Kevin Owens feat. Luther Vandross [2024] - You're My Everything [JBR Records / New Image Music Group]

For whatever reason, "You're My Everything" by Kevin Owens has been digitally reissued. It is taken from his 1991 album "That Time Again" and features Luther Vandross along with well known backing singers Ava Cherry, Lisa Fischer, Paulette McWilliams who worked with Vandross over the years.

Owen was also a backing singer for Vandross for 23 years as well as singing backup for many other artists. Curiously, he was also a one time member of Ray, Goodman & Brown (we posted a new single from Billy Brown earlier) replacing Harry Ray in 1982. He was also a member of Revelation up until then. 

In 2014 Owen published a book about his experience with Vandross, "So Amazing Through The Eyes Of Kevin Owens", that is now out of print but seems to sell for large sums on the re-sale market.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	90s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	JBR Records / New Image Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/04/2024
Key/BPM:	6B/90
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Yoyohoney [2024] - Voodoo Soul [Black Sugar Music] (Full Album)

Yoyohoney was duo Anita Jarrett and Mani Shoniwa who released just one album, "Voodoo Soul", in 1992. Their debut single, "Groove On", was a big modern soul spin for London DJ Terry Jones in the late 90s (when re-issued in 1997) and was included on the album. 

Another album has appeared on Amazon on the same day "ABSOLUTION (Bitter Symphony's Gone Black)" which appears to have been released on Bandcamp on 5 Jan '24. Apart from the single "Supernova" (2001) it seems to consist of previously unreleased material.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	90s Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Black Sugar Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/04/2024
Price:	£7.49

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Humble Souls [2023] - Beads, Things & Flowers [Acid Jazz #AJX64S]

Last month we posted an Acid Jazz  compilation "Eddie Piller & Dean Rudland Present​.​.​. Acid Jazz [Not Jazz] Street Soul Edition". The first edition was released in Nov '22 and included "Beads, Things & Flowers" by  Humble Souls, who are Hugh Brooker and Simon Anniky.

It was originally released as a single in 1991 and has been released digitally today (12 Jul) and will be reissued on 7" vinyl on 11 Aug via Bandcamp.

It's a bit of a mash up of Mod jazz classics and we detect the intro as Billy Hawkes "O'Baby (I Believe I'm Losing You)" which was an album only track from "Heavy Soul!" (1968) until released on a 7" in 2002 by BGP.

We also detect "Wade In The Water" (presumably Ramsey Lewis' instrumental version but could be anyone's) and probably clips of other songs? If this one doesn't at least get your toes tapping then it's probably time to check your pulse!

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Acid Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Acid Jazz
Cat No:	AJX64S
Date:	12/07/2023 / 11/08.2023
Key/BPM:	8A/165
Price:	£3.50 /£10

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

J.T. Taylor [1991] - Long Hot Summer Night / Feel The Need [MCA]

A topical post in two ways, first it's James J.T. Taylor's 69th birthday today and thankfully we've seen the end of the latest run of "Hot Summer Nights" here in the UK, for now at least, and now we're praying for the rain which is surely coming later today

J.T. Taylor was of course the lead singer with Kool & The Gang between 1979 and 1989 which was the group's most commercially successful period with a run of 13 Billboard Hot 100 and/ or UK pop chart top 20 hits with songs including "Ladies Night", "Too Hot", "Celebration", "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)", "Steppin' Out", "Get Down On It", "Joanna", "Tonight", "Fresh", "Misled", "Cherish", "Emergency",  "Victory" and "Stone Love".

He released four solo albums and two with his name billed when he rejoined Kool & The Gang in the mid 90s.

His biggest solo hit was a duet with Regina Bell "All I Want Ifs Forever" from the movie "Tap" starring Gregory Hines which reached #2 on R&B chart in 1989, a bit of a non-descript typical 80s ballad. The closest he got to that was "Long Hot Summer Night" which reached #13 in 1991 which is perhaps why he rejoined Kool & The Gang around 1995.

One of his best recordings was the title track of his second album "Feel The Need" from where "Long Hot Summer Night" also came, and was the follow-up single to it.

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Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Yo Yo Honey [2022] - GROOVE ON (Soul Sessions) (Groove On Perfecto Remix) [Black Sugar Music]

I was surprised to find this (re)released today (7 Mar 2022).  YoYo Honey are Anita Jarrett, Anna Ross, Mani Shoniwa (Win) who released "Groove On" originally in 1991. It has been reissued several times, in 1993 and an "M & S Epic Klub Mix" in 1997 and again digitally in 2012.

I recall first hearing it when Terry Jones played it at a gig I used to promote in 2000/01 and it still sounds fresh.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soulful House
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Black Sugar Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/03/2022
Key/BPM:	3B/103
Value:	£1.98

Junior Giscombe [1991] - Morning Will Come [MCA #MCSX 1504]

A great stepper from 1991 by Junior Giscombe which was co-produced by 'The Funky Ginger', Simon Law (original member of Soul II Soul) who I mentioned last week who is the brother of Joanna Law whose 'Rhythm Of Years' track I posted.

Beware of the 1995 version by M-Beat Feat. Junior Giscombe as that's a speeded up jungle version.

It's got a Mazwell vibe about it long before Mazwell arrived on the scene.

Details

Rating:	9.4
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul 90s
Format:	Single
Media:	12"
Label:	MCA
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	N/A
BPM:	84
Value:	£1

Melvin Davis [2021] - Thinking Of You / Let Love In Your Life [Diggin' Deep #DD014]

The lastest release on Sean Hampsey's Diggin' Deep label are two sides from Detroit's Melvin Davis originally written in 1979. 

It will be the first appearance of Davis' 'Thinking Of You' on vinyl although co-writer Tim Murray released it in 1982 and it has appeared on two CD compilations. 

The flip side 'Let Love In your Life was released twice on vinyl, by Charisma in 1983 and by Davis himself in 1991.

Davis recorded around 8 45s in the 60s on various labels before joining Holland Dozier Holland at Invictus in the 70s where he recorded a couple of solo singles and was also a member of The 8th Day.  In 1975 he formed his own label, Rock Mill, which ran until 1984 releasing material on himself, Charisma and Liz Taylor which amounted to around 10 releases.

He wrote many songs which have been played on the Northern Soul scene recorded by Darrell Banks, J.J. Barnes, Edward Hamilton, Johnnie Mae Matthews, Steve Mancha and himself. In 2005 he recorded a version of Jackey Beavers' 'I Need My Baby' with Bryan Davis (his son?) on (reactivated) Rock Mill, which is credited to Davis and Clyde Wilson (aka Steve Mancha) although the original by Beavers is credited to Don Davis, so I'm not sure whether they actually wrote it but didn't get credit at the time?

Melvin Davis [2004] - Thinking Of You [Rock Mill/Hayley #RMR 1001]

First released on 'His Greatest Recordings' CD in 2004 and then on a 2012 compilation CD from Hayley 'More Soulful Serenades'.

Tim Murray [1982] - Thinking Of You [Detroit Traks #531825]

Murray released his version in 1982, his only record and the only release on the label.

Mel Davis [1991] - Let Love In Your Life [Rock Mill #RM5238]

Originally written in 1979 but released in 1991 on his own Rock Mill label. It was also released on the 2004 CD compilation 'His Greatest Recordings'.

Charisma [1983] - Let Love In Your Life [Rock Mill #RP 8267]

Charisma were a group formed by Jerry Green (a former member of The Contours between 1964-68) with his brother Ray. The song was was speeded up a bit for Charisma to record on Davis' Rock Mill label in 1983. It was their only releasee as the group split up after recording it.