SoulStrutter Selections April 2024

After teasing with our selections of Retro, Covers & Reissues and Neo Soul for April '24 here's our selections of the best of April 2024. 

There will be some overlap as we've included the best of the best from our Neo Soul, Covers & Reissues playlists along with more traditional new releases not included in either. We've limited it to 40 with a running time of approx. 2 hours 30 mins, but of course you can skip if you wish but why would you as these are the best April had to offer?

You can hear these, and all the freshest releases, on Steve Aggasild's radio shows each week: SoulAndJazzFlavas on Panacea Radio (Tue 8pm-10pm) and Soul Struttin' on Soul Music Radio (Fri 9pm-11pm).

A big thanks to LoGraphiti (Lorraine Winser) for the great new artwork.

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

SoulStrutter Pick of the Pack for Jan 2024

Whilst we are trawling through the first Friday on the month's new releases here's our pick of the pack for January 2024.

There's 40 tracks with a running time of approx. 2hr 15mins but of course you can skip through them. They're in no particular order of merit, simply listed by date of release. The first three tracks are hangovers from 2023, the first from Nov and the other two from the tail end of Dec.

This one has much more of a contemporary feel. If it's old school you want then we did a Retro Soul playlist for those on Tuesday, so between the two there should be something you like.

Note that one of the best, Moorea Masa & The Moods "Distraction", was released last Friday and then by Tue was withdrawn. We have left it in just in case it's reissued.

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

SoulStrutter Selection of Retro Soul Jan 2024

There's very little so far this week  on the new music front so, as we've already posted a couple of retro releases, we bring you our top 25 retro, covers and reissues released in January. The covers/remakes/reissues are obvious but the the retro ones are arbitrary and subjective, but all sound old school to our ears from various decades.

Covers: by Jacob G. (John Gary Williams), Napoleon Demps (Little Beaver), Lebrado (Enchantment also a reissue from 2009), Ashton Grey Project (Rufus & Chaka Khan), Igor Gerzina & Anya Alu (Toto and others)., Methrone (Marvin Gaye), Paul Simpson Uniquity (Ethel Beatty)

Cover/Sample: Maurice Mahon (Bobby Womack) Mike E. (sure this uses elements of Simply Red's Holding Back The Years), occochill (we think this samples an 80s song that we can't identify .. anyone?)

Reissues: Harvey Scales, Lebrado,  

McKenzie & Gardiner is unreleased from 30 years ago and we believe that Gigi Copeland & Lou Ragland must be an unreleased song from the 80s. The remainder all have an old school feel.

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

SoulStrutter's Top 100 2023 Part 4

Part 4 (and final part) of our Top 100 of 2023.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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SoulStrutter's Top 100 2023 Part 3

Part 3 of our Top 100 of 2023.

Part 1

Part 2

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SoulStrutter's Top 100 2023 Part 2

Part 2 of our Top 100 of 2023.

Part 1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

SoulStrutter's Top 100 2023 Part 1

We've already selected our Top 100 Albums and Neo Soul and Retro Soul tunes of 2023 and, belatedly, here's our Top 100 of contemporary soul releases for 2023.

They have been split into four playlists of 25 tracks (approx. 100 mins duration each) and are in no order of merit, simply listed by ascending release date.

Well worth revisiting whilst we await the real quality sounds of 2024 that are now beginning to emerge.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Retro Soul Top 100 2023 Part 4

Part 4 of a summary of Retro Soul releases from 2023

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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Retro Soul Top 100 2023 Part 3

Part 3 of a summary of Retro Soul releases from 2023.

Part 1

Part 2

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Retro Soul Top 100 2023 Part 2

Part 2 of a summary of Retro Soul releases from 2023.

Part 1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Retro Soul Top 100 2023 Part 1

We've already selected our top 100 Neo Soul tunes of 2023 so, for those who don't appreciate the neo stuff, here's our selection of 100 retro soul tracks for the year. These are predominantly original songs with a retro feel. Covers/remakes and reissues will be listed separately.

