Wendy Walker / Legal Assault feat. Dan-Elle [2023] - We've Got One /Nice & Slow [Athens Of The North #ATH149]

A forthcoming 45 reissue from Athens Of The North pairs two sides from UK reggae/lovers rock label Sir George owned by Sir George Brightly.

The A side is Wendy Walker "We've Got One" flipped with Legal Assault feat. Dan-Elle (aka Danielle Harvey) "Nice & Slow" both originally released around 1992/93 and produced by Anthony 'Pure Silk' Brightly the label owner's son who recorded as Pure Silk.

Available via AOTN Bandcamp store.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Lovers Rock / Rare Groove
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Athens Of The North
Cat No:	ATH149
Date:	09/06/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£2 / £9.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jacci McGhee [2023] - Jacci McGhee [Geffen]

Jacci McGhee's 1992, and only, self-titled album from 1992 was reissued on CD in Mar '23 and has appeared on digital platforms today as an extended edition with an addition seven tracks (mainly remixes of other songs).

We're not sure of the significance of reissuing it now but it's a mix of new jack swing, which now sounds dated, interspersed with some good ballads such as a cover of Flack & Hathaway's "The Closer I Get To You", "It Hurts Me" (a #36 R&B hit) and "Denied".

She charted with just one other solo single "Skeeza" (#67) and prior to that in 1988 on a duet with Keith Sweat "Make Love Last Forever" that made it to #2 R&B and #59 Hot 100.

The album is available today on digital platforms and is available on DC vinyl and cassette .. for £46 almost double the price of vinyl ... surely the worst medium of all as had far too many bad experiences of tapes getting 'chewed up'!

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Jack Swing
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Geffen / UMG
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/05/2023
Price:	£10.29

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Boom Tang Boys Feat. Chin Injeti [1992] - Love Trip (Vocal Mix) [Boomtang #12 BOOM 3]

Whilst researching the last post for Boomtang All-Stars I came across the original mix of their last single "Love Trip" which was released on 12" in 1992 as The Boom Tang Boys.

It was issued as Boomtang All-Stars Feat. Four80East & Chin Injeti last June (also posted below) as a 4:40 edit/new mix of the 1992 7:10 original.

It was also featured on a 1993 CD compilation  "Cool Struttin' Vol. 1"

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	12"
Label:	Boomtang
Cat No:	12 BOOM 3
Date:	1992
Key/BPM:	9B/99
Value:	£2-£4

Phil Perry & Renee Diggs [1993] - All My Love [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

The fifth and final track posted today from the BeBe's Kids compilation comes from Phil Perry and Renee Diggs (Starpoint) with "All My Love" which later featured on Renee Diggs' "Oasis" album in 1993.

A great modern soul stepper that was written by Chaka Khan and Marcus Miller. I'm not sure if anyone else recorded it.

The Emotions [1992] - I Want To Thank You For Your Love [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

Still picking through the tracks on the BeBe's Kids soundtrack from 1992. This is a track from The Emotions "I Want To Thank You For Your Love".

It has the same writers again Billy Griffin, John Barnes and Ronnie White but also one of the Emotions, Wanda Vaughn (nee Hutchinson). 

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Joey Diggs v Jody Watley [1992] - Your Love Keeps Working On Me

Yet another track from the BeBe Kids 1992 soundtrack but with a difference this time. Joey Diggs was on the compilation but Jody Watley (Shalamer) also released "Your Love Keeps Working On Me" the following year and had a minor hit with it #26 R&B / #100 Hot 100.

This song was also written by Billy Griffin and John Barnes along with another member, a founding member with Smokey Robinson of The Matadors and then, The Miracles, Ronald (Ronnie) White. Ronnie White is also credited with introducing Stevie Wonder to Motown. 

Curiously, the Jody Watley release credits Robert White which at first I thought was a linking error on Discogs but it actually states that name on the label, so who knows, but it's just about the only song he's credited for so perhaps a typo on the label? In fact looking closer it credits Griiffin, Robert White and Joey Diggs, so a bit of poetic licence perhaps?

Ronald Isley [1992] - Deeper [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

Another track picked up on from a play by Gary Van Den Bussche last week is an obscure stepper from Ronald Isley "Deeper" on a Capitol compilation for BeBe's Kids (an adult animated comedy movie released in 1992)  co-written by Billy Griffin (The Miracles) and John Barnes.

Aretha Franklin [1992] - Standing On The Rock Of Love [Capitol #CDP 0777 7 99896 2]

After the weekend deluge of new releases things are pretty quiet on that front today so I will take the opportunity of posting some hidden gems.

A track picked up on from a play by Gary Van Den Bussche last week is an obscure track from Aretha Franklin "Standing On The Rock Of Love" on a Capitol compilation for BeBe's Kids (an adult animated comedy movie released in 1992). 

