Thee Illusions [2024] - Fairytale [Black Bird Records]

The first new music from East L.A.'s Thee Illusions for almost two years, since "Baby Don't (Waste My Time)" (Apr '22), is an original song, "Fairytales", with a retro sound written by group member Eric Mauries.

The group emerged in 2020 with "Thunderstorms & Earthquakes" on vinyl and this is their sixth digital single. The have released three vinyl singles, i.e. the last five songs released digitally plus the B side of "Thunderstorms & Earthquakes", "I Know We're In Love", which has not been released digitally.

The group's music is highly sought after by the lowrider community with their vinyl releases selling like the proverbial hotcakes and now command quite high prices on the resale market. Their first two now sell for over £100 and their last (which includes a cover of Anna Raye's "Will You Love My Child") around £80. No doubt the current song will be paired with a future single for vinyl release.

Group members include: Atara Phillips (lead vocals), Anthony Medina (piano / organ, BGVs), Eric Mauries (bass, BGVs), Michael "Flaco" Maese (guitar), Aaron Perez (guitar), Fritz Zar (drums), Dan "the Man" Loren (flugelhorn, BGVs), Ian Jacks (sax, BGVs), Alfredo Barrios (trumpet), David Reyes (baritone sax).

We unearthed a live recording of an unreleased song, "Just Like Magic", recorded in Dec 2021 which has a bit of a Lovelites/Deniece Williams feel. It's possibly a cover song but we don't recognise it. At the same session they also did an interpretation of The Manhattans' "I Call It Love" also recorded by The Pretenders who also later in 1980 re-recorded it as an  uptempo version.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Black Bird Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/02/2024
Key/BPM:	10B/85
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Vanguards [2024] - The Ground That You’re Walking On / Before You Take Another Step Girl // Somebody Please (Long Version) [Hit And Run #HR 1557]

Garry J. Capes' Hit And Run records release their first pairing of 7" singles of 2024. The first consists of three tracks from Indianapolis sextet The Vanguards. All three tracks were released digitally by Now-Again on a 2019 compilation "LAMP Records - It Glowed Like The Sun: The Story Of Naptown's Motown 1969-1972")  from which two tracks "Good Times Bad Times" &/ "Man Without Knowledge" were also released on 7" by Soul Direction last year.

Hit And Run has selected three more tracks: "The Ground That You’re Walking On" & "Before You Take Another Step Girl" on the A side with "Somebody Please (long version)". They are all Lowrider style group harmony songs.

The Vanguards were a 60s/70s soul group from Indianapolis, IN, led by James Davis and consisting of Paul Irvin, Dickey Pierson, Von Wheeler, Elaine Livingston and Wilbur Winston. They were LAMP (Layden And Miller Productions) Records only top 100 Billboard R&B charting group who hit twice with their debut single, the lowrider classic, "Somebody Please" (#49) in 1969 followed by another lowrider "It's Too Late To Love" (#33) the following year. "Somebody Please" was initially released on L&M (a forerunner to LAMP) records in Jun 1969 which commands a much higher price tag than the second issue on Whiz (a subsidiary of Hollywood's Double Shot) in Aug 1969.

The song, written by Davis & Irvin, was covered in 1969 by Billy Keene, initially on Dottie and then on Ronn, and has been covered by several others including Barbara Lynn on her 1996 LP "Until Then I'll Suffer", K-Ci & JoJo on "My Brother's Keeper" (2013) and many more. The most recent version, that we can recall, was by Trish Toledo in 2017.

After graduating, Davis enlisted for 3 years duty in the military forces, joining the infantry. It was there he came up with the bands future name 'The Vanguards' from the Vanguard rocket ship programme and formed the group which were to become a big hit performing for the armed forces until his 3-year stint was up. 

They released around six singles on Lamp in 1970-71 followed by a couple on Indiana label Shirley in 1975 with their last release billed as Vanguards & The Lady.

Available now to order by sending £15.00 each + £3.00 UK postage (good for 1-3 records) via Paypal (friends & family) to hitandrunsoul45@gmail.com

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Group Harmony / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Hit And Run
Cat No:	HR 1557
Date:	06/02/2024
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jacob G. [2024] - In Love With You [Round 2 Music]

Jacob G. has featured here several times over the last few years and has a new single, an old school lowrider, titled "In Love With You" which was released two weeks ago on 12 Jan. 

The song was written by John Gary Williams (who was a member of The Mad Lads) who recorded it as the flip side to his debut solo single (a cover of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord") on Stax in 1972. Williams released only three solo singles and an album, His second single is sought after not only the A side "The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy" but also for another cover of Four Tops "Ask The Lonely" (originally recorded, but not released until long after, by co-writer (with Mickey Stevenson)  Ivy Jo Hunter).

