The UK Soul Chart Album

The compilation album of the year has arrived!  

 THE UK SOUL CHART ALBUM  has been compiled by DSG's Gary Van den Bussche, the CD has some of the finest Soul tracks of the year from The UK Soul Chart all on one CD. The tracks on the CD have all been re-mastered for your listening pleasure. 19 Modern Soul gems including unreleased tracks and mixes, the CD will only have one limited edition pressing!  

For some time now I have had the idea of compiling a UK Soul Chart CD, in the same way, that we would have once collected the Motown Chartbusters or Top of the Pops (non-original artists) albums back in the day (now I'm showing my age). So I approached Carl Barrington Webster who had also had the same idea but had put it on the backburner as he was busy.

In the UK, unlike many other countries, we have a UK soul scene and call it ‘Soul’, Americans now refer to it as R&B but they include rap etc into the genre. We are still very proud of our soul scene and respect the artists (old and new) who continue to record soul music. Many a soul legend has passed, including most recently our ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin, so it's our duty to keep soul music alive!  The artists now recording Soul music have to live from touring and selling merchandise as due to streaming their revenue from music sales has vanished. It would be so great if respected organisations like The Grammy's and such like would bring back a Soul category to their awards so the artists of today could gain the RESPECT they have soulfully earnt, how otherwise are we going to move Soul Music forward without new artists? 

Sir Wick - I Love You (Included on The UK Soul Chart CD)

                                   K Avett - The Matter (Included on the UK Soul Chart CD)

                                       
      Show Tyme -Come On Home To Me - (Included On The UK Soul Chart CD)

In this world, like it is now we might have never have had such icons as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye,.Michael Jackson, George Benson, Earth Wind & Fire, Otis Redding, Motown Records if they never received mainstream airplay or acknowledgment of their work. I feel today there are many talented Soul singers that we need to expose to a much bigger world than just our little marketplace that many don't even know exists and by such ignore. It's up to us to spread the word Soul Music is very much alive and with help, it can be reborn.    

Every week Carl and his Starpoint Radio team compile the official 'The UK Soul Chart' of which many of the featured artists on this CD have appeared. The chart airs UK Time Sunday 4-6 pm & repeated on Monday evening between 5-7 pm (UK Time).

 

ARTWORK

The artwork for the CD has been designed by Roger Williams 

REVIEW 

Soutracks review read here: 

REVIEW

Soulandjazzandfunk.review here:

REVIEW, PREVIEW & UK MAIL ORDER/SHOP  

Soul Brother review, preview of all the tracks and buy it link: 

GERMAN REVIEW

Sonic Soul Review read it here: 

LIVE INTERVIEW

Gary Van den Bussche interview on Solar Radio with Gary Spence Hear it here: 

UK MAIL ORDER

Simply Soul Mail Order Buy It Link: 

AMERICA BUY IT LINK

Dusty Groove America stockist buy it link:  

JAPAN BUY IT LINK

Buy it here in Japan: 
On-Line Interview
indamixworldwide Interview & review

The Radio DJ's have said...

John Leech (BBC) - Indie soul is sounding good and every track on UK Soul Chart is a winner. A sumptuous collection of new, unreleased and rarities. A must album! 

Paul Miller (BBC) This Is A Great Compilation will receive lots of love from me.

Gary Spence(Solar Radio) Album Of The Week - What a fantastic tracklisting one of those albums

you can leave on and just let play! 

Bigger (Mi-Soul, Blues & Soul) There have been some great Compilations & this has to be one of the best, In all honesty, I don't think I Skipped a track! Especially Love Miracle Thomas, Ryle, Regina Troupe, Ronnie Wright, Darien Dean & That Ed The Red must be his best ever.

JOEY COYNE (Starpoint Radio)

Wow, This must rate as one of the finest complications of the last few years.
In the words of Errol brown......Everyone's A WINNER!!!

With many thanks for your support.
Gary Van den Bussche

Starpoint Radio The Soul Music Alternative

Carl has been running independent Black Music radio stations since 1983, he created and has successfully run Starpoint Radio 100% independently for the last 20 years,he started the UK Soul Chart for radio and has worked with hundreds of Soul music artists over the last 40 years, most of whom are still good friends. He's known his well-respected business partner since 1985 - They have 80 years of experience between us. We think his reputation speaks for itself

Starpoint is pleased to announce it can now be heard on DAB in Brighton & Hove which follows services that also broadcast on DAB in Portsmouth and Birmingham.

Starpoint Radio The Real Alternative has a new all the way LIVE weekday schedule from Monday to Friday starting in the morning with The all-new breakfast show which runs from 6-9 am weekdays with Ray Bradshow, Ray (35) said he is delighted to be at Starpoint Radio with his new Soul Family. Ray puts lots of fun and energy into his breakfast shows with features including 'The Full English' which is a selection of UK Soul tracks by British artists, then the warning goes out as not to everybody's taste the 'Quirky Corner' which is a bit of fun, playing a track that should not be played on Soul radio, this feature comes with a sense of humor warning!  Please be aware your ears might be in danger!! His nickname is Bonkers and after tuning in you will know why!

Gary Van den Bussche making a welcome return to radio with his Disco Soul Gold show, the show broadcasts Monday to Friday live from 11 am to 1 pm (UK Time) playing the best in new releases, classics, newly mixed re-edits, edits, and remixes.  Gary who also runs a successful radio promotions company and the DSG record label with songwriter-producer Nigel Lowis help many artists and groups receive the fame they rightly deserve.  The Lunchtime Sandwich  feature  includes 2 or 3 tracks with a connection that make a tasty lunchtime bite or triple decker, plus Birthday's, G Spot, light entertainment news & live interviews. 

Gary Van den Bussche is celebrating 40 years in the industry from Baker St Records, First Bell Chart Hyper, his own  Empire Distribute, Wizz records, Chunky Cheese Records, DSG record label, to djing at Johnny Gold's celebrate hot spot Tramp to organising his own nightly club nights for over 28 years.   

 Andy T is everybody's Mum favorite DJ. His packed Shades Of Soul show plays some of the hottest new releases and popular tracks that are rising up the UK Soul Chart. Friday is his request show and will spin to please, weekday's 9 am - 11 am. 

Steve King is one of the Kings Of Starpoint broadcasting weekdays Afternoons afternoon from 3-5 PM  with his Soulful Sounds show. Steve plays sought after and classic soul from the 80's, 90's and brings it bang up to date with always the best in new quality Soul & R&B. 
  

Nigel Waywark broadcasts live weeekdays 1 pm - 3 pm, he plays more familiar Soul hits, new releases, plus   "two'fer" (which is a double-spin from a chosen artist) , the Master-Blaster Vote where he plays an extended mix of a tune that one could go to the loo to or indeed make a cuppa!   

Starpoint Radio was first founded over thirty years ago in 1985 as an alternative music station for London and the Home Counties.

Originally broadcasting once a week on Sundays, demand quickly prompted the addition of an entire weekend broadcast and Starpoint Radio soon earned the reputation of being a quality radio station with presenters whose musical knowledge and presentation skills were second to none!

Starpoint Radio, therefore, became known as THE REAL ALTERNATIVE. Over the next three years Starpoint Radio attempted to broadcast seven days a week, but as an unlicensed station, this proved difficult within the rules and regulations of the DTI. In December 1988 it was decided to pursue alternative avenues of broadcasting and Starpoint's final show as an unlicensed station was from infamous Crazy Larry's on the Kings Road in Chelsea.starpoint_radio_good_old_days

In June 1991, Starpoint Radio applied for and received one of the first restricted broadcast licenses for a period of twenty-one days and the first show came from the unlikely venue of Windsor Safari Park, covering Windsor, Slough, Maidenhead, and most of Surrey and South London! The following three weeks were a rip-roaring success with the station being able to adhere to its long-held principles of quality music and quality presenters without bowing to the pressures of commercialism. The success of the Windsor broadcasts led to Starpoint Radio being approached by Alex Lowes of the Southport Weekenders to broadcast from the legendary event.

This resulted in Starpoint's management joining forces with another former unlicensed London radio station and the two merged into a satellite-based radio station. With Starpoint's connections, this radio station became the official broadcaster for the Southport weekenders until the BBC's 1- Xtra took over in - now here's a problem, the old mind's gone blank. Does anybody out there remember when 1 Xtra took over? Perhaps you could let us know so we can put this archive right.

In February 2005, management decided to part ways and Starpoint Radio was reborn.starpoint_radio_antenna_1985

As "The Real Alternative" Starpoint Radio is now 'the' station for quality music and quality presenting! Now broadcasting on DAB and 24 hours on the internet, Starpoint Radio continues to grow each month proving that it is possible to run a quality soul based music station.

Starpoint radio is the home to The Official UK Soul Chart which updates with a live broadcast on Sunday afternoon from 4-6pm (UK Time) and repeated Monday's from 5-7pm. The UK Soul chart is the most accurate survey with its chart being compiled from DJ's returns of plays and sales of the week. The chart is then shared to around 70 other radio stations and then published on the Starpoint Radio website the following Thursday or latest Friday. The chart can also be seen in Blues & Soul Magazine.   

Starpoint Radio live events include Bol Soul which is a yearly event in Croatia that is now in its fifth year of success you can party with the DJ's and artists for a week in luxury with mighty fine music and sun. 

(Carl Barrington Webster owner of Starpoint Radio pictured with Bolsoul partner Ian Dewhirst)

 Bolsoul 5 ran from 12th - 19th October 2019  and is the most successful holiday to date,
with the main resort being sold out for months. 

                                  (Starpoint partners Carl Barrington Webster with Sp Ot)


Other DJ's to listen to on the Radio Station bringing their class and style to the airwaves include Steve Aggasild, Nigel Fox, Chris Box, Joey Coyne, Barry Bee, Paul Goldsmith, Bob Jeffries, Brett Costello, Roger Moore, Marcus Bee, Roger Williams, Elle P, Paul Andre, Mike Prior, Roger Moore, Paul Garland, Bob Hill, Phil Levene, Cliff James, Kevin Oxbury, Andy Lothian,  Paul Andre, Steve Collins, Chris 'The Shirt' Elliot, Paul Stuart, Mike Stephens, Paul Mac & Mark Merry.

To listen to LISTEN TO STARPOINT RADIO HERE

SOUL JAZZ FUNK RADIO REVIEW READ IT HERE

Donovan Blackwood is Number One

Congratulations to UK Soul singer Donovan Blackwood on his single ' Never Gonna Let You Go'' the remastered bonus cut on his new EP 'Break My Back', that is currently #1 in the official UK Soul Chart, the chart goes out every Sunday evening on Starpoint Radio and then repeated through the week, you can find it in print in Blues & Soul Magazine and on Starpoint Radio's web site.

I was shocked reading the credits on his website as through out the promotion he never mentioned he is also an award winning actor! As an actor played The Chief in the series Top Coppers on BBC3, for which he won the Movie Video and Screen Award for Best Comedy Performance the show then transferred to BBC2. He also featured as Drill Sergeant Baxter in The Windsors, as well as an appearance as Roughneck in Miss You Already, his voiceover work includes both Sony & Rubicon.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE <<

Break My Back features the love song 'Can You Feel ' plus the visceral title track. Whilst Star is both funky and soulful to the reflective 'We Had Moments', then ending the EP 'Everybody But Me' which was co written with Blackwood's friend Junior Giscombe, (Mama Used To Say), whom he has recently made a guest appearance on The British Collective’s latest album, The Renaissance Begins, on the track Won’t You Come Over which also features Junior Giscombe, Roachford, Lee John (of Imagination), Omar, Don E & Noel McKoy.

He is currently lead vocalist for the band Heatwave who scored top UK hits with, Boogie Nights, Always & Forever & The Groove Line, which he has done for many years in the UK, alongside Keith Wilder.

The UK Soul star sounds in a similar styles and has been compared to the likes of, Seal, Sean Escoffery, Terence Trent D'Arby, in other words UK soul with a bit of an edge. Donovan Blackwood is no newcomer to the UK Soul Scene, he has supported, Aswad & Jocelyn Brown, sung backing vocals with the likes of Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, James Morrison and many others. It's great to see Donovan Blackwood on top of the stack where he belongs!

DONOVAN BLACKWOOD WEB SITE

Donovan's Twitter

Donovans Facebook

Break My Back Review Here

Stop Press - Donovan Blackwood will be doing a live acoustic set LIVE on Solar Radio Thursday 26th of January on Gary Spence's Afternoon Delight show between 3-6 UK Time.   

Marc Staggers Let Me Be The One - Out Now

After the staggering Soul charts #1 success of Marc Staggers debut single for DSG,'' Bring It Home To Me'' (many people favorite song of the year so far), Marc does it again with, ''Let Me Be The One'' currently #1 on the Sweet Rhythms chart. 

We are proud to welcome back Washington DC's Marc Staggers to DSG the label home of modern 20th century Soul with that retro twist to bring back the sound of yesterday today, ''Let Me Be The One'' was written by the songs producer Nigel Lowis and Marc Staggers.

The song was written in the early part of the year, soon after Nigel Lowis fell ill and was bed and hospital bound for the past four months, with Doctors pulling their hair out to find a cure for his illnesses and viruses. Marc Staggers was thankfully very patient and has been busy co-writing songs for his forthcoming album called, ''Timeless''.

The silky toned velvet voice of Marc Staggers is really shinning in a class of it's own on this Philly-esque song, in which the cool production might bring back some memories when the likes of Lou Rawls, Arthur Preysock were prominent in the chart or even touches the delivery of something that John Legend would be happy singing today.

Marc Staggers started singing in the church choir and studied voice as he was growing up. His initial foray into music started with the release of several gospel albums, on which he worked with talented singers such as the late Clifton Dyson. During his college years, he also studied music with an emphasis on voice, and after graduating college, Staggers continued to study voice under the direction of the world-renowned soprano, Nelda Ormond, under whom he began to recognize his true singing talent, and Ormond was pivotal in helping Marc gain the confidence he needed to pursue a singing career. 

Staggers has released four albums to date, the last being the 2015, ''Dream Catcher'' set on Ralph Tee's Expansion records which contained, ''Bring Me Back'' that appeared in the higher regions of the Soul charts. If it was not for creativity and success of,'' Bring It Home To Me'', Marc Staggers was ready to give up singing and change his profession, so he is very grateful to you for making his last single the success that it was.

I'm sure you will all give a big welcome back to both Nigel Lowis and Marc Staggers by supporting, ''Let Me Be The One '' which is currently available through i Tunes & Amazon

                           New Mont Plonc mix dues to be released September 2016 on DSG. 

REVIEWS

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BBC John Leech's ''Song Of The Summer'' 

REVIEW! Let Me The One is a Killer!!!

Soul Tracks Review

New Entry In The UK Soul Chart at #15

Vivienne McKone - Everything's Gonna Be Alright hit #1 in the UK Soul chart.

Vivienne McKone began dancing at the age of two and worked as a child on commercials for
UK and US television, on stage in Thomas Kingsley’s “TheWater Babies” in the West End and
with Anita Harris and Tony Bennett in the ‘Anita Harris in Jumbleland’ television series -
dancing, singing and acting. After early training in jazz and tap dancing, as a pre-teen, she
appeared as 'Velma', the solo dancer, in Alan Parker's film “Bugsy Malone” in 1976. Vivienne
regularly appeared on television, in theatre and in films until 1992, when her career in music
took off.

As Vivienne tells it, “When I was in my mid teens, I decided that I wanted to write and sing
my own songs. I had been taking piano lessons since the age of 8, so I bought a Fender
Rhodes Suitcase 73 Piano when I was about 15 or 16 and wrote my first song on this when I
was 17. Lots of the records I liked by Carole Bayer Sager, Patrice Rushen and others featured
this instrument. When I was in my early 20’s I bought a portastudio, drum machines,
synthesizers and other home recording gear and spent several years doing lots of demos,
building contacts in the music business and doing showcase gigs until I got signed by London
Records.” 

Her first album, “Vivienne McKone”,was produced by Stewart Levine, highly-regarded for his
work with The Crusaders, Randy Crawford and Simply Red. Vivenne’s debut single, “Sing (Ooh-
Ee-Ooh)”, reached #47 in the UK charts on 25 July 1992 and was used as the theme for BBC
TV’s Travel Show from 1994-1997. The followup, “Beware”, reached #69 in the UK charts on
October 31st, 1992. A series of recordings and ‘live’ gigs kept Vivienne busy for the next 10
years or so until she decided to take a break from music while setting up a new home.
Vivienne started working with Mike Collins in 2011, establishing a song-writing partnership
while contemplating a return to ‘live’ performance. The first fruits of their creative
collaboration are two dynamic new mixes of Vivienne’s song “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”,
featuring Mike on guitar and Gary Barnacle on sax.

Vivienne McKone is currently #1 on the UK Soul chart  with the Nigel Lowis mixes
now also released on i Tunes and Amazon on DSG

DSG Radio promotions gets 10 entries in the top 30 UK Soul chart!

UK SOUL CHART TOP 30 

Thanks to you all for your amazing support.