They have been split into four playlists of 25 tracks (approx. 90 mins duration each) and are in no order of merit, simply listed by ascending release date.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Neo Soul Top 100 2023 Part 4

Part 4 (and the final part) of SoulStrutter's selection of the top100 neo soul tunes of 2023 consisting of 25 tracks from August to November.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Neo Soul Top 100 2023 Part 3

Part 3 of SoulStrutter's selection of the top100 neo soul tunes of 2023 consisting of 25 tracks from May to July.

Part 1

Part 2

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Neo Soul Top 100 2023 Part 2

SoulStrutter's selection of the top100 neo soul tunes of 2023. Broken into four 'bite sized' chunks of 25 (approx. 90 mins each). 

Here's part 2 consisting of 25 tracks from March, April and May 2023.

Part 1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Neo Soul Top 100 2023 Part 1

SoulStrutter's selection of the top100 neo soul tunes of 2023. Broken into four 'bite sized' chunks of 25 (approx. 90 mins each). 

Here's part 1 consisting of the first 25 in no order of merit just by release date. These were released between Jan and Mar 2023.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

2023 Top 100 Albums Of The Year

SoulStrutter's selection of the top 100 albums of 2023. They are not ranked in order, simply listed by reverse chronological release date.

2022 Selections

2021 Selections

There are links to the original posts if you would like to revisit them.

