Daddy B. Nice’s Top 10 “BREAKING” Southern Soul Singles
TOP 10 June 2021
1. “Just Love Me”——DeMond Crump
In this start-of-summer top-ten otherwise dominated by those stalwart stars Sir Charles and Jeter Jones, it gives your Daddy B. Nice great pleasure to celebrate one of southern soul’s most under-exposed and deserving artists (“Neighborhood Rat,” “Play Your Position,” “Tore Your Drawers”) and his most accomplished bid for a southern soul hit single in a career spanning two decades. DeMond Crump’s tone is refreshingly new, his pure and unfettered southern black culture as unique as the couplet, “We were friends/Before we both jumped the broom.”
Listen to DeMond Crump singing “Just Love Me” on YouTube.
2. “Boots Knockin'”——Jeter Jones feat. Urban Mystic
Slow-motion sensuality slathered over a bed of heavenly instrumental sweetness. Jeter Jones is singing like he’s never sung before on his new Trailride Certified 2.
Listen to Jeter Jones and Urban Mystic singing “Boots Knockin'” on YouTube.
3. “Eternity”—–Sir Charles Jones
How does a 25-year veteran of southern soul music re-invent himself, approaching his music as if he were a wide-eyed kid, bringing innocence and fresh perspective to bear on all the dues he’s paid and techniques he’s acquired? Listen to “Eternity” from the new album The Chosen 1.
Listen to Sir Charles Jones singing “Eternity” on YouTube
4. “Hobo Moan”—–Columbus Toy
Sung with a Dave Mack-ish wail and hummed with a memorable chorus, Columbus Toy strikes a southern soul nerve with this stinging, hot-pepper rendering of an old blues hook.
Listen to Columbus Toy singing “Hobo Moan” on YouTube.
5. “Back That Thang Up”—–Jeter Jones
As described in my New Album Alert, the already-popular video careens from an angry mock-killing to a reality-based club scene of blissed-out dancers twerking to the song’s pleasant energy.
Listen to Jeter Jones singing “Back That Thang Up” on YouTube.
6. “Forever”—-Sir Charles Jones
Produced to cross over into the pop market, with a rock-and-roll-tinged piano and gorgeous synth-chorus, this tune could endear Charles to the baby-boomer audience.
Listen to Sir Charles Jones singing “Forever” on YouTube.
7. “Come On In”—–Shell-B
What every man wants to hear, sung with a velvet-softness that hints at the destination. Reminds me of the woman telling Theodis Ealey to “come in” at the finale of “Please Let Me In”. And remember? Theodis lets out a whoop of excitement.
Listen to Shell-B singing “Come On In” on YouTube.
8. “Good Lovin’ In The Morning”—–JR Blu
To call him “odd” would be an understatement. But Blu, with one fine album to his credit, is one-of-a-kind.
Listen to J.R. Blu singing “Good Lovin’ In The Morning” on YouTube.
9. “Midwest Party”—–Sir Charles Jones
The only geographical group that gets less respect than Southerners, Midwesterners (not to mention everyone else) will love this smooth-stepping hymn to the heart of the country. Even Nebraskans…”They sure know how to two-step too!”
Listen to Sir Charles Jones singing “Midwest Party” on YouTube.
10. “Just Right Girl”—-Montrell
Out of the old Anna Coday stable of artists and currently promoted by silky-singing, southern-soul “vet” Andre’ Lee, Montrell has a nose for good material and the brawny yet polished technique to make it stick to the wall.
Feedback, comments, information or questions for Daddy B. Nice?
Write to: daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com