Ed Robinson [2024] - Hey Blackman [ Cherry Red Records]

A song written and recorded by Ed Robinson, "Hey Blackman", is digitally reissued today. It was released in 1970 in two parts, originally on GM and later nationally distributed on Cotillion. It was also released the following year in the UK as Eddie Robinson on Ember. The song defies categorisation as Pt.1 one is a deep soul balled with a message whilst Pt. 2 is more upbeat funky soul.

Cherry Red Records, who have reissued it, have used a facsimile of the original Ember picture sleeve for the release. They also released Pt.1 on a 72 track compilation "Soul On Fire (The Detroit Story 1957-1977)" in 2017.

Other notable releases on the, relatively short-lived, GM label include The Jones Girls debut single "My Own Special Way" (Robinson wrote both sides), Mr Floods Party's Northern Soul monster version of Gene McDaniels' "Compared To What" and Dee Edwards first release of "Why Can't There Be Love" (it later came out on associated label Bump Shop).

Robinson's next single was a absolute killer version of the Jimmy Diggs song "Temptation's 'Bout To Get Me" (Atco 1971) first recorded by The Knight Brothers (Checker 1965) who Diggs was a member of. We did a version excursion of the song in 2020 and at that time listed (and linked to) 18 versions.  

He released only one further secular single, an Ashford & Simpson song "I Just Wanna Be There" (Atco 1971), before he turned to gospel and released a couple of singles and an album,  "Reflections Of The Man Inside", on gospel label Myrrh as Eddie Robinson in 1974 followed by another album "You In My Life" in 1979.

Edward Clay Robinson was from Detroit and played the role of Hud in a Detroit stage production of the musical 'Hair'. He was also a songwriter with songs recorded by The Jones Girls, Leah Roberts, Marlena Shaw, Melba Moore, Jeannie Reynolds, The Dramatics and many others including one of our deep soul favourites "I'll Hold The Key" by Nelson Sanders as well as some rare soul favs Metros "What's Wrong With Our Love" and Mildred Clark "Keep Trying".

Destiny's Child's 2004 hit "Girl" sampled a song, "Oceans Of Thoughts And Dreams", he co-wrote with Don Davis for The Dramatics in 1977.

Robinson continued to record into the new century with "Elephant Song(Ant & Elephant)" (2007 as Eddie GM) and "Back On Track" (2010 as Eddie Robinson GM) along with several singles, but died in Apr 2014, we would guess in his 60s/early 70s.

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul / 70s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Cherry Red Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	24/05/2024
Key/BPM:	2A/73 / 3A/77
Price:	£1.29

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Life Force [2024] - Slow Dancer / Funky Mama [Numero Group #NUM4653]

A digital reissue today by Numero Group of two tracks from Life Force's self-titled album from 1977. It appears to be their only release and was on New York label Strawberry run by Randy Irwin who produced the album, which was reissued on vinyl in France & Benelux in 2013 by Favorite Recordings.

The vocalist is Mark Worthy who also wrote "Slow Dancer". Other group members were Ben Wolffolk (Bass), Livie Graves (keys), Eddie Hilton (drums), Danny Wolffolk (trumpet) and Don 'Count' Williams (sax) who wrote the jazz/funker "Funky Mama".

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

 

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4653
Date:	13/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/88 / 8B/124
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2024] - Holland-Dozier-Holland 'Detroit': 1969 - 1977 [Demon Music Group] (Full Album)

We hope you're sitting comfortably, as this new compilation of 68 tracks has a running time of 3 hrs and 30 mins. As it states in the title, it covers the music of "Holland-Dozier-Holland 'Detroit': 1969 - 1977", Most will need no introduction kicking off with Freda Payne's UK #1 pop hit "Band Of Gold" (which stayed at #1 for six consecutive weeks from Sep-Oct 1970 and was 'probably' instrumental in our own baptism to soul music at an influential age but is now regarded as an overplayed wedding song!) and closing with Chairmen Of The Board's "Skin I'm In".

Although we haven't checked rigorously, it will undoubtedly include all the hits released on their Invictus, Hot Wax and Music Merchant labels over an eight year period after they split from Motown. 

The compilation is also available on vinyl (but with only 55 tracks) and CD with comprehensive sleeve notes from Stuart Cosgrove, the author of a trilogy of soul history books "Detroit 67: the Year That Changed Soul" (2015), "Memphis 68: The Tragedy of Southern Soul" (2018) and "Harlem 69: the Future of Soul" (2019).

