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The Contours and Dennis Edwards - Just A Little Misunderstanding: Kent CD

Rare And Unissued Motown

By Chalky in Soul Music News
Updated on 28 Jul 2016 · Published 08 Sep 2014

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Just A Little Misunderstanding: Rare And Unissued Motown 1965-68 The Contours

 

When Ace/Kent delved into the world of Motown a few years ago they filled a void that Motown itself seemed reluctant to fill. That is some of the acts who weren’t necessarily considered Motown Royalty and especially the material left in the vaults. Even though these acts still had many a jewel in Motown’s crown with some stellar material either released or not. Acts such as Brenda Holloway, The Elgins, The Monitors, The Satintones, The Spinners, Shorty Long, Motown’s first Superstar Mary Wells, Eddie Holland and in the case of this review the Contours with two releases.

 

The Contours story is basically a tale of two halves. The first half of the story is covered with the first CD release “Dance With The Contours”. A title taken from planned album that never materialised due to unrest with the management, threatened strikes and the sacking of members and a new line up.

 

select_1410180867__contours-press.jpg

 

The original line up, Joe Billingslea and Billy Gordon the founders, Billy Hoggs, Hubert Johnson, Sylvester Potts and Huey Davis struck gold with “Do You Love Me”. Originally planned for the Temptations who failed to show for the recording session. It was after no further success materialized that the group were unhappy with Berry Gordy and Motown they were going to confront Gordy who having heard of this sacked all but Gordon.

This is where the latest release from Kent takes over, “Just A Little Misunderstanding”. Representing the ,material recorded by the group between 1965-1968. The “new” group was formed, in addition to Gordon, Alvin English, Jerry Green & Council Gray were added. English soon went with Sylvester Potts returning to replace him. Hits soon followed, “Can You Jerk Like Me” and “First I Look At The Purse”. Billy Gordon was soon in trouble with the law and replaced by Joe Stubbs but not before the group had laid down "Baby Hit And Run". Previously unreleased but saw the light of day in the UK on a MFP LP (with Dennis Edwards lead dubbed in) and became a huge dance floor favourite on the UK Northern Soul scene.

 

select_1410180928__contours-label.jpg

 

Stubbs only managed one single with the group the brilliant “Just A Little Misunderstanding”, again a big favourite with UK soul fans a staple play of many a Soul and Motown night.

 

This is the point where Dennis Edwards came into the group and again just one 45 was managed before the group went into meltdown. “It’s So Hard Being A Loser”.

 

“Just A Little Misunderstanding” manages to showcase all three leads and gives us a glimpse of what could have been with better promotion and not so much upheaval. Dancers such as the title track “Just A Little Misunderstanding”, “Baby Hit and Run” (Jerry Green lead vocal), “First I Look At The Purse”, tracks better known from recording s laid down by other Motown acts, “Ain’t That Peculiar” “Come See About Me” “I’ll Turn To Stone” and “What Becomes Of A Broken Hearted” amongst others unreleased gems such as “I Can’t Help Loving You Baby” (Joe Stubbs on lead vocal), "I’m Here Now That You Need Me” featuring the lead vocal of Dennis Edwards and "Sometimes I Have To Cry” with Jerry Green taking the lead. All in all a dozen unreleased tracks featuring the group and Dennis Edwards solo cuts including one of my favourites “Can’t Do Without Your Love” an unreleased gem that I was given some years ago and featured in my DJ sets around the country.

 

As well as the music there is as you would expect from Ace/Kent an extensive booklet with photographs, label scans and extensive notes from the renowned Motown collector and historian Keith Hughes. And just in case you didn’t know of the site Keith is involved in it is well worth checking out for all your Motown recordings queries, “Don’t Forget The Motor City”

 

http://youtu.be/CBZgcQ6MExk

 

1. Just A Little Misunderstanding

2. First I Look At The Purse

3. It's Growing

4. Baby Hit And Run

5. It's So Hard Being A Loser

6. Determination

7. A Weak Spot In My Heart

8. Girl Come On In

9. I Can't Help Loving You Baby

10. Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday

11. I'm Here Now That You Need Me

12. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted

13. Sunny

14. Keep On Tryin' (Till You Find Love)

15. Ain't That Peculiar

16. Can't Do Without Your Love

17. I Like Everything About You

18. What's So Good About Goodbye

19. Which Way To My Baby

20. I'll Turn To Stone

21. Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back)

22. Our Last Rendezvous

23. Sometimes I Have To Cry

24. I Grow Deeper In Love Every Day

25. Come See About Me

26. When A Man Loves A Woman

 

Buy From Ace/Kent

 

http://acerecords.co.uk/just-a-little-misunderstanding-rare-and-unissued-motown-1965-68



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Chalky

"Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday" unreleased ?

 

Wasn't it the flip to "Loser" ?

 

Yep my mistake.  I think I should have said the following track or the cd only Keep On Tryin?  I will check.

Edited by chalky
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Marc Forrest

"Billy Gordon was soon in trouble with the law and replaced by Joe Stubbs but not before the group had laid down "Baby Hit And Run". Previously unreleased but saw the light of day in the UK on a MFP LP (with Dennis Edwards lead dubbed in) and became a huge dance floor favourite on the UK Northern Soul scene."

 

It was originally released in 1974 on 7" as TMG 886

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Chalky

"Billy Gordon was soon in trouble with the law and replaced by Joe Stubbs but not before the group had laid down "Baby Hit And Run". Previously unreleased but saw the light of day in the UK on a MFP LP (with Dennis Edwards lead dubbed in) and became a huge dance floor favourite on the UK Northern Soul scene."

 

It was originally released in 1974 on 7" as TMG 886

 

The LP came first as far as I am aware.  The point was it never saw a release at the time of recording and even when it did it was not the original recording.

Edited by chalky
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Marc Forrest

Both are from 1974,  but the single release on TMG dates from February 1974 and doesnt mention the LP (..."Taken from"). So thers a good chance it predates the LP. Still theres a possibility of course the LP was released during the cold month of January..

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Chalky

Both are from 1974,  but the single release on TMG dates from February 1974 and doesnt mention the LP (..."Taken from"). So thers a good chance it predates the LP. Still theres a possibility of course the LP was released during the cold month of January..

 

The 45 wouldn't be "taken from" as the lp wasn't put out by Motown.  I will check the sleeve notes to see what they say and correct if necessary to put your mind at rest  :thumbsup::D

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Chalky

Both, LP and single were released by Tamla Motown UK.

 

The LP was put out by Music For Pleasure, set up by EMI and someone else and specialised in budget price LP's. I would imagine they leased the tracks from Motown.

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Marc Forrest

Both MFP and TMG were EMI owned labels.  Motown had last word in which label was about to release whatever title. I really think the 7" was earlier, first because of the date (02/74) and second because no record company would re-release a tune already been used on your budget imprint (MFP) on your "prime" label (TMG). Usually its the other way round.

Edited by Marc Forrest
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Steve L

Both MFP and TMG were EMI owned labels.  Motown had last word in which label was about to release whatever title. I really think the 7" was earlier, first because of the date (02/74) and second because no record company would re-release a tune already been used on your budget imprint (MFP) on your "prime" label (TMG). Usually its the other way round.

 

Although slightly before my time I'm pretty sure it was played off the LP then the single was released due to demand created.

I'm sure some of our more senior brethren can confirm, I was at the youth club stage and can remember buying the single around 1974/5

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Steve L

LP first

Just featured "Can't do without your love" on Radio Show

FCUM Radio

 

Fabulous!!! Anyone who likes northern sounding motown and hasn't heard this really ought to 

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Chalky

Both MFP and TMG were EMI owned labels.  Motown had last word in which label was about to release whatever title. I really think the 7" was earlier, first because of the date (02/74) and second because no record company would re-release a tune already been used on your budget imprint (MFP) on your "prime" label (TMG). Usually its the other way round.

 

Marc, I'm happy to be proved wrong and will amend the article, just give me the facts.  The vocal on this cd wasn't on the LP or the 45.

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Chalky

I remember it well, the LP came out quite a time before the 45 which was only issued when demand from LP plays enforced it. One of the dates-probably the LP release- must be wrong

 

That backs up what I am lead to believe. I have read at one time a date of 1972 for the LP.  

 

Is there an earlier Dutch release?

 

having been disbanded for a few years by the early 70's, I guess Motown believed there was no or little money to be made from a group that didn't exist and were happy for a budget LP company to issue the material?  When they saw the errors of their ways and saw that Baby hit And Run was a big hit in the clubs they decided to belatedly try and make a few bucks themselves.

Edited by chalky
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Marc Forrest

I remember it well, the LP came out quite a time before the 45 which was only issued when demand from LP plays enforced it. One of the dates-probably the LP release- must be wrong

 

That would explain it, cheers Ady!

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Marc Forrest

Marc, I'm happy to be proved wrong and will amend the article, just give me the facts.  The vocal on this cd wasn't on the LP or the 45.

 

Dont want to proove you wrong mate, just think/thought the 45 was earlier. Great write up !

Edited by Marc Forrest
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Ady Croasdell

That backs up what I am lead to believe. I have read at one time a date of 1972 for the LP.  

 

Is there an earlier Dutch release?

 

having been disbanded for a few years by the early 70's, I guess Motown believed there was no or little money to be made from a group that didn't exist and were happy for a budget LP company to issue the material?  When they saw the errors of their ways and saw that Baby hit And Run was a big hit in the clubs they decided to belatedly try and make a few bucks themselves.

That's about it. Around the same time I applied for a job as a plugger at Motown, told them they should release There's A Ghost In My House and I Ain't Going Nowhere, I didn't get the job, Ghost came out as an A side and was a huge hit, Nowhere was stuck on a two track B side of a 3 track single and got............ .nowhere.
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Chalky

That's about it. Around the same time I applied for a job as a plugger at Motown, told them they should release There's A Ghost In My House and I Ain't Going Nowhere, I didn't get the job, Ghost came out as an A side and was a huge hit, Nowhere was stuck on a two track B side of a 3 track single and got............ .nowhere.

 

We have seen it so often with Motown always behind the curve, at least Ace/Kent are doing a good job for them with these releases.

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