Back catalogue: Soul

Review: In 1961, producer David Rick discovered Vito and The Salutations, a Brooklyn harmony group of Italian, Irish and Jewish teenagers. Their energetic doo-wop take on 'Unchained Melody' became a hit until the British Invasion shifted the music scene. 'Hey There' remained unreleased until Rick's 1981 double album which compiled their singles and rare collector cuts after years of misrepresentation and a court battle with a copycat group. In 2020, Monster Mike unearthed The Long Island Sound's unreleased 1969 demo of 'Hey There' which was recorded before the band dissolved. Now, Oracion Records drops this forgotten gem on 45.

Review: A year after dropping his acclaimed album 'Billy Valentine And The Universal Truth' with Flying Dutchman and Acid Jazz Records, Billy unveils a fresh take on a soul classic. Recorded at LA's prestigious Henson Recording Studio, alongside producer Bob Thiele Jr. and a stellar band including Larry Goldings, Pino Paladino, Jeff Parker, James Gadson, and John Philip Shenale, he introduces three new tracks. His rendition of Gil Scott-Heron's 'Lady Day & John Coltrane', debuted on Gilles Peterson's BBC6Music, mesmerising live audiences. This special edition 7" includes a unique edit of 'Home Is Where The Hatred Is', not previously available on vinyl.

Review: The Valentinos had plenty of early success but still, their story is often seen as one of missed opportunities. The group was led by Friendly Womack Sr. who taught his sons gospel songs before they pursued secular music and that rather led to a struggle between serving up gospel and secular sounds. History tells us the friendly "June" Womack recalled their desire for another hit like 'Looking For A Love' which had been a significant seller in their early days. Two tracks from that era had remained unreleased until now when Soul4Real Records pressed them up here and both are seriously good soul swingers.

Review: The Vee Gees began as 'The African Americans', but their name was later changed to 'The Versatile Gents' aka. The Vee Gees following a spate of creative differences over their original name. 'Talkin' was born from the breaksy sweet soul sound of the early '70s, which touched on the wall of emotive sound that pigeonholed the sound of rare groove. The song is devotional and improvisatory, spiffingly showing off Robert Evans' pitch-perfect dialogue with the thing upstairs.

Review: Featuring sister funk paired with a beautiful ballad, this release is a true gem for aficionados of 1960s indie soul music. It comes from The Velvet Vettes via Tramp and is a limited pressing so don't sleep. A-side cut 'Give Me A Little Bit Of Time' is a lively one with plenty of Northern soul energy as well as lung busting vocals and great backing harmonies full of soul. Flip it over and you will find the much more slow and sentimental sounds of 'I'd Like To Know' which is a real heart melting crooner.

Review: Two Velvet Hammer heaters finally get reissued officially here for the first time since 1977, a mere 45 years since their original release, this time on limited edition red vinyl. 'Party Hardy' is a gorgeous disco groover and an essential slice of Chicago history via Soozi Records, whilst the flip, 'Happy', is the ultimate feel-good modern soul classic and about as anthemic as they get. The appeal of this record knows no limits whether you've heard it once or one hundred times. With mint originals being virtually impossible to get your hands on and second-hand copies that do come up clocking in at L250+, this is a no brainer.

Review: Selector Series strikes gold again with their reissue of The Vibrations' 'Shake It Up,' a modern soul gem that first hit the airwaves in 1974. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, this classic, co-written by Bunny Sigler and arranged by Vince Montana, still electrifies dance floors today. With its swirling strings and unmistakable percussive intro, 'Shake It Up' became a favourite during the mid-80s London warehouse parties and the rare groove scene, solidifying its place on diggers' lists. The flip side, 'Make It Last,' penned by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, offers a mellower vibe, making this 7" a perfect blend of energy and soul.

Review: Get your lugs around this, the first single from Leo Vidal & The Rayvelles, and you will soon be keen to know more. 'Haunted By Your Love' is a modern take on the West Coast oldies sound from Leo Vidal, a 70s soul singer from rural Virginia who brings his East Coast harmonies to croon about lost love. The Rayvelles is the duo of Fergal McBride and Tuck Nelson and are the creative force behind Echo Ray Studios in London, a space that channels the soul of Motown into contemporary music. Backing vocals are provided by Cassandra Dali and Marietta Smith while the flip has a remix by Call Sender who layers in some inviting dub weight.

Review: Record-collecting Jedis out there will know that this one is a real holy grail that is coveted by name, and now Record Store Day comes good and makes it widely available (well, in limited quantities) to all for a much more affordable price than you would get on second hand sites. This 7" allows you to experience the soulful magic of New York's The Village Choir who infuse Latin, soul, and jazz elements and more into two dancefloor gems that exude timeless elegance. Previously known for fetching over L500 on the secondhand market, this is an officially licensed reissue and what's more, it comes on nice heavyweight wax.

Review: The community-based collective Voices Of East Harlem blessed the world with three albums and a whole string of funky singles back in the day. They were produced by the dream team pairing of Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield and came on Just Sunshine Records over the course of five years. Many cult tracks were born and two of them get reissued here on this new and limited edition 7" for Dynamite Cuts. 'Can You feel It' is deep cut funk with steamy vocals and Part 2 is a little more spaced out and cosmic with tumbling drums and freeform synths. Superb stuff.

Review: The Vondells were from Union City, home to fellow soul stars of the day The McCoys. The group released just one single back in 1968 on Tommy Wills' Airtown Custom label and it became a classic on the Northern Soul scene that is now a rare and in-demand gem. This reissue brings it back to the fore and it sounds as good as ever with its lush melodies and sweeping emotional resonance. On the flip, Tommy Wills steps up with 'Sweet Soul' which is another real heart melter that cannot fail to worm its way into your affections.

Review: Shrine Records, though a commercial failure in its time, has risen from obscurity to become a holy grail for collectors of rare soul music. Founded in 1964 by Eddie Singleton and Raynoma Gordy, the label's lack of commercial success belied its treasure trove of musical talent. Despite minimal sales, Shrine's twenty singles became highly coveted among collectors, spurred on by their discovery on the Northern Soul scene in the 70s and 80s. The recent resurgence of interest in Shrine Records has led to the rediscovery of hidden gems from artists like the Cautions, Cairos, and Les Chansonettes. Thanks to the efforts of individuals like Eddie Singleton and Ady Croasdell, original master tapes have been retrieved, revealing previously unreleased tracks from artists such as the Prophets and Tippie & the Wisemen. The "Shrine Northern - The 60s Rarest Dance Label" Kent LP, KENT 526, released last year, celebrated the label's legacy. Now, with the release of a 7x7" box set, Shrine's revival continues. Featuring another 14 sides worthy of single releases, this box set is a testament to the enduring allure of Shrine Records and its contribution to the soul music landscape.

Review: Sonic Wax has been putting out various different instalments of its ultimate North Soul Millennium Classics for a while. After a load of great volumes, they are all now collected into one bumper set. For extra authenticity, this one comes across ten 7" records all presented in one box and features some 20 odd turns, most of which have never before been issued in this format. They take in 70s and 80s style modern northern soul sounds with plenty of favourites old and new all included. An ablest must for fans of Northern Soul.

Review: Soul Jazz, as always, have got tons of good stuff line-up for Record Store Day 2021. This bumper Funk 70 Box Set is the latest example and is a limited-edition one-off collector's edition with 10 rare and timeless funk gems on five individual bespoke 7" singles. All killer and no filler, this collection features the likes of a rare Detroit funk tune from Jackie Harris, the seminal 'Latin Strut' by Joe Bataan's which arguably helped make Salsoul Records into the force it became, and some excellent New Orleans funk from Eddie Bo, as well as much more.

Review: This boxset offers a gold mine of southern soul, funk and r&b, showcasing previously unreleased gems from the iconic Memphis label Goldwax. Kicking off with James Carr's 1969 funk groove, 'Your Love Made A U-Turn', it sets the stage for a collection of tracks that blend gritty southern charm with soulful ballads. The Ovations' 'I Miss You' stands out as a Motor City classic, finally issued on vinyl, while the flip side, 'What Did I Do Wrong'. with its harmonica-driven stomp, is a crowd-pleaser. Goldwax stalwart Barbara Perry contributes a country-soul ballad, 'Welcome Home Baby', a grower that contrasts nicely with her fiery 'A Man Is A Mean Thing'. Willie Walker's early, brass-filled version of 'Lucky Loser' is a highlight, offering a raw southern groove two years before his funked-up Chess recording. The album also features a thrilling mix of soul vocals, including the Lyrics and Vel-Tones' sublime harmonies, and a mysterious track, 'It's Really Alright', that adds an enigmatic touch. Closing with Phillip & The Faithfuls' dramatic ballad and Lee "Shot" Williams' southern rave-up, this collection is robust and enjoyable.