Jump to content

Latest Updates

New Comp Alert - Lost Without You - The Best Of Kent Ballads 2

“Lost Without You - The Best Of Kent Ballads 2”
If you’re a Deep Soul or Soul Ballad fan I really must bring to your attention the latest ‘Kent Ballads’ compilation which is to be released at the end of October.
This CD series tends to cover the whole of the soul music era and most genres, but those on the blue or mellow side in particular.

Having had the great pleasure of being able to absorb the tracks in this fine collection over many months, and in some instances, several years, I can only say that, for lovers of the deeper shades of Soul, this latest in the series is absolutely essential and very much up there with the finest compilations you’re ever likely to hear.
This volume has a particularly impressive 20-year span, ranging from New Orleans-recorded Turquinettes’ 1962 track to the early 80s quiet-storm groove of Jimmy Scott.
From the list below you will see that 14 of the tracks have previously made it to vinyl and will already nuzzle in the collections of many ardent deep soul fans.
However the 10 tracks which were never released at the time will more than justify the purchase.
A quick review of just a few of those on offer should put you in the picture.
1. The opening track ‘Stay Away’ is a hitherto unreleased number which I’ve previously played out here and there as being performed by ‘Carlson Oliver’ - who on further investigation turns out to be one of the co-writers, but not the vocalist.
This was the name on the Tape Box and until the artists were correctly identified served a very useful purpose.
Blake Helliwell may well recall me passing this to him to play in the lounge at Soul Essence a couple of years ago.
It is actually a Kent / Modern recording by The Turn Arounds with Terry Evans on lead. Comparisons with the Knight Brothers ‘Temptation ‘Bout To Get Me’ are inevitable.
An absolute Killer that just has to be heard… and owned.
2. A surprise package which arrived recently is the hitherto unknown and still unreleased second album from South Carolina Hairdresser, Jerry Washington.
Crossover fans will go ape over the Whitfield influenced original (pre-Glades) recording of the song ‘Don’t Waste My Time’.
For those of us who fell in love with his hit record ‘Right Here Is Where You Belong’ back in ’73, there’s plenty on this unreleased set of completed masters, including the lovely ‘I Don’t Need Nobody’ which is a chip right off the ‘Right Here’ block!
As a taster for the complete album to come, it’s included here and is an absolute beauty!
3. The third unreleased track to feature is the title of the compilation from Detroit heroine Lorraine Chandler in ‘Lost Without You’.
This is a Pied Piper recording, laid down at the same session as ‘Oh, How I Need Your love’ and Northern Soul favourite ‘I Can’t Change’ and had remained in the can since December 1966.
It’s a Teddy Randazzo composition and lacks none of the lyrical drama we’ve come to expect from his work, with a superbly sophisticated arrangement from Jack Ashford and Joe Hunter.
4. Julius Wright ‘Lonely Girl’ is a formerly unissued Brent recording from 1965. This is an organ filled deep soul, southern style, number that goes right back to church.
A very worthwhile inclusion!
5. The Exotics ‘Nobody But You’ is an unreleased Excello recording. A southern ‘brassy’ group sound that the Low Rider crowd will absolutely love and the rest of us will also admire. And the good news is, there’s still more ‘in the can’ to come from this great group!
6. Must admit, when this next cut arrived in the mailbox I was completely blown away. A previously unissued Dore recording from Little Johnny Hamilton on ‘Apartment Number Nine’.
No other way to describe this other than a killer deep ‘wrist slasher’. It’s a definitive deepie in the mould of Don Covay on ‘Leave Him’ or ‘I Was Checking Out’ but with even more tears, shrieks and misery. Completely breath-taking.
7. Another that got me from the get-go is a stunner from Nashvilles own Peggy Gaines, on a previously unissued recording from Bob Holmes. I’ve been playing this one over and over for months and the more I hear it, the better it gets.
Just wait until Dave Halsall and Kev Briscoe hear this! Mid-tempo loveliness that’s as good as anything I’ve ever heard by her, and she made some absolute gems. Buy it now!
8. Lastly is a track that some may be familiar with via a later recording. Jimmy Scott ‘Sure Thing’ is actually an earlier inception of his 80’s ‘Back-Bone’ 45 ‘Take A Chance On My Love’ and it’s even better than the side that came out. A wonderful recording and absolutely remarkable that it remained hidden for so long.
There’s far more on offer here than these few ‘previously unissued’ highlights and I’m sure that Soul Lovers will also find great pleasure in the sublime offerings from the likes of Ty Karim, Alice Clark and Dori Grayson.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing these tracks, over the past few years and in recent times, in various shady haunts and where mid-tempo, deep and ballad soul are applauded.
I do know that this project was a real labour of love and meticulous devotion for, Ace compiler, Ady Croasdell as he sought to create and assemble an album full of tracks that even the most die-hard Deep Soul fan would love and cherish. Mission accomplished Captain. This is a compilation that every fan can file among those other Deep Soul treasures, without any fears.
Head to Amazon or Ace right now and place that advanced order.
You won’t be disappointed.

