Syleena Johnson & Syl Johnson [2024] - Black Balloon [SJ Entertainment]

An update/remake of Syl Johnson's "Black Balloons" on which he features posthumously with his daughter Syleena Johnson. 

Syl Johnson died two years ago on 6 Feb '22 so we would guess that this is a tribute.

It's a completely different arrangement to the 1969 original which featured on "Is It Because I'm Black".

Apart from three Christmas singles in 2022 and no fewer that four remixes of "Monsters In The Closet" last year, this is Ms Johnsons first release since her last album "The Making Of A Woman" in Apr '21. originally released just before Covid hit in Jan '20, so was reissued as a deluxe version as she was unable to promote it during Covid.

We understand that a new album, "Legacy'', is scheduled for later this year.

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
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	SJ Entertainment / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/02/2024
Key/BPM:	7B/94
Price:	£1

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Syleena Johnson [2021] - The Making Of A Woman (The Deluxe Edition) [Entertainment One Music]

There has been an abundance of releases in the last few days, with the most new albums I've seen released in a week so far this year. One that has been quite heavily promoted that was released yesterday, is the reissue of Syleena Johnson's The Makings Of A Woman which was released in Jan 2020 but owing to Covid didn't do as well as expected due to lack of promotion so a new deluxe edition with a couple of extra tracks has been released.

I posted a pre-released track from it and a live perfromance of the album earlier this month here, but here's the full album.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Entertainment One Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	23/04/2021
Value:	£7.99

Syleena Johnson [2021] - The Making Of A Woman (The Deluxe Edition Live) [Entertainment One Music] (Full Album)

In Jan 2020 Syleena Johnson released her eighth studio album called 'Woman'. She is due to release a deluxe version, retitled 'The Makings Of A Woman', on 23 Apr 2021 (available to pre-order now) which includes two additional tracks. This is mainly because of lack of promotion of the initial relase due to Covid.

One of those additional tracks 'Never Been Better' has been released as a single to promote the album. It's a deep soul ballad. The other new track is 'Water' which is not currently available.

On 2 Apr 2021 she posted a live concert with her performing the whole album' I've included a link to that along with the 2020 version of the full album below.

Syleena Johnson should need little introduction, but is the daughter of Chicago legend Syl Johnson and her first release was an album of duets with her father in 1995 'This Time Together By Father And Daughter' on his Twinight label.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single/Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Entertainment One Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	23/04/2021
Key:	N/A
BPM:	N/A
Value:	£7.99

Make Me Yours - A Version Excursion

One of the very first soul 45s I bought was Bettye Swann - Make Me Yours.  I came a cross a playlist in Blues & Soul today which included Ann Peebles version which she recorded on her debut album that I wasn't aware of, or had completely forgotten about. This got me wondering who else had covered it.  The obvious one is Z.Z. Hill's version but there are quite a few others.

I've found 22 (so far). If you know of any others please leave a comment.

Here she is performing it live at 6Ts Northern Soul Weekender at Cleethorpes in 2013 aged 68!

1967 - Bettye Swan 45 on Money

196? - Bobby Montgomery 45 on Highland

1967 - Shirley Kay 45 on Trojan - this is a misnomer as the record was incorrectly labelled and is actually by Phyllis Dillon and is a reggae version.

1967 - Z.Z.Hill from 'A Whole Lot Of Soul' and only got a 45 release in UK on Action in 1969.

1968 - Mary Wells on ' Servin' Up Some Soul'

1969 - Ann Peebles from 'This Is Ann Peebles'

1969 - Wayne Boykin 45 on Atlantic

1970 - Joyce Bond & The Color Supplement from 'Wind Of Change'

1973 - Leon Haywood from 'Back To Stay'

1973 - Tandi Klassen from Love I Strange - a South African singer

1977 - Jackie Moore 45 on Kayvette

1980 - High Inergy 45 on Gordy and on 'Hold On'

1983 - Michelle Williams (Swamp Dogg's daughter) from 'Dancing With Soul 

1986 - The R & B Cadets from 'Top Happy' ... a health warning on this one!

1986 - Joyce Lawson 12" on Mutt & Jeff

2000 - Eastwest Connection Feat. Maiya James on 'Nothing Can Hold Us Back'

2009 - Vaneese Thomas on 'Soul Sisters Vol. One'

2010 - Spencer Wiggins 45 on Ken - a previously unreleased Fame recording from 1971 

2012 - Peggy Scott Adams from 'Life After Bill'

2017 - Syleena Johnson from 'Rebirth Of Soul'

2019 - Bonita & The Blues Shacks from 'Sweet Thing'

2020 - Pawn Shop Soul on 'Pawn Shop Soul With Simone Cox' - pretty bad devoid of any soul!