Corner - Best of 2014

See Daddy B. Nice's 2014: The Year In Review (click here)

Daddy B. Nice Announces THE WINNERS of the 2014 (8th Annual) SOUTHERN SOUL MUSIC AWARDS. The winners are posted at the end of each list of finalists.

Music published before 2014 was eligible if the bulk of its chitlin' circuit airplay came in 2014. Because of its length and complexity, the List of Finalists is one of the rare features for which your Daddy B. Nice does NOT provide links. Links to mp3's, CD's and song samples are available by going to the artist's name in either Daddy B. Nice’s CD Store or Daddy B. Nice’s Comprehensive Index. A permanent listing and link in Daddy B. Nice's Comprehensive Index will eventually be made on behalf of each performer for each nomination listed.

P.S. If you believe a well-known southern soul song has been ignored, look to the previous year's "BEST OF SOUTHERN SOUL". Daddy B. Nice's charts usually precede general air play by a few months, due to the "preview" aspect of the singles reviews.

THE CATEGORIES:

Best Mid-Tempo Song
Best Club Song
Best Ballad
Best Song by Longtime Veteran
Best Female Vocalist
Best Male Vocalist
Best Debut
Best Collaboration
Best Out-Of-Left-Field Song
Best Chitlin' Circuit Blues Song
Best Cover Song
Best Arranger/Producer
Best Songwriter
Best CD
Hardest-Touring Crowd Pleaser.

--Daddy B. Nice

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Best Mid-Tempo Song:

Top Contenders:

Now This Is A Party (For The Grown Folks)---T.K. Soul
Keep Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)---Anita Love
On The South Side---Grady Champion
I Lost My Baby On Facebook---Jesse James
Here In The South (That's The Way We Do It Down In The South)/Southern Soul Blues Fest---John Cummings
Cat Daddy---Billy "Soul" Bonds
She's Been Good---JR Blu
Miss Apple Cheeks---Stevie J
Cold Feet---Nellie "Tiger" Travis
I Just Fell In Love---Ms. Charli
Southern Soul Slide---Big Al
I Gotta Get My Groove On---Willie Hill
Sugar Daddy---Donnell Sullivan
Sweet Sweet---Sir Charles Jones
Stir It Like Coffee---Peaches Jones featuring Nelson Curry

Best Mid-Tempo Song: "I Lost My Baby On Facebook" by Jesse James

Listen to Jesse James singing "I Lost My Baby On Facebook" on YouTube.

Best Club (Fast/Dance/Jam) Song:

Top Contenders:

Roll It Roll It/The Coolest---Gentry-Jones featuring Mr. Sam
You Can Kiss My Southern Soul Ass---Avail Hollywood
How Come The Dog Ain't Barking?---Simeo
She Was Twerkin'---Lil' Jimmie
Fill It Up/Gettin' It In---Bigg Robb
Shake Your Money Maker---Lady Tee
What's The Name Of That Thang?---Larome Powers
Room 229---Sweet William Calhoun
Do You Feel (Like Partying Tonight)---Sir Charles Jones featuring Willie Clayton
Party Starter (Michael Jordan)---Joe Nice featuring Nelson Curry & Blakfist
Booty Poppin'---Steve Perry
You're Welcome To The Party/O.B. Shuffle---O.B. Buchana
I'm On Fire---J.B. Hendricks
True To Me---Vick Allen
Bad Mama Jama---Nathaniel Kimble
Ms. Jody's Boogie Slide---Ms. Jody

Best Club (Fast/Dance/Jam) Song: "She Was Twerkin'" by Lil' Jimmie

Best Ballad:

Top Contenders:

So Beautiful---Sir Charles Jones
I Stay Ready/Caught Up In Doing Wrong---T.K. Soul
So Lonely---Simone De
Make Up Sex---Jaye Hammer
True Love---J'Wonn
I'm So Glad---Bigg Robb
Girl, I Want Your Body---Willie Clayton
I Apologize---Ms. Jody
It's A Good Thing I Met You---Theo Huff
Looking For A Lady---T.K. Soul
Rehab Ain't Working---Avail Hollywood
">Good Love/Arkansas Caramel---John Cummings
When We Lie---Omar Cunningham featuring Wendell B.
My Queen---Willie B. (Beachman)
Didn't I---Lenny Williams
All Right (Let' Get Out Of This Club)---J'Wonn
Who You With---Louisiana Blues Brothers
I Forgot To Be Your Lover---William Bell featuring Snoop Dog

Best Ballad: "It's A Good Thing I Met You" by Theo Huff

Listen to Theo Huff singing "It's A Good Thing I Met You" on Grooveshark.

