Thursday 30 August 2012

The Artists - Betty Wright


Its been a while since I posted an Artists Spotlight, so here we go with a fave of mine, the great Betty Wright.

Shes been around recently, helping out the likes of Joss Stone, Angie Stone (No relation!) and collaborating with the Roots on her great recent LP which featured what I believe to be DJ Grizz's theme tune. If you listen to the Lyrics of "Old Songs", its like Grizz has a soul mate. See below!

 

Born Bessie Regina Norris on December 21 (I only mention as its my Birthday too....Kindred spirits!), Wright began her professional career at the age of two when her siblings formed the gospel group, the Echoes of Joy. In 1965, following the group's break-up, 11-year-old Wright, who was already using the name Betty Wright, decided to switch musical styles from gospel to rhythm and blues, singing in local talent shows until being spotted by a local Miami record label owner, who signed her to her first label in 1966 at twelve.

In 1967, the teen was responsible for discovering other local talents such as George and Gwen McCrae, helping them sign with Alston record label, part of Henry Stone's TK recording and distribution company. A year later, Wright released her debut album, My First Time Around, when she was still 14 and scored her first hit single with Judy White's "Girls Can't Do What Guys Do". While still in high school in 1970, Wright released "Pure Love" at the age of sixteen.


About a year later, Wright released her signature song, "Clean Up Woman" when she was 17. The record reached number two on the R&B charts, where it stayed for eight weeks.and crossed over to the pop charts, peaking at number six. It eventually sold over a million copies and was certified gold.


Danger! High Voltage!, released in late 1974 was one of Wrights most popular LP's. It would be on this album that Wright would have her most successful composition, with the smooth soul ballad, "Tonight Is the Night", which Wright attributed to her first sexual experiences.

Wright's other albums at the end of the 1970s were less successful and by 1981, as TK began to struggle, she moved on to a bigger label, signing with Epic where her self-titled album was released.
The album was notable for the minor Stevie Wonder-composed hit, "What Are You Gonna Do With It". That same year, she contributed vocals on Richard "Dimples" Fields' Dimples album, especially on the hit, "She's Got Papers on Me", where she catches Fields singing out about another woman, verbally attacking him in the ending monologue.

In 1985, Wright formed her own label, Miss B Records. In 1988, Wright made history as the first black female artist to score a gold album on her label when the album, Mother Wit, was released. The album was notable for the hits, "No Pain, No Gain" and "After the Pain".

She has continued to record ever since, with many LP's included the aforementioned collaboration with the Roots, she's still discovering talent such as Joss Stone, provides vocal production for big name pop and r&b artists, and can still be found singing live with that one of a kind voice. Betty sings from the heart, about love, her man, and the world and you believe every word.


Check out my mix of some of my personal picks from her large discography and see what all the fuss is about. Grizz back with you soon with a Version Excursion that im looking forward too, and Ill see you in a weeks time.

The Artists - Betty Wright

Monday 27 August 2012

DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness 40

Morning all, and Soul Niceness hits its 40's -a landmark we on this blog hit some years ago now!! Its Soul Niceness Vol. 40 and crammed full of usual soul rarities and rare grooves from way back when.

Features an early 80's offering from soul giants the Impressions, Lowrell Simons band -The Lost Generation, Detroits Sandra Feva and Ashford and Simpson. Plus 6 more top tracks to enjoy or add to your 'wants list'!


I'm on a version excursion next week after Mr S bring us a another cooking midweek mix. Enjoy Carnival if you are going today- not long left now for the summer to show its face again!



Grizz




Tracklist in comments


Thursday 23 August 2012

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 91


A Bumper edition of Street Sounds this week. (Check out the mini bonus mix after the regular one!)

Big names like Elle Varner (Who has a new LP out now) and a rare find of an early Amy Winehouse tune, join forces with new artists like JSOUL, Jazzmine, the Soul of John Black (http://thesoulofjohnblack.bandcamp.com/track/summertime-thang) plus much much more.

As always, a great one stop shop to hear whats new and upcoming from both mainstream and independent Soul artists.

The White Label mix was a MASSIVE success last week and great fun. Lots of requests on Twitter to give up the tracklist...lol There will definitely be more to come. But next week were gonna have an Artists mix that ive been sitting on for a while.

First up though, Grizz returns with your early week soulful mix.

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 91

Sunday 19 August 2012

DJ Grizz - Soulful 80's Vol.16

Back to the 80's now, a decade that started with me still at school (just!) and where my overdraft straining record collecting odyssey began. Ten more quality cuts from that decade to make up Soulful 80's Vol.16.

Some heavy hitters on this one including 'Don't push it...' man Leon Hayward, Gene Dunlap, Italian based funky disco heavyweights Change, the mad man of funk George Clinton, and topped off with jazzfunk royalty in Lonnie Liston.

Mr S up later in the week and I'm back next week with another Niceness mix full of rare groove and soul that time forgot.

Grizz

http://www.mediafire.com/?j78ix0rg8zklwbt

Tracklist in comments



Wednesday 15 August 2012

SoulNRnB's White Label


Back in the 80's I went down to London's West End and partied at the famous Wag Club. This club had different areas with different DJ's playing anything from Jazz to Funk to Soul.

One of the DJ's was playing a consistently good set, with tunes I hadnt even heard before. But when I tried to sneak a peek at the record labels to find out what these great tunes were, he'd covered them up with White Label's.

I had to put in considerable time and effort tracking down these tunes, in fact, there are still some that I haven't heard since or know who they are. The mystery adds some real great listening as there are no expectations of what your going to hear or what to expect.

So this mix is my equivalent. All you need to know are there are no boundaries. Not time (Tunes range from 70's to present), not genre, not nothing. I just guarantee soulful music and hopefully a few tracks you didnt know existed. I hope this is a fun way to get your soul fix, and leave me some comments if you think you know all the tunes.

Im posting early this week as I have a busy few days coming up, so see you in over a week. Grizz will keep you company in the meantime.

NO TRACKLIST!!! (So dont look for it!)

SoulNRnB's WHITE LABEL

Sunday 12 August 2012

DJ Grizz- Mellow Grooves Vol.14

Its the morning after the night before and a few sore heads and blurry eyes out there. Time to chillax with Mellow 14. 10 more soul n jazz tracks from way back when to kick back to.

Includes Norman Conners fave male vocalist Micheal Henderson, an 80's offering from Starpoint, Bloodstone, Reggie Andrews brings us some sublime trippy jazz and finishes off with a mellow arrangement of Jerry Butlers gem -Melinda Latina.

Mr S has something up his sleeve later this week and I'll catch you later.

Grizz

http://www.mediafire.com/?blwykxbrsnh3vpu

Tracklist in comments



Thursday 9 August 2012

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 90


Welcome Mixtapers to the 90th edition of our upfront Street Sounds Mixes.

This edition has a distinct Hip Hop vibe, with music from Slum Village's Elzhi, the great Talib Kweli, the brilliant Tanya Morgan with a slice of "De La Soul" style sounds and more.

But thats not to say there's nothing for those that prefer the other styles; The Sunburst Band return with a nice new LP and here's a remake of the great "In the Thick of it" featuring Angela Johnson; Cover star Sparkle returns sans R Kelly but brings the soul; Another excellent Tweet tune......if these are unreleased tunes I cant wait to hear her forthcoming LP; and Mint Condition preview a tune from their upcoming LP too. Plus much more, 12 barnstorming tracks!

Ill be back next week with something special, but not before Grizz hits you up with something mellow.

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 90

Sunday 5 August 2012

DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness 39

Morning Soul Bloggers and I'm back going for Rare Groove Gold this morning! (did you see what I did there?). Its Soul Niceness 39 and, as usual, packed full of rare groove, soul and 2 step goodies from the Grizz crates.

We kick off with a quality soul steppers offering from prolific 60's jazz singer Gloria Lynne, there's 7 mins of funk man Tyrone Thomas, Lamont Dozier gives us a nugget from his significant back catalogue, and is finished off with an alternate take of a James Brown classic. Plus 6 more gold medal contenders in the revival soul category.

I'll be back with a mellow mix next week after Mr S pulls us back up to date.

Grizz

http://www.mediafire.com/?aodcctufzb9gwp2

Tracklist in comments

Wednesday 1 August 2012

A SoulNRnB K-Tel Mix: Ecstasy


Back in the 70's and early 80's, I would notice many K-Tel Compilations around family members houses along with a few "Tighten Up"'s.

The company built the business of releasing compilation albums that combined material from a number of popular artists onto a single theme album using the tag line "20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars!".The company could earn revenue in this way, because they negotiated directly with artists and labels for the rights to reproduce their original recordings, in the process also securing a long-term asset through adding those recordings to their catalog. They usually featured models on the cover (a la Grizz!) and would revolve around a theme, wether it be Disco (Night Moves, 1979), Funk, Rock (20 Power Hits, for example, released in 1973, mostly concentrated on rock, though it had "Yesterday Once More" by The Carpenters on it!) or a theme, in this case, slow jams.

So, as a nod to those compilations of my youth, ive compiled a number of K-Tel like comp mixes, which subscribe to nothing but their theme, which in this case should be obvious by the title and cover. Ranging from the 70's through to the upfront (A great tune from Joy Denalane), I hope you enjoy the first Soul Mixtape K-Tel mix!

Grizz returns on Monday, see you next week with something new again.

A SoulNRnB K-Tel mix - Ecstasy