Werner Richmond feat. Liz Vaughn [2024] - I'll Never Give Up On You [Blackbird Culture & Media]

Multi-talented Werner Richmond is from Houston, TX and is an actor, voiceover artist and singer.

His acting credits include co-starring in the movie "The Librarian 3" alongside Noah Wylie and  "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" (2008). He was also featured in "Last Holiday" (2006) (starring Queen Latifah and LL Cool J), "Fore!" (2013), "Prisoner of Love" (2022). On TV he's appeared in Disney's "Secrets of Sulphur Springs" (2021), "Mo" season 1 (2022) (Netflix) and "Iron Mike" (Hulu). He's also a stage actor and has appeared in many stage productions.

His singing career has seen him share the stage with Regina Belle (he sang on her "Love Forever Shines" (2008) album produced by Chris Walker (TMF)), Peabo Bryson, Howard Hewitt, Bobby Lyle, Eryka Badu, Michael Bolton, Eric Benet and more.

Only three singles from him are currently listed on DSPs, the first dating back to 2013, however, he has more, unreleased?, music on his Soundcloud channel, all with a timeless quality. He has a deep, gospel sounding, baritone voice.

His latest single "I'll Never Give Up On You" is released today and has a retro late 70s/early 80s sound. It features fellow Houstonian Liz Vaughn who has sung with Leela James, Eddie Levert, Angie Stone, Ledisi and Eric Benet. As a sought-after background vocalist, Liz has worked with Beyonce, Bilal and Stokely Williams (Mint Condition) and toured with Regina Bell for 8 years.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Blackbird Culture & Media
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/05/2024
Key/BPM:	3A/125
Price:	£1

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MT Jones [2024] - Tough Love [Self Released]

The second track from Liverpool's MT Jones' debut four track self-titled EP (due in Sep) is "Tough Love" due out on Wed 22 May.

Having been supporting Jalen Ngonda on his current tour (the UK dates of which have been postponed until later this year owing to Jalen's ill health) Jones is about to embark on his own UK tour and featured on Robert Elms' BBC Radio London show on Friday (17 May).

Included below is a live performance of "All I Do" the first track released from the EP in March.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/05/2024
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

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John Runefelt [2024] - How Can I Get Through to You? [Epidemic Sound] (Full EP)

Swedish producer John Runfelt has a knack of recreating a vintage sound. We've featured a couple of his releases previously that have all been instrumentals.

He has a new four track EP  "How Can I Get Through to You?" featuring two vocals this time attributed to Luv Child. We're not sure if it's a group or soloist but sounds like a solo male vocal. A search on Luv Child only returns a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, FL!

Whilst we're tempted to call the vocals blue-eyed, we're not so sure and won't commit ourselves as they could well be black? Our pick, which we've had on repeat, is "What's On Your Mind" that has a smooth mid/late 70s feel.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Price:	£3.96

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ellysium [2024] - Echoes Of Beginnings [Twin Noir Records]

We can find nothing about Ellysium, however, we have found some information on the song's writer Ronald Gordon Patton. They have released what appears to be a first single, "Echoes Of Beginnings", today.

After an orchestral style opening it sounds a bit like The Spinners from their 70s Thom Bell, Phillipe Wynne led, period. Whether or not this is a brand new song, or something that has been languishing in the vaults, we don't know but it sounds and, from the artwork, looks vintage.

This song was posted on his Soundcloud channel a week ago along with several other recent recordings (not all soul) and released on Twin Noir which we must presume is his own label. So perhaps it is a new recording but of course the song may have been written/recorded years ago.

Ron Patton (aka Ropatt) was born and raised in Michigan and whilst at college explored songwriting as a profession. When he graduated he continued writing with his twin brother Arnold and promoted their demos to labels and publishers around Detroit. In 1976 the brothers relocated to L.A. where they became staff songwriters for Holland Dozier Holland Music in Hollywood. In 1980 he co-founded Baywest Records in  Marina Del Rey, California.

He authored a book last year "Fables & Proverbs: Songwriting’s Secret Weapons for Lyric Writing".

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Twin Noir Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2024
Key/BPM:	4B/80
Price:	£1

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

SoulStrutter Selections April 2024 - Retro Soul

It's that time again where we take stock of the previous month's releases and highlight some that we consider to be the best of the month, just in case you missed any of them.

These are our Retro Soul selections of which there haven't been a great deal that we have found in April. They are new original recordings but with a retro feel, as cover versions and reissues of old songs will be playlisted separately and there are an abundance of those. 

Note: 

There's six in the playlist that we haven't (yet) done a full post for e.g. Diana Lee we think is an early 90s recording previously unreleased on a newly released album and Chuck Montegue is an obscure 60s recording that has just been released that is possibly previously unreleased as we can find no trace of it. Gabriella is a deep soul ballad reminiscent of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" in places. Two tracks from a new album by Aalon and a track from a new album by veteran 60s/70s girl group The Flirtations.

Technically, Rodney Stith is a remix/reissue and mea is a reworking of Zhane's "Just Like That" from 1997. 

Check out the April 2024 Cover Version / Reissue Selections

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The Proper Lovers [2024] - Future Trip [WeLoveDucks]

As alluded to on the Becca Hannah post, she is the lead singer with The Proper Lovers who released their second single "Future Trip" on 12 April which has a bit of a retro vibe going down.

On Becca's YouTube channel is a demo video for it recorded in Jul '22.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	WeLoveDucks
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/04/2024
Key/BPM:	11A/140
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Dylan Chambers [2024] - I Can Never Get Enough [Self Released]

Dylan Chambers is originally from Arlington, TX, relocating to L.A. around a decade ago. We first featured his music in Feb '23 with the retro 60s single "Don’t Give Up On My Love".

He's released another five singles since then all with a retro sound, most being rather pop oriented. His recording career started in Aug 2020 with a debut single "I Can Do It Myself". Dylan has an appreciation of late 60s/early 70s soul music and his third single in Dec 2020 was a cover of Jackie Wilson's "(You're Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher".

His latest single, "I Can Never Get Enough", has a 70s pop-soul feel which, like the last one we posted from him, is catchy, commercial and undeniably an ear worm.

He has a seven track EP "For Your Listening Pleasure!" due on 17 May. This single and the previous one, "High (When I’m Low)", will feature on it.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/04/2024
Key/BPM:	9B/100
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Kärma Sounds [2024] - Waitin' 4 [Self Released]

Kärma Sounds is the musical alter ego for Montreal's Karina Morin now based in Vancouver. She debuted in Sep '23 with "Let’s Stay Home Tonight".

We first featured her in Feb with her fourth single "Cake And Eat It" although she has various mixes of previous singles.

Her new single "Waitin' 4" is a bit of a 60s throwback which now also has a black and white 60s style music video for it.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/04/2024
Key/BPM:	12A/91
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved