Modern Musings………news and grooves from the Modern Side with Mark Randle

 

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April 2006

 (These reviews appear first in Soul Up North, available from Howard Earnshaw, 19 Rectory Drive, Kirkheaton 44 1484 535999 £2 per issue  email soulupnorthhfe@aol.com web www.soulupnorth.org - Big thanks to Howard and all at Soul Up North for letting me feature this)

 

Anthony Hamilton                           All Cuts                                                                      (US So So Def CD “Ain't Nobody Worryin'”)

 

Well, well……………so many times we see album covers where the nu soul geezers come over all Marvin or Donny in style, but the laser hits the disc and we find that’s where the similarity ends!!  Well, not this time kiddie-winks.  Anthony Hamilton, just like a vintage wine, gets better with time, and this is one of THE albums of the year, no doubt.  This dropped on import mid-December 2005, but was released in the UK in January, so it will probably be considered a 2006 release.  Whatever, as long as its’ not overlooked.  Let’s be straight about this, there are no real dancers here, but if you only choose your purchases based on the dance floor, well, shame on you because you really are missing some of the best music on the planet.  Too many cuts to single out, but the one that floored me was “Change Your World”, and that shot straight to the top of my soul chart for 2005 (see later).  As unmissable as anything I’ve ever reviewed in these pages!!

 

Donald McCollum                             Most cuts                                                                   (UK Dome CD “U Don't Want My Love”)

 

Having brought us one of last years killer dance floor 12’s with the title track, Donald McCollum now drops his “U Don’t Want My Love” full album for Dome.  “You’re My Everything” just shades “Let’s Groove” and “Just Be True” as the other key dancer on the album.  There is a variety of tempo on offer though, so something for everyone, including a couple of decent covers.  Firstly William DeVaughn’s “Be Thankful….”, and even more interesting is BMW’s “Waiting In Vain”, which is thoughtfully reworked to remove the reggae feel almost completely.  Nice album.

 

Darryl D'Bonneau                             A Better Way                                                            (US Jellybean Soul 12")

 

If you couple one of the best voices around on the US house circuit (D’Bonneau) with two of the hottest producers of the moment (Mena & Estevez) and release the end product on one of the most credible labels, what do you get?   One of the best house 12’s so far in 2006 is your answer, with the soulful house mix being prime material for crossing over to the modern soul scene.  Killer!

 

J-Red                                      In Your Dreams                                                        (US Soul Mop Ent. CD “What's Up”)

 

From a 7 track mini album comes a great lilting mid-tempo very soulful R&B cut from Jesse Redmond, better known to his friends as J-Red.  To use a description I often rely on in these pages, this is top-drawer Prestwich type tackle.  I think you know what that means by now.  You need this.

 

Jaheim                                               Most cuts                                                                   (US Warner Bros. CD “Ghetto Classics”)

 

Like Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim matures nicely with each release.  He could quite easily be following the R&B by numbers route, and you wouldn’t blame him for doing so commercially speaking.  Luckily for us he chooses to keep it real, and whilst early in a new year is traditionally quiet, Jaheim delivers us another solid set.  “Like A DJ” is the obvious dancer, but I prefer “Forgetful” which will sound good at the Bass Museum and the like.  This is littered with great cuts, and is one of THE best new releases from one of THE contemporary soul voices.  Essential listening!

 

Amar Khalil                            Most cuts                                           (US Earmark Ent. CD “Where There's A Will There's A Way”)

 
The US indies strike again, and if I tell you that this is produced by Jamie Hawkins, you’ll go some way to understanding why this album is exciting me so much at present.  “Higher” and “Solitary” are likely to get exposure in the clubs, but the one that’s really got me hooked is “Sunny Day”, a quirky yet sweet mid-tempo number that could be from any of those Tony Toni Tone albums we all love so much.  Another solid album for this instalment, and we’re only just into 2006.  Good innit????