Date	Artist - Album	Rating
29/11	Will Downing - Soul Rising	8.7
17/11	Natasha Watts - Music Is My Life	8.8
10/11	Regi Myrix - SouLsDeLiCa Pt. 1	8.4
10/11	BJ The Chicago Kid - Gravy	8.5
03/11	Shaila Prospere - Share The Love	8.2
27/10	Leela James - Thought U Knew	8.8
27/10	Ty Causey - Faithful & True	8.4
27/10	Ruben Studdard - The Way I Remember It	8.4
20/10	The Shindellas - Shindo	8.4
20/10	Incognito - Into You	8.5
13/10	Papik feat. Nicole Magolie - Montecarlo Diamonds	8.6
12/10	Aphrose - Roses	8.4
09/10	Soulpersona & Princess Freesia - Lucky 7	8.6
06/10	Joy Denalane - WILLPOWER	8.5
30/09	The Virgo Lounge - Mellifluous Vibe	8.4
29/09	Cleo Sol - Gold	9
29/09	The Sextones - Love Can't Be Borrowed	8.5
27/09	Jaszy Shavers - Voyage To Surrender	8.8
22/09	Rob Hardt - Good Time for Good Times	8.4
22/09	Nevi - genesis (Deluxe Edition)	8.4
15/09	Coco O. - Sharing Is Caring	8.2
15/09	Cleo Sol - Heaven	8.6
08/09	Jalen Ngonda - Come Around and Love Me	9
01/09	Don-E - 30	8.3
01/09	Menagerie - The Shores Of Infinity	8.5
25/08	Victoria Monét - JAGUAR II	8.6
20/08	Shonda English - Travelin'	8
18/08	Pale Jay - Bewilderment	8.3
18/08	Leon Thomas - Electric Dusk	8.3
14/08	Élan Noelle - Elan	8.4
11/08	Marcus Machado - Blue Diamonds	8.2
11/08	Les Imprimés - Rêverie	8.3
04/08	Teddy Bryant - Dinner For Two	8.6
04/08	Output/Input - Forward Motion	9
01/08	Jahkayla - EP2.	8.4
31/07	Grooveman Spot - Lie-Sense	8.6
28/07	Paulette McWilliams - These Are The Sweet Things	8.8
28/07	Xavier Gordon - X Marks the Spot	8.2
21/07	Sunstone - 9ine	8.5
21/07	Kevin Brazil - Don't Leave	8
21/07	Slowe - Where The Mind Wanders	8.3
14/07	Zaimie - Fortuitous	8.4
12/07	Niya Imani - Girl If Only He Knew	8.4
07/07	Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire	8.8
07/07	Melonyx - Soul Glow	8.6
07/07	Loyola University New Orleans - 4 The Culture Vol.1: Gold Edition (R&B)	8.4
07/07	Gabriels - Angels & Queens (Deluxe)	8.6
07/07	CHERISE - Calling	8.4
07/07	Mama Terra - The Summoned	8.3
07/07	Carla Prather - The Return Of R&B	8.5
04/07	Theo Forsett - Love At Your Fingatips	8.2
30/06	Nicola Conte - Umoja	8
30/06	Acantha Lang - Beautiful Dreams	8.2
29/06	Derric Gobourne Jr. - Until: Summer Songs Inspired by a Hummingbird	8.3
16/06	R. Cory Johnson - Collages of Music and Love Vol. 1	8
24/06	Cynáa-Nicole - MY LIFE	8.4
23/06	Secret Night Gang - Belongs on a Place Called Earth	8.6
23/06	Jeff Bradshaw - XX Twenty	8.5
23/06	Reuben James - Champagne Kisses	8.4
20/06	Karlos Edwards - Welcome To My World	8.4
16/06	Lin Rountree - The Message	8.4
09/06	MAETA - When I Hear Your Name	7.6
08/06	Sipprell - Peace In The Madness	8.3
02/06	Mike Di Lorenzo - Play It Cool	8.4
12/05	Elli Ingram - Bad Behaviour	8.4
12/05	Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints - Bridge Of Love	8.6
09/05	Angie Stone - Love Language	8.2
05/05	Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Intuition	8.6
31/04	Maysa - Music For Your Soul	8.6
28/04	Izo FitzRoy - A Good Woman	8.2
28/04	Michon Young - #mysweetness	8.2
28/04	Helen Bruner & Terry Jones - 2nd Overture	8.8
24/04	Roderick Harper - 2702	8.4
21/04	Jay Lamont - Just For You	8.4
21/04	Claire Davis - Get It Right	8.9
14/04	Dinner Party - Enigmatic Society	8.4
14/04	Ray Greene - Stay	8.2
14/04	Terri Walker - My Love Story	8.4
24/03	P.D. Williams - Funk Love and Soul	8.4
24/04	Billy Valentine - Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth	8.8
24/03	Reel People - Love2	8.4
03/03	Tristan - Seven	8.6
03/03	Adi Oasis - Lotus Glow	8.6
25/02	The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B. - Reflections	8.6
17/02	Terrill Carter - Feels Like This	7.8
17/02	Ten City & Marshall Jefferson - Love Is Love	8.5
14/02	Chelsea Nichole Feat. Jeff Lorber - Love Letters	8.2
14/02	Danny Boy - Black Heart	8.4
14/02	JKabel - Beige Living Room	8
10/02	Sabrina Claudio - Archives & Lullabies	8.3
10/02	Raheem DeVaughn - Love Euphoria	8.4
10/02	October London - The Rebirth Of Marvin	9.5
10/02	The Degrees - The Day Out Of Time	8.5
10/02	Will Downing - Pieces	8.8
03/02	Soulpersona - Soulacoaster (The 2023 Remastered Edition	8.6
02/02	Band Of Pockets - Moving On Again	8.6
24/01	Massnada - Glamour	8.3
20/01	José James - On & On	8.5
13/01	Ché Sampson - Break of Day	8
06/01	Kyle Jason - The Right Place	8.8

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

2023 Albums of the Year - Jan-Jun

As we are half-way through 2023 it's a good time to take stock of some of the best albums of the year so far that were released in January to June 2023. We were going to select 100 but, as often the case, many were one or two track only albums, so we've settled on 50. 

NOTE EPs, compilations, reissues, cover albums (i.e. Billy Valentine) have been excluded from consideration.

Most of them you will know, but links are provided so you can familiarise yourself with any you may have missed or wish to revisit.

In terms of blog views, and general popularity, October London's "The Rebirth of Marvin" is streets ahead of the others. Whilst Joe Leavy's album wasn't officially released until 7 Jul it has picked up considerable airplay before official release and has been topping the Soul Associates Top 30 for the last three weeks. 