Some songs worth highlighting include a few modern soul favourites: the sublime Satisfaction Unlimited "Let's Change The Subject", Silent Majority "Something New About You", H-D-H "Why Can't We Be Lovers" and "New Breed Kinda Woman", New York Port Authority "I Got It", Tyrone Edwards "Can't Get Enough of You". A couple of popular Northern Soul tunes, Eloise Laws "Love Factory" and Just Brothers "Sliced Tomatoes" as well as Freda Payne "Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right" and "We've Got to Find a Way Back to Love" along with Brian Holland "I'm So Glad" and so many others.

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	60s/70s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Demon Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2024
Price:	£31.96

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Kat Fontaine [2024] - No One Can Love You More Than I Do [Society Hill Records]

Butch Ingram's Society Hill Records continue with the cover versions. The latest offering is a cover of the superb Phyllis Hyman, Skip Scarborough penned, song "No One Can Love You More" sung by Philly's Kat Fontaine with a slightly amended title.

The song was on Ms Hyman's eponymous debut album on Buddah in 1977 which we have posted previously highlighting this specific song.

No one could sing it better than Ms Hyman but Kat Fontaine gives it her all.

Kat Fontaine released an album "This Time" in Feb '22, which was all cover songs. One of the tracks (a cover of Dee Dee Sharpe's 1980 PIR single "I Love You Anyway") did quite well on UK Soul Chart. Kat was a regular go-to backing vocalist in the Philly International heyday working on may recordings for the label's roster.

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

Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Society Hill Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2024
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2024] - Atlanta Hotbed of 70s Soul [Kent #CDKEND 518] (Full Album)

A CD only compilation,  "Atlanta Hotbed of 70s Soul", was released at the end of March. It consists of many previously unreleased 70s Atlanta recordings from Michael Thevis' short-lived group of labels, GRC, Aware and Hotlanta. 

Much of the material was left unreleased when the labels folded after Thevis was arrested and imprisoned for eight years in 1974 for transportation of pornographic material and conspiracy to commit arson. He was later also charged for murder via information received from a prison informant who was released on parole. Thevis escaped from prison in 1978 and the informer was found shot dead for which Thevis was captured, charged and imprisoned for life for two murders, the informant's and the original murder committed in1970. He died in prison in 2013 aged 82. You can read about his sordid story HERE.

Thankfully the tapes have been preserved with many tracks already having been issued. This latest batch of tape discoveries contains many songs written by Sam Dees.

With 24 tracks we don't propose to discuss each in detail (as you can listen to sound samples below) but a few are worth highlighting.

The pièce de résistance is the opening track and the original recording of "Con Me" by Miss Louistine (Burnett) (who was married to Tee Fletcher) which was later recorded by The Paragons on Buddah in 1975 (we own the record but sadly only a single sided promo with the modern soul dancer "Oh Lovin' You" on both sides, needless to say the issue with "Con Me" is valued considerably more). Dees also recorded the song (presumably originally as a demo) on the Kent CD "The Heritage Of A Black Man" (1998). Another Miss Louistine recorded Sam Dees song is also included, "Extra Extra", which was released as the 100 Club anniversary single  last year.

Along with the two above, our highlighted tracks include: Alpaca Phase III "Paper Man" (released on a Deep Soul  45) & "Someone To Run To" (released on 45 by Sean Hampsey's Diggin Deep label in 2020), The Steppers "Keep On Walking", Joe Hinton "Depend On Me", Lorraine Johnson "Can I Hold You To It?" and a new version to us of a song recorded by Nancy Wilson on Capitol in 1974 "There'll Always Be Forever" by Lomita Johnson. Johnson was a founding member of Side Effect but was replaced by Helen Lowe (aka Helen Baylor). It is thought that perhaps she recorded the song as a demo for Nancy Wilson or possibly that it was withdrawn when Wilson decided to recorded it.

The CD is available (complete with a comprehensive 20 page booklet) direct from Ace Records or from record dealers. Vinyl copies also available from Ace Records.

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

01 - Miss Louistine - Con Me

02 - Alpaca Phase III - Paper Man

03 - Deep Velvet - Is There Someone Else

04 - Kenneth Wright - The Souls Of Black Folks

05 - Joe Hinton - Grant Me One More Day

06 - The Steppers - Keep On Walking

07 - Dorothy Norwood - Time Is Winding Up

08 - Jean Battle - Love Making

09 - Miss Louistine - Extra-Extra

10 - Deep Velvet - I'm Tired Of Dreaming

11 - Joe Hinton - Depend On Me

12 - Kenneth Wright - Me And Jen

13 - Joe Graham - What Am I To Do

14 - Shirlean Fant - Sure Could Do With Some You

15 - Alpaca Phase III - Someone To Run To

16 - Lorraine Johnson - Can I Hold You To It?

