MHem [2023] - Friends With Benefits [Pax Stereo] (Full Album)

L.A.'s Mario Hemsley MD spent over 30 years as a critical care paediatrician. With the support of his friend and collaborator Victor Allen, he turned to music and they formed Stereo Pax in 2003. 

Under his alias MHem he has produced his first set of music, "Friends With Benefits", which features the vocals of Derren Day (the son of The Time's Morris Day) on all tracks.

The standout track, "So Good", you may recognise as it was written and recorded by former leader of The Blackbyrds Kevin Toney on his "Extra Sensual Perception" album in 1999.

In fact all nine songs are covers but some are not necessarily what we'd describe as soul music, however, the interpretation of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now", in particular, is very good.

This album may need a few listens (leaving prejudice at the door) as it's a real grower as a  pure listening album and we thoroughly enjoyed the new takes on some classic songs.

01 - Outside Your Door 

       (Me'Shell NdegéOcello "Plantation Lullabies" 1993)

02 - So Good 

       (Kevin Toney "Extra Sensual Perception" 1999)

03 - Hello 

       (Marsha Ambrosius / Floetry "Floetic" 2002)

04 - If You Want Me To Stay 

       (Sly & The Family Stone "Fresh" 1973)

05 - Falling Slowly 

       (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova "The Swell Season" 2006)

06 - Lady In The Doorway 

       (Randy Goodrum "Solitary Nights" 1985)

07 - Both Sides Now 

       (Joni Mitchell "Clouds" 1969) 

08 - The Star Of A Story 

       (Rod Temperton / Heatwave "Central Heating" 1977)

09 - Moondance 

       (Van Morrison "Moondance" 1970) 

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Pax Stereo
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/09/2023
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Diviniti [2023] - In Due Time [Honeycomb Music] (Full Album)

Detroit's Terri 'Diviniti' Smith has released her debut solo album "In Due Time". It's produced by Josh Milan who also provided some background vocals and plays all instruments. Also on BGVs is Dawn Tallman.

Diviniti is best know for dance music this is her venture into soul and jazz. She released "I'm The Best" in 2021 with four versions, the version on the album is a new version. Also released as a single in April was "Magic".

Despite stating that all songs were written by Smith and Milan, the album included is cover of Odyssey's 1982 hit "Inside Out".

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Honeycomb Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/05/2023
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jai'Len Josey [2023] - Southern Delicacy [Hillman Grad/Def Jam] (Full Album)

Atlanta native Jai'Len Josey is a relatively new artist who debuted in 2020 and, after a couple of singles, released a six track EP "Illustrations" in Sep 2020. Her second project is a full album "Southern Delicacy" released on 14 Apr '23.

Music videos are available for the title track "Southern Delicacy" and "Good Soup" (which was released as a single on 14 Feb) but the track that stands out to these ears is "Pay For My Drink".

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Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	Y Tracks 3, 8 & 9
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Hillman Grad/Def Jam
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/04/2023
Price:	£10.29

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - Soul On The Real Side #15 [Outta Sight #OSCD065] (Full Album)

Outta Sight come up trumps with the fifteenth edition of "Soul On The Real Side #15" which is a collection of sixteen modern soul gems from the vaults of United Artists and Capitol Records. 

Any self respecting rare soulie will know all of these as most aren't particularly hard to find or expensive on original vinyl (with one or two exceptions i.e. Corey Blake, Charles Williams and Freddie Terrell perhaps) but are all quality tunes.

If you are not familiar with them then you're in for a treat with a selection of the some of best (predominantly) 70s rare soul.

Only nine of the tracks are available on Spotify so the playlist below includes only those with the others linked to YouTube for sound files. The ones not found are prefixed '#'.

Track List

01 - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - Big Time Lover

02 - #Brown Sugar - The Game Is Over (What’s The Matter With You)

03 - Tavares - Too Late

04 - #George Soule - Get Involved

05 - Bettye Swann - (My Heart Is) Closed For The Season

06 - #Corey Blake - How Can I Go On Without You

07 - The Rance Allen Group - Reason To Survive

08 - #Leon Haywood - Consider The Source

09 - Freddie Terrell & Blue Rhythm Band - You Had It Made

10 - Charles Williams - Standing In The Way

11 - #Peabo Bryson - Why Don’t You Make Up Your Mind

12 - Enchantment - Thank You Girl For Loving Me

13 - Mark Capanni - I Believe In Miracles

14 - #Marian Love - Can’t Forget About You Baby

15 - #C.M. Lord - Oh Mama (Your Daughter’s A Woman Tonight)

16 - Z.Z. Hill - That Ain’t The Way You Make Love

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Outta Sight
Cat No:	OSCD065
Date:	TBC/05/2023
Price:	£13

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - Mountain Of Soul Episode 10 [Charly]

The latest episode of Charly's Mountain of Soul Episode 10 was released last Friday (3 Mar '23. Another ten Northern Soul tunes, a few classics, semi-knowns and a couple of previously unreleased. 