 

In brief, look out for new 12’s from Reel Soul “I Get A Feeling” (Hustle Music), Fudge “Nightglows” (Tejal), Quentin Harris feat. Monique Bingham “Poor People” (Symple Soul), Café Soul All-Stars “Urban Jungle” (Blaze remixes - You Ent.), Kenny Bobien “Share” (Devotion), One Touch feat. Sharlene Hector “Live Your Life” (Purple Music), D.C. Washington “I Miss You” (Soul Shine), the brilliant Will Milton feat Rodney Carter “Run To Me” (Vega) and if you like a bit of jazz, try Laurentius “Karate Samba” (Needs), coming over all 70’s jazz-fusion on us, but be careful, it’s not for the faint of heart!

 

SIMPLY SOUL MAIL ORDER HOT TEN SALES

(W/C 20/02/06)

 

1. Diplomats Of Soul - Someday We'll All Be Free (12")

2. Maysa - Sweet Classic Soul (CD album)

3. The Whispers - For Your Ears Only (CD album)

4. Jaheim - Ghetto Classics (CD album)

5. Lab Addicts - The Essential Elements Of Soul (CD album)

6. Reel Soul feat Damon & Rayleen - I Get A Feeling (12")

7. Chillifunk - The Best Of Ten Years - Various Artists (CD album)

8. The Persuaders - Made To Be Loved (CD album)

9. Bar suSU 2 - Various Artists (CD album)

10. Shanice - Every Woman Dreams (CD album)

 

Chart compiled by Fish…the above and much more available on 0116 237 5461/www.firstexperiencerecords.com. 

 

            

OK………….it’s end of year chart time once again……….here’s what floated my boat in 2005…………another bumper year!!

 

50 Soul 2 check 4

1.      Anthony Hamilton               Change Your World (So So Def)

2.      Kindred The Family Soul       As Of Yet      (Hidden Beach)

3.      Prominent                         Step Into My World          (Royalty Music)

4.      P J Morton                        No Ordinary Love (2PM Music)

5.      Ty Causey                        I Miss You (Ty Causey)

6.      Monique DeBose                 Walk Away (Monique DeBose)

7.      Blaze                      Here With Me (Lifeline)

8.      Byron Stingily           Bitter (Slip n Slide)

9.      Heaven & Earth                  Can I? (Da-Man)

10.  Raheem DeVaughn              The Love Experience (Jive)

11.  John Legend            Ordinary People (Remix) (Sony)

12.  Dena Deadly            I Don’t Eva Wanna Stop (Counterflow)

13.  Wade O. Brown                  Put This On (Groove Utd. Ent.)

14.  Martha Redbone                 Children Of Love (Blackfeet)

15.  Ian Martin                         Knockdown Side (Expansion)

16.  Mike Avery              Miss Lady (Avery Park)

17.  Lou Pride                          Love Will Make It Alright (Severn)

18.  Joe McBride             Giving It All To You (Heads Up)

19.  C Chang                           Get Up (Da Producers)

20.  Syleena Johnson                He Makes Me Say (Jive)

21.  Incognito                          It’s Just One Of Those Things (Dome)

22.  U-Nam                    Take Da Time (Café de Soul)

23.  Sheila Ferguson                  New Kind Of Medicine (Group Records)

24.  The Unifics              Lifetime And A Half (Somoob)

25.  Ray Charles/John Legend     Touch (Atlantic/Rhino)

26.  Tim Terry                          The One (Soul Street)         

27.  Brooke Valentine                As Long As You Come Home (Virgin)

28.  Eric Roberson           Hesitation (Blue Erro Soul)

29.  Donnie Ray                        I Never Dreamed (Ecko)

30.  Darian Keith Horn                Move Into Your Season (KGM Music)

31.  Angie Stone             I Wasn't Kidding (J Records)

32.  Usher                     It Is What It Is (LaFace)

33.  Marvin Gaye             Let’s Get It On (Remix) (Motown)

34.  Lorenzo Owens                  Wanna See You Smile (D Town)

35.  Kem                       Without You (Motown)         

36.  Mariah Carey            Fly Like A Bird (Rock Music)

37.  Angel Rissoff            Break Out The Tears (Rissoff)

38.  Kenny Thomas                   Him (Street Soul)

39.  Jay                        Let Me Be (R-Soul)

40.  Walter Beasley                   Don’t Say Goodnight (Heads Up)

41.  Lina                        I Am (Hidden Beach)

42.  James Day/Jeff Ramsey       Don’t Waste The Pretty (James Day Biz)

43.  Krista Alston            Positive (Golgotha Records)

44.  Chris Walker             Beyond The Limits Of Love (Canvas)

45.  2GA1                      More Loving (Onemorecords)

46.  Donald McCollum                U Don’t Want My Love (Dome)

47.  Jiva                        Daydreamer (Giant Step)

48.  Black Gold Massive              Introduce Me To Love (Major Menace)

49.  Kirk Franklin             Looking For You (Zomba Gospel)

50.  Stevie Wonder                   My Love Is On Fire (Motown)

Soul & Jazz Dance 100

1.      Steal Vybe ft. Stephanie Renee      It’s Real (Z Records)

2.      Louie Vega                        Sunshine (Vega)

3.      Maxine Inniss           Standing Strong (Fuzion)

4.      DJ Spen feat. Vonita White  My Devotion (Devotion)

5.      Yukihiro Fukutomi               Hooked (Pantone)

6.      Mena Keys                        Forever And A Day (Jellybean Soul)

7.      Glenn Underground              Ambient Jaz One (Muzic Vision)

8.      Chuck Love                       Soul Symphony (Om)

9.      Glenn Underground              Crescendo (Vega)

10.  Jihad Muhammad                Reflections (UK Basic)

11.  Miquifaye                          Keeping Time (Circular Motion)

12.  Arnold Jarvis            Take Good Care (Remix) (Real Tone)

13.  Neolectrique            This Time (Little Angel)

14.  Ron Trent/Quentin Harris      Happiness (Need 2 Soul)

15.  The Backroom/Kimara Lovelace       Here I Am (Soul Groove)

16.  Stacey Mallory                   Love Power (Bumpin’ City)

17.  Franck Roger feat. Chris Wonder     Be What’s Your Soul (Hustle Music)

18.  Lenny Fontana feat. Octavia          The Way (White)

19.  Ron Carroll & Mr A.L.I.         Dance All Night (Mr A.L.I. mix) (Unified)

20.  Mr A.L.I.                           About Us (Unified)

21.  The Rebirth              Evil Vibrations (Ubiquity)

22.  Li’Sha Project           Feel (Salted)

23.  Patti LaBelle ft. Carlos Santana       When U Smile (Fall Out)

24.  Indigenous Space People     Across The Universe (Future Vision)

25.  Studio Apt./Stephanie Cooke          One True Love (New World)

26.  Kloud 9                             So Many Reasons(Reel People) (Copyright)

27.  Marlon D feat. Stephanie Renee      Love Is Key (Jellybean Soul)

28.  Alexander Hope                  Big Mistake (West End)

29.  Kiko Navarro            Xel Ha (Latin Jazz mix) (Nitegrooves)

30.  Halo & Sidestreet Players/Maya      This Love (City Deep)

31.  Diviniti                    Live For The Night (Women On Wax)

32.  Terry Hunter feat. Dana Divine       Be Thankful (Dopewax)

33.  Vincent Montana/William Howard     That’s What Love Does (PSW)

34.  Sterling Ensemble/Grant Green        I Can Tell (Soul Shine)  

35.  Rasmus Faber feat. Melo      Get Over Here (Farplane)

36.  Touch One                        Electric Breeez (Needs)

37.  Simon Grey              The Galactica Suite (Papa)

38.  Melba Moore            My Heart Belongs To You (Soulfuric)

39.  Mr A.L.I. feat. Carla Prather That Feeling (NLC)

40.  The Anderson Soares Project         Menino Do Morro (West End Blue)

41.  Glenn Underground              Soul Heights (Life Line)

42.  Fuzion feat. Chris Herbert    I’m So Glad (Fuzion)

43.  Breakpoint feat. Jon Banfield Whenever You Want Me (Zoo Groove)

44.  Kenny Carvajal feat. Swaylo You Remind Me (Phuture Sole)

45.  Robert Strauss                   Spinning Inside Your Love (Freerange)

46.  Glenn Underground feat. Cei-Bei      Fall’en Rain          (NLC)

47.  Julius Papp and D’Lanya       Celebrate (NeoDisco)

48.  Ron Hall/Mark Evans            The Way You Love Me (Hustle Music)

49.  JTE Project ft. Gary Bardouille        Back Into You (Trippin’)

50.  Reel Soul feat. Daemon        Take Me To A Place (Ricanstruction)

51.  Studio Apt./Terrance Downs We Are Lonely (Q Harris) (King Street)

52.  Bah Samba                        Portuguese Love (BKO)

53.  Stephanie Cooke                Love Will (West End)

54.  Sara Devine             Special (Vega)

55.  D.U.S.K. feat. Christine Baily Picture Me Falling (Duff Note)

56.  Chuck Love                       Spread The Love (Salted)

57.  Charles Spencer                 Even Now (Loveslap!)

58.  Luv City                            Stars (Shelter)

59.  Ce Ce Rogers           It’s Alright (Swing City)

60.  Blaze/UDAUFL/Dawn Tallman Keep Hope Alive (King Street)

61.  Barbara Tucker                  You Want Me Back (Paradise)

62.  Franck Roger            Flying High (Seasons)

63.  Dawn Tallman           You Are Why (Slaag)

64.  Anane                     Amazing Love (Vega)

65.  Kenny Bobien           When (Home)

66.  Glen Lewis ft. Mjojo And Bongani     Life Everlasting (Funk La Planet)

67.  Fuzion feat. Nicole Wright    Beautiful (Fuzion)

68.  Nadirah Shakoor                 Just A Breath Away (Yoruba)

69.  Ruffneck feat. Yavahn                  Get It Right (Soul Groove)

70.  Trina                      Joy (Restricted Access)

71.  Alton Miller              Clouds Are Gone (Deeper Soul/Goya)

72.  Alex & ReverendP ft. Chynna Blue    If You Find Your Way      (Funk La Planet)

73.  Jill Scott                           Not Like Crazy (Dopewax)

74.  Reel People ft. Sharlene Hector       The Rain (Papa)

75.  Lefunken feat. Mina            Stand Up (Bingo Soul)

76.  Fudge feat. Mani Hoffman    Keep On (Stalwart)

77.  Jesse Outlaw ft. Bernard Harris       Love You So (Eargasmic)        

78.  Joyful Noise             Call Me (Qalo Mota)

79.  Chuck Love                       Set Me Free (Vista)

80.  Lefunken feat. Mina            Breathe (Deepa Grooves)

81.  Dennis Ferrer ft. Kenny Bobien        Grateful (Sfere)

82.  Jay-J feat. Charlene Moore   With Him (Defected)

83.  Martino                             Do What Feels Right (West End)

84.  Anthony Nicholson              Welcome To The Future (Track Mode)

85.  Calm pres. K.F.                  Shining Of Life (Life Line)

86.  Miss Patty                         You Ain’t Treating Me Right (Sole)

87.  Mark Grant feat. Russoul      You R The 1 (Blackstone)

88.  Craig C. feat. Sarah Smith    Pictures (Duff Note)

89.  Sir Piers feat. Monique Bingham      Fools Got Nothin’ (Curious)

90.  Sterling Ensemble/Sara Devine        Life Ain’t What It Seems (Vega)

91.  Richard A. Davis                 Lift You Up (Groove Odyssey)

92.  Jihad Muhammad/Malika Zarra         The Other Side (Shack)

93.  Solu Music feat. Kai Martin   It Ain’t Love (Solu)

94.  The Shadow Kings/David Walker      Soul Music (Undo)

95.  Larry Heard              Changes (Track Mode)

96.  Alex Lattimore          Rush Hour (Divine)

97.  Camiel                    You’re So Right (Rendezvous)

98.  The Rhythm Slaves feat. Joseph     Someday (Easy Street)

99.  Hajime Yoshizawa/V Freeman         Sweet Way (Geneon)

100.                      Su Su Bobien           Call Him Up (Soundmen On Wax)

 

 

That’s all for now folks, see you next time!!                                                                                                                                      Mark     (February 2006)

 

 

Don’t forget, if you have material for review, contact me soulboy@randlem.freeserve.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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