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

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

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

VA [2024] - Here Comes The Tears [Soul4Real #S4RLP05] (Full Album)

Hot on the heels of their recent two 45 releases (from Maze and Donald Byrd/Gerald Levert) on the Jai Alai imprint, Soul4Real release their fifth album and fourth Various Artists compilation. 

"Here Come The Tears" is a compilation of tracks released by Atlantic from the 60s and 70s. It includes four tracks never before released on vinyl including The Drifters version of The O'Jays "I Dig Your Act" (thought to have been long lost),  Barbara Lewis "You Put A Song In My Heart", Dee Dee Warwick "What Manner Of Man" and Judy Clay's take on "The Love Of My Man" by Dionne Warwick.

From the compilation title (from the included Darrell Bank song) you may deduce that most are deep soul ballads with many needing no introduction from well established soul singers from the period including one of our long time favourites from The Queen of Soul and The Dynels modern soul / crossover gem.

All have been released digitally which has enabled us to collate them together into a playlist for you to review and hopefully purchase the vinyl from Soul4Real (10 May). Alternatively you can listen to all tracks in full on Soul4Real's Alex Subinas' YouTube Channel.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Vinyl
Label:	Soul4Real
Cat No:	S4RLP05
Date:	10/05/2024
Price:	€24

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2024] - Tamera Hill's: Workplace Drama 'The Soundtrack' [Hidden Gem Entertainment]

"Tamera Hill's: Workplace Drama 'The Soundtrack'" is, as the title implies, the soundtrack for a workplace comedy drama (about the stereo types in the workplace and the drama that follows them home) containing 24 tracks.

The comedy movie has been available to stream on Hidden Gem Entertainment since Nov '23.

The track making the biggest noise is "What A Woman Needs" feat. William Buckhalter. There are two versions of the song as a remix is also included, which takes the tempo up from 61 BPM  to 70 BPM, and features R. Cory Johnson.  

Johnson features on eight of the tracks, two of which, "Meaning Of Love" and "Good Lovin", appeared on on his album "Collages of Music and Love , Vol. 1" in Jun '23 and another, "More Of You", as a single the same day as his album, but not included on the album.

Curiously, when researching William Buckhalter (who is a life coach from L.A.) we found a video from Oct '23 covering Musiq Soulchild's "Just Friends (Sunny)" (included below) which has just received a remix by DJ Soulchild. It doesn't appear to have been officially released as a single.

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:	New Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/02/2024
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2024] - Eccentric Soul: The Tragar & Note Labels [Numero Group] (Full Album)

Numero Group has reissued a 15th anniversary edition of "Eccentric Soul: The Tragar & Note Labels" digitally and on vinyl. They have already reissued the Capsoul compilation and will be reissuing further compilations in their Eccentric series released over the last 20 years.

It's a slightly cut down version from the 2009 CD version with 34 of the original 50 tracks (presumably to fit them on a double vinyl album), but worth the price for The Four Tracks "Charade" alone (along with plenty of other rarities) which sells for approaching £500 on original vinyl. If we're not mistaken this may the the first vinyl reissue of it.

Other highlights also include a few from Eula Cooper such as "Try", "I Need You More"  and one of her NS favs "Standing By Love", a couple from Young Divines and Sonia Ross.

Tragar and Note, along with Super Sound, were Atlanta, GA, based labels run by Jesse Jones and released material from 1968-76. Many are now in-demand items on the rare soul scene.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Rare Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / Vinyl
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/03/2024
Price:	£19.98 / £35.97

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2024] - Wigan Casino 50 Golden Years [Charly] (Full Album)

Since Oct '22 Northern Soul DJ, promoter, author Kev Roberts presented a series of podcasts titled "Mountain Of Soul" sponsored by Charly Records. The ten songs from each show were also released as digital compilations and some even saw 7" vinyl release.

This compilation "Wigan Casino 50 Golden Years" seems to select those played at the venue. We haven't diligently checked each track, but from a glance many, if not all, of the 20 tracks have featured on the Mountain Of Soul compilations.