Best Song By Longtime Veteran:

Top Contenders:

I Lost My Baby On Facebook---Jesse James
I Forgot To Be Your Lover---William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg
So Beautiful---Sir Charles Jones
Cat Daddy---Billy "Soul" Bonds
We're Gonna Party, We're Gonna Have Some Fun---Chuck Roberson
I Gotta Get My Groove On---Willie Hill
Trying To Live My Life Without You---Otis Clay featuring Lil' P-Nut
If The Lord Keeps The Thought Of You Out Of My Head---Barbara Carr
Now This Is A Party (For The Grown Folks)---T.K. Soul
A Woman's Gotta Do---Uvee Hayes
I'm Gonna Tighten Up---Wilson Meadows
She Was Twerkin'---Lil' Jimmie
Do You Feel (Like Partying Tonight)?---Sir Charles Jones featuring Willie Clayton
What's The Name Of That Thang?---Larome Powers
Give Me Your Love---Nathaniel Kimble
I Am Taking Out The Trash---Pat Brown
Another Murder Down In New Orleans---Bobby Rush featuring Dr. John
I Ain't Easy To Love---Candi Staton
It's On Me---Floyd Taylor featuring Simeo & Mel Waiters

Best Song By Longtime Veteran: "So Beautiful" by Sir Charles Jones

Listen to Sir Charles Jones singing "So Beautiful" On YouTube.

Best Female Vocalist:

Top Contenders:

My Man Is A Cheater---Krishunda Echols
Stir It Like Coffee---Peaches Jones
Annie Mae's Cafe Swing Out Song/Party At The Trail Ride---Stephanie McDee
Pay Before You Lay---Betty Padgett
I Just Fell In Love---Ms. Charli
Cold Feet---Nellie "Tiger" Travis
He Won't Leave His Wife---Adrena
Keep Knockin'---Anita Love
Two Is Company---Val McKnight
Stay With Your Wife---Sheba Potts-Wright
I Apologize---Ms. Jody
Ain't Nobody Got Time For That---Karen Wolfe
I'll Play The Blues For You---Raine
I Am A Hell Of A Woman---Angel Faye Russell
City Life/Find Me A Candy Licker---Lady E./Rita Monroe
Shake That Money Maker---Lady Tee
I'm A Southern Girl---Jureesa McBride
If The Lord Keeps The Thought Of You Out Of My Head---Barbara Carr

Best Female Vocalist: "Keep Knocking (But You Can't Come In)" by Anita Love

Listen to Anita Love singing “Keep Knockin’” on YouTube.

Best Male Vocalist:

Top Contenders:

Back To The Sweet Shop---Tucka
Cat Daddy---Billy "Soul" Bonds
You're Welcome To The Party---O.B. Buchana
So Beautiful---Sir Charles Jones
Now This Is A Party---T.K. Soul
I Lost My Baby On Facebook---Jesse James
Party Starter (Michael Jordan)---Nelson Curry
True To Me---Vick Allen
Make Up Sex---Jaye Hammer
Arkansas Caramel---John Cummings
How Come The Dog Ain't Barking---Simeo
So Lonely---Simone De
It's A Good Thing I Met You---Theo Huff
Sweet Sexy Southern Girl---Big Ro' (Williams)
Room 229---William Calhoun
What's The Name Of That Thang?---Larome Powers
True Love---JWonn
Rehab Ain't Working---Avail Hollywood
Miss Apple Cheeks---Stevie J.
She Was Twerkin'---Lil' Jimmie

Best Male Vocalist: "Now This Is A Party (For The Grown Folks)" by T.K. Soul

Sample T.K. Soul singing "Now This Is A Party" at Amazon.

Best Debut:

Top Contenders:

Keep Knocking---Anita Love
It's A Good Thing I Met You---Theo Huff
Stir It Like Coffee---Peaches Jones
Shake That Money Maker---Lady Tee
She's Been Good---JR Blu
City Life/Find Me A Candy Licker---Lady E./Rita Monroe
Roll It Roll It---Gentry Jones
I Wanna Party---David J.
Room 229---William Calhoun
Pickin' These Blues Away---Louisiana Blues Brothers
All Right (If I Can Just Move My Feet)--Stony Murphy
Southern Soul Slide---Big Al
Roll With It---Geno Wesley
Better Day---Junior Turner

Best Debut: "Keep Knocking" by Anita Love

Listen to Anita Love singing “Keep Knockin’” on YouTube.

