The Modulations [2024] - Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simphouse Productions] (Full Album)

Following The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions for Billy Paul last month, the latest set of Paul Simpson re-edits is for The Modulations.

There were two groups named The Modulations active around the same time in the mid 70s. One was a gospel group from Jacksonville, FL, led by Glenn Jones, the other this group from Durham, NC, originally called The Pimps, consisting of Larry 'Little Nick' Allen Jr., Larry Duncan, Henry Channelle and Hoyal Saunders. They released their first single in 1970 as The Modulations Of Durham, North Carolina on New Rochelle, NY, gospel label Mozel.

By 1973 they were signed to Buddah releasing three singles and an album ("It's Rough Out Here") for the label between 1973-75. The first single ("I'm Hopelessly In Love") didn't register but the last two ("I Can't Fight Your Love" and "Worth Your Weight In Gold") both reached the lower echelons of the R&B chart (#65 and #79 respectively). Curiously, two tracks from the album ("Rough Out Here" / "Love At Last") were released on single only in Greece with "Rough Out Here" being paired with "I'll Always Love You" gaining a single release in Peru. With "Rough Out Here" being a modern soul in-demander (and the fetish for 45s) both of these singles command high prices, circa £200+, when they come up for sale.

Musicians on the album included Philly heavyweights Earl Young (drums), Bobby Eli (guitar), Norman Harris (guitar), MFSB (strings) and was arranged by Vince Montana and produced by Bob Curington. Most of the songs were written by Rodney Brown, Willie and Tylon Lester who went on to write and work with artists such as Bobby Thurston, Al Johnson, Gayle Adams, Sharon Redd, Evelyn King and Khemistry in the 80s.

Track listing:

1 - Love at last (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:13

2 - I can't fight your love (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:22

3 - I'm hopelessly in love (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:26

4 - Head on collision with heartbreak (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 9:02

5 - Rough out here (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:41

6 - Your love has me locked up (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:27

7 - Somebody's been messin' (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:32

The first five tracks are from their album with non-album track, "Your Love Has Me Locked Up", being a B side to the single "I Can't Fight Your Love" and the final track, "Somebody's Been Messin'", a previously unreleased bonus track first released on a 2012 expanded CD reissue of "It's Rough Out Here" by Funkytowngrooves.

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul Simpson's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. 

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Prodcution
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/03/2024
Price:	$11.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Billy Paul [2024] - Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simphouse Productions] (Full Album)

The new set of Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions from Paul Simpson is Billy Paul. For background, we did a Billy Paul Profile in Dec '22 for what would have been his 88th birthday, Paul died in Apr 2016 aged 81. 

He rose to fame with his all time classic "Me & Mrs Jones" which was a worldwide hit in 1972 topping both Billboard's R&B chart and Hot 100. It was his best selling record and only #1 hit and only one further single, "Thanks For Saving My Life", would break into the R&B Top 10 and Hot 100 Top 40 in 1973. 

Paul began his recording career aged 18 in 1952 and released eleven studio albums and two live albums during his career between 1968 and 1988.

All songs are taken from four of his Philadelphia International albums between 1972-75:

1972 - 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul *

1973 - War Of The Gods **

1975 - When Love Is New ***

1975 - Got My Head On Straight ****

Track Listing

01 - Let the dollar circulate (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:07 ***

02 - People power (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 8:18 ***

03 - America (We need the light) (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:53 ***

04 - Be truthful to me (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 7:32 ****

05 - My head's on straight (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:16 ****

06 - Thanks for saving my life (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:41 **

07 - July, July, July (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:50 ****

08 - The whole town's talking (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 8:57 **

09 - I've got so much to live for (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 7:13 ****

10 - Brown baby (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:20 *

11 - Am I black enough for you (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:39 *

12 - When it's your time to go (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 7:22 ****

13 - Me & Mrs. Jones (Paul Simpson Bonus Instrumental) 5:17 *

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul Simpson's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. 

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul / 70s Soul / Re-edits
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/02/2024
Price:	$13.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Love Committee [2023] - Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simphouse Productions] (Full Album)

The latest set of re-edits from Paul Simpson is from Love Committee who were a Philly group that evolved from The Ethics. 

The Ethics released around half a dozen singles between 1967-70. The first one on Wale followed by five on Vent several of which have had spins on the UK's rare soul scene. A final single was released on Golden Fleece in 1974 before they became Love Committee. The line up was Joe Freeman and Ronald Presson (aka Ron Tyson) from The Ethics along with Larry Richardson and Norman Frazier.

All tracks are from their 1978 Gold Mind album "Law And Order" except "Where Will It End" which featured as the flip side to their first Gold Mind single "Cheaters Never Win" and also "Law And Order". They released just one further album, a self-titled album on T-Electric in 1980. 

They had five R&B chart entries, two as The Ethics and three as Love Committee. None broke into the Top 30 and none crossed over to the Hot 100. 

Tyson joined The Temptations in 1983 and is still a member to this day. His brother David Tyson was with The Manhattans from 1993. By the early 2000s the original group had splintered into two groups. Tyson was with original member's, Winfred 'Blue' Lovett and Gerald Alston, version of the group. He died in 2022 with Lovett preceding him in 2014.

Track Listing

01 - Just as long as I got you (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 9:14

02 - Where will it end ( Paul Simpson Re-edit) 7:12

03 - Law & order (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:55

04 - Pass the buck (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 8:38

05 - Cheaters never win (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 07:16

06 - Put it in the back of your mind (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:41

07 - Tired of being your fool (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:33

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. 

Details

Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul / Disco / Re-Edits
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/10/2023
Price:	$9.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Keith Barrow [2023] - Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simphouse Productions] (Full Album)

The next in Paul Simpson Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions is Keith Barrow. It follows his Roy Ayers Mixes earlier this month.

All tracks are from taken from Keith Barrow's 1977 self-titled album on Columbia produced by the recently departed Bobby Eli with Larry Washington on percussion/congas and Ron Kersey on keys.

Tracks 3, 4 & 5 were written by Bobby Eli, (3 & 5 with Len Barry and 1 with Bruce Fisher).

Track List

01 - A world of lonely people (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 8:45

02 - You don't know how hard it is ( Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:54

03 - We've got a right to be wrong (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 3:27

04 - Mr. Magic man (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 4:27

05 - I put a twinkle in your eye (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 6:21

Only two of the tracks were released on 45, "Mr. Magic Man" (a #16 R&B hit for Wilson Pickett in 1973) c/w "We've Got A Right To Be Wrong", which preceded his big two-stepper "You Know You Wanna Be Loved" from his next album "Physical Attraction" in 1978.

We did a Keith Barrow Profile last Sep for what would have been his 68th birthday. He sadly died at a very young age of 29 in 1983 from complication from AIDS. Four of the five tracks above were included in a tribute playlist. He recorded four albums and only around eight singles before his death.

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. 

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/08/2023
Price:	$9.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Roy Ayers Ubiquity [2023] - Paul Simpson Uniquity Mixes [Simphouse Productions]

A set of three Roy Ayers remixes by Paul Simpson with some of Ayers' most iconic dance tracks. For anyone around in the late 70s these will be etched on their brains as they were club classics. The first from 1977 and the other two from 1979.

1 - Running away (Paul Simpson Uniquity Special Disco Version) 4:59

2 - Don't stop the feeling (Paul Simpson Uniquity Special Disco Version) 5:33

3 - Love will bring us back together (Paul Simpson Uniquity Special Disco Version) 5:52

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for a two weeks only. 

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Jazz Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simphouse Productions
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	$9.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Curtis Mayfield [2023] - The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simpson Uniquity]

At the blink of an eye after the last set for Philly Devotions, (and Revelation before that also in Feb) a new set of Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions from Paul Simpson is out for Curtis Mayfield.

It consists of seven tracks spanning three albums between 1979-85.

01 - Body Guard

02 - It's Lovin' Time (Your Baby's Home)

03 - Over The Hump

04 - Tell Me, Tell Me (How Ya Like To Be Loved)

05 - Victory

06 - What Is My Woman For?

07 - You Better Stop

"Body Guard" is from "We Come In Peace With A Message Of Love" (1985).

"It's Lovin' Time (Your Baby's Home)" is from "The Right Combination" with Linda Clifford (1980).

"Over The Hump", "Tell Me, Tell Me (How Ya Like To Be Loved)", "Victory", "What Is My Woman For?" and "You Better Stop" all from "Heartbeat" (1979).

"Heartbeat" was recorded at Sigma with songs either written, arranged or produced by Norman Harris and Ron Tyson or Bunny Sigler and his brother James.

"The Right Combination" was also recorded at Sigma with the included track produced by Harris. The track from the 1985 album "We Come In Peace With A Message Of Love" was written and arrange by Harris and Tyson and produced by Harris. 

Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for two weeks until around 22 Mar 2023. 

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul / Re-edits
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simpson Uniquity
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/03/2023
Price:	$9.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Dells [2022] - The Philadelphia Re​-​edit Sessions [Simpson Uniquity] (Full Album)

If you recall a couple of weeks ago I posted a compilation of Paul Simpson re-edits of Joe Simon's Gamble & Huff material "The Philadelphia Re-edit  Sessions" which was only to be available for two weeks. Yeah right, marketing hype, you probably thought, as I did, but indeed they are no longer available.

Simpson has done another set, this time of The Dells material produced by Norman Harris and Ron Tyson, also called "The Philadelphia Re​-​edit Sessions" which again is only available for two weeks, so if you want it make sure you grab it.

It consists of nine tracks and I'll post the track listing as I didn't with the Joe Simon release and now don't remember what all the tracks were!

1/ Get on down (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:17

2/ Rich man, poor man (Peace) Paul Simpson Re-edit 06:36

3/Teaser (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:08

4/ Our love (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:05

5/ Don't trick me, treat me (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:37

6/ They said it couldn't be done (But we did it) Paul Simpson Re-edit 06:06

7/ God helps those (Who help themselves) Paul Simpson Re-edit 05:55

8/ Love connection (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 06:17

9/ How can one man be so lucky (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:09

All of the tracks are from from their 1977 Mercury period from their last two (of three) albums for the label "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" and "Love Connection"

A couple of the obvious standouts are "Our Love" and "Don't Trick Me Treat Me"

Only available via Bandcamp and only until 14 Feb 2022.

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simpson Uniquity
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/02/2022
Value:	$6.99