News Archive

***Choices for October 2007***


Mick O'Donnell / Soul@209radio.co.uk
Lola/William Bell “Shake hands” (Wible): Lola “Wash your hands” (Wible)
Ann Nesby “I apologize” (Shanachie)
Fred Bolton “I can’t lose”/ “Must be jelly” (Wible)

Steve Dolan www.stevessoulsounds.co.uk
So much to choose from again this month, however I've gone for: -
Vick Allen "Breaking Me Down" & "Good Love"
from his brand new CD which although only 7 tracks long is still excellent.
Lola - this album is just top class, I can't decide on one so I am picking 5
tracks "Look My Way"; "Don't Go Away"; "Wash Your Hands"; "Lets Call It A
Night" and the duet with William Bell "Shake Hands" - awesome
Jody Sticker - "In Or Out" & "Unexpected Guest" from his latest CD - I really
like the underproduced almost minimalistic feel to this album - fabulous.
Others that came close include the new Latimore CD the bonus tracks on the
re-released J. Blackfoot CD and the unreleased tracks by Lee Fields, Frank-O
Johnson and Floyd Taylor excluding because they are not available yet.
Cheers
Steve


Brian Goucher/ www.soulessence.co.uk
Choklate " incredible" (2006 Choklate music)
A string laden, head nodder that captured my attention from the moment it stormed out of the speakers, the whole album is a funky, hip hop affair, but this track shines like a beacon in the dark.A top top female vocal to rival anything youv'e heard this year.Real intsruments coupled with a very famaous string loop, stunning.Could be tooooooo soulful for some!!
Kameela "Nothing else" (2007 Cookie Jar)
And another killer soul tune hidden within a funky, hip hop long player, and once again a killer female lead, dream harmonies and a sensational famous loop that just drives you crazy,soul music of the highest quality.These two have been hogging the laser flicker and getting daily plays since they arrived some 6 weeks ago,sensational tune.The album is titled "Changes; vol 1".
Helen & Terry "Strung out" ( 2006 JT Company)
Bit late with this one as I only heard it a few weeks ago, it arrived about a week ago, and WOW what an album, but this funky Emotions, Jones Girls type dancer has me totally hooked at the minute, set at a subdued pace but with enough to funk up any dance floor.Being the old git that I am I can still remember the impact JJA " I got the vibes" had on the dance floors of the time, we dont get that kind of reaction anymore, but this one did it to me, played loud it is one awsome piece of soulful tunage. Taken from the album "Superstar".
This months Vinyl tip;
Berres Hammond "Oh I miss you" ( 1981 Brotherhood Music Inc)
Without doubt my long running love affair with Jamaican music has resulted in virtually everyhting this great singer has recorded is nestling within my music room here at home.But this album took some 5 yrs to get in any reasonable condition, already well respected for the soul cuts by the thinking mans posse.The album is titled "Lets make a song" and has several cuts that would entertain places like the Orwell and Yarmouth, but "Miss you" is the one I keep going back to, would sit perfectly between Charles Johnson and Wee and I know which one would get the accolades.It would also sit comfortably alongside any of the new breeds getting spins too……
This is a prime example of whats currently happening with the scene at the moment, there are not enough small venues searching out tunage like this and feeding the larger venues, weekenders have taken over and a great many folks are going to the seaside for a few days, to hear "play safe playlists". I'v verbalised on this subject already elswhere, SO, the only way the alleged "premier league" jocks will hear something like this is if it lands at a dealer somewhere, and that aint going to happen as most dealers I deal with dont even know it.So the larger audiece will have to wait another ten years untill one of above mentioned jocks begins playing it, claiming it as there discovery, he/she will probably cut it to a seven and cover it up and begin getting all the plaudits, thus raising his already lofty status to god like one. Ah the joys of being a collector of fine black orientated music................
I'm also getting off on Chaka Khan, what an album, Ann Nesby, Monique Ford, Clifford Thompson, Martha Burks, Grooves Back, Sharom McMahan, Patrick Henry, Lakeisha and loads more. Aint life great.....................and remember folks "Do unto others before they do it to you"...................get in first everytime.cheers
Gouch


Fish / www.firstexperiencerecords.com Tel: 01162375461
Phillip Manuel - Had To Have You cd album (11Fire)
Jill Scott - Whenever You're Around cd album (Hidden Beach)
Kentaro Takizawa feat Lisa Shaw - Can't Stop The Love 12" (Flower)

Colin Dilnot: In Dangerous Rhyhm

Eugene Blacknell The Trip Boola Boola
The funk classic now contained on a fab new compilation CD from the West coast magicians Luv N' Haight.
Lorez Alexandria I'm Wishin' Pzazz 45
A moody West Coast jazz vibe which just oozes... Find it on Gilles Peterson's 2nd volume of Digs America CD - once again from Luv N' Haight.
Lee Mitchell I Come A Long Way Hersey 45
I didn't know this existed until a few months ago when a US mate Eli "Paperboy" Reed" told me about it - recorded in 1980 in Boston where Eli lives and who recently met Lee when he dropped by one of Eli's gigs!! All power to the Net for turning a copy up of this gospel powerhouse number.
Best wishes
Colin

Rod Dearlove/ www.soulrecordsforsale.co.uk Tel: 01964631457
Jo Jo Murray "You're Some Kind Of Lady" (GMB)
Mill Street Depo "You Won't Support Me' (Stang)
Roy Galloway "Our Love" (Awesome)


Dave Porter/ Vivid Sounds Tel:01787228238
Gonna have a Good Time CD, various artists, Jap CD, most tracks.
2 XL & Sounds of Memphis Story, great new Kent CD.
Bettye LaVette CD "Scene of the Crime",
Bettye back on form with some nice slow songs, Muscle Shoals recording, says it all really.
Re-activated 45,
The Trumains, "Girl Don't Let Me Down" on Vigor. Really nice group deep soul.
Cheers,
Dave.


Mark Merry
OakIII aka Oakland 3 - Sweet & Nasty - New Rhyme Records
Absolute killer debut long player real quality soul music nearly every track is top class and sure to be in my top ten come the end of the year check out track 2 " just wanna be with you" for an excellent slow jam,track 4 "now that love is gone" very o'jays in quality & style a definite highlight for me,"I cant say no" nice chugging 80s style but the 2 tracks that make this absolutely essential are back to back "all about staying together" & "cant let you go" as good if not better than anything else this year.check it out.
The Embers -Last Time I,m Saying goodbye -CDS
Forthcoming single from the Embers new lp "the show must go on" a killer dancefloor tune with all the right ingredients should also appeal to the strings and things brigade killer vocals hard to believe they are white,but they are but ooh so soulful worth picking up now before it disappears and the lp never surfaces hope it doesnt happen but stranger things have.Get it now you wont be disappointed.
J Blackfoot - It Ain't Over Till It's Over -JEA
An Lp that originally appeared in 2006 but resurfaced again in 2007 with two extra tracks and what extra tracks they are a highlight of the original was the duet with Lenny williams "Im just a fool for you" resurrected for the 2007 version as a killer duet with Charles Jones and oh so soulful had plays on Soul Discovery already its that good.The other new killer is the duet with Ann Hines absolutely fantastic well worthy of purchasing for the second time and on that note get yourselves over to Steve Dolans fantastic site choc o block of quality new soul releases showing just how much of the new good stuff there is around at the moment.
Check Steve’s a absolute top guy check his site and give him a call.
Well that’s it for this month could have done this list 5 times over but now Mick’s allowed me to be a regular and not a guest he says I’m only allowed 3 choices, see you next month.
Cheers
Mark


Eddie Hubbard /Banbury Soul Club
George Guess - Do it to death [ Pearl Harbor ] 1973
Great ballad cut in Philly at Sigma Sound in 1973, love the strap -line on the label " Our bombs are direct hits " - great stuff !!
Quiet Elegance - Have you been making out ok ? [ Hi ] 1975
Featuring the wonderful vocals of Frankie Gearing , a superb femme version of the Al Green song , records like this are priceless in my book .
Sarah Vaughan - I need you more [ than ever now ] [ Mainstream ] 1974
Superb mid tempo waxing from the legendary Jazz Diva , reminds me of Maxine Brown's " I can't get along without you " in feel , this also got released in the UK on the same label .
Denise La Salle - No matter what they say [ ABC ] 1978
Overlooked midtempo dancer on the flip side of Denise's great ballad " Working Overtime " , this should get played.

Banbury Soul Club , next Soul night , 3rd November ,
4th anniversary with special guest Kenny Burrell


Micky Gynn / Collector/Part time D.J
Ocie’III “What’s my returnon love” (C.I.M.)
Only available on an issue copy. Most probably won’t appeal to many soul lovers but I do
Like the top quality Boogie, which has superb content and vocals for this genre of music
this is wonderful.
Players Choice “Am I the one”(Big Mamma)
Great name for the label and a lovely 2-step track out of Tennesse.The tempo and quality
Of this record is about the same speed I now run around a football field.
Janice Dempsey “I won’t give up on you” (Geffen)This wonderful midtempo tune comes off the surprisingly hard to find album from 1987,
Which is a vintage year because Coventry City beat Spurs 3-2 in the F.A. CUP final that Year. Any excuse to mention that special time for me.


Mark Hougton/ A New Chapter markh.realsoul@blueyonder.co.uk
Darryl Askew - We Can Make It (DAS)
Georgous lazy floater with nice summery feel from the brother of Kim Askew . Quality Old School Soul.
Clifford Thompson - Baby Don`t Hold Back (Goldwax)
Welcome release from the legendary record label. A very solid album with real instruments abound. This brassy midpacer (also cut by Elvin Spencer) just takes the honours. Real deal southern Soul.
Lodee Murchison - Never Get Enough Of Your Love (Kon-Kord)A quality version of the ultra rare Ben Jackson track.Uptempo with a distinctive 80`s feel this can be found on a Kon-kord compilation of issued and unissued material.
Honourable mentions to Patrick Henry,Chris Jasper, Sammie Relford,Al Hughes and Ronnie Mcneir. Also, look out for a couple of corkers by a Rance Allen soundlike (Mick will tell how good they are) which are certain to be in my Top 3 of this year .
I`ll hopefully get a copy over to Mick in the next couple of weeks. More details in next months chart.
Mark


Steve Plumb www.soulmusic.co.uk/the_orwell.htm
Top 3 Orwell spins
Detroit Emeralds - Long live the king - LP
(Can really see this taking off - Cracking 70’s dancer with Northern appeal!)
Unknown female - I’ll never let you walk alone - Promo
(Don’t know who this is yet BUT to me it sounds like a future 70’s over-played classic!)
Perfections - Can this be real/Til I get home - 45(Had a trawl thru the shelves and realised I’d not played these two beauties out for a while!)


Colin Curtis: Kings Hall Stoke/ Blackpool Hilton
Domu featuring Pete Simpson Look a little further cd Columbia Japan
Great tracks on this album to compliment Pete Simpson's quality vocals.I am already featuring Won't give up,It won't mean a thing,Coming back around. Soul for now and the future.Quality uptempo grooves.
Russoul R&b cd Russoul
Great new soul cd from a guy with great vocal talent.He has worked with Mark Grant of course on his huge Guessin Again track and earlier on Blackstone Records,over the last couple of years on some quality uptempo numbers.Also dont miss the free downloads on his site Thankful & Second Chance.Great vocal talent with a future.
Donald Shaw Born in Motown
Great new smooth voiced soul cd featuring standouts such as My forever love,I just want to love you,While were still friends.Quality indie soul for 2007.

Also loving..... Lola Let's Call it a night on Wilbe, Sharon Mcmahon Got 2 think about you on Calitown, Tony White Divided from his Street Love set and Philip Manuel I Had to Have You.
Cheers
Colin

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