William DeVaughn's 'Be Thankful' is a 24 carat soul classic – with a message more important now than ever! It has, of course, been covered dozens of times – most recently by the UK's SOUL MESSENGERS (Steve Lee, John Anderson, Anthony Keenan and John Walker) . It is a focus cut on their current 'Dark Soul' album... and rightly so.
Now the track has had a remix. This new 'Fire and Desire' mix extends the original beauty to over 8 minutes and the vocals of Soulutions' Louise Meehan have never sounded better ... haunting and atmospheric, it's a proper builder – a track for our times! Out now!
Last Updated on Sunday, 22 March 2020 19:30
US music sites are reporting the death "sometime in March" of Washington soul singer SKIP MAHONEY. Mahoney (real surname Mahoaney) formed his band The Casuals in 1965. They played the local DC circuit and enjoyed some regional hits – notably 'Wherever You Go' and 'Your Funny Moods'.
By now you'll be aware that country star KENNY ROGERS died on Friday, 20th March aged 81. The Texas born singer was a country icon, known for his famous story line songs. In 1980 though his career trajectory brought him into the soul world. In that year he teamed up with Commodores lead singer Lionel Richie to work on an album. From that collaboration came the Richie-penned hit, 'Lady' which spent 6 weeks at #1 on the pop charts, and crossed over to soul music radio. It was Rogers' biggest hit and in a way that success encouraged Richie to leave the Commodores for solo superstardom. Rogers' other brush with soul when in 1984, teaming with James Ingram and Kim Carnes, he recorded 'What About Me?'
In their earlier days loads and loads of top names have won the famed Apollo talent show. Recently a young man, OMAR WILSON secured a hat trick of victories and his debut album is winning plenty of plaudits. From that LP his latest single is scaling US soul charts and getting plenty of UK soul station airplay. The tune is a classic two stepper, 'The Groove'. It has a wonderful feel good vibe (sorely needed right now!)
bbe Music have just released a real treat for fans of good ol' ROY AYERS. Their people recently went through the tapes of Ayers' 'Virgin Ubiquity' studio sessions and discovered a previously unreleased gem... a smooth and soulful 'Reaching The Highest Pleasure' cut back in June 1977. Some 10 years ago Gilles Peterson was playing a version of the tune, but this "new discovery" is different to that one, featuring an extended vibraphone solo from the maestro. It's out now on bbe.