Best Collaboration:

Top Contenders:

I Forgot To Be Your Lover---William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg
Party Starter (Michael Jordan)---Joe Nice featuring Nelson Curry & Blackfist
Do You Feel (Like Partying Tonight)---Sir Charles Jones featuring Willie Clayton
Don't Blame The Man---Walt Luv featuring Roy C.
Another Murder In New Orleans---Bobby Rush featuring Dr. John
It's On Me---Floyd Taylor featuring Simeo & Mel Waiters
Trying To Live Me Life Without You---Otis Clay featuring Lil' P-Nut
Serious Love---Keri featuring John Cummings
Ain't Nobody Got Time For That---Karen Wolfe featuring Nelson Curry
Ghetto Tactics---RawShaw featuring Lina
Roll It Roll It---Gentry-Jones featuring Mr. Sam
I Will (If He Won't)---Black Diamond featuring J. Red
Party At The Trail Ride---Stephanie McDee featuring 100% Cotton
Go Head Cupid---Cupid featuring Mr. Collipark
Pretty Girl Swag---Curly featuring Tyree Neal

Best Collaboration: "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg

Listen to William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg singing "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" on YouTube.

Best Out-Of-Left-Field Song:

Top Contenders:

Two Step---Sir Charles Jones
How Come The Dog Ain't Barking---Simeo
Keep Knockin'---Anita Love
She Was Twerkin'---Lil' Jimmie
You Bad---LaMorris Williams
My Man Is A Cheater---Krishunda Echols
Better Day---Junior Turner
Party Starter (Michael Jordan)---Joe Nice featuring Nelson Curry
It's A Good Thing I Met You---Theo Huff
Miss Apple Cheeks---Stevie J.
Southern Soul Slide---Big Al
Here In The South (That's The Way We Do It Down In The South)/Southern Soul Blues Fest---John Cummings
Roll With It---Geno Wesley
I Lost My Baby On Facebook---Jesse James
Born To sing Southern Soul Blues---Sir Jonathan Burton
I'll Be All Right (If I Can Just Move My Feet)---Stony Murphy

Best Out-Of-Left-Field Song: "Here In The South (That's The Way We Do It Down In The South)" / "Southern Soul Blues Fest" by John Cummings

Sample John Cummings singing "Here In The South" at Amazon.
Listen to "Southern Soul Blues Fest on YouTube.

Best Chitlin' Circuit Blues Song:

Top Contenders:

On The South Side---Grady Champion
She Was Twerkin'---Lil' Jimmie
What's The Name Of That Thang---Larome Powers
Now This Is A Party (For The Grown Folks)---T.K. Soul
Sweet Sexy Southern Girl--Big Ro' (Williams)
Cat Daddy---Billy "Soul" Bonds
Hotter Than Catfish Grease---Bigg Robb
Booty Poppin'---Steve Perry
Here In The South (That's The Way We Do It Down In The South)/Southern Soul Blues Fest---John Cummings
Annie Mae's Cafe Swing Out Song---Stephanie McDee
Room 229---William Calhoun
Independent Ladies---Sir Charles Jones

Best Chitlin' Circuit Blues Song: "On The South Side" by Grady Champion

Listen to Grady Champion singing "On The South Side" on YouTube.

Best Cover Song:

Top Contenders:

End Of The Rainbow---RawShaw
City Life (Mississippi Boy)/Find Me A Candy Licker (Hoochie Mama)---Lady E./Rita Monroe
In The Mood---Uvee Hayes
Don't Blame The Man---Walt Luv featuring Roy C.
I'll Play The Blues For You---Raine
I Forgot To Be Your Lover---William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg
Trying To Live My Life Without You---Otis Clay featuring Lil' P-Nut
If The Lord Keeps The Thought Of You Out Of My Head---Barbara Carr
Back To The Sweet Shop---Tucka
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby---Chuck Roberson
I'll Drink Your Bathwater, Baby---Jaye Hammer

Best Cover Song: "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg

Listen to William Bell featuring Snoop Dogg singing "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" on YouTube.

Best Arranger/Producer:

Top Contenders:

Sir Charles Jones---Sir Charles Jones ("So Beautiful," "Two Step," "Sweet Sweet," "Do You Feel (Like Partying Tonight)," "Independent Ladies")

T.K. Soul---T.K. Soul ("Now This Is A Party (For The Grown Folks)," "Caught Up In Doing Wrong," "I Stay Ready,") and w/ Ricky White ("Looking For A Lady")

Chris (Big Yayo) Mabry---J'Wonn ("I Got This Record," "True Love," "All Right (Let's Get Out Of This Club)," "Sleep In It," "Night Time Lover")

John Ward---John Cummings ("Here In The South (That's The Way We Do It Down In The South"), John Cummings ("Good Love" (with Morris Williams)), O.B. Buchana ("You're Welcome To The Party," "O.B. Shuffle," "It Should Have Been Me"), Jaye Hammer ("Make Up Sex," "Hammer's Juke Joint Shack," "I'm A Booty Freak"), Ms. Jody ("Ms. Jody's Booty Slide," "I Apologize")

Jim Bennett---Jim Bennett ("The Body Roll," "Goldylocks," "Mr. Right On Time Dr. Feelgood," "Slap It Slap It Tap It Tap It...")

