brian-goucher - SoulDiscovery

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Seeking out the Soul
with
Brian Goucher

On the launch of the Soul Discovery website I decided to review the music I played in an effort to raise its profile and to try and point some of you in the direction of this wonderful music.

First up then is the marvellous Ted Winn “Live your life with balance” (Shanachie) taken from a new gospel album, this track oozes class and has jazzy feel, great to dance too with a hook that grabs you immediately. Then we have the much-acclaimed Revelations with there anthemic “Remember the last time”. From a very classy album that has surfaced on (Decision Records) this has been a huge play on the various soul radio shows, interestingly neither of these are southern soul tunes, but both so right for today and tomorrow.

Kashious "All over again" (Gordon Records) from 2006, Trudy Lynn & The Calvin Owens Orchestra"Your the only one"(Sawdust Alley Records) there’s no date on the disc but I’ve had mine for 4 years now.Pookie Lane "Southern Woman" (Allison Records) from 2007
Robert Tillman "Don't lie to me"(Ace Records) 1994. These four can most certainly be titled as Southern Soul,

Kashious is the most subtle of dancers with a really strong killer vocal that was so cruelly ignored at the time of its release, Trudy Lynn is already regarded as a classic, we all know what a great vocalist she is, but put her with a full on orchestra, with a really strong song and WOW, without doubt this one will stand the test of time. Pookie Lane was a very well accepted tune which actually garnered a lot of attention from jocks across the whole spectrum, Robert Tillman has never really been given any air time, I bought the album as a new release and I’ve never been able to understand why this has never gotten the raps it deserves. A quite wonderful vocal over a midtempo backing makes this a dead cert for future recognition; trouble is it will be to late for Mr Tillman.

The O'Jays influenced Episode with there "If you think that you love me" (Cobalt Music Inc) from a four track mini album is a stunning example of modern day soul music, a philly styled gem that is so ripe for radio play, but alas I’ve only heard Mick play this on his show. A simply wonderful lead vocal, some supreme harmonies and music score to rival the best. Already 4 years old and still awaiting attention from the masses. Be 4 Real is even older surfacing first time round in 2001, "Oh lady" is a real tour de force vocal harmony opus, I really can’t speak highly enough of this tune, the label is Caprice International Records, you need these, you really do.

Lou Wilson & Todays People "Around the corner from love" (frontline records) is still a relatively unknown dancer, but for the past 3 years a small group of us have been extolling the virtues of this opus, each and every time I play this out I get folks coming to the decks to have a looksee, of course the albums profile is about to be raised with the release of the other superb dancer on the album, on a 45 too, expect “ Settle Down” to get some serious plays in the coming months. If you get the chance grab a listen to “If it aint broke don’t try to fix it” and absolute stunning opus that meanders along on a bed of piano, drums, sx and base and a great a vocal as you would expect. Minister Marvin Webb "Its time for love", the album gives no details in respect of the label or year but this was a new one to me earlier this year. It’s amazing to think this guy sent Mick this one night asking him what he thought and whether he thought t would be appreciated. From the moment I heard it I was hooked, hints of

Now then Sharon McMahon "When will love come to me" (So Calitown Records) this 2007 mid tempo grower has been slowly getting the plaudits with each and every play, she is of course the lady who had a number of releases in the late 60’s early 70’s. This was another that my good mate Mark Houghton and I were shouting about at the time of release, sometimes, just sometimes you do wonder why the hell we bother.

Heston’s album should need no introduction, several tracks have been plundered by a variety of jocks, I was immediately smitten by “Distant lover”, probably the most instant track on the album, but hey it floats my boat, a delicious rhythm that doesn’t let up, his vocals are near perfect throughout the album but on this track he excels big time. Heston’s album should need no introduction, several tracks have been plundered by a variety of jocks, I was immediately smitten by “Distant lover”, probably the most instant track on the album, but hey it floats my boat, a delicious rhythm that doesn’t let up, his vocals are near perfect throughout the album but on this track he excels big time.
For many Charles Wilson’s album will be the album of the year, real instruments including a string section. His vocals are exactly what we have come to expect, he very rarely disappoints, its just some of the productions on some of his previous albums is very poor, and lately he’s fallen for this “Party” nonsense that features on so many southern albums, But this latest album is one very special affair. It appears that no expense was spared. I went for

"I don’t want to take a chance", full of depth, melody and feeling. Wonderful, simply wonderful, surfaced on Severn Records.
Next then we have Lawrence Beaman "Thinkin of you" (L-Recordz) when Colin Curtis played this at Sketchley Grange everyone was smitten with it musically, but when those deep rich vocals boomed out over the midtempo backing, I was at the head of a pack heading towards Colin shouting “Who the foooooooooooooooooooookin hell is this”. I remember getting home the next day (we stayed the night) and going straight on line and securing my own copy from the man’s own site. If you like Cunnie Williamsthen you will like this too. Another essential purchase for the discerning soul man.

Bobby Warren "Time has come for us to be free"(Konkord Records)
is an accepted monster everywhere, Mark Houghton was the first person I heard play it, on Mick’s show, it sounded so good, 4 years later its now an occasional play for most of the jocks I know.
Next up comes the finest dancer around at the minute, played on a big sound system this really is an awesome tune, Walt Luv "Girl I really need you" (Monkey Wrench Records)
is taken from the mans new album which surfaced on download only, in late September. The really sad thing about this track is that other than Mark Merry, I’ve not heard one other person mention it, if you’re a 70’s collector then this would not sound out of place. This I fear will be lost and come back to haunt many of you in the future, hell, if the northern scene was looking for the next bootleg then its this.

Lee Roye came out of no-where earlier this year with a 10 tracker on (Artizen Records), very southern sounding in places, but tucked away on this album is a stunning 80’s sounding dancer that rammed the floor; the track in question is "Sooner or later". Quite how this tune found its way onto this album is beyond me, it’s definitely out of place, another one that will hang around for years to come. To all those jocks that still insist Raj is a good tune, get your ears around this, you wont play that very average 45 again. Of course Mike Jimenez "Someday we'll get by" is an anthem and should need no introductions, destined to be bootlegged for the Northern scene. Preston Shannon is a modern day journey man, currently cutting great music out of Nashville, with a great voice and always a top production, "The way that I love you"(Title Tunes Records) is a 2006 swinging horn laden mid tempo dancer that had em up and at it big time, all the more amazing is that the majority in attendance hadn’t heard it before.

Another wonderfulup-tempo dancer that was missed at the time of release but found favour this year is Southside Johnny"She's still in love" ( Leroy Records) is a dance floor filler and again, this one will be around now for the foreseeable future, its already 7 years old and like many I missed it at the time of release and discovered it earlier this year. And for another blast from the past we have Andre Lee and his anthemic dancer ”Something about your love" from 1997. Those vocals really are something else. Staying in a similar vein we have Johnny Ingram with his urgent dancer "Here comes love" from his 2002 hard to find album ”The Love Messenger”, (Society Hill Records) another really strong male lead over an insistent backing. .

Of all the wonderful music I played the two tracks that got the most attention and interest were the following two. Purists might want to go and make a cup of tea whilst I talk about these. First up then isJoe Louise Walker "Do you wanna be with me" from 2002 (Telarc Records) Iv had this from new, the album is very bluesy but this track starts off with a thumping base, drums and the blackest, grittiest voice you’ve ever heard, I’d never played this out untill this year when I aired it at the Hidden Rooms and then at this doo, its seven minutes long and half way it turns into a funky dancer complete with the most amazing guitar solo, aka Santana. The floor was rammed, I had the biggest smile ever on my face, they were coming up to the decks in there droves wanting to know who it was. Gavin Page was heard to mutter something about Goucher playing heavy rock records again, such was the impact of that tune I decided I could play anything, I had em hooked so the laser flicker was loaded up with Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra "Waitin for your love" (TruThoughts). Now as all who attended will know, this aint for the faint hearted, its hard incessant horn driven funk that just envelopes your mind and body, with the kind of vocal that Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings would be proud of. This arrived in 2006 but I was a late starter on this one, a mate at work gave me 5 tracks off the album, I was amazed at the quality and at the fact I didn’t already know it or have it. I soon put that right.
What more can be said about the Michigan Soul Searchers 1996 outing "Where could I go" (Bell Time) the absolute ultimate gospel dancer, with the kind of vocal that can’t and won’t be equalled. Mark Merry brought this to our attention and I’m doing everything I can to raise its profile. Wonderful, simply wonderful.

Well, there you go, if you’ve managed to get here then your wants list should have increased ten fold, and I aint apologising for that either. f you hear me play out anytime soon, unlikely I know, but if you do then expect to hear some of these.

Brian Goucher