This months sees the release of two fantastic Soul albums, which are proof alone that Soul music isn't dead and that there are still many groups who know how to make Soul music like it was used to be made.

The first group is the little known Kings Go Forth from Milwaukee. KGF created quite a buzz in the global Soul community with their powerful 2008 45 release One Day which was completely sold out before it was even released and soon fetched between $100 and $200 on Ebay - unheard of for a new single. Two more intense Soul singles followed.

Last year, KGF signed with Luaka Bop Records, and later this month, the group's first album effort The Outsiders are Back will see the light of day, complete with album cover artwork by Washington D.C. legend Mingering Mike. Release date of the album is April 20th!

On this Friday's (April 2nd) edition of my radio show Midnight Soulstice, we'll be happy to give you the chance of a first listen to this absolutely fantastic record. We'll play almost the entire album for you, because it's that good! Show airs from 11 pm until 1 am Eastern and you can listen online at www.wrir.org



Here some of the tracks from KGF's new album:







Another highly anticipated new album is I learned the hard way by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. This group needs little introduction ... Anyone who loves vintage Soul will be blown away by SJDK's latest effort. I think it tops their three previous album by a landslide.
The new album will hit stores next Thursday, but again, you can get a first listen on Midnight Soulstice this Friday ... so tune in!






Bottom line, it's a great month for Soul music!
[Edited 4/3/10 16:41pm]

ms.jones.

TD3 said:

Retro Soul music is underground these days, but Sharon actually broke through into the mainstream, which gives me hope that more and more people appreciate real Soul music and not the stale imitations that dominate the charts today.

SJDK will be back on Letterman this month .. And on the Tonight Show .. and even on Monique's show. They've also sold out two shows at the Apollo Theater in a couple of weeks, taking the music back where it started ...

Ms. Jones is on Mo'Nique NOW everyone!

Sharon's kicking ass right now on "Mo'Nique"!

Will def have to check out kings... As for Sharon I love her voice and the band but she's seriously lacking in the song department. Hope this one fixes that!

nusouldownunder said:

She's "lacking in the song department?" You're serious? I think especially their third album 100 Days, 100 Nights is extremely strong with tracks like Tell Me ...



The new album is even stronger, IMO. I've been rockin' it all week. 100 Days was already a sign that SJDK have departed from the Funk sound ... but I learned the hard way is pure mid-1960s Soul, beautifully arranged with a strings and all .. great song writing overall. It easily ranks among the top 20 Soul albums of all times ...

Here's a little promo clip for One Day by Kings Go Forth ... this one's a real burner on the dance floor of every Soul club (the video shows this well).

nusouldownunder said:

Unfortunately, when it comes to their new album, I have to agree. While I give them points for sheer authenticity - the album sounds like it was plucked straight out of a 1960s time capsule, it's lacking in good hooks, in my opinion. Most of the songs just aren't memorable to me. I didn't enjoy this one as much as their past albums, as I do tend to prefer funk.


As for Kings Go Forth, I've never heard of them before, but the YouTube clips sound great! That's more my style. Thanks for the info on them.

damn!!!

Kara said:

i'll pick it up in Chicago

IAintTheOne said:

Don't worry, it'll be available in stores worldwide.

MrSoulpower said:

lol ass

IAintTheOne said:

Just sayin'.

Kara said:

I know what you mean, I really liked the other Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings albums, but actually thought the hooks were pretty cool instrumentally but the lyrics were too weak to make them memorable. Good music and poor lyrics makes for good background music though

TD3 said:

I LOVE Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings!!!!!

Definitely checking out the other band. I love that this older sound is coming back.

AshK said:

People ... this is not a literature contest. Lyrics in 1960s Soul music have always been simple, and SJDK keep it very authentic with their writing. In Soul and Funk music, it's not about lyrics, or every James Brown song would be forgotten by now ...

I wasn't saying each song has to be like a profound poem at all, and you're right the funkiest music is often lyricly kinda simple. I'm just saying the lyrics are not as great as the sounds

Paradise lost is the shit!!!!! that needs to be the next 45 release

AshK said:

If you listen to Soul music from the 1960, the lyrics weren't so great .. they were simple, naive and aimed at teenagers at the drive-in movies. SJDK write very authentic lyrics, which is why you could fool anyone who grew up back in the day into believing that their music is actually vintage.

IAintTheOne said:

My vote goes to I don't love you no more. That's a classic 45 cut.

MrSoulpower said:

I understand. It's just my preference, and if other people enjoy the direction their music has taken, that's cool.

MrSoulpower said:

Thanks for the heads-up. I will check out the download.

AshK said:

Oh, it's just the opposite with me. It's all about the music and melody, and lyrics aren't a priority for me. Some of us were talking about this topic recently here.

Here the download for last night's show. In addition to playing all this new music, we had a really interesting conversation with Kings Go Forth founder Andy Noble ...

http://wrir.org/x/modules...ryid=12622

Playlist:

- Kings Go Forth - I don't love you no more (Luaka Bop)
- Budos Band – Chicago Falcon (Daptone)
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – The game gets old (Daptone)
- Cookin' on 3 Burners feat. Kylie Auldist – This Girl (Freestyle)
- Al Supersonic & The Teenagers - Keep on Walking (Unique)
- The Transatlantics - I've been bad (Mecca)
- The Dap-Kings – The Reason (Daptone)
- Kings Go Forth - Paradise Lost (Luaka Bop)
- Kings Go Forth - One Day (Luaka Bop)
- Kings Go Forth - You're the One (Luaka Bop)
- Kings Go Forth - Fight with Love (Luaka Bop)
- Kings Go Forth - High on your Love (Luaka Bop)
- Kings Go Forth - Don't take my shadow (Luaka Bop)
- Kings Go Forth - Get a Feeling (Luaka Bop)
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I've learned the hard way (Daptone)
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - When I come home (Daptone)
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Window Shopping (Daptone)
- Lyndal Barry & The Apollos - (Now I'm) Giving it Back (Off Break)
- CSC Funk Band - Bad Banana Bread (Electric Cowbell Records)
- Deep Street Soul feat. Shirley Davis - Greenbacks (Freestyle)
- The Dap-Kings - When I come home (instr.) (Daptone)

Downloading now...Thanks!

MrSoulpower said:

got it and gonna re listen to it on the plaaaaane

I finally got a chance to listen to the show in full, and I've got to say I am loving the Kings Go Forth album. I also loved the songs by The Budos Band, The Transatlantics, CSC Funk Band, and Deep Street Soul. Those are some grooves!! If it wasn't for this podcast, I probably wouldn't have ever heard of these groups, unfortunately. It's too bad good music like this usually flies under the radar.

.
[Edited 4/6/10 3:24am]

MrSoulpower said:

Gonna give this a whirl this afternoon on my way to a job interview, hopefully cool my nerves. Thanks.