Blu2th [2024] - Back to Euphoria [UltraSound Entertainment]

Blu2th wrote "Back to Euphoria" with Clay Drayton many years ago for Earth Wind & Fire who declined the song so he decided to release it himself. If you recall, he released it on 25 Feb 2022 and almost exactly two years later he's released it again. 

Blu2th is singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Erik Griggs who has performed with, and written for, many artists including Aretha Franklin, Charlie Wilson, Joe, Anderson .Paak, Boys II Men, Jordin Sparks, K-Ci, Eminem and After 7. He won a Grammy nomination and BMI song of the Year for "No Air" recorded by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	UltraSound Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/02/2024
Key/BPM:	5A/85
Value:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Stephanie Mills Feat. Ray Chew [2023] - Faith and Love [JM Records]

"Faith and Love" is a new, gospel inspired, single by Stephanie Mills (featuring Ray Chew) taken from the soundtrack to a new movie "Pride" in which she stars in the lead role.

The movie is part of a Lifetime series "Seven Deadly Sins" with Lust, Envy, Wrath, and Greed already shown 

Pride is based on a true story of a famous bakery owner and reality TV star Birdie Moore who Mill portrays.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Gospel
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	JM Records]
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/04/2023
Key/BPM:	12A/112
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

3TOB [2022] - Trading Places [Ambitious Records] (Album Samples)

3TOB was formed in 2019 by original band members of Tone, Toni Tone I believe the name is an acronym of 3T (meaning Tone, Toni Tone) and OB is original band.

To date they have released four singles, three are included on their new album "Trading Places" and the other is a 2020 Christmas single which is a cover of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas". Their last single was a cover of Frankie Beverly & Maze's "Golden Time of Day" which featured Dave Hollister and was posted back in March 2021.

The album is currently only available direct from 3TOB website which has 30 second samples for each track. The three singles are posted from Spotify below.

I believe that it was initially released around Christmas 2022 as there was a release party for it on 26 Dec '22.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Ambitious Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/12/2022
Price:	$10.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Valentino Maltos [2023] - Prototype / Just Look Up [Izipho Soul #ZP89]

The second release from Izipho Soul, scheduled for a release on 6 Apr '23, consists of two tracks from the genre-fusing debut album "Anolog Future" by three time Grammy winning Texas-based saxophonist/producer Valentino Maltos.

Pat 'the Ear' Biggerstaff has selected for the A side an interpretation of OutKast's "Prototype" featuring the breathy vocals of Louisiana born, San Antonio-based, Kiikii Star (Kristi Gaddy). We note that as well as Outkast's Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton on writing credits that Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble's name are also included? 

The song was also recorded by Raheem DeVaughn twice (at least) on, what appears to be, a Bandcamp only release "The Street Experience Volume 4" (2009) and then again in 2020 on Jeff Bradshaw's "Stronger" album feat. Raheem Devaughn & Robert Glasper in a much mellower form. Pat also tells us that several hip-hop artists have also covered the song. 

It is flipped with an original song "Just Look Up" with the superb gospel tinged vocals provided by MarQuell. MarQuell is a new name to us and a bit of digging revealed that he released an album "Up Close & Personal" in 2011 along with three singles, the latest "Isolated" in 2020 on which writer's credits are given to Mark Ledesma, his real name who is now based in San Antonio, TX.

Two fine selections that probably passed most of us by, so great that they are now being highlighted. Check out the full album which also has a cover of Stevie's "Don't Worry 'bout A Thing".

Pat has asked that Phil Ward be thanked for recommending this release to him.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP89
Date:	06/04/2023
Key/BPM:	9A/97 / 11A/89
Price:	£13

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Jack Moves [2022] - Cruiserweight [Everloving, Inc.] (Full Album) AVAILABLE AGAIN ON VINYL

One of our picks for the best albums of 2022 (and a SoulStrutter Selection of the Week) by The Jack Moves is now available again on vinyl with the first press selling out pretty quickly. Simply Soul have it in stock now.

Newark, NJ, duo Zee Desmondes (vocalist, guitarist) and Teddy Powell (vocalist, instrumentalist, producer) debuted in 2002 with a vinyl only single "Kiss In The Dark" / "A Fool For You" (a cover of Chicago group The Ledgends which has featured on the blog in 2020). 

Their acclaimed debut, self-titled, album arrived on Wax Poetics in 2015 followed by "Free Money" in 2018. Their third album "Cruiserweight" was released digitally in Oct '23 following their last two highly regarded singles "Somebody's Watching You" (18 Mar 2022) and "Seabra" (29 Jul 2022).

In addition to the two tracks released as singles there are some gems, in particular a trio of nice sweet soul sides "When You're In Love", "So Long" and "Don't Pretend". On the uptempo tip is the previously vaunted "Lionel Ritchie", "Six Ways" and the album closes with the moody "This Time" another sweet soul sound that nods to the 70s.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Everloving, Inc.
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/10/2022
Price:	£7.99 / £14.99 / £26

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved