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

TOP 10 March 2020

1.“I Ain’t Studdin’ You” (Dolomite Is My Name Soundtrack Remix)——Bobby Rush

The iconic bass line from the two-decade-old anthem begins like a gorgeously-prolonged instrumental with heavenly-sounding live horns and mouth harp (the vocal an unfortunately-truncated afterthought). This is the sound of the King of the Chitlin’ Circuit–the last of southern soul’s older generation–making it on the nation’s highest stage.

Listen to Bobby Rush singing “I Ain’t Studdin’ You” on YouTube.

2. “Grown Folks Step”——Karen Wolfe

Karen Wolfe redoes Willie Clayton’s “Wiggle In The Middle”. And nope! We southern soul steppers never, ever tire of “two steps to the right, two steps to the left”–it’s all in the style. Produced by Gary and India Wolfe, Karen rocks like never before.

Listen to Karen Wolfe singing “Grown Folks Step” on YouTube.

3. “Do You Wanna Party?”—–R.T. Taylor feat. Jeter Jones

Fresh from his Best Male Vocalisthonors for “It’s A Mule,” the “Mule Man” teams up with young mentor Jeter Jones on a super-smooth, mid-tempo party blast.

Listen to R.T. Taylor and Jeter Jones singing “Do You Wanna Party?” on YouTube.

4. “I’m An O.G.”——David Brinston

From David Brinston’s new albumof the same name, “I’m An O.G.” blends great guitar work by John Ward with one of David’s inimitable vocals.

Listen to David Brinston singing “I’m An O.G.” on YouTube.

5. “Bothered”—–Highway Heavy feat. Dave Mack & Miss Portia

Miss Portia delivers a primer on how to sing southern soul: no histrionics, technique invisible. Her exquisitely natural vocal merges with the passion of Dave Mack, who has left Jackson, Ms. for Baton Rouge and the creative vortex that is Highway Heavy’s Pinky Ring family.

Listen to Miss Portia and Dave Mack singing “Bothered” on YouTube.

6. “Love Thyself”——Poka Jones

Sunny and irresistible debut by a rapper who captures the perfect southern soul tone as he negotiates a little “to the left, to the right” stepping of his own.

Listen to Poka Jones singing “Love Thyself” on YouTube.

7. “I Just Wanna Ride”—–Tasha Mac

Produced by Slack, “I Just Wanna Ride” has all the charisma and appealing modesty of early rock and roll. Tasha Mac looks and sounds like the new Big Cynthia.

Listen to Tasha Mac singing “I Just Wanna Ride” on YouTube.

8. “Southern Soul Nation”—–Ricky White

Hold onto your hats. Monster groove about to hit land. Ricky White transforms “California Love” into a southern soul anthem. From his new album of the same name.

Listen to Ricky White singing “Southern Soul Nation” on YouTube.

9. “I Ain’t With It”—–Itz Karma

Karma’s double-tracked choruses go down as sweetly as southern-style lemonade. From her Slack-produced album, Karma: Unleashed. Read Daddy B. Nice’s 4-star CD Review.

Listen to Itz Karma singing “I Ain’t With It” on YouTube.

10. “(Whole Lot Of Bills) In My Name”——Highway Heavy feat. Johnny James and Pokey Bear

More southern soul from the dark and empty, early-morning streets of Baton Rouge.

Listen to Johnny James and Pokey Bear singing “(Whole Lot Of Bills) In My Name” on YouTube.