Deep Sensation [1999] Somehow, Somewhere (There's A Soul Heaven) (Original Mix) [Fluential #fluent 9]

A bit of a random post inspired by seeing it posted on a facebook group today and commented on by an old friend from many years ago, Southport Weekender DJ Billy Davidson. 

It's "Somehow, Somewhere (There's A Soul Heaven)" from Glaswegian duo Deep Sensation (Colin Gate (a former Northern Soul DJ) and hip-hopper Paul Hunter) originally released in 1998 but subsequently had several different mixes applied. 

The duo recorded under several different aliases such as Space Jam, Brother Of Soul, Second Crusade, Red Hook Project and others dependent on the type of music they produced. They were active between 1995-2003 but shunned the limelight, so very little is actually known about them.

We've selected the original mix from 1999 which is a little less 'Housey' than other mixes. The track samples Ultra High Frequency's (Bobby Eli) "We're On The Right Track" (1973) (also recorded by South Shore Commission in 1975 and written by Philly's Norman Harris and Alan Felder) with vocal overdubs from Syl Johnson's "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969).

It charted twice on the UK pop chart reaching #88 first time around in May 2001 and #74 in Sep 2004 (both times it stayed on chart for only one week) and is dirt cheap to pick up on 12" vinyl.

It's also available digitally via Traxsource.

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Soulful House
Format:	Single
Media:	12" Vinyl
Label:	Fluential
Cat No:	fluent #9
Date:	1999
Key/BPM:	6A/125
Price:	£3-£6

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Johnnie Taylor / Bobby Bland [2023] - Let's Get Back On Track / Heart Open Up Again [Jai Alai #JAR12]

The second release from Soul4Real's Jai Alai imprint due on 14 Oct pairs two album tracks from Malaco. One from Johnnie Taylor's  "Gotta Get The Groove Back" (1999) and another from Bobby Bland's "Members Only" (1985)

It was Taylor's last album before he died of a heart attack in May 2000 aged 66, although a studio and a live album were released posthumously. The first two tracks on the album were paired as the only single from the album. The track selected for release for the first time on 7" is "Let's Get Back On Track" co-written by Frederick Knight and Chares Brooks. We are told that the backing track was used seven year later on David Sea's "Stay In My Arms".

Taylor's career dates back to the 50s, first as a member of a doo-wop group, The Five Echoes, and then as part of gospel group The Highway Q.C.s which included Sam Cooke. Cooke left to join The Soul Stirrers and when he left that group, for a secular career in 1957, Taylor replaced him. The connection didn't stop there as, when Cooke set up his own label SAR in 1961, Taylor became one of his first signings releasing his first solo single in 1961 on SAR. Soon after the death of Cooke in 1964, SAR was closed and Taylor signed for Stax releasing his first single there in 1966. He had five minor R&B hits until he hit the R&B #1 spot with "Who's Making Love" in 1968 which crossed over to 5 Hot 100. He had two further R&B chart toppers with Stax but none broke into the Hot 100. After Stax's demise, owing to bankruptcy, in 1975 he signed to Columbia and had his fourth R&B #1 hit and first Hot 100 #1 with "Disco Lady" in 1976 which was re-recorded in 1998 as "Disco Lady 2000" and was his final R&B chart entry but only reached #98. By 1981 Taylor had left Columbia for new label Beverly Glen run by Otis Smith where he released four singles and two albums before being signed by Malaco in 1984 (apparently after being heard by the company founders singing at Z.Z. Hill's funeral) where he recorded ten album in sixteen years.

Taylor was nominated for three Grammy awards, for "Who's Making Love", "Disco Lady" and for the album "Gotta Get The Groove Back". The song "Disco Lady" was the first ever Platinum Award by the RIAA. 

Robert Calvin Brooks acquired his name Bobby Bland from his stepfather, Leroy Bridgeforth also known as Leroy Bland, after his birth father left the family not long after his birth in Barrettville, TN, in 1930. At 17 he moved to Memphis and began singing in gospel groups later venturing into Beale Street and acquainted himself with the Beale Streeters (i.e. B.B. King, Junior Parker, Johnny Ace and Rosco Gordon).

Having recorded a few unsuccessful singles in the early 50s for Modern and Sun, he was signed to Duke Records. Bland had dropped out of school in third grade and was illiterate. After spending two years in the Army, upon his return Duke had a new owner who duped him into signing a contract which short-changed him to receive a quarter of the industry standard per record i.e. $0.005 instead on $0.02 per record sale. 

His first single on Duke was released in 1955 with his first hit appearing in 1957. He had a string of R&B hits including three #1 hits up to 1985 but none troubled the Hot 100 Top 20 and only two broke into the Top 40. Duke was bought by ABC/Dunhill and Bland was retained where he stayed until signing for first MCA in 1979 and then with Malaco in 1985 where he stayed until his death in June 2013 aged 83.

