​Almost a year ago, the fourth volume appeared in the 'Rockin' Soul Party' series, which is now being followed up with volume 5. The 30 tracks that make up this compilation date from the period 1957-1963 and are actually the forerunners of the genre that was later defined as 'soul' and that inspired a label like Tamla Motown.
Expect uptempo soul, compelling soul, soulful doo-wop and rhythm & blues.
We can't help it either, but honesty compels us to warmly recommend the fifth volume in the 'Rockin' Soul Party' as well. Enjoy it!

​Internationally acclaimed artists, American soul-blues singer Annika Chambers and Canadian Blues-rocker Paul DesLauriers have unified their personal and artistic destiny. After a brief introduction in Memphis at the 2018 International Blues Challenge, they met again at a 2019 recording session and got married in August of that year. Now they have come together to create a powerful, soulfully rocking album that’s an inspiration and a balm for life in today’s world. GOOD TROUBLE started as Pandemic therapy, as newlyweds Annika and Paul got together with guitarist JP Soars and drummer Chris Peet in Peet’s Florida home studio. The collaboration grew and blossomed.

Multi-award winning blues and soul diva Shemekia Copeland is promoting her powerful and groundbreaking new album 'Done Come Too Far' this summer, on the renowned Chicago blues label Alligator Records. It is the sequel to 2019's groundbreaking 'America's Child' and to 2020's Grammy-nominated 'Uncivil War'. It is a reflection of her vision of America's past, present and future. In her songs she translates the hard musical, and often personal, truths. That of a young American black woman, who is also a mother and wife. But Shemekia also likes to have a good time, which is reflected in her musicianship.  Shemekia Copeland has probably realized one of her most differentiated albums. And that characterizes her musical progress. Highly recommended…

​All in all, the album is a perfect combination of styles and genres, old and new, hi-fi and lo-fi, but the sound is still unique Chicken Grass. The more you listen to the album, the more it grows on you. You can hear the depth of the songs and the experience of the band with each playthrough. The band gets inspiration from different styles of Afro-American rhythm music: funk, soul, hip hop and jazz. ‘Chicken Grass’ out on CD / Digital on July 1st 2022 via Cattrack Records.

'Ecstasy' is the code word for the fourth entry to Sadie's Gentlemen's Club, where DJ Mark Armstrong will get you in the right mood with 30 appropriate tracks. As soon as you enter, a true artist will be resounding through the immense speakers. None other than Ray Charles welcomes you with the classic 'Hit The Road Jack'. And so it goes on at high level for more than 1 hour. Rhythm & blues, rock 'n' roll and soul of the best kind fill 'Visit 04, Ecstasy' in the more than fantastic series 'Sadie's Gentlemen's Club'. Highly recommended!

He certainly had one of the most beautiful voices in soul, gospel and rhythm & blues and became known to the general public for the song 'Wonderful World'. Sam Cooke was born on January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was barely 15 when he became a member of the gospel group The Soul Stirrers. He stayed with until 1957 when he recorded his first album named after him for Keen Records. Cooke left the label two years later due to royalties. In 1960 he signed with RCA Victor. From then on, Sam composed blues and gospel-inspired songs.
This compilation contains 20 solo recordings by Cooke, 5 recordings from two different formations of The Soul Stirrers, of which one formation with Cooke as lead singer. These are supplemented with 1 track by The Falcons, 1 by The Simms Twins and 1 by Johnnie Taylor, each with a Cooke composition.
'Movin' and Groovin' with Sam Cooke' is without a doubt a formidable release in 'Koko Mojo's Spotlight Series'. An album that beautifully reflects Cooke's musical evolution in an excellent sound. You may already have a 'best of' by Sam Cooke on your shelf, but this compilation with songs that may not sound so familiar to you, should be next to it without apologies. An absolute winner!

​Although he is often only known for his hit ‘Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)’, Jackie Wilson had a lot more arrows on his musical bow. This compilation will certainly convince you of that. Jackie Leroy Wilson, born on June 9, 1934, already had a decent musical career before his big hit. In 1953, he replaced that other great artist, Clyde McPhatter, as lead singer on Billy Ward's Dominoes. Jackie had just turned 19 at the time of joining. He stayed with Ward until 1957, after which he resolutely opted for a solo career. That choice was immediately sealed with 'Reet Petite', which brought him instant world fame. The title ‘Mr. Excitement' he acquired through his live performances, but the fact that he effortlessly switched from rhythm & blues to rock 'n' roll and later to soul, makes that title even more important. Musically he was one of the greatest, but privately it did not always run smoothly. Like his father, Jackie was also a heavy drinker. His second wife fired twice at him and three of his children died at a young age. He had to pay for his stressful lifestyle on September 29, 1975, when he had a heart attack on stage and ended up with his head on stage equipment. Severe brain damage left him in a coma until his death on January 21, 1984. Jackie Wilson turned 49. His immense popularity is evident from the fact that none other than Michael Jackson paid for Wilson's funeral.
The 28 tracks on this album, spanning the period from 1953 to 1963, give an extremely beautiful picture of Jackie Wilson's immeasurable talent. The first six tracks, recorded for Federal, highlight his time with Billy Ward and The Dominoes and are rhythm & blues related, culminating in the somewhat jazzy feel and doo-wop laced 'St. Louis Blues'. What follows are 19 songs that Wilson recorded under his own name. His mega hit 'Reet Petite' tops the list, but the other songs are certainly not inferior to this. Listen for example to the sublime swinging 'If I Can't Have You', the energetic rocken 'Right Now!', the cheerful 'So Much' or 'Sazzle Dazzle', 'Love Train' that showcases Jackie's vocal range and the majestic 'Baby Workout'.
These are randomly chosen tracks, because every song is like a finely cut diamond. Songs that can all boast of excellent and formidably performed arrangements.
The last three tracks are reserved for duets that Jackie recorded with Linda Hopkins in 1962 and 1963. Fantastic songs by an impressive duo!
The fact that the tenor Jackie Wilson had an enormous vocal range, rightly puts this album in the spotlights, and don't forget that this album, traditionally with Koko-Mojo, is once again bathed in a sublimely remastered sound. An absolute must!

​This debut album, which will be released on the Belly Up Records/Blue Élan Records label, is produced by Chris Goldsmith. It's colored in with ten classic soul and R&B rave-ups. 'Let's Straighten It Out'  features versions of songs by Billy Preston, Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, Shuggie Otis and Latimore. The album was recorded in just five busy days with mostly live canned versions. Most of the songs embrace a love theme that impressed when they were originally released and are still relevant today. Sully's soulful, heartfelt vocals cross the horn section and guitar tunes. Bob 'Sully' Sullivan and Rebecca Jade alternate vocals, which makes for impressive sounds. A tight rhythm section, soulful excellent vocals, horn section and excellent musicians. Soulful and sparkling…!

​This Nashville Indie Recording Artist and Mississippi Soul Singer will rattle the rafters with her powerhouse vocals and rockin' soulful band. The record ‘Rise’ is already her fourth collaboration with Nashville-based producer Walter Scott. The release was partly recorded in Nashville and New Orleans, and diverges from blues ballads, Crescent City spirited tunes and a handsome jazzy ballad. Highly recommended release!

​If the name Charlie McCoy doesn't sound familiar to you right away, there's a good chance that you'll find his achievements in your record collection without knowing it. After all, a visit to his website introduces you to an immense list of celebrities to whom Charlie has provided musical assistance. Among them are Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Steve Miller, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings…..and we could fill several more lines. Not surprising because McCoy is a multi-instrumentalist. When his mother gave him a harmonica as a little boy, it was the start of a glorious career. Later, Charlie taught himself to play guitar, bass, percussion, organ, sax and tuba. In 1941 he was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, but for health reasons he grew up in Miami. In 1961, Charlie's big break came. Chet Atkins heard him play and immediately hired him as a harmonica player and session musician. The 1970s gave Charlie's success a huge boost. He was heard on more than 400 recordings and in 2009 he was honored in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
With this compilation, the Bear Family label focuses on McCoy's early years, long before he became a celebrated country artist. The album contains recordings that he made in his own name, but also as Charlie McCoy & The Escorts or The Gas Lantern and this in the period 1961 – 1969. Charlie's talent and craftsmanship also make him feel various musical styles like no other. The album naturally contains enthusiastic rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues, blues and soul. In this way he works his way through a number of songs that have become classics. His unique harmonica playing is soon reflected in 'Gimme Some Lovin'', with which The Spencer Davis Group scored or 'Shot Gun' known from Jr. Walker, where he replaces the sax with the harmonica with verve. Masterfully he lets the harmonica sound on 'Harpoon Man'.
Also extremely beautiful versions of Little Walters 'Juke', 'My Babe', the rousing soulful 'Turn On Your Lovelight', Orbison's 'Candy Man', the poppy 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' by The Shirelles, Muddy Waters' ' I'm Ready' and The Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations', here in an instrumental harmonica version, just to name a few, but actually all tracks are absolute toppers. Charlie himself provided the foreword, after which Daryl Sanders elaborates on Charlie's career and his discography in the liner notes. Traditionally, everything is again illustrated with beautiful photos.
Screamin', Shoutin', Beggin', Pleadin'' by Charlie McCoy & The Escorts is an album of 29 captivating tracks, which sublimely showcases the talent of the young McCoy. A must without a doubt!

​For volume 23, entitled 'Rough Lover', we prick our ears for the third time to the rocking rhythm & blues from Tennessee and Arkansas. There is still so much to discover from that region, so this compilation contains a great mix of electric blues and rousing boogies with the piano in the lead. The region was a hotbed of talent and as a result produced a large number of well-known artists. So it makes sense that Big Maybelle, Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Slim, Jimmy McCracklin, Aretha Franklin, Rosco Gordon and Joe Hill Louis, to name just a few, can be found on this compilation.
Like every volume in the 'Southern Bred' series, volume 23 is again full of catchy rhythm & blues, blues, soul and rock 'n' roll at the highest level.
You want more? Just a little patience, because volume 24 entitled 'Dippin' Is My Business' is scheduled for release on February 25.

​This debut album by Jamie Musuva & The Numbers is a nice surprise from New Zealand. It contains original material plus a few covers. Northern soul or acoustic soul, it’s all here, and a nice discovery for soul fans!

​Cornell CC Carter shines as well in up-tempo as in mid-tempo songs and ballades. He’s really an all-round soul singer! He never loses the feeling of old school soul. A must have for soul fans!

​Lady A has a sultry and sexy voice timbre that is so fitting for her intended sound. Lady A has recorded many styles of blues, funk, soul, and gospel, but for this album, she wanted to capture the authentic Seattle Blues-Soul sound that she delivers when she hits the stage. Lady A has truly lived up to her moniker as "The Hardest Workin' Woman in  Blues, Soul, Funk & Gospel"
Highly recommended release…!

Ericson Holt is an ordinary man, just like you and me, but a hell of a singer-songwriter.  His clear voice, his natural feeling for soul…and his bright piano playing. Recommended!

​The ninth rock and roll commandment deals with the break-up of love and the return to being single. Responses can range from ‘I don’t care’ to ‘Darling come back’. Reactions that can also be found in the 30 songs selected by Mark Armstrong that fill this disc.
Rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues, doo-wop and soul are abundantly present and again all 30 tracks are toppers. It is also a tradition that only killers are selected for compilations at the Atomicat label. Soon you will read on this site the review of the tenth and final commandment that commands 'Shun Immoral Behaviour, We'll Raise A Ruckus Tonight'. Watch out!

​Contemporary soul from France with roots in the past. A mixture of deep soul, Northern dance and soul from the legendary Hi studios, with a dash of New York hip hop. Rather nice!

​Now there's Malford Milligan's new pitch 'I was A Witness' on the Suburban Records label. Milligan quickly entered the studio together with some top Dutch musicians. Jack Hustinx took the producer's chair and also provides some songs with his acoustic strings. Roel Spanjers (Hammond B3, piano, accordion), guitarist Eric van Dijsseldonk, drummer/percussionist Fokke de Jong and bassist Roelof Klijn form The Southern Aces. Milligan really has a heavenly soul throat. Malford Milligan preaches himself as an intelligent and talented soul preacher. But one with style, with class

​Luca Kiella is an energetic blues, soul and funky singer-songwriter. He is also a Hammond organ and piano virtuoso, who is also sailed with a heavenly throat. Luca recently won an award and is now promoting his second release. The record, which was recorded in Chicago, has a lot of southern accents. It is the successor to the successful EP 'Figure It Out' from 2019.
Bring on the gumbo now.. Great stuff!

​A debut album from Italian singer Mariva Cory with only covers of very well know soul and R&B songs. The Lo Greco Bros. took care of the production, and add some jazz influences. Recommended. 

​This is how Memphis soul should always sound. Unadulterated, uncut. Rodd Bland has managed to put together a very soulful band. In barely six songs he convinces us of the rich oeuvre of his father 'the late great Bobby 'Blue' Bland. What an honor, what a musical tribute..!

​This album needs an introduction, which certainly sheds a different light on many of the songs bundled here. During World War II, a large number of African/American men were also conscripted. Many of them hoped that their fighting in the US military would give their status after the end of the war a serious upgrade. This became reality for a few of them, but the majority of them were still just as at the bottom of the social ladder as they were before their participation in the violence of war. After all, they fought for a country that discriminated them but also denied them basic needs.
Through 28 songs, this album pays tribute to these African/American soldiers, whose role in World War II, in Korea and in Vietnam was just as important as that of their white combatants.
Of all these tracks, Prince Love & His Royal Knights articulate the best of what everyone wants. "Don't Want No War"!
'Soldier Boy' is not only an album with a commendable theme, the downright beautiful blues, soul and doo-wop also make the album an absolute must.

The marketing of the 'Popcorn Blues Party' volumes was the impetus for The Mojo Man to start this 'Popcorn Story' series. Long before the genre was given the name 'Popcorn', the music described as such already existed. Belgium may be a small country, but in this it was big. After all, this music owes its name to the square farm in Vrasene, near Antwerp, which has been converted into 'Dancing Popcorn'. Popcorn is a genre that is still very attractive today. The reason for this can be found in the quality of the songs. After all, the black rhythm & blues of the mid-20th century stands head and shoulders above the other music genres from that period. It is often difficult to find the real Popcorn classics on CD or vinyl. It is therefore commendable that the Koko-Mojo label now bundles a number of those high-flyers. On this first volume you will already find 28 tracks that have the 'real Popcorn vibe'. Exciting black rhythm & blues, soul and rocking rhythm & blues at a high level!
We are already looking forward to volume 2, which is planned for release on October 1.

​A strong debut album from an unknown angle. Proof that there is still plenty of unknown talent hidden!

​A debut album that fits perfectly with nostalgic soul lovers. Great to hear that sound again. And PM Warson is coming to the Netherlands in November for three shows.