Hi everyone,

it is the time of year with Soul Togetherness release due very soon where we feature Modern Soul in the year.  There have been many releases in this year such as Soul on the Real Side #5, Soul Survivors compilation, British Collective, Sean Escoffrey, Incognito, Frank McComb, Anthony David, Ryle, Anthony Hamilton, Maxwell, Charles Bradley, Zo!, Natasha Watts, Greg Dean, Suffers, King, Babyface, Jaheim and many more I have forgotten.  Disco Soul Gold has continued its excellent growth and a new, unexpected Spirit of Philadelphia volume 4 is released next month.  Reel Music have Soul Love 2016 coming soon as is the album by The Excitements.  Then it will be Soul Lounge and Luxury Soul soon.

It has also been a great year for Modern Soul Radio with Solar leading, JazzFM back on DAB playing more soul, CrackersFM, CruseFM, HotFM and dozens more internet radio stations plus MixCloud of course. 

This feels like a gold era for Modern Soul that carries the sound onwards of Northern Soul.

How is it shaping up for you this year?

 

Edited September 20, 20168 yr by ThinkSmart

Well I've just been listening to two you haven't mentioned and I'd say along with your fine list things are shaping up very nicely indeed!!

Cheers,

Mark R

I am waiting for the new Kindred to arrive from USA, not heard it beyond radio plays.   I don't know Kejam Majek so will check it.

Edited September 20, 20168 yr by ThinkSmart

Lots of worthy goodies already mentioned, to which I can add on the jazzier side Bob Baldwin's latest, which is his best for a long time, as well as Kylie Auldist and the wonderful Donnie Tatem on Society Hill: 

  

Re compilations, the Welcome 2 Groove City is worth checking out also for new cuts while there are some good underground dance comps kicking around:

  

and for comps featuring older music we can also look forward to a second instalment of Mainstream material from Kent after a great first volume, as well as more mid-70s Atlanta soul:

  

while this has been one of the comps of the year for me:

Also these, straddling northern and modern:

 

On the reissue front it's still crazy, if not as intense as last year, but among the standouts this year must be these:

    

Yes the reissues side has been particularly strong this year and very enjoyable listening.

I was not sure about Kylie Auldist so will check that out.  I need to hear of the new Bob Baldwin.  Got this far and none of us mentioned Gregory Porter yet.

Sounds great, will check out the  Bob Baldwin and Kylie Auldist.... m

I did buy 1 cut from the Baldwin album on download..........

Did anybody else on here get the limited run Kylie Auldist 45???

 

Cheers,

Mark R

Anyone heard the Leon Timbo album?  On my list.

New Eric Benet due soon I think too.

Loved the Anglo-Saxon Brown reissue this year, Spinners on Expansion and Rockie Robbins were great too.  So many great reissues.

Forgot the James Hunter Six new album this year but I struggle with new albums in mono, it seems so artificial.  It's not like it's going to be played at The Flamingo and needing to be in mono.

The Anderson Paak album although marked as Rap related R&B is more like a modern soul album and one I share interest with my son on.  I enjoyed it more than Mayer Hawthorne who musically is enjoyable but his lyrics are far too shallow for adult listening.

I think Ace and labels are owed thanks for getting more comfortable with 1970s and early 1980s soul and including it more on their compilations.  It has been welcome and at this distance blends in well with earlier songs.

 

 

 

 

 

Got Leon Timbo but not listened properly yet......clips made it a no-brainer as I recall though!

Anderson.Paak is great......so much so I back-bought Venice on the strength of it!!

That new Kindred I posted is the real bollocks!!

 

Cheers,

Mark R

it's been a good year in terms of solid CDs that are very good all the way or most of the way through. I've particularly enjoyed Regina Belle, Anthony Hamilton (brilliant!), Charles Bradley, Zo!, Goldswagger, Kindred The Family Soul, Frank McComb and Shaun Escoffery. Some great reissues or compilations such as Garland Green, Alton McClain & Destiny and The Wonder of Stevie Vol 3.

The winner, by far, is the fantastic double CD from Louie Vega. Absolutely unmissable and is a work of creative genius imo.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 20168 yr by daved

How 'soulful' is the Louie Vega?  I will have to have a listen.  Thanks.

5 minutes ago, ThinkSmart said:

How 'soulful' is the Louie Vega?  I will have to have a listen.  Thanks.

VERY!  And that's a good call Dave, how could we miss that??? LOL

Vinyl too for Soul Source lovers of the plastic stuff!

 

https://www.firstexperiencerecords.com/product-detail///Vega/Louie+Vega+Starring...XXVIII/Various+Artists+-+LP+Vinyl+-+Part+1+(of+3)+/vinyl/5310

 

https://www.firstexperiencerecords.com/product-detail///Vega/Louie+Vega+Starring...XXVIII/Various+Artists+-+LP+Vinyl+-+Part+2+(of+3)+/vinyl/5475

 

Cheers,

Mark R

Spot on Dave - how could we miss that?! Re comps and reissues I also forgot ASB, not to mention these:

   

 

6 hours ago, ThinkSmart said:

How 'soulful' is the Louie Vega?  I will have to have a listen.  Thanks.

As Mark quite rightly said, it's very soulful. It also includes some fantastic inspired cover versions of Stop On By and Turned Onto You. Gift of Love is my favourite tune of the year so far.

This CD and his previous masterpiece, Eclipse, are arguably the best two of the decade so far. And I don't even really like house music these days 

 

Edited September 22, 20168 yr by daved

32 minutes ago, daved said:

As Mark quite rightly said, it's very soulful. It also includes some fantastic inspired cover versions of Stop On By and Turned Onto You. Gift of Love is my favourite tune of the year so far.

This CD and his previous masterpiece, Eclipse, are arguably the best two of the decade so far. And I don't even really like house music these days 

 

The Kaylow cut is off the scale!!

"Elevator (Going Up)" with Monique Bingham is one of the tunes of the year for me

Soul Togetherness 2016 (2xLP)

 

Expansion

 

Cat: LPEXP 53. Rel: 03 Oct 16

 

Soul

1.  
   Diephuis Eastar & Jocelyn Brown - "Don't Quit (Be A Believer)"
2.  
   Los Charly's Orchestra & Andre Espeut - "Sunshine"
3.  
   Soulutions - "I Got To Party"
4.  
   Farina Miss - "Stranger" (Back To The Future mix)
5.  
   Breakwater - "No Limit" (extended version)
6.  
   Tracy Hamlin - "Just Talk To Me" (Boogie Back remix)
7.  
   Zo!, Joi - "Just Whatcha Like"
8.  
   Ronnie Jones - "You & I" (Spider 7inch edit)
9.  
   Seest - "In The Name Of Love"
10.  
    Big Lee Dowel & The Cannonballs - "What I Done Wrong"
11.  
    Nicolatte Larson - "Lotta Love Disco" (extended original)
12.  
    Trina Broussard - "Adieu"
13.  
    Puff Johnson - "Never Lover Nobody"
14.  
    Hannah White - "Sunny Day" (Nigel Lowis Caister mix)
15.  
    Beat Rivals - "I Can Feel It"

 

 

6 hours ago, Mickey Finn said:

"Elevator (Going Up)" with Monique Bingham is one of the tunes of the year for me

I would LOVE to hear Monique Bingham do a straight up jazz/soul album..........along with Lady Alma (Horton)......TOP vocalists!!

 

Cheers,

Mark R

Cracking idea - fingers crossed 

Somebody get in touch with Norman Connors ...

Just some....

The Coalitions “Nothin’ left 2 do” (Soul Junction Promo) 7’ 

E.R.I.C. “Nightlife” (EP)

Big Lee Dowell&The Cannonballs feat. Maxim Moston “What I done wrong” (Cannonball) 7’ & 12’

Kejam feat:Cleverland Jones "You never listen" (P-Vine)

Kindred The Family Soul “ Never know” / “All my family” (We’re not a label)

Sharon Jones &The Dap-Kings “Tell me” (Daptone) LP

Lady Wray “Guilty” (Big Crown)

McArthur  “It’s so real” /“Never trust love again” (Soul Junction) 7’

Raja Nee “Don’t marry her” (JARF Music)

William Finley “More of three” (Groove City Productions)

Kejam feat: Cleverland Jones “Fly free” (EP VEC)

Mather feat. Alan Hook & Hannah White “This is serious” (S.R.M.P.)

Eloise Laws “Can’t let myself” (Carezma)

Marzette Griffith – Don't Give Up On Love

Estee Pierce “Try forget you” (Branamion)

Dywayne Scivally “So good” (Tate Music Group)

Roland Johnson “Keep dancin”

Gene Rice -Whole cd

16 hours ago, Soul Discovery said:

Just some....

The Coalitions “Nothin’ left 2 do” (Soul Junction Promo) 7’ 

E.R.I.C. “Nightlife” (EP)

Big Lee Dowell&The Cannonballs feat. Maxim Moston “What I done wrong” (Cannonball) 7’ & 12’

Kejam feat:Cleverland Jones "You never listen" (P-Vine)

Kindred The Family Soul “ Never know” / “All my family” (We’re not a label)

Sharon Jones &The Dap-Kings “Tell me” (Daptone) LP

Lady Wray “Guilty” (Big Crown)

McArthur  “It’s so real” /“Never trust love again” (Soul Junction) 7’

Raja Nee “Don’t marry her” (JARF Music)

William Finley “More of three” (Groove City Productions)

Kejam feat: Cleverland Jones “Fly free” (EP VEC)

Mather feat. Alan Hook & Hannah White “This is serious” (S.R.M.P.)

Eloise Laws “Can’t let myself” (Carezma)

Marzette Griffith – Don't Give Up On Love

Estee Pierce “Try forget you” (Branamion)

Dywayne Scivally “So good” (Tate Music Group)

Roland Johnson “Keep dancin”

Gene Rice -Whole cd

Hi Mick, hope you're well mate?

Can always rely on you to come up with a few I've missed.  Got my eye off the ball chasing that banging house shite you see!  ;-)

Must check out that Gene Rice having seen it's in circulation.

 

Cheers,

Mark R

Did anyone like the recent Maxwell CD?  Seven years since the last one and it was disappointing overall. Some good moments though like "All The Ways...."

Louie Vega part 2 3 x 12's

worth it for 'Been Such a Long Time' with Josh Milan. Fantastic.

old Masakela tune as it turns out.  never knew.

 

Edited September 27, 20168 yr by neiljon31

I enjoyed the Maxwell but it is a slow grower and subtle.  It is an album that took a few listens to appreciate and takes its time.  Less immediately accessible that a lot of recent Soul albums.

New Phonte and Eric Roberson joint album arrived today.

19 minutes ago, ThinkSmart said:

New Phonte and Eric Roberson joint album arrived today.

Love it!  Loads of great things on there but "Something" is a killer...

Cheers,

Mark R

26 minutes ago, Mark R said:

Love it!  Loads of great things on there but "Something" is a killer...

Cheers,

Mark R

just had a listen on you tube     nice

Loving the double Expansion releases of Soul Togetherness and Spirit of Philadelphia 4.  Getting the Soul Togetherness CD via Amazon means you can download the extra tracks in the digital deluxe version for free.

The Ryle, Phonte and Eric Roberson and Kindred The Family Soul albums have now arrived and as good as I hoped.  Ryle is from the band Cool Million.  It strikes me as positive that Modern Soul sound can incorporate the post-disco boogie style.

I got a new compilation release by Dean Rudland in the J&D label imprint called 'Extra Added Soul' that is well worth picking up along with the Northern Soul and Funk specific CDs.

Tony Monson's Ethereal Magic volume 2 on Expansion is due soon, the first was a welcome addition to their coverage as I've enjoyed the radio show.  Also looking forward to Eric Benet release, the song I heard from it on Solar was good.

There is a good double of Melba Moore due soon with plenty of her Buddah tracks.  It would be great for Kent or Expansion to compile Buddah properly.  We haven't had many Modern Soul releases.  'Some Modern Soul' is still one of my favourite releases ever.

 

Edited October 16, 20168 yr by ThinkSmart

Not one for the dancefloor but I'm loving the Lady Wray CD - Queen Alone. Those of you that like that Daptone retro sound will love it.

Two more 1970's era Modern Soul compilations coming in November on Interstate 'This Time Will Be Different' covers Philly and 'This Love Is For Real' covers Chicago.  The tracklistings avoid the obvious plays so worth a look.

 

Hi everyone - this is my first post so want to say hi and I'm a big fan of these boards so hope to be a part of it going forward

Like you guys, i think it's been an awesome year for soul music - here are my favs so far...

'Family Dinner vol2' - Snarky Puppy
'The Suffers' - The Suffers
'Natural' - Stefania Dippiero
'Changes' - Charles Bradley
'Hello Baby' - Lack of Afro
'Lost Myself' - Shola Adisa-Farrar
'Cosmic Unity' - Family Atlantica
'Go Deep' - Nick Pride & The Pimptones
'Radio One' - Arielle Besson
'Nite-Funk' - Nite-Funk
'What's the Price - Zuluzuluu
'BlackSUMMER's night' - Maxwell
'Blood From a Stone' - Eric Krasno
'Velvet Portraits' - Terrace Martin

I think Lee Fields is due to release a new one too which I would be very excited to get my hands on.

New Soul Love 2016 and Ethereal Magic 2 releases received today.   Soul Love 2016 has a few extra tracks in the deluxe online version that you get as a free add on if you order the CD at Amazon (and possibly others).

14 hours ago, ThinkSmart said:

New Soul Love 2016 and Ethereal Magic 2 releases received today.   Soul Love 2016 has a few extra tracks in the deluxe online version that you get as a free add on if you order the CD at Amazon (and possibly others).

Having reserved a CD via Simply Soul, I looked at the differences CD to the d/l at Traxsource and found I'd got most of those extra tracks via Traxsource or artist CD's, but as you say they're free anyway via Amazon.

New Kenya Expansion 8 tracker looks good but again anyone that keeps up with the new stuff probably already has most of it.  I bought the MdCL cut off there for now.

In fact, I get sick of spending time compararing download comp's to prevent buying what I've already got!

Just got Gene Rice and After 7 CD's but not had chance to listen yet.....both sounded real good from the soundclips!

Cheers,

Mark R

Mick O'Donnell has been hammering the Gene Rice album, deservedly so.

Another recent release worth a mention is the new Gwendolyn Collins album.

Meanwhile the oldies comps keep flooding out. There's a set of Dean Rudland comps doing the rounds, a bit more pricey than average but really tip top selections:

https://www.soulbrother.com/shop/extra-added-soul-crossover-modern-and-funky-soul/ 

https://www.soulbrother.com/shop/can-you-feel-the-beat-funk-45s/

https://www.soulbrother.com/shop/all-night-long-northern-soulfloor-fillers/

And Big Break will be releasing Vince Montana's Goody Goody album with extras, while Soulmusic.com are on the case with a twofer of Gladys Knight's 70s solo albums. Coming thick and fast...

Yes it is a great time for Modern Soul - both new and classic.  

Those Dean Rudland CDs are good with excellent sound quality so I hope he continues them.  I am listening to new After 7 as I type which is great.  Listening to new Joe Thomas (Joe) advance sounds good too.   There is a new Preston Glass release I paid for a download of yesterday (no CD as I can see so far).  It's fairly enjoyable but only a couple of songs seem to stand up to previous works.  I see too a Heston release on download without CD which has more of an acoustic feel and didn't really connect with me to buy it.

Some great individual songs around too such as Something About You by Michon Young and Thought It Would Be Easier by Kandance Springs.  Flicking between Solar Radio, Soul 365, Jazz FM and other UK digital soul stations via internet radio keeps highlighting ever more strong new soul music.

Edited October 30, 20168 yr by ThinkSmart

On 10/30/2016 at 10:55, ThinkSmart said:

I see too a Heston release on download without CD which has more of an acoustic feel and didn't really connect with me to buy it.

I did buy 4 cuts off this, with he first ("Contradiction") and last ("Dangerous") tracks off the set sounding particularly good!

Kim Tibbs "Soul" sonded ace at Soul Underground on Saturday night......even getting two spins thanks to Goldsmith & Curtis!

 

Cheers,

Mark R

The new two new songs by Kim Tibbs are great plays.

The new releases keep coming.

Outta Sight's 'Soul on the Real Side #6' is out on 25th as is a collection of Kenya's music including new tracks and mixes I envisage.

The new album by Myles Sanko is good, his last album was stunning and this is slightly more jazzy.  John Legend's album is due 2nd December.

 

 

That Outta Sight comp looks very tasty indeed, and so good to get Diane Ducane's "Better late than never" finally on cd.

The Soul Love 2016 comp is also worth checking.

Soul Love is excellent this year, more soulful and less House music sounding than previous installments.  Enjoying the Eric Benet, After 7, Dave Hollister, Bob Baldwin & Papik releases too.

Diane Ducane is on the reissued Casino Classics CD box set too.

Edited November 6, 20168 yr by ThinkSmart

Funny how they often come at once - it took years for Lew Kirton's "Don't Wanna Wait" track to find its way to cd, and then within a few weeks it was on both that year's Soul Togetherness and a Vinyl Masterpiece comp. Same with the Choice Four, which suddenly appeared on the latest Expansion Philly comp and now here comes their third LP. All good, whatever - that Diane Ducane track is long overdue and great if it gets a revival.

Glad you mentioned Papik - that's another very strong album this year.

Yes the Papik album is excellent, I mean this as a compliment but it's great bed-time listening.  The last double album was a bit over ambitious and too many novelty cover versions but this seems a return to form.

I love the Robert Glasper album despite the vocoder being prevalent.  Just in on vinyl too after first surfacing on CD!

 

Cheers,

Mark R

9 hours ago, Mark R said:

I love the Robert Glasper album despite the vocoder being prevalent.  Just in on vinyl too after first surfacing on CD!

 

Cheers,

Mark R

Day to Day is brilliant. Is it his tribute to Herbie Hancock?

  Some more...

 

Energy MC2 “If you break it”/  “Other side of the mirror”(Soul Junction) Promo 7’ 

Rita Wright “It don’t mean nothing to me” (Kent) 

Alton McClain “Your love is all need” (Expansion) 

Lee Field & The Expressions “Precious love” (Big Crown) 

Sandra Richardson “After you give your all” (Kent) 7’ 

Mel Bolton’s Mighty Fire “I wanna to know about loving you” (Bolton) 7’

Lee Field & The Expressions “I’m coming home” (Big Crown) 

Rozetta Johnson “I’ve come too far with you(to turn back now)” 

(Kent) 

Arnold Blair “Finally made It home” (Triumph) 7’ 

Gregg Jackson “One for the road” (ZIP Promo) 7’ 

Kenya: Tom Glide Rework “Make us smile” (Expansion)  

Alton McClain “Your love is all need” (Expansion) 

 

Edited November 7, 20168 yr by Soul Discovery