Last week LaTasha Lee released an album of 14 songs, "Compositions of LaTasha Lee & Salih Williams", recorded between 2014 - 2021. All but the last two songs had been
posted on YouTube but, as we've discovered over the years, much of her
material hasn't been available to download, so perhaps this album
represents their first 'official' release?
This week she appears to have digitally reissued her debut album "LaTasha Lee & The Black Ties" from 2014 which contains another 14 songs.
As with last week's album it's very retro, early 60s / doo-wop, oriented.
A couple of songs have a reggae feel: "Heart Breaker", "Loving One Another" and "Left Hand Side (which seems to borrow from "Pass The Dutchie") and is our
pick from the album. A couple of songs utilise samples; "Crazy"
(Temptations' "My Girl"), "Get Away" (Neil Sedaka's "Oh Carol").
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
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artist.
A track I was asked about yesterday by a blog contributor, which is believed to have remained
unreleased from 2014, is Gregory Choyce Purnell "Runnin' To You". It's a vocal version of an instrumental track "Riff To The Smooth" recorded by 3D on their 2004 CD only album "Soulride" which also features Roy Ayers on a cover of Leon Ware's "Rockin' You
Eternally".
There's not much information on either artist. Gregory Choyce Purnell is from Austin, TX, and has featured on a couple of soulful house compilations but apart from that I can't find much else he's released.
3D released just the one album "Soulride" in 2004 and it appears that three singles were released from it but two look like they may have been CRr promos only ("2Nite" and "Riff To The Smooth") and the other "Set U Free" a 12".
A five track EP from Fountain Delano (Frederick)
(from Raleigh, NC) "Phazes of Love, Pt. 1" was reissued last Sunday (1 Aug 2021). along with "Phazes of Love, Pt. 2". They were both originally issued on Exclusive Recordings in 2014 and are still available from BandCamp.
A bio on Exclusive records website states that both his parents were singers, his father sang with Sam Cooke, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy and several other gospel groups, whilst his mother released several albums on Capitol. It doesn't say what her stage name was as I can't find anything using Frederick as her surname.
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artist.
There are few more recordings from him not included on either EP on Reverbnation.
Angel
Visons Of Your Love
Do U Wanna (Get Freaky)
I also found him featured on a track which he co-wrote, "It's Our Nite", on Steve E Ross EP "Herlovehistory" released on 13 May 2021.
Continuing the JmAY / Smokie Norful 'saga', I went searching to try and
find out who JmAY is and came across a slower/deeper remix, which I
think is from around 2014. It doesn't appear to have been released as I
can't find it on any of the normal outlets. However it is posted on
Reverbnation, which fortunately allows embedding so here it is.
I suspect that JmAY is actually a duo as there are two males on the cover
and I believe now that the AY is one Anthony Antonio Young who is from
Lathrop, CA (bay area).
So who is Jm? ... well the writing credits on Smokie Norful are Derek Allen (who also produced it), Smokie Norful and Jimi Morris .. so is it a coincidence that these as the same initials? Further investigation shows that there is a Jimi Morris who has released two singles in 2019 ('Jimi's Blues') and 2020 ('Leave Me Lonely') published by Rhythm Section Ent (based in L.A.) which seems to be owned by his nephew Big Mike who he has recorded with, so it could well be him?
Anthony Young's profile on Reverbnation reads:
"Anthony Antonio Young is an innovative song writer recording artist and
vocal producer & band leader, who is driven by an incredible passion
for self-expression through his art. his work is often noted for it's
unique style, elegance, and technique. Anthony has developed an exspansive
style that blends precise with old school and the new expression of music.
My band consist of some of the baddest musicians in the bay area."
"AY & THE M.O.S BAND Originates from the bay area. This diverse high
performance 5 piece group Fast paced, energetic - this group Captivates
its audiences with exquisite showmanship of the top R&B hits. if you
should happen to ask anyone in the audience to describe this group ,you
will hear sensational , polished appearance, personal and dynamic. The
very talented lead vocalist & band leader Anthony 'Antonio' Young
mesmerizes his cheering fans as he utilizes the microphone as a magical
wand and working the crowd into an exhilarating frenzy."
There's some of his other music on YouTube (but not this track)
It is not very often these days that I hear a tune that stops me in my
tracks. Well this is such a tune.
Released in 2014 on an album called
'Forever Yours' on Motown by Smokie Norful who's essentially a gospel singer but
characterises his work as 'urban inspirational'.
It was his first album
since 2009 and he has subsequently released three more since. It
ticks all the boxes for me, soulful, melodic, modern, rhythmic and his
tenor voice is like pure silk.
