southern soul blues
southern soul blues
                  
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Blues Critic Awards 2010 READERS POLL Southern Soul Blues
Winners! As voted by Blues Critic readers
January 10, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Best Southern Soul/R & B Album
Mel Waiters returned in 2010 with his first LP in 4 years and the title cut spent the better part of a year on top of Southern Soul playlists. Also included on the album was the 2009 hit "Everything's Going Up". Other albums that nearly won were runner-up Wendell B's "In Touch With My Southern Soul" (one of two new sets he released in 2010), Floyd Taylor's "All Of Me", Mr. Sam's "Love Attack" and Reggie P's self titled album (aka "Rude Boy Of Southern Soul")
Best Soul Blues Album
Bobby Rush continued his winning streak with the funky blues set "BLIND SNAKE" in 2010. Other contenders: BACK IN STYLE Tad Robinson ,I'M SATISFIED Cicero Blake, GOOD TO ME Earl Gaines ,LIVIN' THE BLUZ Diedra ,INSIDE OUT Tutu Jones , COOKIN' IN MOBILE Robert Cray ,IF I'M ONE, YOU'RE ONE TOO Travis Moonchild Haddix ,JUST FOR YOU Darrell Nulisch & runner-up DRUNK, BUSTED, DISGUSTED & CAN'T BE TRUSTED Billy Ray Charles Best Southern Soul/R & B Song
Following in the footsteps of past terrific ballads like "Baby I've Changed" and "You Still Got It" Floyd Taylor delivered another with "All Of You, All Of Me", which seems to get better with each listen. Runner-up: "P's & Q's" by Reggie P & Sir Charles Jones. Not far behind were "Family Reunion" by Bigg Robb, "Good Lovin' Testimony" by Carl Marshall, "Impala" by Lamorris Williams and runner-up "I Ain't Gone Do It" by Mel Waiters Best Slow Jam
They faced stiff competition but the superstar combo Reggie P & Sir Charles Jones, who hipped the fellas to stay on their "P's & Q's" , topped hit songs by Carl Marshall, Willie Clayton, Carl Sims, Wendell B. and runner-up Floyd Taylor Best Dance Or Funk Song
The closest of all races Ms Jody's "The Bop" bests Kenne' Wayne's "Ride It Like A Cowboy" by only 26 votes (out of more than 12,000 cast) and Will Easley's "Wiggle When She Walk" by 37 votes. "Cowboy" benefited from a "zydeco version" that was white hot in Louisiana. Other dance songs that proved popular were Sir Jonathan Burton's "Too Much Booty Shakin'", Jim Bennett's "Slap It Tap It" & newcomer Ghetto Cowboy's "Pop A Pill" Best Down Home Blues Song
This was a GREAT year for "Down Home Blues" with popular outings by Ms Jody ("Ms Jody's In The Streets Again"), runner-up Denise LaSalle ("I'm A 24 Hour Woman"), Nellie Tiger Travis ("Before You Grab This Tiger By The Tail"), "100 Bill" by Joe Blues Butler (an overlooked gem that was hot in Memphis), Billy Ray Charles ("Johnnie Walker Red") & Cicero Blake's updated version of his classic "Dip My Dipper (What You Say)". Nevertheless, it was Gregg A Smith's instant classic "Forever Young" that took the prize, a duet featuring Bobby Rush, Carl Marshall & Lucky Peterson. Best Vocal Performance FEMALE
After three strong discs with Ecko Denise LaSalle returned to Malaco Records. The title track to her first album back was picked for Best Vocal Performance Female. Two current Ecko artists Ms Jody (Runner-up) and Sweet Angel were not far behind. Other nominees included Nellie 'Tiger' Travis, Bobbye "Doll" Johnson, Pat Cooley, Stephanie Pickett, Uvee Hayes, Lacee & Karen Wolfe. Best Vocal Performance MALE
The man who calls himself the "new Luther Vandross" released two new albums in 2010. Hit songs included "The Best Time Of My Life" and "Mississippi Girl" for which he won this award. The nominees feature a great list of singers: Runner-up Floyd Taylor, J. Blackfoot, Carl Sims, Lenny Williams, Sir Charles Jones, Calvin Richardson, Jerry L, Reggie P & Rue Davis Best Performance By A Duo Or Group
O.B. Buchana & Mr. Sam for "Did You Put Your Foot In It" (Ecko Records/Lifetime Lover) Reggie P was nominated in five categories and nearly won every one of them. He and Sir Charles Jones were runners-up with their duet "P's & Q's" in a field that included such stellar collaborations as Willie Clayton with Dave Hollister, Charles Wilson with Willie Clayton, Carl Marshall with Rue Davis, Gregg A. Smith with Bobby Rush & others but O.B. Buchana & Mr. Sam were victorious. Best New Artist
