Juno Recommends Soul May 2018

Review: Rare soul-funk gem from 1981 that gets a much needed reissue - originals of this highly sought after record being rather pricey on the second hand market. Originally released in tiny quantities, the history of "Love Me Love Me" has been an enigma ever-since. When producer Smokey T recorded and wrote the track, it was the local backdrop of playing funk and soul imports in pub function rooms in the mid '70s. Whatever informed the band members musical learning made the cut. Musically it's streets ahead, yet had remained under the radar for years - until veteran London DJ and collector Winston found it amongst a stash of reggae records about 15 years ago.

Review: Bill F Whitten is undoubtedly best known as the fashion designer behind some of the most arresting outfits worn by Michael Jackson, the Jacksons and Stevie Wonder. During the mid-to-late '70s, he was also briefly the leading member of an eight-piece Atlantic disco outfit called Between The Two. While the band performed live around the U.S in 1977, they never released any music, despite making studio recordings of some of their songs. Here, two of those "lost songs" make it to vinyl to the first time. We're particularly enjoying the driving, celebratory, sing-along disco of A-side "Take a Little Time", though the jazzier, slower and more musically expansive love song "My Next Step" is also impressive.

Review: Previously, Philadelphia outfit Heem The Music Monsters was most famous for the sought-after 1976 psych-funk 7" "Wake Up People". It turns out, though, that the Hubert Willis-produced band recorded tons of other material in the same period, almost all of which has never seen the light of day before. The two tracks featured here are two such examples. "Keep God On Your Side" is a pleasingly sweet and dreamy chunk of life-affirming warmth that sits somewhere between classic Philly Soul and the more conscious vibes of the Mighty Ryeders. B-side instrumental "Going Down (Incognito)" is arguably even better, mixing as it does the inspired fusion of Brit-funk combo Cymande with heavy Clavinet lines, breathy backing vocals and dueling horn solos.

Review: Powerful funk fire from Bristol's serial editors Mako & Mr Bristow as they hit number three in their Stank Soul Edits series. Backed by a strong gospel vibe and raw gutsy female vocals across both sides, it's another sure-fire heater: the soaring sentiments of Ann Peebles command the A with an empowering ode to the allure of love's sweet sensation while the B is dedicated to the stirring prowess of Shirley Brown. Both crafted and beat-licked in M&MB's inimitable floor-warming style, and already galvanised on the airwaves by funk professor Craig Charles, it's another stank showdown that cannot be denied.

Review: Chalalala move on. Outta Sight continue their two sides / two legends Atlantic 45 series with this beautiful celebration of The Pointer Sisters and The Drifters. Neither act require an introduction. The famous Oakland all-girl troupe take the lead with "Send Him Back", their sophomore single (that regularly fetches upwards of L100 a copy) it's a bubblegum soul frenzy with all the energy you'd expect from their breakthrough years. The Drifters carries a similar sense of focus and energy with vibrant backing vocals and a sunny side soul touch that will have you bouncing from here to next winter.

Review: Temptations founder Eddie Kendricks has made some great solo albums over the years, but few are quite as good as 1972's My People...Hold On. For starters, it includes two of his finest singles, the heart-aching "Date With The Rain" (still brilliant all these years later) and proto-disco dancefloor gem "Girl You Need a Change of Mind". But the goodness doesn't stop there. Throughout, you'll find stone cold classics, from the low-slung conscious brilliance of "People... Hold On" (Kendricks in "What's Going On" mode, basically), to the sunshine soul cheeriness of "I'm On The Sideline", which sounds like a looser take on the trademark Motown sound. If you don't already own a copy, this reissue should be an essential purchase.

Review: Having dazzled us with "Dust", Jalapeno's latest soulgirl delivers the label's first artist album of the year. Armed with a disarming vocal edge that cuts over a range of musical styles, there's a fresh sense of fire to Smith throughout. Whether it's the six string sleaze of "Sweet Memories", the spiralling harmony-heavy psychedelic soul of the title track or the dubbed-out contemporary funk of "Scared Of Something", Gizelle has her flow, energy and presence on lock. A remarkable debut LP.

Review: The hard-touring, heavy-funking, Craig Charles-endorsed Cornish six piece Daytona tease us for their album with this cheeky double-A 45". "Needed You" is a straight up northern soul thumper with relentlessly driving beat, gutsy vocals, big piano rolls and crucial flutes while "Sicka" takes us right back to the sixties with a fiery ode to a greenback classic. Sweaty, forthright and tighter than a nun's purse, bring on the album already!

Review: Outta Sight's latest monthly rare soul missive contains hard-to-find and overlooked classics from "hard-hitting" New Jersey vocal group Soul Brothers Six and New Orleans Rhythm and Blues man Willie Tee. It's the former's wonderfully sweet and loose "I'll Be Loving You" (first released in 1966, fact fans) that takes pride of place on the A-side, serving up a lightly sauteed soul take on the rhythm and blues template. Willie Tee's 1967 jam "Walking Up A One Way Street", a summery affair blessed with a superb horn section, leisurely groove and brilliant lead vocal from the man himself, can be found on the B-side.

Review: Two rare northern soul gems from two much slept-on OGs. West coast royalty Mitchell takes the A-side of this powerful 45" with the gutsy feel-good romp from 79. Fittingly titled "I'm So Happy", it's a driving piece of late 70s soul right down to the wolf whistles and band cheers. Flip for an equally potent spell from Lou Ragland. Usually famed for his four-figure cult piece "I Travel Alone", here we find him yearning with authenticity on the 1979-release "You Said You'd Be Mine". Backed by honeyed BVs and full band orchestration, this has the power to stop a dancefloor in its tracks almost 40 years later. And probably still will in 40 years time.

Review: In recent times, Honeyfeet have been a conduit for the ideas and expressions of an exotic mixture of Manchester based musicians. This genre-defying band incorporate styles including jazz, folk and hip hop into their music. They are fronted by the amazing Rioghnach Connolly - also known for her work with cult folk-dance group Afro Celt Sound System and Real World artists The Breath. The Orange Whip LP finds the band at their most incredibly diverse. Opening with recent single "Sinner" - a serving of good old fashioned soul and rock 'n' roll crossover, the 'folk-hop' of "Whatever You Do" or the barrelhouse pop of "Hunt & Gather", they prove that they are a seriously dynamic outfit.