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.

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

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

Click to enlarge

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

MoKenStef [2023] - Azz Is [Outburst Records] (Full Album) Digital Reissue

Appearing on digital platforms yesterday is a digital reissue of "Azz Is" which is the only album recorded by 90s L.A. girl trio MoKenStef.

The group was named after its three members Monifa Bethune, Kenya Hadley and Stef (Stephanie) Sinclair who released their album in 1995. It produced three singles "Sex In The Rain", "Baby Come Close" (a Smokey Robinson song from his debut solo album "Smokey" in 1973) and "He's Mine" which was a #2 R&B / #7 Hot 100 hit and samples Zapp "Be Alight" and Prince "Do Me Baby". 

The opening track / intro on the digital release (tracks are in a different order to the original album)  "Stop Callin' Me" uses Rose Royce' s "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" as the backing.

A further single "He Say / She Say" was released in 1999 from a planned sophomore album that didn't materialise. A final release was "I Got Him All The Time" (a remix of "He's Mine") on a four track promo/sampler on Def Jam in 2000 before the trio disbanded in 2003.

They reunited in 2014 with the idea of writing a book of their music business experience which also inspired then to get back in the studio. The book "Unfinished Business" was published in 2020 which is perhaps why the album has been reissued?

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	90s Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / Reissue
Label:	Outburst Records / Self Released
Cat No:	314 527 364-1 / None
Date:	03/05/2023 / 1995
Key/BPM:	1A/100
Price:	£7.99 (£14.71 CD)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2022] - Black On Black: Black Milk [Acid Jazz] (Full Album)

Black On Black was a label set up by Dr Bob Jones in the mid 90s. He released this ten track compilation "Black On Black: Black Milk" in 1995. It is now available digitally for the first time on Bandcamp. I noticed that it is also on Amazon for £9.90 but only £7.50 on Bancdcamp!

The compilation opens with the killer cut and the first release on the label from (Daniel) Tyson "Rebound" which was released on 12" in 1993. There some nice tracks including Inner Soul "Don't Walk Away" and a good cover of "Save The Children" by Kimberley Lawson.

As the Bandcamp listing doesn't give the artist names here's the full track listing:

01 - Tyson - Rebound (5:41)

02 - Inner Soul - Another Place, Another Time (5:08)

03 - Jaziacs - Destinys (8:58)

04 - Tyson - Ruthless (9am Mix) (5:45)

05 - Index - Made In Voyage (5:47)

06 - Index - Gotta Get It (4:33)

07 - Kimberley Lawson - Save The Children (5:54)

08 - Jaziacs - Farside (4:11)

09 - Inner Soul - Don't Walk Away (Club Mix) (5:18)

10 - Ski - Ain't Gonna Justify (Delta Mix) (9:12)

Cam Elle - Let It Flow (Sausalito Calling) (6:39) is on original not on digital issue.

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Acid Jazz
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/03/2022
Value:	£7.50

Irini [2021] - Tribute [Self Released] (Full Album)

This is essentially a reissue of Irini's 1995 album "Don't Make Me Wish" excluding a few tracks. It has been re-titled "Tribute".

Irini Toufexis was born in Cyprus in 1971 and emigrated to London in 1974. She met Light Of The World's Everton McCalla whist studying music at Pimlico Institute in 1976. The following year she was discovered as a model and during a modelling session was offered a recording contract. However, after a while she found the contract too restrictive and broke free to release a couple of independent singles, the first being "24/7 Love", followed by several singles on a label set up with her sister Marina. An album "Don't Make A Wish" followed in 1995.

In 1996 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and moved back to Cyprus to be with family and sadly passed away exactly a year ago on 20 Nov. 2020 which is possibly what has prompted the reissue of the album on the first anniversary.

I have to say that most of the tracks still 'stand up' and if Em-Cee can have a UK soul chart #1 with an album containing songs that are almost 20 years old then why can't this one do well?

It is also worth nothing that "24/7" was remixed and 'housed up' in 2003 and uses samples from Phyllis Hyman's "You Know How To Love Me" (included below). Also, on the new album, it has been mis/re-titled "Love".

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / 90s
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	20/11/2021
Value:	£7.49

Mark Johnson Feat. James Robinson [1995] - Daydream [JVC #JVC-2032-2]

Originally released on Daydream album (CD only) in 1995 on JVC, but has just had a 7" vinyl release on Patrick Biggerstaff's Izipho Soul label.

A fabulous jazz flavoured stepper with Mark Johnson on sax and James Robinson sounding very like Michael McDonald.  Modern Soul at its very best. 

Mark Johnson Feat. David Cacares [2020] - Soakin' In The Sunshine [Izopho Soul #ZP44]

The flip side to the 45 is a a brand new track.

s7oul · MARK JOHNSON - SOAKIN' IN THE SUNSHINE