I can't stop - Al
Green (Blue Note CD) * 2003
Real, heartfelt soul music is still being made today. If you don't beleive it, check out the tunes on this page
Special thanks to David Cole, whose In The Basement publication is my main source of information for this type of music - and for soul CD releases of all eras.
Sure
hope you mean it - Raphael Saadiq (
Former Tony! Toni! Tone! member came up with a Motownesque neo soul album - The Way I See It in late 2008. This is the opening track off the album, setting the pace for most of the rest of the tracks. We are talking mainstream US R&B success her - the album peaked within the top 20 in the general Billboard album charts and top 10 in the R&B album charts.
Robert Peckman is a blue eyed soul veteran, and on his Stirrin' Up Bees CD, he invited my favorite blue eyed soul artist of the 60's, Johnny Daye, the "Stay baby stay" man, to sing on a couple of tracks. I believe this is Johnny's first recording in almost forty years.
A man nust stand for something - Robert Peckman (Bonedog CD) * 2007
Off the Stirrin' Up Bees CD, Robert Peckman and the band sounding soulful on song that could have been written by Joe Tex.
Up to the mountain - Solomon Burke (Shout! Factory CD ) * 2006
It's great to get a new Solomon Burke album, Nashville, which is, as its title suggests, a country album. From this album, I've chosen a track with an accoustic guitar led arrangement that is not straight country. Solomon Burke has recorded over many accoustic guitar led backing tracks; many Bert Berns productions come to mind, and also his fine version of "What am I living for" on the Proud Mary LP, so this is yet another link in his long and formidable chain. Even if this is not really on par with his greatest recordings, the soulfulness of the man still shines through.
When hearts grow cold - Candi Staton (Astralwerks CD) * 2006
I didn't share the excited reception of many southern soul fans for Candi's "His Hands" CD, but still I can't avoid such an event altogether; so here's the best track off that CD IMHO; her voice is beautiful as ever, but as the case is with many current recordings, the arrangement is too rock oriented and does not have the subtelty of a real southern soul sound.
A perfect kind of love - Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators (Timmion CD) * 2005
It's been a long time since I heard a new release that sounded like Northern Soul. Well, this is not exactly the real stuff, but it comes close enough to merit inclusion on this page, and, in a way, predicts Amy Winehouse's sound that became a huge success a coupld of years later.
When you love somebody - Leela James (Warner Brothers CD) * 2005
I first heard this in my car on a mainstream radio station while driving my car with my family; as the first few bars played I stopped the conversation and listened with disbelief - is this really a new mainstream soul release? Well, yes; it's on Leela James's debut CD, A Change Is Gonna Come. And it's not a coincidence, too; here's an exceprt from Leela's Wikipedia entry: "In the lyrics to the album's lead single, entitled "Music", James laments the current state of contemporary popular music... while pleading for the return of the artistry, dedication, and sincerity displayed by musicians of earlier decades". This particular song is a spin-off to Blood Sweat and Tears' I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know. When I first heard it, I thought it was a full fledged cover and I was waiting for the phrase "I could be president of General Motors", but it didn't arrive; then I realized that it's not exactly the same song. But then, GM's stock didn't do too well from 1968 till today, so maybe the phrase isn't relevant anymore anyway.
Crying to do - Willie Walker & the Butanes (One on One CD) * 2004
From his Right Where I Belong CD. The Goldwax man with a new album, which is full of real soul all the way. My only complaint is that the tracks are a bit long; for my own listening, I edit them to get shorter tracks.
So called friends - Roscoe Robinson (Sound Mindz CD) * 2004
The great Roscoe Robinson, one of Soul Music's finest vocalists, in great vocal form, with a solid song, albeit a tighter arrangement would have made this one even better.
I can't stop - Al
Green (Blue Note CD) * 2003
Al Green reunited with Willie Mitchell for the "I Can't Stop" album - and the result is no way disappointing; while this midempo track is in the mood of most his 70's hit, just like his 70's Willie Mitchell produced albums, there's plenty more to find in the album, including some fine ballads.
I kissed her gone -
Clay Hammond (Desert Sounds CD) * 2003
Nice to see the "You Messed Up My Mind" man next to a 2003 release, and a soulful one at that. Another classic soul legend, Leon Haywood, is involved in the production, on the mixing side.
Please no more - Etta
James (Private Music CD) * 2003
From her CD "Let's Roll" - her most southern soul sounding track off that ablum.
Thru the winter -
Bettye LaVette (Blues Express CD) * 2003
A ballad for a rainy day
Jaheim is a mainstream
current soul artist, but he injects much more true feeling and soul to his
records than most of his contemporaries. This is take-off on William Bell's "I forgot to be your
lover", complete with some sampling from the
original record, is a case in
point.
If you let me love you -
Michael B. Sutton (Mibren CD) * 2002
From his CD "Hopeless Romantic" - not exactly traditional southern soul, yet a modern classic that deserves inclusion on any contemporary Real Soul playlist. Find out more about it on http://www.michaelbsutton.com/
Don't give up on me -
Solomon Burke (Fat Possum CD) * 2002
A new Dann Penn contribution for Sol's 2002 album.
And while on the subject of Solomon Burke, here is a beautiful picture sent to be by Markus Frey of Swirzerland, taken at the 2003 Porrtta Soul Festival.
I love being in love
with you - Floyd Taylor (Malaco CD) * 2002
Johnnie's son - no mistaking that!
I don't wanna cry -
Jo Jo Benson (Alpine CD) * 2001
Peggy can still sing - and so can Jo Jo! Soulful version of the Chuck Jackson classic.
Put it on paper - Ann
Nesby and Al Green - Put It on Paper (Time Child CD) * 2002
Lipstick on his pants -
Sheba Potts - Wright - Sheba (Ecko CD) * 2001
Two different people - J.
Blackfoot with Ann Hines - Same Time Same Place (Basix CD) * 2001
I have never loved no one
like I love you - Jimmy Lewis - That Baby Ain't Black Enough (Miss Butch CD)
* 2001
I caught you - David
Brinston - Fly Right (Susie Q CD) * 2001
Trapped - Carl Sims - M
& M Man (Waldoxy CD) * 2001
Guilty of loving you -
Oscar Toney Jr. - Gulity of loving you (BGR CD) * 2001
Keep love alive - Oscar
Toney Jr. - Gulity of loving you (BGR CD) * 2001
California girl - Oscar
Toney Jr. - Gulity of loving you (BGR CD) * 2001
What a nice comeback from Mr. Toney - and nice of him to revive this Eddie Floyd beauty, isn't it?
I remember J. T. - Ernie
Johnson - Squeeze it (Phat Sound CD) * 2001
Johnnie didn't know -
Chuck Colbert - You Lied To Me (Mardi Gras CD) * 2000
Trinute to Johnnie Taylor
- Tyrone Davis (Malaco CD) * 2000
Right thang, wrong man -
Jackie Neal - Lookin' for a Sweet Thang (Backstreet CD)*
2000