Review: Jo Wallace - Soul Set @ More Fountains x Margate Arts Club Ramrock Hi-Fi)

Here's one for Sunday Soul Fans, Mrs Ramrock (aka Jo Wallace) has posted her fantastic set from More Fountains x Margate Arts Club  that has features Modern Soul room perfection for well over 2 hours which has taken 50 years to achieve - "Thank me later" as someone might say!

What a gig this must have been as Divine Disco's Greg Belson (the oft mentioned master of gospel house and soul) was there too!  We know Jo as Mrs Ramrock - the lady boss of Ramrock Records and remixer/producer/arranger and vocalist for the North Street West production unit consisting of me, Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris.

But she tells us, "I started DJ'ing back in 1976 - that's 50 years playing the platters that matter and keeping the faith. If you've never been to one of my gigs, I'm bringing one to you - it's the one I did last year as Greg Belson's guest on his UK Divine Disco tour. It was an absolute honour to be able to play alongside the Don and to give some of my soul sides a spin. If you love your 'modern' soul/ Blackpool Mecca vibe, this is the playlist for you".

So, tracklist below for all you crate diggers with some spare cash and for the rest of us, "Sprinkle the talcum powder and get on the dancefloor - Enjoy and big love".

Press play!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Jo Wallace's Soul Set @ Greg Belson's Divine Disco event - Margate Arts Club - 18.07.25 by Jo Wallace | Mixcloud

Artist: Jo Wallace (Ramrock Hi-Fi)

Title:  Soul Set @ More Fountains x Margate Arts Club 

Release date: 6th September, 2026

Label : -

Catalog Number : -

Format: Mixcloud

Tracklist:

Tommie Young – Hit and Run Lover 00:00

Jean Wells – What have I got to lose? 02:27

Tony Troutman – What’s the use? 04.47

Sam Dees – Fragile, handle with care 07:51

Manhattans - I Can't Stand for You to Leave Me 11:13

Ty Karim – Lightin’ Up 13:44

Bessie Banks – Don’t you worry, baby 16:54

Mayberry Movement – Two wrongs don’t make a right 20:27

Channel Three – The sweetest thing 23:29

Dramatics – A thousand shades of blue 26:37

Ace Spectrum – Keep holding on 30:28

Dee Dee Warwick – Funny how we change places 38:59

Jan Jones – Independent Woman 41:33

Four Tops – Don’t bring back memories 45:25

Lew Kirton – Heaven in the afternoon 48:18

James Walsh Gypsy Band – Cuz it’s you, girl 53:59

Mandrill – Too late 57:51

The Natural Four – I thought it was you 01:01:27

Impressions – I’ll always be here 01:04:17

Brother’s Guiding Light – Gettin’ together 01:07:08

Philly Devotions – I just can’t say goodbye 01:09:46

Ujima – I’m not ready 01:12:55

Bill Harris – Am I cold, am I hot? 01:15:53

Walter Jackson – Touching in the dark 01:21:01

Skip Mahoney – Janice 01:24:59

Gladys Knight and the Pips - Baby, Baby Don't Waste My Time 01:28:32

Street People – You’re my one weakness girl 01:32:20

Timeless Legend – I was born to love you 01:35:28

John Edwards – How can I make it without you? 01:39:06

Intruders – Be thankful for what you’ve got 01:42:01

Mel & Tim – Forever and a day 01:45:10

Voices of East Harlem – Cashin’ in 01:49:48

Four Tops – I just can’t get you out of my mind 01:52:04

Moments – Nine times 01:55:59

General Johnson – Don’t walk away 02:00:30

Jackie Wilson – Because of you 02:04:59

Ace Spectrum – Don’t send nobody else 02:08:28

Dynamic Superiors – One Nighter 02:12:27

Gloria Scott – A case of too much love makin’ 02:16:23

Gloria Gaynor – This love affair 02:20:14

Lamont Dozier – New Breed Kinda Woman 02:22:49

John Gary Williams – The whole damn world is going crazy 02:25:44

Archie Bell & The Dells – Where will you go (when the party’s over) 02:28:45

Review: Suddenly WOW! - Space Soul Mother (No’West Remix) EP (Ramrock Red Record)

It's been a couple of years since know your funk soul brother will want to know where your 'Space Soul Mother' but it's been worth the wait for the No'West remix of the Suddenly WOW! 'out there' track!

Thankfully, we're still not all going to the moon but it seems some folks are still obsessed with 'space' and 'conquering' but back on the earthly relms of the No'West studios, here you'll find "Darren Morris’s exquisite instrumentation provides the perfect underlay for Otti Albietz’s carpet of celestial vocal layering whilst Ashley Beedle’s drum programming firmly roots the vibe in early 80s funk. Jo Wallace navigates the track through asteroid belts and beyond landing the track in a lunar landscape of pulsating disco beats" - as they say, "What’s not to love?"

You recall the WOW!'s (aka Otti Albietz and Darren Morris) released the album 'Plastic Life' (see review HERE) having entered their own dystopian space cowboy journey to where Sun Ra feared to tread and the re-tread version super synth funk fuelled with jet streams (that work particularly well on the instrumental all with some Peech Boy NYC era references).

To quote Ms. Wallace, "Suddenly WOW! will transport you to the outer corners of the musical Universe"  and whilst it'd be great to find a 12" Disco-Mix version for the DJ booth, get supporting this one - out soon!  Well, (Suddenly) WOW!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  RRR097 - Suddenly WOW! - Space Soul Mother (No'West Remix EP) | Suddenly WOW! | Ramrock

Artist: Suddenly WOW!
Title: Space Soul Mother (No’West Remix) EP 

Release date: 26th June, 2026
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR097
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Secret Garden - Names In The Sky feat. Jo Wallace (Ramrock Red Records)

Whether it's the Garden of Eden, The Garden of Earthly Delights or indeed, The Secret Garden, here's the flowering of Mrs Ramrock on vocals for 'Names In The Sky'.

Jo Wallace, the boss at Ramrock HQ, has made an appearance previously on the label (see review HERE) was introduced by Dan The Drum (he of 'Jazzcazz - see review HERE) to Alex of The Secret Garden and the result is this great track, 'Names In The Sky'.

Whilst older readers may imagine a John Gordon Sinclair /  Clare Grogan moment on the "End Of Summer" headland/beach but this is always going to be "current" which is kind of ironic as Alex's inspiration and the title was inspired by a Nancy Wilson track from 1968.

But don't get the impression that this is all dreamy stuff as the track (with the instrumental) is serious disco-boogie-funk ready for the spaceship dancefloor (and possibly a dubby remix from the Morris & Wallace team?)

Another winner from Ramrock and perfect timing as ever. 

Artist: The Secret Garden

Title: Names In The Sky feat. Jo Wallace

Release date: 28th October, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR070

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Deep Excavation ft. Morris Revy - Feel The Flow EP (Ramock Records)

Deep Excavation is drilling down to 'Feel The Flow' with Morris Revy that fits in with the Ramrock red, green and gold mining for quality reggae and dubs.

In fact, it was a combination of Ashley Beedle (the other half to Ramock Records' prime instigator and all-seeing eye of musical goodness, Jo Wallace) that got hold of Deep Excavations (aka Alan Keane) in Ireland (Ed. any relation?) with a vocal by Nigerian Morris Revy.

Mr Revy has a really expressive vocal delivery that approaches dub poetry as this guy really does feel the riddim with a Ha Ya! eternal life (no, not this one - see review HERE).

The instrumental continues the groove as it's like a mesmeric train ride where you make a move like an express; with no stops, or buffet car!

And there's a dub which just perfect for the nyabinghi house trippers that's equally suitable for some balearic beach action.

No only that, there's a Balmr remix (aka Greg O'Connell) that sounds like the southbound tube line on dub race to Brixton with no time to read the poem of the day as you feel the flow.

Somewhat difffent to the last release from the Ramrock family,  Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers 'When Hurt Walks Out The Door' (see review HERE) but it's equally as great: as you'd expect from all Ramrock productions.

Artist: Deep Excavation ft. Morris Revy

Title: Feel The Flow EP

Release date: 8th March 2024

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RR012

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: King Bee - Good To Be Back ft. Andre Espeut (Ramrock Red Records)

Can you feel a new jazz dance Brit funk happening?  Well, it's on the cards as King Bee says it's 'Good To Be Back'.

Once more, Ramrock Red Records (and Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace in particular) have got their finger on the UK pulse and this time it's in Newcastle we find this powerhouse of a seven piece band that features the classic three horn front line with vibraphone!

Think Incognito mixed with the Chevalier Brothers doing jazz-funk like Morrissey Mullen/Beggar & Co. brought up to date like BunnDebrett Quintet, that's a bit of a challenge to get your jazzdance feet around but definitely worth it.

And on this mighty single, in addition to the instrumental version, there's two versions featuring the vocals of Andre Espeut who you may not recognise the name but his soulful vocals have quite rightly been sought after on countless releases.

Indeed, this is not King Bee's first recorded outing eithre as they released their first single in 2016 and found fans in Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music) and went onto be remixed by DJ Smoove (yes, another fellow of the North East and to be found on forthcoming Smoove & Turrell's single 'The Light', featuring Ronnie Foster on Jalapeno Records). [Note: that's Ronnie Foster of jazz label Blue Note!]

DJ Robbie Vincent and another serious soul-funk remixer, The Relex, are also counted King Bee fans and it's easy to see why as sounding like 'Good To Be Back', they must be brilliant live; particularly going on the reworked vocal version with extra basslines and acid-jazz organ, but it's all fantastic.

Artist: King Bee

Title: Good To Be Back ft. Andre Espeut 

Release date: 31st July, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR046

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Hollie Cook - Move My Way (Black Science Orchestra Remixes) (Merge Records)

Hollie Cook's new single, taken from her album 'Happy Hour' is all you'd expect from the 'Lil' Slit' with her reputation for bouncy lovers rock that here is produced with the help of Youth. 

It's backed by a track called 'Unkind Love' and if you are a fan of her 2011 debut album on Mr Bongo (produced by Dennis Bovel that got full  Prince Fatty dub overhaul) you'll won't be surprised by the quality of this new material.

What perhaps will surprise you (thanks to Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace for pointing this out) is that there's a Black Science Orchestra remix and dub versions.  We've not seen/heard these guys since Junior Boy's Own/Afro Art way back. 

The remix is very much in a disco-shuffle-jazz-funk groove and with a proper 'dub'; it's going to get you moving as the synths and percussion take on a very 80s go-go vibe with reggae island horns and organ; what more could you ask for? Kitchen sink? (only kidding).

Lets hope this is the start of Black Science Orchestra taking on more remixes like this.

P.S. There's an interview with Ashley Beedle in the new DISCO POGO magazine [#2] in which he covers his Black Science Orchestra days and much more.

Artist: Hollie Cook

Title: Move My Way (Black Science Orchestra Remixes) 

Release Date : 14th September, 2022

Catalog Number : 

Label : Merge Records

Format: Digital