Soul Togetherness 2016

Expansion's most successful and longest running compilation series returns with a 2016 edition. This is in the label's 30th anniversary year, 'Soul Togetherness' is an annual event since 2000.

The concept remains the same, fifteen must have modern soul room gems taken from some of this year's biggest dancefloor spins and revival tracks on the soul scene.

2016 has seen disco soul beats more prominent, reflected here by the music of Dutch Djs Diephuis Eastar feat. Jocelyn Brown, the Earth Wind & Fire inspired Los Charlys Orchestra Sunshine, the DSG Salsoul dance grooves of a Nigel Lowis produced mix of Hannah White's #1 Soul Hit ''Sunny Day'' presented here with the remix that was specially created for, The Caister Soul Festival weekender, where Hannah White sang the anthem live to a packed house.

 As usual there are exclusives here to the CD and vinyl in new music, this year from Farina Miss, Tracy Hamlin (Boogie Back Remix), Seest and Trina Broussard. With revival tracks, the full length version of Breakwater's 'No Limit' (posted above) which is officially released for the very first time in it's full length 12 inch version(which Ralph Tee only just discovered and he worked for Artista records back in the day), there's a Puff Johnbson track released on this compilation the first side out of Australia, then there's the year's biggest 'real soul' spin from Big Lee Dowel & The Cannonballs that first surfaced in Italy and has been flying out on a limited 7 inch for big dollars. 

 Also featured on this great new album is another of the year's biggest new modern soul music floorfillers, 'I Got To Party' by SouLutions, who Gary Van den Bussche first discovered a couple of years ago and persuaded Drizabone to remix their demo of ''Listen'', which was DSG's first release. The extended original mix of Nicolette Larson's revival of Neil Youngs cover of 'Lotta Love', plus an exclusive edit of 1983's 'You And I' by Ronnie Jones released on CD and vinyl for the first time. 

Well done Ralph Tee and Richard Searling on your 30 years of Expansion records, keep on doing what your doing as you do it just so well.  

Order Soul Togetherness 2016 here!  

Mike Maurro new Peak Hour mixes

Mike Maurro is one of the finest remix producers to surface from America, he is up there with the tops. In the beginning we used to get treated to a Mike Maurro mix that surfaced occasionally on Soundcloud for a short time.

Among the early supporters was Ian Dewhirst who followed his progress and eventually did a deal with Mike to released his album through the BBC's label Harmless which is also part of the demon group. The The Mike Maurro Peak Hour Remixes reached #1 on the Amazon chart and even charted nationally in the UK album chart.

Mike is recreating the magic from the multi tracks and striking gold with everyone, making Mike one of the 20th century most exciting remix producers.

For his latest Peak Hour mixes they are numbered 3 and 4 to continue where the album left us (wanting more), but this time they are released on a limited edition run of 12 inch singles.

Released on BROOKSIDE 14th October 2016 on 12 inch vinyl only

Listen or Pre-Order Mikes Jones Girls mixes here (vol 4)

Listen or Pre-Order George Duke / Jackie Moore here (Vol 3)

George Benson Little Anthony Electric Together

Soul / R&B Star Little Anthony and Jazz -Soul Grammy award winning Superstar George Benson penned “Electric Together” with hit maker and successful producer Preston Glass. They recorded the tune at Private Island Audio in Los Angeles, CA where both Little Anthony and George Benson sang lead vocals while incorporating a “classic George Benson” guitar solo.

Anthony Gourdine, better known to the world as Little Anthony, is quite simply a musical legend. His early R&B standards paved the way for the development of soul music, with songs like ‘Going Out Of My Head’, ‘Hurt So Bad’, and ‘Tears on my Pillow’ standing the test of time. With nearly six decades in the music business, Little Anthony is still going strong: performing with his group The Imperials, alongside co-founder Ernest Wright, and due to be performing in the UK next year at the Blackpool International Soul Festival, Anthony is also busy penning his autobiography.

                                 GEORGE BENSON IS A TEN TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER

Most impressively, Little Anthony has lost none of his legendary falsetto voice. Similarly, Jazz guitarist turned R&B/soul/pop icon George Benson also shows no sign of slowing down. He continues to perform dates around the world, to one-nighters to dates at prestigious Jazz festivals; in 2013 he put out a brilliant new album in tribute to the late Nat ‘King’ Cole. And now these two icons of popular music have teamed up with producer Preston Glass, famous for his work with Aretha Franklin and Natalie Cole among others, to produce an up-tempo duet in ‘Electric Together’. Nigel Lowis has produced, remixed, written & done some legendary work with likes of Dina Carroll, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, Ola Onabule, Luther Vandross & Marc Staggers. His work has recently topped many Soul charts on his co-owned DSG record label. Lowis's dream was to work with George Benson, so DSG partner Gary Van Den Busche contacted Preston Glass who had just written and produced, "Electric Together" and was excited when he heard Nigel Lowis wanted to remix the song.

                       (Electric Together Little Anthony, Preston Glass & George Benson)

The song itself is pretty catchy, with an infectious lyric that will have you singing after hearing it just once. It’s a classic Preston Glass production, with Lowis providing a groove for the vocalists to do their thing. Both are in fine voice, and its delightful to hear them both recording together. How Little Anthony, in his seventies, continues to sing so high is truly one of the wonders of the modern world. Benson is also given room by Preston to perform one of his guitar solos, reminiscent of his 70s & 80s hit recordings. This is the first single from a newly created album due on DSG called Soul City People with various artists that we love & respect with Nigel Lowis writing and producing for it as we speak. 

Electric Together ? Not Arf!!" 

* LITTLE ANTHONY 75, GEORGE BENSON 73 COMBINED AGE OF 148 YEARS 

OLD POSSIBLY THE WORLD ELDEST RECORDED DUET EVER!

* LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS TOURING THE UK NEXT YEAR.

*BENSON FEATURED ON SKY LIVING GUITAR LEGENDS

*BENSON CURRENTLY TOURING JAPAN & AMERICA

*BENSON SOLD OUT CONCERT  TOUR INCLUDING THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL JUNE 2016

*KYLIE HAD A #1 COVER UK HIT WITH LITTLE ANTHONY'S ''TEARS ON MY PILLOW''

*GEORGE BENSON'S LAST RELEASE WAS IN 2013 - INSPIRATION TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE

                                                           (Little Anthony Live in the UK)

Reviews: First Listen Soul Tracks review  

              SoulJazzandFunk review  

              indamixworldwide.live review

Little Anthony & George Benson -Electric Together (Nigel Lowis mixes) OUT NOW ON iTunes 

Hannah White That's Love

Hannah White is a class act and a singer that could sing her way to the front of any cue. Hannah is a stylish lady of song with romance in her heart that crosses all the musical genre boxes, be it Jazz, Soul, Dance or even swing. When you see Hannah White live, first impressions come to mind of a modern day, Julie London, Peggy Lee or even maybe Sade.

 The gloss on the box makes it a very classy affair, whenever your mood, Cocktails, Champagne or indeed just Coffee, Hannah White's ''That's Love'' will fill your room, radio show, dance floor with sheer uplifting bliss like a Strawberry covered in Belgium Chocolate. 

Hannah White is currently touring with the UK's #1 Soul singer Kenny Thomas, but has also found time in her busy schedule to sing at, The Caister Soul Music Festival to a sold out crowd, Solar Radio Thames boat party (another sellout) & The Camp Soul Music festival in a field in Oxford supporting the Fatback band.

(Solar Radio's Gary Spence with Hannah White  backstage at The Camp Soul Music Festival in Oxford)

''Sunny Day'' Hannah's previous song featured at #1 in my many charts including, ''The Sweet Rhythms'' chart as well as Amazon's hot new R&B chart. BBC DJ's Paul Miller & John Leech tagged it 

The Song Of The Summer as did many others radio DJ's. Hannah is currently co- writing her debut album with producer Nigel Lowis called,'' Lost in Reverie”. Fresh from recording background vocals for new recording by George Benson, Marc Staggers, Freda Payne & The Soul City Album project, Hannah White comes up trumps once again with the irresistible ''That's Love'' which was co- written with Nigel Lowis the songs producer, it's aim is to bring a smile to your face, a glow of delight to your aura and make your body do it's thing, Dance like your in Love!  After all Hannah White is love! 

Hannah White That's Love is now released on DSG through iTunes .BUY IT HERE ON iTUNES  

STOP PRESS New remix by Joey Nelson 

Hannah White's latest single That's Love gets a surprise remix by one of her longtime Pals Joey Nelson. Going back, Hannah White met Joey Nelson at a Roulette table in a Las Vegas casino, as he helped Hannah place few chips on black number 4.

 Joey Nelson at the time was getting his orchestra to play a residency at one of the Hotels on the strip, then he heard a whisper that Hannah White was a singer. After Hannah sent Joey the Tapes of her vocals, of That's Love. "The rest is History".

He explained that the Joey Nelson orchestra would love Hannah White to sing with them and this is the proof that great things are afoot …

Joey Nelson is currently writing final chapters to his movie called, Dreamsville in which Hannah White has agreed to sing on the soundtrack album, but for now here is the Joey Nelson remix. One things for sure,
Joey Nelson is back in town … AND That's Love Baby!!