The Mint 400 [2024] - Northern [TalkingHead TV Recordings] (Full Album)

If you hadn't deduced it already from the title, "Northern", of the debut album by The Mint 400, then from the opening track, "Unless Your Name Is Love (You Can't Come In)", (which is a clone of Rita & The Tiaras 1967 Dore single "Gone With the Wind Is My Love) you know that it's tailor made Northern Soul. To be fair it's a pretty good 'version' which uses a similar (but re-recorded) backing with different lyrics. This track was released as a single on 16 Apr.

"Gimme Some More" is based on The M.V.P.'s Turning My Heartbeat Up" (Buddah 1971), "Rescue" is based on Shirley Ellis' "Soul Time" (Columbia 1966) and "So Bad" on Shane Martin's "I Need You" (Epic 1968).

We won't bore you by name dropping each track (cheat sheet below) but most/all seem to be based on originals that we're sure you can probably figure out yourself if you have any interest in Northern Soul.

Although many of the songs appear to be derived from Northern Soul classics they all have a new modern/contemporary twist with different lyrics creating a new song with an authentic sound and not synthetic as is often the case with many of these types of recordings. Purists may roll their eyes but we don't mind admitting that we like it as it sounds refreshing. So many of these Northern Soul tailor mades disappoint as they don't quite capture the authentic sound. We've heard far far worse 'originals' played on the scene for the sake of 'rarity' and 'exclusivity'. This of course won't be touched by them unless or until it's released on the sacred vinyl in any case!

The musician behind the album is Manchester veteran Paul Ashley Wheatcroft who started out on the Manchester 'industrial funk' scene in a band called Workforce in 1982. In 1989 he was half of Ashley & Jackson with Steve Cobby who toured with Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpet and Brand New Heavies and released one album and had a modest chart hit with "Solid Gold" in 1990 (#89 UK Pop chart). In 2007 he formed TalkingHead TV Recordings and in 2017 changed his name to Hakim Jamal (the name of the cousin of Malcolm X).

The vocalists are Rachel Maxann from Memphis and 21 yr old Fliss (Felicity) Mitchell who we think is from Gloucester.

Cheat Sheet

01 -  "Unless Your Name Is Love (You Can't Come In)"

        (Rita & The Tiaras "Gone With the Wind Is My Love" (Dore 1967))

02 - "Gimme Some More" 

        (The M.V.P.'s "Turning My Heartbeat Up" (Buddah 1971))

03 - "Rescue" 

        (Shirley Ellis "Soul Time" (Columbia 1966)) 

04 - "So Bad" 

        (Shane Martin "I Need You" (Epic 1968))

05 - "Uptown" 

        (Edwin Starr - Back Street(?) Ric-Tic 1966))

06 - "You Must Have Left Me 100 Times" 

        (Marvin Gaye "Love Starved Heart" (Motown comp 1994))

07 - "Come On Baby" 

        (Don Thomas "Come On Train" (NUVJ 1973))

08 - "Many Faces Of Love" 

        Darrel Banks/George Carrow "Angel Baby" (Atco/Columbia (1967)

        / Lee Andrews & The Hearts "Never The Less" (Crimson 1967))

09 - "We Don't Talk" 

        (Linda Jones "I Just Can't Live My Life" (Warner Bros. 1969))

10 - "You Took My Shattered Dreams" 

        (Jackie Wilson "The Who Who Song" (Brunswick 1967))

11 - "After All" 

        (we don't recognise)

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Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Northern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	TalkingHead TV Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/05/2024
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jodie [2023] - I'm Not Your Fool [Original Gravity]

We were introduced to Norfolk native, Kilburn (London) based, Jodie (Richardson) in July 2021 when she sent us her debut single "Pushover" which had more than a nod towards Melba Moore's rarity "The Magic Touch". She later paired it with "Treat Me Better" for a vinyl release on Original Gravity which sold out within 24 hours.

Her third song was "Threads" released last August which passed us by but she now has her fourth recording "I'm Not Your Fool" released on Friday (21 Apr '23). A bit like "Pushover", it has a 'false start' with a slow intro before firing into  a 159 BPM Northern Soul stomper. The song has almost four parts, a 50 second building intro, the vocal section and a cool instrumental break at 2:44 with the vocals coming back in to complete the song with a sudden drop dead ending.