Track List:

01 - The Voice Masters [1969] - Dance Right Into My Heart [Bamboo #BMB-113]

02 - Roscoe Shelton [1967] - You're The Dream [Sound Stage 7 #45-2587]

03 - Jerry Williams [1966] - If You Ask Me (Because I Love You)[Calla #116]

04 - Mill Evans [196?] - Just like The Weather [Exodus Test Pressing]

05 - The Ringleaders [1966] - I'd Like to Win You Over [M-Pac! #7232]

06 - The Blenders [1966] - Your Love Has Got Me Down [Mar-v-lus #6010]

07 - Reuben Bell [1969] - Action Speaks Louder Than Words [Murco #1052]

08 - Little Johnny Blair [1970] - Momma's Gone [House Of The Fox #HOF-5]

09 - Dorothie Berry [1968] - A Woman Needs A Good Man (Yes She Does) [USA #917]

10 - Ruby Winters [2022] - If Only We Had Met Sooner (Early & Jeffries Retouch) [Creative Soul #CS-1001]

The interesting one is Mill Evans' version of Nolan Chance's "Just Like The Weather" which has been know about for years but has never, until now, been released. A 7" single sided white label test press (believed to be by the Exodus label) is listed on Popsike which sold for just short of $1500 in March 2009. Top UK rare soul DJ Butch has been playing it from around 2010 so I 'suspect' that he may have been the buyer or bought it from the buyer.

There is another version by Ritchie Parker/Aaron Neville on a Constellation 10" acetate. The song was written by Richard Parker so perhaps the name was used to cover up that it was by Aaron Neville. The backing track was used on Denise LaSalle's first single, "Love Reputation", released on Tarpon/Chess in 1967

Ruby Winters version of Linda Jones' "If Only (We Had Met Sooner)" was originally released on a 1999 UK only compilation "The Best Of Ruby Winters" and then pressed on vinyl by Creative Soul last year. The retouch is, so far, unreleased but given the retouch was done by Early & Jeffries it may eventually be released on Sonic Wax?

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/03/2023
Price:	£7.89

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - Mountain Of Soul Episode 9 [Charly]

This episode seems to have been late being posted up on digital platforms as I've been checking for it regularly but only came across it as I noticed that episode 10 is now also out. So, a double treat for the Northern Soul lovers.

01 - The Profiles [1969] - A Little Misunderstanding [Bamboo #BMB-115]

02 - Gene Chandler [1965] - Nothing Can Stop Me [Constellation #C-149]

03 - Maurice Williams [2021] - Look My Way [Deep Soul #DEEP SOUL 15]

04 - The Combinations [1965] - Why [Kellmac #1007]

05 - Lou D. Washington [1967] - Smokey [Steeltown #101]

06 - The Fantastics [1966] - Me and You [Sound Stage 7 #45-2565]

07 - Charlie Gracie [1965] - He'll Never Love You Like I Do [Diamond #D-178]

08 - Ron Holden [1967] - I'll Forgive and Forget [Challenge #59360]

09 - Ann Sexton & The Masters Of Soul [1971] - You've Been Gone Too Long [Impel #SS-AS-103]

10 - Connie Laverne [1974] - Can't Live Without You [GSF #9616]

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/02/2023
Price:	£7.89

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - Love Is the Message: The Sound of Philadelphia Vol. 3 [United Souls #PIR 5003]

Following the release of two 8 CD box sets of Philadelphia International 70s albums "Get On Board The Soul Train: The Sound Of Philadelphia Volume 1" (May '21) and "Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Sound Of Philadelphia Volume 2" (Nov '21), United Souls' (Snapper Music Ltd) series of box sets continues in April '23 with the third volume "Love Is the Message: The Sound of Philadelphia Vol. 3" due on 7 April.  

The series, we are told, will consist of 15 volumes covering all studio albums released by the label, each containing 8 albums on individual CDs. They will be released in chronological order. That's 120 albums in total by our reckoning.

All albums have been remastered from original tapes and as a bonus each set includes a 12" single, this one has MFSB "T.S.O.P." paired with Trammps "Stop And Think". I suspect that these 12 inchers may become future collector's items.

The third volume contains the following albums which are good value for money as the total cost equates to £6.25 per album. I believe that they are only available on CD i.e. no digital downloads.

The Ebonys - The Ebonys [PIR #KZ 32419] 1973

MFSB - Love Is the Message (PIR #KZ 32707] 1973

Bunny Sigler - That's How Long I'll Be Loving You [PIR #KZ 32859] 1974

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - To Be True [PIR #KZ 33148] 1975

The O'Jays - Survival [PIR #KZ 33150] 1975

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis - Potpourri [PIR #KZ 33152] 1974

Monk Montgomery -  Reality [PIR #KZ 33153] 1974

Billy Paul -  Got My Head on Straight [PIR #KZ 33157] 1975

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul
Format:	Album Box Set
Media:	CD
Label:	United Souls
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/04/2023
Price:	£49.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Lindsey Webster [2022] - Reasons [Shanchie #CD5499] (Album)

Having released two singles from it already this year ("I Didn't Mean It" (14 Jan) and "Stay With Me" (19 Aug), the  new album, "Reasons", from the undisputed queen on smooth/contemporary jazz, Lindsey Webster, is out on Friday (9 Sep 2022)..

The album features special guests Brian Culbertson (trombone) and Randy Brecker (flugelhorn), who appear on the first and second singles respectively, along with bassist Nathan East and trumpeter  Nicholas Peyton.

As a taster, here are both singles and a few of the choice cuts. The full album will of course be posted on Friday.

You may have already seen the banner for Lindsey's' forthcoming performance at The Maude, Leek, Nr Stoke on 19th Nov 2022, (Tickets HERE  £15 + £1.50 booking fee). 

She also has another two dates lined up at The Pheasantry (Pizza Express), Chelsea, London on 17th & 18th Nov 2022. Tickets HERE (£30)

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Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Shanachie
Cat No:	CD 5499
Date:	09/09/2022
Key/BPM:	2B/84
Price:	£1 / $18.99

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved