2023] - Live For Love [Soundway Records] (Full EP) OUT TODAY

Vietnam veteran George Curtis Cameron was, of course, the lead singer of The Spinners until they left Motown in 1971 when he, being married to Berry Gordy's sister Gwen, decided to remain at the label and released five solo albums before leaving the label in the late 70s. 

In mid May we notified you that Soundway Records was releasing a four track 12" by G.C. Cameron which includes both side of his 1981 in-demander "Live For Love" / "If I Love You" on Flamingo (which was a UK 7" & 12" single only which now fetches up to £200) along with two previously unreleased songs from the same session, an instrumental version of "If I Love You" and "Thank You Baby". It is released today (9 Jun '23) and is available digitally on the usual platforms and also on vinyl from Bandcamp.

These songs were recorded at a session at Fantasy Studios, San Francisco in 1977 with the intention of completing a full album. Cameron teamed up with Harvey Fuqua (also a previous husband to Gwen Gordy), Greg Crockett and Elgie Stover to produce the work. Only two tracks were released from the session, strangely, via the short-lived UK Flamingo label which released around 20, predominantly dance/disco singles between Apr 1979-Nov 1981.

"Thank You Baby" includes vocals from Martha Walsh. (who sang backup for Sylvester with Izora Armstead and formed Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls) and Jeanie Tracy (who also started out as a backing singer for Sylvester).

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	EP  / Reissue / Previously Unreleased
Media:	Digital / 12" Vinyl
Label:	Soundway Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Price:	£2.49 / £14.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron [2023] - Live For Love [Soundway Records] (Full EP)

Set for full release on 9 Jun '23, digitally and on 12" vinyl, by Soundway Records is a four track EP by G.C. Cameron. It includes both side of his 1981 in-demander "Live For Love" / "If I Love You" on Flamingo (which as a UK single only 7" & 12" which now fetch up to £200) along with two previously unreleased songs from the same session, an instrumental version of "If I Love You" and "Thank You Baby".

So far the instrumental version of "If I Love You" has been released, and today the vocal. The official A side of the Flamingo single was reissued on Expansion's Soul Togetherness 2014 (so is included below). It reminds us in sections of a mix of Beloyd's "Get Into My Life" and Eugene Record's "Overdose Of Joy" which will give you and idea of how it sounds i.e. late 70s/early 80s modern soul of the finest quality. 

Watch this space for "Thank You Baby" when it surfaces as it should be a killer as it includes vocals from Martha Walsh. (who sang backup for Sylvester with Izora Armstead and formed Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls) and Jeanie Tracy (who also started out as a backing singer for Sylvester).

Vietnam veteran George Curtis Cameron was, of course, the lead singer of The Spinners until they left Motown in 1971 when he, being married to Berry Gordy's sister Gwen, decided to remain at the label and released five solo albums before leaving the label in the late 70s. 

These songs were recorded at a session at Fantasy Studios, San Francisco in 1977 with the intention of completing a full album. Cameron teamed up with Harvey Fuqua (also a previous husband to Gwen Gordy), Greg Crockett and Elgie Stover to produce the work. Only two tracks were released from the session, strangely, via the short-lived UK Flamingo label which released around 20, predominantly dance/disco singles between Apr 1979-Nov 1981.

Available to pre-order via Bandcamp.

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	EP  / Reissue / Previously Unreleased
Media:	Digital / 12" Vinyl
Label:	Soundway Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Price:	£2.49 / £14.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ruby Wilson / Queen Emily [2023] - Love Has Come / Throw Away Me [Jai Alai #JAR09]

There has been a lot of vinyl reissues this week which we tried to mop up yesterday but another two landed this morning from Alex Subina's Jai Alai imprint. The label is reissuing four songs by four different artists over two 45s.

The first pairing consists of tracks taken from two self titled Malaco albums. The A side, "Love Has Come", from Ruby Wilson's 1981 self-titled album along with "Throw Away Me" from Queen Emily's only album in 2010.

Ruby Wilson was born in Fort Worth, TX, but was based and performed in Memphis becoming known as "The Queen of Beale Street". She released a couple of singles on T.K.'s Glades imprint in the 70s and signed to Malaco in 1981 releasing her debut, eponymous, album A further three albums followed in the late 80s with three more appearing in the noughties. Ruby died in 2016.

 

Queen Emily David is another Texan, from Houston, and her solitary album was released as a result of being a semi-finalist of America’s Got Talent in 2008 at the age of 40. In 1999 she won a Sammy Davis Jr award but, as a single-mother, put her singing career on hold to bring up her two daughters. 

A year after America’s Got Talent, Malaco boss Tommy Couch Jr. called her out of the blue and offered her a contract without even meeting her. A digital 4-track EP titled "Sings" was released in the US, but her album was released by Malaco on CD in the UK in 2010 before the US which was eventually released in 2014. It includes a version of Frederick Knight's "I Betcha Didn’t Know That" and Bill Withers' "Use Me" but it is the George Jackson ballad "Throw Away Me" that has been chosen for release on 45.  Note: she sings "Throw Away Me" but the album 'incorrectly' labels the track "Throw Me Away". 

Available to pre-order now from Jai Alai for release on 14 May '23, but be quick as their recent releases sold out on pre-order within 24 hours!

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Southern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Jai Alai
Cat No:	JAR09
Date:	14/05/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/94 / 6B/70
Price:	€14

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Clifton Dyson [2023] - Hypnotize [Numero Group]

Earlier this year Numero Group reissued two tracks from Clifton Dyson's first album "Slow Your Body Down" (1981),  i.e. "So Lonely" / "I'm Giving Up". The two songs were previously released on a QS single in 1980. 

Then they reissued the title track "Slow Your Body Down" from the album bundled with the two previous tracks. We surmised that the only other remaining track "Hypnotize" (which features Debra Wilson on vocals) would follow at some point and that day has come with "Hypnotize" being released today along with the other three tracks.

We actually posted the song in Nov '21 along with an alternate version by Ci Ci released on Creative Funk.

It's not yet available on Spotify so has been posted from YouTube until it is.

Original vinyl copies sell for between £60-£100 but it has been reissued on vinyl twice, by P-Vine in 1997 and original label After Hours in 2007.

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:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	80s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/04/2023 / 1981
Key/BPM:	2B/67
Price:	£1 / £3.49

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Clifton Dyson [2023] - Slow Your Body Down [Numero Group]

A couple of weeks ago Numero Group reissued two tracks from Clifton Dyson's first album "Slow Your Body Down" (1981),  i.e. "So Lonely" / "I'm Giving Up". The two songs were previously released on a QS single in 1980. 

Today the title track from the album has been bundled in with the two previous tracks, so going by the fact the the artwork is the album cover, perhaps the full album may eventually emerge? The only remaining track is "Hypnotize" so watch this space.

On original vinyl they sell for between £60-£100 but it has been reissued on vinyl twice, by P-Vine in 1997 and original label After Hours in 2007.

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:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	80s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/03/2023 / 1981
Key/BPM:	4A/119
Price:	£2,97

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ronfo & Kindred Spirits Orchestra Feat. Sandi Everett / Lee McDonald [2023] - Don't Let Him Get The Best Of You / Let's Play Luck [Izipho Soul #ZP-86]

The second Izipho Soul 7" vinyl release scheduled for 1 Mar 2023 (along with Norman Hutchins) consists of two sides, written, arranged and produced by Ron Foster.  A third will be announced shortly.

The top side is a new and extended version of Whirlwind's 1975 single "Don't Let Him Get The Best Of You" which was a meagre 2:42 when initially released on 7" in 1975 (flipped with "Something, I Can Feel Something") It was released again as the flip to "Full Time Thing (Between Dusk And Dawn)" but unfortunately wasn't released on the 12" version of it as it was the A side that saw most of the action back in the day.  These were the only two releases from the group.

Izipho released an instrumental version (from 1985 I believe) in 2019 which is a completely different arrangement and interpretation using a 21 Piece orchestra. The new version presented here has a new vocal by Sandi Everett who was an original Whirlwind with her brothers Charles and Edward (Eddie) Ancrum ... who went on to become Charles & Eddie ... only joking!

On the flip is a new extended version of "Let's Play Luck", a track from Lee McDonald's "Sweet Magic" album from 1981 on Debbie .

McDonald was also known as Cleveland Parker and was a member of The Village Soul Choir. In 2019 Izipho Soul released a single by Parker, "How Long", which was a gospel interpretation of "Sweet Magic" the title track of his 1981 album recorded in 1989 which took the song to another level.

The label also released a double-sider of killer cuts from The Village Soul choir's catalogue in Oct 2021. The album only "All Purpose Love" (from "Street Opera With A Blues Waltz") and the 12" version of "Sweet Hot Lips" (1976).

The single is available to pre-order now from Izipho Soul for release on 1 Mar 2023.

NOTE, original shorter versions of both songs also included below for comparison.

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

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP86
Date:	01/03/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£12

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

L.A. Boppers [1981] - La La Means I Love You [Mercury #76096]

You will, of course, be familiar with this song as it's The Delfonics' sweet soul classic "La La Means I Love You" from 1968 on Philly Groove, written by Thom Bell and Delfonics member William 'Poogie' Hart and covered by many. However, you may not perhaps know this particular take by L.A. Boppers from 1981 from their "Bop Time" album. It was a minor hit reaching #77 on US R&B chart.

The tempo is uplifted from the original ballad pace 85 BPM into a nice modern soul dancer.

The L.A. Boppers were of course from L.A., where else, and released four albums between 1979-82 along with around half a dozen singles. They were formed by Side Effect's Augie Johnson and started out as the backing band for Side Effect. For their debut album and single they were simply known as The Boppers and changed their name to L.A. Boppers for subsequent albums. They hit the R&B chart on four occasions, their biggest hit being their second single "Is This The Best (Bo-Doo-Wah)" in 1980 which reached #28 R&B.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Mercury
Cat No:	76096
Date:	1981
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£8-£20 approx.

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jerry Bell [2022] - Tell Me You’ll Stay / Call On Me [Expansion #EXS036]

Another release from Expansion Records today, although it was released (and posted) digitally and on vinyl on Bandcamp earlier in the year (18 Aug) its now out on all the main platforms.

It's a reissue on a 1981 album only track by Jerry Bell, "Tell Me You’ll Stay", the vinyl release has  "Call On Me" on the flip which was originally a B side to "Love Will Make It Right" in 1981. Both songs were written by Michael Wycoff. Only the A side is available digitally but both sides on 7" vinyl.

Jerry is the younger brother of Archie and cousin to Thom Bell, Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang) and Al Bell founder of Stax Records. He was a member of New Birth and then Dazz Band before embarking on a solo career. He recorded just one solo album "Winter Love Affair" for MCA in 1981 from which two tracks have been sourced for reissue.

He has also released new material this year, "Keep It Real" (1 Jul) and "Believe In Love" just a couple of weeks ago on 28 Oct, which is a cover of a song recorded by fellow Dazz Band member Skip Martin in 2015.

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:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7 " Vinyl
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	EXS036
Date:	18/11/2022 (18/08/2022 Bandcamp)
Price:	£1 / £14

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jerry Bell [2022] - Tell Me You’ll Stay / Call On Me [Expansion #EXS035]

On 1 Jul 2022 Jerry Bell released a new single "Keep It Real". He was a member of New Birth and then Dazz Band before embarking on a solo career. He recorded just one solo album "Winter Love Affair" for MCA in 1981 from which two tracks have been sourced for a new 7" single by Expansion Record.

"Tell Me You’ll Stay" has been an album only track until now and gets its first release on 7", whilst "Call On Me" was released as a B side to "Love Will Make It Right" in 1981. Both songs were written by Michael Wycoff.

Both sides were posted a couple of weeks ago using YouTube sound files pending a release date but are now available to order via Expansion Bandcamp store from today. Only the A side "Tell Me You’ll Stay" is available digitally but both sides on 7" vinyl.

Jerry is the younger brother of Archie and cousin to Thom Bell, Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang) and Al Bell founder of Stax Records.

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:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl / Digital
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	EXS035
Date:	18/08/2022
Price:	£14 / £1.50

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Pieces Of A Dream [1981] - Warm Weather [Elektra #6E-350]

A modern soul classic from Philadelphia's Pieces Of A Dream featuring the vocals of Barbara Walker with their first, and possibly best known, hit "Warm Weather" from their debut self-titled album from 1981.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single/Album Track
Media:	12"
Label:	Elektra
Cat No:	6E-350
Date:	1981
Key/BPM:	8B/100
Price:	£10-£20 (Approx.)

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jerry Bell [2022] - Tell Me You’ll Stay / Call On Me [Expansion #EXS035]

You may recall a couple of weeks ago Jerry Bell released a new single "Keep It Real". He was a member of New Birth and then Dazz Band before embarking on a solo career. He recorded just one solo album "Winter Love Affair" for MCA in 1981 from which these two tracks have been sourced for a new 7" single by Expansion Record.

"Tell Me You’ll Stay" has been an album only track until now and gets its first release on 7", whilst "Call On Me" was released as a B side to "Love Will Make It Right" in 1981. Both songs were written by Michael Wycoff.

Jerry is the younger brother of Archie and cousin to Thom Bell, Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang) and Al Bell founder of Stax Records.

As with the Grady Tate single posted on Wednesday, this is available to pre-order now from Simply Soul for release late August. They are not listed yet on Expansion's website.

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:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Expansion
Cat No:	EXS035
Date:	??/08/2022
Price:	£12

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved