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We look back on 2020, revisiting some of our favourite releases and remembering those we lost.

Let’s face it, 2020 was a bit naff. Sure, we saved money on the commute, but the novelty of working from home wore out pretty quickly and, with no end in sight, the year seemed to drag on.

But it wasn’t all terrible. In fact, musically, there were some pretty good releases that helped see us through.

So we’re going to revisit 2020, and take a listen back to some of the highlights as well as remembering some of those artists we lost.

THE BEST OF 2020

George Benson shines on ‘Weekend in London’

Whenever George Benson releases a new album, we always get a bit excited. Recorded back in 2019, when you could socialise with people who you don’t live with, Benson delivers a masterclass in live performance at the intimate Ronnie Scott’s in London. It’s an enjoyable run-through of his greatest hits, with a few rarities thrown in for good measure.

Read our full review on TFSR.

Stevie Wonder finally releases some new music!

After 15 long years, Stevie Wonder released two brand new songs last year, the new protest anthem ‘Can’t Put It In The Hands of Fate’ and ‘Where Is Our Love Song’.

The new tracks feature a whole host of guests, including Busta Rhymes and Gary Clark Jr.

They also mark a new chapter in Stevie’s musical history, as the new songs have been released on his new label rather than on Motown, his home for the past five decades. In a press conference, Stevie hinted more was to come in 2021…

Mayer Hawthorne releases new singles, album PLUS new Tuxedo

We also got new music from Mayer Hawthorne this year, with his new album Rare Changes. Most of the songs on the album had previously been released earlier in 2020, but in December we got them all on one album, with vinyl copies released as well.

And if that wasn’t enough… Mayer Hawthorne joined with Jake One once again to release a brand new Tuxedo track, the predictably funky ‘Doin’ My Best’. They certainly are.

Rhino tease us with new music from Aretha, but postpone the release

2020 is saved! Or so we thought, when Rhino Records announced an exiting new box set from the Queen of Soul, featuring classics alongside rarities and live tracks, including Aretha’s incredible performance of You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) at the Kennedy Centre Honours in 2015.

Alas, 2020 giveth and taketh. Originally, the boxset was due to be released alongside the film ‘Respect’, the long-awaited film of Aretha’s life featuring Jennifer Hudson. But as the film’s release was postponed until 2021, so was the boxset. Now we have to wait until July 2021. Hurry up summer.

The forthcoming Aretha box set.

But we do get a re-worked single from the Queen of Soul

It seems to have gone a bit under the radar, but a solo version of ‘Never Gonna Break My Faith’ has been released by Aretha, featuring the Boys Choir of Harlem.

The song originally was a duet with Mary J Blige, but the solo version hasn’t been released until now. But my god, what a performance from the Queen.

Roy Ayers releases new album, single and turns 80

He might not have toured last year, but Roy Ayers has still managed to have a busy year, releasing a new album, an unreleased single and celebrated a big birthday as well.

As part of their Jazz is Dead series, musicans/producers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have released several new albums with jazz greats, including Roy Ayers, but also Doug Carn and Azymuth.

If that wasn’t enough Roy, BBE Music released a single called ‘Reaching The Highest Pleasure’, a brilliant outtake from a previous recording session.

And for those of us based in Britain, Roy is due to tour these shores later this year! That is, if we can shake off our reputation as the COVID capital of Europe…

Young Gun Silver Fox return with more sunny Californian vibes

The Young Gun Silver Fox duo released their third album this year, featuring their blend of soul and soft/yacht rock. Entitled Canyons, it’s features more of the same vibes from their first 2 albums, and it’s the perfect music for a sunny day, cruising down the highway (unless you live in Tier 4, of course, then stay at home).

A date at the Jazz Cafe was rearranged at least 3 times to celebrate the new album’s release, here’s hoping in 2021 they can actually perform live.

Charlie Wilson is king of the singles, and teams up with Smokey Robinson

Another artist who had a busy year of releases was Uncle Charlie Wilson, former Gap Band frontman and all round legend. Uncle Charlie released 2 singles earlier in the year, the excellent ‘Forever Valentine’ and ‘One I Got’, which samples the Four Tops classic ‘Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got)’.

And if that wasn’t enough Uncle Charlie (and let’s face it, you can never have too much of him), he teamed up with none other than Motown legend Smokey Robinson on ‘All of My Love’, a tasty piece of neo-soul from the two masters.

Will 2021 bring a full album from Charlie Wilson? Let’s hope so.

More music from the much-missed Sharon Jones

She may have died in 2016, but the music keeps coming from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Following on from her first posthumous release Soul of a Woman, comes Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In) an album made up of covers the late soul queen recorded during her stint with Daptone Records.

It features ‘Signed Sealed Delivered’, ‘Here I Am Baby’ and our personal highlight, a blistering version of ‘Rescue Me’.

Soulpersona and Princess Freesia deliver another solid album

Brighton-based duo Soulpersona and Princess Freesia delivered one of the best albums of last year, the excellent Extended Pleasure. Featuring their friends and frequent collaborators Carl Hudson and Terry Lewis, it’s another high-quality album from the duo. How do they keep doing it?

You can find out more and purchase their music on Bandcamp.

Gregory Porter releases the long awaited All Rise

Delayed from early 2020 to August, thanks to COVID-19, Gregory Porter’s All Rise is one of the best albums of the year. Porter is back singing his own compositions after his attempts at singing Nat “King” Cole covers on his last album. And it’s much better.

The ‘Deluxe’ album is 16 songs long, so it’ll take you a while to get through. But you’ll be glad you did. Weirdly, though, it hasn’t been nominated for a Grammy…

Michael McDonald releases live singles

The blue-eyed soul icon and former Doobie Brother released 3 live songs earlier in 2020, as the pandemic hit. Who wouldn’t want to be soothed by Michael McDonald’s voice while a deadly virus takes hold?

The first single was his version of ‘What’s Going On’, followed by the Burt Bacharach favourite ‘What The World Needs Now’, and his own ‘Taking It To The Streets’. Michael is in fine voice, sounding as good as ever. He also did a livestream show, and there are rumours of further new releases this year.

As if that wasn’t enough, he’s supposed to be reuniting with The Doobie Brothers in 2021. Fingers crossed these vaccines are rolled out ASAP.

Maceo Parker brings the funk on new album

The world’s funkiest saxophonist returned with a brand new album last year, the excellent Soul Food: Cooking With Maceo. Released on a new label aimed squarely to release funk records, The Funk Garage (a subsidiary of Mascot), the album features Maceo revisiting some all-time great funk tracks from ‘Rock Steady’ to ‘Cross The Tracks’.

And Maceo isn’t just a saxophonist, he can hold a tune as well.

And if that wasn’t enough for you…

IN MEMORIAM

Just in case COVID-19 hadn’t been enough, we lost some greats in 2020 as well. Our friends at SoulTracks have published a list of 70 musicians we lost last year, and we’ve picked a few to remember here.

Bill Withers

It’s no understatement to say that Bill Withers was one of the all time greats, a singer/songwriter like no other. Bill created some of the classics of the genre, from ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ to ‘Lean On Me’ to ‘Lovely Day’, and many others along the way.

His hit list is even more impressive given that he began his career in music relatively late in life, and then gave up performing and recording in the late eighties. He would only make occasional public appearances after then, claiming he was sick of the industry, and retired quietly.

A truly brilliant performer and writer, Bill Withers can never be replaced or replicated.

He was 81.

Betty Wright

Another sad loss, Betty Wright leaves behind a rich catalogue, including her signature song, ‘Clean Up Woman’. Wright’s career took her from the Miami Sound of the seventies, to becoming an in demand producer and writer in her later years. Only last year she wrote songs for The O’Jays on their latest album.

She died from cancer, aged just 66.

Bruce Williamson Jr, former lead singer of The Temptations

COVID-19 robbed us of a great singer when Bruce Williamson died in September last year. Known as ‘Big Sexy’, Bruce is best known for being a latter-day lead singer of The Temptations, joining the group in 2006 replacing GC Cameron.

He recorded two albums with the group, a series of outstanding covers on Back To Front, as well as originals on Still Here. He would remain with the group until 2015.

After leaving The Temptations he returned home to Las Vegas, performing in the city with his group Sons of Soul.

He was just 49 when he died, just days before his 50th birthday.

The Temptations in 2012, featuring Joe Herndon, Otis Williams, Terry Weeks, Ron Tyson and Bruce Williamson (L-R).

Ronald “Khalis” Bell, co-founder of Kool & The Gang

Along with his brother Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald formed the legendary Kool & The Gang, playing saxophone with the group as well as providing vocals.

The group were, in their first incarnation, primarily a jazz band that ended up playing funk and R&B. They scored hits with ‘Jungle Boogie’, ‘Hollywood Swinging’, and even won a Grammy with ‘Open Sesame’ which featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

But with the introduction of singer JT Taylor to the group, Kool & The Gang became one of the biggest disco acts of the seventies and eighties. Their sound softened, and resulted in hits like ‘Celebration’, which Ronald co-wrote.

In recent years it was reported he was working on a solo project, while his brother Kool continued with the band on tour.

He was 68.

Bruce Swedien

Although not technically a musician, Bruce Swedien’s contribution to music and soul as an engineer is extraordinary. Regarded as one of the finest around, Swedien is best known for his work with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, engineering the three records Q and MJ did together.

Swedien also engineered the early Frankie Valli hit ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, and would go on to work with the likes of Natalie Cole, Diana Ross, and George Benson.

He was 86.