Sean Hampsey
 
Stay Away - The Turn Arounds
I Don't Need Nobody - Jerry Washington
I Love You More - Lee Williams & The Cymbals
Lost Without You - Lorraine Chandler
Don't Let Her Make You Cry - J.J. Jackson & The Jackaels
After He Breaks Your Heart - The Wanderers
Lonely Girl - Julius Wright
Nobody But You - The Exotics
Apartment # 9 - Little Johnny Hamilton
I Can Fix That For You - Dori Grayson
Everybody Knows - Peggy Gaines
I Give A Damn - Johnny Watson
Crying Clown - Eddie Parker
Messing Up A Good Thing - John Edwards
Sure Thing - Jimmy Scott
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - Ty Karim
Heaven's Will (Must Be Obeyed) - Alice Clark
How's Things With You - Joe Mayfield
King For A Day - Danny White
The Last One To Be Loved - Lou Johnson
Give This Fool Another Chance - Eddie Whitehead
Lonely Man - The Soul Brothers
Take Another Look - The Turquinettes
The Price - Mary Love Comer

By Sean Hampsey in News Archives ·

You Tore My Wall Down - Soul Junction 45

Real Gone Music have been releasing the complete Atlantic, Atco and related label material recordings for various artists these past few years. Linda Jones, Carl Hall, Patti Labelle, Bettye Swann, The Sweet Inspirations, Jackie Moore and Dee Dee Warwick just some of artists featured so far. 
It is the latter, Dee Dee Warwick that we are interested in here.  Her compilation from 2014 feature no less than 12 previously unreleased songs.  One of those 12 “You Tore My Wall Down” has been the most talked about and has caused a stir after receiving extended airplay via several radio shows.  A superb up-tempo dancer, it makes you wonder why such material is left in the can and would probably still be there if it wasn’t for dedicated enthusiasts determined to unearth everything possible.  “You Tore My Wall Down” was crying out for a 45 release and was demanded by some radio jocks.  Thankfully Soul Junction stepped in and licenced the track for their next release, a a welcome release it most certainly is.  It’s already featured at some venues due to advanced copies with plenty of inquisitive collectors immediately wanting a copy of their own.  The flip, an early 70’s mover is equally worthy of turntable action. This is one release destined to sell out so get your copy quick.
 
 
Press Release: Dee Dee Warwick   “You Tore My Wall Down/Can’t It Wait Until Tomorrow”   SJ533
Release Date:  Monday November 2nd 2015
Dee Dee Warwick was born Delia Mae Warrick on September 25th 1945, in East Orange, New Jersey.
Dee Dee came from a very prominent family in the gospel community. Her father was the former director of gospel promotions at Chess Records, while her mother was the manager of the family gospel ensemble ‘The Drinkard Singers. Dee Dee  began her musical career singing alongside her elder and more famous sister Dionne Warwick within ‘The Drinkard Sisters’ who were led by their Aunt Emily “Cissy” Houston (the mother of the late Whitney Houston). Dee Dee and Dionne later formed their own gospel group ‘The Gospelaires’ who also entered the field of secular music singing backing vocals for many of the hit acts of the late 50’s and early 60’s where she gained a reputation as consistent and well respected session singer.

 This was to change in 1963 when Dee Dee signed as a solo performer with the iconic songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller who were instrumental in all her first three solo outings the original and much covered “Your No Good b/w Don’t Call Me Anymore” (Jubilee 5459). She also followed her sister’s lead by changing her surname from Warrick to Warwick. Dee Dee’s next release was the Van McCoy penned “Standing By b/w Don’t Think My Baby’s Coming Back” (Tiger 103) and “I Who Have Nothing At All b/w I Can’t Go Back” (Hurd 79). Dee Dee also sang with her aunt Cissy Houston as part of Allison Gaye & The Burners on their 1964 gospel outing “Darling/Burn” for the tiny Royo label.
    
Dee Dee then signed for the major Mercury label, where she scored a 1965 pop hit with “I Want To Be With You” which first appeared on Mercury’s subsidiary Blue Rock label. Under the supervision of esteemed New Jersey producer Ed Townsend, Dee Dee was to record several other excellent sides such as “We’re Doing Fine”, “Gotta Get A Hold Of Myself”, “Worth Every Tear I Cry” (although only an album track in the USA it did gain a 45 release in the UK) before being promoted to the main Mercury label.


Mercury released their first album on Dee Dee under the title of “I Want To Be With You/I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” an amalgamation of two of Dee Dee’s biggest hits. With Dee Dee’s original version of “I’m Gonna Make Me Love Me” later being covered by Madeline Bell and as a duet between Motown heavyweights The Supremes and The Temptations. In 1969 Dee Dee recorded the first of her two Grammy nominations “Foolish Fool” which was to become the title track of her second Mercury album. It was from this album that a further two tracks “When Love Slips Away” and “Where Is That Rainbow” would later find favour within the UK Crossover/Modern Soul Scene.
Other Dee Dee Warwick Mercury releases of note are the excellent up tempo cover version of the American folk/rock group The Mamas And Papas #1 hit “Monday Monday” along with “Don’t You Give Up On Me” with both songs being of interest to Northern Soul devotees.
 
    
US Album only until a US acetate (with a slightly different mix) turned up and was featured in the sets of Mark "Butch" Dobson. 
During 1970, Dee Dee was persuaded by Atlantic records Jerry Wexler to join their subsidiary Atco label. Wexler first placed Dee Dee with her former mentor Ed Townsend with whom she recorded a four song session that Atco decided to leave in the can. Further recording sessions in Miami with the Dixie Flyers and The Sweet Inspirations were followed by later sessions at Muscle Shoals and the Pac-Three Studios in Detroit. Although a highly prolific time for Dee Dee recording wise, only one album “Turning Around” (Atco 33-337) and five 45 singles were released. Although Dee Dee’s first single “She Didn’t Know (She Kept On Talking) b/w Make Love To Me” (Atco 45-6754) did become a top 10 R&B hit and gained her the second Grammy nomination of her career. Her other Atco singles, “I’m Only Human”, “Cold Night In Georgia” “Everybody’s Got To Believe In Somebody” (previously recorded by Sam and Dave) and “Suspicious Minds” (a cover of Elvis Presley’s 1970 RCA #1 pop hit) would only achieve varying modest chart positions and subsequently her career stalled.