17 - Lorraine Johnson - When Will I Stop Loving You

18 - Dee Ervin - I Need Me Some More Of You

19 - Joe Hinton - Shouldn't I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong

20 - King Hannibal - Fight Fire With Fire

21 - The Surprise Sisters - Talk's Cheap

22 - Joe Graham - Loneliness Hurts Just A Little Bit

23 - Lomita Johnson - There'll Always Be Forever

24 - Dee Clark - My Peaceful Forest

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	CD
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CDKEND 518
Date:	29/03/2024
Price:	£11.70

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Willie Hutch [2024] - Concert In Blues [Motown] (Full Album)

The second of the two Willie Hutch album digital reissues from 1976 is "Concert In Blues".  This album spawned just one single, the opening track "Party Down" which included the highly regarded "Just Another Day" on the flip which appeared on his previous album "Ode To The Lady".

The highlights for us from the album are two self-written songs "Baby, Come Home"  and "Come On Let's Do The Thing", and his version of a couple of standards, "Stormy Weather" and "I Wish You Love".

A couple of other covers didn't quite cut the mustard for us i.e. "Shake, Rattle And Roll". Yes 'that one' originally recorded by Big Joe Turner in 1954, but a completely different take on the song, and T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday".

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital Reissue
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/03/2024
Price:	£9.90

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Willie Hutch [2024] - Color Her Sunshine [Motown] (Full Album)

We have noticed two 1976 Willie Hutch albums appearing on Amazon today, "Concert In Blues" (Mar '76) and  "Color Her Sunshine" (Sep '76).

It's been a while since we actually sat down and listened to them 'properly' and "Color Her Sunshine" in particular has blown us away one more time. Just so so soulful and if "She's Just Doing Her Thing" doesn't touch your soul, then there's no hope for you! If, for whatever reason, that one doesn't float your boat then how about "I Like Everything About You"?

Anyone who's a regular visitor will know how much we admire Willie Hutch (we did a  five part profile of his career) so we won't wax lyrical any further and just let you enjoy the album which, along with "Concert In Blues", appears to have been reissued digitally for the very first time. They were paired for a CD reissue in 2015 which now sell for high amounts and only one is currently listed for sale on Discogs with an asking price of just under £100!

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital Reissue
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/03/2024 09/1976
Price:	£8.91

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Winston Francis [2024] - Extra Careful [Cobra Records]

A digital reissue of a 1975 recording by Jamaican reggae singer Winston Francis which was originally released under an alias Billy Cole.

"Extra Careful" was released on Jamaican label Recreational And Educational but also gained a release in the UK on Power Exchange and got spins on the rare soul scene. Always had a bit of a soft spot for this nice little 'floater'.

Power Exchange was a short-lived label that ran for just over two years from Nov 1974 to Jan 1977. A few other interesting releases include Ann Byers "This Man Is Rated -X" and "Call The FBI (My Baby's Missing)" by Gene Faith as well as Eddie Spencer's version of The Precisions "If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)". The label owners recruited the services of H.B Barnum to draw in talent, and Barnum released the second single on the label "Having A Party". 

For Francis' follow up in 1976 he reverted to his real name in the UK (and used Young Billy Cole in the US on Audio Connection)  and released a reggae/soul version of Billy Stewart's "Sitting In The Park".

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / 70s Soul
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Cobra Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/02/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/104
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Crack of Dawn [2024] - Crack Of Dawn [Sony] (Full Album)

An album from 1976 that has been reissued is Crack Of Dawn's debut, self-titled album.

The group was formed in Kingston, Jamaica, relocating to Toronto in the 70s. They were a popular live act and attracted the attention of Columbia and became the first black Canadian act signed to the label in 1975, Their first album was released the following year.

It contains a few covers, Mel & Tim's "Keep The Faith", and a good version of "I Can't Move No Mountain" originally recorded by Blood, Sweat & Tears in '72 but also by several others including Margie Joseph, Shirley Brown and Revelation. The song was written by the album's producer Bob Gallo (aka Robert John Gallo) and Michael Gately who also co-wrote several songs popular on the Northern Soul scene such as Eddie Regan's "Playin' Hide And Seek", Robert John (different artist) "If You Don't Want My Love", "Can't Stop Loving You" and "Raindrops, Love And Sunshine".

Curiously, "Put You Money Where Your Mouth Is" is credited on this release to the group's lead singer Glenn Ricketts but was also released in 1976 by Rose Royce credited to Norman Whitfield. Whilst not identical, they sound very similar!

