More Timmion Records 45s: Jonny Benavidez - Let's Get Together and Thee Baby Cuffs - My My My Baby

 

My exploration of the Timmion Records catalog continues with two more great 45s from the label. Thee Baby Cuffs with My My My Baby further shows that Timmion Records puts out consistently great output. This release is from 2019 and has a great classic Chicano soul sound. The Jonny Benavidez 45 is no slouch either with Let's Get Together. Jonny was born in El Paso but grew up in San Diego (my home town!).  Both of these should be in your soul box. This is from 2018. 

Ernie Hawks 7" 45s on Timmion Records - The Scorpio Walk and Cold Turkey Time

Don't know much about Ernie Hawks but here are two great 45s from him on Timmion Records. Both 45s were released in 2018. Solid soul music with stellar backing by the Soul Investigators. The Scorpio Walk and Cold Turkey Time are both worth your time. 

Pratt & Moody 7" 45s on Timmion Records "Lost Lost Lost" and "Words Words Words"

 

Two stellar 45s from Pratt and Moody on Timmion Records out of Finland. Superb music that makes me want to listen to all their releases. Lost Lost Lost came out in 2017, while Words Words Words came out in 2018. Worth getting. If you like modern soul that brings back memories of classic soul music from earlier times, then this is for you.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Don't Want To Lose You/Don't Give A Friend A Number (From A Man Like You)(Daptone 7")(2024)

 

The late great Sharon Jones backed up by the mighty Dap Kings with a stunner! This is the type of music that made me explore the new soul scene. Again, the A side and B side are superb. Check out the B side here. A must! Great release from 2024.

Monophonics - Warpaint/Crash and Burn (Colemine 7")(2023)

 

Great release from Monophonics. Soulful but with a tinge of psychedelic. I only have a couple of singles so far but I need to find their albums. Excellent release. Check out Crash and Burn. A side and B side are equally good. 

Menahan Street Band - There's A New Day Coming/Tommy Don't 7" (Dunham Records)(2019)

 

Menahan Street Band with another great release but it is way too short! It left me wanting more. Check out There's A New Day Coming. Top shelf. This is released in conjunction with Daptone Records. So, you know it is good. B side is good as well.

Thee Illusions - Baby Don't (Waste My Time)/Will You Love My Child 7" (Black Bird Records)(2022)

 

Thee Illusions with a solid release. Not as catchy as I hoped but worth exploring more. The B side, Will You Love My Child is the better side. Need to explore this label more.

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.

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!

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!

Various - Bad Education - Vol. 1: Soul Hits of Timmion Records (2019)(Timmion Records)(CD)

 

Timmion Records is a soul/funk label based out of Helsinki, Finland. This is a compilation of some music that is on that label. If you like your soul music with a 60s and 70s vibe, then go find this release. If you are familiar with Daptone Records and or Penrose Records, then this release will suit you. Top notch, new-soul. Check out. Willie West - I'm A Still A Man. No, this is not in Finnish. This plain old soul music. : )

Various - Crown Jewels Vol. 1(Big Crown Records)(2019)(LP)

 

The first Big Crown Records compilation. Mostly known for their great 7" 45 rpm soul releases, Big Crown has collected a few of them on this great compilation. Not all of it is soul music, but this release is smooth. A joy of a listen. Lots of highlights on this LP. But for me the song that caught my ear immediately, Lady Wray - Guilty. If you like this, you will enjoy the rest as well. 

Thee Sacred Souls - Lucid Girl/Losing Side of Love - 7" 45 rpm - (Penrose) 2024

 

Thee Sacred Souls with another banger of pure soul music. Another release that reeks of 60s or early 70s soul music. Yet, this is a 2024 release. If you do not believe me then listen to Lucid Girl. The B side is hypnotic and worthy of your attention. This should be in your collection.

Thee Sinseers - Sinceerly Yours (2024) Colemine Records (CLMN 12030LP) CD digi-pack

 

Over the last few years I have been trying to catch up with the 'new soul' or 'retro-soul' music that has been emerging in the U.S.  Colemine Records has been one of the strongest labels releasing this type of music. Daptone Records and Penrose Records pretty much dedicate themselves to releasing new soul music that really sounds "old". As a perfect example, consider this release by Thee Sinseers. When you play this you are going to think that it came right from the '60s. Actually, when you play this album you are going to be transported to East LA, cruisin' in a low-rider, holding hands with your girl, doing a one-hand lean on the steering wheel, and blastin' sweet soul music out of your car speakers as you ride down Hawthorne Ave. The songs on this album could easily fit on any of the early East Side Story comps you enjoyed all those years ago. 

The production is flawless. The horn charts are sharp. The melodies are to die for, and the feelings expressed by the songs are real. Vocals are shared by many but the songs sung by Adriana Flores are especially beautiful. Check out It's Such A Shame.  

  If you like soul music of any era but especially the sweet soul music of the 60s and 70s, this is a must purchase. Go get it!

Various Artists - Soul Slabs Vol. 1 (Colemine Records) (LP, 2017)

 

I have always like old soul music. I have been a fan of 60ts and 70ts soul. Within the last year, largely due to be being indoors due to Covid, I have discovered a few current labels and artists that have a passion for this music. Colemine Records out of Ohio is one such label that has been putting out modern soul with a vintage vibe. I have been trying to get my hands on some of their 7'' releases. For example, see that gorgeous cover and look at what is out there to get your hands on!  However, if you do not have the time or the inclination to search for 45s, then picking up the first volume of this label is a must. The music on this 2 LP set is top-notch and it will give a great introduction to some of the music that is being made today. At the very least, buying this album will give you a wonderful shopping list for the future. Here is a taste.

The Rugged Nuggets - Yo Todo Tu Yo