Juno Recommends Soul September 2020

Review: "Remember Me" was one of the most effervescent and up-tempo moments on Carlton Jumel Smith's 2019 album "1634 Lexington Avenue", so it's terrific to see Timmion giving the song a seven-inch single release. Backed by in-house Timmion band Cold Diamond & Mink, New York's modern "Mr Soul" delivers a scintillating lead vocal above a rousing 1960s soul instrumental laden with killer bass, sustained horns and bustling breakbeats. It comes accompanied by Cold Diamond and Mink's instrumental version, which as usual with Timmion is exclusive to this "45" release. If fresh, sixties-sounding soul is your thing, you need this in your life.

Review: Philly soul star Billy Paul made some great records during his mid 1970s heyday, though few are quite as sublime as "Let The Dollar Circulate", a passionate plea for economic equality that adds sumptuous orchestration and serious dancefloor chops to the then popular conscious soul template. Paul's lead vocal is superb, while Gamble and Huff's production is as good as you'd expect. Remarkably, this is the first time the track has featured on a 12" single, so props to Be With Records for spotting a gap in the market. You certainly need it in your life - honestly, it's incredible - while flipside "East", an incredible chunk of spiritual soul recorded in 1971, is every bit as awesome. Recommended.

Review: Since first joining forces with Timmion's in-house band Cold Diamond & Mink two years ago, New York singer Carlton Jumel Smith has delivered a string of sublime singles and a must-check album, 2019's "1634 Lexington Avenue". It's from that set that his latest single is taken. "Help Me (Save Me From Myself)" is another emotive, 1960s soul style gem in which Smith passionately cries for help from a mystery woman over a typically on-point Cold Diamond & Mink backing track rich in hazy horns, wah-wah guitars and a laidback mid-tempo groove. The quality of the group's playing and production is laid bare in all its glory on the flipside instrumental version, which is naturally exclusive to this "45" release. Like the rest of Smith's singles, this is a must-have.

Review: Doris Duke's version of Marlena Shaw's seminal, powerful "Woman Of The Ghetto" originally appeared on her third album Woman in 1975. It's a searing version, Duke's full-bodied and fierce voice adding even more urgency to the searing social commentary embedded in the lyrics. Added to that is the stunning orchestral arrangement, which gets a full instrumental airing on the B side of this reissue from SAM - the soaring strings whip up a rich, cinematic strain of soul with a weighty groove underneath it. The song has never sounded better thanks to some fresh mastering, and it looks great too on red 7".

Review: Shawn Lee's country-soul album "Rides Again" was well received in late 2019 and saw him play it in full at shows across Europe. On one of the days off from the show, the band head to Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Studio and recorded this new single direct to tape, and it was mixed by studio owner Dennis Rux. Lee himself says the "Wichita Lineman" original by Jimmy Webb is a real masterpiece that means a lot to him and he has recorded a number of versions over the years. He adds his own unique spin to it here and backs it up with "Joyland," which is just ass magic.

Review: Black Fire was an influential spiritual jazz and conscious soul label that is now the subject of a first ever compilation. It has been put together by Strut and covers the years 1975 to 1993, showcasing a rich mix of jazz, deep African polyrhythms and empowering lyrics across plenty of classics and rarities. The highlights are plentiful and the comp also comes with extended sleeve notes around the black-owned label's rich history, as well as a reprint of one of the original Black Fire magazines published by founder Jimmy Gray. This is a real piece of black music history.

Review: Limited white vinyl reissue....Chicago's Pastor T.L. Barrett has been known for more than four decades as an activist and pastor and for a certain scandal in the late '80s but most of all for gospel records "Like A Ship...(Without A Sail)" as well as this very album that gets a much needed reissue on the Gospel Roots label who have also brought us the likes of Roscoe Robinson and The Dixie Hummingbirds. Originally recorded at the Mount Zion Baptist Church of Universal Awareness, "Do Not Pass Me By" and seen on Miami's TK Disco offshoot. As a press release describes best it "is a real Gospel beauty and features eight tracks of resplendent hands in the air rejoicement.". Worth the price alone for ''I want To Be In Love''....The album comes with the original sleeve artwork and design

Review: Stand by for the much anticipated follow up to the unreleased Ronn Colbert 7" on this label earlier in the year. "Just One Kiss Away" is an ultra rare soul stepper from 1981. It finds Ronn and Selah Colbert go up against one another, and both serve up super sultry, seductive vocals that tease and please. Add in steamy chords and soaring strings and you have one helluva smoocher. "Tell Me What I Wanna Hear" is another romantic to and fro between the pair, with a little more tension and build in the rhythm edition that adds an extra element of spice. Both are sure to become re-found classics.

Review: We'd advise serious soul heads to take a look at this one. Part of the "Kent Select" series of dancefloor-focused 45s, it features two previously unissued 1971 recordings, both of which were produced by Mickey Stevenson. In some ways, it's incredible to think that Carolyn Crawford's "Ready Or Not Here Comes Love" has never previously been released; it's a genuinely inspired, up-lifting slab of soaring, stomping soul that will get Northern Soul enthusiasts racing for the dancefloor in their droves. Flipside "What Made You Think", credited to Hodges, James, Smith and Crawford, is almost as good, even if it lacks the rushing, celebratory positivity of the sublime A-side. In a word: essential!

Review: With its stomping backbeat, killer group vocals, wall-of-sound production and energy-packed productions, the Hyperions' "Why You Wanna Treat Me the Way You Do" has long been a staple on the Northern Soul scene. We say staple; while popular with dancers, copies of the Perry Botkin Jr-produced "45" have long been extremely hard to come by (hence seriously eye-watering second-hand prices online). Here the killer cut finally gets the reissue treatment. As with the original release, it comes backed by sweet ballad "Believe in Me", whose vocal harmonies are particularly alluring. While good, it's the A-side that's the really essential cut.

Review: Maxine Brown and Chuck Jackson are two of Wnad Records's finest singing talents, as well as being firm favourites of the Kent label. For that reason they are paired up on this vital 7", which provides DJs with some high grade weaponry. They tackle popular songs from Van McCoy and Luther Dixon respectively. with Brown serving up the super short but sweet "I Wonder What My Baby's Doing Tonight", a soul gem that will make your heart soar. Chuck Jackson's "Two Stupid Feet" is more slow motion and mellow, but makes just as much of an emotional impact.