The track selected from his first Malaco album ("Members Only") in 1985 is "Heart Open Up Again" which appears as a single for the first time.

Despite never really crossing over into the mainstream, he received seven Grammy nominations and multiple awards such as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 amongst several others.

The single is available to pre-order from Sou4Real for release on 14 Oct.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Blues
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Jai Alai
Cat No:	JAR12
Date:	14/10/2023
Key/BPM:	11B/93 / 4B/65
Price:	€14

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

L.J. Reynolds [2023] - Love Is About To Start [Volt] (Full Album)

A 1999 album, "Love Is About To Start", by L.J. (Larry James) Reynolds has landed on digital platforms over the weekend. Probably Friday (21 Jul) as it is listed alongside Friday's releases but the release date is shown as Nov 1999 so we can't be certain.

It contains a re-recording of his 1981 modern Northern Soul biggie "Key To The World" from his self-titled album on Capitol, also released as a single.

L.J. Reynolds was born in Saginaw, MI, in 1952 and released a couple of solo singles in 1969-70 before forming L.J. Reynolds & Chocolate Syrup in 1971 and releasing "What's A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)" / "The Penguin Break Down" (instrumental of A side). The song also received plays on the scene and the backing track has been used on other recordings such as Phil Lowman "Rock Me Till I Want No More" which received two releases first on Blue Soul followed by the rarer Palos release. Both Reynolds' and Lowman's were released in 1971 so we don't know which was first as both claim writers credits.

He left Chocolate Syrup in 1972 planning for a solo career and then met Ron Banks of The Dramatics backstage at the Apollo Theatre and a year later replaced William Howard in the group. In 1981 he left for his delayed solo career releasing his self-titled album on Capitol followed by another three solo albums before re-joining the group in 1986 but still released solo material on the side.

Another album was delivered in 1994 before this one on Volt (acquired by Fantasy after the demise of Stax) in 1999. Since then he has released another three solo albums, his last "Get To This" in 2011.

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:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Reissue
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Volt
Cat No:	VCD-3411-2
Date:	21/07/2023 / 1999
Price:	£8.91 / 26.56

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

All Blue [1999] - Prisoner (Masters At Work Main Mix) [WEA (UK) #3984-29632-0]

What appears to be the only release from a duo named All Blue from 1999 who may be Ed & Henry Johnson as they were the writers of the track. It was a UK release but I think I detect a slight accent in the vocals ... with a name like Johnson could they by any chance be Scandinavian as that's becoming a theme today!

It was a big tune on the modern soul circuit, but you 'need' the Masters At Work mix as the others are quite different, the radio edit is more laid back and the Linslee mix is more hip-hop with scratching effects and rapping. There are quite a few other mixes as well.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	WEA
Cat No:	3984-29632-0
Year:	1999
Key:	4A/125
BPM:	100
Value:	£1

Maktub [1999] - Just Can't Make It [Jasiri Media Group #JMGCD0023]

A great track from the Seattle based group's debut album 'Subtle Ways' released in 1999. I think it was Gavin Page who first played this in 2000.

The group has released four more albums since this one, their last being released in 2008. Their website is now defunct so it's possible they have now disbanded.

Sy Smith [1999] - What I Am [Psyko! Inc.]

More Sy Smith, taken from her debut album 'Psykosooul +' which was initially released as a promo only CD in 1999 and again in 2005, but didn't get a proper release until 2007. 

It was also released on B side of a (promo only) 12" which featured Raphael Saadiq & Q-Tip 'Get Involved' on the A side. Both featured on the soundtrack for Spike Lee's animated sitcom The PJs.

I thought it sounded familiar, as it was written by Eddie Brickell and released by Eddie Brickell & New Bohemians in 1988 and reached #31 on UK chart in Feb 1989.

Details

Format:	Album/Single (Promo)
Media:	LP/12"
Label:	Psyko! / Hollywood
Cat No:	None / HR-66009-0
Year:	2021
Key:	11B
BPM:	89
Value:	£1

Kevin Toney [1999] - So Good [Shanachie #5059]

A classy jazz/soul stepper called 'So Good' from Kevin Toney's 1999 album 'Extra Sensual Perception' released on Shanachie.

Toney was keyboardist with The Blackbyrds and went solo in 1982 when the group disbanded.  He's released eight solo albums since 1982.

Othello [1999] - Too Late [Relativity #RPROCD0855]

A few tracks from a self-titled, unreleased promo album from 1999. Note, the last two videos have been 'truncated' by the poster, but give a flavour.

Too Late

If You Wanna Get Down

I See That Look In Your Eyes

Yes I Will