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

Eon [2024] We'll Go On / Children Of The Night [Octave #OTS353]

Record Store Day 2024 has come and gone in April but one that you may not have been aware of for Record Store Day Japan 2024 is a modern soul favourite from Eon. It consists of two album cuts only from their first of two self-titled albums in 1975 (Scepter), the second album is from 1978 (Ariola America).

Eon was a four piece group from New York who released just the two albums and three singles between 1975-78, two from first and one from the second album. Group members were Daniel Anderson, Jay Borrerro, Raymond Orta and Robert Remming. Although all members were African-Americans, the album is quite pop, folk and rock oriented.

The two tracks paired from the first album are "We'll Go On" and "Children Of The Night". They are both 7" edits from the album, 4:31 v 7:12 and 4:49 v  5:45 respectively. The YouTube clips below are the full album cuts.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Octave
Cat No:	None
Date:	20/04/2024 / 1975
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£17.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2024] - Thom Bell, Didn't I Blow Your Mind? (The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969 - 1983) [CDTOP 522] (Full Album)

The word 'legend' is bandied around far too often, but Thom Bell's contribution to soul music in the late 60s and 70s and even into the 80s is undeniable. As a member of the Philadelphia 'holy trinity', Mighty Three Music with Gamble & Huff, he helped change the landscape of soul music.

Bell, along with his long-time writing partner Linda Creed, penned as well as arranged and produced so many songs now regarded as soul classics. We won't wax lyrical any further as we did a tribute to him when he passed in Dec 2022 aged 79 along with a 40 track playlist of his compositions, arrangements, productions.

Ace Records are releasing the sequel to their first acclaimed compilation of Bell’s productions and arrangements, "Ready Or Not - Thom Bell's Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978", with "Thom Bell, Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969 - 1983". It's due for release on 31 May and available to pre-order now from Ace Records on CD only.

As is the case with many Kent releases, it comes with a 16 page glossy booklet with loads of colour photos, details about the tracks and sleeve notes from Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) with quotes from an interview with Bell in 2020.

Many of the 20 songs will need no introduction but there may be several lesser know ones that may surprise you.

A few of our highlights include: Eloise Laws "Got You Into My Life", Nancy Wilson "Joe",  Phyllis Hyman "Let Somebody Love Me" and Dee Dee Bridgewater "One In a Million (Guy)".

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

01 - The Delfonics - Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

02 - The Chargers - You Gotta Be A Lady

03 - Spinners - The Rubberband Man

04 - Eloise Laws - Got You Into My Life

05 - The Stylistics - You Are Everything

06 - Ronnie Dyson - Give In To Love

07 - Elton John - Nice And Slow

08 - New York City - Take My Hand

09 - Deniece Williams - Silly

10 - Dionne Warwick & Spinners - Then Came You

11 - Lou Rawls - Will You Kiss Me One More Time

12 - Little Anthony & The Imperials - Lazy Susan

13 - The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly, Wow

14 - Nancy Wilson - Joe

15 - Johnny Mathis - Loving You, Losing You

16 - Jerry Butler - Walking Around In Teardrops

17 - Bell & James - Nobody Knows It

18 - Phyllis Hyman - Let Somebody Love Me

19 - Dee Dee Bridgewater - One In a Million (Guy)

20 - The O'Jays - Brandy

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul / 70s Soul / 80s Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	CD
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CDTOP 522
Date:	31/05/2024
Price:	£14.11

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Marvin Gaye [1971] - What's Going On [Tamla] 53rd Anniversary

Generally regarded as the, or at least one of the, finest soul albums ever recorded celebrates its 53rd birthday today. 

The end of the 60s and beginning of the 70s was a troubled time for the 'Trouble Man'. The loss of his partner Tammi Terrell to a brain tumour, the failure of his marriage to Anna Gordy, IRS issues, a growing addiction to cocaine and disputes with Motown. After Terrell's death he refused to perform live and when Motown released his "That's The Way Love Is" album he refused to promote it.

In 1969, whilst touring with the Four Tops, Renaldo 'Obie' Benson experienced police brutality and violence on anti-war protesters. Upon return to Detroit, after conversations about his experiences with Al Cleveland, they wrote "What's Going On". Benson offered the song to the Four Tops who refused it as they regarded it a protest song. He then offered it to Gaye who suggested that the song would be perfect for The Originals but Benson persuaded him that it was a song for him. He accepted the song on the condition that he could change it and added a new melody and lyrics.

Gaye approached Gordy in Sep 1970 with the song who is alleged to have said that it the worst song he had ever heard in his life. In disgust, Gaye went on strike until Gordy changed his mind and in the intervening time recorded his own music, much of it featuring on "Let's Get It On". Motown's Quality Control Team also turned the song down.