After leaving Atco in 1972 Dee Dee’s next release came in 1975 when she recorded  the R&B hit “Get Out OF My Life”  under the name change of Dede Warwick for Private Stock Records which featured the excellent “Funny How We Change Places” on the flipside again a popular song with the UK Modern Soul fraternity. A second Private Stock single “This Time May Be The Last Time” again backed with “Funny How we Change Places” was later picked Up By RCA Records.

Recording wise Dee Dee was dormant until the release of her “Dee Dee” album for Heritage Sound Recordings in 1983, followed by her “Call Me” album for the Sutra label a year later.
Dee Dee had struggled with a drug addiction for many years and was in failing health when she sadly passed away on October 18th 2008, in a nursing home in Essex County, New Jersey. Her legacy was a plethora of great music that was loved and appreciated by a worldwide audience, even though she never achieved the same level of notoriety as her more famous sister Dionne. Although Dionne did later claim that Dee Dee was the real singer in their family.
 In 2014 The American Real Gone Music label released a double cd album entitled “Dee Dee Warwick, “The Complete Atco Recordings” featuring the entire 35 tracks (many previously unreleased) that she cut during her time with Atco. It is from this cd that we have licensed the Ed Townsend composition “You Tore My Wall Down” backed with the equally as good Ashford and Simpson penned “Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow” for the initial vinyl debut on a 45 single.

 
 SJ533 - Dee Dee Warwick Promo.mp3
 
For further information please contact Soul Junction at:
Tel: +44 (0)121 602 8115or E-mail: sales@souljunctionrecords.co.uk
Thanks to Mark Hopes for help with scans.
 

 
 
By Chalky in News Archives ·

Northern Soul Sunday - Events

The amount of Sunday Soul Events do seem to be on the increase nowadays
With the rejigged format/layout of the Soul Source Event Guide you can now get to the Sunday soul info just that bit quicker and easier
Event Info, flyers, maps, street views form the main meat of each event, but also on offer are features such as reviews. comments, ratings, RSVPs, guest lists just so you get the full view of what the events about.
Its not just the desktop views that have been improved but the guide is also now showing via even more Mobile and Tablet friendly back pocket views
You can check out all todays Sunday Soul via the on site Event Guide, you still can make it...
Get to 
https://www.soul-source.co.uk/calendar/
 
 
By Mike in Event News ·

Daptone Feature - The Independent

The Uk newspaper takes a look at Daptone records
Deep in the heart of residential, backstreet Brooklyn stands a townhouse you would simply walk past, never knowing that it was the nerve centre of independent soul music, or that the team within helped to shape the sound of one of the most important albums of this century, and the bestselling single so far of 2015.
Daptone Records, the self-styled House of Soul, is the modest but vibrant label and production house that has given us many of the coolest old-school R&B records of the past 15 years. Charles Bradley, Lee Fields and, perhaps most notably, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are among the soul-steeped survivors to have found a spiritual home there. With the passionate endorsement of producer/artist Mark Ronson, its house band, the Dap-Kings, also helped shape the sound of Amy Winehouse’s epochal Back to Black and Ronson’s global smash with Bruno Mars this year, 
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/daptone-records-has-put-authentic-soul-into-rb-for-15-years-from-back-to-black-to-uptown-funk-a6695666.html
 

Saun and Starr Upcoming Dates
 Oct 19    
Bi Nuu Club
Berlin, Germany

Oct 20    
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof e.V.
Wiesbaden, Germany

Oct 21    
AB Club
Brussels, Belgium

Oct 23    
Jazz Cafe
London, United Kingdom

Oct 24    
The Sugar Club
Dublin, Ireland

Oct 28    
Colston Hall
Bristol, United Kingdom

 Oct 31    
Le Grand Mix
Tourcoing, France

Nov 01    
EMB Sannois
Sannois, France
 
Saun and Starr Website
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Lucinda Slim - New Album

So I notice both Arthur Fenn & Cliff Steele shouting the praises of a new album by Lucinda Slim I get interested.
Then I notice Keb Darge was involved I am even more interested.
Finally I notice that the Haggis Horns were featured I sit up.
 
Album details here...
http://lucindaslim.bandcamp.com/album/lucinda-slim
 
Highlights



 
Popular ex-featured video via the sites video section
 

 
 
 
By Cunnie in News Archives ·

Soul Togetherness 2015 - Album Now Out

Now available, the latest in the Soul Togetherness series from Expansion records
The track listing should say it all, but if you do need a refresh or a listen then the trusty Juno player lets you get your ears on it
highlights...

 
Sales Blurb below
Back and as powerful ever, The Soul Togetherness series presents this year's collection of exceptional modern soul room floor fillers. The flavour is particularly upbeat following a cool start from the best new Jam & Lewis production in years from The Gap Band's Charlie Wilson. The beat picks up for star remixer turned artist Opolopo with a killer song from his debut album, the tempo maintained with Louie Vega's Latin Soul mix for the 3 Winans, Joe Buhdha's work out with Terri Walker, a stunning remake of the James Mason classic Sweet Power by Diplomats Of Soul, the Nigel Lowis mix for McCrei it all it's Philly style glory, and disco heaven from Paris Toon and Los Charly's Orchestra. There are more midtempo moments from Syleena Johnson, JD73, Kenya (a Tom Glide rework) and a gospel masterpiece by Lorraine Clarke-McGhie, while both Ashling Cole and Aaron Parnell Brown (Soul Talk remix) deliver pure soul of the highest standard. The tradition of this CD complete here too with the inclusion of a tune from the past, a rarity from 1980 by Creators. Massive.
Note that you may want to check amazon out for some info on the differences between the digital and the cd packages (there's 16 v 20 tracks but it reads as if you do purchase the cd you can still download the extra tracks ) 
Track Listings

