You know, it's been fourteen years since "If Loving You Is Wrong" and something like nine years since we last had an album from Luther Ingram. And yet, after one listen to Luther's new album (rather unimaginatively tagged "Luther Ingram"), it's as if the crooner has never been away. But he has!

Alexander O' Neal is undoubtedly one of our music's "Mr Nice Guy" contenders ? a man of enormous talent but whose feet remain firmly planted on the ground.
While stardom may have its attractions, Alexander is more concerned with being a good father to his children and bringing them up to fully exploit whatever talents they might possess but, at the same time, temper any resultant success with all due humility.

It's already almost a year ago that Gerald Levert died. For me he was the greatest male soul singer, producer of the ninetees till 2006. In the soul and funk music archive I found an interview from B&S with Gerald from 1994.  In that year he released his album Groove on.

FINDING out that Atlantic Starr? whose music has marked them as a real staple in anyone's black music diet for the past 9 years ? have only ever had one gold album came as a shock to me when keyboardists Jonathan Lewis revealed that very information during the course of our recent interview, held in conjunction with the forthcoming release of the group's Warner Brothers' debut, "All In The Name Of Love". You could, as they say, have knocked me down with a pennyfeather ? or some kind of feather!

"SO, WHAT'S in a name? Well, maybe that depends on what particular career you happen to be pursuing. What, I wonder, would have happened to Tina Turner had she pursued her professional career under her real name Annie Mae Bullock or Edwin Starr who entered this mortal coil in January 1942 under a Charles Hatcher monniker. Possibly the results would have remained the same, but you never do know. Is it First Circle or Full Circle?.

Read the success story of Colonel Abrams trapped. It's an interview that Colonel Abrams gave for Blues and Soul magazine in 1985.

Michael's (Jackson that is) more-then-ever anxiously awaited album is said to be now scheduled for an April release. If that is the case, the first single offshoot might possibly be a track called "Bad" which is featured in the new Jackson Pepsi ads which are shortly about to be screened nationally across America.
However, another "well informed" source suggests that Mikey will return with a duet which leads to speculation as to what odds the duet he allegedly recorded with Barbra Streisand. The whole world waits with bated breath!

• Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops, despite picking up excellent reviews as the voice of the people-eating plant Audrey II in the American hit film 'Little Shop Of Horrors', has no plans to pursue a movie career and discounts rumours about a sequel. The veteran singer insists that he is and always will be a Top first and foremost but was grateful to the other group members for the time off to record the role.
Levi admits that he was sceptical at first of his ability to satisfy the general technical demands of the work which involved adopting the voice of a pod that grows to sixty feet!
Movie producer, David Geffen, picked the Top for the role after seeing the group on Live Aid. Seemingly, he wanted someone with an earthy, streetwise approach but who could also be nice and cuddly at the same time. Meanwhile, Levi and the other Tops are preparing for their forthcoming Motown album — their 35th!

•  The first annual Soul Train Music Awards are scheduled to take place later this month at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles and will focus on all popular forms of black music and will be co-hosted by Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross. Performances by Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau, Cameo, Run DMC, George Duke, David Sanborn and the James Cleveland Singers are scheduled.

•  Some very positive reports coming through from varying sources for the new Al Green album on A&M. Aptly titled "Soul Survivor", indications are that the soulster is heading for a major return to popularity following a period of low profile during his gospel-only recordings. First single from the album is "Everything's Gonna Be Alright".

•  Veteran Charles Brown, who recorded several R&B standards — "Merry Christmas Baby", "Driftin' Blues" and "Please Come Home For Christmas" — is back Stateside with "One More For The Road" on Blue Side Records.
The singer, whose peak period was between 1946 and 1952 when he notched up nine top ten hits, is said to have influenced many artists including Ray Charles, Bobby Bland and Sam Cooke no less.
•  Patrice Rushen debuts on Arista with an album "Watch Out" which includes the title track single.
•  Prince's upcoming album is the double set "Sign O' The Times" which, according to US reports reverts back with some effect to his earlier and many would say superior albums "Controversy" and "1999".
•  Included on the upcoming Dionne Warwick album on Arista are duets with Kashif and Smokey Robinson.
•  Aficionados of the classic 'Animal House' film will recall the splendid performance of Otis Day & The Knights and their lively version of the Isley's "Shout". So successful was their appearance in the movie that the group fronted by Otis Day (alias actor DeWayne Jessie) have been in constant demand in clubs and fraternity parties ever since. That success is now hoped to become consolidated on vinyl with a new recording deal with MCA Records. The debut recording will be supervised by none other than . . . George Clinton.
•  Jackson, Tennessee soulsters, Lanier & Co have their first British release out on Threeway Records, the Willie Mitchell-written and produced "I Don't Know".
•  And a lot of very positive vibes for the upcoming Isley-Jasper-Isley album "Different Drummer". Reportedly, the folk at CBS Associated labels have yet to select a single due to the vast number of contenders available. Word is that the trio will return to the platinum status they enjoyed as part of the Isley Brothers during the 1970's.

•  Pete Waterman of the Stock/ Aitken/Waterman writing and production team is to write and produce the new single for Prince Charles and The City Beat Band for Carrere Records who have completed a licensing deal with Prince Charles' manager Tony Rose's Solid Platinum Records and Productions. Carrere will release the group's latest single "I'll Be There For You" and "I Can't Stop Loving You".

•  Robert Cray and his band will act as support on all the upcoming Tina Turner dates across the UK in June. The two met in 1986 when Cray guested on her TV Special 'Breaking All The Rules' which was screened just after Christmas. Cray, who won a prestigious Grammy recently for Best Traditional Blues Recording for his part in the "Showdown" album which brought together Cray, Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland, is currently scoring on both sides of the Atlantic with his own album "Strong Persuader".

•  Controversial chanteuse Grace Jones has her new single just released on Manhattan. Entitled "Party Girl" the track is taken from Grace's current "Inside Story" album and is written by the lady herself with Bruce Woolley. Grace also contributed o the production — but with that old campaigner Nile Rodgers overseeing things.
The stylish singer has recently opened a French restaurant in her Manhattan, New York base which features such delights as La Salade Victor, Slave To The Rhythm Pate and I'm Not Perfect Frogs Legs on the menu!
Haywoode returns to active duty with her single release, a version of the James & Bobby Purify classic "I'm Your Puppet" which has been produced by Nick Martinelli in Philadelphia. The British singer is scheduled to appear on numerous television shows in the near future in support of the single.
• Having undergone what he describes as a period of transition and development, David Grant has now emerged with his new single "Take Us Back" which is a liaison between David and Bob Carter, co-producer and writer for Linx.' See interview elsewhere in mag

JUST in case there are still people who have yet to hear the news Shirley Jones is back in the fast lane and moving up through the gears like Nigel Man sell on a good day! The former The Jones Girls who, with sisters Brenda and Valerie, endeared themselves to a generation via their unique mellifluous soulful vocals as showcased on such classic tracks as "You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" and "Nights Over Egypt" was reaping instantaneous rewards following the release of her debut solo album "Always In The Mood" and the initial offshoot single "Do You Get Enough Love".

Whilst the name Miki Howard may be new to you, the gifted vocaliste is anything but a newcomer. In fact, quite the contrary because Miki's prior main claim to fame was as lead singer with Side Effect, a group who were by the critics but whose commercial pedigree never materialised.

  Lucky fellow Scott Preston interviewed Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power.

No matter who you are, where you live, or your taste in music, Tower of Power will find you. And once that happens, it's all over. You will come to believe not only that soul music is the salvation of us all, but that Tower of Power is one of those rare bands who can claim to be the real deal, 100 proof, aged-to-perfection, ground zero Soul. And the thing is, they're everywhere now.

Who's next?

Interview by Scott Preston  read more on  Cincy Groove

Here are some Liners from October '87 from the B&S Magazine. 

IF THEY aren't already, pretty soon Akron, Ohio based Heat Records will become known as a company adept at turning out stunning ballads what with first the superb album from Frederick, then the fine just The Two Of Us single from Johnston Brown & Janice Dowlen and now a consistent follow-up to Ivy's debut LP in 1984 with "Ivy II".