Juno Recommends Soul September 2021

Review: Following on from Gladys Knight & The Pips, Ramrock Retro have a real goldie on their hands here. Aaron Neville's 'Hercules' is an affecting tune that immediately gets the emotions going. The effortless vocal conveys real soul as the drums swing deep and horns bring the class. A falsetto coo at the breakdown takes things to the next level before the drums power on once more. Flip it over for 'Use Me' by Al Jarreau. It's a familiar sound but whichever version you prefer the results are always the same - deep cut and libidinous slow motion funk that hits different.

Review: Backatcha's latest essential reissue mines the epic back catalogue of DJ-turned-producer Snokey Joe's Hot Vinyl, which during the early-to-mid 1980s released some killer, soul-fired lover's rock. The two cuts here date from that period, were both produced by Smokey Joe and guitarist John Kpiaye, and offer synth-heavy lovers covers of classic cuts. On side A you'll find Christine Lewin's fine "reggae fusion" (as she described it in a 1987 Echoes article) take on Tyrone Davis' 'In the Mood', a wonderfully sweet and soulful affair full of colourful instrumentation and head-nodding digital reggae grooves. Arguably even better is Trisha Dean's seductive, pitched-down lovers rock interpretation of Jean Carn's Philly soul staple 'Don't Let It Go To Your Head'. A sing-along gem tailor-made for sunny days and intimate nights.

Review: The tireless Athens of the North label boss has many ongoing musical missions but one right now is putting out the first-ever 7" singles from a famous 1970s soul album by Crystal Winds. The band is made up of keyboardist Paul Coleman and saxophonist M.C. Morris Brown, and guitarist Martin Dumas co-wrote the a-side here, 'Lover's Holiday' with Brown. It's a gorgeous number with smooth but funky bass licks and soft backing vocals fleshing out the sumptuous sounds. The energy levels pick up on 'Love Ain't Easy' with its swirling, skyward strings, sapling cymbals and more lovely bass playing.

Review: This 7" originally released on Horoscope was the only single that Pandella Kelly ever put out. There is no information out there about her and no copies for sale on the most popular secondhand vinyl market out there. A-side jewel 'Stand In For Love', written by E Levert and featuring co-production by B. Massey and W.WIlliams, is a strident soul tune with soaring vocals and a fat and funky bassline. On the other side is 'Loves Needed' is a slow and sumptuous sound with lavish backing vocals and gorgeous strings.

Review: Lewis Taylor self-released self-titled 1996 album is often spoken of as his masterpiece. It remains a modern classic more than a quarter of a century later as it stylishly and effortlessly mixes up neo-soul, pop and laid back funk. Original copies are incredibly hard to find let alone affordable so this is another timely reissue form Be With. The music has shades of every from Price to Gaye to Hendrix. It can be intimate and vulnerable as well as bold and empowering and is always hugely sensitively charged at all times. Highlights include the likes of the swinging, sombre funk of 'Whoever' and bittersweet feels of 'Betterlove.'

Review: Chicago veterans Channel 3 are one of the countless soul acts who only ever recorded one or two singles, but it's hard to understand why when you hear this one. It is a one off from 1973 that is powered by Carl Davis's on point production, arranged by William Sanders and with a sweet rhythm from Willie Henderson. This is high class Chicago soul as it should be, with lush strings and lux backing vocals supporting the singalong lead. A minty copy will cost you well over L250 so make sure you cop this Record Store Day 7" asap.

Review: The Paradise Projex is a UK group that says they make "music with friends old and new." And that music is stylistically a balance of old and new, as this first EP from the new Expansion signings shows. It has slick modern production but a classic soul vibe over lush jazz drumming, with plenty of glowing and golden synths. The vocal work is buttery smooth and spreading positive messages of love. 'Feels Like Home' is all swooning grooves and beautiful harmonies, 'For This Love' has a Stevie Wonder feel and 'One Mind,Two Hearts' is life affirming dance floor goodness. 'With You' ends on a more pensive note and closes a fantastic EP.

Review: Crystal Winds is best known for a supreme and sophisticated funk and soul album that was released in 1982 on the Cash Ear label. The tunes from it have never reportedly been on 7" before, so the Athens of the North label boss made it his mission to right that wrong. This one offers up some hugely classy soul sounds for more tender DJ sets or lazy Sunday listening sessions. 'So Sad' is awash with golden chords and intimate, spoken word exchanges between lovers, and on the flip 'Maybe What You Do Comes Back On You' slows down even further, sinking you deep into the richness of the arrangement.

Review: Candi Staton will always be best known for the likes of 'Your Love' and 'Young Love, Run Free' but there were so many gold moments in the catalogue. Trouble, Heartaches And Sadness (The Lost Fame Sessions Masters) is packed with 12 previously unreleased tunes taken from Staton's fantastic times recording at the famous FAME studios. The music was first discovered when 2011's Evidence (The Complete Fame Sessions Masters) was being put together and is now, for the first time ever as part of this year's Record Store Day, is made available on vinyl. This is proper soul from one of the scene's greats.

Review: Sebastian Williams assembles a fine cast of musicians for his new 7" on Deptford Northern Soul Club. The timeless sound of his voice recalls the great North Soul records of days gone by and on the a-side here 'Get Your Point Over' he is backed by some killer brass. The tune is a funky dancer with expressive stabs and prickly rhythms. It is short but oh so sweet. On the flip side is 'I Don't Care What Mama Said (Baby I Need You)' with a more rolling old school sound, uplifting sense of swing and an acrobatic and expressive performance from Williams.

Review: The King Casuals and were founded in 1962 by the late great Jimi Hendrix and after the guitarist's death, he was in the late sixties replaced by Johnny Jones. He leads them in stomping and high energy fashion and here on the a-side is his interpretation of the Hendrix classic 'Purple Haze.' It's got all the things you need to get steamy on the dance floor and it always used to shake the floor at Wigan Casino. Gene Chandler is a bonafide Northern Soul legend who is well known to fans of the genre and his 'There Was a Time' is a real raw gem on the flip.

Review: Maggtapp's previously unreleased 'Because You're You' is the stunning a-side on this new 7" from The Preservation Society. It has standout vocals that make it a real modern soul groover, with a steady back beat and funky bass buried deep under electric piano and organ. Flip it and reverse it and you will find a tear up from Joe McGlone & The Hot Pepper Band. Their take on the classic 'Love I Lost' is raw, high energy and brilliant with its big church riffs, Norther Soul grooves and classic call and response chorus.

Review: Some of the finest soul albums of all time are not studio sets, but rather live recordings that capture the energy of the greats at the peak of their powers. Aretha Franklin's Oh My Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly 1972 is one such example. Backed by a band of hugely talented musicians, the two-hour concert recording sees the undisputed Queen of Soul deliver spine-tingling recordings of stone-cold classics ('Rocksteady', 'Respect', 'Oh Me Oh My', 'Spanish Harlem' and so on) interspersed with some genuinely brilliant cover versions. The album was first released on CD way back in 2007, but this marks its' belated and much deserved release on vinyl. In a word: essential.

Review: Symphonical Records is a label devoted to the sounds of Black and Brown musicians and that focuses on putting out never before rase cuts. Charles 'Pooky' Russell was the lead singer of The Four Dudes and someone who left behind the love of his life to pursue his music career. It paid off, and the band toured regularly in Houston as well as releasing a number of tunes. This one, a real tear-jerker, came in 1969 and is now available as a limited 7" pressing for the first time since, all with the approval of Charles Russell.

Review: Philadelphia-born singer and songwriter Tony Drake is best known for his super hit and Philly classic 'Living In The Footsteps Of Another Man,' That tune was a hit for Eugene Record who re-sung it with the Chi-Lites and had earlier written the 'Suddenly' tune for Drake in 1970. It was a hit, eventually, and is not in hot demand as copies are hard t find. Here it gets a vital reissue on 45rpm next to, for the first time on the format, Gene Chandler's Sublime 'My Baby's Gone.' Tow real soul classics that are short but devastatingly sweet.

Review: Written and produced by J. Quinones, Miriah Avila's new, limited edition 7" is a stunning soul gem. Her vocals are big and powerful while riddled with plenty of forlorn pain, and the 60s rhythms and bouncy chord stabs add a sense of classy. Swirling strings and lush backing vocals make for obvious comparisons to Amy Winehouse's revivalist sound but more than stand up on their own. 'Forever' is another timeless soul offering on the flipside. This one is more upbeat. There are cheeky horns bouncing away next to icy hi-hats and wordy hits while Avila's vocals again take stunning centre-stage.