1. Hey Lover - Charlie Wilson - Charlie Wilson
2. Round & Round - Opolopo - Opolopo
3. Dance - 3 Winans | The Clark Sisters - 3 Winans Brothers
4. Reflections Of A Disco Ball - Paris Toon & Mother's Favorite Child - Paris Toon & Mother's Favorite Child
5. All This Way For Love - Syleena Johnson - Syleena Johnson
6. Believe In Love - JD73 - JD73
7. Feel Right - Joe Buhdha | Terri Walker - Joe Buhdha Presents Terri Walker
8. Show Me - McCrei - McCrei
9. Do You Know - Lorraine Clarke-McGhie - Lorraine Clarke-McGhie
10. Giving In To You - Ashling Cole - Ashling Cole
11. Somewhere Around - Aaron Parnell Brown - Aaron Parnell Brown
12. Let Me - Kenya - Kenya
13. Sweet Power - Diplomats Of Soul | Incognito & Venessa Hayes - Diplomats of Soul
14. Just You & Me - Creators - The Creators
15. All Around The World - Los Charly's Orchestra | Xantone Blacq - Los Charly's Orchestra

By Mike in News Archives ·

Ann Sexton Story

THE ANN SEXTON STORY Compiled by David and Val Box 2015
With a lot of help from Ann Sexton, Brendan Greaves and Jason Perlmutter
 
Ann Sexton was born Mary Ann Sexton, on 6th February, 1950, in Greenville, South Carolina.  She was raised by a family influenced by gospel music.  As a child, Ann sang in her church choir and spent her adolescent and teenage years singing in school and winning talent shows.
On Ann’s first recorded cut, in her home town in 1966, she is the youthful yet accomplished vocalist billed as “Mary Sexton” on the 45-rpm rarity by Elijah (Hawthorne) & The Ebonies, titled “I Confess” (Gitana CR-3144).  This early effort is an interesting snapshot of a soon-to-be regional sensation, just a few years before recording a number of hits that would form the bedrock of her future career.

Whilst singing with Elijah’s band, Ann met and married saxophonist Melvin Burton, who was also part of the band.  Melvin was a tenor and alto sax player, who gained notoriety as a youth playing for Moses Dillard.  Soon after, Ann and Melvin went on to form their own band called “Ann Sexton and the Masters of Soul”.
Whilst Ann was performing in Shelby, North Carolina, at the Washington Center, David Lee particularly recalls a striking twenty one year old woman named Mary Ann Burton singing “Who’s Lovin’ You?”  He approached her to ask if she would record his song “You’re Letting Me Down”.  “She was really gracious; she said - You want me to sing your song?”  Encouraged, he promptly booked her a second engagement in Shelby the following week and promised to send her his demo of the song.
At this point in Ann’s story, many of you will be wondering - who is this guy, David Lee?  Well, apart from seeing his name on the writers’ credits on Ann’s Impel SS-AS-103 release, I didn’t know much about him either. As this story unfolds it will become apparent that David Lee and the DJ and record producer John Richbourg, at radio WLAC in Nashville Tennessee, were key players in the development of Ann’s career.
At this stage, we must thank Brendan Greaves and Jason Perlmutter (Paradise of Bachelors) for initially independently, and later collectively, finding David Lee and uncovering and documenting the untold story of his fascinating career.  Details of their websites are shown at the end of this article.

David M Lee was born in Shelby on the 3rd May 1936 to John Leo and Mary Leslie Lee. David married Nellena and they had four children. At fourteen, David began writing poetry, but soon switched to song writing. He also had a series of strenuous day jobs: starting at the age of eighteen, David worked eight years hauling coal and ice at the Morgan Street ice plant, and another two years at Burlington Mills. David worked at North Lake Country Club for thirty years, and held this job down right through the critical period while writing and recording with Ann Sexton; if that wasn’t enough, he spent evenings and weekends presiding over his record shop and audio supply store “Washington Sound” with help from his wife Nellena and the children.
Here is a quote from Brendan & Jason’s website: “David Lee was, over a course of three decades beginning in the late 1950’s, songwriter, musician, producer and entrepreneur.  He released fourteen 45’s and two LP’s on his Impel, Washington Sound, and SCOP labels, run out of his Washington Sound record and audio supply shop in Shelby, North Carolina, outside Charlotte.  He wrote most of the songs himself, including the devastating lament “You’re Letting Me Down”, which he recorded in 1971 with the then-unknown young Greenville, South Carolina, soul singer named Ann Sexton.  As reissued by Nashville DJ “John R” Richbourg on his Seventy-Seven imprint, that record became the biggest hit of Mr. Lee’s long and impressive career, though hardly his sole accomplishment.”

Although Ann’s promised demo took a while to arrive, David’s original sounded a lot more country, but when she recorded it, it sounded a different thing altogether.  “It sounded tremendous”, said David, after he recorded her version at Mark V Studios in Greenville, backed by her husband Melvin Burton’s band, the Masters of Soul. David gave her the stage name Mary Ann Sexton, which was then shortened to Ann Sexton.

In collaboration with Ann & Melvin, David wrote “You’ve Been Gone Too Long”, the B side that has been his most lucrative composition, and has kept Ann Sexton’s debut release on turntables around the globe in the years since.  Impel SS-AS-103, David’s fifth record, was originally released in 1971; only 500 copies were produced and it sold respectably in North and South Carolina, and was played on jukeboxes and managed a degree of regional radio play.

While selling some Impel 45’s, including Ann’s single, to Mangold-Berto’s record one-stop in Charlotte, David learned that WLAC DJ John R was visiting, and asked for an introduction.  David mustered the courage to play the famous DJ his new Ann Sexton record.  After that first encounter, the two got along famously, and John R. agreed to give the record a spin on WLAC.  John R. broadcast it for two to three weeks on his radio show, and then pulled the 45.  David was so distraught that he drove to Nashville to confront the DJ, but John R was just waiting for David to sign a licensing and distribution contract.

John R. (born John Richbourg, August 20, 1910, Manning, South Carolina; died February 15, 1986, Nashville, Tennessee) was a radio disc jockey who attained fame through the 50’s to 70’s for playing R&B music on Nashville radio station WLAC. He was also a notable record producer and artist manager. WLAC first assigned Richbourg to the news desk, but it wasn’t long before he had a regular programme playing artists such as Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, artists heard on specialty juke boxes and in mostly Southern markets after hours if at all on radio. Although some white listeners protested, black audiences responded with enthusiasm and began to write letters to him, but many misspelled his surname, so John shortened his on-the-air name to “John R.” One of the official sponsors for WLAC was Ernie’s Record Mart, owned by a record label specialising in recording local Nashville R&B acts. In mid 1965, Fred Foster of Sound Stage Seven records struck a deal with John, who became the head of A&R for the label. From this point on, the label was strictly a soul/R&B label and almost all the label’s output was produced by John under his banner JR Enterprises. John brought Joe Simons to the label in 1966, many other soul artists followed. John produced over 100 singles for Sound Stage Seven between 1965 and 1970. Other notable artists produced by John during the 1970’s, included Jackey Beavers and Ann Sexton. In 1976 and 1977, Ann charted on the lower rungs of the R&B charts with two of John’s productions, including ”I’m His Wife”. These would be John’s last hit records as a producer, though he continued recording and producing R&B and soul acts to the end of his life.
The Impel release was reissued in two editions of John R’s Seventy-Seven label, and sold more than 90,000 copies in the 70’s, and so began a productive working relationship between David Lee and John R, which gave Ann the recognition she deserved, and she was now signed to Seventy-Seven records.
The first reissue was on the pale yellow original Seventy-Seven label, and then on the slightly later multi-coloured repress; also white demos were issued for promotion purposes.
  
The B side “You’ve Been Gone Too Long”, was played as a new import release at Blackpool Mecca, and was in short supply in the UK.  This was soon rectified when record dealer, Garry Cape, contacted John R. and arranged to have additional copies pressed up using the multi-coloured label design, to satisfy the demand.
Being a record label anorak, I did notice that the Impel release has Ann & Melvin’s surname spelt incorrectly in the writers’ credits section, it states Benton not Burton, also the publishing is credited to Active Music – 548 NE 52 St. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (ASCAP) on the A side, but 42 St. on the flip - the company must have owned the whole neighbourhood!! The publishing credits changed to Three Cheers Music when issued on Seventy-Seven but they didn’t correct the writers surname spelling until the multi coloured release. Well, I thought that was interesting!
Back to the story.

David Lee travelled to Memphis with Ann and Melvin and John R, to produce three additional records, including the David Lee composition “Love, Love, Love (I Want To Be Loved)” and four of Melvin and Ann’s compositions.  With her records “flying off the shelves”, Ann was now moving up, her recording of “You’re Gonna Miss Me” making the top 50 on the R&B charts in 1973.  “Love, Love, Love” was gaining popularity and Ann and David Lee were ready for a national breakthrough.  Sadly their relationship soured after Ann and Melvin didn’t show for a Johnson City, Tennessee show David had booked; it was clear the band wouldn’t make the show – they were in Texas. “Young people wanted to see her real bad; they were screaming and hollering for ‘You’re Letting Me Down” – Ann was poorly managed by Melvin, John R lost interest as a result, and Ann’s career took a knock.
Ann would be featured on a number of 45’s for John R’s labels, as well as the mid-70’s album “Loving You, Loving Me” (Seventy-Seven 77-107), that pulled together all of her cuts up to that point for John R. and David Lee.  Another memorable David Lee penned ballad is “Love, Love, Love (I Want to be Loved)”, b/w “You’re Losing Me”, a healthy dose of mid-tempo funk penned by Ann and Melvin, released together on Seventy-Seven 900 in 1974.
By 1977, John R. was recording Ann’s version of songs written by southern soul singer/songwriter Frank O (Johnson), at Clayton Ivey’s Wishbone Studio in Muscle Shoals.  In 1978 she released her second studio album in Nashville, Tennessee, titled “The Beginning” on Sound Stage Seven SS1500.  This was a classic album, my personal favourite, because it shows the growth and maturity in Ann’s voice, as heard on ballads like “Be Serious” and other tracks like “Who’s Gonna Love You” and “I Had A Fight With Love”.  Ann only released one single from the album – “I’m His Wife (You’re Just A Friend)”, was the flip to “You Got To Use What You Got”, on Sound Stage Seven 45-2504.  This latter track was not included on the album, but was written by T. Woodford & C. Ivey, so most probably recorded at the same session.  This became another favourite on the dance floor in the UK and Europe. It seems at this stage, David Lee was no longer involved with Ann’s productions, but still to this day he credits her with his success and speaks glowingly of her talent, her modesty, and her grace: “Lord, she was a real artist, I’m proud that I met her.” Ann’s husband Melvin, along with Clifford Curry, received special thanks on “The Beginning” album sleeve notes for their constructive ideas and suggestions, and Terry Woodford, Gwen Owens, Cathy Carson, and Ava Aldridge for their expert background vocals.

After her second album, Ann decided to leave the soul music industry and move to New York.  Looking to escape the stressful politics of the music industry, she embraced a career change.  Her desire to help the community inspired her to become a school teacher.
After 20 years of outstanding service, Ann retired from the Board of Education in January 2010.  She had committed a big part of her life to teaching special needs students. Her co-worker, Frank J. Degonnaro, described her as the most charming, wonderfully kind person you’ll ever meet.  While working at school, Ann did not inform anyone of her previous career as a recording artist.   She did, however, perform at the school, entertaining the crowd with her soul singing style.  The students and staff showed their appreciation of Ann, and threw her a surprise retirement party.
In 2007, after educating kids for twenty years, she performed again in Germany at the Baltic Soul weekender.  Since that time, Ann has performed with Roy Ayers, Marva Whitney, Gloria Scott, Garland Green, Keni Burke, and many other artists.
In 2010, Ann went back into the recording studio to cut Ferry Ultra’s “Rising Up”. Later that year, she reunited with David Lee in Shelby, North Carolina, and performed at the Cleveland County Arts Festival, with a number of David’s original recording artists. I believe Ann is currently in the studio with Rob Hardt and Sharon Phillips working on her comeback CD.

Above is the original sign for the Washington Sound record store, the home of Impel records. Below shows David Lee displaying his North Carolina Folklore Society’s Brown-Hudson Award with Jason Perlmutter and Brendan Greaves.

(Paradise of Bachelors)
During a recording span of some six years, if we leave out the Gitana release which was around 1966/67, from 1971 through 1977 Ann Sexton’s output was prolific. A singer whose range and talents could match most soulstresses south of the Mason-Dixon line, she was not always blessed with the most stunning material. But on a strong ballad she could really let it rip. Whether singing her own material or interpreting someone else’s songs, she was more than just another R&B singer. It is an indictment of American music tastes (black or white) that she never achieved the degree of commercial success she rightly deserved. Well, she’s now back in the music business, and back on the stage performing.
Well, that’s the end of the article, but not the end of the story. Ann will be on stage at the Wilton Ballroom on Saturday 14th November 2015 singing in front of some of the most knowledgeable and appreciative soul fans in the UK. Ann will be supported by our incredible full eight piece band PUSH, including background vocalists
Let’s give Ann a welcome she will never forget, with a Wilton capacity crowd that, no doubt, will know more about Ann’s recording career than she can probably remember herself. Ann’s sets will include her well known songs from the 70’s, deep and uptempo classics, something to suit everyone’s taste.
We have asked Ann to perform something extra special, her very first recording that she cut way back in 1967. She was the featured vocalist (Mary Sexton) with Elijah and the Ebonies on the song “I Confess”, a great balled cut in her home town of Greenville SC. We are so privileged that Ann has agreed to perform this song onstage at the Wilton for the very first time in Europe since recording the song all those years ago. To make sure we have covered all the bases, Ann will be performing her lastest 2010 release “Rising Up”, a fantastic uptempo soulful house track.
Ann will win your hearts in the way she soulfully sing the slower tunes, whilst at the same have you jumping all over when she ups the tempo. Once again another, not to be missed, soulful night with a wonderful soulful lady - Ann Sexton.
Also on the night we will playing the very best 60’s-70’s and Crossover from our guest DJ’s Arthur Fenn and Mike Charlton along with residents Boxy & Mouse.
Tickets are available at £20.00, at http://www.wheatsheaf.com/allnighter by paypal or by contacting Boxy on 01924 894555 or Mouse on 07717 338009. Admission OTD is £23.00 if not sold out.
 
Acknowledgements: To Ann Sexton for making this possible.
Thank you, to Brendan Greaves and Jason Perlmutter (Paradise of Bachelors) - for your help and kind permission  to copy information and pictures from your research on David Lee for my article. http://www.paradiseofbachelors.com  & http://www.carolinasoul.org
Dave Rimmer (For additional discography info.)  http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net
Val Box for her typing skill and putting up with my tantrums....

 
ANN SEXTON DISCOGRAPHY
 
Elijah (Hawthorne) & The Ebonies featuring Mary Sexton:
Gitana  CR 3144 - “I Confess / Get Out Of My Life Girl” - 1967
 
Ann Sexton and the Masters of Soul:
Impel    SS-AS-103 - “You’re Letting Me Down / You’ve Been Gone Too Long” - 1971
 
Ann Sexton and the Soul Masters:
Seventy 7    77-104 (Plain Yellow)  - “You’re Letting Me Down / You’ve Been Gone Too Long” - 1972
 
Ann Sexton:
Seventy - Seven 77-104 (Multicolour)  - “You’re Letting Me Down / You’ve Been Gone Too Long” - 1972
Seventy - Seven 77-114 – “Come Back Home (I Know I Did You Wrong) / I Still Love You” – 1972
Seventy - Seven 77-125 - “It’s All Over But The Shouting / Have A Little Mercy” - 1973
Seventy - Seven 77-133 - “You’re Gonna Miss Me / You’re Losing Me” - 1973
Seventy - Seven 77-138 - “If I Work My Thing On You / Lovin’ You, Lovin’ Me - 1973
Seventy - Seven SV-900 - “Love, Love, Love / You’re Losing Me” - 1974
Seventy - Seven SV-907 - “You Can’t Win / Lets Huddle Up, Lets Cuddle Up” - 1975
Dash  5019 - “Lovin’ You, Lovin Me / If I Work My Thing On You” - 1975
Sound Plus SP-2123 - “If I Work My Thing On You / Loving You, Loving You - 1976
Monument 225 - “Sugar Daddy / I Want To Be Loved” - 1976
Sound Stage Seven 45-2504 - “You Got To Use What You Got / I’m His Wife (You’re Just A Friend)” - 1977
 