The compilation came up in the new releases on Amazon on Friday but appears to have been initially released on 24 Nov '23. It's available digitally and on CD.

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

Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Charly
Cat No:	None
Date:	16/02/2024
Price:	£7.99 / £16.70

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - With Love: Volume 2 (Compiled by Miche) [Mr Bongo Records #MRBCDLP280] (Full Album)

We posted a teaser to this compilation a few weeks ago with details of each track where we estimated the vinyl value of each and estimated that it would cost around £9k to buy each one individually on vinyl.

It's the second eclectic Miche compilation, "With Love: Volume 2", from Mr Bongo Records containing some really obscure Latin music from South America and a few known modern soul tunes amongst the 15 tracks and as a bonus the CD edition contains a 16th track.

The follow up volume to "With Love Volume 1" is more focused on the dancefloor. One of Miche's highlights is an anthemic gospel version of Stevie Wonder's 'As' by The Family Tree (a project produced by Julius Brockington which, according to Discogs (which isn't always 100% reliable) lists Sharon "I Specialize In Love" Brown as a member. 

For the modern soulies, Cecil Lyde, Freedom and The Eleventh Commandment are well worth the 'admission charge' alone as that's over two grand's worth of original wax right here!

The compilation was released on 6 Oct digitally, on CD, Cassette and on limited edition 2 x Pink Vinyl LP or 2 x Black Vinyl LP. The prices for physical media on Bandcamp are cheaper than on Amazon (see below Amazon prices in brackets).

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Rare Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / CD / Cassette / Vinyl
Label:	Mr Bongo Records
Cat No:	MRBCDLP280
Date:	06/10/2023
Price:	£10 (£9.99) / £10 (£14.99) /  £8 (£N/A) / £22 (£23.99)

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Brand New Heavies [2023] - Never Stop... The Best of [London Records] (Full Album)

A fabulous 31 track compilation of the very best from The Brand New Heavies, "Never Stop... The Best of", is released today and is available digitally, on CD and vinyl.

It's split in that the last ten tracks are all remixes of tracks within the first set although there are three or four remixes of hits included amongst the first 21.

They were formed in Ealing (West London) in 1985 by Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy as an instrumental jazz band Brothers International. They later changed the name and recruited N'Dea Davenport as lead vocalist for their third single "Dream Come True" and enjoyed their most successful period in the early 90s with  a string on UK Top 40 hits, fourteen in total up to 1999. 

Davenport left the group after the second album to release her postponed solo album and was replaced for the next album by Siedah Garrett. In time, she was replaced by Carleen Anderson in 2000. Since then a number of different female lead vocalists had appeared, Sy Smith in 2003, Nicole Russo (2004), Davenport returned in 2005 being replaced by Dawn Joseph in 2013 who in turn was replaced by Suleme Fleming in 2016 and currently Angela Ricci since 2018.

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:	Acid Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	London Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/09/2023
Price:	£8.99 / £17.99 / £29.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - With Love: Volume 2 (Compiled by Miche) [Mr Bongo Records #MRBCDLP280]

To our estimation, at current Discogs values, there is approx. £9k worth of tunes on this second eclectic Miche compilation, "With Love: Volume 2", from Mr Bongo Records.  

There's some really obscure Latin music from South America and a few known modern soul tunes amongst the 15 tracks and as a bonus we received a 16th track which is only available on the CD release.

The follow up volume to "With Love Volume 1" is more focused on the dancefloor. One of Miche's highlights is an anthemic gospel version of Stevie Wonder's 'As' by The Family Tree (a project produced by Julius Brockington which, according to Discogs (which isn't always 100% reliable) lists Sharon "I Specialize In Love" Brown as a member. 

For the modern soulies, Cecil Lyde, Freedom and The Eleventh Commandment are well worth the 'admission charge' alone as that's over two grand's worth of original wax right here!

The compilation is set for release on 6 Oct. It will be available digitally, on CD, Cassette and on limited edition 2 x Pink Vinyl LP or 2 x Black Vinyl LP. 

