This track was released last year (2 Mar 2020) but has just had a 'Joey
Negro (Dave Lee) Live & Direct Extended Mix' released
on a compilation
'Soulful Deep & Dope 2021'
by Reel People Music on 9 Mar 2021.
It doesn't seem to be available to buy yet on Amazon but is available from Traxsource.
Here's both versions.
The Vision feat. Andreya Triana - Mountains (Joey Negro Live And Direct Extended Mix)
I listened to this on release on 12 Dec 2020 and was a bit undecided as to
whether it's neo soul or R&B. It's one of those 'typical' neo soul
cloned sounds with light, airy vocals and almost acoustic backings. It has
appeared in the UK Soul Chart Breakers this week.
It looks like it's only her second release. Her debut (?) was in March 2020
with 'Cycles' which is more of the same.
A touch of Erykah Badu about this track! From a new album 'Small Town City
Dreams' released 25 Dec 2020. Lauriana Mae has been releasing
music since 2011, yet I've not come across her before so, for anyone else unfamilar with her music, I've posted a few of her better releases
below.
Just My Imagination
After listening to the track above, it came as a surpise to discover she is
a white artist from the cover art on this release. She did a different take
on The Temptations classic in 2016.
NYPD Blues
Released as a single in 2015 from an EP 'City Of Diamonds'
Love
This song is from a 3 track debut EP 'Love Mae' released on Atlantic in
2011.
A nice new single from Ebonie Paris, an independent singer from Fort
Lauderdale, FL released 4 Dec 2020. From what I can gather this is her third
single release.
New entry into UK Soul chart this week (25 Jan 2021) is Dutch singer, Steffen Morrison's, second album 'Soul Revolution' released 9 Oct 2020. Best described as new 'old school' with a southern soul feel.
He released an EP 'Just Another Man' in Sep 2016 followed by a full album 'Moving On' in March 2018.
A new single from Masega (Micah Davis) and The Bonfyre who is Chesea Lynn LaRue signed to L.A.Reid's Hitco label who has also worked with Raphael Saadiq.
A decent cover of Marvin Gaye's 1971 classic from 'What's Going On' released on 4 Dec 2020.
A great 'new' track released 14 Dec 2020. Only a 2:46 sample is available (full song is 4:38), but you can download from link on image from Amazon. I'm unable for find any info on the label or artist but from the blurb in the video it may be a previously unreleased track as they state 'From our catalog of over forty years of music production'.
Apparently it was originally issued on a 2008 compilation album 'New Black Music Vault Treasures' which I found on New Black Music website
You just can't keep a good song down unless you're Mz Connie who 'murdered' it on her new album I posted a few days ago.
Published on YT 3 Dec 2020 but I don't believe it has actually been released yet, here's a good male version by Stacey Merino. Stacey Merino Dawson is an established soul singer performing in his home town of Memphis, TN and appeared in X Factor USA series 3 in 2013 although he didn't reach the finals. There are quite a few videos on YT of his live performaces, some go back as far as 1987 so he's been on the circuit for some time and it's about time he got a break! I found an album he released in 2013 called 'My Tribute' which has some decent covers (such as Fire & Desire and Love Won't Let Me Wait), and another self-titled album he released in 2000.
Krystal Kleer 2019 (unreleased)
I'm not sure whether I've already posted this which I found quite a while ago. I love this 'amateur' version. This just oozes soulfulness. She feels every word. I left a message over a year ago saying that she should record and release it. I for one would definately buy it.
Jennifer Hudson 2004
JHud's version taken from American Idol season 3 CD which she didn't actually sing in the contest. She was eliminated in week 11 of the finals (coming 7th).
Gladys Knight 2015
Just to be fair to the previous versions I've saved the definitive version by the lady who 'owns' this song until last. A live performance on Skyville Live in Jan 2015, looking and sounding terrific.
From an EP of the same name released 4 Dec 2020. This track reminds me of
something that I can't quite put my finger on, there's elements of 'Heard It
Through The Grapevine' but also something else, perhaps Undisputed Truth 'You
+ Me = Love'? I've seen some class this is neo/modern Northern Soul.
