Various - Pour A Little Sugar On It: The Chewy Chewy Sound of American Bubblegum 1966-1971 (Grapefruit USA)(2024)(3 x CD)

 

Great concept and idea. I had really high hopes for this compilation but for some reason it left me a little cold. Not sure what is wrong. The songs are melodic and are exactly what you would expect. The quality is good. It is not that it is bad. But the songs and the CDs when played all the way through left me a little bored. Maybe I need to listen to this box set a third time.  I did like the Cuff Links - Tracey a lot! I wish I was more excited about this box set.

Willie West & The Soul Investigators/The Soul Investigators - After the Storm/Instrumental 7" (Timmion Records)(2016)

 

This is the second 7" 45 from Timmion Records out of Helsinki, Finland that i have tried out and it is a cracker. Original release in 2016. If you like soul music, you are going to like this 45. The B-side is an instrumental of the A-side featuring the The Soul Investigators which may be the Timmion Records house band(?). Check out the song here.

Creole and Chinafrica - Journey from Creation 1975-1985 (Deeper Knowledge Records)(2023)

DKR Records with another great addition to reggae collections worldwide. Most serious reggae music fans are familiar with Creole through their various 45s in the 70s. In this collection, DKR gathers singles from the 1970s and 80s in one place and also adds a second LP of the dubs/versions. What is new to me is that Creole was also known as China-frica. The China-frica sound was a bit more of a fusion reggae sound and much of it was recorded in New York with the master Philip Smart engineering. Don't be scared away. The 'reggae/rock" fusion works well. 

This is a crucial collection. Tip of the hat to DKR. Check out Creole's version of Moving Away.

Dennis Brown - No Man Is An Island (Studio One)(2024)(LP Reissue/Remastered)

 New reissue and remastered Studio One albums! Every reggae person should have this record so I won't spend time on the music-it is classic. The key part is that this pressing is super clean. Forever, buying Studio One LPs was always a crap shoot because they often came pressed in 'rough' conditions - "Under duress" may be best way to describe the awful pressings that one would get when buying Studio One LPs. Well, this 2024 reissue of the 1970 release by Dennis Brown is worth having just to be able to hear the music clearly. I am sure some collectors will find fault with this reissue and remaster but that is ok...get it anyway...the music sounds good and you probably need a second copy!

Billy Tibbals - Stay Teenage (Silver Arrow Records)(12" 45 rpm)(2022)

 

Billy Tibbals released this 12" single back in 2022, and I am getting to it now. I do not know much about Tibbals, aside from the hype of heard around the internet about him. He is classified as a 'power-pop' but it is more than that. While he is a new artist, this 12" single sounds like Billy Tibbals recorded this in the 70s. To be frank, this sounds a bit glam at times. I would even say he sounds a bit "British".  In other words, this record does not sound like a straight-forward American power pop record. That is not a bad thing. If you like your music melodic, then you need to keep your eye on Billy Tibbals. For a taste of what I mean, check out the last cut on this 12" single Foreverland.

Various - Penrose Showcase Vol. II (Penrose)(2024)(LP)

 

If you are not keeping up with the Penrose 45s as they come out, then get this compilation from one of the premier soul labels in the U.S. Classic soul music made today! This is from 2024. I picked up mine a while ago but I decided to open this up and put on the turntable. 

Los Yesterdays - Who Made You You/Louie Louie 7" (Penrose Records)(2023)

 

Another gem from Los Yesterdays. Who Made You You is has that classic old-school soul feel. Just beautiful. Take a listen. The B side is the rock'n'roll classic (by R. Berry) but imagine if it had originally been recorded as a soul song and you were driving down the boulevard on a Saturday night. Excellent. 

Pale Jay - In Your Corner/Bewilderment 7" (Karma Chief)(2024)

 

Great single from Pale Jay! Don't know much about this artist but the mood of the A side is just perfect. This is from 2024. Check it out here. The arrangement is great and the strings. Oh my, I need to check out more of this groove from Pale Jay!

Taitu Riddim Force meets Dub Creator - Dub Blessings/More Blessings 7" (Taitu Records)(2025)

Here are two dub version of "His Blessings" reviewed just below. Available on Bandcamp from Taitu Records. Dub Creator on the mix with Taitu Riddim Force (Mafia/Fluxy/Bubbler/Mikey Chung). Very good modern roots from Amanda at Taitu. More information on the Bandcamp page. These 45s are a must for any fan of serious roots music.
 

Rominal feat. Xana Romeo / Addis Pablo - His Blessings / Blessings Melodica 7" (Taitu)(2025 pressing)

From the Taitu Bandcamp page: "The ever-tough "Live In Love" riddim of Hugh Mundell and Augustus Pablo fame rides again with a vocal from the Romeo siblings, Melodica cut by Addis Pablo"  Mafia and Fluxy, Bubbler, and Mikey Chung on the riddim. From 2015(?)

Great release from Amanda at Taitu. Taitu releases prime roots music. You should get this. Check out Taitu Records on Bandcamp. 

Thee Sacred Souls - Running Away/Loves Comes Easy 7" (Penrose)(2023)

 

Thee Sacred Souls are world class in the new soul scene. Running Away is an uptempo song with sweet vocals on top. Love the sharp back-up vocals. The B side is a slow burn soul lament of the old school type. Great single. From 2023. Listen to Love Comes Easy is here

Fred/Instrumental Band - Love Can Last Forever/Love Can Last Forever 7" (Stylart Records)(2020)

 

Slow burn soul release on the Stylart label.  New soul music from Fred. Nice horn chart. B side is an instrumental version of the same song. Here is a taste of the vocal side. This is my first purchase of 45s from the Timmion label out of Helsinki, Finland. More to come!