Truth & Devotion [2024] - Heaven At Last [Holy Grail Records #HGR-002] (Full Album)

Truth & Devotion were a gospel/soul group from Anderson, IN, who released a solitary album, "Heaven At Last", on Tyscott Records in 1981 and one single from it on Champ Records. The single included a non-album track "To Know Him" along with "I'm So Happy" and sells consistently for around £100 with the original album fetching up to £200 plus.

The album has been reissued digitally and on vinyl in Jan this year by Holy Grail Records prompted by hop-hop producers sampling the title track, which is worth the price of the album on it's own. 

It's the Worcester, Massachusetts, based label's second release after reissuing Tomorrow's Wish "On My Mind" album on vinyl last year. 

The group was led by Dewayne Johnson (keys / vocals) and included Bobby Simonds (guitar & vocals), James L. Dixon (drums), Edgar M. "Mickey" Woodall, Bill Miller (vocals), John L. Hester (bass and narration on "Heaven At Last"), Garland L. Simmons (percussion) and Horace Brooks (guitar).

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

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Gospel Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital / Vinyl
Label:	Holy Grail Records
Cat No:	HGR-002
Date:	15/01/2024
Price:	$15 / $25

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Bossa Nostra & Vicki Anderson [2024] - Home Is Where The Hatred Is / The Message From The Soul Sisters (The Remixes E.P.) [Irma Records]

Recently covered by Billy Valentine, Gil Scott-Heron's "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" was also covered by Bossa Nostra & Vicki Anderson in 1996 and has been reissued digitally today with a set of remixes.

The release also includes three versions of "The Message From A Soul Sister", a James Brown written song that she originally recorded under her real name Myrna Barnes in 1970 on King.

Anderson was married to Bobby Byrd who are the parents of Carleen Anderson (The Brand New Heavies). She died last July aged 83 and a tribute was posted.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Funk
Format:	EP / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Irma Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/05/2024
Price:	£7.89

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Luther [2024] - This Close To You [Primary Wave Music]

We reported some months ago that, at the behest of the Vandross family estate, two Luther albums on Cotillion were being reissued for the very first time. The first self-titled one, "Luther" from 1976, was released a month ago on 19 Apr.

The second from 1977 is heralded with the release of the title track "This Close To You" today with the full album due on 7 Jun, available digitally, on CD and vinyl. 

This one, we feel, will be more in demand as it contains the two modern soul gems "Don't Wanna Be A Fool" and "Follow My Love". 

The Cotillion albums have never been reissued as Vandross retained the rights to them when released by the label when the group was dropped by them. We bet someone's head rolled (or should have) when they saw the later success of Vandross in the 80s!

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / 70s Soul
Format:	Album Track / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Primary Wave Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/05/2024
Key/BPM:	5A/69
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Opells [2024] - You Know I Love You b/w Day And Time [Numero Group #NUM4455]

Another rarity reissued digitally this week by Numero Group. A one-off single by The Opells on Linco with "You Know I Love You" and "Day And Time".

The label, run by Walter Grady out of Greensboro, NC, released around a dozen singles between 1969-74. This one was released in 1971.

The group, from Greenboro, recorded this one-off single whilst attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Two members survive A Lovett and lead singer Tom Smith (both from New York), James Steadman Jr. and Raleigh Bryant (aka Lil Fats) are now deceased.

Both sides were written by group member James Steadman Jr. The A side is a lowrider sweet soul harmony song (known to the lowrider community for some years) with the flip being more uptempo and funky. 

Numero Group has the rights to the label and has released 20 plus from Grady's group of labels which includes Cobra, Witches Brew and others. So, if your looking for any from the labels, have a search as they may well have been reissued digitally.

This one seems virtually impossible to find on original vinyl as only one has ever sold on Discogs (£434) and none are available there for sale, and we can't find it listed at all on Popsike.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul  Soul-/Funk
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4455
Date:	16/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8A/71 / 3A/121
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Life Force [2024] - Slow Dancer / Funky Mama [Numero Group #NUM4653]

A digital reissue today by Numero Group of two tracks from Life Force's self-titled album from 1977. It appears to be their only release and was on New York label Strawberry run by Randy Irwin who produced the album, which was reissued on vinyl in France & Benelux in 2013 by Favorite Recordings.