Ann Sexton & The Baltic Soul Orchestra / Gloria Lynne & The Baltic Soul Orchestra
Unique 156 - “You’re Losing Me / Help Me Off This Merry-Go-Round” - 2009 (German release)
 
Ferry Ultra - Featuring,  Ann Sexton (12inch)
Peppermint Jam PJM-50143 - “Rising Up” + two other versions - 2010
 
LP’s
 
Seventy - Seven 77-107 - “Loving You, Loving Me” - 1973  Also on Vivid Sound -VS-7003 - 1978 (Japan)
Tracks: You’re Letting Me Down (3:00) / You’ve Been Gone Too Long (2:15) / Come Back Home (2:20) / I Still Love You (2:48) / Have A Little Mercy (2:52) / It’s All Over But The Shouting (3:32) / You’re Gonna Miss Me (3:03) / You’re Losing Me (2:16) / Love, Love, Love (3:45) / Keep On Holding On (3:42) / Let’s Huddle Up And Cuddle Up (2:25) / Loving You, Loving Me (3:32)
 
Sound Stage Seven SS1500 - “The Beginning” - 1977 -  Also on Soul Brother 1000001 - 2003 (UK)
Tracks: I Had A Fight With Love (3:47) / I’m Is Wife (You’re Just A Friend) (2:56) / Who’s Gonna Love You (3:01)
You Can’t Lose With The Stuff I Use (4:40) / Color My World Blue (2:46) / Be Serious (3:58) / I Want To Be Loved (3:12) / Sugar Daddy (4:01) / You’ve Been Doing Me Wrong For So Long (2:56)
 
Charly R&B CRB 1143 - “Love Trials” - 1986 (UK)
Tracks: I Want To Be Loved / I’m His Wife (You’re Just A Friend) / Who’s Gonna Love You / I Had A Fight With Love / Be Serious / Color My World Blue / You’ve Been Doing Me Wrong For So Long / Have A little Mercy / Lovin You, Loving Me / Love, Love, Love / Come Back Home / Keep On Holding On / You’re Letting Me Down / You’re Gonna Miss Me
 
Soul Brother SBCB 20 - “Anthology” - 2004 (UK)
Tracks: You’ve Been Gone Too Long (2:21) / You Got To Use What You Got (2:29) / Color My World Blue (2:44) / You Can’t Lose With The Stuff I Use (4:37) / I Had A Fight With Love (3:42 / I Still Love You (2:46) / You’re Losing Me 92:17) / It’s All Over But The Shouting (3:31) / Come Back Home (2:19) / Keep On Holding On (3:41) / I’m His Wife (You’re Just A Friend) (2:55) / You’ve Been Doing Me Wrong For So Long (2:54)
 
CDs
 
Soul Brother SBPJ 20 - “Anthology” - 2004 (UK)
Tracks: As above plus the following: Who’s Gonna Love You (3:00) / Let’s Huddle Up And Cuddle Up (2:25)
/ Love, Love, Love (I Want To Be Loved) (3:45) / I Want To Be Loved (3:10) / Be Serious (3:56) / Loving You Loving Me (3:39) / You’re Letting Me Down (2:59) / You’re Gonna Miss Me (3:02) / Have A Little Mercy (2:47) / Sugar Daddy (4:01)
 
By Boxy in Articles ·

Art Exhibition - 9000 vinyl records

Within contemporary arts practice there has been an increasing focus on notions of the archive with particular emphasis in the fields of photography and on collections of historical documents. Vinyl records are documents of popular culture and record collecting is a common social practise. But can a record collection be an artwork? And what might transform a record collection into an archive? 9000 vinyl records examines these issues.
The exhibition displays artist Stephen Williams’ personal collection of original first pressing soul records and record sleeves, combining them with a complete indexed catalogue, text, video and recorded music which relate directly to the records themselves.
9000 vinyl records explores the aesthetics of the archive including collecting, cataloguing and display of archival objects. The exhibition examines how personal choices have informed the development of the archive, how collecting might relate to obsessive compulsive behaviour and how taste, aesthetic judgement and fetishism shape the development of an archive.
The exhibition challenges the viewer to think about their relationship to objects and to reflect on their own impulses to collect.
Exhibition details: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane. Melbourne 3000, fortyfivedownstairs.com

Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 12pm-4pm
Exhibition enquiries: Briar Holt (Gallery Coordinator) Phone 03 9662 9966, Email briar@fortyfivedownstairs.com
By Soulmanau in News Archives ·

Something Old Something New - BBC Radio 4

What happens when your Dad's an African-American soul star and your Mum's a music-loving girl from working class Sheffield? Are your roots on the terraces at a Sheffield United match, or in the stylings of a Spike Lee film? For writer and photographer Johny Pitts, whose parents met in the heyday of Northern Soul, on the dance floor of the legendary King Mojo club, how he navigates his black roots has always been an issue. Not being directly connected to the Caribbean or West African diaspora culture, all he was told at school was that his ancestors were slaves, so for BBC Radio 4, he heads off to the USA, to trace his father's musical migration, and tell an alternative story of Black British identity.
Its worth a listen   http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06flmcw
By Guest Sigmasteve in News Archives ·

Reaching Out - Chess Records At Fame Studios - Kent Cd

Continuing the catch up with recent soul album releases, the spotlight this wide awake Monday falls on the recent  "Reaching Out - Chess Records at Fame Studios" release.
The title does give the game away but if still need a nudge, Tony Rounces releases notes explain things more...
An overview of the 1967-69 southern soul sessions undertaken at Fame studios by Chess Records. Includes three previously unissued tracks.Rick Hall’s Fame studio in Muscle Shoals enjoyed a lengthy relationship with Chicago’s Chess Records that, one way or another, spanned most of the 60s. “Reaching Out” concentrates on 1967 to 1969, when Chess was sending down its own artists to record at the studio, rather than the masters Rick Hall placed with the company in previous years.Every artist Chess sent to Fame during those years is featured here. 
The Juno records player again offers a nice and easy way to preview

