Chitlin Circuit Double-entendre -filled Soul 2004 (and onward) Theodis Ealey's "Stand Up In It" is a song of the year

Nellie Tiger Travis "Hey Mr Sexy Man" is lodged in my head and I keep repeating it

That solo Jerry Lawson with alt-country band album is growing on me. Lawson was also on that tv show Sing-Off after he left the Persuasions

Denise Lasalle turns 76 today.

I gotta catch up with Big Daddy Nice's fave songs

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2015.cfm

plus this Louisiana southern soul comp he likes:

VARIOUS ARTISTS: BEAT FLIPPA, I Got the Blues, Vol.1 (Music Access/Ross Music)

Five Stars ***** Can't Miss. Pure Southern Soul Heaven.

Lotsa cuts by Pokey, but Cupid (whose music I have heard) is on it too.

Read on FB that great southern soul singer Roy C. had a heart attack. Hope he's gonna be ok

He's doing better!

Saved by the bell!

Big southern soul shows near me at arenas always seem to get cancelled at the last minute, but it looks like the Millie Jackson, Clarence Carter, Latimore, Nellie Tiger Travis one is gonna happen at Showplace Arena Saturday night

Been digging some Carl Sims

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YITNOFZleo

and this Wilson Meadows is my '15 summer jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iBlIiGKQpw

Just saw Wilson Meadows live, as he and his band substituted for Roy C on the bill with Millie Jackson, Clarence Carter, Latimore,& Nellie Tiger Travis. He was pretty good. Millie was foul-mouthed, soulful, and exciting with a big talented band. Clarence Carter did his hits fairly well, although he is getting old and starting to lose some of his vocal range and power. Latimore was uneven--hitting notes nicely at times, but on some songs he was too busy noodling indulgently on his keyboard.

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/bernie/article_707e9226-3587-11e5-8890-57b1c19ae033.html

Old-school soul in St Louis tonight; plus they are honoring veteran radio djs

Some members of The Yahoo old-school Southern soul email group are excited about the below Are Records comp:

Back To The River: More Southern Soul Stories 1961-1978 Various Artists (A Southern Soul Story)

I haven't heard it yet

Ace Records not Are

Mobile, Alabama radio station list

WDLT's All Blues Saturday show with Nikki deMarks, Stormy, and Cathe B is awesome and worth listening to each week!!

1. Sweet It Be - Wilson Meadows
2. Let's Party - Lebrado
3. I Will - J-Redd featuring Black Diamond
4. Touch Your Spot - Tucka
5. I Ain't Gone Lie This Time - Ms. Jody
6. Mr. Wrong - Lacee
7. Groove It How You Move It - Veronica Ra'elle ft Tyree Neal
8. My Sidepiece - Louisiana Blues Brothers
9. One Big Party - Solomon Thompson
10. Blues & BBQ - Bigg Robb featuring Denise LaSalle

A few of those are on this playlist I just put together last week:

http://www.rhapsody.com/blog/post/southern-soul-blues-summer-2015

My favorites so far; more or less this order:

Lady Ebony – Food Stamps
D. Saunders – Leave Your Loving With Me
Big Cynthia – I’m Here For You Baby
Charles Wilson – Good Ole Monday
Calvin Richardson – Dark Side Of Love
Jaye Hammer feat. Donnie Ray – Is She Waiting On You?
Jeter Jones – Cold Pepsi
Willie Hill – I Gotta Get My Groove On
Stevie J Blues – Another Jody Song
Veronica Raelle feat. Adrian Bagher – Let’s Do It
Louisiana Soul Brothers feat. Pokey and Major Clark Jr. – My Sidepiece
Carl Marshall – Cheating Town

The new Ms. Jody album has some impressive melodies and grooves. I still have to catch up on most of the rest listed there

movie doc "Syl Johnson: Any Way The Wind Blows" to world premiere at Chicago International Film Festival

For some reason, Yo La Tengo was hired to do the score for this effort about that Chicago soul singer.

I'm liking the Louisiana Blues Brothers

Forgot to mention that Millie Jackson in addition to doing a country cover, also did Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/09/15/440363012/a-rational-conversation-do-we-need-new-old-soul-music

Sigh...Another writer who seems to have never heard of the synths and cheating lyric southern soul discussed in this thread

I think current chitlin circuit southern soul artists with their use of keyboards and synths are more modern than say old country singers at Branson. But Scott S's theory is nonetheless interesting

Saw Hardway Connection yesterday and they have added a conga percussionist. Sounded great. "Southern soul Rompin'"

I have so much catching up to do. Haven't even been reading Big Daddy Nice's updates,let alone listening online to radio stations that play this stuff.

from the Boogie Report:

It Is With Deep Regret That We Report The Passing Of 'James Hot Dog Lewis " Who Past In His Sleep Thursday Night At his Jackson Mississippi Home.

Hot Dog ,An Outstanding Session Musician has played with almost everybody in the Southern Soul Blues Genre

Bluesman Zac Harmon Posted On His Facebook Page

"I just want to pay tribute to one of the most incredible musicians that I have every known that went to be with God today. James Lewis better known as "Hot Dog" was a part of the Jackson music scene when music was everywhere and the clubs were hot. I first met Hot Dog playing with the Mid South Soul Revue then LSD. It was never a surprise to see Hot Dog performing on various instruments cause he was just as good on drums, keys, and horns. He later played with Sho Nuff, Wyndchymes, Bobby Rush, and was a longtime member of the Mo Money Band. He will really be missed. RIP Dog!"

Preston Lauterbach, who wrote the great book on the history of the old-school Chitlin Circuit, is doing some book tour dates for his latest book on the history of Beale Street in Memphis. He's gonna be at Busboys & Poets in DC Nov. 23rd. I saw him interview Memphis drummer Howard Grimes at the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans. He knows his Memphis stuff

Not exactly the circuit, but...

New Orleans Dj Soul Sister is posting on Instagram that guitarist Marlo Henderson who played with Patti Labelle,Minnie Ripperton, Teena Marie, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and many more, has passed away.

http://marlohenderson.com/about_marlo

Jeff Floyd has such a great gritty southern soul voice.

Am excited that I can hopefully see him (Jeff Floyd) Friday night with J. Red (the nephew) and the Hardway Connection at Lamont's in Pomonkey.

J. Red who has some good tunes too (more line dance r'n'b funky with a less bluesy-soulful voice)is Theotis Ealey's nephew

It was a fun gig. Hardway were great. Jeff Floyd and J. Red both sang over tracks (promoter couldn't afford to bring their bands) but they both sounded great--especially Jeff Floyd.

I'm still behind in listening to 2015 southern soul releases

I'm a dilettante in this style and really only follow Daddy B Nice's page, but was quite pleased with "Blues Mix 17 Dirty Soul Blues" a couple months back.

Will add that comp to my list...

Been listening to Johnny Rawls, Mississippi singer/guitarist who once led O.V. Wright's band. His sound is kinda like O.V.'s. Dude has been quietly putting out albums every few years since the 90s and touring the US and Europe constantly. He's got that gritty but passionate & melodic vocal style I love

Gonna see Rawls tonight. Still woefully behind in listening to Daddy B Nice suggestions on his blog, or in listening to online southern soul radio programs.

How was it?

Its later tonight. He was in a little Falls Church, VA bar last night but I didn't go. He won't have a horn section I don't think, and is touring with his own bass player but adding local guitarist and drummer who have been giving practice music lists and such...

given

Rawls played a bunch of funk covers at the gig I went to--Parliament, Ohio Players... Not too much of his own stuff. Well known soul and blues songs too. He apparently chose more obscure soul and blues covers on his gig the night before (plus more of his own songs). I think he gauges the audience and decides from there.

"Blues Mix 17 Dirty Soul Blues" a

SOme great tunes here by Denise Lasalle, Ms Jody and others

Ms. Jody's 2015 album is great

It is, really. Soulful and a few of the lyrics go beyond cliches.

It should sweep the Pazz & Jop poll and the ilx one....

More traditional soul from the south, but still relevant here-- RIP Otis Clay

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/obituaries/2016/01/09/Soul-legend-Otis-Clay-dies-at-73/stories/201601090143

Mr. Clay, a 2013 inductee to the Blues Hall of Fame, grew up in the '40s in the small Mississippi town of Waxhaw, singing in church and hearing blues and soul on the radio.

In the late '50s he sang in Chicago gospel groups, and in 1962 split off with his first secular soul songs. He had his first R&B hit in 1967 with "That's How It Is (When You're in Love)" and a pop hit in 1968 with a cover of Sir Douglas Quintet's "She's About a Mover."

In 1972, he moved to Hi Records (home of Al Green) and released "Trying to Live My Life Without You," produced by Willie Mitchell, the man behind the Green hits. The song later became a No. 5 hit for Bob Seger.

Those early albums made him a popular touring attraction in Europe and Japan, where he recorded a number of live albums. He was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

In recent years, he recorded for Bullseye Blues and he recorded a gospel album in 2007 called “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.”

― curmudgeon, Saturday, January 9, 2016 4:40 PM (0 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Voice pazz n jop critics poll is out and it doesn't look like Daddy B Nice voted this year. :(

Xchuckx voted for a Lady Ebony track, and I voted for a Ms Jody album. Haven't noticed any other southern soul. And no I am not counting retro Leon Bridges who got 29 album votes. Jazmine Sullivan got 18 album votes and Dawn Richard got 23.

RnB gets no respect per usual...

Great r'n'b songwriter as well as proto-rapper

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/clarence-reid-r-b-singer-known-as-blowfly-dead-at-76-20160117

As one of the main songwriters for Miami label TK Records, Reid penned a string of songs in the Sixties and Seventies for numerous soul and funk artists, including Gwen McCrae's "Rocking Chair" and Betty Wright's "Clean Up Woman." He also wrote tracks for KC & The Sunshine Band, Sam & Dave and Bobby Byrd before giving birth to Blowfly, his outlet for performing comedic, explicit songs that over the years traversed the genres of soul, R&B and hip-hop; Blowfly is considered one of the earliest rappers. "He laid the foundation for hip-hop with 'Shake Your Ass' and 'Rap Dirty'

Odds and ends--

Not much twitter or Instagram action for southern soul.

I need to find out why Daddy B Nice didn't submit an end of year ballot to the Voice critics poll this year.

But he did post this on his blog:

Best Mid-Tempo Song:
Top Contenders:

"If You're Sexy, Clap Your Hands"----T.K. Soul, Nathaniel Kimble
"Back-Doored By A Man Called Jody"----Donnell Sullivan
"B.O.B. (Battery Operated Boyfriend)"----Karen Wolfe
"I Feel Good"----Urban Mystic
"You've Got To Be A Freaker"----Miz B.
"Good Good"----Bigg Robb
"I'm Gone"----Columbus Toy
"She's Dragging That Wagon"----L.J. Echols
"My Sidepiece"----Louisiana Blues Brothers featuring Pokey
"Can I Touch Your Spot"----Tucka
"Rock Me, Baby"----Willie Clayton
"Do You Like To Party?"----Heart 2 Heart Band
"Hell Naw To The Naw Naw"----Bishop Bullwinkle
"Step Out"----J. Red
"The Guitar Song"----LaMorris Williams
"If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It"----Pokey
"Much Right Man"----Billy "Soul" Bonds
"I Can't Eat"----Certified Slim
"Hoe Digger"----Lacee
"I'll Be The Other Man"----Tyree Neal
"Cold Pepsi (And A Hot Man)"----Jeter Jones
"Chasing The Wind"----Jesse Robinson
"Let's Party"----Lebrado
"It's Party Time"----Val McKnight
"I Ain't Leaving Mississippi"----Jaye Hammer
"Certified Lady Lover"----Chris Ivy
"Big Leg Woman"----L.J. Echols, Luster Baker
"Make That Body Rock"----Terry Wright
"Ohhh Baby (She Got Them Tight Jeans On)"----Till 1

Best Fast Song/ Club Jam:
Top Contenders:

"It's Time To Party"----Solomon Thompson
"Cowgirl"----Big Yayo, J'Wonn
"Hold It And Roll It"----Donnie Ray
"Put It On Ya"----Mr. David
"Dark Side Of Love"----Calvin Richardson
"Shake It"----Steve Perry
"I'm On Fire"----J.B. Hendricks, Cupid
"T.G.I.F. (Thank God It's Friday)"----Pokey, Adrian Bagher, Vince Hutchinson
"Let's Hear It For The DeeJay"----Jaye Hammer
"Good Foot"----Pokey
"One Big Party"----Solomon Thompson

Best Ballad:
Top Contenders:

"By Myself"----Alvin Garrett, Ruben Studdard
"I'm That Man"----Andre' Lee
"I Need A Grown Woman"----J'Wonn
"When We're Making Love"----Mr. X
"Taking Care Of Business"----Stephanie McDee
"Please Let Me Hold You"----Lomax
"Wasted"----Avail Hollywood
"The Remix"----Big Yayo
"What If I?"----Katrenia Jefferson
"(My Love Don't) Expire"----Sir Charles Jones
"Some Preachers"----Bishop Bullwinkle
"V.I.P."----Mr. Sipp
"I'm The Right Man"----Jaye Hammer
"Karma (She'll Take Care Of You)"----Jureesa "The Duchess" McBride

Best Song By Longtime Veteran:
Top Contenders:

"Try Me"----El' Willie
"Every Time My Neighbor Walks His Dog (My Wife Has To Walk Her Cat)"----Billy "Soul" Bonds
"I'm So Blue"----Willie Clayton
"Grown Folks Business"----Denise LaSalle
"This Must Be A Cheating Town"----Carl Marshall
"Shake It"----Steve Perry
"Rock Me, Baby"----Willie Clayton
"Never Had It So Good"----Bobby Conerly
"From The Inside"----Jo Jo Murray
"Your Wife Is My Woman"----Stan Mosley
"Plus Size Woman"----Booker Brown
"Mississippi Delta"----Theodis Ealey
"Let's Party Tonight"----Sorrento Ussery
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"----Robert "The Duke" Tillman
"Come And Go With Me"----Simone De
"Big Hip Woman"----Rue Davis

Best Female Vocalist:
Top Contenders:

"I Want Your Body"----Mz. Pat
"Big Boy Stuff"----Sheba Potts-Wright
"B.O.B."----Karen Wolfe
"Lady Soul Slide"----Lady Soul
"You've Got To Be A Freaker"----Miz. B
"Taking Care Of Business"----Stephanie McDee
"What If I?"----Katrenia Jefferson
"The Best You Ever Had"----Roslyn Candy, Veronica Ra'elle
"Hoe Digger"----Lacee
"It's Party Time"----Val McKnight
"New Pair Of Shoes"----Angel Faye Russell
"Karma"----Jureesa McBride
"Man Gone Do"----Adrena

Best Male Vocalist:
Top Contenders:

"Wasted"----Avail Hollywood
"Stick To Your Drink"----Mel Waiters
"Sweet It Be"----Wilson Meadows
"I'm Gone"----Columbus Toy
"I Need A Grown Woman"----J'Wonn
"Back-Doored"----Donnell Sullivan
"Hold It And Roll It"----Donnie Ray
"What's Your Flavor"----Tucka
"When It's Good"----Certified Slim
"My Sidepiece"----Pokey
"Can I Touch Your Spot?"----Tucka
"Hell Naw To The Naw Naw"----Bishop Bullwinkle
"Step Out"----J. Red
"The Guitar Song"----LaMorris Williams
"Thank God It's Friday"----Pokey, Vince Hutchinson, Adrian Bagher
"If You're Sexy, Clap Your Hands"----T.K. Soul, Nathaniel Kimble
"Chasing The Wind"----Jesse Robinson, Doug & Melvyn Williams
"By Myself"----Alvin Garrett, Ruben Studdard
"Let's Party"----Lebrado
"Your Man Is Home Tonight"----Willie Clayton
"Rock Me, Baby"----Willie Clayton
"From The Inside"----Jo Jo Murray
"I'm That Man"----Andre' Lee
"Certified Lady Lover"----Chris Ivy
"Knock Down Inn"----Lomax
"Big Leg Woman"----L.J. Echols, Luster Baker
"I'm The Right Man"----Jaye Hammer
"I Ain't Leaving Mississippi"----Jaye Hammer
"You're Just Standing In A Good Man's Way"----Terry Wright

Best Debut:
Top Contenders:

"Lady Soul Slide"----Lady Soul
"It's Time To Party"----Solomon Thompson
"Move Your Body (Zydeco Mix)----Greg Watson
"Cowgirl"----Big Yayo
"That's My Boo"----Luster Baker (Mr. Juicy)
"Swinging"----Zeke Potter
"People Get Ready"----Dolores The Exquisite Songbird
"Jelly Roll"----Lady Ebony
"Southern Girl"----Doctor Dee
"Swoohl Up"----Shohn Marshall
"Love Don't Owe Me Nothing"----Lady Di
"Dance Tonight"----Blackwater R&B Band
"Hell Naw To The Naw Naw"----Bishop Bullwinkle
"Mississippi Blues Child"----Mr. Sipp
"I Want Your Body"----Mz. Pat
"My Sidepiece Reply"----Veronica Ra'elle, Ms. Portia (w/ Lacee)
"Groove It While You Move It"----Veronica Ra'elle
"Operator"----C-Wright (w/ Tucka)
"One Big Party"----Solomon Thompson
"Ohhh Baby"----Till 1
"Leave Your Loving With Me"----D. Saunders
"A Man Who Understands"----Clayton Knight
"I'm Gonna Leave My Ego At Your Door"----Eddie Cotton
"Candy Lover"----Mys Niki
"He Put A Rocking Chair On Me"----Leaundra Lively

Best Collaboration:
Top Contenders:

"Everybody Ain't Cheating"----Sir Charles Jones, Lacee
"Cowgirl"----Big Yayo, J'Wonn, T-Baby
"My Sidepiece Reply"----Veronica Ra'elle, Ms. Portia, Lacee
"If You're Sexy Clap Your Hands"----T.K. Soul, Nathaniel Kimble
"That's Messy"----Cupid, J. Paul Jr., Messie Cee
"I'm On Fire"----J.B. Hendricks, Cupid
"Thank God It's Friday (T.G.I.F.)"----Pokey, Vince Hutchinson, Adrian Bagher
"Blues And Barbeque"----Bigg Robb, Denise LaSalle
"Let's Do It"----Adrian Bagher, Veronica Ra'elle, Big Cynthia
"Is She Waiting On You?"----Donnie Ray, Jaye Hammer
"Jigga Jigga"----J'Wonn, Mel Waiters
"If It Ain't The Blues"----Pokey, Cupid
"Operator"----C-Wright, Tucka
"Chasing The Wind"----Jesse Robinson, Doug Williams, Melvyn Williams
"Big Leg Woman"----L.J. Echols, Luster Baker
"By Myself"----Alvin Garrett, Ruben Studdard
"Zydeco With Me"----Jeter Jones, Lil' Jabb
"Mr. Sexy Man (Remix)"----Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Nelson Curry, Joe Nice
"We Do We"---Ves, Kenne' Wayne

Best Out-Of-Left-Field Song:
Top Contenders:

"He Went To Bed With A Woman But Woke Up With A Man"----Billy "Soul" Bonds
"When It's Good"----Certified Slim
"I Owe It All To The Blues"----Carl Marshall
"Hell Naw To The Naw Naw"----Bishop Bullwinkle
"Play Your Position"----Demond Crump
"I'm Gonna Leave My Ego At The Door"----Eddie Cotton
"Tip It Up"----O.B. Buchana
"He Caught Me With The Wrong Drawers On"----Another Mystery Lady
"Let's Hear It For The DeeJay"----Jaye Hammer

Best Blues/Chitlin' Circuit Song:
Top Contenders:

"If He Knew What I Was Thinking"----Ms. Jody
"Older Man Looking For A Young Thang"----Larome Powers
"Bootleg Whiskey"----Grady Champion
"The Right Stuff"----Sheba Potts-Wright
"He Caught Me With The Wrong Drawers On"----Another Mystery Lady
"Another Jody Song"----Stevie J.
"Mississippi Blues Child"----Mr. Sipp
"I Ain't Leaving Mississippi"----Jaye Hammer
"My Sidepiece"----The Louisiana Blues Brothers featuring Pokey
"This Must Be A Cheating Town"----Carl Marshall

Best Cover Song:
Top Contenders:

"Mississippi Boy Part 2"----Charles Wilson, J'Wonn, Big Yayo
"(Impala) The Remix"----Big Yayo
"Try Me"----El' Willie
"This Must Be A Cheating Town"----Carl Marshall
"People Get Ready"----Dolores The Exquisite Songbird
"Your Man Is Home Tonight"----Willie Clayton
"Good Love (Remix)"----Bigg Robb, Mz. Jackson
"My Sidepiece (Reply)"----Veronica Ra'elle, Ms. Portia, Lacee

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2015.cfm

I emailed him and he said the Voice deadline slipped past his mind, and he forgot to contribute a ballot

I saw Hardway Connection again Saturday. A family-friendly matinee show at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum. The short set I saw was as impressive as always, and included more safe soul hits rather than more risqué southern soul ones.