The vocalist is Mark Worthy who also wrote "Slow Dancer". Other group members were Ben Wolffolk (Bass), Livie Graves (keys), Eddie Hilton (drums), Danny Wolffolk (trumpet) and Don 'Count' Williams (sax) who wrote the jazz/funker "Funky Mama".

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

 

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4653
Date:	13/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/88 / 8B/124
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Michael Wycoff [2024] - Looking Up to You (Mike Maurro Mix / Original) [RCA]

Originally released digitally in Dec. last year on a compilation "The Mike Maurro Remix Vault" (consisting of Maurros remixes of 17 classic dance songs) was one for Michael Wycoff's modern soul gem "Looking Up To You".

It is now getting pressed on 12" vinyl along with the original 1982 album version from "Love Conquers All". It will be available on 7 Jun but can be pre-ordered now from vinyl dealers.

The song, written by Leon Ware and Zane Hanks (Grey & Hanks) and produced by Webster Lewis, has been sampled multiple times, first by Dodge City Productions "Ain't Going for That" in 1991 but most famously by Zhane on "Hey Mr DJ" in 1993.

Wycoff sang backing vocals on Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" (as well as for Natalie Cole, DJ Rogers, Gwen McCrae and others and played keyboards on Bobby Womack's The Poet II). He embarked on a solo career in the late 70s releasing three albums for RCA Victor in the early 80s. Sadly, he succumbed to alcohol and drug addiction which terminated his music career and he later found faith and became a minister. He died from pancreatic cancer in March 2019 aged 63.

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	12" Vinyl
Label:	RCA
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/06/2024
Key/BPM:	6A/106 / 6A/104
Price:	£14

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ike Noble & The Uptights [2024] - It's Bad / Best of Luck to You [Athens Of The North #Ath 152]

A record that has been championed in recent years by soul record dealer John Manship at the Newark Sunday soul sessions is "It's Bad" by Ike Noble. We've posted it before on an Ike Noble Discography in 2020. 

It is now being reissued digitally and on vinyl by Athens Of The North. It was released in 1967 on Alley and was favoured by the Northern Soul fraternity for the flip side "That's What I Get". As is often the case in later years, enterprising DJs flip record over to test the B sides which were regarded far too slow back in the day when anything less that 100mph was a no go and slower, and perhaps more soulful, songs are now gaining exposure.

Until Manship starting including it in his sets you could have picked an original up for under £100 but they now sell for up to £400! Only one copy is currently up for sale on Discogs with an asking price of £375 for a VG+. You can now buy a minter for  a fraction of that. As far as we can ascertain there is no other way of obtaining it on vinyl, except on an Ike Noble compilation "Look A Little Higher" released by AOTN in Jun 2022.

Instead of the original A side, AOTN have issued it with a previously unreleased deep soul song "Best of Luck to You".

Available along with another two Ike Noble singles from AOTN Bandcamp store, all billed as Ike Noble & The Uptights, from 24 May.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Athens Of The North
Cat No:	Ath 152
Date:	24/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8A/108 / N/A
Price:	£2 / £9.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

SoulStrutter Selections April 2024 - Cover Versions & Reissues

The second instalment of our April 2024 summary consists our selection of 30 of the best cover versions and reissues released in April with a running time of approx. 2 hours.

Check out the April 2024 Retro Soul Selections

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Candi Staton [1972] - Candi Staton [Kent #CDKENM 519] (Full Album)

Ace Records, on their Kent imprint, have reissued Candi Staton's 1972 self-titled album on CD and vinyl for the very first time. It was Staton's third album for Rick Hall's Fame label and the first that was distributed by United Artists aimed to give the label international recognition.

It contains her three hit singles, a cover of Elvis' "In The Ghetto" (who complemented Candi her on her rendition), "Do It In The Name Of Love" and "Lovin' You, Lovin' Me" along with the B sides to the second two "The Thanks I Get For Loving You" and the wonderful "You Don't Love Me No More" which should have been an A side.

Of the album only songs, "Blackmail" would be our choice cut.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Southern Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	CD / Vinyl
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CDKENM
Date:	29/03/2024
Price:	£10.68 / £22.14

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

Lee Tracy & Issac Manning [2024] - Is It What You Want? / Saving All My Love For You [Athens Of The North]

An obscurity from 1989 by Lee Tracy (Johnson) & Isaac Manning has been reissued digitally and on vinyl by Athens Of The North. The songs were originally released on Nashville label One Chance Records in 1989 and again in 1991 as promos only and are pretty hard to come by. The last one listed on Popsike sold for almost £900 in Dec '22 and was only VG/VG-. 

Athens Of The North issued a full album by the pair in 2022 digitally and on vinyl which included both songs.

The sides have been flipped leading with the original B side "Is It What You Want?" with an unrecognisable rendition of Whitney Houston's hit, "Saving All My Love For You" (written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser) on the flip.

A very lo-fi production which seems to add charm to these sort of obscurities which is an acquired taste. (Posted more out of curiosity and interest rather than any musical merit!)

It's also available digitally on Amazon for only £1.38 but we've posted it from Bandcamp as the vinyl is available from there.

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

Details

Rating:	N/A
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Rare Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / 7" Vinyl
Label:	Athens Of The North
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/04/2024
Key/BPM:	8A/100 / 11B/102
Price:	£2 / £9.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Erica Falls & Vintage Soul [2024] - Up / Makings Of Love [Izipho Soul #ZP105]

Most certainly one of the highlights of 2023 was the excellent single, "Up", from Erica Falls which  which we championed from release last July and is included on her recent album "Emotions". 

Not one to miss an opportunity, Izipho Soul's Pat Biggerstaff has done a deal to release it on a 45 along with "Makings Of Love" from her 2017 "HomeGrown" album.

Two absolutely superb sides on one 45, what's not to like? Snap this up before it's gone if you need it on vinyl as these will definitely sell out quickly. 

Available to pre-order now from Izipho Soul for release on 10 May.

NOTE The video below for "Makings of Love" is an alternate acoustic version and not the recorded version.

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:	New Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP105
Date:	10/05/2024
Key/BPM:	9B/68 / 11A/94
Price:	£14

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Kevin Owens feat. Luther Vandross [2024] - You're My Everything [JBR Records / New Image Music Group]

For whatever reason, "You're My Everything" by Kevin Owens has been digitally reissued. It is taken from his 1991 album "That Time Again" and features Luther Vandross along with well known backing singers Ava Cherry, Lisa Fischer, Paulette McWilliams who worked with Vandross over the years.

Owen was also a backing singer for Vandross for 23 years as well as singing backup for many other artists. Curiously, he was also a one time member of Ray, Goodman & Brown (we posted a new single from Billy Brown earlier) replacing Harry Ray in 1982. He was also a member of Revelation up until then. 

In 2014 Owen published a book about his experience with Vandross, "So Amazing Through The Eyes Of Kevin Owens", that is now out of print but seems to sell for large sums on the re-sale market.

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:	90s Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	JBR Records / New Image Music Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/04/2024
Key/BPM:	6B/90
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Sharisma [2024] - Trouble Trouble // Something Wonderful / Love Is The Way [Soul Direction #SD021]

The latest vinyl release from Soul Direction consists of three songs by Sharisma that were released digitally for the first time in Aug '22 on a compilation "Emandolynn Music Presents: Rare Soul, Vol. 3".

The compilation had nine tracks with three of them from Sharisma who were a 2 male, 2 female quartet from Wilmington, Delaware. They met Emandolynn's Manny Campbell (Soulville Productions) at a show in 1969 and then travelled to Philadelphia to record with him in the hope of completing an album. They started recording an album in 1969-70 at the famed Sigma Sounds studios but before it was completed the group disbanded because some members were drafted for the Vietnam War. 

The first two songs, “Love Is The Way" and "Something Wonderful” , were recorded as demos at Upper Darby Studios in 1969 with the last "My Son Trouble Trouble" recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in 1970 and was intended to be the group's debut single. It was engineered by Sigma's Joe Tarsia and included musicians who would later become members of The Trammps.

The single will be available to pre-order from Soul Direction on 29 Apr for release on 7 May.

