Juno Recommends Soul October 2018

Review: At the tail end of the '80s, Sylvia Striplin quit Norman Connors' jazz-funk group Aquarian Dream in order to pursue a solo career. Joining forces with producers James Bedford and Roy Ayers, she recorded 1981 debut album "Give Me Your Love", a well regarded but largely overlooked set that has since become a sought-after item amongst soul collectors. This Expansion reissue presents the album on vinyl for the first time in two decades. As with many soul albums of the period, it sashays between jazz-funk, boogie and heartfelt slow jams, contrasting memorable dancefloor workouts (see stone cold classic "Give Me Your Love" and a stellar cover of Roy Ayers favourite "Searchin") with more saccharine, loved-up fare.

Review: A reissue of American singer Debra Laws' 1981 single here on Expansion. She made her debut as a solo recording artist in in the same year, with the release of her album titled Very Special. This album, produced by her brothers Hubert and Ronnie, was a success with the singles "On My Own" (a lovely neon-lit disco-funk groove) and "Very Special" (a super sensual ballad on the slo-mo tip) being featured here. Up until the beginning of the '90s, Laws worked with her three siblings, recording and doing many live performances in the United States and abroad. Samples from "Very Special" can be heard in Jennifer Lopez's 2002 hit single of "All I Have".

Review: Previously spotted adding his potent dulcets to the work of Kejam, US soul governor Terry Harris returns solo with his new album Prince Of Stepping. This striking 45 on Izipho Soul gives us an apt snapshot of the LP as "On The Floor" hits hard with its O'Neal level vocal soul syrup trickling down your ears like some type of life preserving elixir while Harris' "It Never Rains" is subtly transformed into deep, sweet shuffling house by way of the Effex Desert Soul remix. Turn the lights down, Harris is here to stay.

Review: Jerry "J" Johnson's California Flight Project outfit were relatively unknown during the 1980s, and it took a series of self-released CDRs and a 2010 single on People's Potential Unlimited for the Bay Area act to finally hit the big time. This eponymous album on Norway's Preservation Records picks up the story, gathering together a slew of superb West Coast funk and soul gems recorded by the outfit between 1979 and '81. This is the first time most of them have been released on wax, and they're genuinely worth a listen. Check, for example, "Dance On It", where Johnson urges us all to dance over a laidback, synth-laden boogie groove, the rubbery slap bass and sparkling pianos of "Do You Feel My Love" and the proto-San Francisco synth funk of killer album opener "California Flight".

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** Auckland based retroverts Rain & Shine made an early decision to give all profits back to the artists who appear on their label. Put simply, they thought it would be a nice thing to do - and we concur. It's an official re-release here of Washington D.C. based outfit The Nelson Family's one and only LP from 1986. Comprised of Charisse, Charlene, Paul and their mother, this is a gospel record with super production that features top tracks including "Thank You, Lord" (a firm favorite of Floating Points and Skymark), "Filled With His Spirit" and "Everlasting Love". Charisse would later go on to create the Stellar Award winning/Grammy nominated choral ensemble named Vision, and is still active in the D.C. area as a gospel singer.

Review: A powerful Stax flashback of two tracks from Arkansas soul don Taylor's 1967 debut album Wanted One Soul Singer. As covered by the likes of Lou Rawls, "Ain't That Loving You" is heartfelt bluesy ballad with a sultry swagger and serious yearning on the choruses while the even rarer "Blues In The Night" closes the B on a super-tight floor-bound riff and gutsy delivery from Taylor. Both bonafide northern soul classics and confirmed rarities with both cuts regularly fetching triple figures, this reissue changes everything. For more reasons than one.

Review: Washington DC's Peoples Potential Unlimited are back, following up some great reissues of Circuitry, Dreamcast and Incredible Rock City Band. Now back into swing with obscure act Fool Bros. said to be from the Baltimore area. The group comprised of bandleader and veteran producer Victor Giordano with David Lewis. Other Members included Sam Kirckhoff, Geoff Royce, Richard Armiger, Ralph Tucker and Guy (Yug) Phillips. Said to be recorded in 1983, we have the original private release that is the awesome, low-slung soul rock of "Suicide Squeeze", which is backed by Giordano's updated 2018 recording.

Review: From Brooklyn with love; Kate Mattison's soulful troupe come correct with their debut album on the consistently on point Big Crown. A celebration of fusion, 79.5 sit between soul, funk, R&B, jazz and boogie, shoegaze and everything in between all wrapped up with rich emotions and a wry contemporary pop sentimentality. Highlights include the Amp Fiddler style cascades and mild kicks of "Boy Don't Be Afraid", the shoegazing harmonies and dust kicking energy of "Facing East" and the thoughtful, hazy Alice Russell like jazz introspection of "Terrorize My Heart". A highly accomplished and engaging debut album.

Review: The Sha La Das is a family affair comprised of William Schalda Sr. (of The Monterey's fame) with sons Paul, Carmine and Will. Following up two singles released on New York City's Dunham (subsidiary of Daptone) over the last few years, the Brooklyn based outfit present Love In The Wind. On this, their debut, the talent is harnessed in 11 songs: each tender-voiced delight delivered with absolute conviction, and combined with musicians that have help define the Daptone/Dunham Records sound including label boss Thomas Brenneck, Homer Steinweiss, Dave Guy, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon and Victor Axelrod. The quartet channel the best of soul, doo wop and R&B on this wonderful collection of songs. Features the singles "Sha La Da La La" (Christmas Time) and "Those Years Are Over".