Daddy B. Nice’s Top 10 “BREAKING” Southern Soul Singles Preview

TOP 10 JANUARY 2019

 1.  “Down Low Brother” – Val McKnight

Vivacious Val delivers a vocal so unique and unprecedented it eclipses the original recorded by the gritty Barbara Carr, whose X-rated catalog makes today’s divas look like choir girls. The tale of a woman discovering her husband with another man was one of a wave of “he-turned-out-be-gay” tunes recorded in the wake of the resounding success of Peggy Scott-Adams’ “Bill”. From Val’s new Stroke That Cat album.

Listen to Val McKnight singing “Down Low Brother” on YouTube.

2. “Whipped Again” – O.B. Buchana & Big Pokey Bear

I’m encouraged when old stars (Buchana) mingle with new stars (Pokey Bear). It gives continuity to the music, bestowing legitimacy on the new star and sprinkling relevance like fairy dust on the old star. Also can’t say enough about the crisp but charmingly modest production on both “Down Low Brother” and “Whipped Again” by John Ward; you wouldn’t know either one was an Ecko project. From the Memphis studio’s new sampler, Blues Mix Volume 27.

Listen to O.B. & Pokey singing “Whipped Again” on YouTube.

3. “Big Train” – Tucka

As a vocalist, Tucka is quite simply unsurpassed, and the driving acoustic-guitar sound of this tune and the Working With The Feeling album as a whole is intoxicating.

Listen to Tucka singing “Big Train” on YouTube.

4. “Wrong Man (Highway Heavy Mix)” – Fya Redd

The two best new producers in southern soul music both work out of Baton Rouge. They’re fierce competitors and they both rely primarily on the organ/keyboard for their instrumental sound. Beat Flippa is the more well-known, but Highway Heavy (Pokey Bear, Cold Drank, Johnny James) is rapidly making a name for himself, lacking only his name on an album cover. This slinky ballad is a nice change-up after the freneticism of Johnny James.

Listen to Fya Redd singing “I’m In Bed With The Wrong Man” on YouTube.

5. “This Woman Of Mine” – Lamar Brace

Strong new vocalist who turned some heads with last year’s “Rock Me, Baby” returns with an even more accomplished bid at a southern soul hit single.

Listen to Lamar Brace singing “This Woman Of Mine” on Number One Music.

6. “Make Me Wanna Do Wrong” – Tucka

The Pied Piper of Louisiana will add to his long caravan of fans with this ratcheted-down, reggae-rhythm-section-dominated gem.

Listen to Tucka singing “Make Me Wanna Do Wrong” on YouTube.

7. “Blues Heaven” – Jaye Hammer

The blues belter does it Johnny Taylor “Soul Heaven” style. From Blues Mix Volume 27.

Listen to Jaye Hammer singing “Blues Heaven” on YouTube.

8. “Don’t Stop Stepping” – Sassy D. featuring Mr. Amazing Prince Of Blues

Listen to Sassy D and Mr. Amazing singing “Don’t Stop Stepping” on YouTube.

9. “Step Just Because” – Stacii Adams

Listen to Stacii Adams singing “Step Just Because” on YouTube.

10. “In The Club” – 2 Buck Chuck

Listen to 2 Buck Chuck singing “In The Club” on YouTube.