Soul Associates Top 30 #1s (which commenced week 10 (w/e 12 Mar '23)) have included (in reverse chronlological order):  

Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire

Angie Stone Love Language

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones - 2nd Overture

Terry Walker - My Love Story

Maysa - Music Is My Soul

Will Downing - Pieces

Natasha Watt - Music Is My Life

October London - The Rebirth of Marvin

The following have all appeared in the Top 5 not quite making the top spot:

Chelsea Nichole Feat. Jeff Lorber - Love Letters 

Adi Oasis - Lotus Glow 

Claire Davis - Get It Right

Ray Greene - Stay 

Jay Lamont - Just For You

Jeff Bradshaw - Jeff Bradshaw 20

Nicola Conte - Umoja

Mike Di Lorenzo - Play It Cool

Dinner Party - Enigmatic Society 

Following on from our four part Top 100 Neo Soul series we are in the process of compiling a Top 100 for more mainstream soul releases and many of the prime album cuts will inevitably be included.

Top 50

They are not ranked in order, simply listed by reverse chronological release date. 

(*) indicates an artist  website only release

Jun

Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire [7 Jul] (*) - 8.8

Acantha Lang - Beautiful Dreams [30 Jun] - 8.2

Nicola Conte - Umoja [30 Jun] - 8.0

Derric Gobourne Jr. - Until: Summer Songs Inspired by a Hummingbird [29 Jun] - 8.3

Cynáa-Nicole - MY LIFE [24 Jun] - 8.4

Secret Night Gang - Belongs on a Place Called Earth [23 Jun] - 8.6

Jeff Bradshaw - Jeff Bradshaw 20 [23 Jun] - 8.5

Reuben James - Champagne Kisses [23 Jun] - 8.4

Karlos Edwards - Welcome To My World [20 Jun] - 8.4

R. Cory Johnson - Collages of Music And Love, Vol. 1 [18 Jun] - 8.0

Lin Rountree - The Message [16 Jun] - 8.4

Wendy Hicks - A Woman's Dream [16 Jun] - 7.8

Manuka Groove - Whatever it takes [15 Jun] - 8.4

Sipprell - Peace In The Madness [8 Jun] - 8.3

Carla Prather - The Return of R&B [8 Jun] - 8.5

Darius Ford - Maturity [2 Jun] - 8.5

Mike Di Lorenzo - Play It Cool [2 Jun] - 8.4

May

Angie Stone - Love Language [19 May] - 8.2

Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints - Bridge Of Love [12 May] - 8.6

Kelly Moonstone - I Digress...  [30 May] - 8.5

Entice - Flavas [26 May] - 8.0

Marie Dahlstrom - A Good Life [22 May] - 8.2

Elli Ingram - Bad Behaviour [12 May] - 8.4

Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Intuition [5 May] - 8.6

Apr

Izo FitzRoy - A Good Woman [28 Apr] - 8.2

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones - 2nd Overture [28 Apr] - 8.8

Amaria - All For You [28 Apr] - 8.6

Jay Lamont - Just For You [21 Apr] - 8.4

Claire Davis - Get It Right [21 Apr] - 8.9

Ray Greene - Stay [14 Apr] - 8.2

Terri Walker - My Love Story [14 Apr] - 8.4

Dinner Party - Enigmatic Society [14 Apr] - 8.4

Mar

Maysa - Music For Your Soul [31 Mar]  - 8.6

Natasha Watts - Music Is My Life [24 Mar (*) - 8.8

Johnny Britt - After We Play [17 Mar] - 8.7

Ten City & Marshall Jefferson - Love Is Love [17 Mar] - 8.5

Tristan - Seven [3 Mar] - 8.6

Adi Oasis - Lotus Glow [3 Mar] - 8.6

Feb

The Groove Association Feat. Georgie B. - Reflections [25 Feb] (*)  - 8.6

Terrill Carter - Feels Like This [17 Feb] - 7.8

Chelsea Nichole Feat. Jeff Lorber - Love Letters [14 Feb] - 8.2

Danny Boy - Black Heart [14 Feb] - 8.2

October London - The Rebirth Of Marvin [10 Feb] - 9.5

Will Downing - Pieces [10 Feb] - 8.8

Sabrina Claudio - Archives & Lullabies [10 Feb] - 8.3

Raheem DeVaughn - Love Euphoria [10 Feb] - 8.4

Soulpersona - Soulacoaster 2023 [3 Feb] - 8.6

Jan

Massnada - Glamour [24 Jan] - 8.3

Carmen Jones - Naked [19 Jan] - 8.2

Kyle Jason - The Right Place [6 Jan] - 8.8

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

21st Century Soul - 2008 (The Best Of)

2008

The next instalment of 21st Century Soul - 9th edition 2008.

