All posts by Mick

6/8/22 Soul Discovery Playlist

Johnnie Taylor “You’re the best girl in the world’ (Columbia) 7’
Donny Gerrard “He’s always somewhere around” (Greedy Records Ltd) 7’
Tunnie Smith “Dancing on da cloud” (Pass The Baton) 7’
Cynic “I want you” (Kent Records)
Michael Dunston “So sensitive”
Lamont Johnson & Eugene “Let’s go dance” (Soul Junction Records) 7’
John Pressley “It’s so easy loving you” (Harlem International) 12’
Robert Owens “Don’t give up”
Vasti Jackson “I’m still in love with you” (Izipho Soul Records) 7’
T.H.I.Q.U.E. “The last dance” (Super Sonic) 12’
Joe Hinton “You and me baby” (Kent Records)
Hodges, James & Smith “Wishful thinking” (Kent Records)
Act 1 “Tom the peeper” (Spring) LPOliver Sain “Bus Stop”(Abet) 7’
Juggy Jones “Inside America” (Jupiter) LP
Miami “Kill that roach” (Drive) 7’ 
Don Bryant “A world like that”(Creative Soul Promo) 7’
Long Dystance “Committed” (K.Sirrah Records)
Reginald Dancil “If you sure” (RD)
Roy Hamilton “My peaceful forest” (Izipho Soul Records) 7’
Willie Phillis “Never gonna fall in love again” (Energy Records) 12’
Tunnie Smith “I found a miracle” (Pass The Baton) 7’
The Family “My song to you” (LCR) 7’
The Bean Brothers “With out you” (Davida) 7’
Joe Graham “Higher than high (Kent Records)
The Turbines “We got to start over” (Soul Direction) 7’
The Chestnut Brothers “Whole lotta you in me” – Remix (Arent)
Donald Byrd “Lansanas Priestess (Blue Note) LP

Click on Radio Shows link above to listen

Micky Gynn

Mickey Gynn began his career with his hometown club, Peterborough United, where he scored 39 goals from 188 appearances in all competitions, before joining First Division club Coventry City for a fee of £60,000. He spent ten years and accumulated almost 300 appearances at the club, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1987. Mickey then moved on to Stoke City in August 1993 where he played in 29 matches in the 1993–94 season before retiring. He became a postman in the Coventry area, and works as a match statistician for the Press Association.In 2005, Gynn held his testimonial match at Coventry City’s former ground of Highfield Road, the penultimate game played there before its demolition.

Soulful Football Update: July 2022

Vann & Reggie “If this ain’t love”/ “I’m falling in love” (Brilliant Minds Records) 7’
Two top sides from a superb year of 1983.If This Ain’t Love, is my fav side on this tough to find 45. Still sounds so fresh, another record I would never part with. The only record they released together, which is very sad. Another must have for your collection.

Reggie Garland  “Why now” (Big Willie Records) 7’
Another top record produced by Reggie Garland. Along with the Vann & Reggie 45 I mentioned before, this is another outstanding tune. With background vocals by Ladonna Bell from the group Mixed Sugar, it floats along so well, with the whole production making it just so good. Not that well known, but one I would recommend  if you like classy early 80s soul. 

Continue reading Micky Gynn →

Vasti Jackson

“I’m still in love with you” / “I’m so glad (we are back together)”

Label:  Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue:  ZP-84Release
Date: 10th August 2022
Format: 7’

Mississippi Bluesman Vasti Jackson is a force to be reckoned with, as an artist, Vasti is known for sweat-drenched, soul ripping performances. In 2015 he recorded the real soul masterpiece ‘I’m Still In Love With You’. The song is a testament to the fact that true love never dies. Passion lives forevermore and grows stronger with every kiss and embrace. Share this delicious, sensual, sonic delight with that someone special, and let them know that you are still in love! The B Side should not be overlooked either, another big sound ballad from two years earlier. 

Roy Hamilton / Charlie Thomas

“My peaceful forest” / “Don’t let me know”

Label:  Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue:  ZP-81
Release Date: 10th August 2022
Format: 7’

Two amazing originally unissued Kent Soul discoveries that were featured on their Bill Haney’s Atlanta Soul Brotherhood CD from 1998.

The late great Bill Haney, unacknowledged genius of Southern Soul and owner of the revered Chant record label was interviewed by Rod Dearlove and published in Voices From The Shadows. It was recalled that Roy Hamilton came to town to work the clubs, Bill had the dramatic song ‘My Peaceful Forest’, and somehow got the ‘The Golden Voice’ to record it – what an epic production it turned out to be!

Similarly, The Drifter’s Charlie Thomas whilst in town to perform got to record ‘Don’t Let Me Know’, the recording comes in at just over two minutes, we have had an extended version cleared for this 7” release.

Don Bryant

“A world like that” / “It was jealousy”

Label: Creative Soul
Catalogue: CS-1002
Release Date: August 2022
Format: 7’

Written by Memphis performer and songwriter, John Paul Keith, ‘A World Like That’ is a response to the racially motivated fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by a serving police officer in 2014. Don gives a moving vocal performance with sympathetic accompaniment from a seasoned set of Memphis based musicians including Charles Hodges and Howard Grimes, which sadly proved to be the legendary drummers last recording session.

Continue reading Don Bryant →

Things are looking up for The Harlem Gospel Travelers, who return here with a new album, a new lineup, and a new lease on life. Produced by Eli Paperboy Reed, Look Up! marks the group’s first full-length release as a trio, as well as their first collection of totally original material, and it couldn’t have come at a more vital moment. The music still draws deeply on the gospel quartet tradition of the ’50s and ’60s, of course, but there’s a distinctly modern edge to the record, an unmistakable reflection of the tumultuous past few years of pandemic anxiety, political chaos, and social unrest. The songs are bold and resilient, facing down doubt and despair with faith and perseverance, and the performances are explosive and ecstatic, fueled by dazzling vocal arrangements punctuated with gritty bursts of guitar and crunchy rhythm breaks. 

Continue reading →

Curtis Lee

“Steppin'”

Label: Steam Records
Catalogue: STR006
Release Date: Sept 2022
Format: 7’

This what we call a Killer Modern Soul Dancer! Curtis Lee, real name Curtis Lee Lindsey from Canton OH, sadly passed away much too young at the age of 58 in June 2012. He was a really special man & a really talented singer and musician. Curt worked for Canton City Schools as a crossing guard. He was also a social member of VFW Post #3747 (Military Veteran organisation). He loved to sing and was runner-up for Canton Idol in 2007, and he also sang at the Fair Grounds and for some Hall of Fame events. We’ve managed to track down his family and licensed those two amazing songs that he recorded in 1979 on his own label Spade Record recorded at Kopperhead studio North Canton OH for your pleasure

Vee-Gees

“Talking”

Label: Steam Records
Catalogue: STR005
Release Date: Sept 2022
Format: 7’

The Vee-Gees, previously known as the Versatile Gents, were from Greensboro, N.C. The versalite Gents started the Group in 1967 originally as “the African Americans” performed at a talent show at Gillespie Park School, Geensboro, North Carolina. Soon After Virginia Massey a Senior Music Major at A&T joined the group and the name was changed to Gin And The Gents. After one year Massey left the Band and their name was changed to The Versatile Gents.

Continue reading Vee-Gees →

Big Crown Records is happy to be reissuing a gem of a soul record from Portland’s own Shirley Nanette: Never Coming Back. A record that walks the line of jazz singer and soulstress and comes out with a sound that is unique in its own right. The album’s first digital single, “All Of Your Life” is available worldwide today. The full album, Never Coming Back, will be available digitally on September 16th. In the early seventies, Hank Swarn and Shirley Nanette collaborated on a project called Never Coming Back. Swarn had been on the road for five years, lending his guitar-backing talent to Earl Grant and his band. 

Continue reading Shirley Nanette →