SoulTracks September Soul Music Newsletter

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    SoulTracks Soul Music Newsletter September 2007
     

    Save the Date, SoulTrackers!   Hey everybody!  Hope you had a great August.  It was perhaps our busiest month ever, with lots going on.   But the real news here is that our Annual SoulTracks Readers Choice Awards are going to be bigger and better than ever this year!  And for the first time, the Awards will be presented in a LIVE show on Friday, November 16 in Detroit.  Expect lots of great performances by your favorite artists.  So save that date!  More to come....  

    We're also happy to let you know that Yahoo! Music, the world's biggest webcaster, has launched "Soul Revival," a great new radio station dedicated to the best soul music of today, and we helped them pick the music and artists to kick it off, so you know it's good!  To check out Soul Revival, click here.  

    Hey, but back to the here and now.  September is going to be a busy month, with plenty of new releases from artists like Jill Scott, Rahsaan Patterson and more.  So sit back and read on to see what we have in store for you.    Chris

     

    New Music Reviewsdonna summer Donna Summer - As the 70s turned into the 80s, Donna Summer was the biggest musical star in the world.  Now, with Donna preparing her first new studio album in nearly two decades, our Christian John Wikane takes a look back at her illustrious career.  

    Thelma Houston waited seventeen years between albums, but her new A Woman's Touch shows she still "has it."  

    Myron Butler arose from Kirk Franklin's shadow two years myron smallago and has never looked back.  Instead he's arrived with a great sophomore disc that is appropriately entitled Stronger.

    Rick Braun and Richard Elliott have teamed up before, but according to our Arnold Stovell, their new effort, R&R, makes their consistently high-quality music sound, well, effortless.

    Prince - The purple one has been on top for a quarter decade now, and our Akim Bryant says his new album Planet Earth, prince smallshould keep him there.

    Kloud 9 - This brotherly duo has already won over Europe. Now they're shooting for their home country America with their second album, Yearning 2 Love. Our Detrel Howell thinks they're on their way. 

    Shalamar was one of the biggest dance groups of the 70s shalamarand early 80s, and so we pay tribute to them this month with biographies of the group as well as individual members Howard Hewett, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel

    The Dynamites - Looking for some straight up Southern Funk?  Our Christopher Whaley says you should check out this hot group and lead singer Charles Walker.  

    Natalie Cole - Though it was released over three decades ago, Natalie's Inseparable left a mark on our reviewer Steven Riggs, and he's lovin' the re-release of this classic disc.    

    Lewis Taylor has remained under the radar for most pop and soul fans, but our L. Michael Gipson hopes that his new Lost four tops smallAlbum will solve that injustice.  

    And check out our music news on artists such as the Winans, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and the late, great Jon Lucien.  

    And last but not least, we give props to two great "Soul Communicators" this month, with due honor being given to Solar Radio's "The Juice" DJ John Dean  and Virginia-based woman-of-all-trades Tracy Freeman and her On The Verge organization.

     
    Where Are They Now?  THELMA HOUSTONthelma houstonThelma Houston landed one of the biggest hits of the disco era with her magnificent version of "Don't Leave Me This Way," and she hasn't looked back since.  She's created a wonderful career on stage and on screen and has now released her first album in 17 years, the fine new disc A Woman's Touch. So come check out our update on this longtime favorite. Click Here to see our Where Are They Now? Feature
    CD of the Month Exclusive! - April Hill april hillIn July, April Hill's "The Search" became our biggest song download EVER, so we know SoulTrackers were waiting anxiously for her debut album, Love 360. The album won't be available generally in the US until November, but we're honored to say she's making autographed copies available EXCLUSIVELY to US SoulTrackers this month at a special price and with Free Shipping! Click here to listen to or purchase what we think is one of the best albums of 2007
    SoulTracks Popularity Indexojays small Each month SoulTracks publishes the SoulTracks Popularity Index, our summary of the most popular artist pages on our website.  This month's winner is a group that led the rise of Philadelphia in the 70s and remains a favorite today: the incomparable O'Jays. We also had a number of first-timers in the top 25, including newcomers Albright and Melissa Young.  Click Here to see this month's Popularity Index.
     
       

    Featured Artist frank mccomb

    Frank McComb won an award in our first SoulTracks Readers Choice Awards, and he's been a favorite ever since.  Later this year he'll be releasing his Live In Atlanta CD and right now we have exclusive song clips from the album.  He'll also be visiting Detroit on September 8 for what promises to be a terrific show.  So we figured it was time to take another look at one of our favorite singers.  To see our Frank McComb feature,  click here.

     
    Choice Track albright bw  Albright SoulTrackers took a shining last month to hot young duo Albright, and so we have a second dose of them this month, as we'll be featuring "Dunno What," the first single from their upcoming album, as this month's Choice Track FREE DOWNLOAD.  So come check it out!
     
    Introducing Mosaic Contemporary pattiaustin Good news for lovers of classic soul and jazz.  Mosaic Contemporary Records is here!  This new label is putting together some excellent compilations and reissues by great artists like Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Kirk Whalum and Earl Klugh, with more to come.  To see their entire collection visit them at their web site
     
    The SoulTracks Top Ten CDs Chris Jasper small Chris Jasper

    Singer/songwriter Chris Jasper took the top spot this month on the SoulTracks charts with his brand new CD Invincible.  But close behind were recent albums by Howard Hewett, Maysa and others.   

    To see the entire Top Ten Chart, CLICK HERE.
     

    Soul Music Store Sale

    Hey SoulTrackers, don't forget the special sale at the Soul Music Store.  David and Michael have agreed to give each of us 10% off any purchase until September 3. Just punch in the code st08 when you check out!

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