Richard Hartley & Soul Resurrection [2023] - Jesus Makes Me Happy / Heart And Soul [Izipho Soul #ZP099]

Izipho Soul has only announced their next release a few hours ago and we're told that they are flying out of the door. It's not surprising when you realise that they are two tracks from a very hard to find 2007 album "Face II Face" by Richard Hartley & Soul Resurrection and also that the label is offering them for only £10!

Whilst the CD album is listed on Discogs, there are no cover images, no label listed and none have ever sold there. A Google search also turned up zero, so this album is certainly a rarity and more than likely a private/self release.

The selected tracks, suggested by Phil 'Phillet Of Soul' Ward, are "Jesus Makes Me Happy" and "Heart And Soul". Don't be fooled by the title of the first as it's a modern soul banger whIch has been edited by Phil as "The Joyful Exaltation Edit". 

Whilst the flip starts off as a more laid back and mellow affair, it builds into a crescendo of deep soulfulness, as Izipho Soul headboy Pat Biggerstaff puts it "a ballad of epic proportions that builds and builds with the finale possessing some of the most gut wrenching vocals you are ever likely to hear. Richard states towards the end that ‘I should be fading right now’, but finds the strength to come back one more time!"

Richard Hartley has had a prolific career as a singer and musical director (whom we've previously featured on a couple of occasions), travelling across the world to work with choirs and musical icons such as Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. He is pastor at Haven International Ministries, New York and star of his own reality television show ‘The Rev’. He released a single titled "Highway" in Jan '21.

As well as "Face II Face" in 2007, he released "Love Is All We Need" in 2003 and prior to that a live gospel album recorded in Japan "Lovepower Live In Tokyo" in  2002.

The single is available to pre-order now from Izipho Soul for official release on 18 Aug, but as mentioned above, they are sailing out so you will need act quickly to secure one as it looks like they will sell out on pre-order alone.

UPDATE We received scans of the "Face II Face" CD with thanks from Thierry Boulanger and included the front cover image below.

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

IZIPHO SOUL · JESUS MAKES ME HAPPY - RICHARD HARTLEY

IZIPHO SOUL · HEART AND SOUL - RICHARD HARTLEY

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP099
Date:	04/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£10

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

21st Century Soul - 2007 (The Best Of)

2007

Continuing the 21st Century Soul series with the 8th edition 2007.

Previous Years

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Alphabetical playlist by artist against individual who selected them.

Artist	Title (Album)
Kevin Oxberry	Starpoint Radio
Ann Nesby	This Could Be Love (This Is Love LP)
Chrisette Michele	If I Have My Way (I Am LP)
Jill Scott	Having You Around (The Real Thing: Words & Sounds Vol. 3 LP)
L.J. Reynolds feat. LaTonya Terry Reynolds	So Good (Foster Babies OST LP)
Lamone	Hangin' Out (Eclectically Speaking LP)
Phillip Manuel	Had To Have You (PM LP)
Pookie Lane	You Are Appreciated (Southern Woman LP)
The Temptations	Don't Ask My Neighbors (Back To Front LP)
Vick Allen	The Same Thang (Baby Come Back Home LP)
Will Downing	Satisfy You (After Tonight LP)
Paul Goldsmith	Starpoint Radio
7 Sons Of Soul	Heaven (Witness LP)
April Hill	I Can't Stop Loving You (Love 360 LP)
Benita Washington	Happy (Renaissance (Live) LP)
Clark Sisters	Livin' (Live - One Last Time LP)
Darlene McCoy	U-N-I-T-Y (Darlene McCoy LP)
Domu Presents Pete Simpson	Ain't No Fool (Look A Little Further LP)
Gordon Chambers	To Love Again (Love Stories LP)
Kirk Whalum	Inside (Roundtrip LP)
Lamb & Meyer	Without Your Love (Don't Get No Better LP)
Roger Williams	Starpoint Radio
Carmichael	Rock It (All About Love LP)
Darlene McCoy	Amazing (Darlene McCoy LP)
Kirk Whalum ft. Kim Fields	In a Whisper (Roundtrip LP)
Lamone	Your Eyes (Eclectically Speaking LP)
Ledisi	In The Morning (Lost & Found LP)
Melissa Young	Rock With Me (Just Up The Road LP)
Nw Gospel Project	Heaven's Door (Heavenly Brother LP)
Paul Taylor ft. Regina Belle	How Did You Know (Ladies Choice LP)
Rob Van De Wouw feat. Berget Lewis	Love is All We Need (Reboot Your Soul LP)
Tony Momrelle & Lungau Big Band	With Your Luv (Message In The Music LP)
Steve Aggasild	Soul Music Radio / SOTAR
Angie Stone	Take Everything In (The Art Of Love & War LP)
Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim & Musiq Soulchild	Struggle No More (Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls OST LP)
Coolys Hot Box	Don't Be Afraid (Chocolate Soul 3 LP)
Euge Groove feat. Ali Ollie Woodson	I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (Born 2 Groove LP)
Jimmy Sommers feat. Vikter Duplaix	If I Knew (Sunset Collective LP)
Keyshia Cole feat. Anthony Hamilton	Losing You (Just Like You LP)
Ledisi	Alright (Lost & Found LP)
Metropolitan Jazz Affair	Find A Way (Bird of Spring LP)
Peabo Bryson	Waiting For Tomorrow (Missing You LP)
Will Downing feat. Gerald Albright	No One Can Love You More (After Tonight LP)
SoulStrutter
Ann Nesby	I Can't Explain It (This Is Love LP)
Chaka Khan	Angel (Funk This LP)
Ebony Alleyne	Tell Me The Secret (Never Look Back LP)
Leonard Julien III	What She Don't Know (Reflections Of Soul LP)
Musiq Soulchild	greatestlove (Luvanmusiq LP)
Peabo Bryson	10,000 Reasons (Missing You LP)
Prince	Somewhere Here On Earth (Planet Earth LP)
Rose Spearman	When Love Calls (Livin' It LP)
Sunshine Anderson	Force of Nature (Sunshine At Midnight LP)
Ty Causey	Back To Loving You (Expressions LP)
Valarie Adams	I Think Of U (Valarie Adams LP)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Prince [2007] - Somewhere Here On Earth [NRG Records]

As you are probably well aware, it would have been Prince's 65th birthday today. He died on 21 Apr 2016 aged 57 of a fentanyl overdose.

To commemorate it here is possibly his finest recording from his 2007 album "Planet Earth" titled "Somewhere Here On Earth", simply 'stunning', showing his more soulful, deeper and jazzier side.

Details

Rating:	9.4
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album Only Track
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	NRG Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	2007
Value:	£1

Elaine Stepter [2022] - Come See About Me / What Am I To Do [Jai Alai #JAR05]

The second release today from Jai Alai is from Elaine Stepter who is from L.A. and released a couple of singles "I’ll Always Be A Part Of You" (1986) and "The Sweetness Of Your Love" (1990). She had another track "Good Love" featured on "The Meteor Man" soundtrack in 1993.

She toured with Rose Royce as a backing vocalist between 1997-2007 and released her debut album "The Woman I Am" in 2007 followed by a live album "Live At The Hollywood Park Casino" which consisted on mainly Rose Royce covers. I found a live video from 2012 on YouTube of her performing Jocelyn Brown's "Somebody Else's Guy" (below).

Both tracks featured on the Jai Alai single are from her debut album. The top side "Come See About Me" on which she sound a tad like Chaka Khan and the smoky jazz flip "What Am I To Do".

Orders being taken via soul4realrecordlabel@gmail.com €14 plus postage

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Jai Alai
Cat No:	JAR05
Date:	25/04/2022
Key/BPM:	4B/94 / 11B/31
Value:	€14 plus postage

Tommy Keith v Larry Saunders - On The Real Side

A track played by DJ Kool Keith on his Soulful Slow Jams show on Sunday alerted me to a compilation CD released in association with David Cole's "In The Basement" magazine by Castle Music/Outta Sight titled "Tears Full Of Soul" in 2007. It's a double CD consisting of 36 pretty obscure, many appear to be previously unreleased, tracks.

A particular track that piqued my interest is the original (?) / unreleased (?) version of Larry Saunders Northern / Modern Soul classic "On The Real Side" by the song's writer Tommy Keith. Tommy Keith was a member of the Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum label house band The Rimshots which may explain  how Larry Saunders got to record it as his version was on subsidiary label Turbo in 1974. Keith's version is taken at a much slower ballad pace than the well known version by Saunders.

Keith also wrote several other songs that have been popular on the UK rare soul scene such as De-Lites "Lover", Little Dooley (Silverspoon) "It's Got To Be Now Or Never", The Moments "Nine Times" and "Rain In My Backyard" (along with hits "Dolly My love" and "Jack In The Box") and First Class "Me And My Gemini".

Prince [2007] - Somewhere Here On Earth [NRG Records]

As you are probably well aware, a new album from Prince "Welcome To America" was released  at the end of July.  In that post I stated that I wasn't the greatest fan of his music as it was very funk/rock/pop oriented. 

The track in question is from his 2007 album "Planet Earth" titled "Somewhere Here On Earth", simply 'stunning', showing his deeper and jazzier side.

Details

Rating:	9.4
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album Only Track
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	NRG Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	2007
Value:	£1

Down To Earth [2007] - I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby [Live @ Ronnie Scott's]

Earlier this week (Thursday) I posted this version of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's song "I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby" from his 1976 album "Ain't That A Bitch".  I deliberately didn't state who the artist was so that there was no 'prejudice'.

I can now reveal that the artist is none other than current UK Soul Chart toppers Down To Earth,  The song was recorded live at the world famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in June 2007.

This is an incredible 'one take' live performance, the vocals (lead and backing), guitar, horns and the whole arrangement is superb. Can you imagine what a studio version would sound like? I've suggested that they record it on their new album, however they have stated that they don't like to do covers on their albums, only original material, which is fair play to them!

Kashious [2007] - Bad Luck [Gordon] (Full Album)

Sit back and absorb this quality tune released on a 2007 self-titled album from Kashious, his only album so far but he has released a couple of singles.

The album is exceptional and highly recommended -'real soul for those who feel it!'. The album is no longer available on Amazon or Spotify, only his singles, and there are none currently for sale on Discogs. I've had a dig around and it is still available on iTunes

The album is so good I 'could' post every track so here's a link to Full Album

It gets a 'Ten from Len' on this one!

Bad Luck [10B/67]

Time [10B/91]

 A single released in 2008 that's not on the album.

Jazz.K.Lipa [2007] - Purple Haze [Resense #004]

After the latest release on Resense (Slick Walk - Young Jazzy which is a reworking of Soulful Strut) I decided to investgate their back catalogue and found this. It's another 'mash-up' released in 2007 which is essentially Johnny Jones & The King Casuals 'jazzed up' and tagged as Jazz.K.Lipa. 

'Purple Haze', of course, is a Jimi Hendrix psychedelic rock track released in 1968 on Reprise, the same year Jimmy Jones & The King Casuals recorded it.

It was an 'unlikely' Northern Soul monster sound c1975/76, so much so that it was reissued twice in UK on Brunswick and Manchester's short-lived Cream label in 76.

Here they are side by side for comparison.

Johnny Jones And The King Casuals [1968] - Purple Haze [Brunswick #55389]

The King Casuals were orignally formed in 1962 as The King Kasuals by Billy Cox and Jimi Hendrix. Johnny Jones replaced Hendrix in the mid 60s. 

There are stories that Jones was Hendix's mentor but the story changes between different sources so you can read and decide which story you believe. Ponderosa Stomp, Nashville Scene, Wikepedia.

I note from the label that it was produced by William Bell for his own, Atlanta based, Peachtree label. Their previous single was released on Peachtree and Brunswick, but as far as I am aware 'Purple Haze' was never released on Peachtree (and Cat. No.'s back that up) but may have been recorded there and nationally released on Brunswick only.

Lucy Jules [2007] - Devil With Heart [Chappell #CHAP 329]

Lucy Jules is featured on the new single from Brian Power 'Optimistic' (just posted) and I believe she was a backing singer for George Michael and has also featured with Sam Smith. I found this track by her, first released on a compilation 'Soul Revue 2' but also featured on the soundtrack for 'Damsels In Distress' in 2012.

It's a 60's / Motown throwback sounding a bit like Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (Heatwave) with elements of The Fascinations, Girls Are Out To Get You at the start.

There is another track by her on 'Soul Revue 2' called 'Baby I Want You' which is a bit 'poppy', but still has a Motown feel. It featured in the Netflix TV series Velvet.

Chaka Khan [2007] - Angel [Burgundy #88697 15835 2]

Taken from her 'Funk This' album from 2007 is this stunning deep soul ballad from Chaka Khan - Angel which she co-wrote with James Wright.

Only legitimately available on CD (either album or promo CD single) although some 12" bootleg 'Shelter' remixes are floating around.

'Funk This' won a Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2008 to add to the 9 others she has already (so far) received in her career from 22 nominations. Another one she won in 2003 was for her rendition of 'What's Going On' she recorded with The Funk Brothers which I posted recently here.

Personally I think this is possibly the finest record she has ever released.  It is inconceivable (to me) that this song did not even make the Billboard Hot 100 (reached #127) and needless to say did nothing in UK - perhaps it wasn't officially released as a single as there seem to be only promos available? Have a listen and make up your own mind.