Janet Jackson [2022] - The Velvet Rope (Deluxe Edition) [Virgin] (Full Album)

A 25th Anniversary edition of Janet Jackson's sixth album "The Velvet Rope" has been released as a Deluxe Edition which includes a few obscure tracks i.e. obscure B sides and hidden CD tracks as well as thirteen remixes.

It was her most daring and sexually explicit album with lyrics covering sadomasochism, homophobia, same-sex relationships, domestic violence. However, it was highly acclaimed and went straight to #1 of Billboard 200 chart and went platinum selling over 10m copies worldwide.   The album spawned six singles, "Got Til It's Gone" (which sampled Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" and  Jackson was later sued by Des'ree who claimed that the song had 'borrowed' from her 1992 hit "Feel So High" and she was awarded 25% of royalties out of court); "Together Again" which became her eighth #1 spending 42 weeks on Hot 100; "I Get Lonely" which reached #3; "Go Deep"; "You" and "Every Time". The last three didn't chart on Hot 100 and only "Go Deep" hit the R&B chart.

The original album had 22 tracks, the Deluxe Edition has 25 plus 13 bonus tracks. Th additional three tracks include "Can't Be Stopped" which was a hidden track on the original CD album, "Accept Me" which was an obscure B side on "Every Time" (and "You" in UK, Europe and Japan only) and "God's Stepchild" which was included only on the Japanese edition of the original album but also featured in a  "Down In The Delta" movie soundtrack in 1998.

The thirteen remixes are various mixes of five of the album's six singles.

Ironically, two of the three tracks not originally on the album, (i.e. "Can't Be Stopped" and "Accept Me") are the two that best stand the test of time!

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	90s Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Virgin
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/10/2022 (1997)
Price:	£21.99

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Mariah Carey Feat. Brandy [2022] - The Roof (When I Feel the Need) [Columbia Records] VIDEO

A 25th anniversary edition of Mariah Carey's sixth album "Butterfly" was released on 16 Sep 2022.  One track stood out that was released as a single (outside US) in 1997/98 is "The Roof (When I Feel the Need)" (posted on 16 Sep). It has been revamped and instead of Kelly Price who featured on the original, Brandy has been drafted in and a new video for it was released last night. 

It wasn't released as a single stateside and didn't fare particularly well elsewhere only registering at #87 in UK and #63 in The Netherlands.

I suspect that the track may have an underground following as a set of nine mixes by Mobb Deep, Full Crew and David Morales exist released in 2020 to celebrate her 30th anniversary as an artist.

It has previously been posted on a feature "Rare Carey" posted in Feb 2021.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Columbia Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/09/2022 (1997) /23/09/2022 (Video)
Key/BPM:	3A/95
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Mariah Carey Feat. Brandy [2022] - The Roof (When I Feel the Need) [Columbia Records]

A 25th anniversary edition of Mariah Carey's sixth album "Butterfly" is released today.  One track stood out that was released as a single (outside US) in 1997/98 is "The Roof (When I Feel the Need)" featuring Brandy. 

It wasn't released as a single stateside and didn't fare particularly well elsewhere only registering at #87 in UK and #63 in The Netherlands.

I'm not sure if this is an alternate version as the original album version credits Kelly Price on backing vocals not Brandy?

I suspect that the track may have an underground following as a set of nine mixes by Mobb Deep, Full Crew and David Morales exist released in 2020 to celebrate her 30th anniversary as an artist.

It has previously been posted on a feature "Rare Carey" posted in Feb 2021.

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:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Columbia Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/09/2022 (1997)
Key/BPM:	3A/95
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Whitney Houston [1997] - Dionne Warwick Medley [Live Washington D.C.]

This came up on my YouTube feed the other day so I thought I'd save it for a Sunday post. I distinctly remember buying Whitney Houston's debut album when she burst onto the scene in 1985 and thinking what a talent she was. Sadly the record execs saw dollar signs and steered her towards the pop/MOR market which was allegedly a contributory factor to her going off the rails with alcohol and drugs as she wasn't entirely happy with the direction her career was being steered. I wonder how she would be regarded in soul circles if she had gone the soul route but sadly we will never know.

In this 11 minute clip she sings four of her cousin Dionne Warwick's, Burt Bacharach (now 93) and Hal David (died in 2021 aged 91) written, 60s hits:

• Walk On By
• A House Is Not A Home
• I Say A Little Prayer
• Alfie

Steve Winwood [1997] - Plenty Lovin' / Family Affair [Virgin]

How many would expect such a soulful sound emanating from a 60s British beat /rock group singer Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith)?