Previous Years

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Alphabetical playlist by artist against individual who selected them.

Artist	Title (Album)
Kevin Oxberry	Starpoint Radio
Adrienne Nails	It's Time To Pray (It's Time To Pray LP)
Anthony Hamilton	The Day We Met (The Point Of It All LP)
Carmichael	Angel In The Sky (All About Love LP)
Da'quela	So Happy (Blue Sky LP)
Darrius	Promise Me Love (Can't Get Enough LP)
Leon Ware	Smoovin' (Moon Ride LP)
Minister Marvin Webb	It's Time For Love (It's Time For Love LP)
Omar Cunningham	The Right Woman (Time Served LP)
Romina Johnson	As Good As This (Soul River LP)
Paul Goldsmith	Starpoint Radio
2000 Black	Simple Sacrifice (A Next Set A Rockers LP)
Chuck Arrington	My Sole Desire (I'm Gonna Praise You LP)
Foreign Exchange	Leave It All Behind (Leave It All Behind LP)
Hakim	Come 2 Me (You Gotta 'Good Thang' So 'Come 2 Me' EP)
Heston	Radio (Storyteller LP)
Jason Champion	For Better Or For Worse (Reflections LP)
Jennifer Perryman	Shall We Take A Trip (Losing My Grip LP)
Keni Myles	4 This Luv (My Rhythm & My Blues LP)
Lalah Hathaway	Let Go (Self Portrait LP)
Murrills	I Will Wait (Family Prayer LP)
Roger Williams	Starpoint Radio
Alex Lattimore	In Your Eyes (Promise LP)
Chanel	Lovely Day (Independent Soul Divas LP)
Darien	Composure (If These Walls Could Talk LP)
De-Ann Lott	Return To The Center (Return To The Center LP)
Eric Benet	Weekend Girl (Love & Life LP)
LeNora Jaye	Taking Over (Independent Soul Divas LP)
Nash Reed	Reaching Out (Mercurial LP)
Nate Smith feat. John Gordon	Come Back To Bed (Workday, Waterbaby Music Vol. 1.0 LP)
Q Harper	Hey You (One LP)
Redfootz	Wishing On A Star (The Red Sessions LP)
Roger Smith	Isn't It Love (Sittin' In LP)
Steve Aggasild	Soul Music Radio / SOTAR
Alex Lattimore	Keep Risin' To The Top (Promise LP)
Brenda Boykin	Love Is In Town (Chocolate & Chili LP)
Fabio Nobile feat. Rossella Key	San Diego (Always Love LP)
Incognito	Never Look Back (Tales From The Beach LP)
Lalah Hathaway	That Was Then (Self Portrait LP)
Sheree Brown	Adore You (First Fruit LP)
The Foreign Exchange feat. Darien Brockington	Take Off The Blues (Leave It All Behind LP)
Noel Gourdin	One Love (After My Time LP)
SoulStrutter
Al Green	Stay With Me (By The Sea) ft John Legend  / Too Much (Lay It Down LP)
Anthony Hamilton	Please Stay / The Point Of It All (The Point Of It All LP)
Bernard	Never Turnin' Back (Kingdom Of Love LP)
Brian Culbertson feat. Ledisi	The World Keeps Going Around (Bringing Back The Funk LP)
Calvin Richardson	Fire In The Attic (When Love Comes LP)
Cherisse	Pretty Girl (Soul Journey LP)
The Chestnut Brothers	Mountain Of Love (RetroSoul LP)
Darrius	Get Down To This Loving / Hold On To You II (Can't Get Enough LP)
Eric Benét	You're the Only One (Love & Life LP)
Hil St. Soul	Gravity / Smile (Black Roses LP)
Swing Out Sister	Butterfly (Beautiful Mess LP)
Ty Causey	Lovin' You Ain't So Easy (Body Language LP)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved