Category Archives: Articles

Kinsman Dazz Band

“Ghetto Preacher” / “Saved”

Label: Creative-Soul Records
Catalogue Number: CS-1004
Release Date: October 2023
Format: 7’

Michael J. Calhoun has accomplished greatness in music for over 30 years. He was influenced by such luminaries as B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, The Beatles and Motown, and of course his Cleveland soul brother and early days mentor, the legendary Lou Ragland. Michael’s career launched as a founding member, singer, composer and guitarist of ‘Kinsman Dazz’.

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Tommy Rodgers

“United Hearts of America” / “Pass The Word”

“Give Me My Freedom” / “Tell It To The Wind”

Label: MD Records
Catalogue Number: MD122/ MD123
Release Date: July 2023
Format: 7’

Well, here we are now bringing out on two releases from the great Tommy Rodgers, a name many will know from his own musical prowess and that of his Brewster Crew association amongst others. These releases will each hold a never-before released A side backed with alt recordings of a released track. As usual they are remastered for today’s vinyl production methods by the great JJ at Goldenmastering, to bring the recordings back to life.

Next up we have ‘United hearts of America’ backed with ‘Pass the word’. United Hearts is a powerful call to action song that captures the sentiment of time, seeking harmony and unity following the Detroit riots. Backing up this is the powerhouse of ‘Pass the word’ that just ignites as the needle flicks out of the ‘run in’ to the music.

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Mantis

“Love Was Born For Me” / “Do We Have Love”

This is a sensational previously unissued double sider from 1976.Do We Have Love is a beautiful sweet soul side with killer vocal from Rocky Whitaker. Click on play and put on your dancing shoes!

Label: Epsilon Record Co.
Catalogue Number: EPS023
Release Date: 20th July 2023
Format: 7’

MANTIS:
Was made up of college buddies. They had all been in a Dartmouth College sponsored traveling band called the Green Dream made up of students in a class taught by Robert Northern … aka “Brother Ahh”. After graduation they much to the chagrin of their parents, decided to take their shot at stardom. They never achieved stardom but I got something better… the friendship of 5 guys who act like brothers that has lasted 50 years…they still Zoom once a month.

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The Society Hill Orchestra Ft. Kat Fontaine & Benny Barksdale, Jr.

Label: Society Hill / EMG
Release Date: July 2023
Format: Digita

Hailing from the small city of Chester, PA on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Kathleen Fontaine-Prattis (affectionately dubbed “Kat” by family and friends) exhibited extraordinary talent as a singer at an early age. As a teenager, Kat began performing and recording with a host of local artists. It was not long before she was sought out by countless musicians, singers and producers that revolved around Philadelphia at the time. As the Sound Of Philadelphia and the recording empire created by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff grew, so did the experience and reputation of Fontaine. By then, she earned her place on a very short list of the area’s top voices. Kat quickly moved up the ranks of Philadelphia’s booming music scene.

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TMF

TMF isn’t a Tribute Band… THEY ARE THE BAND! These gentlemen with the exception of lead vocalist, Chris Walker toured and recorded with the man himself for the last two decades and beyond. Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing… TMF “The Music Forever”

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TRU

“Never Give Up”

Label: Society Hill / EMG
Release Date: 30th June 2023
Format: Digita

Hailing from the Camden, New Jersey / Philadelphia area, a part of the country that became a breeding ground for great vocal groups such as the O’Jays, Stylistics and Blue Magic, three veteran vocal greats come together to form TRU, a highly versatile group that brings the sweet sound of Philly Soul forward for a new generation. Led by vocalist James “Jimi” Williams, TRU also features vocal great Billy Maynor and newest member, the charismatic Dennis Sproul.

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Hideo Shiraki

Plays Bossa Nova

Label:Jazzroom Records
Catalogue Number: JAZZR-025
Release Date: 23rd June 2023
Format: Vinyl LP Only

Hideo Shiraki travelled to the US from Japan in 1962 and was bowled over by Horace Silver and the Bossa Nova Craze happening at the same time. When he returned to Japan he went straight into the studio and cut this Blue Note inspired Japanese Jazz Masterpiece.

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Colin Curtis Presents: Indigo Jam Unit

“My passion for Japanese jazz started way back in the 1970s and was fueled even more as the decade went on with the evolution of jazz dance in the UK’s burgeoning jazz funk scene. As jazz breaks emerged in the jazz rooms, the demand for danceable jazz music in the UK kept growing. Through scouring the record shops in Manchester, Birmingham, and London, the emergence of great Japanese jazz added another dimension to this genre. My love for Japanese jazz continued until the turn of the century when the names changed from Sadao Watanabe, Mikio Masuda, Casiopea, Toshiyuki Honda, Shigeharu Mukai, and the like to the new emerging nu-jazz bands like Sleep Walker, Quasimode, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Jabberloop, and in 2006, the powerful force that was the indigo jam unit!

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TEN-63

‘You & me’ /‘Say We’ll Stay’

Label: Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue Number: ZP-93
Release Date: 9th June 2023
Format: 7”

Legendary Memphis soul brothers William, Bertram and Randy Brown released an album under the group name TEN-63 entitled Facing The Music,it was published in 2009, but recorded sometime earlier.
You & me and our pick for the flip Say We’ll Stay are beautifully constructed songs with each of the Brown brothers serving up a solo part, it cannot be denied their contrasting vocal styles and harmonies are supreme in the extreme!

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Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers

“What Will You Leave Behind”(Digital Out Now) / “Bang, Bang, Bang”

Label: LRK Records
Catalogue Number: LRK-19
Release Date: 26th May 2023
Format: 7’

The new single by Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers and B side to the new vinyl 45 release!
Right on the heels of the success of their previous single “What Will You Leave Behind”, LRK Records is proud to announce the digital single follow up by Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers!! Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers are a Los Angeles based, transplanted from Chicago, unit that specializes in 60s/70s soul and funk. The band is fronted by the dynamically charismatic Bella Brown. A fiery female lead singer that is a mixture of Tina Turner and Sharon Jones, with a persona that is reminiscent of the empowered female leads of 70s Blaxploitation films.

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Michon C. Young #MYSWEETNESS

Release Date: 28th April 2023

Michon C. Young Vocalist/Songwriter/Producer resides in Detroit, Mi and considers Detroit her second hometown though born and raised in Gary, Indiana. Her musical talent was recognized by Pastor Marvin L. Winans which led to singing background on his 1st solo CD and performing a duet with him at the opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. She has opened for countless mainstream artists and is a sought after opening act performer.

Michon has topped the charts since 2016 with her first debut song, “Something About You”. This song quickly rose to #1 instantly in the UK and Indie Soul Charts. Her first project, “Love Life Experiences” was released in April 2017. This entire album was quite successful in the UK and United States. A total of 8 songs from this 13-track project topped the Indie charts both stateside and abroad.

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Shrine – The Rarest Soul Label Vol.2 Andy Rix 2000

The story of Shrine Records, from its creation to demise, was told in Volume One. As promised Volume Two will look at those who contributed to the creation of the Shrine sound and the songs that have captured the attention of 60s Soul fans all over the world.

The story of Shrine Records, from its creation to demise, was told in Volume One. As promised Volume Two will look at those who contributed to the creation of the Shrine sound and the songs that have captured the attention of 60s Soul fans all over the world.

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SHRINE NORTHERN – The 60s Rarest Dance Label Various Artists

21st March 2023Kent RecordsMick

Label: Kent Records
Catalogue Number: KENT 526
Release Date: 28th April 2023
Format: LP

Ace Records is proud to announce the purchase of the Shrine label and Eddie Singleton’s independent productions.
To celebrate we have compiled an album of the very best dance recordings the label made in 1965 and 1966, primarily in Washington DC.
The business’s failure made this music incredibly hard to find for record collectors and Shrine is rightly known as the rarest soul label.

It is much more than that though. The music was made by some one of the original founders of Motown, Raynoma Liles Gordy and her Motown-schooled cousin Mike Ossman, New York music business luminaries Eddie Singleton and Harry Bass and the up-and-coming talents of Washington’s Keni St Lewis and Maxx Kidd. The acts included the hugely respected Ray Pollard and fellow New Yorker J.D. Bryant, talented and established Washington and Baltimore acts Eddie Daye & The Four Bars, Bobby Reed and the Enjoyables. Importantly, they discovered and developed the local talent of the area in the shape of the Cautions, Les Chansonettes, the Prophets and Shirley Edwards.

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This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975

Label: BGP
Catalogue Number:CDBGPD 314
Release Date: 31st March 2023
Format: CD / LP

Bob Thiele is one of the great producers. For his work with John Coltrane alone, where he gave free reign to the saxophone great’s wildest musical visions including ‘A Love Supreme’, ignoring the usual cost consciousness of a major label, he deserves to be lauded. In addition to this his 8 years at Impulse saw him recording seminal works by scores of musicians including late blooming masterpieces by Ellington and Hodges, and a whole wave of ‘new thing’ jazzers such as Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders. He didn’t stop there and when he launched his own label Flying Dutchman in 1969, he continued to innovate and record music that reflected its times, but that also resonates down through the ages.

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Tunnie Smith

“Join Together” / U And Me”

Label: Pass The Baton
Catalogue Number: SDE67
Release Date: April 2023
Format: 7”

During the summer youth program of 1970 and ’71 at St Paul’s Catholic church a young Tunnie Smith was singled out by Father George Artist for his outstanding singing abilities. He was soon introduced to Joe Delpit and Reginal Brown to sing along with their show and dance band “The 13Th Amendments. It didn’t take long before Tunnie was a full member of the band and became a featured singer performing throughout Louisiana. After a year and a half of performing at nightclubs, military bases and universities Tunnie landed a record deal with Rick Hall’s Fame/UA record label. His first single from 1973 was a wonderful mid-tempo number entitled “Finders Aren’t Always Keepers” flipped with “Do That To Me” It gained National distribution and had some good success.

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