Without Gordy's knowledge or approval, Motown executive Harry Balk, with the assistance of Barney Ales, released copies to record stores in Jan 1971. It became Motown's fastest selling single of all time selling 200k copies in the first week alone topping Billboard's R&B chart and reaching #2 on the Hot 100.

The success stunned Gordy who then asked Gaye to record an album and told him that he could do his own thing as long as the album was completed in 30 days. The songs on the album were influenced by the single, along with letters he received from his brother serving in Vietnam regarding the treatment of veterans and his experience of social injustices. It took Gaye only ten days to record at Studio A (Hitsville) and Studio B (Golden World). Gordy was concerned that there were no more hits on the completed album and as a compromise Gaye had it remixed. The Quality Control team were also concerned that each song was segued into the next but Gordy allowed it.

The album was one of the first soul concept albums and its free-flowing, nine segued tracks gave it a cohesive feel. The lead track is the title track that segues into "What's Happening Brother", dedicated to his brother Frankie explaining the disillusionment of war veterans who returned to civilian life. "Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)", takes from a United Airlines tag, "fly the friendly skies", and deals with heroin dependence.  "Save the Children" speaks for itself as does the following track with a truncated version of "God Is Love". "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is an emotional plea for the environment and "Right On" focused on Gaye's own divided soul with "Wholy Holy" being a gospel plea advising people to come together. The final track, "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", focuses on urban poverty.

The album became Motown's biggest selling album also topping the R&B chart and peaking at #6 on Billboard's Top 100 Albums staying on the chart for 58 weeks.

Only two further singles were released from it, "Mercy Mercy Me ((The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)". Both topped the R&B Chart and were Top 10 Hot 100 hits making Gaye the first artist to achieve three #1 hits on any Billboard chart, as well as the first male solo artist to have three Hot 100 Top 10 singles, from the same album.

Needless to say, the album has been reissued numerous times many with additional bonus, instrumental and remixed tracks. Although it did very well commercially on release, it's critical acclaim has grown even further over time like a fine wine and no true soul aficionado  is, or shouldn't be, without it in their collection in one format or another. Be honest, when did you last listen to it in it's entirety?

Below are two music videos of the title track. The first is an extended mix and the second an 'official' one from 2019.

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

Details

Rating:	10
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Tamla
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/05/1971
Price:	£6.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Opells [2024] - You Know I Love You b/w Day And Time [Numero Group #NUM4455]

Another rarity reissued digitally this week by Numero Group. A one-off single by The Opells on Linco with "You Know I Love You" and "Day And Time".

The label, run by Walter Grady out of Greensboro, NC, released around a dozen singles between 1969-74. This one was released in 1971.

The group, from Greenboro, recorded this one-off single whilst attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Two members survive A Lovett and lead singer Tom Smith (both from New York), James Steadman Jr. and Raleigh Bryant (aka Lil Fats) are now deceased.

Both sides were written by group member James Steadman Jr. The A side is a lowrider sweet soul harmony song (known to the lowrider community for some years) with the flip being more uptempo and funky. 

Numero Group has the rights to the label and has released 20 plus from Grady's group of labels which includes Cobra, Witches Brew and others. So, if your looking for any from the labels, have a search as they may well have been reissued digitally.

This one seems virtually impossible to find on original vinyl as only one has ever sold on Discogs (£434) and none are available there for sale, and we can't find it listed at all on Popsike.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul  Soul-/Funk
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4455
Date:	16/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8A/71 / 3A/121
Price:	£1.79

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

Nobody's Child [2024] - All My Friends Call Me A Fool [Sound Of Soul]

Another digital reissue from August Moon's (Alexander Randolph) 70s Richmond, VA, based Sound Of Soul label.

It's a killer sweet soul ballad, "All My Friends Call Me A Fool", and the only release from Nobody's Child from 1971.

The song was also recorded by Larry Saunders on his 1976 "Stranger" album and also by Dickie Wonder as a single on Golden Triangle in 1975.

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

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sonud Of Soul
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2024
Key/BPM:	12B/75
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Alias Ducie / Lee Bates [2024] - Why Don't You Write (Production Demo) / Why Don't You Write [Charly]

A song recorded in 1971 by NOLA singer Lee Bates called "Why Don't You Write" on Instant is released with a demo version by Alias Ducie.