The lowdown

01 - Billy Boomer [1982] - I Like What She's Doing [Blast #BR-336] £175

02 - P.J. City [1986] - Straight Forward (Non-Stop) [Rise #2-61254] £1,230

03 - Maxwell [1981] - Realize [Maxwell #PM 101] £1,500

04 - Cecil Lyde [1981] - I'll Make It On My Own [Alwest #HB 92049 S] £450

05 - Mixed Generation Enterprize [1979] - Feel So Good Inside [Blastoff #CSS 175] £340

06 - Mark Meadows [1983] - You And Me [Conark #CON-1001] £530

07 - Alice Cohen & Fun City [1979] - Save The Best 'Til Last [WMMR 93.3  #None]

08 - Banda 22 [1983] - A Luz Que Brilha Meu Viver [Coomusa #CDC-006] £430

09 - Zé Da Lata [1983] - Mistério Brilhante [None #992 051-7] £83

10 - Rogers Mitchell [1970] - Dame Solamente Amor [Arena Producciones #SD 0304] £40

11 - The Eleventh Commandment [1975] - Then I Reach Satisfaction [Fast Track #FT 2505] £120

12 - Billy Boomer - You Can't Hide [Blast #BR-336] £175

13 - Freedom - High On You [Freedom #7032-12A] £3,000

14 - The Lost Family [1974] - Blow My Mind [Innovation II #IV 9160 / International Music Bag #CP-11231] £75-£90

15 - The Family Tree [1979] - As [ALA #ALA G-902] £270

16 - Rogers Mitchell [1970] - Te Amare Mas Asi [Arena Producciones [LDP-082-XX] £530

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Rare Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / CD/ Cassette / Vinyl
Label:	Mr Bongo Records
Cat No:	MRBCDLP280
Date:	06/10/2023
Price:	£10, £10, £8 / £22

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics, Vols 1-5 [One Media iP]

Ian Levine can be quite a Marmite and divisive figure to many on the Northern Soul scene. Undoubtedly, along with Colin Curtis at the Blackpool Mecca's Highland Room in the early to mid 70s, he was responsible for introducing many records which became classics.

The rot set in for many with the introduction of new releases into the playlist in the mid 70s which became know as, and still is, 'modern soul'. Many outside the scene still don't quite understand the term but it was a term used at the time to differentiate between traditional 60's stompers and 70s productions as for many Neanderthal / Northern Soulies soul music apparently ended on New Years eve 1969!

In the mid 70s Levine started producing records which were known as tailor mades, as they were new productions emulating the Northern Soul sound. His first foray was The Exciters "Reaching for The Best" in 1975 followed by records by, then unknown artists, Doris Jones, Barbara Pennington, Tyrone Ashley, Evelyn Thomas and one of his best James Wells. This, to many, was the antithesis of the 'spirit' of the scene which was always about finding undiscovered 'authentic' oldies.

Levine then instigated Hi-NRG music in the 80s and in the 90s co-wrote one, and co-produced three, tracks on Take That's debut album and worked with The Pasadenas. 

He founded Motorcity Records in the late 80s which went bust and then Center City Records. Both specialised in recording well known (and lesser known) Detroit artists, either re-recording well known Northern Soul tunes or his own compositions in conjunction with other writers. He must have written close to a thousand songs. 

The reason for all the preamble is that on Friday five compilations, all consisting of 25 songs, have been released as "Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics", Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

It's too easy to dismiss them as his sound is pretty formulaic, but there are often songs that surprise. We haven't checked the track listing comprehensively but many, if not all, have been released previously, often many times on many different compilations.

We won't embed Spotify link (as they will take up too much space 125 songs!) but will provide links to them on Spotify. We may at a future time cherry pick some of the best into a playlist, as an interesting one which looks new is former Elgins lead singer Saundra Edwards taking on what we thought was Diane Jenkins' "Two-A-Way Zone" but it's a new song remixed by Nigel Lowis.

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

Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics Vol 1

Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics Vol 2

Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics Vol 3

Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics Vol 4

Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics Vol 5

Details

Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern  Soul / Tailor Made
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	One Media iP
Cat No:	None
Date:	25/08/2023
Price:	£7.99 each

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved