Mike

This months releases from Ace includes a brand new cd from Kent, details and more below... New Kent Cd - Atlanta - Hotbed Of 70s Soul - Various Artists (Hotlanta/ GMG) - CDKEND 518 Release Notes Clip The GRC Records set-up in Atlanta produced a wealth of great soul music. Because of the sudden curtailment of the company, due to owner Michael Thevis’ incarceration, so much of it never saw a release. The tapes were preserved though and with many tracks being issued. This latest batch of tape discoveries is of shockingly high quality. Sam Dees’ presence is a major cause of this. Standouts include Miss Louistine’s original version of ‘Con Me’ – surely a contender to be a Deep Soul Treasure, had Dave Godin heard it. Her take on Dees’ ‘Extra Extra’ is possibly the opposite emotion – sheer joy at finding her lover; equally well expressed. ‘Paperman’ is a classic mid 70s Dees’ composition, well sung by Wes Lewis with his group Alpaca Phase III. Dees collaborated with another major GRC talent, Joe Hinton, for the funkier ‘Shouldn’t I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong’. Hinton co-penned two songs with backing singer Louvain Demps who left her job with Motown’s backing girls the Andantes to move to Atlanta with Hinton. Their ‘Grant Me One More Day’ is a beautiful track and ‘Depend On Me’ is another worthy find. Full release notes can be had via the link below Tracks Side 1 01 Con Me - Miss Louistine 02 Paper Man - Alpaca Phase III 03 Is There Someone Else - Deep Velvet 04 The Souls Of Black Folks - Kenneth Wright 05 Grant Me One More Day - Joe Hinton 06 Keep On Walking - The Steppers 07 Time Is Winding Up - Dorothy Norwood 08 Love Making - Jean Battle 09 Extra-Extra - Miss Louistine 10 I'm Tired Of Dreaming - Deep Velvet 11 Depend On Me - Joe Hinton 12 Me And Jen - Kenneth Wright 13 What Am I To Do - Joe Graham 14 Sure Could Do With Some You - Shirlean Fant 15 Someone To Run To - Alpaca Phase III 16 Can I Hold You To It? - Lorraine Johnson 17 When Will I Stop Loving You - Lorraine Johnson 18 I Need Me Some More Of You - Dee Ervin 19 Shouldn't I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong - Joe Hinton 20 Fight Fire With Fire - King Hannibal 21 Talk's Cheap - The Surprise Sisters 22 Loneliness Hurts Just A Little Bit - Joe Graham 23 There'll Always Be Forever - Lomita Johnson 24 My Peaceful Forest - Dee Clark Availability and more via https://www.acerecords.co.uk/atlanta-hotbed-of-70s-soul

News of 4 new 45s due out from Daptone and available as a bundle from £21 (£25 for the colour bundle), or as individual 45s, release notes below Daptone 45 Drop Out March 29th Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "Don't Wanna Lose You" b/w "Don't Give a Friend a Number" We are proud to present two unreleased sides from the late Queen of modern soul, and her Dap-Kings. Recorded during the sessions for Soul of a Woman and penned by sax stalwart and Daptone co-founder Neal Sugarman, "Don't Wanna Lose You" is a heavy slice of soul sophistication teeming with groove and vibe. "Don't Give a Friend a Number" is a haunting, R&B tinged mover whose eerie background vocals provide the perfect backdrop for Sharon to take an unqualified lover to task. Leon Dinero "Heartbreak" b/w "Cut Both Ways" Leon Dinero returns with more rocksteady magic from producer Victor Axelrod. Originally written and recorded by James Hunter, "Heartbreak" gets the Axelrod treatment, turning this mid-tempo R&B gem on its head, reinventing the modern classic with a deep island groove that gets in your bones. The laid back vocal and tasteful organ give "Heartbreak" a wholly fresh vibe whilst staying respectfully true to the original. On the flip is "Cut Both Ways" an instrumental version courtesy of The Inversions. One listen and you'll find that these are some of the baddest musicians in the game. Jalen Ngonda "Here To Stay" b/w "If You Don't Want My Love" An unreleased gem from the Come Around and Love Me sessions, "Here to Stay" is a gorgeously breezy ballad that will most definitely appeal to fans of the sweet soul output from our Penrose imprint. A standout track from the aforementioned long player, "If You Don't Want My Love" delivers a one-two punch of class and style that harkens back to the sounds coming out of Motown in the late sixties and early seventies. Coupled with Jalen's uncommonly soulful voice and lyrical prowess you have another top-shelf composition that can hang with the very best of 'em. Lee Fields "Two Jobs" b/w "Save Your Tears For Someone New" Arguably the very best soul singer alive, Lee comes correct with two massive tunes from his critically acclaimed Sentimental Fool LP. With the deep piano intro, frantic shuffle and pleading vocal "Two Jobs" has the conviction of James Brown with the swing of Bobby Bland. A sound very few folks could pull off, yet Lee triumphs with command and swagger in equal measure. "Save Your Tears for Someone New" is a deep, dark R&B ballad tailored-made for Lee's ferociously soulful voice. A veritable masterclass in rhythm and soul. https://shopdaptonerecords.com/collections/45s

News about a new Northern Soul CD sent in from Wienerworld Released on Friday the 29th March, the press release follows below... Northern Soul 2024 CD Cat. No: WNRCD5127 £12.99 Welcome to Northern Soul 2024, a sizzling collection of 24 new recordings capturing all the essence of classic Northern Soul by vintage soul artists and fresh new talent! The first "Northern Soul" series CD since 2012, with three new songs written with Fiachra Trench for the first time in 35 years! This brand-new Northern Soul 2024 release captures all the essence of the classic soul records of the sixties and early seventies. The 2024 release of Northern Soul features three brand new songs from Fiachra Trench. Together Levine and Trench sold twelve million records in the 1980s and after 35 years they are bringing the sizzle back into the lives of every Northern Soul fan! This album is a treasure box of 24 tracks including new recordings from The Flirtations, Jimmy Helms, Angelo Starr, Pat Lewis, Sidney Barnes, Nat Augustin and Lorraine Silver. Since 1975 - nearly 50 years ago – Ian Levine has written and produced more than 2500 songs, pioneering the 80s High Energy sound, writing the million-selling anthem of that genre, reuniting more than 100 former Motown artists for his Motorcity project in the late 80s and producing boy bands like Take That, Blue and Bad Boys Inc. Returning to his Northern Soul-roots, Levine has amassed 40 pop hits in the UK. Undoubtedly, since the BBC did Northern Soul at the Proms, the music is now more popular than ever. So get down to the dance floor and enjoy this sizzling collection of vintage and brand new Northern Soul talent. Track Listing: 1) The Flirtations – Moving At The Go-Go 2) Lorraine Silver – One Week At A Time 3) Elliot Zimmerman – Trapped In Stormy Weather 4) Sharon McMahan – Moving On 5) Venicia Wilson – Luckie 6) Jennifer Dee – On The Horizon 7) Tahira Jumah – Face Behind The Mask 8 ) Angelo Starr – Drown In My Own Tears 9) Sidney Barnes – Dancing On The Weekend 10) Richie Sampson – Lay Down My Defences 11) The Concentrations – Sandcastles 12) Earnestine Pearce – Eyes On The Target 13) Pat Lewis – Misunderstood 14) Tahira Jumah – Suffer In Silence 15) The Flirtations – Queen On A Throne 16) Lorraine Silver – Fever Raging Out Of Control 17) Elliot Zimmerman – Heading Up North 18) Angelo Starr – Another Lonely Christmas 19) Jimmy Helms – My Heart Is Helpless 20) Nat Augustin – Whenever You Need Someone 21) Venicia Wilson – I Can’t Stop This Feeling 22) Jennifer Dee – Endless Possibilities 23) The Concentrations – Playing The Part Of A Fool 24) Pat Lewis – Just A Little Appreciation More info via https://www.wienerworld.com/product/northern-soul-2024/

Two new releases from Soul Direction, read and listen below Soul Direction are pleased to announce 2 releases on the “Origins” Label. Tommy McGee – “Come On” / “To Make You Happy” – SDO-1009 The Summits – “Window Shopping” / Phillips – “People Clap Your Hands” – SDO1010. Release Date – 29th March 2024 Tommy McGee – “Come On” / “To Make You Happy” – SDO-1009 Tommy McGee Soul Direction have taken two tracks from his first two 45s “To Make You Happy” and “Come On”. “To Make you Happy” was originally titled “Just to Make You happy” for a rerelease to give some energy back to these two superb tracks, that have seemingly been missed by so many collectors over the years, but also have become more elusive in recent years. They feature on the “Positive-Negative” Album as well as rare 45 releases. The Summits – “Window Shopping” / Phillips – “People Clap Your Hands” – SDO1010. The Summits. Supporters of the Soul Direction label and the general soul collecting movement will be more than aware of the DC band The Summits. The track featured “Window Shopping” was part of a almost lost master tape and only released in digital format Phillips. The group covered massive ground on their six-track EP, touching on everything from feel- good disco to funky fusion, to modern soul, and back again, recovered from countless tapes People Clap Your Hands” is one of the Six tracks they laid down that day and here at Soul Direction we believe the best one so with pleasure we bring it to you for the first time on vinyl. Alan Kitchener (Soul-Direction) https://www.soul-direction.co.uk

Soul Up North Magazine #119 Spring Issue 2024 is now out and about Details below... SOUL UP NORTH - issue 119 OPENING PAGE : CONTENTS – EDITORIAL & INFO GOOD TUNES & GREAT GROOVES Dave Halsall ISSUE CD TRACK LISTING – ‘BIRD BRAIN’ Martyn Bird FUNK IN YO’ FACE – GETTING IT BACK - THE STORY OF CYMANDE Howard Priestly DAVE LEEDHAM – A TRIBUTE Phil Morely COLLECTING BRITISH Lord Snooty SOUL SPOTLIGHT – THE BRY-WEK LEGACY PART TWO Steve Guarnori SOULFUL SEVENTIES SPINS aka ‘PLUMB’S PEACHES’ Steve Plumb A JOURNY THROUGH RUGBY SOUL CLUB AND BEYOND Tom Page LITTLE SILVER DISCS Howard E CHICAGO SOUL (FLASHBACK!) Shane Cox HOT OFF THE VINYL PRESS Howard E WHITE FRATERNITIES & BLACK MUSIC IN THE USA IN THE EARLY ‘60’S Chris Jones LITTLE SILVER DISCS – THE BOX SETS Howard E OLIVER CHEETHAM – THE SECOND TIME AROUND Dave Welding THE LASTING IMPACT OF THE VIBRATIONS John Smith THE LADIES CHOICE – COLLECTING RARE SOUL Julie Molloy THE EMBERS – A RARE SOUL AND BEACH MUSIC PHENOMENON E. Mark Windle HOT OFF THE VINYL PRESS Howard E SOUL IN PRINT – MAGAZINES & FANZINES (Part 22) Iain McCartney HOT OFF THE VINYL PRESS – extra! Howard E SOUL IN A DIGITAL AGE John Farrar VIEW FROM THE APE HOUSE Tim Brown FEET TO THE BEAT Geoff Green AND FINALLY – DEEP SOUL CORNER Mike Finbow Availability Available now from all the usual stockists including our very own Source Store Tap here to purchase Soul Up North 119 Spring Issue via Source Store