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

Top 10 Southern Soul Singles – April 2024

1. “This Is Texas”—Ciddy Boi P

Country music influ-
ences continue to waft like fresh breeze through southern soul. Ciddy Boi P, who had a down year in ’23 after a resounding debut in ’22, recorded “This Is Texas” as a reply to Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” but it’s much more than that. The “ying-ying-ying-ying” man’s very heart and soul course through this testament with an emotive power that dwarfs his more formulaic southern soul tunes, and at under three minutes you’ll want to play it over and over, soaking up the man’s inspiring and unbounding love for his life and land.

Listen to Ciddy Boi P. singing “This Is Texas” on YouTube.

2. “It’s Over”—-King George

Well, it’s time to cede the throne to King George. He is the #1 artist in southern soul. Yes, he has only two solo albums to his credit, but if you look at his oeuvre from the standpoint of hit singles, no one else comes close. Whereas most artists have maybe one hit single per album, every track King George records is a hit single—even “It’s Over,” his own toned-down version of “country”-style southern soul. See Daddy B. Nice’s #1: King George: The Greatest Hits.

Listen to King George singing “It’s Over” on YouTube.

3. “Keep Pushing”—-West Love

I first experienced this tune on YouTube as part of a newly-posted, ten-minute-long, inspirational two-song video entitled “Reach and Keep Pushing” (“Keep Pushing only starting around the seven-minute mark) and was so impressed I resolved to recommend it not only to fans but to West Love for commercial release. Then, while looking for an alternative YouTube link just now for publication, I discovered a “Keep Pushing” video released by one Kelsie West five years before she became famous as West Love—a self-fulfilling classic!

Listen to West Love singing “Keep Pushing” on YouTube.

4. “Puttin’ In Work”—-Mr. Jimmy

New blood rejuvenating the sound of old-school southern soul. Authoritatively sung, authoritatively produced (Shuga Rai).

Listen to Mr. Jimmy singing “Puttin’ In Work” on YouTube.

5. “I Gotta Leave Home”—–Mr. Laidback

More new blood for southern soul. “I Gotta Leave Home” (produced by Tony Tatum) sounds like it was recorded yesterday but actually has been wandering in the musical wilderness since 2022. Mr. Laidback recorded a tune (“She Got Me Trippin'”) with Tyree Neal (this month’s featured artist) in 2020 and I found a citation for Mr. Laidback in my own Comprehensive Index dating back to 2014.

Listen to Mr. Laidback singing “I Gotta Leave Home” on YouTube.

6. “Swing My Way”—-LaMorris Williams

Trivia question. Who is the only current southern soul artist to have recorded a southern soul song with Al Green? That’s right, LaMorris Williams. “Swing My Way’s” light—but it grows on you. From the Rumors album.

Listen to LaMorris Williams singing “Swing My Way” on YouTube.

7. “Do You!”—-Big Nick J

Afficionados will decry the embarrassing appropriation of the opening bars of Marcellus The Singer’s “Until We Meet,” which just charted #1 three months ago, but after that misstep it’s all smooth sailing for this competent young vocalist through some of the sweetest, mid-tempo, southern soul since Terry Wright, Stan Mosley of “Rock Me” and the slow-rolling Love Doctor.

Listen to Big Nick J singing “Do You!” on YouTube.

8. “(He Ain’t Gon’) Do Right”—-Shae Nicole

Rousing debut by a singer who for a finale launches into a verse of electrifying falsetto like an instrumental track.

9. “Goin’ Jackie Neal (At The Zydeco)”—-Tyree Neal feat. Pokey Bear, C-Loc, Adrian Bagher, Johnny James & Bro Bro)

“Everyone takes an entertaining verse, Pokey giving obeisance to Jackie more vehemently than anyone. Adrian Bagher sings that when he first heard Raful Neal, Tyree’s uncle, at ten years old, he knew he wanted to be a blues man.” From Daddy B. Nice’s new review of Neal’s Liquor Talk.

Listen to Tyree Neal et.al. singing “Goin’ Jackie Neal” on YouTube.

10. “Ride It”—-Mikal feat. Angel Faye Russell

Mikal has an abrasive vocal tone that lends a gritty distinctiveness to the raucous back-and-forth between the couple, but the high point comes when Angel Faye sings “Auntie outside tonight! / I’ve got all of my bills paid.”

Listen to Mikal and Angel Faye Russell singing “Ride It” on YouTube.

Top 10 Southern Soul Singles – March 2024

1. “Red Cup Blues”—–Cecily Wilborn

Mark March 2024 as the month and year when country music invaded and dominated the southern soul top ten singles, and none leaped the genre boundaries with the breathtaking ease of Cecily Wilborn’s “Red Cup Blues”. The recent winner of the 17th Annual (2023) Southern Soul Award for Best Collaboration (“Southern Man” with West Love), Wilborn is also featured in last month’s “News & Notes” “Will Southern Soul Deejays Play Country-Western/Southern Soul?” on Daddy B. Nice’s Corner.

Listen to Cecily Wilborn singing “Red Cup Blues” on YouTube.

2. “Back Roads”—–GMB Li Curt feat. ShawtyMac

How close are southern soul and country? Deejays can segue seamlessly from gritty, ultra-bluesy “Mark You Off” by Miron Simpson (2023 Best Southern Soul Debut Nominee and Best Male Vocalist) into GMB Li Curt’s pure country music anthem, “Back Roads,” and vice versa. Like a tree toppling in the forest, “Back Roads” came and went without notice last year, although 58,000 hardy souls viewed it on YouTube with overwhelmingly enthusiastic comments. And as a southern soul fan, if you’re feeling a little ambivalent about enjoying a country song as much as I recounted myself doing in “Will Southern Soul Deejays Play Country-Western/Southern Soul?,” remember that southern soul made its post-disco revival in the mid-eighties with Z.Z. Hill’s “Down Home Blues,” considered “country-bluesy” at the time.

Listen to GMB Li Curt & ShawtyMac singing “Back Roads” on YouTube.

3. “Texas Hold ‘Em”—–Beyonce

Well, here’s the singer who made all this buzz about country music timely and relevant. Yes, Beyonce might be #1 nationally, but she’s #3 on the southern soul charts. And yes, Beyonce has charted here before, with Ronald Isley on “Make Me Say It Again”—September ’22 at #2 behind the Tucka/King George remix of “Jukebox Lover”. Ever notice how, like in “Make Me Say It Again” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Beyonce likes to play around with her endings—“prettify” them, so to speak—thus the ambient-music coda on “Texas Hold ‘Em”?

Listen to Beyonce singing “Texas Hold ‘Em” on YouTube.

4. “Come Over Baby”——Lady Redtopp feat. Bri Rocket

At first, not having taken to her slow songs, you might be taken aback. Stick with the unfamiliar, coy and clever vocal delivery and the fresh, pillow-soft instrumental track, however, and you’ll be rewarded with a whole new romantic side to this disarmingly original artist. See Lady Redtopp, 17th Annual Southern Soul Awards Triple Winner.

Listen to Lady Redtopp & Bri Rocket singing “Come Over Baby” on YouTube.

5. “Let’s Get Drunk”—–L.J. Echols

L.J. rents out O.B. Buchana’s most storied title, but once you settle down and get used to that you begin to glean that L.J.’s rediscovering his rhythmic acoustic mojo. I only wish he’d stuck more percussive, “Mad Dog 20-20”-like guitar-picking into the instrumental track.

Listen to L.J. Echols singing “Let’s Get Drunk” on YouTube.

6. “Church Girl”—–Tex James feat. Stan Butler

“I can’t make this shit up” is the line that’ll crack most people up (it did me) while enjoying this off-the-wall, guitar-dominated, hybrid blues.

Listen to Tex James and Stan Butler singing “Church Girl” on YouTube.

7. “You My Man”—–Jay Morris Group

This rare solo effort by K-Monique is a keeper and a harbinger of the exciting possibilities beckoning this extremely talented trio. See Daddy B. Nice’s 4-Star CD Review. Also see K-Monique Best Female Vocalist 2021.

Listen to the Jay Morris Group singing “You My Man” on YouTube.

8. “Party Tonight”—–P2K DaDiddy feat. Urban Mystic

Bassists, attention: this is a great bass line! And one of the best collaborations on P2K’s new guest-rich album, U-TURN. See Daddy B. Nice’s 4-Star CD Review.

9. “Lost And Found (Remix)”—–Volton Wright feat. Sir Charles Jones

(No YouTube at time of publication.)

10. “Going Out”—-Curt The Country Man feat. Countryboii Tye

Listen to “Going Out” on YouTube.

Top 10 Southern Soul Singles – February 2024

1. “Swing Out”—–West Love

It’s not even the best of the “Swing Outs,” a storied title going back to Mel Waiters’ “Swing Out Song,” but it’s an immediate winner, the perfect, mid-tempo showcase for the talent, skills and energy that have taken West Love to the top of southern soul diva-dom. See her many upcoming dates as a rare female headliner on the Blues Is Alright Tour. (See Daddy B. Nice’s Concert Calendar.)

Listen to West Love singing “Swing Out” on YouTube.

2. “In Front Of Me”—–The Jay Morris Group

Getting back into Jay Morris after King George is a mind-bender. The trio is so verbal—like going down a rabbit warren of conversations. One of my favorite couplets from this fascinating female take-off on “Sho’ Wasn’t Me” is: “Jay, that’s his co-worker. / They have lunch from time to time”. Sounds preposterous, doesn’t it? And yet it not only works but comes off as daring because it is something a woman in denial would really say.

Listen to the Jay Morris Group singing “In Front Of Me” on YouTube.

3. “You Baby”—–Marcellus The Singer feat. Cecily Wilborn

Another choice track from Marcellus The Singer’s upcoming album Calling All Crackbabies. His debut Music Therapy only arrived a few months ago, and his ballad “Until We Meet Again” was last month’s #1 single. And when, mid-song, Marcellus passes the mike to 2023 Award winner Cecily Wilborn, “You Baby” soars.

Listen to Marcellus and Cecily singing “You Baby” on YouTube.

4. “Crazy About You”—–Derek The Change Man Smith

You may have seen him appearing on upcoming concert venues. Here’s why. The man is a flat-out singer.

Listen to Derek The Change Man Smith singing “Crazy About You” on YouTube.

5. “Put It In Ya Life”—–Lil’ Runt feat. Jeter Jones

A little rap. A little zydeco. A heaping tablespoon of Jeter Jones. Blend to a fine puree for the ultimate dancefloor gumbo.

Listen to Lil’ Runt and Jeter Jones singing “Put It In Ya Life” on YouTube.

6. “Too Soon”—–Kandy Janai

This is the young artist whose debut Das My Kitty” reaped a half-million YouTube views last year. “Too Soon” is totally different—slow, sad, thoughtful, ironic. The key lyric is “I let him meet my kids.” That’s a touchstone for just about all of us, whether you’re on the female side of it or the male.

Listen to Kandy Janai singing “Too Soon” on YouTube.

7. “Love Bone”—–Donnie Ray

A resource that just keeps giving, Donnie Ray Aldredge has a keen nose for good material.

Listen to Donnie Ray singing “Love Bone” on YouTube.

8. “Yo Truck (Ain’t Better Than Mine)”—–Jeter Jones

Full disclosure. I’ve been driving full-sized trucks my entire adult life. Ergo, I think “Yo Truck” is a real hoot and a great song. A note of caution. Jeter is stretching some boundaries (and good for him) in the upcoming “Big Boss” EP from which “Yo Truck” comes, blending southern soul with hard-hitting rap and hardcore country-western.

Listen to Jeter Jones singing “Yo Truck (Ain’t Better Than Mine)” on YouTube.

9. “Let It Be Said”—–J. Lake

“A closed mouth don’t get fed.” J. Lake crafts a fine tune around a southern soul truism recently revisited by Bridget Shield.

Listen to J. Lake singing “Let It Be Said” on YouTube.

10. “Can I Get A Witness?”—–LaMorris Williams

The “Impala” man returns.

Listen to LaMorris Williams singing “Can I Get A Witness?” on YouTube.

Top 10 Southern Soul Singles – January 2024

1. “Until We Meet Again”—– Marcellus The Singer

This ballad deserves a place on southern soul’s top shelf alongside such slow jams as Sir Charles Jones’ “Just Another Love Song” (w/ La Keisha) and Big Robb’s “Good Loving Will Make You Cry” (w/ Carl Marshall). Nearly eight minutes long, it sails by, never grows repetitive and has every chance of becoming Marcellus’s breakthrough and signature song.

Listen to Marcellus The Singer singing “Until We Meet Again” on You Tube.

2. “Down In The Sippi”—– FaLisa JaNaye

FaLisa JaNaye has been inactive since the mid-teens—a cautionary note for performers who succumb to the cushy comforts of the European circuit. She returns to southern soul with this rousing jam, transformed both physically and vocally with a more robust and down-home style.

Listen to FaLisa JaNaye singing “Down In Sippi” on YouTube.

3. “Busted Cheating At The Holiday Inn”—– Mr. Midnight

This old and well-worn southern soul trope (“cheating at the motel or the inn”) actually sounds fresh after the avalanche of “trail ride” and “cowboy/cowgirl” singles of the last couple of years.

Listen to Mr. Midnight singing “Busted Cheating At The Holiday Inn” on YouTube.

4. “I Can’t Live Without You”—– Memphis Jackson

Memphis Jackson takes a big step forward with this well-wrought new single.

Listen to Memphis Jackson singing “I Can’t Live Without You” on YouTube.

5. “Party”—– Cecily Wilborn

The easy-to-listen-to newcomer who notched the #6 single—“Southern Man”—on Daddy B. Nice’s Top 25 Singles of 2023 drops another comely track with an intriguing, country-western flavor.

Listen to Cecily Wilborn singing “Party” on YouTube.

6. “Let’s Get Married Today”—– Stan Butler

Despite strides in popularity Stan Butler is still one of the most under-appreciated singer/songwriters in southern soul. His writing alone puts him in the top tier, and his singing exudes confidence and authority. Read more in The New Generation: Southern Soul.

Listen to Stan Butler singing “Let’s Get Married Today” on YouTube.

7. “Cut Friend”—- Sky Whatley

Another worthy single from the newcomer who recorded his debut single “Bae Changed Me” a little over a year ago.

Listen to Sky Whatley singing “Cut Friend” on YouTube.

8. “Good Tyme”—- P2K DaDiddy feat. Frank Johnson

From P2K’s just-released album, U-Turn, spawned by his hit single of the same name. Frank Johnson is the King George imitator whose debut “Hate On Me” is trending toward a million YouTube views.

Listen to P2K and Frank Johnson singing “Good Tyme” on YouTube.

9. “Older Woman”—- S. Dott

S. Dott continues to come into his own, but he’s removed his songs from YouTube in a short-sighted career decision he’s bound to regret.

Listen to S. Dott singing “Older Woman” on SoundCloud.

10. “Sooner Or Later”—- Tonio Armani

Tonio Armani came to the attention of southern soul fans on S. Dott’s stirring “Cowgirl Trailride” (Daddy B. Nice’s #1 Single August 2023). Sadly, Armani & Dott will miss out on estimated 50,000 sets of new ears listening to “Cowgirl Trailride’s” #13 ranking on DBN’s Top 25 over the next month due to Dott’s decision to remove it from YouTube.

Listen to Tonio Armani singing “Sooner Or Later” on YouTube.

Top 25 Southern Soul Singles Of 2023

1.

“Night Time” by King George

2.

“Grown Man (I Need Somebody)” by King George feat. CharMeka Joquelle

3.

“Trail Ride” by Lady Redtopp feat. Bri Rocket

4.

“Part Time Lover” by Lady Redtopp

5.

“Real Real Woman” by J’Cenae

6.

“Southern Man” by Cecily Wilborn feat. West Love

7.

“Mark You Off” by Miron Simpson

8.

“Highway 55” by Sir Charles Jones

9.

“U’Turn” by P2K Dadiddy feat. King George

10.

“Auntie Outside Tonight” by Mike Clark Jr.

11.

“Southern Soul Sunday” by M. Cally

12.

“Brown Liquor” by M. Cally

13.

“Cowgirl Trailride” by S. Dott feat. Tonio Armani

14.

“I Found Love” by Jeter Jones

15.

“I Wanna Slow Dance” by Dee Dee Simon

16.

“Got My Whiskey” by Nelson Curry feat. DJ Sean Dolby

17.

“Big Fine Slim Fine” by Royal D

18.

“Take Heed (The Same Thing..)” by Young Guy

19.

“Cowgirl” by Mz. Brown Suga feat. Thrilla

20.

“Party For A Moment (Forget Your Problems)” by T.K. Soul

21.

“When She’s Had Enough” by Lady Q

22.

“Take You Down Thru There” by J-Wonn

23.

“Dip” by Cuznjed feat. Koray Broussard

24.

“Nana Pie” by Chris Ivy

25.

“Shot Of Moonshine” by Marcellus The Singer

TOP 10 December 2023

1. “Grown Man”—–King George feat. CharMeka Joquelle

King George closes out the year the way he started it with Tyronica Rawls: in triumph in his second year as the king ascendent of southern soul. “She gives me a lot of pleasure/And a little bit of pain.” No words more truly spoken—and in an undeniably positive context. Great production with a guitar accompaniment tweaked to a steel guitar sound—a little country with a quasi-Hawaiian flourish. Over a million YouTube views already.

Listen to King George & CharMeka Joquelle singing “Grown Man” on YouTube.

2. “Real Real Woman”—-J’Cenae

“Real Real Woman” is J’Cenae’s most significant single since “I’ll Be Down In A Minute”. She just shines throughout, mind-melding with the lyrics so well you can almost feel her physical presence standing next to you. The songwriting by Omar Cunningham is incredible, but the self-aggrandizing (not one but two “Omar wrote this!”‘s) distracts and thus detracts from the song’s inherent majesty.

Listen to J’Cenae singing “Real Real Woman” on Youtube.

3. “Trail Ride”—–Lady Redtopp feat. Bri Rocket

Three consecutive Top 10 singles! “Part Time Lover,” “Mississippi Soul Girl,” and now “Trail Ride”. Lady Redtopp’s not afraid to put her uncanny mannerisms into her unique vocals, and so far she hasn’t made a mis-step. Her vocal on “Trail Ride” is brash and tough yet devastatingly charming. When Bri Rocket comes in for her verse you instantly sense the drop-off in vocal expertise (just down to the ordinary), and yet it’s Rocket’s beautiful bridge that propels the song to an even higher level.

Listen to Lady Redtopp & Bri Rocket singing “Trail Ride” on YouTube.

4. “Do You Wanna Go?”—–Tucka

One of the very best—if not the best—cut from Tucka’s new The Guy Your Man Can’t Stand album, and without doubt the most evocative vocal.

Listen to Tucka singing “Do You Wanna Go?” on YouTube.

5. “Fallin’ For You”—–Adrian Bagher

A love song jumping up and down mattress-style on a bounce track. Bagher’s signature, syruppey tone on the vocal is just right, and the simplicity and universality of the lyrics may actually work in his favor, giving him a chance at a wider audience than his hyper-realistic domestic vignettes.

Listen to Adrian Bagher singing “Fallin’ For You” on YouTube.

6. “Walk Out On My Love”—–Dee Dee Simon

A different kind of love song, not only for Dee Dee (for whom the key was probably difficult to sing in) but for the genre. Tucka has a compositional brain unlike most southern soul songwriters and it takes a little time getting used to the novelty of hearing Tuckerish chord progressions sung by a woman. But the song ultimately pays rewards and Dee Dee’s vocal never wavers.

Listen to Dee Dee Simon singing “Walk Out On My Love” on YouTube.

7. “Party”—–Mike Clark Jr. feat. E. Realist & Charity Harris

The perfect follow-up to Mike Clark’s popular debut, “Auntie Outside Tonight” (Daddy B. Nice’s #1 Single, September ’23). Clark has a voice tailor-made for rousing anthems.

Listen to Mike Clark Jr. & friends singing “Party” on YouTube.

8. “I Need Me A Drink”—–Ju Evans

Ju Evans is one of the very few new artists Ecko Records has signed in the last decade. Cheeky guitar riff gives the tune a real boost.

Listen to Ju Evans singing “I Need Me A Drink” on YouTube.

9. “Do It Right”—–Meeka Meeka (Meeka Noble)

Starts out with Betty Wright’s “Tonight Is The Night” but takes a less traveled and danceable turn.

Listen to Meeka Meeka singing “Do It Right” on YouTube.

10. “Country Party”—–Myia Bry (Myia B)

Listen to Myia Bry singing “Country Party” on YouTube.