It's by no means 'one of her best' but good for that era and probably not that well known? The song was co-written by Billy Griffin (The Miracles), Cindy Mizelle and John Barnes.

There are few other good tracks on the compilation including from Phil Perry and Ronald Isley (which I think Gary also played which I'll post if I can find it).

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Phyllis Hyman [2021] - Hottest Love Around [Soul Music]

Back on 21 May I posted a forthcoming Phyllis Hyman nine CD box set "Old Friend The Deluxe Collection 1976-1998" being released by David Nathan's Soul Music label which is due at the end of this month (30 Jul 2021). It is her full album discography which includes all the deluxe editions of her albums.

One of the tracks, "Hottest Day Of My Life", featured only on the Japanese edition of "Prime Of My Life" in 1992 as a hidden bonus track. (Note this does no include it's inclusion on at least two later compilations ("In Between The Heartaches - The Soul of a Diva 2003" and "Deliver The Love (The Anthology 2017)") as pointed out by a reader (thanks to Andrew) in comments).

It's a good modern soul tune with hints of jazz.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Jazz
Format:	Album Track
Media:	CD
Label:	PIR/Soul Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	24/02/1992/30/07/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£10/£40

Shanice [1992] - Don't Wanna Love You [Arista / La Face #73008-26006-2]

As far as I'm aware this was only released on the 'Boomerang' soundtrack in 1992. It was sandwiched between her two biggest hits 'I Love Your Smile' in 1991 (for which she was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Female Vocal) and 'Saving Forever For You' (from another soundtrack 'Beverly Hills 90210') in 1992.

It's a good, early 90s swing tune. For some reason I keep thinking of Color Me Badd's 'I Wanna Sex You Up' when I hear it, which sampled Betty Wright's 'Tonight's The Night' and Brothers Johnson's 'Strawberry Letter 23's (written by Shuggie Otis), but it's much better than that, I guess it's the rhythm thats similar.

Another curious fact is that it appears to have been released only in UK on vinyl, all other issues are CD.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Swing
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Arista /La Face
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	7A
BPM:	102
Value:	£10-£15 (vinyl) £2.50 (CD)

Santana [1992] - Somewhere In Heaven [Polydor #314 513 197-2]

I posted a live version of this by Santana tribute band The Magic Of Santana which featured ex members Alex Ligertwood and Tony Lindsay.  Here's the full 10 minute version by Santana from 1992.

This song defies classification as it has elements of soul, jazz, gospel and rock all rolled into this masterpiece. It featured on the 1992 'Milagor' album and was released as a single which unbelievable failed to chart anywhere in the world! Nearly 30 years on it still sounds amazing.

Live version featuring Alex Ligertwoood (who co-wrote the song with Carlos Santana) on lead vocals.

Here's an earier live version from 1991 featuring Tony Lindsay on lead vocals

Beres Hammond [1992] - Be Thankful [Taxi (JM)]

A 1992 cover on Jamaican label Taxi, of William DeVaughn's classic.

This must be pretty rare as it has never sold on Discogs, isn't even listed on 45Cat and there are none listed on Popsike.

Denise LaSalle [1992] - When We're Making Love [Debut (UK) #DEBTX 3143]

A nice little stepper from Denise LaSalle's 1992 album 'Love Me Right' only released as a single (12") in UK, as far as I can tell, probably for the 2-step crowd! 

Denise LaSalle had a long recording career from 1967 right up unitil her death aged 83 in 2018 releasing approx 35 albums and at least 45 singles, she had only 16 R&B chart entries and 5 Hot 100 entries in her 60 year career!  Sadly, she is probably only known to the masses in the UK for the crass, and only chart entry, My Toot Toot which reached #6 in 1985 and was her highest, and last, chart entry here and in US.  A crazy world we live in if she is only remembered for that one 'novelty' single from a catlogue of hundreds of recordings!

She was 'discovered' by UK NS scene for her version of the Detroit Emeralds' 'Do Me Right' which only got a UK release on Westbound in 1973 and also her debut 1966 single on Tarpon - 'A Love Reputation' which has the same backing as the classic Nolan Chance (Charles Davis) - 'Just Like The Weather' released a year earlier, originally on Bunky and then on Constellation. 

Her 'Too Late To Check Your Trap' has become popular again in recent years which also has a funkier version of Billy Butler's 'The Right Track', written by Jerry Butler, on the flip. This came out of several different labels, Crajon, Peace, Parka and Expo '69, although the original Crajon release has a different B side, the deep 'Heartbreaker Of The Year' which has a crossover feel to it.

In more recent time it's her 'I'm Here Again' on Westbound from 1973, that has become in-demand.  A soulful, southern soul style, modern/crossover tune. A few other tracks picked up on by the modern soul scene in the 80s include 'Lady In The Street', 'Come To Bed'.  There are probably others if I dig a bit deeper but that's not really the purpose of this post.