As you may know Jacob G. is the son on Chicano singer William Garcia aka Little Willie G. who sang with Thee Midniters and Los Lobos.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Round 2 Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/01/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/64
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Frankie Karl & The Chevrons [2023] - You Should'o Held On (Just A Little Tighter) / Boy Next Door [CAZIO]

Perhaps a coincidence that this has been reissued on 1 Sep with the Wigan Casino 50th anniversary looming, or not, but Frankie Karl & The Chevrons "You Should'o Held On" was a 'monster' sound there in the late 70s broken by Searling. He covered it up as The Showmen which was a good cover up as they have a similar sound. However, don't overlook the flip "Boy Next Door" which is probably the preferred tune for these day's tastes which we'd describe as a 'floater'.

It was also released as a white promo as The 7th Avenue Aviators on Congress in Dec 1965 but the the Philtown issue of Frankie Karl & The Chevrons was the original thought to be Sep 1965. The recordings are similar but not identical as the Philltown issue has a different intro and mix. Presumably a different mix was farmed out but no idea why the group name was changed? We'll post both and see if you can 'spot the difference' as it's not obvious. 

Both fetch four figures (£2k-£3k) but the Philltown release (which has several label variants) is probably the harder one to find with the red issue possibly the rarest. There isn't even a label scan for it on Discogs or 45Cat, but we found a couple, one with a stamped promo on it and another autographed, apparently their is another alternate red label design. Note the difference in the title: "You Should Have Held On" rather than "You Should'o Held On".

Frankie C. (Carl?) Springs was born in 1945 and formed a gospel choir COGIC Singers, with Gloria Jones and Billy Preston as well as Edna Wright (aka Sandy Wynns the sister of Darlene Love), Andrae Crouch and Sandra 'Blinky' Williams. This release was his first recording. He was a member of The Tripps who released just one single on Victoria in 1967. In 1968 he cut a disc on Gene Dozier's D.C. Sound "Don't Be Afraid (Do As I Say)" as Frankie Karl & The Dreams, a lowrider favourite. It was reasonably successful and was picked up by Bell for distribution. He released a few more solo singles, one on In'Sight (which 45Cat dates as Sep 1967 but two of the other four listed are 1970), one for Liberty in 1970 and, what appears to be is final release on, Gordy in 1976.

Karl helped form The Chevrons along with Richard Prince (aka LaLa), Kenneth Calvert and Herbert 'Herbie' Holmes whilst serving in the US Air Force after which he returned to L.A. and was a member of the cast of Hair in the late 60s. He died in 2008 aged 63.

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	CAZIO
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/09/2023
Key/BPM:	2B/131 / 7B/119
Price:	£1.29

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Broken Hearts Inc. [2023] - In A Moment / Freedom Is A Lonely Ride [Kimberlite Records #KIM-009]

The first single on Canada's Kimberlite Records for some time went on pre-sale on vinyl on Sunday (6 Aug) and is released digitally today on the main platforms.

It's Broken Hearts Inc. second single for Kimberlite after "Please Don't Walk Away / Heartache (Is All You Get)" launched the label back in 2018.

The A side, apparently only decided by a flip of a coin, is a crossover style song with a nod to War titled "In A Moment" (an original song written by Fred Benton not a cover of The Intrigues). Whilst the flip side is a doo wop style souldie "Freedom Is A Lonely Ride".

All previous Kimberlite vinyl singles are now sold out but the first six are available to download from Kimberlite for $1.99 (or $0.99 each side).

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:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Kimberlite Records
Cat No:	KIM-009
Date:	11/08/2023
Key/BPM:	4A/123 / 12B/111
Price:	$1.99 / $12

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2023] - Psychomania Choppers: Chicano Oldies and R&B Rarities, Vol. 1 [Psychomania]

A good compilation, made even sweeter by the ridiculously cheap price of £2.99 on Amazon, was released on Friday (4 Aug).

As the title implies, it  consists of souldies/lowriders from the 60s/70s and contains one of our favourites Little Royal & The Swingmasters who we did a Discography for several years ago.

Most tracks are from relatively little know artists (with perhaps the exclusion of Donnie Elbert and Barbara Mason) who didn't release a lot of music and even fewer made any impact at the time but have been unearthed by  various underground rare soul scenes over the years.

If you have a penchant for sweet n' deep then these will be right up your street.

The comp opens with "All For You" by The Admirations which was the flip side of their last of only four recordings on One-derful! in 1967.

Donnie Elbert's "Baby Let Me Love You Tonite" was an early recording on Vee Jay in 1960 reissued on Jayboy in UK in 1970, presumably to 'cash in' on his UK success with his All Platinum album "Where Did Our Love Go" which had several tracks picked up on by the Northern Soul scene.

The Barbara Mason track, "Just You And Me", is an unissued Arctic recording from the 'Oh How It Hurts' sessions that seems to have been first released on a Bear Family CD reissue of the album with additional unreleased recordings in 1997.

The last of only three records on L.A. based Venus and the second of two singles by Karen Small is another flipside, "That's Why I Cry", written by Don Julian (& The Larks). It even got a UK release on Vocalion in 1966.

The debut single on Markay in 1962 "I Wanna Chance" by The Vows which included Morris Chestnut (know in NS circles for several recordings both solo and in groups such as The Vows and The Attractions). This one has more of a doo-wop sound.

Although Little Royal & The Swingmasters "Jealous" is credited to Little Royal Torrence, it is more or less the same song, with a few changes, as Garland Green's "Jealous Kind Of Fella" written by Green with Jo Armstead, Morris Dollinson and Rudolph Browner. It was released on Tri Us in 1971. Green's song was 1969.

Yet another B side, to his NS spin "Have Love Will Travel" is "Think About It Baby" by Roosevelt 'Rosey' Jones on Patrick Adams run Today Records. John 'Monster' Davis arranged and Frank Fioravanti produced both songs. It was his only solo single although he released another with The Superiors.

Although sounding very 60s, "I'm So In Love With You" is a 70s recording by Californian Chicano group Thee Dupremes who formed in 1975. They released another single on their own label Depreme Productions .

Walter Webb  & The Highlighters is a completely new name to us, not surprisingly when they released just one single on Chess in 1970 "Your Time Is Gonna Come". The single on both Discogs and 45 Cat is associated with James Bell & The Highlighters (Band) from Indianapolis which seems plausible as they released a single on Lulu (which is also the title of the flipside) written by the same song writers Herman & Brantley (misspelt? Bradly).

The Sequins song, "What Makes Me Love You" is a Phillip Mitchell song recorded on Denise LaSalle's Crajon Records in 1971. They were a girl group trio from Chicago and not, perhaps the better know group, from L.A. which included Brenda & Patrice Holloway.

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

For YouTube Playlist for Full Comp. Click HERE

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Lowrider, Sweet Soul, Deep Soul,  Souldies
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Psychomania
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/08/2023
Price:	£2.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Broken Hearts Inc. [2023] - In A Moment / Freedom Is A Lonely Ride [Kimberlite Records #KIM-009]

Due to go on pre-sale at 11:00 MST (18:00 BST) today (6 Aug) is the latest single from Canada's Kimberlite Records. It's been a while since their last release in Feb '22 with Aladean Kheroufi "Love!... (Is The Answer) / Every Girl".

The new one is the second single from Broken Hearts Inc. who's first single "Please Don't Walk Away / Heartache (Is All You Get)" launched the label back in 2018.

The A side, apparently only decided by a flip of a coin, is a crossover style song with a nod to War titled "In A Moment" (an original song written by Fred Benton not a cover of The Intrigues). Whilst the flip side is a doo wop style souldie "Freedom Is A Lonely Ride".

All previous Kimberlite vinyl singles are now sold out but the first six are available to download from Kimberlite for $1.99 (or $0.99 each side).

The Broken Hearts Inc. 7" single is available to pre-order today for release on Friday (11 Aug).

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

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Kimberlite Records
Cat No:	KIM-009
Date:	11/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	$12

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jonny Benavidez & Cold Diamond & Mink [2023] - My Echo, Shadow and Me [Timmion Records #TRLP-12012] (Album Sampler)

A three track 'EP' from Jonny Benavidez & Cold Diamond & Mink "My Echo, Shadow and Me" which is a sampler for the full debut album of the same name due from Daptone in collaboration with Timmion on vinyl on 23 Jun '23.

The three tracks currently available are all original songs written by San Diego, CA, native (via El Paso, TX) Benavidez. "Somebody Cares" was licensed to and released on Penrose in Jan '23 and "Tell Me You Love Me" on Timmion imprint Stylart in 2018. His only other solo single "Let's Get Together" and "Slow Down Girl" (the flip to "Somebody Cares") will be included on the album.

Another by him that may be of interest is a cover of The Radiant's 1965 Chess classic "Ain't No Big Thing", on which he collaborated with Maria Avila and Rocky Padilla, released by Industry Music Group in 2020.

We came across a video of him performing one of our favourite songs "Going In Circles" (Friends Of Distinction) which, as far as we are aware, is unreleased, that we couldn't resist posting.

You can pre-order the full album from Bandcamp.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Sweet Soul / Brown-Eyed / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Timmion Records
Cat No:	TRLP-12012
Date:	16/05/2023
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Los Yesterdays [2023] - Who Made You You? / Louie, Louie [Penrose #PRS 1015]

A few weeks ago we hinted at five new releases in the pipeline for Daptone imprint Penrose. One was posted by Vicky Tafoya, and another is out today. A third single on the label for Los Yesterdays, following "Nobody's Clown" and their last "Tell Me I'm Dreaming".

The A side "Who Made You You?" is an original song for which the label says "Imagine Eddie Holman cutting a side for Fania and you're getting warm".

The flip "Louie, Louie" was a minor hit for the song's writer, Richard Berry (& The Pharaohs) in 1957. The Kingsmen, a five piece rock n roll band from Portland, OR, had a #1 hit with it in 1964.

The group consists of Daptone boss Gabriel Roth (guitar), Tom Brenneck (bass), Gabriel Rowland (drums) and Victor Benavides (vocals). 

The single is available digitally and on 7" vinyl from Bandcamp.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Sweet Soul / Lowrider
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Penrose
Cat No:	PRS 1015
Date:	09/02/2023
Key/BPM:	6B/99 / 2A/81
Price:	£1 / $7

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved