Wallace Daniel Pennington. More familiarly known as Dan Penn. Considered by many to be the greatest songwriter of his era, a key component in the evolution of Southern Soul, and a man whose lyrics and melodies completely define that genre.  

Dan’s song list is much bigger than his discography, and opportunities to own any “new” Dan Penn 45 are rare. Fans everywhere will therefore celebrate this coupling of two exquisite tracks from Dan’s recent CDs for his Dandy label.  You may know “Blue In The Heart” via Irma Thomas’ version on her Penn tribute album “My Heart’s In Memphis”. “Time To Get Over You” (co-written with Cajun legend Jo-El Sonnier) may be less familiar. Spin it frequently, and it will become no less loved. 

Collectively these recordings show that, even after seven decades of peerless writing and singing, Dan’s music is still of a quality that today’s other tunesmiths can barely aspire to… …This IS Soul. For Real.

(Tony Rounce)

Welcome to release #6 from Soul4Real containing two previously unreleased tracks from Jimmy Gresham recorded in the early 1970s at Playground Studios in Florida and produced by Finley Duncan.

Jimmy Gresham and his killer vocals have graced many releases that have excited deep, southern & northern soul collectors the world over. His solo 45s on labels such as Decca or Teri-De plus his 45s as part of the groups The New Yorkers & The Groovers and his collaborations with Len Jewell or Rosey Grier have yielded many great moments in soul music history. Along with his siblings Mary Gresham, Willie Gresham & Ben Gresham they make a soulful dynasty going back to the early 1960s. A full appraisal of their careers is not possible here but certainly worth further investigation. 

Of the two lost recordings, the top side “Garden Of Love” is a lovely mid-tempo southern soul/crossover love song with Jimmy’s gritty vocals really doing the business. Flip it over for more mid-tempo southern soul but this time with an edge of funk to a song of lost love. Served up in Soul4Real’s signature packaging - what’s not to like?

(Steve Plumb)

It’s somewhere between late ’67 and early ’68 and The Masqueraders are in American Sound Studio in Uptown, Memphis. On the agenda for today’s session are some self-composed songs; a mix of pleading, deep and electrifying, up-tempo soul songs including “I Don’t Want Nobody To Lead Me On”, “Let’s Face Facts”, “Do You Love Me Baby” and “Sweet Lovin’ Woman”. They have two other songs for the session: “Prophet Of Love” and “You’re The One”.
 
Chips Moman and Tommy Cogbill are taking care of business on production while Bobby Womack is up front with his guitar, working with the studio band “The Memphis Boys”. It’s a busy time and output has been prolific; in just one week, 25% of Billboard’s Top 100 have come from the studio. Time is precious, choices will be made and sadly some cuts from the session may not make it to vinyl release…not just yet.
 
Time is a healer, and here, rescued from a dusty and forgotten tape box, are the lost tracks; two of the coolest, sweetest cuts with the tightest group harmonies gliding over those Memphis mid-tempo rhythms.
 
(Cliff Steele)

At the start of the 70s Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams was at the height of his creative powers, writing and producing hits in Muscle Shoals on artists like Freddie North and Doris Duke. Although these two tracks voiced by his childhood friend Wilson Williams at Widget Studios remained unissued, their quality is sky high. “Ghost Of Myself” was also cut by Duke but the excellent deep soul of “Don’t Let My Foolish Words Keep Us Apart” may just be the pick.
 
Wilson Williams had worked for his home town Norfolk, Virginia music man Noah Biggs’ How Big and Shiptown labels. He played guitar on several Biggs releases, and voiced two name discs. These rare 45s were followed by his album on ABC “Up The Downstairs” in 1978  and a further collaboration with Jerry on the “Eating Ain’t Cheating” CD in 2001.
 
By then Wilson had been a member of the Platters for several years already, touring the world on the various oldies circuit where he still works.
 
(John Ridley)

Soul4Real’s third release brings us two previously unreleased gems from Norfolk Va. group The Anglos. Both sides were produced by the legendary Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams and where recorded at 919 Sound Studios in Philadelphia.

The Anglos are regarded as one of Norfolk’s best singing groups of the era. They are featured on Francois & The Anglos 1963 recording for Romulus, but more significantly are remembered for “Incense“, a record which became an early mod favourite in the UK. In 1967 The Anglos recorded the northern soul classic “Since You’ve Been Gone” for Shiptown (nationally issued on Scepter). 

The two recordings featured here were recorded in the late 60s and were destined for the short lived Botanic label. “Broke Down Piece Of Man” it´s an earthy rendition of the Sam & Dave song (from their “Soul Men” LP) taken at a slightly faster tempo than the original, whilst “Four Walls Of Gloom” takes the groove down to a more relaxed midtempo pace on another very soulful song. 

Two excellent sides, that have languished in the vaults for far too long, I am sure you will agree!

(Steve Guarnori)

Success can be measured in so many ways, but over the years this man has created some of the most compelling, inspiring and distinctive music ever committed to wax.

“Prince” Phillip Mitchell is a genius, a man able to craft a song from emotions dragged from the deepest depths and finely hone them to perfection. His list of writing credits graces the good and great of our music , while his own recordings and poignant lyrics are steeped in the very essence of Soul. Impassioned ballads or funky grooves, Muscle Shoals, Memphis or L.A. …it made no difference as the “Prince” simply took the word majestic to another level.

We are very proud to present to you the comeback recordings of a true legend of Soul music and really do hope that this is “just the beginning”…but we can assure you that it´s most definitely “Soul 4 Real”!

(Paul Thrower)