All posts by Mick

Charles Buddy Smith

“When you lose the one you love” (Prev. Unissued. Alternate Take) / “You get what you deserve”

Label:Cannonball Records  
Catalog: CBLL037
Release Date: March 2022
Format:  7’

While sailing safe towards the glorious shores of release number 60 across the whole catalogue, we are proud to present you a previously unissued alternate take of the immense recording that saw the light on Brute in 1967, and earned a well deserved induction in the hall of fame of the greatest rare soul records of all times by becoming a steady classic at all major worldwide soul events starting from Stafford.

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Kim Tibbs

What some may call “Luck” others call DESTINY…​ 

Since birth, Kim Tibbs has been honing her craft…Crediting her late father, Pastor Robert L. Tibbs for her musical ability, Kim has over thirty years of musical experience as an accomplished Arranger, B-3 Organist, Keyboardist, Lyricist, Pianist, Producer, and Songwriter. Kimberly is currently an Endorsed Hammond Artist with Hammond Organ Company USA, a Roland Artist with Roland Corporation US, a Peavey Artist with Peavey Amplifiers USA, and a Slick Audio Recording Artist; as well as a Staff Writer for the Songs of Love Foundation; Kimberly is also a Council Member of the Board of Advisers in the College of Arts located at J.C. Calhoun Community College. Kimberly holds a Bachelors of Arts and Science in Business Administration, Double Masters Degrees in Organizational Leadership and Masters of Business in Public Administration as well as currently working on a Doctorate of Business Administration in Leadership. Kim is also a Fashion Designer. Her fashion specializes in one of a kind bold, eclectic, and unique hand-crafted pieces ranging from women’s fashions to household goods.​ 

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Ward Brown – Early Park Entertainment

Chicago native Ward Brown aka (BROWN’S BAG) is a Soul/R&B recording artist that released 4 CD’s (Labor of Love, Soul Satisfied, Without Question EP and Where I Should Be). At 8 years old Ward’s main influences was his older brothers one a (Keyboard Player/Singer) the other a (Bass Player/Singer) whom convinced him to learn drums and play with the family band. Drums seemed to be a natural extension and Ward learned very fast and was hooked and that is where his journey begun. 

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Jazz Vibes 20 for 2021

Lady Blackbird  “It’ll never happen again” / Fix it”/ “Blackbird”(Black Acid Soul) LP
Josef Akin “Sun dance” (Sola Terra Records) LP
Alex Malheiros “Feat: Sabrina Malheiros “Prece”/ “Alto Verao”/“Tempos Futuros” Feat: Jose Roberto Bertrami (Far Out Recordings)
Matt Cappy feat. B Slade & Brenda Roy “Look at us now” (East Philly Records)
Sounds Of A&R “Killing me softly (Reprise)” (Soaring Records) LP

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Dave Thorley – December 2021

Thought I’d write this to debunk a few things. As a youn’un growing up I feel in love with a track by World Column, called ‘So is the sun’ The epitome of black consciousness, lyrically speaking, over a hard edged funky beat. A few years into this love affair, I started to hear dismissive comments referring to it as nothing more than a white rock record masquerading as such

This started one of my obsessive quests to get to the bottom of this, something didn’t add up. Let’s start with the track, as I said lyrically it’s the story of a people’s struggle, musically, ‘psych funk’ in that black way that is hard to mimic. On to production and here we are with minor soul music royalty including Leo Graham and Floyd Smith, which in turn gave me a jump off place for my search, Chicago

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The first ever detailed look at a specific year in the life of Northern Soul focuses on its most important year. It was the year when seventies soul was embraced to sit alongside traditional sixties stompers in all dancehalls and venues such as Cleethorpes Pier and The Ritz ,Manchester as all-dayers took a hold on the scene.

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Legacy

“Boy, you’ve been acting strange” / “Celebrate (Legacy to the bone)”

Label: Soul-Direction Records 
Catalog: SD-007
Release: Officially for order from Friday 17th December – Despatch 4th January 2022 Latest.
Format: 7’ Vinyl  

Eddie N Watkins Jr was born & raised in Detroit MI. He started his music career playing piano for a bingo game Hall at 10 years old. His grandmother “Big Mama” had bought him a piano at age 7 and his parents forced him to take piano lessons apparently against his will.
As it turned out they were right and by the age of 13 Eddie had switched to bass guitar joined the Musicians Union and got hired by the Jonny Trafton big band performing with seasoned local Motown musicians.

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Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints

 “Feels so good” / “Wounded hearts” 

Label: DALA Records/BQE Records
Catalog: DALA-104-45
Format: Digital  / Vinyl 45*
Release Date: 3rd December 2021 / 7th January 2022*

Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints are back with their new 45, “Feels So Good” b/w “Wounded Hearts,” the follow-up to their wildly popular debut single, “Runnin’ (To Get To Your Love).” The A-side, “Feels So Good,” is the song we all need right now – an upbeat soul groove perfectly suited to soundtrack the better days ahead. The B-side, “Wounded Hearts,” is a deep ballad layered with strings and fuzz guitar and could have been a lost Curtis Mayfield single.

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