James Cain---John Cummings ("Arkansas Caramel," "Mr. Do Right," "Back On The Grind")

Ricky White---Jerry L. ("She's Got That Ooo Wee"), Ricky White ("Sexy," "Casino Blues"), Gwen White ("Ladies Got To Get That Money"), William Calhoun ("Room 229"), T.K. Soul ("Looking For A Lady")

Felton Pilate, Harvey Scales & Jesse James---Jesse James ("I Lost My Baby On Facebook")

Best Arranger/Producer: Terry (T.K. Soul) Kimble

Best Songwriter:

Top Contenders:

John Cummings & Morris J. Williams---John Cummings ("Good Love," "Arkansas Caramel," "Mr. Do Right" and "Southern Soul Blues Fest") John Cummings & John Ward---John Cummings ("Here In The South (That's The Way We Do It Down In The South)")

Chris (Big Yayo) Mabry and Jawonn Smith---J'Wonn ("I Got This Record," "True Love," "Sleep In It," "All Right (Let's Get Out Of This Club)," "Night Time Lover")

T.K. Soul (Terry Kimble)---T.K. Soul ("Now This Is A Party," "I Stay Ready," "Caught Up In Doing Wrong," and w/Ricky White ("Looking For A Lady")

Charles Jones---Sir Charles Jones ("So Beautiful," "Sweet Sweet," "Independent Ladies," "Do You Feel," "Tear Our Love Down," "Two Step")

Simeo Overall---Simeo ("How Come The Dog Ain't Barking," "Rock The Boat"), Floyd Taylor ("I Like The Way," "It's On Me")

Ricky White---Ricky White ("Sexy," "Ricky White Shuffle," "Casino Blues" and w/ T.K. Soul--T.K. Soul ("Looking For A Lady") William Calhoun ("Room 229"), Nathaniel Kimble ("Bad Mama Jama"), Jerry L. ("She's Got That Ooo Wee")

Sam Fallie (Mr. Sam)---Mr. Sam (w/ Gentry-Jones) ("Roll It Roll It," "The Coolest"), Mr. Sam ("Bust A Move"), Sheba Potts-Wright ("Put Your Hands Up"), Ms. Genii ("Tonight's Another Night")

Aubles Buchana (O.B. Buchana)---O.B. Buchana ("I'm Rowdy Rowdy (Remix)," "O.B. Shuffle," "Party On The Weekend," and (w/William Norris) "Private Party"

Henderson Thigpen---Jaye Hammer ("Make Up Sex," "Any Kind Of Party"), and w/John Ward--O.B. Buchana ("You're Welcome To The Party")

Best Songwriter: Chris (Big Yayo) Mabry & Jawonn (J'Wonn) Smith

Best CD:

Top Contenders:

PORTRAIT OF A BALLADEER---SIR CHARLES JONES
I GOT THIS RECORD---J'WONN
LIFE AFTER LOVE---T.K. SOUL
SOUTHERN SOUL HIGHWAY---JIM BENNETT
BACK ON THE GRIND---JOHN CUMMINGS
POP YO' BOTTLE---O.B. BUCHANA
JAYE HAMMER'S STILL GOT IT---JAYE HAMMER
FEELING SOULFUL EP----RAWSHAW
TRU BLU---JR BLU
RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 2---VARIOUS ARTISTS
GOOD LOVE MUSCLE EP---BIG RO' WILLIAMS
LIFE HAPPENS---CANDI STATON
IN THE MOOD---UVEE HAYES
THE OTHER SIDE OF ME---CHUCK ROBERSON
UNTAMABLE---WILLIE CLAYTON
BACK ON TRACK---DAVID BRINSTON
MAJIC---RICKY WHITE
SWEET JONES LIVE @ LEROY'S CHICKEN SHACK---JETER JONES
SUGAR DADDY EP---DONNELL SULLIVAN
LOVE ON THE BAYOU---LOUISIANA BLUES BROTHERS
BOOTLEG WHISKEY---GRADY CHAMPION
TIGHTEN UP---WILSON MEADOWS

Best CD: I GOT THIS RECORD---J'Wonn

Sample J'Wonn's I GOT THIS RECORD CD at Amazon.

Hardest-Touring Crowd-Pleasers:

Top Contenders:

Sir Charles Jones
Mel Waiters
T.K. Soul
Avail Hollywood
Vick Allen
L.J. Echols
J'Wonn
Grady Champion
Willie Clayton

Hardest-Touring Crowd Pleaser: T.K. Soul

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

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Monthly Singles Charts, Continued From Right-Hand Column

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Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For. . .

----------JUNE 2014------------

1. “Keep Knockin’”----Anita Love

Music’s still rockin' your Daddy B. Nice’s world, and truthfully, there's no qualitative difference between Anita Love’s stupendous 2014 hit-single-to-be and The Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (written by Goffin/King) fifty-plus years ago.

Flash forward to 21st Century Southern Soul: “Keep Knockin’” continues the rich tradition of Queen Isabella’s and Rasheeda's and Mystery Lady’s “I Hear You Knocking (But You Can’t Come In)”--but with an even more seductive melody.

Hailing from Memphis (a former back-up singer for Sweet Angel), Anita Love Humphrey is being promoted and booked by Terry (100%) Cotton (225-239-1012).

Listen to Anita Love singing “Keep Knockin’” on YouTube.

2. “Another Murder In New Orleans”---------Bobby Rush, Dr. John & Blinddog Smokin'

Bobby Rush, ambassador of southern soul, sharing the vocals with Dr. John, the-hippest-of-the-hip in the white blues world. Like Dan Ackroyd headlining the Medgar Evers Blues Festival (bursting with southern soul acts) in Jackson, Miss. this summer, it’s another step towards visibility for the little genre that could.

But it’s not just a cultural breakthrough for southern soul. It’s a musical triumph too, with Dr. John delivering a typically shrewd and revealing vocal, meshing perfectly with Rush’s atypically serious ambience.

Listen to Bobby Rush, Dr. John & Blinddog Smokin’ singing “Another Murder In New Orleans” on YouTube.

3. “She Was Twerkin’”----Lil' Jimmie

Lil' Jimmie (Jimmie Forbish, Jr. of Beaumont, Texas) has a loyal underground following for his obscure southern soul classic, "Moving On (I'll close the door on yesterday").

Listen to Lil' Jimmie singing "Moving On (Closing The Door On Yesterday)" on YouTube.

“She Was Twerkin’,” less melodic than "Moving On" but no less fascinating for its tasty, no-quit-in-it rhythm guitar riff, is Lil' Jimmie's best new song in years.

See Lil' Jimmie's debut on Daddy B. Nice's Top 100 21st-Century Southern Soul Countdown.

Download Lil' Jimmie's "She Was Twerkin'" mp3.

4. “Room 229”------------“Sweet” William Calhoun

Unabashedly commercial and hooky, like something Sheba Potts-Wright might have put on her first album, "Room 229" succeeds by virtue of its earthy, good-humored lead vocal and flamboyant female chorus line. So why is it so hard to come up with this kind of popular fare more often?

Sample/Buy William Calhoun's "Room 229" on the RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 2 CD.

5. “I’m On Fire” -----J.B. Hendricks

Extremely contagious dance jam--and the best yet--from a young Southern Soul artist hailing from the Shreveport, Louisiana area. Hendricks (the initials stand for Junior Bruce) charted on Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For APRIL 2011 with "Back Door Quarterback." He has three previous albums released on CD Baby: 2008's Life After Love (recently co-opted by T.K. Soul), 2009's Welcome to J.B.'s Playhouse and 2011's "Pimpin' Ain't Easy.

Listen to J.B. Hendricks singing “I’m On Fire” on YouTube.

6. “She’s Been Good"----Jr. Blu

Here's a David Ruffin-like vocal with sweet Van Morrison-style saxophone fills (double harmony lines, no less!) that should come as a revelation to all those producers who rely to a fault on the same old, tired horn programming. A new artist to watch!

Listen to Jr. Blu singing “She’s Been Good” on YouTube.

Sample/Buy "She's Been Good To Me" Single on Jr. Blu's Tru Blu CD.

7. “He Won’t Leave His Wife”------Adrena

“Now I’m pissed off
And turned on at the same time.”

Great line....by songwriter Luther Lackey, no less. He's devised an answer song to Adrena’s and Nellie "Tiger" Travis's “Another Woman’s Man,” which charted #1 on Daddy B. Nice's Top Ten Singles Review for March 2013 (beating out Nellie's "Mr. Sexy Man" at #2).

Listen to Adrena and Nellie “Tiger” Travis singing “Another Woman’s Man” on YouTube.

Adrienne "Adrena" Ervin is available for track dates and promo tours. Contact her at Email:
adrienne69331@bellsouth.net

....And by the way, this is the best treatment of a Luther Lackey project since the eponymous musician "retired" a year ago. At last he's found an artist strong enough to take over one of his songs.

Sample/Buy Adrena’s “He Won’t Leave His Wife” at CD Baby.

8. “The End Of The Rainbow”------------Raw Shaw

Along with Ellis Blake of Soul Unlimited, Lewis "Raw Shaw" Shaw is one of the current great "interpreters" of contemporary Southern Soul. He made a name for himself covering Lina's "I Won't Let My Baby Down," and now he turns to McKinley Mitchell's classic.

From his new album Feeling Soulful.

Listen to Raw Shaw singing “The End Of The Rainbow” on YouTube.

Listen to the original: McKinley Mitchell singing “The End Of The Rainbow” on YouTube.

