Leela James possesses one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Soul music, steeped in southern soul tradition and gospel roots yet totally modern as well. Her excellent debut album ‘A change is gonna come’ from 2005 is finally released on vinyl for the first time. Highlights are ‘Music’ a superb catchy contemporary take on upper mid tempo Southern Soul . ‘Good Time’ is a dancer using the rhythm from Funky Sensation updated for the 2000’s. ‘Rain’ is an intriguing mid tempo song with a walking bass line.with a D’Angelo feel ‘When You Love Somebody’ is a fabulous reinterpretation of...
Ernie Hines recorded his only album 'Electrified' for the Stax subsidiary We Produce in 1972. It includes his excellent Modern Soul /2 stepper 'Electrified Love' produced by Carl Hampton, a highly collectable 45 from the previous year. The mid tempo 'Your Love (Is all I need) has a lovely lazy groove produced by Lester Snell. Fred Briggs (Coldwater Stone) produced the funky southern soul groove 'Sugar Plum' and the mid tempo ballad 'A Better World (For Everyone)'. There are good covers of Sam Cooke's classic 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and label mates The Temprees 'Explain it To Her Mama'...
Barbara Lewis recorded five albums for Atlantic in the 1960's before she recorded this her last and only album for the Stax subsidiary Enterprise in 1970. 'The Many Grooves Of Barbara Lewis' was recorded in Chicago in August 1969 arranged and conducted by Mike Terry. It remains one of her best recordings, a mixture of mid tempo songs the bouncy 'You Made Me A Woman' and the steppers 'Baby That's A No No' and 'Do I Deserve It Baby, the outstanding uptempo crossover dancer 'The Stars' , 60s dancers 'Slip Away', 'Break Away' and 'How Can I Tell' plus ballads....
Michelle David and the True Tones return with a very strong retro Soul album 'Soul Woman'. It includes the authentic uptempo Northern Soul stompers 'Running' , 'Speak To Me', and 'You'll Never Know' (which has an N F Porter influence) really capture that mid to late 60s Soul sound , as well as anything we have heard in recent years. Michelle's gospel hued soulful voice soars above the fantastic instrumentation of the TrueTones, really powerful and uplifting stuff. 'Soul Woman' has a funky afro-beat groove, 'Golden Sun' is another uptempo Soul track. 'Pick Up The Pieces' and 'Seasons' are nice...
The prince of sophisticated soul Will Downing returns with a very limited edition 5 track EP ' Still In Love' on pink vinyl. 'Vibe With You' is a nice upper mid tempo stepper. 'Back To Us' is another nice danceable track. There are some mid tempo grooves 'It Really Doesn't Matter' and 'You're all I need' and the ballad 'Us Time'. Will is in fine voice throughout with good musical backing featuring Randy Bowland and Hubert Eaves IV amongst others. Only 100 pressed so grab your copy now!
Jill Scott returns with her new album 'To Whom It May Concern' on CD, LP to follow. 600% Dynamite returns with a slightly different track listing. We are back in stock of many of the Sault albums and some classics on LP and 45. Also pre-order Michelle David and Truetones album 'Soul Woman' a great retro soul album including the dancers 'Running' and 'Speak To Me' out next week. If you missed out on Will Downing's new Still In Love EP, restock available next week - pre-order here. Will probably be the last few copies.
The Emotions recorded their second album 'Untouched' for the Stax subsidiary Volt in 1972. It includes the superb funky break beat track'Blind Alley' which has all the elements of Southern Soul produced by David Porter and was sampled over 100 times by artists like Tribe called quest, Pete Rock, Gangstar, 2Pac and Swv amongst many others. Other noteworthy tracks are the Isaac Hayes written and produced orchestrated ballad 'Show Me How' and mid tempo groovers Take Me Back' and ' Nothing Seems Impossible' plus the more upbeat 'Its Been Fun' . Great arrangements and production from Porter, Hayes, Wade Marcus...
There are some good new releases, reissues and restocks this week. Will Downing returns with a nice 5 track EP 'Still In Love' limited edition of 100 copies on pink vinyl, grab this whilst you can. Also there is a good reissue of Spice rare 70s Soul TSG album 'Let There Be Spice' at a more affordable price. Roland Haynes Jr 'Mind Games' is issued as a 12" single, nice track reminiscent of James Mason style rare groove. James Hunter Six is now out on a ltd edition coloured vinyl. There are a couple of good reissues from Gwen McCrae...
There are some great new releases, reissues and restocks this week. Conya Doss returns with a great album 'Affirmations' available on Cd and limited edition double LP. Ronnie Herel compiles 'Neo Soul Sessions vol 2 and James Hunter is out on CD. There are some nice reissues from Real Gone music from Leon Ware, The Emotions, Temprees, Awakening and Bayete, plus a couple of Blue Note classic series LPs. Incognito 'Music Magic Ironic' is now back in stock on CD, LPs to follow later in the month. There are lots of good restocks this week including the long out of...
Conya Doss returns with her 10th album ‘Affirmations’ and illustrates why she has established herself as one of the leading female Soul singers over the last twenty years. The contains many mid tempo neo soul tracks that have become her trademark. ‘No Regrets’, ‘I Can’t stand To lose’, ‘Mr Rain’, ‘Gonna Find A Way’, ‘Love Is Love Until’, ‘Wanna Know How Much’ and the standout ‘Long For The Days’ are all strong mid tempo grooves that will please her existing fans. The lower tempo duet with Anthony David ‘Life’s Love’ is really nice. There also a couple of more uptempo...