Both were released by Charly on 45 last year and are now available digitally.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Charly
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2024
Key/BPM:	5B/128 / 5B/135
Price:	£1

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

Candi Staton [1972] - Candi Staton [Kent #CDKENM 519] (Full Album)

Ace Records, on their Kent imprint, have reissued Candi Staton's 1972 self-titled album on CD and vinyl for the very first time. It was Staton's third album for Rick Hall's Fame label and the first that was distributed by United Artists aimed to give the label international recognition.

It contains her three hit singles, a cover of Elvis' "In The Ghetto" (who complemented Candi her on her rendition), "Do It In The Name Of Love" and "Lovin' You, Lovin' Me" along with the B sides to the second two "The Thanks I Get For Loving You" and the wonderful "You Don't Love Me No More" which should have been an A side.

Of the album only songs, "Blackmail" would be our choice cut.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Southern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	CD / Vinyl
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CDKENM
Date:	29/03/2024
Price:	£10.68 / £22.14

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Act 1 / Ivano Fossati [2024] - It's The Same Old Story / Night Of The Wolf (Tema Del Lupo) [Measured Mile #NW 517]

Every day's a school day. A massive instrumental played on Northern Soul dancefloors in the 70s (it may have been a Cleethorpes discovery as it was very popular there and always synonymous with the Pier/Winter Gardens all-nighters) was a song called "The Night Of The Wolf" which was billed/released in 1975 as a single on Roulette under the pseudonym The Al Foster Band. 

Saint Etienne group member and music journalist, Bob Stanley's Measured Mile label has just reissued it on 45 paired with Act 1's "It’s The Same Old Story" under it's original guise Ivano Fossati "Tema Del Lupo" which was the original single title on Italian label Cetra in 1974. It was initially an album track on a progressive rock album "Poco Prima Dell'Aurora" in 1973 which has been reissued several times over the years.

It's a bit of a Marmite tune but there is no denying that it was incredibly popular back in the day when instrumentals were all the rage. Quite what many of them have to do with soul music is debatable but it was all about the beat! It was also a big New York disco sound.

Act 1 was a Spring Records studio group from Detroit who later became Special Delivery. Their claim to fame (in the UK) was their 1974 single "Tom The Peeper" which made it to #40 on the UK pop chart. However, it was several of their album cuts that got attention on the rare soul scene, one of them being "It's The Same Old Story" along with "It Takes Both Of Us", "Goodbye Love (We're Through)"and a storming NS dancer "I Never Had a Love Like Yours". They released just four singles and one album, all on Spring, before morphing into Special Delivery.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Northern Soil Instrumental
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Measured Mile
Cat No:	NW 517
Date:	29/03/2024
Key/BPM:	B/115 / 7A/128
Price:	£10

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Sharisma [2024] - Trouble Trouble // Something Wonderful / Love Is The Way [Soul Direction #SD021]

The latest vinyl release from Soul Direction consists of three songs by Sharisma that were released digitally for the first time in Aug '22 on a compilation "Emandolynn Music Presents: Rare Soul, Vol. 3".

The compilation had nine tracks with three of them from Sharisma who were a 2 male, 2 female quartet from Wilmington, Delaware. They met Emandolynn's Manny Campbell (Soulville Productions) at a show in 1969 and then travelled to Philadelphia to record with him in the hope of completing an album. They started recording an album in 1969-70 at the famed Sigma Sounds studios but before it was completed the group disbanded because some members were drafted for the Vietnam War. 

The first two songs, “Love Is The Way" and "Something Wonderful” , were recorded as demos at Upper Darby Studios in 1969 with the last "My Son Trouble Trouble" recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in 1970 and was intended to be the group's debut single. It was engineered by Sigma's Joe Tarsia and included musicians who would later become members of The Trammps.

The single will be available to pre-order from Soul Direction on 29 Apr for release on 7 May.

The lead side, "Trouble Trouble" is a mid tempo Northern Soul / Crossover sound with "Something Wonderful" sounding like something that The 5th Dimension / Friends Of Distinction may have recorded at the turn of the decade. The ballad "Love Is The Way" having more appeal to the Lowriders and sweet soul lovers.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Sweet Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Direction
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/123 / 4A/88 / 9B/86
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Winfield Parker [2024] - I Wanna Be With You / My Love For You [Celestial Echo Records #CER001]

The last secular recording by Winfield Parker was in 1979 on his own P&L (P(arker) & L(yles) his manager at the time) label.

The official top side "My Love For You" was a re-recording of his first single on Ru-Jac in 1963 which we suspect was far too dated to make any impact in 1979 but the flip, 'I Wanna Be With You', is regarded as a modern soul anthem in the UK. In the 80s he turned to gospel music. Only one album is listed for him, a gospel album, "Miracles", in 2005.