"Plenty Lovin'" is taken from his 1997 album "Junction Seven" and features Des'ree. This track, as well as many others, was co-written with Narada Michael Walden, who also co-produced and arranged the album. A few songs also included fellow Traffic member Jim Capaldi on writing credits.

Also on the album is a respectable cover of Sly & The Family Stone's "Family Affair" which includes Santana's Tony Lindsay on backing vocals, who of course currently has a new album "Soul Soldier" which is doing well and getting 'plenty lovin''.

A post inspired by Gary Van Den Bussche's play of "Plenty Lovin'" on his radio show today. Not so much a 'hidden gem', as I think it's fairly well known, but certainly an underplayed one

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Virgin
Cat No:	None
Date:	1997
Key/BPM:	3A/85
Value:	£1

Sean Oliver [2021] - You And Me [One World #OSP 5005]

Back on 17 Feb 2021 I notified you of the release of Sean Oliver's modern soul classic on Paul Mooney's One World label. It will be available on 7 May 2021 and is available to pre-order (click link below). 

This tune was a modern soul floor filler around 1999/2000 and 'crossed over' to NS dancefloors. It was only available on CD album ('Solitaire') or 12" EP so this will be the first time on 7" vinyl but be aware it is a 4:25 edit only, the original is 5:47 - presumably edited down for technical reasons?

The album was released in Canada (he was based in Toronto), UK & Japan but the 12" was issued in Canada only.  I'd imagine that this will 'fly off the shelves' as it was a huge sound at the time.

Details

Format:	Single / EP/Album
Media:	7" / 12"
Label:	One World  / Boomtang
Cat No:	OSP 5005 / BOOM-EP-02
Year:	2021 / 1997
Key:	4A
BPM:	102
Value:	£12 / £50-£65

Erykah Badu [1997] - Apple Tree (2B3 Summer Vibes Mix) [Motown]

A great remix of Erykah Badu's Apple Tree from 1997.  

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	None
Year:	1997
Key:	10A
BPM:	95
Value:	£1

D'Influence [1997] - Magic [Echo #ECSY45]

What a tune! One of the best ever modern soul tunes from D'Influence now nearly 25 years old (as it was released in 1997) but still sounds fresh. With all these rehashes of 70s/disco tunes doing the rounds it's about time one of these producers did a rework of this track!

I've already posted another track from the 'London' album called 'Hypnotize' which was one of only two UK hits they had.

Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Echo
Cat No:	ECSY45
Year:	1997
Key:	10B
BPM:	109
Value:	£3

Tower Of Power [1997] - It Really Doesn't Matter [Epic #EK 68002]

A track picked up on by UK modern soul scene from Tower Of Power 1997 'Rhythm & Business' album. It features Brent Carter on lead vocals who has also recently appeared on a couple of other projects: 'Work To Do' and is lead on Output/Input's current single 'Can't Hide Love'.

Sean Oliver [1997] - You And Me [Boomtang #BOOM-EP-02]

I'm getting ahead of the curve on this one as it has just been announced that this will be the 5th release on Paul Mooney's One World label following this month's release of Michelle David 'Yes I Am'. Her next single on the label will be 'Good Good Good' (both already posted here.) which is scheduled for April 2021 along with Sean Oliver.

This tune was a modern soul floor filler around 1999/2000 and 'crossed over' to NS dancefloors. It was only available on CD album ('Solitaire') or 12" EP so this will be the first time on 7" vinyl.  

The album was released in Canada (he was based in Toronto), UK & Japan but the 12" was issued in Canada only.  I'd imagine that this will 'fly off the shelves' as it was a huge sound at the time.

Details

Format:	EP/Album
Media:	12"
Label:	Boomtang
Cat No:	BOOM-EP-02]
Year:	1997
Key:	4A
BPM:	102
Value:	£50-£65

D'Influence [1997] - Hypnotize [Echo #ECSY41]

D'Influence were a British acid jazz band and production team from the 90s (even though they used the US spelling for Hypnotise). They had a UK Top 30 hit with a version of Michael Jackson's 'Rock With You' (written by Rod Temperton (Heatwave)) in 1998. 

The featured track reached #33 in UK pop chart in 1997 and was taken from the album 'London' which has some other great tracks on it so is well worth checking out.