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

from bluescritic.com

I should probably get the Ms. Jody one

1 NEW My Story Sir Charles Jones Mardi Gras
2 NEW Keepin' It Real Jeff Floyd Wilbe
3 NEW Transformation Wilson Meadows M & M/Brimstone
4 NEW I'm A Bluesman's Daughter** Sheba Potts-Wright Ecko
5 2 Your Love Is A Bad Habit Reggie P Rude Boy
6 NEW Southern Soul & Party Blues Vol. 1** Various Artists CDS
7 NEW Still Standing The Soul Children JEA Music
8 11 Love Chronicles Archie Love JEA/Loveland
9 5 Time Served Omar Cunningham Soul 1st
10 3 My Tyme Willie Clayton Malaco
11 2 Bigg Robb Presents: Blues Soul & Old School Various Artists Over 25 Sound
12 NEW The Don Of The Blues Chick Willis CDS
13 4 You're The Best Kenne' Wayne Good Time
14 6 I Never Take A Day Off Ms. Jody Ecko
15 NEW Voicemail Mr Sam MiLaja
16 8 I'm A Woman Nellie "Tiger" Travis CDS
17 13 Back 'Atcha Latimore LatStone
18 12 Shot From The Soul Lee "Shot" Williams CDS
19 18 You Still Got It Floyd Taylor Malaco
20 21 Man Up Stan Mosley CDS
21 7 Return Of The Legend Rue Davis Boom Town
22 9 Don't Hate Big Cynthia Hearon
23 10 Lay It Down Al Green Blue Note
24 NEW Handle Your Business Sweet Angel Ecko
25 15 Bruce Billups Southern Soul Mix CD RE-LOADED Various Artists Make Cents

Just discovered that Chick Willis of Stoop Down, Baby fame is at Lamont's in Pomonkey, Maryland. I like him.

Heard a nice Lee Shot Williams track and a Miss Jody number. I love this stuff.

So Bettye Lavette's gonna be at the Bluebird Fest at PG Community College on Sunday. The Holmes Brothers are gonna be there also. This is different than her usual locales for her DC area appearances (this one is less upscale).

Sheeba Potts Wright-"Slow Roll It"

http://www.nme.com/video/id/ldc3MYlMgsw/search/sheba

That should be "Sheba." She's from Mississippi and is on Ecko. "Slow Roll It' is a cover that she did in 2001. I also like her "Bluesman's Daughter' from her latest cd, plus "Private Fishing Hole," and "Whaere's the Party At."

Her father is a performer also--Dr. Feelgood Potts

I think both Sir Charles Jones and Lee Shot Williams have songs out called "It's Friday". I gotta figure out which is the one I heard and liked.

Other current faves of mine include Mr. David "Fatback and Collard Greens," and Carl Simms "I Like This Place."

Is that Cupid re-doing Shirley Ellis' "The Clapping Song" (from '65)

3, 6, 9
The goose drank wine
The monkey chewed tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat

(Clap Clap)

The Ladies and Gentlemen
About to make you feel alright
I've got the beat to move your feet
Plus I know just what you like

(Clap Clap)

3, 6, 9.

the monkey got choked, they all went to heaven in a little row boat

Heard a few more double-entendre numbers about fishing holes today.

Other stuff--

Singer Lady Mary's having a dinner and show event down at Lamont's in Pomonkey, Maryland tonight. She was good but not great when I saw her there a few years back. Hardway Connection are gonna be there November 1st.

I need to research all those recent songs about fishing holes and write about 'em somewhere. How to do so without sounding tawdry is the question.

Every Wednesday in October, the historical WDIA-AM in Memphis, TN sponsors the world famous "Juke Joint Tour."
Moving away from the traditions of the past, the tour will not travel from club to club this time around. Sam's Town Casino in Tunica, MS. outside Memphis will be the host venue for this year’s tour.
Each Wednesday night numerous Southern Soul artist will perform in front of over 3,000 fans. We know Marvin Sease and Willie Clayton will headline one of the Wednesday nights this month.

Bobby O'Jay told the Chittlin’ Circuit he is excited and pleased with the line up. Each night features a different set of artists. WDIA’s Juanita Burton and Jackie Ward are the main coordinators and they made every effort to make sure each Wednesday night is enjoyable and entertaining. from chitlincircuit.com

http://www.chittlincircuit.com/ Theyve got their own interactive radio thing and more

TOP TEN "BREAKING" SOUTHERN SOUL ALBUMS: OCTOBER 2008

Based on September Sales & Airplay As Compiled By

-----------BLUES CRITIC----------

1. Who's Got The Power-----------Marvin Sease (Malaco)
CD

2. Me Loving You---------------Mr. David (Waldoxy)
CD

3. Remix Album----------------Team Airplay All Stars (Team Airplay)

4. My Story-----------------Sir Charles Jones (Mardi Gras)
CD

5. Transformation-------------Wilson Meadows (M & M)
CD

6. Keepin' It Real-------------------Jeff Floyd (Wilbe)

7. Still Standing-----------------The Soul Children (JEA)

8. Look At What You Gettin'-------------Bobby Rush (Deep Rush)

9. Time Served ---------------------Omar Cunningham (Soul 1st)
Time Served CD

10. I'm A Bluesman's Daughter-----------------Sheba Potts-Wright (Ecko I'm A Bluesman's Daughter CD

Author's Forward: June 30, 2008

It's too early to etch anything in granite, but your Daddy B. Nice has a hunch Chick Willis's single "Obama" ("Tell Me Why You Like Obama")--from his new CD The Don Of The Blues--will captivate Southern Soul and chitlin' circuit blues deejays the same way Robert "Dr. Feelgood" Potts' "My In-Laws (Ain't Nothin' But Outlaws)" did over the past six months.

(Bulletin: "Obama" by Chick Willis is the #3-ranked song on Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "Breaking" Southern Soul Singles chart for July 2008.)

It's ok.

Listening to the Lee Shot Williams "Nothing but Party Blues" track from 2005 now. Very nice. The Gator is playing some good stuff on Wpfw right now. You can listen online.

/

That's right! We are pleased to announce that Otis Clay has agreed to join us on November 15th! In what promises to be the Soul event of the season, Otis will return to Memphis and join with old friends Hi Rhythm to pay tribute to our man O.V. Wright. This rare and intimate club appearance (his first with Hi Rhythm in over 15 years!) promises to be the talk of the town, and tickets will be going fast! I wanna fly to Memphis for this
http://www.ovwright.org/

WDIA AM radio out of Memphis "America's Original Black Station" is streaming some great stuff now. Willie Clayton "Wiggle"---2 steps to the front, two steps to the back, now wiggle in the middle"

Was reading somewhere about Chitlin circuit songwriting teams that Ecko use and have had the most success. I need to post about it later when I find it again.

Heard lots of nice stuff streaming on WDIA Sunday. Good ol' Millie Jackson of course.

Awww man, while I'm doing a family Chanukah party December 27th, Sir Charles Jones is gonna be at Lamonts in Pomonkey, Maryland not that far away from where I'll be.

I know there are UK soul fanatics but there don't seem to be too many on ILX and the ones that are don't seem to be interested in a thread with Chitlin in the title. La Dee Dah. As you were.

Damn this Ms. Jody song I'm hearing now on WPFW (89.3 and online)is great--It's a dance song--"we were getting down in the club, doing the Ms. Jody thing" I love her voice and the synth beat is better than the standard Ecko type that soul fanatics sneer at.

Now he's playing a male vocalist singing "This party is a mutha y'all" with some line about booties in his face...

Big Bootie Betty

That's OB Buchanan drawling about Big Bootie Betty in his song "This Party is a Mutha Y'll" and I'm not sure what the Ms. Jody song is called.

Listened to the Ms. Jody album. It's great

It's a cd of the year even if you don't see it on any best of list except mine. If you like Denise Lasalle you should like Ms. Jody. Yes it's on Ecko, but the standard Ecko synth work is not annoying here

The thread title now correctly spells Ealey's name. Thanks moderator

Gonna miss Sir Charles Jones Saturday night at Lamonts in Pomonkey because of our family Chanukah party. I bet my blurb(revised by the editor a bit, grrrr) for it at dcist.com will inspire thousands to check it out. Ha. Lamonts still does not have a website.

Miss Jody cd is still sounding great. I just can't get the Ecko label production haters to give her a chance

http://bluescritic.com/SSVoting2008.htm

bluescritic.com southern soul voting poll

CHOOSE One From Each Category

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST Southern Soul, Rhythm & Blues Album

WHO'S GOT THE POWER Marvin Sease
MAN UP Stan Mosley
TIME SERVED Omar Cunningham
I'M A BLUESMAN'S DAUGHTER Sheba Potts-Wright
I'M A WOMAN Nellie 'Tiger' Travis
MY STORY Sir Charles Jones
KEEPIN' IT REAL Jeff Floyd
TRANSFORMATION Wilson Meadows
SWEET SEXY SOUL Will Easley
I NEVER TAKE A DAY OFF Ms. Jody
LOVE IS A BAD HABIT Reggie P
RETURN OF THE LEGEND Rue Davis
YOU'RE THE BEST Kenne' Wayne
LOVE CHRONICLES Archie Love
THE UPRISING Clarence Dobbins
STILL STANDING The Soul Children
SOUTHERN SOUL COUNTRY BOY O.B. Buchana

Southern Soul Blues Song Of The Year

A WOMAN KNOWS Willie Clayton
IT'S FRIDAY (TIME TO GET PAID) Lee 'Shot' Williams
I'M COMING COME Marvin Sease
FIRE Lebrado
ENERGIZER BUNNY Ms Jody
LOCK MY DOOR Jeff Floyd
MY LIFE Omar Cunningham
WHEN YOU PACK YOUR BAGS Vick Allen
I LIKE THIS PLACE Carl Sims
OLDER WOMAN YOUNGER MAN Pat Cooley
I'M A WOMAN Nellie 'Tiger' Travis
STUCK The Rhythm All Stars
OBAMA Chick Willis
POPCORN MAN Patrick Green
DA TWIST Team Airplay All Stars

Alas my little preview item of Sir Charles Jones at Lamonts Saturday 12-27 was the only online mention of the event I could find (other than my posting here). As I was busy with a Chanukah party I did not make it and found no reviews of it anywhere. Sad. Guy can sing.

My edited preview item was at dcist.com (Editor substituted the word "sluts")

Not exactly chitlin circuit soul, but Skip Mahoney & the Casuals, and the Jewels (all female group that once toured with James Brown and had a minor '60s hit with "Opportunity Knocks") will be at the Chateau in DC inauguration weekend (the 17th I think) while the Delphonics will be doing a gig with Memphis Gold and others at a Crystal City hotel (forgot the name) on MLK day, the 19th.

Lots going on in the area over that time period, if you can afford it. I wonder if Lamont's is doing anything special?

The Blues is Alright Tour 2009 all across the US of A in February and March...well mostly the South with all of my and your faves

http://www.heritageentertainments.com/

I think I will be able to see the DC area show at the Showplace Arena. Should be great.

Heard the Gator on WPFW play a raunchy fun number by Lee Shot Williams today, among other nice cuts

Lee's song-"Everything I like to Eat Starts with a 'P'"

pasta, pecans, you know...

Southern Soul Top 20 Countdown 2-28-09

1.1. The Beauty Shop Omar Cunningham
2.2. I Cant Stand The Rain Willie Clayton
3.3. Man Enough Karen Wolfe
4.6.Gone on Marvin Sease
5.5. What If He Knew Floyd Taylor
6.12.Keep A Light In The Window William Bell
7.4. One Night Stand Andre Lee
8.10. Soul Clap TK Soul
9.8. Another Kind Of Fool Bobby Rush
10.7. Wash Your Hands Lola
11.8. Starlight Diamond Kenny Neal
12.14. The Recipe Bigg Robb
13.13. Slippin and Hidin Willie Hill
14.9. Just Because Hes Good to you O.B. Buchana
15.14. Cheat On You Bobbye
16.* Look Good For You Carl Marshall
17.15. I'm Gonna Party L.J. Echols
18.12. Sang No More Calvin Richardson featuring Omar Cunningham
19.16. Woman Nellie Tiger Travis
20.18. Lock My Door Jeff Floyd

I gotta recruit someone else to post on here also...

Some of this stuff is great, really. As good as autogoon rap, School of 7 Bells, mambo merengue, Berlin techno, out-there jazz, Jazmine Sullivan, Nigerian reissues, Dennis Wilson outtakes, or whatever it is you're listening to.

As good as autogoon rap, School of 7 Bells...

Ha! I actually read this thread religiously, just don't have much to contribute as my local public radio show that used to play a bunch of this stuff no longer exists, and the artists NEVER tour here (Minneapolis.)

At least someone's reading it. I was looking at the tour schedule for that latest tour, and I see a Philly show as the farthest one North (no New York City !) and while it goes over to Texas it's via a Southern route. Amazing.

Now I know some folks years ago used to snear at the cheesy synth sound on Malaco and Ecko label releases, but I think the keyboards they're using now are sounding better these days.

Just discovered that the big soul tour is promoted by North American Entertainment, a company based in Connecticut (although they never book music there or in nearby NYC). They also promote 'urban' plays...Tyer Perry kind a stuff.

Tyler (spelling)

Mel Waiters' Throwback Days cd from a few years back is great. Was listening to it last night. Some of the lyrics go beyond the genre's cliches, and the melodies and instrumentation do as well. I think he does an online radio dj thing once a week too. I need to check that out some time. I'm planning on going to see him Friday night in Upper Marlboro.

Could you make a top ten of your fave Chitlin Circuit soul singles/albums, curmudgeon, please?

I'll try. Me, Chuck Eddy, Christgau and I think maybe Matos and the late Rickey Wright all voted for the 2007 Motel Lovers comp in the January or February '08 published critics polls (Voice and/or Idolator). That's a nice survey of recent songs in the genre.

Well, right, I have that one. But you're clearly so knowledgeable about the genre (or subgenre or whatever) that I'd love to hear, e.g., what YOU would do if Trikont entrusted you with Motel Lovers (or something akin to it). No biggie if you can't, though. (xhuxk, top ten away too if so inclined).

Oh, thanks. Will do. Mostly off the top of my head I love Ms. Jody's I Never Take a Day Off album from last year, Mel Waiters-Throwback Days from a few years ago, Denise Lasalle-Pay Before You Pump album, and a Barbara Carr best-of on Ecko. I have heard great songs by Sir Charles Jones, OB Buchana, Theotis Ealey, Willie Clayton, and Lee Shot Williams.

I gotta go write a blog post for my local alt-weekly on Mel Waiters and the show coming up on Friday...