Both sides of the P&L single have been reissued digitally by Celestial Echo Preservation Group and are available via Bandcamp.

We did a feature on Winfield Parker on his death in Jan 2021 if you wish to learn a little more about his career. There's also a more detailed account HERE based on an interview with David Cole (In The Basement) in 2004.

A little teaser, he was originally lined up by Otis Redding to be the vocalist for the 60s classic "Sweet Soul Music" but owing to a mix up of recording venues, Redding told him to go to Cincinnati instead of Muscle Shoals, Arthur Conley, who had been opening for Parker's shows and was already in Muscle Shoals, got to record the song instead!

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:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Celestial Echo Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/04/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/117
Price:	£2

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Willie Hutch [2024] - Fully Exposed [Motown] (Full Album)

When 'legendary' Motown artists names are bandied around seldom, if ever, is the name Willie Hutch included. Hopefully the recent reissue of much of his Motown catalogue will rectify this because, as far as we are concerned, the man was a genius and his music has stood the test of time unlike many of his contemporaries.  

We did an in depth profile of his work some time ago but he joined Motown primarily as a writer having had success writing for The 5th Dimension and was asked to write the lyrics for "I'll Be There", a #1 Hot 100 & R&B hit for The Jackson 5 in 1970. Maria Carey also has a Hot 100 #1 hit with it in 1992.

As quite often the case with many artists, Hutch came to the attention of the UK's Northern Soul scene via his debut solo single, a 1965 Dunhill recording "The Duck" / "Love Runs Out". He was a member of The Phonetics who released a handful of Hutch written singles on Trudel between 1964-65.

If you're unfamiliar with his work then here's the fourth recent digital reissue of his Motown work, "Fully Exposed", following "Color Her Sunshine", "Concert In Blues" and "Ode To My Lady" in recent weeks.

As with all his albums, this one includes several killer cuts including his rendition of Leon Ware's "I Wanna Be Where You Are", along with a few of his own compositions such as "Sunshine Lady", "Can't Get Ready For Losing You", "I Just Wanted To Make Her Happy", "California My Way" (a 2-step classic) and of course his own interpretation of "I'll Be There", similar to "The Way We Were" (on Ode To My Lady")  he puts his own inimitable stamp on the song which is almost unrecognisable to the Jackson 5s version.

He released eight albums for the label between 1973-77 after two he released for RCA in 1969-70. Only two further of his Motown albums are not currently available digitally, "Foxy Brown" and his last "Havin' A House Party" (from whence this blog gets it name from the track "Soul Strut") so 'no doubt(?) these may also appear in the coming weeks.

He left Motown to join Norman Whitfield's label where he released two albums and returned to Motown for one album in 1985. Three further albums appeared on indie labels in 1994,1996 and 2002. Hutch died in 2005 aged only 60.

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

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/2024
Price:	£8.91

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Willie Hutch [2024] - Ode To My Lady [Motown] (Full Album)

Following the digital reissue of two 1976 Willie Hutch albums a few weeks ago ("Concert In Blues" and "Color Her Sunshine") Motown/Universal reissue another gem, "Ode To My Lady", from 1975.  It was first reissued on CD by London's Soul Brother Records in 2011 but we believe this is the first digital release of the album.

Only two singles materialised from the album with "Love Power" being his highest charting single reaching #41 Hot 100 and #8 R&B (his only solo top 10 career hit) and the other,  "Party Down", containing his modern soul gem, "Just Another Day", on the B side.

Apart from "Just Another Day", the real diamond on the album is hands down the best performance of a classic song "The Way We Were" made famous by Barbara Streisand in 1974 (via title track of the movie she starred in with Robert Redford) and then Gladys Knight & The Pips. Many others such as Freda Payne, The Dells, The Manhattans, 21st Century and so many more have all covered the song faithfully in the MOR style but Hutch's version ups the tempo and changes the arrangement and is sung in his distinctive soulful style. A SS favourite for far too many years to remember and, if it's a new one on you then, you're in for a real treat.

Other highlights (and there are several) include the powerful deep soul ballad "Since I Found You", the mid-tempo "Talk To Me" (B side to "Love Power") and "(I'm Gonna) Hold On", a superb modern soul dancer that we don't recall ever hearing 'played out' but no doubt someone will tell us that Jack The Lad played it in the back room at Itchy Bottom Working Man's Club in 1977! The instrumental title track is no slouch either and very much in his earlier Blaxploitation movie theme mode of Foxy Brown and The Mack!

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown/Universal
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/04/2024
Price:	£9.90

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved