Juno Recommends Soul Best of 2018

Review: Acid Jazz has pulled off something of a coup here by persuading legendary '70s soul man Leroy Huston to part with a couple of previously unreleased cuts. A-side "Positive Forces" was recorded by Hutson in 1977 and sits somewhere between the sweeping, orchestrated bliss of Philly soul, the soaring dancefloor celebration of disco and the loose-limbed instrumental goodness of jazz-funk. It's an absolute stunner, all told, and sounds like it was tailor-made for spins at sweltering summer festivals. On the B-side you'll find a previously unreleased instrumental version of 1975's "All Because of You". While a vocal-free version has previously been released, this particular mix includes a little more drum action at the beginning to assist with mixing.

Review: 

Another all-time classic from the extensive back catalog of the legendary Miami songstress Gwen McCrae.

"90% Of Me Is You" is instantly recognizable, it's been sampled countless of times by some of the most seminal Hip Hop artists ever (Large Professor, Jaylib, Mobb Deep & more) & is a bonafide "Rare Groove" sure-shot that never loses it's appeal & is always in demand with DJ's & producers. Perhaps it's the pairing of the languid guitar & strings, or Gwen's sultry vocals & that steady breakbeat that keeps people hooked some 40 years after it's original release? Whatever it is, it's classic material from start to finish!

Backed here with it's original b-side slow jam "It's Worth The Hurt" this super-rare 45 has been re-mastered, re-pressed & brought back for 2015's dance-floors in conjunction & with the permission of T.K. Disco / Henry Stone Music, Miami USA.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Arriving at their fourth release, Emotional Rescue's knowledge of forgotten musical gems and their commitment to give them the chance of wider appreciation they fully deserve cannot be in question! After digging out that Bob Chance classic, the focus switches to something of an equally balearic nature with the release of Jaki Whitren & John Cartwright's lost folk rock album International Times. Originally released as a private press on the obscure French label Living Records back in 1983, this eight track album is filled with dusty soul nuggets which are given extra life by the silky vocal stylings of Whitren - formerly a backing singer for Alan Parson. Opening track "Stay Cool" sounds quite ahead of it's time, whilst there are some true dancefloor gems for the more adventurous DJs out there, such as the title track and the laid back bump of "Go With The Flow."

Review: Two hearty party starters from Gazebo & Vanucci. On the A we dig deep into golden era Motown with The Jackson 5's fourth number one single. Swinging breaks, Jackson's falsetto and some classic scat backing vocals from the rest of the Jackson clan, it's a lesser known thriller "The Love You Save". On the B we go back three more years to 67 for Joy Lovejoy's debut on Chess subsidiary Checker. A relentless northern soul jam with urgent vocals from Joy backed up by supreme horn action, it's another expert edit from the Soul Flip stable.

Review: Giving Nicole a rare night off, inimitable troupe The Soul Investigators team up with killer flautist Ernie Hawks for two impeccable instrumentals. "Scorpio Man Theme" is all slinky 70s cinematica with a wry nod towards Lalo Schifrin while "Journey To The Bottom" adopts a more languid perspective with slower beats, a smouldering groove and a flute line that takes us right down to the bottom of our souls and right back up again. Beautiful.

Review: Seminal Manchester street soul from 96; Bovel's "Check 4 U" had anthem status in clubs and on pirates throughout the city at the time but suffered limited pressing and an OG copy has been known to be priced at 2000 quid. Revitalised by Ruf Dug and Bovel herself, it now comes complete with a superb UKG update from Metrodome which maintains the feel of the era but with the pace and punch of the times. Limited to 1000 copies.

Review: More cheeky 45 party power from Aldo Vanucci and Del Gazeebo as they hit their third Soul Flip edit release of the year. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 1968 letter to gabber DJs of the future "I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing" gets a subtle stomp in the beat department while Sugar Pie Desanto's 1966 R&B pant swinger "Go Go Power" gets the extension its also deserved. Go go Soul Flip.

Review: Powerful funk fire from Bristol's serial editors Mako & Mr Bristow as they hit number three in their Stank Soul Edits series. Backed by a strong gospel vibe and raw gutsy female vocals across both sides, it's another sure-fire heater: the soaring sentiments of Ann Peebles command the A with an empowering ode to the allure of love's sweet sensation while the B is dedicated to the stirring prowess of Shirley Brown. Both crafted and beat-licked in M&MB's inimitable floor-warming style, and already galvanised on the airwaves by funk professor Craig Charles, it's another stank showdown that cannot be denied.

Review: We just love hearing new soul and funk. Sure, a rare single from the 60s or 70s goes a long way in satisfying our needs, but how good is it to hear NEW music!? That's why we rate Finland's Timmion imprint so highly; they always come through with the goods, and there isn't a single EP they've put out that hasn't interested us... or flown off our shelves! This time, Jonny Benavidez, Cold Diamond and Mink team up for the absolute sexiness that is "Let's Get Together", a seductive soul ballad that is bound to lit up the room instantly! The instrumental is rather fine, too.

Review: Ooof! Two forever-scorching disco gems from the one and only Cheryl Lynn. This extended version of the screaming funklet "You Saved My Day" has only been available on rare promo, while the full version of her seminal party jam "To Be Real" enjoys pride of place on the B. 40 years young and still untouchable.

Review: Kuomboka was the last album Zambian band Witch ever created. Privately released in 1984, a year before they split, it's the zenith of their final funky hoorah... Gathering influences and references from disco, boogie and loose structures of highlife and Afrofunk, it's one of their most timeless and enduring records. From the partnership of African guitars and horns with the epic slap bass and staccato phrases of the title track to the 10CC style balladry of "Believer Ma Lover" via the spacey, cosmic drama of "More Sweat Than Sweet", this 30 year old document stands the test of time incredibly well.

Review: Athens Of The North strike again. A big spinner for the likes of Floating Points, this rare-as-pigs-shoes 1980 45 from Ohio troupe Love Company has gone for big sums in the past. It's not hard to hear why; "Love Tempo" raises the heat with an unrelenting disco beat, coastal guitar textures and harmonies to swoon to. "Somebody Help Me Be Fair" flips for a much more sentimental story as Love Company unravel the problems of a menage-et-trois. Steamy.

Review: While most of the obscure old records being reissued by Floating Points' Melodies label fetch eye-wateringly high prices on the second-hand market, there's no doubt that they're all astonishingly good. This latest gem - a little-known 1974 7" from folk-soul songwriter Bobby Wright (now Abu Talib) - is another fantastic example. "Blood of an American", a sweet sounding but politically heavyweight song inspired by the singer-songwriter's opposition to the Vietnam War, is every bit as inspired as the works of that better-known folk-soul legend, Terry Callier. In fact, B-side "Everyone Should Have His Day" sounds like a long-lost Callier recording. As ever, the record is beautifully packaged and comes bundled with a 16-page "mini-zine" packed with interviews and articles about the record.

Review: Previously only available on US promo 45 - these 1973 Afrodisiac-era cuts from The Main Ingredients are well overdue. First up is a beautiful take on the Isley Brothers 1972 classic "Work To Do" (also famed for its Average White Band cover in 1974) while the B is draped in the powerful vocal harmonies and lavish strings of "Instant Love". Proof that sometimes all you need are two ingredients to cook a beautiful feast for the soul.

Review: Since making his debut back in the early 1990s, Carlton Jumel Smith has periodically popped up on a variety of soulful house and modern soul releases. Here the little-known vocalist takes a different approach, re-casting himself as a throaty, James Brown influenced '70s soul singer. He's at his heartfelt, full-throttle best on "Can't Love You Any More", a deliciously heavy and authentic chunk of Southern-fried deep soul complete with additional falsetto parts from fellow singer Pratt. The key to the track's success is the fantastic backing provided by Cold Diamond & Mink. Proof is provided on the flip via the band's effortlessly good instrumental take.

Review: Brand new seven-piece Miami/New York troupe Jason Joshua & The Beholders land on the freshly-bubbling Miami imprint Mango Hill with their debut 45". Showcasing their style across two sides, "Rose Gold" is a woozy, bluesy ballad with all the dreamy motifs you'd expect from such a heartfelt piece while "Are You Ready?" takes us up a notch or two into stomping northern territory with velvet falsettos and stark staccato horns. Apparently an album is en route soon, too...

Review: Longstanding San Fran soul troupe Monophonics celebrate the release of their fifth album last month with this cheeky 45". Taking The Four Seasons' forever-faved standard "Beggin'" and adding their own uptempo charm, polished guitars and yearning vocals, it's an impressive and respectful cover that's backed up all the way with a stone cold instrumental on the B. Some classics never grow old...

Review: Not to be confused with the sports commentator, David Coleman was behind the scorching boardwalk vocals that graced Hector Rivera's debut 1966 album At The Party. The right levels of swoon and croons over vital Latin orchestration - led by the renowned pianist and regular Tito Puenta collaborator - David exudes some serious emotion. "Drown My Heart" lilts with a soft samba while Coleman scatters powerful heartbreak tales, "My Foolish Heart" takes a much more stripped back rhythmic arrangement with yearning, soaring strings that break out into the full orchestra on the chorus. Both cult attractions on the northern soul and popcorn scenes, it's another hearty reissue from them up north.

Review: This tidy reissue gathers together tracks from two different Esther Phillips singles, both of which were originally released in 1971. Pride of place goes to the legendary soul singer's cover of Gil Scott-Heron's "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", which also opened her brilliant album "From A Whisper To A Scream". Sounding a little like the period "conscious soul" of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, the track is brilliantly arranged and performed by Phillips and her assembled studio musicians. B-side "I've Never Found a Man (To Love Me Like You Do)" is an altogether sweeter affair, with Phillips and backing vocalists rising above a punchy, orchestrated soul groove.

Review: Previously, Philadelphia outfit Heem The Music Monsters was most famous for the sought-after 1976 psych-funk 7" "Wake Up People". It turns out, though, that the Hubert Willis-produced band recorded tons of other material in the same period, almost all of which has never seen the light of day before. The two tracks featured here are two such examples. "Keep God On Your Side" is a pleasingly sweet and dreamy chunk of life-affirming warmth that sits somewhere between classic Philly Soul and the more conscious vibes of the Mighty Ryeders. B-side instrumental "Going Down (Incognito)" is arguably even better, mixing as it does the inspired fusion of Brit-funk combo Cymande with heavy Clavinet lines, breathy backing vocals and dueling horn solos.

Review: Edinburgh's Athens Of The North present more soul-funk rarities, following up that hot one by Love Company a little while back. Now it's over to The Prophets Of Peace - a short lived band that released this little gem back in 1975. After graduating from Mankato State College, Walter Scott came back to Minneapolis to forge a career as a musician alongside Earl 'Sonny' Williams, Larry Loud, Bill Lubov, Dan Dahlgren, John C. Curly, Bruce Pallagi, Jimmy Wallace, Ron Atkinson, Donald Thomas, Doris Johnson, and Ed Garrett. "You Can Be" was recorded at Audiotek Studios Inc in 1975. David Z: who engineered Lipps Inc's "Funkytown" and several Prince productions, piloted the session. A year later, the group would secure its legacy on page 181 of Minnesota's Black Community.