NxWorries feat. Snoop Dogg & October London [2024] - FromHere [Stones Throw Records]

The latest single from the forthcoming sophomore album "Why Lawd" (following "Yes Lawd" (2016)) by NxWorries is "FromHere" which features Snoop Dogg and October London.

NxWorries is duo Anderson.Paak and L.A. based producer Knxwledge (Glen Earl Boothe) originally from New Jersey.

The album drops on 14 Jun (and will be available on physical media the week before on 7 Jun). This is the fourth track pre-released following "86Sentra" (3 Apr '24), "Daydreaming" (18 May '23) "Where I Go" feat. H.E.R. (19 Oct '22).

The new single is based on a sample of T.I.M.E.'s "How Would You Like It Baby" (Jam-Rock JA / Tropical sound Tracs UK 1975). T.I.M.E. (The Incredible Musical Experience) was a Jamaican band who recorded half a dozen singles between 1975-78.

The album will feature other guest appearances from Charlie Wilson (Gap Band) and of course .Paak's latest protégé Rae Khalil as well as Thundercat, Dave Chappelle and Earl Sweatshirt.

The supporting music video depicts Anderson as a forlorn lonely figure in a club after a relationship breakup with Snoop Dogg giving is his philosophy at the end. October London supports with falsetto harmonies.

This is top notch soul music and an epic production that 'should' get plenty of airplay if there's any justice.

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Stones Throw Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/05/2024
Key/BPM:	7B/85
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Michael Wycoff [2024] - Looking Up to You (Mike Maurro Mix / Original) [RCA]

Originally released digitally in Dec. last year on a compilation "The Mike Maurro Remix Vault" (consisting of Maurros remixes of 17 classic dance songs) was one for Michael Wycoff's modern soul gem "Looking Up To You".

It is now getting pressed on 12" vinyl along with the original 1982 album version from "Love Conquers All". It will be available on 7 Jun but can be pre-ordered now from vinyl dealers.

The song, written by Leon Ware and Zane Hanks (Grey & Hanks) and produced by Webster Lewis, has been sampled multiple times, first by Dodge City Productions "Ain't Going for That" in 1991 but most famously by Zhane on "Hey Mr DJ" in 1993.

Wycoff sang backing vocals on Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" (as well as for Natalie Cole, DJ Rogers, Gwen McCrae and others and played keyboards on Bobby Womack's The Poet II). He embarked on a solo career in the late 70s releasing three albums for RCA Victor in the early 80s. Sadly, he succumbed to alcohol and drug addiction which terminated his music career and he later found faith and became a minister. He died from pancreatic cancer in March 2019 aged 63.

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	12" Vinyl
Label:	RCA
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/06/2024
Key/BPM:	6A/106 / 6A/104
Price:	£14

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Erica Falls & Vintage Soul [2024] - Up / Makings Of Love [Izipho Soul #ZP105]

Most certainly one of the highlights of 2023 was the excellent single, "Up", from Erica Falls which  which we championed from release last July and is included on her recent album "Emotions". 

Not one to miss an opportunity, Izipho Soul's Pat Biggerstaff has done a deal to release it on a 45 along with "Makings Of Love" from her 2017 "HomeGrown" album.

Two absolutely superb sides on one 45, what's not to like? Snap this up before it's gone if you need it on vinyl as these will definitely sell out quickly. 

Available to pre-order now from Izipho Soul for release on 10 May.

NOTE The video below for "Makings of Love" is an alternate acoustic version and not the recorded version.

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

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP105
Date:	10/05/2024
Key/BPM:	9B/68 / 11A/94
Price:	£14

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!

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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

Deep Sensation [1999] Somehow, Somewhere (There's A Soul Heaven) (Original Mix) [Fluential #fluent 9]

A bit of a random post inspired by seeing it posted on a facebook group today and commented on by an old friend from many years ago, Southport Weekender DJ Billy Davidson. 

It's "Somehow, Somewhere (There's A Soul Heaven)" from Glaswegian duo Deep Sensation (Colin Gate (a former Northern Soul DJ) and hip-hopper Paul Hunter) originally released in 1998 but subsequently had several different mixes applied. 

The duo recorded under several different aliases such as Space Jam, Brother Of Soul, Second Crusade, Red Hook Project and others dependent on the type of music they produced. They were active between 1995-2003 but shunned the limelight, so very little is actually known about them.

We've selected the original mix from 1999 which is a little less 'Housey' than other mixes. The track samples Ultra High Frequency's (Bobby Eli) "We're On The Right Track" (1973) (also recorded by South Shore Commission in 1975 and written by Philly's Norman Harris and Alan Felder) with vocal overdubs from Syl Johnson's "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969).

It charted twice on the UK pop chart reaching #88 first time around in May 2001 and #74 in Sep 2004 (both times it stayed on chart for only one week) and is dirt cheap to pick up on 12" vinyl.

It's also available digitally via Traxsource.

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Soulful House
Format:	Single
Media:	12" Vinyl
Label:	Fluential
Cat No:	fluent #9
Date:	1999
Key/BPM:	6A/125
Price:	£3-£6

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Lynn Davis [2024] - Beautiful You / Can I Come Over [Izipho Soul #ZP102]

Undeniably one of the top songs of 2023, "Beautiful You", by a 'relatively' unsung artist who has more than paid her dues as one of the most go-to session singers in the soul/jazz world, Lynn Davis, is being released on vinyl by Izipho Soul.

It is being paired with her debut solo single "Can I Come Over" from Oct '22. Quite unbelievably, it was Davis' first solo recording after over 40 years as a session singer with artists such as George Duke, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass, Patrice Rushen and Anita Baker to name just a very few, her full discography can be seen HERE.

You can read more about Lynn via the links above to her singles when originally released.

In July '23 Ms Davis published a book 'Above Circumstance - My Story And Testimony' in which she gives a candid testimonial of her journey in the music business and personal transformation. It's a full of insight that will help others navigate this road, professionally, personally, and spiritually. It's available on Amazon (ISBN13: 979-8889927327).

The single is available now to pre-order from Izipho Soul for release on 12 Apr '24.

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:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP102
Date:	12/04/2024
Key/BPM:	5A/61 / 2A/70
Price:	£14

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

MAETA [2024] - Through The Night (The After Hours Pack) [Roc Nation Records]

Like the Rae Khalil re-release yesterday of "IS IT WORTH IT", another of our SoulStrutter Selections of the Week (from May '23) has been reissued with previously unreleased versions of the song.

MAETA "Through The Night (The After Hours Pack)" includes three new versions, instrumental, acapella and live. Coincidentally, it also features Free Nationals (Anderson .Paak's band) who played on Rae Khalil's last album "FORTHEWORLD".

If you missed it when released as a single last May or the "When I Hear Your Name" album which followed in Jun, or you just want the new versions, then it's out again today.

It's a mesmerising song which has now received just short of 9m streams on Spotify.

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:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Roc Nation Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/03/2024
Key/BPM:	3B/33
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved