Chitlin Circuit Double-entendre -filled Soul 2004 (and onward) Theodis Ealey's "Stand Up In It" is a song of the year

another source of info on current soul

Best Southern Soul/R & B Album Of 2006

I'M THE MAN YOU NEED by Theodis Ealey (Ifgam)
THROWBACK DAYS by Mel Waiters (Waldoxy)
DON'T STOP MY PARTY by Donnie Ray (Ecko)
GIFTED by Willie Clayton (Malaco)
GWEN MCCRAE SINGS TK by Gwen McCrae (Henry Stone)
HERE KITTY KITTY by Billy Soul Bonds (Waldoxy)
THE ROAD OF LOVE by Renea Mitchell (Jomar)
NEVER COMING HOME by Betty Padgett (Meia)
NEW LEASE ON LIFE by William Bell (Wilbe)
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING ON by Sir Charles Jones (Jumpin')
IT AIN'T OVER TIL IT'S OVER by J. Blackfoot (JEA Music)
DOWN LOW BROTHER by Barbara Carr (Ecko)
WORTH THE WAIT by Omar Cunningham (EndZone)
TIME TO GET LOOSE by Kenne' Wayne (Goodtime)

Best Southern Soul/Blues Album Of 2006

GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI by Joey Gilmore (Bluzpik)
SICILY MOON by Roy Roberts (Rock House)
MASTER OF THE GAME by Jackie Payne-Steve Edmonson Band (Delta G
PIONEERS & LEGENDS by Bobby Warren (KonKord)
JUST ME by Walter Waiters (self)
BACKSTABBERS by Maurice Davis (Touring)
BE WITH ME TONIGHT by Preston Shannon (Title Tunes)
OUT OF THE SHADOWS by Little Phil (Coffeehouse)
I'M STILL HERE by Trudy Lynn (Sawdust Alley)
ONE MORE HIT by Clarence Carter (Cee Gee Ent.)
STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS by Frankie Lee (Blues Express)
STARTS WITH A P by Lee Shot Williams (Ecko)
LIFE WITH WOMEN by Bob Steele (Sound Mindz)

Southern Soul/Soul Blues Song Of 2006

THE BLACKER THE BERRY by Chairmen Of The Board (Xcel)
GOING CRAZY by Willie Clayton (Malaco)
SCAT CAT...HERE KITTY KITTY by Billy Soul Bonds (Waldoxy)
NEW LEASE ON LIFE by William Bell (Wilbe)
SEVENTEEN DAYS (Of LOVING) by Renea Mitchell (Jomar)
MR. DO RIGHT by Ms. Monique (Soul Ent.)
YO' DRESS IS TOO SHORT by Bob Steele (Sound Mindz)
DON'T STOP MY PARTY by Donnie Ray (Ecko)
HAS IT COME TO THIS by Gregg A. Smith (G Man)
U CAN'T RAISE HER by Steve Perry (Bluesland)
FRANCINE by Theodis Ealey (Make Cents)
MY NAME IS $$$ by Miz B (Hep Me)
ARE YOU READY FOR THE BLUES by Clarence Carter (Cee Gee Ent.)
NEVER COMING HOME by Betty Padgett (Meia)
DROP THAT THANG by Sir Charles Jones (Jumpin')
THROWBACK DAYS by Mel Waiters (Waldoxy)

Best Slow Jam Of 2006

IF THE SHOE WAS ON THE OTHER FOOT by Kenne' Wayne (Goodtime)
GOOD LOVIN' WILL MAKE YOU CRY by Carl Marshall (Unleashed)
HEAVEN SENT ME AN ANGEL by Wendell B (Cuzzo)
DEDICATED TO THE ONE by Wilson Meadows (BGR)
I'M JUST A FOOL FOR YOU by J. Blackfoot & Lenny Williams (JEA)
U CAN'T RAISE HER by Steve Perry (Bluesland)
CREEPIN' AIN'T EASY by Vick Allen (Waldoxy)
JODY'S CREEPIN' by Mr. David (Tony Mercedes)
BOOM BOOM BOOM by Willie Clayton (Malaco)
SCAT CAT...HERE KITTY KITTY by Billy Soul Bonds (Waldoxy)
NEVER MISS A GOOD THANG by Sir Charles Jones (Jumpin')

