Best Of 2005
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Best Of 2005 |
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1.
Modern day Jackie Wilson on the vocals released a compilation of his late 80s/early 90s material. It contains the original "Lollypop Man", plus "Good Thing Man" which managed to hit the charts. Some of the production is certainly dated and sound quality could be better at times but "Expressions" is 13 strong Southern Soul/R & B songs by an underrated singer. 2.  Denise LaSalle "Wanted"
(Ecko)
The Queen Of Soul/Blues scored a huge Southern Soul hit with "Snap, Crackle & Pop". She also continued to show her songwriting prowess on numbers like "The Love You Threw Away" and "Doormat Woman". This was voted "Southern Soul CD Of The Year" in Blues Critic's Southern Soul Awards. 3. A great year for Floyd. Not only did "Baby I've Changed" remain on the charts for a whole year but he very nearly picked up FOUR Blues Critic Awards! He won "Best Male Vocal Performance" & "Best Southern Soul Song" and finished a very close second in "Album Of The Year" & 'Best Slow Jam" categories! 4.
Floyd's second disc released on William Bell's Wilbe imprint is consistent through and through. Includes the smash duet with Bell, "Somebody's Gonna Lose A Good Woman", plus "You Had It All" & "I Got My Woman Upset" 5.
Ace songwriter steps to the fore on this terrific modern soul effort. The first hit may be a remake of Z.Z. Hill's "Who You Been Giving It To", but it's the Allen originals "Creepin' Ain't Easy" & "I'm Sorry", plus Rich Cason's "Giving It Up" that are the most noteworthy. 6.
Lou Wilson is one of those terrific secrets that needs to be told. "Blues Groove" is so Bobby Rush funky I need a shower after listening. I'm not talking machine-produced funk I'm talking loose, hard-hitting, spankin' guitar Blues funky. 7.
Fantastic collection. "The Blacker The Berry" is a brilliant song. Every track here is golden. The album would have a higher placing on this list but most of the cuts appeared on last years "All In The Family", which was in the Top 10 for 2004! Overall this is the better of the two. 8.
Michigan's Al Lindsey arrived this past year with this stellar disc produced by Simuel Overall. The Marvin Gaye-inspired "Candlelight (A Salute To Marvin)" was a hit with "We're Gonna Party Tonite", "Caught (In The Wind)" strong contenders. "Hollow Point" was also added to several key playlists. 9. Bobby Warren "I Slipped Up" (Kon
Kord)An impressive set of Soul/Blues and Memphis-blessed soul. 10. Purify's voice has aged gracefully- rich, warm, classically soulful (sounding like James Carr in his latter days) and this new disc is the right vehicle for his comeback 11. Yet another solid collection from "Shot" includes the funny "Ease On Down In The Bed" and great "I'm A Nibble Man", both sizable hits. John Ward produced. 12. You can use the cliche' "big in Japan" for Archie Love but he also made his mark elsewhere with this disc. "Same Woman", a duet with mentor J. Blackfoot, and the gorgeous "Should've Been There For You" were two of the best cuts. 13. Gospel-inflected Soul from a singer that reminds me of Howard Tate at times! 14. Leon has a vintage soul voice reminiscent of O.V. Wright. An impressive debut. 15.  Rick Lawson "Sexified"
(Ecko)
Album packed with programmed party jams like "Dance Like You Want It", "I'm Your Man In The Street" & "She Was Cheating Better Than Me". Pure ear candy. Ecko Records does it again! 16. The Marvin Gaye influence continues on this sultry collection. "Tell Me What U Want" & "Between The Sheets" were gems. 17. Longtime favorite hits hard with "Can't Nobody Do Me". Although this disc is more mainstream the others it made it's greatest impact in the Southern Soul market. 18. T.K. is an entertainer. His live shows knock 'em out and his records draw 'em in. "Cheating & Lying" was the lead cut. Word on the street is that T.K. is just getting warmed up. 19. The legend shows her versatility here. Dorothy was also instrumental in the anti-bootlegging campaign in 2005, which turned a relationship song like "Watcha Doing With The Money?" into an anthem against those parasites. 20. Stunning debut from an instant diva packed with sexy slowies like "Love Therapy", "Slow & Easy" & "Lollipop" and invitations to the dancefloor ("Do You Wanna Step With Me?", "Get Up"). The first hit is "Mr. Do Right". 21. Interesting year for Clayton. "Full Circle" was first released on End Zone with a bonus DVD. After Clayton cut a deal with Malaco the CD was re-released with the extra cut "I'm Going Crazy", which was topping the chart by the end of the year. 22. First release from Charles since the death of Jimmy Lewis. One of his strongest overall records. Rich Cason helped out. Hot cuts are "Southern Girls Got The Booty", "There's A Rat Loose In My House" & "Too Pooped To Pop". 23. Floyd Hamberlin produced. Travis goes the Southern Soul route on this consistent platter. "Baby Mama Drama" is the first hit. 24. Perhaps the pinnacle though is the upbeat "Good Woman" with it's infectious hook and flow. There's nary a weak spot so my CD player's fast forward button gotten some much needed rest. You gotta love an album you can listen to all the way through, no? 25. The album is more lively than his last disc. Up next is a terrific midtempo take on Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I" . The real highlight though is "Let Somebody Love Me" with a showstopping vocal by the man. But those who fell in love with his Fat Possom record will notice "After All These Years" & "At The Crossroads" sound like they could fit right in on "Don't Give Up On Me".