Maurice Mahon won the first 'Chicago Idol' in 2003 sponsored by Clear Channel and Fox News. His prize was to have a song written and produced by R. Kelly. That song was 'Closer' and was released in 2004 which led to work with R.Kelly on The Happy People album and performing background vocals on tour with him.
He has also worked with Christopher Williams, Angie Stone, Alicia Keys, Jagged Edge, Teena Marie, David Hollister, Vanessa Williams.
Find Me
This is his latest release on 30 Dec 2020. (a bit too R&B for my taste).
Black Angel with D-Erania
Released 10 Mar 2017
Free
A stepper in the R. Kelly mould Released 23 July 2017
A new 6 track EP from K- Maxx (Kenyan Hopkins) released 29 Dec 2020, three years after taking a hiatus and coincidentally (?) the day of his unexpected death! Tribute here.
I'm not familiar with any of his earlier material, but going by this release it's got an 80s feel to it. I've posted what I consider to be the two best tracks 'I Found You' & 'Swing My Way' but you can listen to the Full EP here.
This is the second album I've come across recently emanating from South Africa, the other being Clauds excellent album 'Identities' posted a few days ago and yet another release towards the end of last year on 23 Oct 2020.
I think this one could be almost as good as Clauds after a first listen. The 'killer' track is 'Keep Holding On', but there are few other goodies on the album, 'Disbelief' and 'Beyond The Star' jump out. It's real mixed bag of styles, soul, jazz, African.
Following up her 'Chicagology' album from last year which spawned one of
the best tracks of the year ('You're So Good To Me') is 4 track EP from
Tammy Harris - 'Love Don't Mean A Thing' released 25 Dec 2020.
It includes an acoustic version of John Lennon's
'Imagine'.
Another good release from 30 Oct 2020. I guess these have got a bit lost over the festive period so it's time to give them a boost.
This appears to be her second single. Her debut was 'Love Is...' and was released 13 Aug 2020.
She resides in Kansas City, Missouri. She was interviewed on KUAW (Knowledge Understanding And Wisdom) radio in 2019. In it she says she was influenced by Alicia Keys as well as Jazmine Sullivan and Lalah Hathaway. If you have time to listen she comes across as taking her art seriously.
Yet another release from the tail end of 2020 (22 Oct) that needs another push. It's just so soulful.
Tony Grant was a member of Az Yet replacing Marc Nelson in 1997. He's also a successful actor. He released an album 'Grant Life' in 2007 and according to Wiki around 8 singles, 5 of them taken from the album. The best tracks from the album are 'Slippin'' which doesn't appear to have been released as a single, 'I Want', 'What's Up With This'.
Angel
Another deep soul ballad released 20 Jan 2017.
Beggin' You (To Come Home)
He featured on 4 tracks on Bobby Wilkerson's album 'The 'B' Project' in 2006. The best is a great deep soul ballad.
A House Is Not A Home 'Live'
I literally stumbled across this clip of him singing A House Is Not A Home live in a stage play of 'Creeps And Silly Women'. The sound quality's not great as it was recorded on a phone but he sure has some great pipes!
Another quality recent release from 30 Oct 2020 from Shantal Reed.
According to her facebook page she's from Bossier City, Louisiana but now lives in Phoenix, Arizona. This appears to her first single and from her sound it wouldn't surpise me if she has a gospel background as her voice is strong. Very nice, I like this one!
Another 'quality' recent release which came out 1 Nov 2020 from Yulanda Reynolds.
Moma, I Can't Breathe
Released 14 Aug 2020
More of the same from an earlier release.
Hello Sista
Released 1 Nov 2019 and 'probably' her debut single from an album released later on 16 Feb 2020 'God Gets The Glory' which is, as you would guess, a gospel album. There is a video of Mounatin taken from the album which was posted in2015 so perhaps that was her first.
One of the better recent new releases comes from Shelby Winfrey 'Feelin' Ya' released 20 Nov 2020. I can't find anything else from her so have to assume it's her debut?
