Thinksmart

If you order the CD at Amazon you can download the extra tracks for free. Not sure how it works for vinyl. I enjoy how these releases inspire further research and album purchases. I try to support the new artists where I can based on discoveries from the compilations.

Enjoying this as always. This feels like volume 4 of 2015 following Soul Love, Life & Shine releases on the label in addition to the usual Luxury Soul release, Outta Sight's Soul on the Real Side, Dome's Soul Lounge, Reel People Miami 2015 and other compilations. As the Northern Soul compilations reach saturation and many now go for early out of copyright very early sources (quality labels excepted), the Modern Soul compilation area feels thriving and forward looking. A mention for the wonderful Ethereal Magic release, mellow, varied and excellent listening.

Tristan - Finally Found (sweet soul mix)

I won't clog up the thread with more Youtube videos but some other recent songs to audition at Youtube that aren't on UK compilations are: Tina Campbell featuring Stevie Wonder - Love Love Love (fantastic but the YouTube upload isn't the best quality) Mather & Kingdom - Hold On The Soul Surfers - You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) From My Love Maysa - Back 2 Love (from album of the same name) Tracy Hamlin featuring Frank McComb - My Good Day (from new album No Limits) Sound samples and downloads at Amazon and the download service of your choice. I notice Chante Moore on two of the tracks above! Thanks Mark

Great thread! There's so much great modern soul to enjoy at present. Greg Dean's 'Unconditional Love' just released on Dome Records is going to be big I think: From their album of this year, I'm enjoying this from Foreign Exchange featuring Carmen Rodgers that has dance floor appeal: A nice version of a classic by Tony Momrelle on his new album:

i always enjoy this coming out. A sign of the year passing and continuity. Is this the 15th year? How time files! It's a great time for modern soul.

Tony Momrelle's new album is out today, more of a classic Stevie Wonder influenced pop-soul sound than his earlier soulful house styled tracks. Soul Lounge 12 also out today which is always worth picking up for the exclusive remixes and to try any albums or artists new to you. The Kwabs album is finally out too and getting popular attention.

Great new 'Soul Shine' compilation of 2015 dance soul from Expansion is now out and contains some selections from the thread with others.

Hi everyone, I was in Poppy Blow on Friar Lane in Nottingham yesterday which has three floors and an outside garden at the back. It's a great space and Katie is making it available for parties, music nights and other events. Katie is very keen to put on some intimate nights with soul music and drinks with anyone who wants to use it, bring a buzz to the place and help her showcase it. They really do deserve support. The Collectorium Cafe is connected next door and is a great place to hang out away from the corporate chains. Contact Katie at katie @ poppyblow.com More at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poppy-Blow/552718534749677

More Breakaway.... Lynda Lyndell, Linda Lloyd, First Choice, Johnny Otis Show, Millie Jackson and title variants from Barbara Lewis and Chuck Jackson.

I have had about twenty of these,good sound quality, some otherwise out of print titles. Good. They resell very quickly.

The whole album sounds great. Wonderful about the co-write. I think this one could crossover to wider popular music acclaim.

That's sad. I am only discovering his music recently.

I remember Jerry Williams/Swamp Dogg was a sometime poster at Keeping The Faith years ago.

Diane Shaw 'Leave A Little Love'. Big current play, modern soul with the classic sound and production values.

The new album by Monophonics is great - Lying Eyes and especially Don't Leave Me Hangin' On could be 60s NS if you didn't know. Not on Youtube yet, but worth a blind-listening test to see if you knew it's modern. It's a corking time for new modern soul. Cool Million album is out today and is wonderful as ever (better than III I think). Saun & Starr and Tortured Soul next week. Soul Love 2015 is on repeat. In next few weeks are Lloyd Bridges, Opolopo album 'Superconductor', Kwabs.

Love Lights is also on a great modern soul compilation called 'Flying High' that also has a second volume. That CD, deleted yes, rare no. It was part of a series covering Mod, Skinhead etc.

Thanks Carl. Great to hear the music.

A few more recent great contemporary dance soul selections: Myles Sanko - Forever Dreaming (one of the best albums of recent years, every song is wonderful and seems to have been recorded live in the studio) Robin McKelle & The Flytones - Baby You're The Best Leon Bridges - Better Man The Revelations - Why When The Love Is Gone (yes the old soul hit) Jo Stance - Hey Girl (in case anyone missed it a couple of years ago) All of these carry the original Northern Soul soul sound naturally into this time. cheers Mark

Excellent. I didn't know this is coming. They balance classic and new soul production sympathetically. Giles Peterson played a track off the new album by The Monophonics that was fantastic the other day, think 1970s Buddah such as The Modulations. Possibly it was 'Too Late' but I can't be sure. I forgot to mention Soul Talk earlier, very good indeed and I look forward to when Ralph gets the Diplomats of Soul debut album done.

Get Expansions or Outta Sight on these for CD issue! The new Soul Life, Real Side etc CDs are great - we need a regular series now.

My son was playing me the new Snoop Dogg song with Charlie Wilson on it- it's basically modern soul with him lightly rapping. He's been going that way with appearances on Kem and Kindred The Family Soul. Interesting times!

Funnily enough Steve, I'd been ruminating on doing a post around this for a fair while. I've been in the soul dance scene for 33 years (how time flies!) and as I get older I find I'm increasingly interested in contemporary music being made in the style. As much as I enjoy Northern Soul and Modern Soul (and R&B, mod jazz, funk, soulful disco etc), it's great to hear new music. The issue for the northern soul-originated scene is as you say, the lack of rarity. The Prestatyn/Ralph Tee/Togetherness type events don't really seem to worry about that as it's the finding of the uptempo dance soul gems is where the reward comes in. It's obviously something different to Northern Soul (or is it) but doesn't really have (or perhaps need) a name. It was always true - an album or compilation with a load of average tracks then one or two wonderful anthems waiting for plays. I'm just glad to be enjoying new music and to have the odd track that my kids enjoy. While we're here a few more from checking a playlist of recent music: Tristan, Bluey, Don-E, Butch & Rhonda Coleman, Full Flava, Khari Cabral Simmons, Tom Glide, Muzart, Gianna, Personal Life, Tony Momrelle, Angela Johnson & Down To The Bone, Dira, Avery*Sunshine, McKoy, James Day, Victor Haynes, C. Robert Walker, Omar, Heston, Cool Million, SOS, Kloud 9, Frank McComb, Zo!, Leon Ware (still going strong), Jarrod Lawson, Papik, some Mario Bondi, Raphael Sadiiq I find this kind of soul blends well with the 1970s Modern Soul. Not all modern soul appeals, I'm not keen on the faux southern wailing stuff that's out a lot and crosses over to pop but there's room for all.

I think we're in the middle of a new great age for genuine soul music. There's loads coming from the USA and healthy artist growth across the world - Sweden, Australia, UK, it's all welcome. I'm buying as much new soul on CD (often that has tracks with the northern/modern sound in there on a few tracks) as I am old music. I almost daren't hear about any new artists or albums as there are so many to choose from. Thanks for posting these up too. My son is a huge hip-hop fan and we've found that as that music takes on much more soul influence recently there are artists now in the middle who seem to work across soul and modern urban music that appeal quite widely (without being the 90s style R&B) - such as Kem, Raheen DeVaughn, Kindred The Family Soul, Preston Glass, Anthony Hamilton, The Monophonics, Calvin Richardson, Kenya, Marc Staggers, Phil Perry, The Revelations, Anthony David, Eric Roberson, Incognito (still doing), Drizabone Soul Family (still going) to mention a few. Ronald Isley on the Kendrick Lamarr album had my son checking out classic Isley Brothers and Pharrell had him appreciating Curtis Mayfield. It's good. The best uptempo dance modern soul will hopefully get incorporated into the scene over time and the labels and definitions will blur as we all age and the youngsters don't have or need the same distinctions. (northern, modern, upfront, progressive - whatever, just good dance soul). It's sad to me there aren't nights around me focused on promoting a soul dance scene that incorporates the past but is focused on finding the best of the new as much. I love classic northern/funk/disco soul and discoveries but I'm keen on and want to dance to soul based dance music of all eras. Anyway for new soul music, there's a lot to enjoy.

RIP. Always adored 'Heart of a Child', a truly soulful dancer.