Category Archives: Soul
BATTEAUX – BATTEAUX.
Batteaux – Batteaux. Label: Be With Records. Format: Vinyl. Released in 1973 on Columbia Records, ‘Batteaux’ — the self-titled debut and sole album by brothers David and Robin Batteau—is a lost gem of early 1970s soft rock, folk-pop, and blue-eyed soul. The album was co-produced by Stuart Love and Henry Lewy who is best know …
TERRY CALLIER – OCCASIONAL RAIN.
Terry Callier – Occasional Rain. Label: Slow Down Sounds Format: Vinyl. Talent alone is rarely a guarantee of success; had it been, the late, great Terry Callier would have enjoyed a long and lucrative commercial career from the outset. For much of his life, however, he remained one of music’s best-kept secrets – an artist …
ORGAN-IZED – SLOW DANCE AND SOUL.
ORGAN-IZED – SLOW DANCE AND SOUL. Organ-Ized – Slow Dance and Soul. Label: Timmion Records. Format: CD. Over the last few years, Helsinki-based Timmion Records has consistently released some of the best contemporary soul, funk, and jazz. Part of the secret of the label’s success is their house band Cold Diamond and Mink. Then there’s the …
CATHY HAMER – LADY FULL OF DREAMS.
Cathy Hamer – Lady Full Of Dreams. Label: Numero Group. Format: Vinyl. Over the last few years, Numero Group have unearthed a plethora of hidden gens. They’ve done it again, and have rediscovered one of the most exciting discoveries of recent years, Cathy Hamer’s ‘Lady Full Of Dreams.’ It’s a stunning album. ‘Lady Full Of …
HILL ST. SOUL – NASALILFYA (THANK YOU).
Hill St. Soul – Nasalifya (Thank You). Label: Shanachie Records. Format: CD. In many ways, Hilary Mwelwa is an accidental singer-songwriter. At the time she recorded a demo she was attending London’s Westminster University and studying towards a degree in biological sciences. That demo was the start of a musical career that’s already spanned twenty …
LOS RETROS-ODISEA.
Los Retros-Odisea. Label: Stones Throw Records. Format: Double Vinyl. Mauri Tapia, operating under the moniker Los Retros, has officially broken past his bedroom-pop cocoon. Released in April 2026 on Stones Throw Records, ‘Odisea’ marked the 25-year-old Oxnard multi-instrumentalist’s highly anticipated debut full-length album. It represents a massive, intentional pivot away from his original dusty, lo-fi …
EL MICHELS AFFAIR – 24 HR SPORTS: (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION).
El Michels Affair – 24 Hr Sports: (Instrumental Version). Label: Big Crown Records. Format: Vinyl. When Leon Michels drops an instrumental version of an El Michels Affair record, it isn’t just a bonus disc for the crate-diggers – it’s an entirely new lens on his architectural mastery. In 2025, El Michels Affair released the vocal …
JNBO – & FRIENDS.
JNBO – & Friends. Label: College Of Knowledge Records. Format: Vinyl. Currently, Australia has a thriving and vibrant music scene. That has been the case for many years. All across the country there’s truly talented singers, songwriters, musicians and producers. This includes Melbourne and Naarm-based bassist, composer, engineer and producer, Henry Jenkins. For those unfamiliar …
WEDNESDAY MORNING 6AM RADIO HITS FROM THE SMALL HOURS 1970 – 1983.
Wednesday Morning 6am Radio Hits From The Small Hours 1970 – 1983. Label: Ace. Format: CD. ‘Wednesday Morning 6am Radio Hits From The Small Hours 1970 – 1983’ was recently released by Ace, and features twenty-two tracks that were heard on BBC Radio 2 and also on independent local radio. They were the type of …
LITTLE BANGERS FROM RICHARD HAWLEY’S JUKEBOX VOL 2.
Little Bangers From Richard Hawley’s Jukebox Vol 2. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Every week, countless compilations are released by record labels worldwide. It’s an extremely competitive marketplace, with record labels hoping that their latest compilation will prove popular and profitable. As a result, many labels are risk averse. Rather than release compilations of innovative …
HIGHWAY OF DIAMONDS – BLACK AMERICA SINGS BOB DYLAN.
Highway Of Diamonds – Black America Sings Bob Dylan. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 30th January 2026. In 2010, Ace released the first in a new compilation series ‘How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan.’ Since then, six further instalments in the Black America Sings series have been released. On Friday ‘30th,’ January …
CULT CLASSIC: CANDI STATON-I’M JUST A PRISONER.
Cult Classic: Candi Staton-I’m Just A Prisoner. By 1968, Candi Staton was twenty-eight, and still hadn’t embarked upon a solo career. However, that would soon change when Clarence Carter introduced her to Rick Hall. He would transform the former gospel singer’s fortunes. Sixteen R&B hit singles were recorded at Rick Hall’s Fame Studios, in Muscle …
NINA SIMONE-LET IT ALL OUT: SELECTED SINGLES 1961-1978.
Nina Simone-Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 31st October 2025. Nina Simone’s recording career began at Bethlehem Records in 1957 when she started recording tracks that would eventually feature on her debut album. The tracks were recorded during two sessions for a flat fee, with Simone not receiving …
RONNIE McNEIR-MAKES A MOVE.
Ronnie McNeir-Makes A Move. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. It’s always exciting to discover a lost album. I’ve discovered a number of lost albums over the years, and still, it’s exciting to listen to an album that was recorded forty or more years ago. It’s like going back in time, and eavesdropping on the session. …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHNNY ADAMS.
The Life and Times of Johnny Adams. Johnny Adams’ recording career lasted exactly forty years. His career began in early 1958, when he released his first single ‘I Won’t Cry’ on Ric. It was a hit single in New Orleans and the Southern states. For the twenty-six year old soul man this was the start …
CHRIS BANGS PRESENTS THE PLAYBOX.
CHRIS BANGS PRESENTS THE PLAYBOX. Chris Bangs Presents The Playbox. Label: BGP. Format: CD. Release Date: 30th May 2025. Initially, DJ Chris Bangs started off as a guitarist with space rockers the Mighty Om. However, he soon realised that his talents lay elsewhere. That came in 1982, after meeting Gilles Peterson, who was playing his …
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