The remainder of the album is generally funk.

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

Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul Funk
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/02/2024
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Luther [2024] - Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me) [Primary Wave Music]

Released yesterday to announce the reissue of two albums by Luther is the second single "Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)" from the first album, "Luther" (1976).

The full album is being reissued for the first time (digitally on CD and vinyl) on 19 April with a bonus track, an instrumental version of "The 2nd Time Around". 

The second Luther album, "This Close To Me" (1977), will also be reissued on 7 Jun. and contains three bonus tracks "Can’t Get Enough Good Loving", "Come Back To Love (Instrumental)" and " Don’t Wanna Be A Fool (Instrumental)". It includes two massive modern soul gems "Follow My Love" and "Don't Wanna Be A Fool".

Physical copies are available to pre-order via LutherVandross.com. NOTE The bonus tracks are NOT available on the vinyl releases.

The albums are being reissued to coincide with a documentary "Luther: Never Too Much" directed by Dawn Porter which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 21 Jan '24.

Only three singles materialised from these two albums: "It's Good For The Soul (Pt I & II)", "The 2nd Time Around" / "Funky Music (Is Part Of Me)" and "This Close To You" / "Don't Wanna Be A Fool", with the latter being sought after by the rare soul scene and sells for up to £300.

Whilst the act uses his name, Luther was a five piece group consisting of Luther Vandross, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa Reed and Christine Wiltshire  (Class Action, Musique, Phreek). Vandross wrote all songs on both albums. The three singles all charted on the R&B charts (#28, #34 and #94 respectively) but the albums didn't sell particularly well and the group was released by Cotillion.

Vandross bought back the rights to these albums from the label when the group was released preventing the label from reissuing them and they have lay dormant for almost 50 years.

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
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single / Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Primary Wave Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/02/2024
Key/BPM:	9A/112
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Wee [2024] - Trying To Tell You How I Feel / We Could Get It Together [Soul Direction #SDR022]

The latest vinyl release from Soul Direction comprises two tracks from Columbus, OH, group Wee who were active between 1974-78.

The group's solitary, highly sought after, "You Can Fly On My Aeroplane" LP was released on Owl in 1977. Original vinyl copies now sell for up to £1,000 or more. They only released  three singles and only two tracks from the album featured on singles. All the groups original recordings were released on an in-house label for Owl Recording studios in Columbus operated by Tom Murphy, Sterling Smith and Robin Jenney. 

In 2008 Numero Group reissued the album digitally on CD  and vinyl, with the addition of some of the songs from singles not on the original album along with previously unreleased tracks. 

Soul Direction has licensed two tracks, "Trying To Tell You How I Feel" and "We Could Get It Together" (similar sounding to probably their best known song "Try Me" but slowed down). Numero Group remixed the tracks slightly for their release but Soul Direction has obtained the original mixes for release for the first time. We've also included the Numero versions from Spotify below to give you an idea.

Norman Whiteside was the mastermind behind the group, he wrote, sang and arranged all songs on the album. He had also written songs for a few artists, (e.g. The Four Mints and Kool Blues) at Columbus label Capsoul since 1972. However, his music career was cut short by a 14-50 year sentence in prison, eventually being released, on parole, in Sep 2016 after serving 31 years. He was convicted of conspiracy to murder following the shooting of an 18 year old student who was killed by a stray bullet in a gangland shooting in 1982. The evidence was controversial as he claims all he was guilty of was taking a phone call from one of the assailants and there was no evidence that he was ever at the scene nor of firing a weapon

Since the album's reissue many artists, including Kanye West, Talib Kwele and Frank Ocean, have sampled songs from it.

The single was released on Monday (5 Feb ) and should be available Soul Direction website. as well as the usual vinyl retailers.

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:	70s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Soul Direction
Cat No:	SD022
Date:	05/02/2024
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Four Tops [2024] - Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got (Live - Remastered 2024) [OVC Media]

We came across this release on YouTube but can't find it at present on Spotify. It's a live recording of "Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got", one of the Four Tops 70s gems after they left Motown and joined ABC Dunhill in 1972. We believe that it was only their second non Motown single following the title track of "Keeper Of The Castle" in 1972.

We can't find any information about the release but it gives a publishing date of 2015 so it may be a more recent live recording of the song which has been remastered and released today (3 Feb). It's certainly not Levi Stubbs on lead vocal as he was on the original live recording  on "Live & In Concert" from 1974 nor the one on "A Hand To Hold" (1982). We're guessing that it's Theo Peoples who replaced Stubbs in 1998 when he was ill and eventually died from cancer in 2008?