 Little Milton "Think Of Me" (Telarc)
The great Little Milton Campbell died in '05 but this #1 ranking is not sympathy. Although it may take a a few spins to warm up to this altered version of Milton's soul/blues, you'll find it is a fitting curtain call. The title is now ironic. Milton won two Blues Critic Awards this past year. "Best Soul/Blues Album" & "Best Male Blues Singer" 2.
Spare, dusky and traveling on a gravel road Henry's production is sympathetic and unobtrusive. LaVette's the centerpiece rather than studio wizardry...a potent stew of sandpaper R & B, folk, soul & gospelish blues. LaVette was voted by readers as "Best Female Blues Singer" of 2005. 3.
While the first half consists of stately soul heaven (songs written by Tim Davis, Ricky Ryan, EW James & Billy Lawson), Maurice and band kick off their shoes for some sturdy blues shuffles (written mostly by Maurice) on the second half. "I've Been Had", "Trouble", I'm No Fool" all give Maurice a chance to do some cutting with his axe. 4.
More of Cray's amalgam of R & B, soul, folk, blues and even a touch of loungey jazz ("My Last Regret"). Although mostly a laid back, confident set there's also some upbeat numbers like the rocking "It Doesn't Really Matter" and guitar spanking soul blues of "That Ain't Love" & "I'm Walkin'". "Twenty" is one of the best songs of his career! 5.
6.
What a singer! Keep on the watch for this guy. Dobbins delivers Soul/Blues with "Matter Of Time" and shows off his powerful chops on "Sara Smile" 7. A 13-song collection of Memphis Soul and blues expertly produced by David Earl. Pride is a smooth singer, with a rich, expressive croon. So like the last album you got the right singer and producer plus all the ingredients for greatness... 8. Great year for producer/songwriter/producer Jon Tiven, Not only was he th eman behind Little Milton's "Think Of Me" but he also produced this smokin' disc by the underrated Hooks. Aggressive, raucous Rhythm & Blues. 9. Johnny Rawls discovered a band named Kay Kay & The Rays in 1999 and produced a cd by them, the acclaimed "Texas Justice". The band split up last year so Rawls called on The Rays to record the aptly titled "No Boundaries". Rawls made a name for himself with a classic Memphis soul blues sound, but here he mixes things up with touches of roots, folk rock & gospel with a live band feel. 10. Last year he nearly stole the show from Charles Wilson with his guitar virtuosity on Wilson's Delmark release "If Heartaches Were Nickels". Well, now Carl says "I'm Back Again" on the opener for the TC Davis and Richard Waters-produced "Hold On". To be eligible albums must have been released 11/2004 to 11/2005. OR albums released in 2004 that peaked in 2005.
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Chuck
Roberson "Expressions Of Yesterday" (Cruise
On)
Floyd Taylor "No Doubt"
(Malaco)
Vick Allen "Simply Soul" (Waldoxy) 
Lou Wilson & Today's People "Blues Groove" (Crew)
Chairmen Of
The Board "All In The Family Southern Soul" (Xcel
Music)
Al Lindsey "Caught" (Pulsating
Music)
Bobby Purify "Better To Have It"
(Proper)
Lee "Shot" Williams "Nibble Man"
(Ecko)
Archie Love "Sincerely Yours" (JEA Music)
Simone De "I Can't Take It No More" (Premier Music
Ent.)
Leon McMullen "Just A Few Words" (Main
Street/Sound Mindz)
Rue Davis "For Real" (Studio
Showtime)
Lenny Williams "My Way"
(Thump)
T.K. Soul "Love Games" (Soulful)
Dorothy Moore 'I'm Doing Alright"
(Farish Street)
Ms. Monique "Soul Sessions Volume 1" (Soul Ent.)
Willie Clayton "Full Circle"
(Malaco/EndZone)
Billy Ray Charles "Southern Soul...My Way"
(Waldoxy)
Nellie Tiger Travis "Wanna Be With You" (Da
Man)
Bill
Avery "Southern Fried Soul" (Sound Mindz)
Solomon Burke "Make Do With What You Got"
(Shout! Factory)
Bettye LaVette "I've Got My Own Hell To
Raise" (Anti)
Maurice Davis
"The Right Way" (Sims)
Robert Cray 'Twenty"
(Sanctuary)
Earl Gaines "The Different Feelings Of Blues & Soul" (Blue Fye)
Clarence Dobbins "The Soul Of A
Man" (Reach Hi)
Lou Pride "Keep On Believing"
(Severn)
Ellis Hooks "Godson Of Soul"
(Evidence)
Johnny Rawls & The Rays "No
Boundaries" (Catfood)
Carl Weathersby "Hold On"
(Woodcutter)