SEAN McCABE is a rising star of soulful house and he's about to drop his debut LP for Joey Negro's acclaimed ZR label.

The album's heralded by the single 'Something About You'/ 'Holding On', featuring the mighty vocals of Jennifer Wallace. Both are vital slabs of jazzy, soulful house with big bass lines and bags of energy!

Catch them at your usual download portal.

For soul connoisseurs one of last year's most satisfying albums was HESTON'S 'Love Junkie'. The set perfectly matched modern soul sensitivities with neo/soul flavours and one cut in particular won considerable affection.... 'Resign 2 U'.

Well, the good news is that the REEL PEOPLE people have just remixed the tune and it's already shaping up to be one of soulful house's 2014 biggies. The reason is there for all to hear - this new mix is a sweet n' lovely summer roller with Latino percussion underpinning Heston's appealing falsetto

The mix will be good to go via the Reel People Music label on August 4th and Mr H has lined up UK dates for October – sharing the stage with fellow label mate Don E. Both, of course, are signed to Peter Robinson's evergreen DOME label.

'This Is Who I Am' is the latest single from London-born soulstress LATEEFAH.

The young singer has just returned to the UK after spending time with her parents in St Lucia. It was on the island that Lateefah started he music career –singing in church and more recently her first single 'Here I Am' topped the charts in St Lucia and its optimistic Christian message won it placement on the US Gospel Chart too.

The new single 'This Is Who I Am' is a rambling slab of neo/nu soul with the distinct flavour of early career Jill Scott and you can find out more about it @ www.latekorecords.com

Geordie soul goes from strength to strength! The latest North Easterner to be tipped for the soulful top is a big voiced boy from Wallsend – DAVE TURNER. Dave works under the stage name of JUNIOR TURNER and his new record 'Better Day' is making huge waves – especially in the States, where the song currently sits atop of the "Unsigned Charts".

The dad-of-two said: "It is fantastic how my career has grown. It is on and upwards for the lad from Wallsend. I hit number one in Texas in the unsigned charts that means among artists who haven't been signed by a record label. But, because of my success, I have now been signed by Alexis Records because the Americans have gone crazy for my song."

Not difficult to hear why. 'Better Day' is an easy-on-the-ear, rolling summer soul vibe with some catchy vocal pyrotechnics from Junior and tasty input from Jess Wood. The success of the song follows on from chart activity back in December when his 'Hurt' topped the UK newcomers chart while his tune 'Loveblind' was record Of The Year on Geordie radio station, Pride.

Before that the onetime pub and club "turn" found fame when he raised thousands of pounds for Children In Need with a version of the 'The Impossible Dream' and Junior's also released songs in support of the Help For Heroes Charity.

A busy man then and set to get busier as 'Better Day' gains momentum. Access it via the usual download portals.

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 July 2014 18:24

After calling at Detroit, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, Fantastic Voyage's archive soul train steams into Philadelphia. The engineer this time around is respected veteran soul journalist Clive Richardson and he's handpicked 60 pre-1963 Philadelphia soul gems to illustrate the City Of Brotherly Love's soul heritage before the Gamble and Huff collective started to call the shots!

Clive has trawled the vaults of labels like V Tone, Chancellor, Cameo-Parkway, Jamie, Heritage, Imperial and Casino to show that before Philly's "Golden Age", there was a lot of soul activity in a city that was then better known for its pop successes.

The biggest hits here are probably Bobby Parker's 'Watch Your Step' and the Orlon's 'Don't Hang Up' but the collection boasts a plethora of big names at a stage in their career when they were either reaching for that first elusive hit or trying to build on an early success. So here enjoy a couple of cuts from Don Covay trying to emulate the success others (Chubby Checker in particular) had had with his 'Pony Time'; two tracks from Solomon Burke; a trio from the aforementioned King of Twist, Chubby Checker; and five tunes from a pre-hit incarnation of the Blue Notes.

Being a Philly compilation you can be sure that Bunny Sigler's in the mix too along with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Donnie Elbert and Al Downing. There are plenty of harmony groups too including the Larks, The Boss Tones, the Dreamlovers and the Gainors – who, of course, featured Howard Tate and Garnett Mimms; their 'This Is A Perfect Moment' would stand out on any vintage soul compilation. Here, it's one of many great collectable items

FANTASTIC VOYAGE'S SOUL CITY PHILADELPHIA is out now

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 July 2014 14:21