We are led to believe that it will be paired with an instrumental "Johnnies Blues" by Original Gravity's Neil Anderson for vinyl release.

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

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Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Northern Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Original Gravity
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/04/2023
Key/BPM:	10A/159
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Thee Sacred Souls [2023] - Running Away [Daptone Records]

Thee Sacred Souls are back with new material, their second single since the release of their debut album in Aug '22. This time they take the tempo right up and away from their more typical sweet soul ballads with a song titled "Running Away".

They last appeared here on 1 Mar '23 with a live EP "Thee Sacred Souls on Audiotree Live"  along with the corresponding video. Another live set is posted below from Aug '22 ahead of the released of their debut self-titled album recorded at Bandcamp HQ.

The group will be touring Europe in April. Dates below and tickets for their website.

04 Apr - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds 

06 Apr - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2 

07 Apr - Bristol, UK - Thekla

08 Apr - Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall

10 Apr - Rouen, FR - Le 106

12 Apr - La Roche-Sur-Yon, FR - Quai M

13 Apr - Paris, FR - Trabendo

15 Apr - Cologne, DE - Luxor          

17 Apr - Frankfurt, DE - Zoom Club

18 Apr - Munich, DE - Ampere

19 Apr - Berlin, DE - Hole 44           

21 Apr - Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg OZ

22 Apr - Rotterdam, NL  -  Bird

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul, / Neo Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Daptone Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/03/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/139
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Carmy Love [2021] - Rebel / Thinkin' About You [Big A.C]

Carmy Love's "Thinkin' About You" was released digitally on 26 Mar 2021 (posted here 27 Mar) and did well and was then put on the B side of "Rebel" on 7" vinyl which sold out on pre-order.  She has subsequently released "Together Again" both digital and vinyl.

Big A.C records has pressed up another 500 copies of "Rebel" / "Thinkin' About You" in white vinyl as the first press is currently selling for around £100 on Discogs!

Carmy Love (Carmella Davis) is from North West London and was a member of acid jazz group from London New Street Adventure (NSA) who she used to perform "Rebel" with at live shows. Prior to that she recorded on 'Just Dance' with Cool Million in 2010 on their 'Back For More' album.

NSA band leader Nick Corbin owns Big A.C records with his wife Sophie Heath. NSA disbanded when Nick decided to become independent, breaking away from the Acid Jazz label to focus on a solo career. He has released an album 'Sweet Escape' and several singles (available on vinyl from Big AC). He wrote 'Thinkin' About You' as well as other material for artists on the label.

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Acoustic version feat. Nick Corbin 

(New Street Adventure and owner of Big AC records who also wrote the song)

Details

Rating:	9.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Northern Soul / Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	Vinyl/Digital
Label:	Big A.C
Cat No:	None
Year:	11/2022 (15/06/2021)
Key/BPM:	11B/171 / 1B/116
Value:	£15/ £2

The HP's Feat. Claire Davis [2022] - Hope To See You Again / Better Things [LRK Records #LRK-15]

A new release from Liam Kenney's LRK Records. The A side "Hope To See You Again" was available digitally on Bandcamp on 31 Mar 2022 and now (as of 15 Jul) the B side "Better Things" is also available with the 7" vinyl expected on 5 Aug available to pre-order via LRK Bandcamp store.

The HP's are a Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) based funk / soul collective and the brainchild drummer of 'Parkside' Mike Renaud who also owns Hidden Pony Records & Management. They have a forthcoming debut album "Gritty City Soul, Vol. 1" which is a collection of covers and original compositions inspired by James Brown and Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. The album is named after their home town Hamilton (i.e. Gritty City). They released their debut single "The HP Trot (Blow Maceo)" in January 2022.

The latest single features another Canadian artist, Claire Davis from Toronto, who featured here first back in Jun 2021 with "Thrive EP" and who has already released a single on LRK "Thrive" / "Playground".

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HP's Band

Clarie Davis

Details

Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7"
Label:	LRK Records
Cat No:	LRK-15
Date:	31/03/2022 / 15/05/22 (vinyl 22/08/2022)
Key/BPM:	11B/112 / 3B/97
Value:	£1.39 / £12

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved