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

I need to hear Omar Cunningham's "I'm Your Maintenance Man"...I like the title

Plus OB Buchana has a new album coming out on Ecko that will likely be good

I assume "Put Your Mouth In The South" on the latest Ecko sampler is from OB's new one. Just another candy-licking song. Also got a Boogie Report email last week about some guy called "Candy Lover" -- flannel shirt open with bare chest beneath; cowboy hat on his head. The hat intrigued me a little I guess, but I'm really getting frustrated by the sonic and lyric saminess of most of this stuff lately --I'm obviously on record as loving the genre, but it just seems so limited to me these days. It's been a while since anything really jumped out from the pack, and I stopped keeping up with Daddy B Nice's page several months ago. I'm sure there's good stuff I missed; just lacking interest and energy lately to dig through tons of generic stuff to find it.

What is that Soul Patrol quote from? Is there a link?

Daddy B Nice quoted it. I guess it is on this site somewhere:

http://www.soul-patrol.com/

Everytime I get bored with the sonic and lyric sameness of southern soul I turn to NPR indie-rock faves like Sharon Van Etten or Alabama Shakes and I shake my head over its just ok-ness, and return to finding the southern soul that stands out (or trying to find it)

Ha, I still haven't heard either of those NPR acts, though I've heard their names a lot in recent weeks. But what you're saying about them is kind of what I assumed, and why I've been avoiding checking them out. But it's not like NPR indie-rock is the only alternative out there, obviously.

Numerous other genres, plus there are the Yahoo Southern Soul group emails where fanatics from both sides of the Atlantic marvel over reissues of soul obscurities, and ocassionally Betty Lavette and Sharon Jones and Eli Paperboy Reed(Reed also chimes in on the emails re various 45s). I have been too busy to check out the reissues and obscure regional faves these folks like.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/despite-the-divide-within-the-national-blues-community-the-nashville-blues-festival-chugs-along/Content?oid=2780715

Ron Wynn re Southern soul's isolation

There were a few good gigs down South recently:

The 2nd annual Valentine’s Blues Show takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. The lineup includes LeBrado, OB Buchana, Jeff Floyd, Falisa Janaye and LaMorris Williams; Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. They’re available through Ticketmaster and at the Coliseum box office. 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi. 228-594-3700, www.mscoastcoliseum.com.

The same night brings the inaugural Pensacola Blues Festival with Jeff Floyd, Ms. Jody, Karen Wolfe, Clarence Carter, Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones and TK Soul to the Pensacola Civic Center. Tickets for the show, which starts at 8 p.m. Feb. 10, range from $32-$48 and are available through Ticketmaster. www.pensacolaciviccenter.com, 850-432-0800.

One day later, the 5th annual Big Easy Blues Festival brings Millie Jackson, Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones, Clarence Carter, Tucka and Jeff Floyd to UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Tickets for the event, which starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, are $45 and $55 and are available through Ticketmaster. 6801 Franklin Ave. in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. For more information, visit arena.uno.edu, e-mail arena✧✧✧@u✧✧.e✧✧ or call 504-280-7222.

I think Roy C. and Jim Bennett are at Lamont's in Pomonkey, MD tonight

But I can't find anything online about it. Southern soul fans do not seem to tweet much

I need to get some new Southern soul (it's got to be as good or better than the new Springsteen and Magnetic Fields songs I have heard)

Still haven't caught up, but I intend to. NPR is not streaming the new OB Buchana and Sasha F-J is not writing about it in the New Yorker

Well, it's not that great, as far as I can tell after a couple listens -- Not nearly as good as his previous one, anyway. Though I do think I like the rather paranoid track "Mind Your Own Business" and the fairly lovely, country-leaning ballad it ends with, "Moon Over Clarksdale." I really wish Southern Soulsters did the country thing more; it almost always works for me when they do. The rest may or may not grow on me.

I still intend to give it a listen.

It's hard for r'n'b in general it seems to crossover, even young contemporary artists:

Miguel thread--

"sure thing" was the #1 song on u.s. urban radio last year and his song w/ wale brings his total of big r&b hits to 4, but he hasn't crossed over to pop audiences at all, even to the moderate extent of trey songz or whoever

― some dude

I interviewed soul/folkie/gospel singer Ruthie Foster and asked her about Southern soul. She said she grew up hearing Malaco stuff from her mom and truck-driving uncle

WCP: Are you familiar at all with southern soul artists on labels like Ecko and Malaco—folks like Miss Jody, Denise Lasalle, Mel Waiters, and O.B. Buchana? What do you think?

RF: I am very familiar with the Malaco music family. I grew up, through my mother’s Zenith console stereo, listening to cuts from Z.Z. Hill, Denise LaSalle, King Floyd, and Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue," as well as the Muscle Shoals influence and connection to that label. My uncle was a truck driver and kept his record collection at our house, so I got a great soul/blues education. This music will always be a part of me, mostly because it reminds me of watching my mother smile and sway while snapping her fingers and singing to them.

Have been catching up, a little. I like these tracks (singles? if he says so) recommended by Daddy B Nice in 2012, more or less in this order:

Avail Hollywood – Domestic Love
Vel Omarr – Everybody’s Dancin’
Carl Marshall - Show Some Sign (New Version)
The Revelations feat. Tre Williams – Until You Get Enough Of Me
TK Soul – We Gonna Party Tonight
Donnie Ray – She Was At The Hideaway
King Loverr – Island Girl

The Revelations album (released last November, I think) is really good as whole, too -- It's kind of amazing that they're based in Brooklyn.

Don't know the Revelations. Will have to investigate

So I thought it would be interesting to visit a few of Southern Soul's most prominent artists and put a representative track from their "classic" phase against a representative track from their recent work, with a few comments to stir the pot.

Is Southern Soul slipping in quality?

Readers are welcome to chime in at:

daddybn✧✧✧@southernsoul✧✧✧.c✧✧

Theodis Ealey
Classic track: "Stand Up In It"

New track: "Slow Grindin'"

Status: Slipping. Since the heart attack, it hasn't been quite the same for Theodis.

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2012.cfm

This screed isn't so much about the artists as it is about the deejays.
The music of the last fifteen years is the backbone--the substance--of 21st Century Southern Soul. Go to it. Remember it. Play it. Don't allow the great Southern Soul music of yesteryear to die from neglect.

In a genre as tender and young and unknown as contemporary Southern Soul, anything produced in the last fifteen years is like yesterday. Since the original classics were heard by so few people, it's important to spread the word about these songs as if they were brand new.

--Daddy B. Nice

P.S. And let's thank the artists for releasing ALL the songs, the favorites and not-so-favorites, giving us fans something to talk about. The world is a better place for having BOTH Floyd Taylor songs

Heard some Southern soul on Saturday WPFW radio, but still have not latest albums and tracks highlighted above. Need to find the time.

Wonder if I'd like retro soul guy Charles Bradley. He's getting attention in indie circles but not Southern soul ones.

He's got a great throwback voice and the Daptone folks do a their standard revivalist soul backing

Saw Bobby Rush at Jazzfest in New Orleans. He has got a tight, well-rehearsed band and he and his booty shaking dancers have their schtick down. A bit one-dimensional, but he has some good songs too.

I read Christgau refer to Irma Thomas as overrated in his piece on Dr. John's special series of shows in NYC. I saw Irma do a spell-binding tribute to Mahalia Jackson at the gospel tent at Jazzfest, and I saw Dr. John another day, plus the good doctor did a song with Springsteen. I think maybe Dr. John might be the overrated one (although I still liked him).

I missed Lee Fields (he was just playing at night at a club in New Orleans but was not at Jazzfest). Brother Tyrone and the Mindbenders were good but not brilliant deep soul. I heard lots of stunning voices at the gospel tent.

Another show missed (busy with family): Saturday's Chick Willis (the Stoop Down Man)gig at Lamont's in Pomonkey, Maryland. Needless to say, there was no review in the Washington Post (or elsewhere online I'd guess)

Not Southern soul--obscure DC soul from DC producer's tapes coming out on hipster Numero label

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2012/05/17/soul-survivor-the-lost-recordings-and-magic-touch-of-robert-hosea-williams/

http://gapplegateguitar.blogspot.com/2011/09/quintus-mccormicks-soul-blues-oui-put.html

likened to Bobby Bland and Little Milton and Johnny Taylor. I need to listen to him.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2012/05/17/i-make-no-claim-of-being-a-soul-artist-a-chat-with-nick-waterhouse/

blue-eyed dude into late 50s and early 60s r'n'b not soul. But has he ever listened to current Souther chitlin circuit sounds?

Southern

Waterhouse is playing a Village Voice sponsored-show I think, but there's not any Southern soul on the bill. Oh well.

Meanwhile down the New Jersey Turnpike and 95 to 495 to Indian Head Highway:

Saturday June 9

Lamont's 22nd Anniversary with Eddie Lavert (Lead singer of the O'Jays) ; Frank Washington (Singer of The Spinners); Captain Frye of the Intruders Review Band; Hardway Connection; B.A.D.D; DJ Wayne/Ultramixx $35.00 (Advance) $40.00 (Gate)
Gates: open 12:00pm, Showtime: 2:00pm in Pomonkey, MD (Indian Head Highway)

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/06/16/2086897/phenix-citys-ralph-soul-jackson.html

Old-school Alabama soul artist returns

grrr, missed DC old-school soul guy Skip Mahoney Saturday night at Lamont's

I'm so out of touch with this scene these days. Bad bad bad

I will need to study this link and listen to the stuff mentioned (you should too)

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2012.cfm

Finally saw Little Royal, longtime obscure Southern soul singer and James Brown imitator. He was at the Westminster Church in DC Blue Monday series for only $5. Alas, he recently had a self-described "mild stroke" and so his voice was not quite what it once was. But his dancing and James Brown-style hair and clothes were awesome and the band was great.

I do not think NPR will have him do a "tiny desk" concert for their website, but they should.

Even my kid hates the standard synth pre-sets on Southern soul. I don't mind 'em. You may hear some next Saturday:

2 pm, Saturday, August 4, 2012. Lamont’s Entertainment Complex, 4400 Livingston Road, Pomonkey, Maryland. Battle of The Rock, Roll & Shakin’, Roy C Birthday Celebration, New CD Release. Roy C, Prince Mekel (formerly Steve Perry), Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Sir Jonathan Burton. Gates open at 12 Noon. 301-283-0225.

Gonna miss Millie Jackson with Al Johnson tonight at the Howard Theatre. Oh well. Wonder what she sounds like these days.

Saw Aaron Neville last night but missed Mr. Booty Shakin Goin On Jonathan Burton with Roy C et al. at Lamonts Saturday, and Millie Jackson Friday. I am ashamed

Its funny to me how the record collecting soul purists avoid this thread

http://www.welovedc.com/2012/08/02/qa-with-millie-jackson/

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-02-02/entertainment/ct-ott-0203-millie-jackson-20120202_1_jackson-burst-tv-one-onstage

Missed the tv doc on her. Earlier this year she performed with Lattimore and Bobby Womack in the Chicago area. Now that woulda been nice to see.

I still have some catching up to do on current Southern soul also

Bobby Blue Bland and Clarence Carter are gonna be at the 20th anniversary Bluebird Fest at PG Community College in Largo, MD in September. It's free. They're the godfathers of this stuff.

Been reading Daddy B. Nice's southern soul website. Now I just have to catch up on listening to everything he's writing about.

Just saw Little Milton tv footage from 1966 show The !!! Beat. Great passionate singing

And this past weekend as I noted on other threads I saw Bobby Blue Bland and Clarence Carter live. Was surprised how good Bland still sounds (overlooking that snort). Clarence Carter looks and sounds just like he did when I first saw him ages ago.

We just learned our friend Paul Kelly, creator of “The Upset”, passed on back in August. His long and storied career was briefly touched upon in our two Deep City compilations, but there’s so much more which remains thinly documented. We send our condolences to his friends and family who are grieving and hope to be able to share more of his music with you soon.

from the Numero group people re Miami born soul singer Paul Kelly

Saw NPR's Bob Boilen (of their "All" music considered website) out at a (mostly all indie-rock) fest. Chose not to beg him to cover Miss Jody or to read Daddy B. Nice's column.

But NPR's Ann Powers is living in Alabama now, so maybe she'd be more open to checking out Southern soul

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/10/17/163095398/for-the-ladies-r-kelly-teddy-pendergrass-and-the-state-of-r-b