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

TOP 10 January 2022

1. “Keep It 100”—–Carlin Taylor feat. The Soul Cartel Band

YouTube history tells us this band started out doing amateurish funk covers. Now look. They’ve matured, gotten “religion” (southern soul, that is) with their mellowed-and-polished, dance-friendly lead singer dispatching one of the catchiest tunes to ever jump-start a new year. The two best “Keep It 100” videos are here—one above in the title link and one below, right about here…

Listen to Carlin Taylor singing “Keep It 100” on YouTube.

2. “How Can You Love Me”—–Jay Morris Group

A fresh, staccato guitar and chording piano carry this latest harmony-rich tale from the Jay Morris Group with Jay and K-Monique trading the lead vocals. From their new, 5-star-rated album Long Story Short.

Listen to the Jay Morris Group singing “How Can You Love Me” on YouTube.

3. “Ride This Saddle”—–Christie & The Superior Band

Produced by Ves (Kenne’ Wayne’s “We Do We”) and featuring Curley Taylor on button accordion, good times abound in this zydeco-flavored party jam sung with joyous verve by Houston’s Christa Norris.

Listen to Christie and The Superior Band singing “Ride This Saddle” on YouTube.

4. “My Baby Don’t Love Me No More”—–Jay Morris Group

The Jay Morris group revitalizes another worn-out, chitlin-circuit theme (a cheating man losing his woman) with typically rich details and original results, and I’m proud to be documenting their meteoric rise. The trio is now the twelfth-ranked southern soul artist on Daddy B. Nice’s newest Top 100 Countdown: The New Generation.

Listen to the Jay Morris Group singing “My Baby Don’t Love Me No More” on YouTube.

5. “Good Wood”—–Big Yayo feat. Kenne’ Wayne.

Wayne and Yayo sound as good as The Isley Brothers on this one. Mabry’s (Big Yayo’s) synthesized instrumental flourishes update the sound but even better is the harmony line Yayo finds on their choruses. All Yayo does is make hits, and with remarkable consistency. That is why he’s now the newest entry (at #16) in Daddy B. Nice’s Top 100 Countdown: The New Generation.

Listen to Big Yayo and Kenne’ Wayne singing “Good Wood” on YouTube.

6. “Knee Deep Part II”—–Jay Morris Group

This is the new southern soul single currently getting the most YouTube views (one million in its first month). And if you’re really mired in the deep artistic mud of both “Knee Deeps,” check out DJ Sir Rockinghood’s special mix, Jay Morris Group: Knee Deep Pt 1 & 2 Special Mix), with an entire, verse-long cameo by Lenny Williams, whose iconic “Ooh-ooh-ooooh” was referenced in the first “Knee Deep”.

Listen to the Jay Morris Group singing “Knee Deep Part II” on YouTube.

7. “You Ain’t Gotta Cry No More”—–J’Cenae feat. Wendell B

In effect, Wendell has found a female counterpart to himself, nearly his equal in talent. And when you put them together, it’s something like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell back in the day.

Listen to J’Cenae and Wendell B singing “You Ain’t Gotta Cry No More” on YouTube.

8. “It Sounds Like I’m Lying”—–Jay Morris Group

It’s never happened before, and these charts go back to 2005. “It Sounds Like I’m Lying” is the fourth of four JMG singles posted in a single month, and it may be the best.

Listen to the Jay Morris Group singing”It Sounds Like I’m Lying” on YouTube.

9. “Saddle Up”—–Jeter Jones feat. Volton Wright & R&B Pooh

Listen to Jeter Jones, Volton Wright & R&B Pooh singing”Saddle Up” onYouTube.

10. “You Deserve Better”—–Avail Hollywood feat. P2K

Listen to Avail Hollywood singing “You Deserve Better” on YouTube.