As always Best New Artist is the most hotly-contested and the category that receives the most votes. 2010 was no different. Runner-up Captain Jack Watson, Falisa JaNaye, Certified Slim, Mr Ivy & Black Zack were all within 50 votes of this year's winner Ghetto Cowboy. Other strong finishers were Hog Pin, Reggie Sears, Columbus Toy & Ladi Khandi. Best Record Producer(s) Of The Year
Carl Marshall Two years in a row for Mr. Carl Marshall who produced albums by himself, Charles Wilson, Stan Mosley, Cicero Blake, Chuck Roberson, Gregg A. Smith & more. As always there was plenty of strong contenders. Runner-up Mel Waiters who produced himself, Hog Pin, Chandra Calloway and a track on Charles Wilson. Simuel Overall produced the hit album by Floyd Taylor & tracks by Lee Shot Williams, Earl Duke & others. Frank McKinney produced his own band Heart 2 Heart Band, Pat Cooley & songs by Bobbye "Doll" Johnson. Eric P was responsible for music by Lee Shot Williams, Will Easley, Earl Duke and Willie B and of course Ecko's John Ward produced another slew of albums for his Ecko Records label. The BLUES CRITIC staff pick... SOUTHERN SOUL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
This was a tough call. Both last year's pick Carl Marshall and 2006 pick Willie Clayton could easily have been chosen again this year but we feel Mel Waiters had a very positive impact on the genre with a number 1 song, number 1 album, production credits for newcomers Hog Pin, Chandra Calloway & Certified Slim and live performances. Carl Marshall was the top record producer and scored hits with "Good Lovin' Testimony" and "I Lived It All". Meanwhile Willie Clayton released two best selling albums in 2010. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.  Wendell B "In Touch With My Southern Soul"
(Smoothway Ent.)
Wendell B(rown) does a very R&B-flavored Southern Soul and by the time this record dropped (simultaneously with the more R&B-leaning "Back To Bidness") Brown was already well-known for his deep, smooth baritone that may remind one of Luther Vandross mated with Will Downing with a hint of Barry White. After releasing one record as Wendell Brown he began being noticed in 1995 as just Wendell B. for "Good Times", then his reputation cemented with "Time To Relax: Love, Life & Relationships" but "In Touch With My Southern Soul" is hands down his most prosperous this far. 2. 
Bigg Robb
"Soul Prescription" (Over 25 Sound)
Bigg Robb writes a sequel to "Good Lovin' Will Make You Cry" titled "The Crying Zone" and professes his "Moscato Love" on this powerhouse album of 18 tracks. Fun tracks like the Zapp Funk of "So Delicious" fills the prescription and can cure what ails ya. 3. 
Carl Marshall "Love Who You Wanna Love" (CDS)
Carl Marshall is on top of his game. His signature song "Good Lovin' Will Make You Cry" gets an update graced by the vocals of Rue Davis, titled "Good Lovin' Testimony". But the centerpiece of the album is "I Lived It All". The song made it's first appearance in 2002 on Marshall's "This Is For Grown Folks" but it was given proper attention this go 'round, even being released as a single. Another highlight is the David Brinston guest vocal on "Let's Dance Let's Shag", another song Marshall tweaked and gave a new home (it was first released as "Let's Dance" released on his rare "Let's Dance" CD). 4. 
Mel Waiters "I Ain't Gone Do It" (Waldoxy)
Waiters' last album for Malaco maintains the high standards already established. The hits this time are "Everything's Going Up", "Bar-B-Cue", "Down Home People" and the title track. 5. 
David Brinston
"Beat It Up" (Ecko)
Aw David Brinston. One of the most iconic voices of modern Southern Soul. This album's so energetic and overflowing with hooks I have a kink in my neck from bobbing my head and my toes are cramping from tapping. Immense dance tracks like the title cut, "Booty Humpin; Grind", "Bounce That Booty" and "Bus Stop" are pure ear candy. The album mercifully lets you catch your breath on the slow, boiling "Back On The Backstreets" and the midpaced "I'm A Reformed Cheater". 6.
Released stateside in 2011 but first released overseas in 2010 so on this list it belongs. Emily was a contestant on the TV show "America's Got Talent". which lead to her signing with Malaco Records. The album features her versions of some significant songs already in the Malaco catalog ("Still Crazy", "Going Crazy") as well as classic covers ("Use Me", "No Easy Way To Say Goodbye"). For me George Jackson's ballad "Throw Away Me" is the highlight.
7.
Appropriate title to this Contemporary R&B drenched Soul album full of slick rollers and slinky slow jams produced bass-heavy and fat. This is baby makin' music for 'grown folks". The big hit was "Impala" followed by the dancers "Stroke It With A Motion" and "Make Your Body Roll". The songwriting is top notch with no bum tracks. 8. 
Luther Lackey "The Preacher's Wife"
(Ecko)
The ridiculously-underrated one comes back strong with another slab of taboo-busting brilliance. The centerpiece of the album is "It Ain't Easy Being The Preacher's Wife", which gives a voice to that dirty preacher's other half. Another cheating-themed song "If She's Cheating On Me I Don't Want To Know" draws it's inspiration musically from Joe Tex ("Ain't Gonna Bump No More") and features a strong, singable refrain. This should have been a hit. The slowie "What It Takes To Get Her Is What It Takes To Get Her" is vintage Lackey. 9.
Best album thus far benefits from better production and mastering. "Pop That Thang" has quite the thump to it, very infectious. The characteristic slowie "Misunderstood" is becoming one of G's best known songs. G's pinched, melancholy voice is so natural and fitting on this song it reaches perfection. Perhaps nobody- maybe not even his biggest influence Roy C- could do it better.
10. This album was somewhat controversial with some critics and disc jockeys when it first dropped since Taylor moved further away from horn-fueled greatness of his Malaco albums (and his father's sound) but in reality Taylor had already started moving further into contemporary R&B with "You Still Got It" (both the song and album). Perhaps tracks like "I'm 'Bout It 'Bout It" sounded more like young R&B rather than Adult Contemporary but the quality of the music won out as four songs received maximum exposure. "All Of You, All Of Me", "Baby I Love You", "Cut To The Chase" and "'Bout It". A fifth song, "I Like The Way" became a hit when remixed for the "Deluxe" version of this album. Half the album was written and produced by Simeo. 11. The title cut is a fascinating tale (tall tale) about a younger Sweet Angel trying to be one of Bobby Rush's famed big booty dancers (see Bobby Rush concert review here). The song apes the groove of "Sue" but turns out Angel was initially too young (at 25) but 10 years later Rush said she was old enough but "too little" (at 155 lbs). The story has a happy ending when Angel opened up for Rush years later and got to show off her talent to Rush. "Bobby Rush, don't you wish you had a girl like me?". After that brief dip into Funk the remainder of the album is made up of above average midpaced Southern Soul and slowies. 12. Following the demise of the Goodtime Records label Wayne finds himself it DIY territory with "The MVP". "Ride It Like A Cowboy" may just replace "The Licka Sticka" or "The Party Ain't Over" as Wayne's signature song. The song was huge especially in Louisiana. We get three versions here (regular, zydeco version, slide version). Other key tracks are "Wutang" and "Could You Be A Hater". 13. Luv has a smooth voice reminiscent of Tyrone Davis and this is his best selection of tracks thus far. There's only a handful of new cuts ("I Wanna Come Back", "Girl I Really Need You", "I Can't Win For Losing", "Footprints In The Sand") mixed with his "hits" like "She Threw A Monkey Wrench In My Game" (also known as "I Had To Change") and "Somebody To Call My own". 14. Easley's second album is loaded with dance cuts like "Work With It", "Wiggle When She Walk", "Back In the Mood" and "Big Girls Ain't Moody" It is apparent the aim was to up the ante on upbeat Southern Soul songs curtailing the smooth Urban AC that dominated his debut. That said the best song is the slow "Damn Fool". 15. Like Lenny Williams Richardson is a mainstream R&B artist that has also dipped his toe into the Southern Soul pool. He teamed up with noted record promoter David Austin aka "Team Airplay" to infiltrate this market with an album that makes no concessions to the sounds he would be competing with. This Top 20 already includes the very R&B-flavored album by LaMorris Williams. The Southern Soul market really is quite inclusive to begin with. Along with the traditional down home blues and Memphis-influenced Soul it incorporates Bobby Rush's folk-funk stylings and even the Hip Hop leanings of a Black Zack. In the end longtimers will say it's all "still called the blues". "America's Most Wanted" Urban Adult Contemporary music lushly produced and easy on the ears. "You're So Amazing" was the lead single. 16. Former songwriter in the Malaco/Waldoxy stable gets his highest profile as a recording artist with this effort. As expected these are well-written songs and Conerly has an authentic bluesy singing voice that proves he could have stepped up as an artist years ago (Conerly did self-release a couple albums like "7 Come 11" but they were largely ignored). 17. Gaines passed way before sessions for his second Ecko album were wrapped up but label boss John Ward was able to piece a mighty fine album together from the new tracks that were finished ("You've Been Good To Me", "I'm Throwing In The Towel", etc.) some outtakes I'm guessing (due to the production style) procured from Gaines' longtime collaborator Ted Jarrett ("I'd Like To Try It One More Time", "It Ain't Easy To Tell The One You Love Goodbye"), and alternate versions (different mixes) of a few tracks from "Nothin' But The Blues". Both "Let's Call A Truce" and "If I Could Do It All Over" are presented without synthetic horns and come off even more moving and Soulful than before. 18. Now she's in the streets and has sex on the brain (more than usual that is). "Lick If You Can't Stick" gives dudes with E.D. issues some advice how to still please Ms. Jody. On the bumper "Tell Me When You Want It" she's ready to go and kinda answers it for herself with "I Wanna Make Love Tonight". Why is our gal so hot to trot? Well, "Ms Jody's In The Streets Again" because of her most recent, no-good man. She's more tender on the sweet ballad "You Had It All", however. 19. The Queen's last album is a good but not great one. For some reason it does not feature the 100% live full band production Malaco is known for but instead features some MOR programmed tracks. Still it is Denise LaSalle so it has to be good. The first release was "Cheat Receipt". Much better are "Home Wrecker", "Too Many Women" and the downhome Blues "You Put One Over The Fence"
20. Debut album from Dallas' own Captain Jack Watson boasts some greats songs from producer Carl Marshall such as the Billy Soul Bonds-like "I'm In Love With A Woman Other Women Talk About". More chivalry is found on "The Power Of A Man Is The Strength Of A Woman" and Watson is a "Brand New Man" thanks to his woman's love. Watson has a strong baritone that excels the most on slow jams.
1. 
Solomon Burke
"Nothing's Impossible" (E1)
Burke's comeback that began with the phenomenal "Please Don't Give Up On Me" shows no sign of stopping on this equally magnificent new LP produced by Willie Mitchell. Gospel-influenced R&B and Deep Soul by a gifted singer. What's even more impressive is most of these songs are newish rather than classic covers. Mitchell either wrote or co-wrote nine songs while Burke penned three, two with Mitchell. But speaking of covers it must be magic or something else other-worldly that enables Burke to turn Ann Murray's maudlin "You Needed Me" into a bittersweet downtempo Soul song. 2.
It's Tad Robinson and Severn Records, what could go wrong? Nothing does as this is yet another richly created set of Soul and Blues we've come to expect. Robinson's yearning, elastic vocals are in full force and supported by some excellent songs. My pick is "Sunday Morning Woman" written by Robinson, Steve Gomes and Keven Anker. Gorgeous horns and slippery organ that shows opposites do attract or more accurately a good woman carries the weight neglected by a "Saturday night man". What a song and what a vocal performance. In any other year this would be number one but...... Solomon Burke with Willie Mitchell happened so.....
3.
Bonedog Records was firing on all cylinders at this point and Gus Collins hops in behind the wheel of an ideal vehicle for his high octane soul testifying. Songwriter/bassist Mike Sweeney fits Collins with 10 originals (of 13 total) brimful of Funky R&B, a torchy ballad or two and oodles of shuffle bumping Soul with resplendent horns, organ and flawless rhythm. It just flat out bad luck that Bonedog began producing this authentic, classic live instrument greatness just as record sales began to plummet at a precipitous rate yearly. If this fabulous label has managed to break even it would be heartening.
4.
After the disappointing "Still Finding My Way" Walker returns with a stronger set of songs and in tip top shape vocally. He also moonlights singing for the Funk outfit The Dynamites but this album returns him to the Deep Soul n' Blues of the miraculous "Number By Heart". That album's producer Fred James is back on board and co-wrote most of the songs including a few with Walker. There's also a great Tom Waits cover ("San Diego Serenade") 5. 
The Holmes Brothers "Feed My Soul" (Alligator)
Pop singer Joan Osbourne of "One Of Us" may be a surprising producer for the Holmes Brothers' latest. In truth Osbourne's first love is Rhythm & Blues, even touring with the Funk Brothers and being in the documentary film about the legendary Motown sidemen, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown". She also produced the previous Holmes album "Speaking In Tongues" so well here she is for an encore. Brother Wendell Holmes wrote seven tracks while Sherman Holmes scribed three. Rustic, Gospel-infused Soul, Rhythm and Blues. The group would record one more album prior to Wendell's death in 2015. 6. 
Mavis Staples "You Are Not Alone" (Anti/Epitaph)
A benevolent trend continues with modern day producers and labels signing classic Soul & Blues singers to do a "cutting edge" album of gritty, rootsy Soul or Blues music or in Staples' case definitely Gospel-infused Soul. Wilco's Jeff Tweedy produced and created an understated, subdued backdrop for Staples' still emotive vocals.
7.
Magness dives head first into R&B/Soul and comes off natural and confident. The song choices range from familiar cover tunes ("I'm Gonna Tear My Playhouse Down", "Slipped, Tripped, Fell In Love", "End Of Your Road") to some unexpected turns (Nick Lowe's "Homewrecker" is a great pick). Vocally, Magness flexes her muscles and shows her versatility.
8.
Montoya was mentored by the great Albert Collins who actually tapped him as a drummer in the mid 70s before teaching Montoya Collins' distinctive guitar style. He is also played with John Mayall before stepping out as a solo artist 1995 when he won the W.C. Handy Award for "Best New Blues Artist". Vocally Montoya has a mellow, soulful timbre (somewhat reminiscent of Glenn Frey) so the hefty amount of Soul-Blues on this album is fitting. It's the smooth, breezing kind- more Beach than Stax- but he ain't afraid to Funk it up at times as evidence by "Don't Go Makin' Plans".
9.
Fairly standard roadhouse lump-de-lumps and shuffles with one great slow Soul song ("Can't Make It Without Your Love"). The title cut is a dynamite instrumental (mostly) featuring labelmate Billy Gibson 10. Bonedog Records' second entry in this Top 10 is from Pittsburgh's Freddye Stover aka Miss Freddye though I would have guessed New Orleans or Chicago if I didn't know better. That's the sound n' style of much of this rollicking set. Tellingly there's even a Willie Dixon cover ("Instant Everything") but Ace songwriter Mike Sweeney again shoulders most of the songwriting chores and the songs are treated to the no holds backdrop the label is known for. Long live Bonedog.
*** in no particular order...
PREVIOUS YEARS HERE |
Bobby Rush "Blind Snake" (Deep Rush)
"All Of You, All Of Me" by Floyd Taylor (CDS) 
"P's & Q's" by Reggie P & Sir Charles Jones (Rude Boy)
Ms. Jody "The Bop" (Ecko)
"Forever Young" by Gregg A. Smith,
Bobby Rush, Carl Marshall, Lucky Peterson (CDS)
Wendell B on "Mississippi
Girl" (Smoothway Ent.)
Ghetto Cowboy
Mel Waiters
Queen Emily "Queen
Emily" (Malaco)
LaMorris Williams
"Sexy Soul Songs" (Rocks Landon)
Big G "Special Delivery"
(Stone River/CDS)
Floyd Taylor "All Of Me" (CDS)
Sweet Angel "A Girl Like Me"
(Ecko)
Kenne' Wayne
"The MVP" (G Street)
Walt Luv (aka Walt Love)
"New Millennium Blues" (Monkey
Wrench)
Will Easley
"Smokin'" (CDS)
Calvin Richardson "America's
Most Wanted" (Shanachie)
Bobby Conerly "The New Old School"
(Aviara Music) 
Earl Gaines
"Good To Me" (Ecko) 
Captain Jack Watson
"Brand New Man" (CDS)
Tad Robinson "Back In Style" (Severn)
Charles Walker
"Soul Stirring Thing" (Blues/SPV )
Janiva Magness
"The Devil is An Angel Too" (Alligator)
Coco Montoya "I Want It All Back" (Ruf)
Daddy Mack Blues Band
"Bluesfinger" (Inside Sounds)
Miss Freddye
"That Kinda Woman" (Bonedog)