Column
The Andy Davies Column (December)
IN THIS MONTHS ANDY DAVIES COLUMN... ERIC BENET ALBUM REVIEW, STREETSOUL RECORDS NEWS, LATEST 45' & 12" NEWS + GIG & EVENT NEWS...
ERIC BENET 'LOST IN TIME'
Firstly this time I must feature the excellent new album from Eric Benet 'Lost In Time'. Some killers in this set including a top up tempo soul tune featuring Faith Evans called 'Feel Good' It's going to be massive on the dance floors & was played recently to a very appreciative crowd up at the King Georges Hall in Blackburn! Some great ballads in the shape of 'Sometimes I Cry' & 'Never Want To Live Without You' plus the awesome throwback sound of 'Always A Reason'. 'Paid' featuring Eddie Levert has a sort of 'Backstabber' feel to it & it goes without saying has a fantastic vocal. India Benet is a featured vocalist on the mid tempo 'Summer Love' and I must say that track 9 'Lost In Time' is my favourite as it almost sounds like the Delfonics have made this tune!! It makes the album worth buying for this track alone. Ledisi is included on vocals for the dance track 'Good Life' which will definitely get spins in the clubs & soul rooms across the country. There are 11 tracks in total here & I'm sure everyone will have their favourite but If you haven't bought an album yet this year then make this the one you do buy!!
LATEST STREETSOUL RELEASE NEWS
Earlier this month I released a new 45 on my label Streetsoul Records. Soularis feat. Pete Simpson Change The World b/w Soularis feat. Mandy Edge Don't Change.
These two tracks where both originally released back in 2007 & are very different from the previous releases on my label as they are more Modern Dance/Soulful House tunes. Change The World was only ever released as a digital download so this is the first time ever on vinyl for this track. However Don't Change was originally a 12" release. In demand remixer Neil "Tomo" Thompson has edited both these tracks down from their original length so that they now suit 7" vinyl much better even though the mixes remain the same as the originals. This is already a collector's Item with only a few left in stock & I don't have any plans to repress! I must say thanks to Jon Dunn for his help in allowing me to license these tracks. If you need copies then please go to streetsoulrecords.com
45' & 12" NEWS
Another great new vinyl 45' release is Dilouya feat. John Turrell & Sandra Nkake The Way It Goes This is a breath of fresh air really & is a great up tempo soul cut without being housey in any way. Cool vocals & a great plodding dance beat with good changes & a very strong hook line. Think Driza Bone or Sean Oliver & you kind of have the Idea of what this tune is!! Excellent.
My ex boss at Soul Bowl John Anderson also has a new 45' out at the moment which is a previously unissued track from Natural Impulse called We're Gonna Make It Through on Soul Junction Records. Quality Modern soul that is a treat for the collectors out there. I really like the sound of this & John has always had a knack of turning up the gems!! It's amazing how this has lain hidden away for all these years & I think this will be huge on the modern soul scene & at the gigs that tend to lean toward the crossover style of Soul. Highly recommended! All the top dealers are stocking this at the moment.
My DJ friend Yogi Haughton has put a track out on his Bear Essentials label recently too. The Hesitations C'Mon (Lighten Up) is a great funk 45' which uses Tighten' Up as the hook & will be a big track I'm certain. The flip is a good boogie track by Sylvian Vesta called Give It Up (Daft Funk's Tear Up). I hope this is just the first from Yogi because a man with his taste will surely be releasing some top quality tunes in future.
The last 45' to mention this issue is Seductive Souls feat. C.Robert Walker Love Don't Hurt At All. This is on a label called Legere out of Germany and once again seems aimed at the Connoisseurs out there!! This kind of reminds me of Tommy Tate or Tony Troutman in a way which is good! I say that because it has a slight "Southern" Soul feel to it. I don't doubt that this will be embraced by the soul collectors & played a great deal at the more discerning gigs.
I really like Ron Trent's remix of Erykah Badu's Honey that is out at the moment on a 12" on Prescription Records & also Hippie Torales feat. Rosie Gains with the killer track Never Quite The Same Fabio La Rovere has a strong cut out called A Friend & another for the box is Tasita D'Mour's Love.
GIG NEWS
Gigwise the big one for me is the Soul Purpose Xmas alldayer at the Sketchley Grange Hotel Hinkley on 30th December. I'll be DJ'ing alongside Jose Carretas & Mike Stephens with Mark Randle & guests from 2pm until 2am! the number for tickets etc is 07771 374846 or go to soul-purpose.net
Lastly don't forget the 15th Luxury Soul Weekend at the Hilton Hotel Blackpool on January 7th-9th 2011. I'm told this one is selling better than ever & looks like it's going to be huge with a live appearance from Michael Henderson! Info can be obtained by calling 01253 754403 luxurysoulweekender.com
If you have any product you wish to be included in the reviews in this column please contact me on the email addresses below:
Please feel free to contact Andy with any soul news/event news that you feel would benefit others at andydaviesccl@hotmail.com or mail@streetsoulrecords.com Thank you.