I only just came across it recently on a
compilation last year from Outta Sight 'The Only Way Is Up' as it features
as the first track on the album. To be perfectly honest it seems a bit out
of place on the album as most (if not all) of the other tracks are from
the 70s. There are some superb tunes on it though.
UPDATE
'bluesky' has informed me that this is due for release on 7" vinyl any day now by 'It' Soul Time'. He also put me on to the 'original' from which Norful's track was sampled by JmAY in 2011 which I have now posted, and also that the flip side to the 45 will be Lexi Feat. Gene Moore 'I Choose You' which I have also posted.
It was International Women's Day last Monday which I celebrated with posts
from some of the biggest female black music artists of the 20th
century. What I missed though was that Chaka Khan recorded a new
version of her debut solo single 'I'm Every Woman' with
Idina Menzel to commemorate the day.
I also found a 2021 rework by French DJ Kmell and a new release of a cover
of it by Tinashe, so thought I'd bundle them all into a single post along
with a few other noteworthy versions.
Chaka Khan & Idina Menzel [2021] - I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan [2021] - I'm Every Woman (Kmell Rework 2021)
Tinashe Feat. TOKiMONSTA [2021] - I'm Every Woman (From 'Black History
Always / Music For the Movement Vol. 2') [Hollywood]
Released 26 Feb 2021. More style over substance methinks!
Deborah Cox [2017] - I'm Every Woman [Broadway]
Aretha Franklin [2014] - I'm Every Woman / Respect [RCA #88875 03488 1]
'Probably' the ultimate 'womans's anthem' must be this medley of 'I'm Every Woman & Respect' by Aretha Franklin from her 2014 album 'Sings Great Diva Classics'.
Whitney Houston [1993] - I'm Every Woman [Arista #07822-12519-7]
It's pretty quiet on the new release front this week, but I came across a
new release from Michael Lington which is a cover of Gerry Rafferty's
'Baker Street' featuring Javier Colon, but I can't get past the
original. But here's a link to it if you want to check it out.
He also released a 'quarantine' version of this featured track which was originally released in 2014 on 'Soul Appeal' album with Chante Moore's ex
Kenny Lattimore.
This track was recorded in 1972 for the album 'You're The Man' which was a
studio album, originally intended to be released in 1972 as the follow-up to
'What's Going On' as another socially conscious album. However, following the release of the
title track as a single, Gaye cancelled its release, partly due to the song's reception, but also owing to the fact that Gaye's
political views were different to those of Berry Gordy.
The album
'You're The Man' was posthumously released on March 29, 2019, on vinyl and digital, and April 26, on CD, through
Motown/Universal to celebrate what would have been Gaye's 80th birthday on
April 2, 2019. The album includes the single of the same name, as well as the intended
original full album plus some other songs Gaye recorded at the time.
15 of the 17 songs had not previously been released on vinyl, but most
have been available on CD compilations over the years.
Where Are We Going? has been included on the following compilations:
2001 - The Very Best Of Marvin Gaye
2001 - Let's Get It On Deluxe Edition (alternate mix)
2004 - Icons
2005 - Gold
2006 - Soul Legends
2006 - The Marvin Gaye Story
2008 - Soulklassiker
???? - The Marvin Gaye Essentials (Bootleg)
2010 - Let's Get It On (Rarities Edition)
'Where Are We Going?' /' Woman Of The World' was released on a 4 track 12" on 27 May 2014 with Donald Byrd's
versions of the two songs on the flip side (on a Blue Note label). It was originally only available from Blue Note Authorized Dealers designated as part
of Blue Note's 75th anniversary celebrations.
There are currently only 2 for sale on Discogs for £72-£82.
Alternative Version 2001
An 'alternate' version was released on the 2001 reissue of 'Let's Get It
On' Deluxe Edition on 'Working The Groove' disc.
The title track from
Johnny Gill's 2014 album 'Game Changer'. It was released as a single but for some bizarre reason failed to chart anywhere. I believe J Skillz was his own label so perhaps there were insufficient funds to promote it?
A live recording on 4 songs at BBC Maida Vale Studios, London in Oct 2014 and released on 12" 180g vinyl EP.
Two new songs Soul Symphony and Everything I Need (which was released on his debut album) and two covers Bilal's - When Will You Call and Anthony Hamilton's - The Point Of It All.
After listening to Leela James' latest album 'Did It For Love' released in 2017 it prompted me to visit her recording history. She has to date since 2005, released 6 albums, the biggest seller was 'My Soul' reaching #37 in US charts. All her others were outside the top 50 with one not even charting (Loving You More... In The Spirit Of Etta James) All made top 50 R&B with My Soul reaching #7. The 6 albums have spawned 20 single releases which have all failed to make a dent on even the US RB charts, except 'Tell Me You Love Me' which reached the heady heights of #72! However, 9 have entered the US Adult R&B charts, with 'Don't Want You Back' from her latest album reaching #1.
This surprised me as I thought that she was a 'more established' artist. Her latest album, I feel, is her best to date.
I have posted all her material chronologically embedding links to all her single releases from each album and added any other tracks that are 'worthy'. I've provided YouTube links to the remaining tracks at the bottom of each album.
2005 - A Change Is Gonna Come [Warner Bros. 48027-2]
Debut album from 2005 with 19 tracks, 5 of which were released as singles.
2005 - Music
Her first single taken from her first album
2005 - Don't Speak
The second single from her debut album.
2005 - Good Time
The third single from her debut album - a driving neo/modern soul dancer.
2005 - My Joy
The fourth single from her debut album - a deep and bluesy number.
2005 - When You Love Somebody
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.85
The fifth and final single from her debut album - another deep soul cut - to me she sounds like Joss Stone on this track.
2005 - Mistreating You
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.7
Album only - deep soul
2005 - It's Alright
Album track only - deep soul stepper
2005 - A Change Is Gonna Come
'Surprisingly' an album track only - cover of Sam Cooke's classic.
Her second album released 4 years after her debut on Shanachie, which is an album of 11 cover versions. Only 2 tracks were released as singles.
2008 - It's A Man's Man's World
The first single from Let's Do It Again was a cover of James Brown's 1966 classic. She again sounds very like Joss Stone to me on this track.
2008 - Baby I'm Scared Of You
Second single from Let's Do It Again was a cover of Womack & Womack.
2009 - You Know How To Love Me
Album track only - A reasonable cover of Phyllis Hyman's 1979 classic, but hard act to follow to beat the original. Sounds a bit fast and sparse i.e. lacking the lush Philly orchestral backing that Hyman's original had. For a better cover version try Regina Belle's from her latest album The Day Life Begins from 2016 on Shanachie (which prompts me to put some of her material up in future) or even Lisa Stansfield's from the eponymous album from 1997
2009 - Clean Up Woman
Album track only - A competent and faithful reproduction of Betty Wright's classic. Album track only.
2009 - Miss You
Album track only - A cover of the Rolling Stones. Album track only.
2012 - Loving You More... In The Spirit Of Etta James [Shanachie SH 5802]
Her fourth album and back to Shanachie for this one containing several covers of Etta James songs. Of the 11 tracks only 2 were released as singles.
2012 - Something's Got A Hold On Me Cover of Etta James 1962 45 on Argo was 1st single from album.
2012 - I'm Loving You More Everyday
I think this is a song from the Etta James vault that was unreleased until put on a Chess/Charly compilation Tell Mama in the 80s. If anyone knows more please leave a comment. It was the 2nd track release as a single from album.
2012 - Damn Your Eyes
Album track only. Another Etta James cover from her Seven Year Itch album from 1988.
2012 - I'd Rather Go Blind
Deep soul album track only cover of Etta James classic.
2012 - At Last
Deep soul album track only cover of Etta James classic.
The fifth album on yet another label, J&T, which I think 'may' be her own label as only this album and her last are on the label. The album contains 10 tracks of which 3 were released as singles.
2013 - Say That Feat. Anthony Hamilton
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.7
Neo/modern soul dancer with a hint of Philly. 1st single from album)
2014 - Fall For You MORish ballad. (2nd single from album)
2015 - Set Me Free Neo soul stepper (3rd single from album)
Her latest album which I highly recommend. Five tracks 9of 11) already released as singles and several (better tracks in my view) which should have been, that I've embedded and the remaining tracks are linked to.
2016 - Don't Want You Back
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75
Neo soul ballad/stepper (1st single from album)
2017 - Hard For Me
Neo deep soul ballad. (2nd single from alum)
2017 - All Over Again
MORish Ballad(3rd single from album)
2017 - I Remember
Deep neo soul ballad/stepper (4th single from album)
2017 - Don't Mean A Thang
Neo soul stepper (5th single from album)
2017 - Good To Love You Feat. Dave Hollister
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.8
Neo soul dancer - album track only
2017 - There 4 U
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75
Neo/modern soul dancer - album track only.
Great driving, dance track not released as a single. This is perfect for UK dance floors.
Ray Charles & Leela James [2005] - Compared To What [Rhino /ATlantic]
A bonus track for the Northern Soulers - here's Ray Charles & Leela James - Compared To What a monster on the scene by Mr. Flood's Party. This is a slower more jazzy/bluesy version. It's from Ray Charles Genius & Friends album from 2005 on Rhino/Atlantic.
Robert Randolph Feat. Leela James [2006] - Stronger [Warner Bros. 44393-2]
I've included this track for 'completeness'. I find it rather nondescript.
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