Sample/Buy Raw Shaw's "The End Of The Rainbow" single and his FEELING SOULFUL CD.

9. “Rehab Ain’t Working”-------Avail Hollywood

Thankfully, the maturing Avail is still connected in a primal way to his libido. Nor has he lost his touch for durable grooves.

Listen to Avail Hollywood singing “Rehab Ain’t Working” on YouTube.

10. “Born To Sing Southern Soul Blues”-------Sir Jonathan Burton

....And also bringing the requisite passion and autobiographical detail to his work: the “I-was-born-in-Jersey” Jonathan Burton. From his new CD.

Sample/Buy Sir Jonathan Burton's "Born To Sing Southern Soul Blues" single on his new OTHERSHIP CONNECTION CD.



Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For. . .

----------MAY 2014------------

1. "Here In The South" -------Big John Cummings

"Everybody's talking about the Dirty South."

How I wish I could play this for you on YouTube! And if the song dies it will only be from lack of exposure, because it's the best, low-key, country-sounding single since "Mississippi Boy" and the first great surprise single of 2014. I could even see Bigg Robb doing a super-charged cover version.

Technically, it came out last year on the Ecko compilation, Blues Mix 11: Sweet Soul Blues. Read more about it on Daddy B. Nice's Corner News & Notes April 13, 2014, #4.

With extended shout-outs to southern soul artists, cities and radio stations.

Sample/Buy John Cummings' "Here In The South" mp3.

2. "Do You Feel (Like Partying Tonight)"--------Sir Charles Jones & Willie Clayton

With expectations high, duets are almost always a little disappointing, but this collaboration defies the odds: it's the two right superstars at the right time, ready and willing to give one other unconditional respect. Both are in awesome vocal form, performing vocal acrobatics (like kids on a trampoline) over the robust and resonant rhythm track.

Sample/Buy Sir Charles Jones' and Willie Clayton's "Do You Feel" mp3.

3. "City Life"-------Lady E. (Rita Monroe)

Man, this lady is in love with her southern soul. (See April's #3 Single "Candy Licker.") Now she does a cover of "Mississippi Boy" and knocks the boots off the Will T. classic with a great, bass-heavy rhythm track, a riff reminiscent of Joy's "Cuttin' Up Sideways" and lyrics that wryly convey city doings--

"I'm just a city girl.
I wear an executive suit.
I'm just a city girl.
Right here begins my route."

--lyrics, by the way, that morph into a "Let's Get It On" chorus. Did I mention a sly and surprisingly seasoned vocal?

Listen to Lady E. singing "City Life" on YouTube.

4. "Caught Up In Doing Wrong"-----------T.K. Soul

Your Daddy B. Nice told you this new T.K. Soul album was going to be outstanding. Here's another choice cut, a ballad situated somewhere between "You Ring My Bell" and "Rehab" in the T.K. Soul canon. Prime territory, in other words, with transparent emotion delivered through scintillating production. If you listen to it once and think, "So what?," listen to it twice and you'll think different.

Listen to T.K. Soul singing "Caught Up In Doing Wrong" on YouTube.

Sample/Buy T.K. Soul's "Caught Up In Doing Wrong" mp3 or LIFE AFTER LOVE CD.

5. "Pay Before You Lay"------------Betty Padgett

Come one and come all, you blues purists and old-school fanatics. Listen to someone with the chops of Tina Turner in the flesh, in the present time period: a powerful singer singing a powerful song.

And to the southern soul homeys.... This might be Betty's best since "Never Coming Home."

Sample/Buy Betty Padgett's "Pay Before You Lay" mp3.

Sample/Buy Ricky White's Combination sampler from which it is taken.


(BROKEN OFF BY DADDY B. NICE'S APRIL-MAY SURGERIES...)

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Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For. . .

----------APRIL 2014------------

1. ”Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That”-------Karen Wolfe featuring Nelson Curry

Your Daddy B. Nice has been encouraging Karen to branch out and do something "different," and this is what I'm talking about. It's a revelation listening to her fronting a bad-assed real live band. It's a Nelson Curry/Klass production all the way. Nevertheless, it’s all Karen on the vocals, representing the ultimate, band-fronting, female southern-soul singer. (Curry wisely cameos near the end.)

Listen to Karen Wolfe feat. Nelson Curry singing “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That.”

2. “Cat Daddy”--------Billy “Soul” Bonds

Bonds is becoming an “institution” for a very small number of people, meaning the locals and insiders lucky enough to hear his scantly-marketed music. This ongoing installment in the kitty-cat saga is a routine, easy-going bar-blues, but Bonds’ witty lyrics and sugary vocal transform it into something with much wider appeal. Malaco is supposed to be releasing the upcoming Billy “Soul” Bonds album, but with anticipation so high (as with Queen Emily) the process seems glacially slow.

3. ”Candy Licker”-----------Lady E (Rita Monroe)

Based not on Marvin Sease’s “Candy Licker” but “Hoochie Momma,” which was always the stronger tune musically, but “candylicker’ will always be the operative catch word for Sease’s ouevre. This is a snappy, seductive retooling of the classic with an outstanding arrangement.

Listen to Rita Monroe singing “Candy Licker” on YouTube.

Listen to the man himself, Marvin Sease, singing “Hoochie Momma” Live Onstage.

4. ”Diamond In The Middle” ------------David Brinston

Just when you think the genre has exhausted all the possibilities for sexual double entendres (i.e. "stand up in it," "rock that man in the boat," "beat it up,"), we’re surprised with yet another: "diamond in the middle," which certainly strikes your Daddy B. Nice as both vivid and appropriate. If David Brinston’s one-of-a-kind vocal were any more ravaged and tattered, it'd blow away in the wind.

Sample/Buy David Brinston's “Diamond In The Middle” mp3 and BACK ON TRACK CD.

5. ”I Wanna Party”-----------David J.

Very rawly arranged and mixed, but it’s a primal dance groove, and David J.’s vocal is bursting with possibilities. I hear echoes of southern soul singers past in his especially evocative verses.

Listen to ”I Wanna Party” by David J. on YouTube.

6. ”Party At The Trail Ride”----------Stephanie McDee

Produced by Terry 100% Cotton, Stephanie McDee’s latest catches her in typical, hard-hitting, husky-voiced, no-frills-WWE form. From her upcoming album, T.C.B. (TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS).

Listen to Stephanie McDee singing “Party At The Trail Ride.”

7. “Da Boot Scoot Remix”-----------Jeter Jones featuring Cupid

Jeter Jones is another in a fascinating line of Louisiana singers, with a suede-soft vocal style similar to Tucka and Cupid. Producer Eric “Smidi” Smith (Chuck Roberson, Peggy Scott-Adams, Bobby Jones) helps facilitate his southern soul debut. Indeed, “Boot Scoot” recycles the very same “Smidi” instrumental track Bobby Jones used in his 2011 “Ain’t Got No Proof” single. “Smidi” himself responds to some of the issues in Daddy B. Nice’s review of the CD in Daddy B. Nice’s Mailbag.

Listen to Jeter Jones singing "Da Boot Scoot" on YouTube. (This is the original. The remix is not posted on YouTube as of this date (4/5/14).)

8. ”(Party) ‘Til The Sunrise” ------Chris Ardoin

Forgotten in the commentary about zydeco’s inroads into southern soul is southern soul’s inroads into zydeco—for example, this appealing party tune by Chis Ardoin, the singer/accordionist from one of zydeco’s most storied families.

Listen to Chris Ardoin singing “(Party) ‘Til The Sunrise on ReverbNation.

Sample/Buy Chris Ardoin’s “Till The Sunrise.”

9.“Serious Love”----------Keri featuring John Cummings

The Percy Friends-written "Serious Love" showcases the silky-voiced but seldom-heard southern soul singer Keri, whose lone single "Borrowed Time" charted on Daddy B. Nice's Top 10: April 2007.

Sample/Buy Keri feat. John Cummings' “Serious Love” on Cumming’s BACK ON THE GRIND CD.

10. ”If He Won’t, I Will”---------Black Diamond featuring J. Red

J. Red is Theodis Ealey’s “nephew,” who co-sung last year’s “Keep On Dancing” with the “stand-up-in-it” man.

Listen to J. Red and Black Diamond singing “If He Won’t, I Will” on YouTube.

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Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For. . .

----------MARCH 2014------------

1. "Looking For A Lady"-------------------T.K. Soul

Dare we say....the Return of T.K. Soul?

In a case similar to the late Michael Jackson’s, the real T.K. Soul, while recording a “stepping” song in 2012, was abducted and replaced by aliens. The aliens co-opted the song, the album (Ghetto Superstar) and Soul’s body until—in 2014—unable to withstand a ten-minute trance during which TK played “Where I’m From” over and over, the invaders’ heads exploded just like the Martians in “Mars Attacks” when they heard yodeling country music.

Happily for Southern Soul fans, the survivors returned to their own galaxy and a rejuvenated T.K. Soul penned the instant classic “Looking For A Lady”--not to mention the superb new album surrounding it--in one dazzling swoop of pent-up inspiration.

Listen to T.K. Soul singing "I'm Looking For A Lady" on MySpace.

Sample/Buy T.K. Soul's "Looking For A Lady" mp3 or LIFE AFTER LOVE CD.

2. "Miss Apple Cheeks"-------------------Stevie J.

I wish I could sift through every artist’s slush pile for overlooked gems like this southern soul/zydeco hybrid. “Miss Apple Cheeks” has the ambience of an artist recording a “throwaway,” an experiment, and just having fun. The take is short and loose (another reason to love it), and Stevie J deserves credit for getting it on the album.

Listen to Stevie J. singing "Miss Apple Cheeks" on Kim Cole Presents.

Buy "Miss Apple Cheeks" mp3 or UNSTOPPABLE CD.

3. "Arkansas Caramel"-----------------John Cummings

Now this is southern soul. It’s so hard to describe, yet so instantly recognizable. Reminds me of Karen Wolfe’s “Man Enough.” This is that mid-tempo, sweet-spot heart of southern r&b courtesy of James L. Cain's rhythm track and guitar sound. And kudos on the vocal by longtime songwriter Cummings (Jaye Hammer's "Soul Train Dancer," O.B. Buchana's "I'm Goin' Back Home," Rick Lawson's "This Is The Party," Sheba Potts-Wright's "Lipstick On His Pants," Joy's "Cuttin' Up Sideways," Ms. Jody's "I Never Take A Day Off" and his own "Outside Man" (2010).

Buy John Cumming's "Arkansas Caramel" mp3 or BACK ON THE GRIND CD.

4. “Don’t Blame The Man”--------Walt Luv feat. Roy C.

Yes, it’s the little-heard--outside of the Carolinas--Roy C. classic, Don't Blame The Man," all "souped-up" with Roy C. himself on-board both background and live. No slouch himself as a singer, Walt Luv’s Clarence Carter-styled voice-overs in particular mesh with Roy C.’s vintage tone to create something sweetly humorous. Luv does for "Don't Blame The Man" what Bigg Robb did for Carl Marshall's "Good Lovin'."

Note: The current (3/2/14) YouTube offerings for this song mistakenly label the original Roy C version as the new Walt Luv/Roy C version.

5. "When We Lie"---------Omar Cunningham feat. Wendell B.

The dazzling, just-out-of-the-body-shop arrangement and the show-stopping vocals by Omar and Wendell, not to mention intricate male and female voice-overs and backgrounds, are state-of-the-art, Billboard R&B caliber.

Listen to Omar Cunningham and Wendell B. singing "When We Lie."

6. "Ms. Jody's Boogie Slide" ----------------Ms. Jody

Just your basic, 21st-century Ms. Jody dance jam, with yours truly holding the microphone and dancing barefooted onstage.

Listen to Ms. Jody singing "Ms. Jody's Boogie Slide" on YouTube.

Buy Bargain-Priced Ms. Jody's IT'S ALL ABOUT ME CD.

Buy even cheaper digital version (mp3 or full album).

7. "Superman" ("I Wanna Be Your Superman")--------LaMorris Williams

Like LaMorris Williams' "You Bad," December 13's #1 song (See Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "Breaking" Southern Soul Singles-2013), I first heard "Superman" on Jackson, Mississippi's WMPR. In fact, I first heard the soothing melody from "Superman" as a bump LaMorris did for DJ Handyman, who dutifully plays it every afternoon. Neither song has been officially released yet.

8. “It’s On Me”-----------Floyd Taylor feat. Mel Waiters, Simeo

By now, you’ve probably heard of Floyd Taylor’s death, so you know this song will be released “posthumously.” Your Daddy B. Nice thought of Floyd Taylor as a “young” guy, so it’s baffling.

The Simeo Overall-written song is one in a recent trend of "what-a-man-can-do-for-a-woman-financially" songs, i.e. Chuck Strong's "Can I Spend Some Money On You?" and LaMorris Williams' "It's Whatever (You Want)." The great Mel Waiters cameos.

9. “Celebrate Cho’ Day”----------Wendell B.

I hardly ever hear (and have never received) Wendell B's music, so I'm not sure if this song has already cycled through; I’m just getting into it. Wendell B. grafts fluid melody lines onto lively rhythm tracks. He's got the unique, Vandross-ian voice. This is the best thing yet from his newest CD. You could clean your house to this record.

3/4/14 Update, DBN notes: I take back what I said at the outset. Quite by coincidence, I came across a "promo" copy of this very Wendell B. tune I received in 2013. I guess I whiffed.

Listen to Wendell B. singing "Celebrate Cho' Day" on MySpace.

Buy Wendell B's "Celebrate Cho' Day mp3 or GET TO KNOW ME CD.

10. “Tragic Love”----------David Brinston

This is brand new David Brinston getting back to his roots, vocally-speaking. Like an old Fredrick Brinson. (That’s a joke.) But there’s truth in the fact that at their best, both the young artist and the old artist convey weathered wisdom and strafed vulnerability. Thumbs up for the (some-might-say-amateurish) female background: it fits in with the overall strangeness.

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(CLICK HERE FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY TOP TEN SINGLES.)