Best Dance Song Of 2006

MS JODY by Ms. Jody (Ecko)
DON'T STOP MY PARTY by Donnie Ray (Ecko)
SHAKE & SHIMMY by Larome Powers (Waldoxy)
FRANCINE by Theodis Ealey (Make Cents)
DROP THAT THANG by Sir Charles Jones (Jumpin')
I'M READY TO PARTY by Bigg Robb (Over 25)
BIG HAND MAN by Sheba Potts-Wright (Ecko)
MISSISSIPPI BOY by Charles Wilson (HMU)
THROWBACK DAYS by Mel Waiters (Waldoxy)
WORK ME 'TIL I SWEAT by Lady Audrey (Studio Showtime)
MISSISSIPPI CHA CHA SLIDE by Mixx Master Lee (Team Airplay)
SHO NUFF by The Bar Kays (JEA)
I AIN'T GOING WHERE YOU GO by Pat Cooley (L & L)

"Think you can learn all you need to know about music from blogs and chatboards. I don't think so. Mel Waiters' brand of rhythm 'n' blues was ignored by Ne-yo fans on myspace, hipster bloggers, aging bluesrockers, and NPR devotees. Waiters, via some key Southern American radio stations and clubs, however found a largely 45 and up African-American audience that embraced his soulful tales of looking for love that he sung over contemporary keyboard lines that were more vibrant than the cheesy synthwork associated since the '80s with chitlin circuit soul."

Right now I am listening to a cheapo Tower Records bankruptcy sale purchase--The Best of Barbara Carr--on Ecko. ALright, her version of the electric slide, "Hoochie Dance" is kinda cheesy, but "Bone Me Like You Own Me," "Cut the Mustard," "I've Been Partying at the Hole in the Wall," and others are earthy, fun and catchy. Yea, there's nothing that clever or innovative in the arrangements or the lyrics, but there's also an art to simple, clever hooks and there are plenty of those here. Barbara's gospel-rooted vocals are pretty special too.

I love this phrase.

I love double-entendre chitlin-circuit soul-blues, but Ecko Records always seems to put out the worst records in the genre. (And they should invest in a real photographer - those blurred Kodak photos on their covers ain't gonna get it!) So when an artist as good Carr or Potts comes along on the Ecko imprint, that's a thing to come by! Not that they're doing anything drastically different from the rest of the stable, they just go one step further and do it better?? Can't pinpoint it - just better material, I reckon.

The Gator on WPFW 89.3 and online just played "Junk in the Trunk (I Like that)" and "Slap That Booty."

Have you ever heard Joe Poonanny, the Weird Al of this genre?

I had not but I see he's from Alabama and put out some cds with plenty of suggestive song titles on Waldoxy, a Malaco subsidiary.

So many performers to discover...but somehow must find the time. R. Kelly's beginning to sound like these guys

I just finally listened to samples of the 2004 Bobby Wayne cd Chuck mentioned back in March. Some impressive moments. I love that ache in his voice feel Wayne has on "This Heart is Haunted," and the women backing vocalists provide luscious help on the chorus and some great harmonies. "Homestead Greys" is a bit forced lyrically--"They hit a ball 500 feet, past a place they couldn't eat," but I like it anyway.

Bobby Rush appearing at the Basement in Nashv on Wednesday, I think it is.

revisionist funk, and pretty good if inevitably mannered (frantic in spots but good horn arrangements and great guitar): the Dynamites' Kaboom!, also from Nashville and featuring Charles Walker on vocals.

x-post

I just missed Bobby Rush here in DC (actually out at Lamont's in Pomonkey, MD). Sadly he got no media attention as the owner doesn't push his events through the mainstream media.

Missed Lee Fields at Lamonts also. My blue-eyed soul badge is definately gonna be revoked. Maybe seeing DC's Skip Mahoney opening for the Chi-lites and the Spinners will be enough to save me.

Top 25 Southern Soul/R & B Tracks

TW
LW
Song
Artist
Label

1 2 "1 800"- Big G on Stone River
2 1 Scat Cat...Here Kitty Kitty- Barbara Carr Ecko
3 3 It's Okay Steve Perry- Bluesland
4 5 Mississippi Woman Denise LaSalle- Ecko
5 6 I Must Be Crazy Sweet Angel- Mac
6 9 My Miss America Willie Clayton -Malaco
7 8 Don't Say No Tonight Sir Charles Jones -Jumpin'
8 10 Baby Come Back Home Vick Allen- Waldoxy
9 7 Crazy Sexy Smooth Walter Waiters -WW
10 14 Moan Patrick Harris- Lyn Rome
11 4 Brand New You, Same Old Me Bigg Joe -Baby Boy
12 16 Let's Get It On Theodis Ealey- Ifgam
13 17 Oops That's My Bad Jerry L -Mi-Jay
14 15 Boom Bam (Thank You Ma'am) Michael Rainey- Rainey
15 18 Get Low Simeo- Jomar
16 11 Playez Only Love You When They're Playing William Bell -Wilbe
17 12 Knockin' My Boot Allen O -Laryan
18 13 Love Don't Live Her No More Vince Hutchinson -VH
19 20 Can We Work It Out Stan Mosley- Double Duo
20 22 Thank You Mama L.J. Echols- Baby Boy
http://bluescritic.com/southernsoulradio.htm

Pretty good EP from a lady from Tennessee, though the best part of it might be the Bohannon/DJ Hollywood style proto-raps done by some guy at the start and end of her "Southern Soul Picnic," which is my favorite of the three songs even if "bring your own BYOB" is a redundant line (sort of like "ATM machine"). "Telling It Like It Is" has a decent proto-disco groove to it under Miz B saying the other woman might get his honey but Miz B will still get his money. Actually found the warning song "Jody's 1st Cousin" somewhat disappointing, but that may just be because Jody songs get my hopes up:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mizbtunes

Tried hard with this guy's album, too; he's sort of doing R Kelly (i.e., he does a song called "12 Steps For Cheaters" and one called "Dirty South Steppin") trying to be Gregory Abbot trying to be Al Green or something (with a "tribute to Luther" and another song that quotes "Never Too Much"), but either his voice or the production is too thin for the songs to stick to the ribs, somehow. (Actually, my wife says his singing reminds her of Boy George. Sadly, he doesn't have Boy George's personality, or hooks.) I played the album a lot, but nothing really sank in:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mrsam

Also, it's about to somebody linked to this on this thread, seems to me. An r&b hit. From Lafeyette, LA:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h24_zoqu4_Q

Yea, "Cupid Shuffle's" great. I do not think it is getting r'n'b radio play around my area (DC) unfortunately.

it's about TIME, i meant.

Aargh. Mel Waiters coming to Leesburg, Virginia (1 1/2 hours from me I think) and Upper Marlboro (outside of DC)next weekend and I cannot make either gig. Waiters is with a bunch of other great folks at the Upper Marlboro show: Bobby Womack, Millie Jackson, Clarence Carter and Roy C.

I just now played a comp on Trikont called Motel Lovers: Southern Soul From the Chitlin' Circuit, all recent stuff, sounds GREAT on first listen; Trikont is distributed through Light in the Attic. (Chuck, if yr still in touch with Tony Green, he should know about this for sure.)

I think that comp has that 2001 Sir Charles Jones song "Friday" where Charles smoothly recites, "Mel Waiters on the radio singing about the whiskey."

Wow, I need to get that. (If Light in the Attic aren't upset about Michaelangelo not liking the Betty Davis reissues much, they can't be upset about me, right?)

Anyway, second to last song (and only recent song) played at Lalena's high school reunion in Houston last night (right before the closing "Rio" by Duran Duran): "Cupid Shuffle." Interesting. I had no idea that it was a line dance; shows what I know. Turns out it's the new "Electric Boogie," judging from all the people who got up there for it. Is that happening nationwide?

I think that comp has that 2001 Sir Charles Jones song "Friday" where Charles smoothly recites, "Mel Waiters on the radio singing about the whiskey."

It does indeed; track two.

also, where oh where is Rickey/Timi Yuro on this thread anyway? I know he digs this type of stuff.

and MAJOR thanks for the Southern Soul Radio link, Curmudgeon; the charts and CD store look like great resources.

Chuck, I do not think "Cupid Shuffle" became a big line dance nationwide (probably just the South and I'll count Texas as part of the South).

Grrrrrr, have to go in and work today and miss another soul show down at Lamont's in Pomonkey, Maryland. At least I think there's one--Lamont's website hasn't worked in years (and was only briefly working at all). I heard a brief mention on the local Pacifica public radio station WPFW that there is a show there today. At the beginning of the summer I called down and Lamont answered and he mailed me (snail mail he has no e-mail) flyers for his July and August shows. But he never returned my last voicemail asking more up to date info. Is this any way to run a club?

I see on the country thread someone touting a new Bettye Lavette cd.

I just now played a comp on Trikont called Motel Lovers: Southern Soul From the Chitlin' Circuit, all recent stuff, sounds GREAT on first listen; Trikont is distributed through Light in the Attic

This may well be my album of the year, if it counts as being an album from this year (which right now I'm leaning toward thinking it does, since it compiles relatively recent rather than really old stuff.) Anyway, Matos, thanks of the tip! It's great!

I guess 2001 counts as relatively recent

soulandbluesreport.com August 24th 2007

W Q I D SOUL 105

Hattiesburg, MS

Friday Night Fish Fry Mel Waiters

Good Loving Carl Marshall

You Dog’s About To Ms. Jody

I’m Just A Fool For Pt.2 J Blackfoot / Jones

Mississippi Woman Denise LaSalle

Never Coming Home Betty Padgett

Party Like Back In The T. K. Soul

I Like Big Girls Big Joe

My Miss America Willie Clayton

She Thought I Was Bigg Robb

Baby Come Back Home Vick Allen

Willie Clayton's "Three People(sleeping in my bed)" from that comp on Trikont called "Motel Lovers: Southern Soul From the Chitlin' Circuit" first came out in 1998. Not denying this looks like a great comp, just wanted to make clear that it covers material that goes back almost 10 years. This comp also proves the point that if music is released within the past 2 decades and not promoted/marketed to alt-weekly (or major newspaper or magazine) music critics (and is not on the national top 40 charts) it can be ignored or missed for years by many (despite the internet blah blah blah)

Don't disagree with you, but "within the last ten years" is "relatively recent," as reissues go. In other words, it's closer to a best-of album by a late '90s/early '00s act than an archival revival of material from decades ago. I've certainly voted for older stuff on top-ten ballots. And right, it's the sort of stuff that could fall through the cracks -- but there's tons of music out there, and a finite amount of time to keep up with it all; it's inevitable that something will fall through. (If I lived in a part of the country that where this sort of music is actually still popular -- or if I had more time to listen to explore Internet radio -- I may well have heard some of it sooner, of course.)

I think after Marvin Sease and ZZ Hill (who were better marketed) some people wrote off this genre, and you're right --without easier access to radio or clubs--from DC down to Florida--NY critics at least have not paid attention.

1988
LEAD: Denise LaSalle, the veteran rhythm-and-blues singer, made her first appearance in New York in over 15 years Saturday afternoon at the Central Park Band Shell. NYTimes

Have Denise and Mel Waiters and others not been playing New York?

Just posted about this Florida fellow on the rolling country thread:

First song on that Bobby Bowens Southern soul album, "She Got a Lump For a Rump (Rump Shaker)," steals its horn riff from "Mr. Big Stuff" and words from "Brick House." Later on he does a rewrite of Kool and the Gang's "Get Down On It" and doesn't even bother to change that title (though I think it's not meant to be a cover, per se'), and another good one is "Your Love is a Tower of Power," though never having listened to them much I have no idea if it actually sounds like Tower of Power. And there are spoken parts on the album (by him and some lady) that make me think of Richard "Dimples" Fields and Barbara Mason, though maybe not intentionally. Some good '70s bubblegum funk too -- real fun record.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/bobbybowens3

from country thread:

Some more thoughts on Bobby Bowens's new album:

1. The girl-moans in "Scratch My Itch" are straight out of "I'll Take You There" by the Staple Singers, and oddly, there's also a title called "Let's Do It Again"--i.e., same title as another Staples hit.
2. "Reaching For the Top" is probably far-and-away, over the top, the most blatant old old old school style hip-hop track I've heard all year. (Eat your heart out, Cowboy Troy.) Very 1980! I love it.
3. "Let's Do It Again" is more 1990: New Jack Swing!

Anybody read this site?

http://www.soulexpress.net/deep207.htm

I saw Chicago's Otis Clay Sunday afternoon for free headlining the Bluebird Blues Festival at Prince George's Community College in suburban Maryland (near DC). In red polyester pants and bright red boots, this now 65-year-old can still sing. Unfortunately, he only had an hour and did not pace the set well. He used the late Tyrone Davis' band, and while they can play, I do not want to hear solos extended that long. Clay also stretched out the audience participation part too long, and then jumped around from song to song, starting and stopping "Love and Happiness," "Soul Man," and others. He did "A Nickel and a Nail," a great soul shouter that I identify with OV Wright.

Yeah I like him too. He's coming to the East Coast in May

DMV?

JVs in Falls Church May 30

https://johnnyrawlsblues.com/tour-dates-1