It may be streaming only as we can only find it on Deezer and YouTube.

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
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	OVC Media
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/02/2024
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£N/A

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Risk Assessment [2023] - SOMEONE LIKE YOU [Stereo:type]

Risk Assessment sampling Barry White's 1974 hit "Honey Please, Can't Ya See" which is titled "SOMEONE LIKE YOU" perhaps to disguise the obvious? But then the song is almost 50 years old and has a new audience.

It was White's fourth consecutive Top 10 R&B hit which was followed by three #1 hits in a row giving him four #1 hits out of his first 7 releases for 20th Century Records. He went on to have another three in the remainder of his career.

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

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Stereo:type
Cat No:	None
Date:	15/09/2023
Key/BPM:	1B/123
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Stevie Wonder [1976] - Songs in the Key of Life [Tamla] (Full Album) 47th Anniversary

It's approaching the 50th anniversary of another landmark Motown album, remember Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" half centenary was commemorated with an expanded reissue last month. Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" was released 47 years ago today on 28 Sep 1976.

Both Wonder and Gaye had disagreements with Berry Gordy over musical direction in the early 70s as both wanted to do their own thing and get away from the formulaic Motown sound. Gordy didn't like Gaye's "What's Going On" as he was concerned that the social and political statements may damage 'the brand'.  Both have been proven to be correct as that particular album has gone on to be one of the most seminal musical works in music, never mind just soul, history consistently topping Rolling Stone's 100 best albums of all time. It currently tops their 2020 poll with "Songs in the Key of Life" positioned at #4.

In 1975 Wonder was seriously considering quitting music and prepared a farewell tour, remember his previous album was titled "Fulfillingness' First Finale"! However, Motown persuaded him to sign a 7 year / 7 album deal with full artistic control. The alleged $37m offer (the largest recording contract at the time) no doubt helped to twist his arm to stay. "Songs in the Key of Life" was his first of these albums and was his 18th studio album. It's a double album consisting of 21 tracks (the last 4 tracks were originally on a separate 7" EP) and won 3 Grammys: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "I Wish".

The album produced five singles, two reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, i.e. "I Wish" and "Sir Duke" / "He's Misstra Know-It-All", the other three being "Isn't She Lovely",  "Another Star" and "As". 

Of course many other tracks are well known even though they were never released as singles. For example "Summer Soft" was covered recently by Karlos Edwards and "Pastime Paradise" has been sampled multiple times, perhaps most famously by Coolio in "Gangsta's Paradise" in 1995? "As" (which featured George Benson on guitar) we featured only yesterday by The Family Tree on the forthcoming  "With Love Volume 2" compilation and "Another Star" (which featured Herbie Hancock on keys) has been covered many times, perhaps one of the earliest by Joe Bataan's LaSo in 1977 and another notable cover by (Sister) Kathy Sledge in 1995 with others including Ike Noble (1980) and Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler (2003).

Everyone knows, but perhaps doesn't necessarily 'love', "Isn't She Lovely" which surprisingly wasn't a hit and wasn't released as a single in the US because Wonder refused to shorten the track from the album's 6:34 for 7" release. However, it was covered by David Parton and reached #4 on the UK pop chart in 1977 which is perhaps why we assume that it was a hit single? Wonder's version did eventually become a hit in the UK after he performed it at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul / Motown
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Tamla
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/09/1976
Price:	£5.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Heart-Soul & Inspiration [2023] - I'm Gonna Love You More Pt 1 & Pt 2 [Izipho Soul #ZP98]

The second release from Izipho Soul due out on Friday is a sensual re-imagining of Barry White's "I'm Gonna Love You More" by 70s L.A. trio Heart-Soul & Inspiration who comprised Jimmy Soul (bass), Ron Carr (guitar) and Vince Howard (drums).

The sensual moans are provided by Martha Sims which makes Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" (which was banned from UK radio) sound like a nursery rhyme!

The group released a solitary self-titled album on Viscojon Records in 1974 which consisted of predominantly Barry White covers (one of Bill Withers') and followed it in 1975 with a single comprising of tracks not on the album. However, they were included as additional tracks on a Numero Group digital reissue of the album in 2018 and as a bonus 7" on a limited edition (100 copies) vinyl reissue of the album by Tidal Waves Music (Light In The Attic) in Jun this year.

The album track is 10:56 long which Izipho Soul has split into 5:30 parts at 33⅓ RPM over two sides.

Strictly limited edition, one copy per customer, and available to pre-order now from Izipho Soul for release on Friday (22 Sep). 

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul / Cover Version / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP98
Date:	22/09/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/91
Price:	£13

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved