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Pied Piper - Follow Your Soul - Kent Cd - Out Now

More outstanding recordings from the highly talented Pied Piper Team

By Chalky in Soul Music News
Updated on 09 Sep 2015 · Published 30 May 2015

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Many cities in the USA have a place in the hearts of Rare Soul aficionados but none more so than Detroit and Pied Piper has always been highly revered by collectors and dancers alike. Ever since the first instalment of the Pied Piper recordings by Kent (A New Concept In Detroit Soul), before they had even finished listening people were asking when is the next one out?

 

Well out it is and the standard as you would expect is right up there with the first with a selection of gems, both previously released on 45 and some that surprisingly given the quality had been left in the can in the vaults for decades.

 

Pied Piper was started by Jack Ashford and Shelley Haims with their own Giant label. But with the help and addition of various musicians, writers, arrangers and producers, amongst them Lorraine Chandler and Funk Brothers Mike Terry, Joe Hunter and Herbie Williams to name but a few their talent soon spread to labels such as Karate, Kapp and RCA.

 

 

 

You only have to see a 45 with the name Pied Piper on it or any of those involved to know you have a quality release in your hands, the vast majority highly collectable and many commanding a large amount of money.

 

 

 

This CD kicks off with one that lay in the vaults for many years until it was found and dusted down and exposed to the world via Ady Croasdell at the world famous 100 Club all-nighters is September Jone’s “Voodoo Madamoiselle”. An infectious dancer that reached cult status pretty quickly and was helped along the way by a YouTube video showing Levanna McLean dancing in somewhere far afield. September also features with two other tracks. “No More Love” was the flip to her classic Kapp outing “I’m Coming Home” and lastly with her version of Mikki Farrow’s “Could It Be” but this time titled “You Better Know Why”. A great version but Mikki just edges it for me. Mikki Farrow does feature on the CD with her glorious “Set My Heart At Ease” which has achieved classic status over the years

 

 

 

Another unissued gem that has reached cult status with little effort is Nancy Wilcox with “He’ll Be Leaving You”. One listen to this classy soulful up-tempo dancer and it isn’t hard to see why. Nancy also feature on the CD with “More Than A Memory”. Another class dancers, lyrically the better of the two for me and more soulful but if I had to choose one or the other I would struggle!

 

Lorraine Chandler is featured with three tracks. The first, Lorraine’s failed attempt at the James Bond theme “You Only Live Twice” has become a classic since it was first aired at the 100 Club many years ago and has since featured on a Kent 100 Club Anniversary 45. Here we have an alternative outing, the original first take, not as polished as the previous take but still a great record nonetheless. The second track, “Lost Without You” is a glorious soulful mid-tempo outing. The song was co-written and recorded by Teddy Randazzo in 1964, two years prior to Lorraine’s take which sadly remained in the can. Why some of this material never saw the light of day until nigh on 40 years later is beyond me. Her third outing for this CD is her Northern Soul classic “Giant” release “What Can I Do”, well known to dancers and collectors alike.

 

The Hesitations feature twice with two from one of the great Soul LP’s “Soul Superman”. The fabulous mid-tempo outing “Wait A Minute” and the stomper “That’s What Love Is” of which the backing would be used for the Northern Soul monster Eddie Parker’s “I'm Gone”.

 

Tony Hester is featured here with “Watch Yourself”, another Northern Soul classic. He also responsible for “Just Can’t Leave You” but whilst that isn’t featured, the backing track was utilized by the team for another that lay dormant in the vaults until being unleashed by Ady on “Love Will Find A Way” by Harry Gates. This has been featured on the turntables down the 100 Club and other venues around the country to widely appreciated dancers and chin-strokers alike

 

 

 

Another of the all time great Soul LP’s is Freddy Butler’s “With A Dab Of Soul”. Freddy features with two tracks. “They Say (I’m Afraid Of Losing You)” a truly wonderful slice of soul music and “Give Me Lots Of Lovin”, a delightful mid-tempo number that has delighted dancers for over three decades and the quality has ensured the LP has remained highly sought after.

 

Those behind the music get the chance to shine with two tracks, one previously unreleased backing track entitled “Love Sick” and the second is “Hold To My Baby”, the vocal version being by The Cavaliers. The Cavaliers do though give us two offerings on the CD. An alternate take of their classic RCA outing “Ooh It Hurts Me” which should need little or no introduction. The second surprisingly lay dormant in the vaults and begs the question why? “Without Someone To Tell Me” is a superb dancer, as good in my opinion as “Ooh It Hurts Me”.

 

 

 

The Metros are a highly regarded group amongst both dancers and collectors alike with many of their 45’s having reached classic status on the UK Northern Soul Scene. Here we have two tracks, both mid-tempo offerings “It’s Right Now “ was released a couple of years after being laid down, not by the Metros but by group member Joe Buckman on Jack Ashford and Lorraine Chandler’s Sepia label. It is clearly a group outing though. The second is the previously unreleased mid-tempo mover “You Don’t Know Me Do You”.

 

Northern Soul classics from Sharon Scott with “Could It Be You” and The Dynamics with ”I Need Your Love” both feature. Both still getting played on a regular basis decades after first getting turntable action here in the UK and still commanding a three-figure sum price wise. Sam E Solo with his Ruby/Imperial outing “Love Is Not A Game” completes the selection for this compilation, still a delightful mid-tempo number I don’t hear to much these days.

What is surprising is this was all laid down within a two year period, 1965 - 1967. A relatively short period of time given the amount of quality recordings which simply highlights the of talent that was Pied Piper.

 

As you would expect another superb release from Kent, the extensive sleeve notes from Ady Croasdell are worth the price alone with some fabulous photos. I do wish Kent would release the sleeve notes alone for their CD’s in a book.

 

Also worth checking out if you’ve been living in outer Mongolia in a tent is the first Pied Piper outing from Kent “Pied Piper Presents A New Concept In Detroit Soul” and of course the RCA “Rare Collectable and Soulful” compilations which of course feature Pied Piper productions and recordings

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/c68b9mYp3mg

 

01 Voodoo Madamoiselle - September Jones

02 He'll Be Leaving You - Nancy Wilcox

03 You Only Live Twice (alternate version) - Lorraine Chandler

04 Could It Be You - Sharon Scott

05 Ooh It Hurts Me (alternate version) - The Cavaliers

06 I Need Your Love - The Dynamics

07 Watch Yourself - Tony Hester

08 Love Will Find A Way - Harry Gates

09 They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You) - Freddy Butler

10 Lost Without You - Lorraine Chandler

11 Wait A Minute - The Hesitations

12 Love Sick - The Pied Piper Players

13 No More Love - September Jones

14 Set My Heart At Ease - Mikki Farrow

15 More Than A Memory - Nancy Wilcox

16 Without Someone To Tell Me - The Cavaliers

17 It's Right Now - The Metros

18 Love Is Not A Game - Sam E Solo

19 What Can I Do - Lorraine Chandler

20 You Better Know Why - September Jones

21 You Don't Know Me Do You - The Metros

22 Hold To My Baby - The Pied Piper Players

23 That's What Love Is - The Hesitations

24 Give Me Lots Of Lovin' - Freddy Butler

 

Buy direct from Ace Records with free delivery: http://acerecords.co.uk/pied-piper-follow-your-soul

 

 

Side 1

01

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-1.mp3

Voo Doo Madamoiselle - September Jones

02

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-2.mp3

He'll Be Leaving You - Nancy Wilcox

03

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-3.mp3

You Only Live Twice (alternate version) - Lorraine Chandler

04

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-4.mp3

Could It Be You - Sharon Scott

05

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-5.mp3

Ooh It Hurts Me (alternate version) - The Cavaliers

06

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-6.mp3

I Need Your Love - The Dynamics

07

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-7.mp3

Watch Yourself - Tony Hester

08

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-8.mp3

Love Will Find A Way - Harry Gates

09

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-9.mp3

They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You) - Freddy Butler

10

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-10.mp3

Lost Without You - Lorraine Chandler

11

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-11.mp3

Wait A Minute - The Hesitations

12

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-12.mp3

Love Sick - The Pied Piper Players

13

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-13.mp3

No More Love - September Jones

14

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-14.mp3

Set My Heart At Ease - Mikki Farrow

15

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-15.mp3

More Than A Memory - Nancy Wilcox

16

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-16.mp3

Without Someone To Tell Me - The Cavaliers

17

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-17.mp3

It's Right Now - The Metros

18

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-18.mp3

Love Is Not A Game - Sam E Solo

19

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-19.mp3

What Can I Do - Lorraine Chandler

20

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-20.mp3

You Better Know Why - September Jones

21

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-21.mp3

You Don't Know Me Do You - The Metros

22

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-22.mp3

Hold To My Baby - The Pied Piper Players

23

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-23.mp3

That's What Love Is - The Hesitations

24

http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-24.mp3

Give Me Lots Of Lovin' - Freddy Butler



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Chalky

Chalky 16,821

Posted (edited)

"I do wish Kent would release the sleeve notes alone for their CD’s in a book."

 

I definitely second that . :yes: 

 

I'm glad someone takes notice of what I write :D  Hopefully Ady will  :thumbsup: 

 

Seriously though superb compilation.  

 

I too am also looking forward to the next instalment from Doré.  Some great material surfacing through Ace/Kent.

Edited by chalky
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Mal C

Another brill Kent CD, Love it...

 

I wonder whether the Hesitations 'Don't Go' should have been released on one of these CD's; this is where I find out it wasn't a Pied Piper Production, and I've got egg on my face, if not, Volume 3 Pls....

 

Kind Regards,

 

Malcolm

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Quinvy

15 More Than A Memory - Nancy Wilcox

 

Had this on a tape for many years and always thought it was fantastic. Taped it off Richard Searlings old radio show on Jazz FM  on Sunday afternoons. Worth buying the CD just for this track alone.

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Guest Ivor Jones

Guest Ivor Jones

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Fantastic selection of stuff there from Kent as usual. I was immediately drawn to the Metros version of Joe Buckmans" Right Now",a massive fave of mine for many years. Having listened to the brief sound clip on the Ace/Kent website Im pretty certain  its the same version though, I think its just a super clean remastered version though[ which is a revelation in itself because the Sepia copies are normally pretty noisy old pressings] and it sounds phenomenal. Another definite winner from Kent…….

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Chalky

Ivor, the Metros/Joe Buckman is the same track according to the notes but Jack Ashford and Lorraine Chandler for some reason saw fit to release it as by Joe Buckman.  Listening it is clearly a group effort.  Maybe the tapes were not labelled correctly?  Maybe Lorraine can shed some light as to the reasons if she reads this. 

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Wilxy

Great article Chalky, and very apt for yet another classy airing of Pied Piper material....I sincerely hope there's even more of this to come.....Awesome on the ears etc. 

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Liam2005

Awesome cd - Totally forgot about how good the Freddy butler Lp track "They say I'm afraid (of Losing you)" - and i supplied the LP for this cd lol.  Ady hats off mate :hatsoff2: Superb, got it on at work all through the day.

 

Greg

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Epic
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The sad thing is (& I have said this many times before) that these tunes will not get played in clubs so people can truly appreciate them.

 

a) The OVO brigade won't touch them

b) The "Top 500" crew won't even know this CD exists.

 

I take my hat off to Ade for getting these CDs released - it would be great if they were given the recognition they truly deserve.

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Liam2005

The sad thing is (& I have said this many times before) that these tunes will not get played in clubs so people can truly appreciate them.

 

a) The OVO brigade won't touch them

b) The "Top 500" crew won't even know this CD exists.

 

I take my hat off to Ade for getting these CDs released - it would be great if they were given the recognition they truly deserve.

I'm afraid you are correct in most cases, i suggested on an earlier post some days ago that dj's should get tracks cut.  Where not talking about the so called elite but the grass routes dj's, the ones that keep the scene going in the small club up and down the country.  I agree it  would give fresh tunes to the dancefloor, some of the Piper tracks are actually released on vinyl from Ace, so no need to get cut ( if required).  Remember it all depends on the so called DJ's agenda, entertain the dancefloor with a nice mix or just entertain the few people rubbing there chins in the corner. There is also a positive reaction needed by the dancers, this is always not forcoming at lots of events until they get there top 500.

 

 

Greg (ex Capitol Soul Club and 100club).

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Guest chorleybloke

Guest chorleybloke

Posted

Received mine today in Australia and it's a blinder as I knew it would be.  I've been listening to a one minute MP3 clip of the Cavaliers "Without Someone To Tell Me" for a good 3 or 4 years now itching to know how the rest went.... got better & better and I had a carver on order an hour later.  Not OVO because there's a single studio acetate knocking around somewhere but simply too good not to play out.

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Epic
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I'm afraid you are correct in most cases, i suggested on an earlier post some days ago that dj's should get tracks cut.  Where not talking about the so called elite but the grass routes dj's, the ones that keep the scene going in the small club up and down the country.  I agree it  would give fresh tunes to the dancefloor, some of the Piper tracks are actually released on vinyl from Ace, so no need to get cut ( if required).  Remember it all depends on the so called DJ's agenda, entertain the dancefloor with a nice mix or just entertain the few people rubbing there chins in the corner. There is also a positive reaction needed by the dancers, this is always not forcoming at lots of events until they get there top 500.

 

 

Greg (ex Capitol Soul Club and 100club).

The truth is certain people would sooner listen & dance to a worn out pressing of"Girl Across The Street" than have the slightest interest in who Mike Terry even is. He may as well be a carpet fitter from Runcorn as far as they are concerned !!

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Guest

Lorraine Chandler's performance of, "Lost Without You" is sublime...her vocal is often deeper in the mix with her dance tracks, but this really highlights her ability...wonderful!

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jkidd

Heard the Nancy Wilcox track" he,ll be leaving you" on Richard Searlings  show on Radio Manchester last Friday, never heard it before, absolute brilliant track. Would it be possible to release these on the Pied Piper label, give us a chance to play these out at soul nights.

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Ady Croasdell

Heard the Nancy Wilcox track" he,ll be leaving you" on Richard Searlings  show on Radio Manchester last Friday, never heard it before, absolute brilliant track. Would it be possible to release these on the Pied Piper label, give us a chance to play these out at soul nights.

Yes

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davidwapples

"I do wish Kent would release the sleeve notes alone for their CD’s in a book."

 

I definitely second that . :yes: 

 

I wonder if with these print on demand type services if it would be viable for them to do it that way or even  if they started a pledge etc to raise the money needed as i would love them all together etc , maybe done in a few volumes etc

 

I presume that they have all the information stored digitally so wouldnt like be starting from scratch etc

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Chalky

I wonder if with these print on demand type services if it would be viable for them to do it that way or even  if they started a pledge etc to raise the money needed as i would love them all together etc , maybe done in a few volumes etc

 

I presume that they have all the information stored digitally so wouldnt like be starting from scratch etc

 

A digital download would be ideal for me, carry it anywhere.  I'd even put the book together if they haven't the time :D

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Russ Vickers

Looking forward to getting my copy when I get home next - I have always said, that most/many 100 Club oldies have never even been heard by most of the Oxford Street basement uninitiated....the Nancy Wilcox has been a MONSTER down them stairs for years....there are probably enough old 100 Club plays, to keep the scene going with 'newies' for another 10 years...absolutely shocking really, that one of the only proper real Soul Allnighters left in the UK, is either ignored or unknown to many north of Watford gap....& its some the tunes included on this CD that make it such....

Cant wait to hear it properly & well done Ady & Ace/Kent

Best Russ

 

 

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Soulboy69

Received my copy in the mail today, superb compilation and informative booklet as always! 

Growing up in rural Ireland in the 80's, Kent compilations were my education and they still are today. 

We're lucky to have them and long may they continue.

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Bossfourpart1

Bought a copy of this CD off Roger Banks at Cleethorpes and saved it for the journey home.

This was the quickest drive home from Cleggy i can remember , quality all the way.

I like the odd Fuzz guitar cutting in on some of the tunes , nice touch.

Totally recommend this CD as a must have.

 

Keep them coming ....

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lorchand
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I had added a comment, but I guess it got lost.  Anyhoo, I cannot remember why Joe Buckman was listed alone if he recorded with the Metros, but who knows (or can remember) what happened back then?

What I am glad about is the reaction that people are having off of these old songs.  It is great to see that some people still care.

Lorraine

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Benji

Looking forward to getting my copy tomorrow. I just realized Lorraine's "lost without you" is the same song as Little Anthony and Teddy Randazzo. One of my alltime favourites. Great!

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Guest stevie frear

Guest stevie frear

Posted

Mine came yestrday,,Got it for the Nancy wilcox but the cavaliers "without someone to tell me" Corrr Blimmy maate !

 

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Triode

I had added a comment, but I guess it got lost.  Anyhoo, I cannot remember why Joe Buckman was listed alone if he recorded with the Metros, but who knows (or can remember) what happened back then?

What I am glad about is the reaction that people are having off of these old songs.  It is great to see that some people still care.

Lorraine

Hi Lorraine,

I can assure you there are many people who still care very much x

all we need now is a "Pied Piper Review" in the U.K. !! ........sadly not all the artists are with us anymore,

Lorraine would love to know your thoughts on the idea?

 

Triode

 

 

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Ady Croasdell

Looking forward to getting my copy tomorrow. I just realized Lorraine's "lost without you" is the same song as Little Anthony and Teddy Randazzo. One of my alltime favourites. Great!

And Billy Fury!

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lorchand
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Hi Lorraine,

I can assure you there are many people who still care very much x

all we need now is a "Pied Piper Review" in the U.K. !! ........sadly not all the artists are with us anymore,

Lorraine would love to know your thoughts on the idea?

 

Triode

 

 

Hi Triode,

Talked with Eddie Parker the other day just to say "Hi," and told him we have to check on each other every other month.  He laughed and and said "you are right."  I would still like to meet the people and sing a few songs and so would Eddie.  Just let us know what you get together.  Remember, time is not our friend, not an enemy, but definitely not as a friendly as it use to be. 

Lorraine

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