The lead side, "Trouble Trouble" is a mid tempo Northern Soul / Crossover sound with "Something Wonderful" sounding like something that The 5th Dimension / Friends Of Distinction may have recorded at the turn of the decade. The ballad "Love Is The Way" having more appeal to the Lowriders and sweet soul lovers.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Sweet Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Soul Direction
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/123 / 4A/88 / 9B/86
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Luther [2024] - Luther [Primary Wave Music] (Full Album)

In Feb this year it was announced that the Vandross family estate had agreed to reissue two albums by Luther originally released in the 70s on Cotillion. Vandross bought back the rights to these albums from the label when the group was released preventing the label from reissuing them and they have lay dormant for almost 50 years. The announcement was heralded by the release of Luther's second single "Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)" from the first album, "Luther" (1976).

The full album has been reissued for the very first time (digitally on CD and vinyl) today (19 April) and includes a bonus track, an instrumental version of "The 2nd Time Around". It is also the day before his birthday, he would have been 73 on 20 Apr 2024.

The second Luther album, "This Close To Me" (1977), will also be reissued on 7 Jun. and contains three bonus tracks "Can’t Get Enough Good Loving", "Come Back To Love (Instrumental)" and " Don’t Wanna Be A Fool (Instrumental)". It includes two massive modern soul gems "Follow My Love" and "Don't Wanna Be A Fool".

Physical copies are available to pre-order via LutherVandross.com. NOTE The bonus tracks are NOT available on the vinyl releases.

The albums are being reissued to coincide with a documentary "Luther: Never Too Much" directed by Dawn Porter which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 21 Jan '24.

Only three singles materialised from these two albums: "It's Good For The Soul (Pt I & II)", "The 2nd Time Around" / "Funky Music (Is Part Of Me)" and "This Close To You" / "Don't Wanna Be A Fool", with the latter being sought after by the rare soul scene and sells for up to £300.

Whilst the act uses his name, Luther was a five piece group consisting of Luther Vandross, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa Reed and Christine Wiltshire  (Class Action, Musique, Phreek). Vandross wrote all songs on both albums. The three singles all charted on the R&B charts (#28, #34 and #94 respectively) but the albums didn't sell particularly well and the group was released by Cotillion.

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

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / 70s Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Primary Wave Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/04/2024
Price:	£7.92

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Willie Hutch [2024] - Ode To My Lady [Motown] (Full Album)

Following the digital reissue of two 1976 Willie Hutch albums a few weeks ago ("Concert In Blues" and "Color Her Sunshine") Motown/Universal reissue another gem, "Ode To My Lady", from 1975.  It was first reissued on CD by London's Soul Brother Records in 2011 but we believe this is the first digital release of the album.

Only two singles materialised from the album with "Love Power" being his highest charting single reaching #41 Hot 100 and #8 R&B (his only solo top 10 career hit) and the other,  "Party Down", containing his modern soul gem, "Just Another Day", on the B side.

Apart from "Just Another Day", the real diamond on the album is hands down the best performance of a classic song "The Way We Were" made famous by Barbara Streisand in 1974 (via title track of the movie she starred in with Robert Redford) and then Gladys Knight & The Pips. Many others such as Freda Payne, The Dells, The Manhattans, 21st Century and so many more have all covered the song faithfully in the MOR style but Hutch's version ups the tempo and changes the arrangement and is sung in his distinctive soulful style. A SS favourite for far too many years to remember and, if it's a new one on you then, you're in for a real treat.

Other highlights (and there are several) include the powerful deep soul ballad "Since I Found You", the mid-tempo "Talk To Me" (B side to "Love Power") and "(I'm Gonna) Hold On", a superb modern soul dancer that we don't recall ever hearing 'played out' but no doubt someone will tell us that Jack The Lad played it in the back room at Itchy Bottom Working Man's Club in 1977! The instrumental title track is no slouch either and very much in his earlier Blaxploitation movie theme mode of Foxy Brown and The Mack!

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

Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Album / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown/Universal
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/04/2024
Price:	£9.90

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

SoulStrutter Selections Q1 2024 - Cover Versions / Reissues

SoulStrutter Selections of some of the best cover versions and reissues for Q1 2024.

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved