That was the year that was... Hans & Harry's faves of 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Harry’s top 10 new releases 2009.

1 The Revelations feat Tre Williams - The Bleeding Edge.
2 Lee Fields - My World.
3 Calvin Richardson - Facts of Life.
4 Charles Wilson - Troubled Child.
5 Noel McKoy - Brighter day.
6 Willie Clayton - Love, Romance and Respect.
7 Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement.
8 Candi Staton - Who’s hurting now ?
9 Marc Staggers - Then and Now.
10 Maxwell - Black Summers Night.

Hans' comments:  
Obviously Charles Wilson should be number one...

Harry’s top 10 compilations/re-releases 2009.

1 An all star tribute to MAZE - Various Artists.
2 Struttin Mixtape III - Various Artists.
3 Billy Jones and the Stars - Love is gonna rain on you .
4 Leon Ware and friends - Various Artists.
5 Harvey Averne - Never learned to dance ( Anthology)
6 George Jackson in Memphis - Kent Records compi.
7 GWP-NYC-TLC  volume 2 - Kent Records compi.
8 Lattimore Brown - Nobody has to tell me - Soulscape compi.
9 Freddie Scott - Mr Heartache - Kent Records compi.
10 Tommy Tate - Hold on - Soulscape compi.

Harry’s top 10 gigs 2009.

1 Spencer Wiggins at Porretta Soul Festival,25-7-2009.
2 Big Jay McNeely at Maloe Melo,Amsterdam, 21-3-2009.
3 Candi Staton at Melkweg ,Amsterdam , 18-4-2009.
4 Marlena Shaw at Paradiso,Amsterdam , 4-2-2009.
5 Cameo at Paradiso,Amsterdam,16-4-2009.
6 J.Blackfoot at Porretta Soul Festival,25-7-2009.
7 Toots and the Maytals at Melkweg,Amsterdam,24-5-2009.
8 Chrisette Michelle at Paradiso,Amsterdam, 6-8-2009.
9 The Stubbs at Café Hesp,Amsterdam,8-11-2009.
10 Booker T and the MG’s at Melkweg,Amsterdam,19-3-2009.


Harry's top 10 new releases  2008.

 1 Little Anthony and the Imperials - You'll never know.
 2 Al Green - Lay it down.
 3 Derick - Zwart zaad.
 4 Raphael Saadiq - The way I see it.
 5 Kindred - The Arrival.
 6 The Soul Children - Still Standing.
 7 Stephanie McKay - Tell it like it is.
 8 Eric Benet - Love and Life.
 9 Liquid Spirits - Music.
 10 Anthony Hamilton - The point of it all.

  Harry's top 10 compilations/re-releases  2008.

 1 The Jerry Ragovoy Story - Time is on my side ( Ace).
 2 Tyrone Davis - Do you feel it , Colombia years ( Expansion).
 3 Judy Clay & Veda Brown - Stax Solo Recordings ( Kent).
 4 The Godfather's R & B, James Brown productions ( BGP).
 5 Geater Davis - I'll play the blues for you ( Soulscape).
 6 Falling off the Reel II ( Truth & Soul).
 7 Ella Washington - He called me baby ( Soulscape).
 8 Mary Gresham - Voice from the Shadows ( Soulscape).
 9 The Complete Ty Karim ( Kent).
 10 The Fantastic Johnny C ( Jamie).

  Harry's top 10 gigs  2008.

  1 The Impressions at Northampton Soul Weekender, 24-5-2008.
 2  The Soul Children at Paard van Troje,Den Haag, 17-7-2008.
 3 William Bell at Paard van Troje,Den Haag, 17-7-2008.
 4 Eddie Palmieri at Melkweg,Amsterdam, 17-5-2008.
 5 Raphael Saadiq at Paradiso,Amsterdam,13-11-2008.
 6 Maxwell at Bierhal,Amsterdam, 5-10-2008.
 7 Al Green at Paradiso,Amsterdam, 31-10-2008.
 8 Joe Simon at Porretta Soul Festival,19-7-2008.
 9 Eli Reed at Melkweg,Amsterdam, 19-11-2008.
 10 Chaka Khan at Porretta Soul Festival, 20-7-2008.

What was best about soul music in 2007: the crucial new releases, re-issues and concerts as we saw them

Hans top 10 new releases  2007

1 Ledisi - Lost and Found.
2 April Hill - Love 360.
3 Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights.
4 Lola - Give her what she wants.
5 Derrick Hughes - All for love.
6 Angie Stone - The art of love and war.
7 Floyd Taylor - You still got it.
8 Queen Latifah - Trav’lin light.
9 Jill Scott - Words and Music vol 3.
10 Keite Young - The rise and fall of Keite Young.

Hans top 10 Reissues Artists  2007

1 Aretha Franklin - Rare and unreleased recordings ( dbl CD).
2 Lulu - The Atco sessions.
3 Rozetta Johnson - Personal Woman.
4 East of Underground - East of underground.
5 Tommy Tate - I’m so satisfied.
6 Barbara and the Browns - Can’t find happiness.
7 Marvin Gaye - In our lifetime ( expanded edition).
8 Gloria Barnes/Chosen Few - Soul Twins.
9 Nina Simone - Remixed and Re-Imagined.
10 Gift of Dreams - The Gift.

Hans top 10 Reissues various artists compilations 2007.

1 Motown 45s 1968 ( Motown).
2 The sweeter side of latin soul vol 2 ( Latin Soul).
3 Tears full of soul ( OuttaSight).
4 All Platinum Girls ( OuttaSight).
5 Gilles Peterson digs America 2 ( Luv n Height).
6 South Side Soul Survey ( Soulscape).
7 Home schooled;the ABCs of Kid Soul (Numero).
8 Jamaica Funk ( SoulJazz).
9 Motel lovers ( Trikont).
10 Black Gold ( OuttaSight).

Hans top 6 gigs 2007

1 Smokey Robinson at Paradiso,Amsterdam 2-7-2007.
2 Smokey Robinson at Bridgewater Hall ,Manchester 30-6-2007.
3 Percy Sledge at The Hague Jazz,Den Haag 18-5-2007.
4 Ashford and Simpson at Paradiso,Amsterdam 28-5-2007.
5 Candi Staton at MEN Arena ,Manchester,29-6-2007.
6 Heptones at P60,Amstelveen,28-4-2007.


Harrys top 5 new releases 2007

1 Ledisi - Lost and found.
2 Angie Stone - The art of love and war.
3 Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights.
4 Alain Clark - Live it out.
5 Rad - East Babe.

Harrys top 10  Compilations/re-releases  2007

1 Anthony Hamilton - Southern Comfort.
2 Lee Moses - Time and Place
3 Rozetta Johnson - Personal woman.
4 Bill Brandon - On the rainbow road.
5 Patti Drew - Workin on a groovy thing.
6 Tommy Tate- I’m so satisfied.
7 Spanky Wilson - The Westbound Years
8 Tears full of Soul - Various ( OuttaSight compi)
9 The Wants list 3 - Various ( Passion Music)
10 Tony Borders - Cheaters never win.

Harrys top 10 gigs 2007

1 Smokey Robinson at Paradiso,Amsterdam 2-7-2007.
2 Smokey Robinson at Bridgewater Hall,Manchester 30-6-2007.
3 Amy Winehouse at Paradiso,Amsterdam 8-2-2007.
4 Candi Staton at Paard van Troje,Den Haag 2-3-2007.
5 Ashford and Simpson at Paradiso,Amsterdam 28-5-2007
6 Heptones at P60,Amstelveen 28-4-2007
7 Swamp Dogg at Paradiso,Amsterdam 27-4-2007.
8 Solomon Burke at Patronaat,Haarlem 20-5-2007.
9 Tokio Ska Paradise Orchestra at Melkweg,Amsterdam 21-7-2007.
10 Percy Sledge at The Hague Jazz ,Den Haag 18-5-2007.

What was best about soul music in 2006: the crucial new releases, re-issues and concerts as we saw them

Harry's Top 10 new Cd's 2006

  1  Joy Denalane - Born & Raised
  2 Amy Winehouse - Back to black
  3 John Legend - Once again
  4 Candi Staton - His Hands
  5 Anthony Hamilton - Ain't nobody worrying
  6 Liv Warfield - Embrace
  7 Irma Thomas - After the rain
  8 Trey Lorenz - Mr Mister
  9 Jaheim - Ghetto Classics
  10 Urban Mystic - Ghetto Revelations 2

  Harry's Top 10 Gigs 2006

  1 James Brown at Paradiso,Amsterdam ,  2-7-2006
  2 Ken Boothe at Vaartkapoen,Brussels, 3-5-2006
  3 Joy Denalane at Melkweg,Amsterdam, 26-10-2006
  4 Allen Toussaint at Melkweg,Amsterdam, 2-11-2006
  5 Beres Hammond at Melkweg,Amsterdam, 16-5-2006
  6 Irma Thomas at Porretta,Italy,  21-7-2006
  7 Candi Staton at Gospel Festival, Amsterdam , 1-9-2006
  8 Anthony Hamilton at Paradiso,Amsterdam, 21-8-2006
  9 Jurassic 5 at Paradiso,Amsterdam, 9-10-2006
  10 Barbara Lewis at Gosselies,Belgium,  16-11-2006.

Best New Releases - Hans’choice

1 Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
2 Howard Tate - A Portrait of Howard
3 Trey Lorenz - Mr Mista
4 Trizonna McClendon - Overtones & Innuendos
5 Joy Denalane - Born and raised
6 Divine Brown Divine Brown
7 Liv Warfield - Embrace me        
8 Candi Staton - His hands        
9 John Legend - Once again        
10 Jazzhole - Poet’s walk

       Best Reissues
1 Complete Motown singles Volumes 4-5-6
2 Good God: A Gospel Funk Hymnal (Numero)
3 JR Bailey - Just me ‘n’ you (Soul Brother)
4 Jamaica to Toronto: Soul, Funk & Reggae 1967-1984 (Light in the Attic)
5 What it is! Funky Soul & rare grooves (Rhino)

       Songs of the Year
1 Love is a losing game - Amy Winehouse
2 His hands - Candi Staton
3 Back to black - Amy Winehouse
4 Over and over again - Trey Lorenz
5 Giddy - Trizonna McClendon
6 With you no more - Howard Tate
7 My life '06 - Mary J Blige
8 Warrior - Divine Brown
9 Stranger in this land - Joy Denalane
10 Fall in love - Brown’s Bag

What was best about soul music in 2005: the crucial new releases, re-issues and concerts as we saw them

10 The Four Tops and The Temptations at HMH,14-11-2005.

What was best about soul music in 2004: the crucial new releases, re-issues and concerts as we saw them