 
 
Track Listing:

1. It's All Wrong But It's Alright - Laura Lee
2. So Much Love - Maurice & Mac
3. Good To Me - Irma Thomas
4. The Same Rope - Etta James
5. Wanted, Lover; No Experience Necessary - Laura Lee
6. Reaching Out - Bobby Moore And The Rhythm Aces
7. The Sidewinder - Charles Chalmers
8. Security - Etta James
9. Run To Me - Maurice & Mac
10. Too Soon To Know - Mitty Collier
11. Good Day Sunshine - Lee Webber
12. Don't Lose Your Good Thing - Etta James
13. Two In The Morning - Charles Chalmers
14. Hang It Up - Laura Lee
15. Lean On Me - Maurice & Mac
16. Let's Do It Over - Irma Thomas
17. I Wanna Be Your Man - Bobby Moore And The Rhythm Aces
18. Sure As Sin - Laura Lee
19. Party Time - Lee Webber
20. Take Me (Just As I Am) - Charles Chalmers
21. You're Living A Lie - Mitty Collier
22. It's How You Make It Good - Laura Lee
23. A Woman Will Do Wrong - Irma Thomas
24. Come Back Baby - Bobby Moore And The Rhythm Aces
 

More information, further release notes and purchase options on this fine reelases available via the Ace Records website
http://acerecords.co.uk/reaching-out-chess-records-at-fame-studios
 
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Al Abrams - Sad News RIP

Reported in the forums by @chalky the sad news that Al Abrams has passed on. 
The Detroit Free Press has an extensive obituary and a preview and a link follows 
Martha Reeves says Al Abrams' work "got us through doors that were always shut to us."
Al Abrams was Motown before Motown even had its name.
Abrams, the first employee of Berry Gordy Jr. and the man who pushed artists like the Supremes and Stevie Wonder into news headlines around the world, died Saturday morning at home in Findlay, Ohio. He was 74.
The Detroit-born Abrams was the first press officer for Gordy's Motown Records, grabbing media coverage and airplay for the fledgling label and its stable of young stars — and helping blast through entrenched racial walls in the process.
http://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2015/10/03/al-abrams-early-motown-publicist-dies-obituary/73283738/
 
Below is from a Soul Source news article featuring his 2010 Book
 
I  still believe I was the luckiest kid in all of Detroit that May of 1959.
That's how it felt to me walking into a virtual wonderland of music at Berry Gordy's flat at 1719 Gladstone in Detroit's inner city.
When Berry hired me I was an 18-year-old white Jewish kid in an all-black company where people my age were making music and history. He put me in charge of record promotion for the songs published by his Jobete Music Company and I thought I was in heaven.
My primary job was to get the records played on the radio, especially by white disk jockeys on mainstream radio stations. I certainly wasn't going to ignore the black DJs, some of whom - like Larry Dean and Bill Williams - quickly became my closest friends.
Berry had given me the job because I was able to get Larry Dixon, a DJ on Detroit's WCHB, to play a god-awful record by Mike Powers called Teenage Sweetheart that Berry's Rayber Music Writing Company had produced and recorded for a $100 fee. I still think it is the absolute worst record Berry has ever produced.
When I applied for a promotion job with Berry, he had given me the virtually impossible task of getting that record played on the radio before he would consider hiring me. Eager to get rid of me, he was convinced he would never see me again once I left his flat with the Powers disk in hand. But it was my good luck that after four hours of begging and pleading in the hot sun, Dixon gave it a spin on the Memorial Day holiday at the very time that Berry was listening to the station in his car. That was also the only time that record was ever played on the radio.
That accomplishment was enough to get me hired the very next day for $15 a week and all the chili I could eat - cooked and served by Miss Lillie Hart. Berry has always had a reputation for being a tough negotiator, but I got the best of him that day. I worked for Jobete, Rayber, the fledgling five-month-old Tamla Record Company, and the then-personal management entity of Berry Gordy Jr. Enterprises. Motown was still more than a year in the future.
 
A full length interview from 2005 can be read here...
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/livingmusic/browse_interviews&mode=single&recordID=595398&nextMode=list
Al Abrams was born in Detroit and graduated from Central High School at the age of 15. In 1959, he became the first employee of what was to become Berry Gordy, Jr.'s Motown Record Corporation. Working originally as National Promotion Director, he ultimately became the company's Director of Public Relations. Establishing his own firm, Al Abrams Associates in 1967, he worked with Stax-Volt Records, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and many other major artists. Abrams left the music business for book publishing and became editor of the journalism department at Gale Research Company. He wrote the first three of his eleven published books at Gale. Moving to Canada, he was an award-winning investigative reporter for the Windsor Star and later a gossip columnist and book editor at a major Ohio daily newspaper. Abrams has been a free-lance reporter and publicist since 1994. His work has appeared in Forbes, the Jerusalem Post, Detroit Free Press, and the Chicago Tribune, among other publications. His best-known book is "Special Treatment: The Untold Story of Hitler's Third Race," the pioneering study of the survival of the Mischlinge during the Holocaust. 
 
For a complete treatment of Motown publicity and marketing, please visit my website on Motown, Selling the Motor City Its Sound at http://www.umich.edu/~aamuhist/dmorrisz/motown/index.html
 
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Kindle: Dreams to Remember - Otis Redding Stax by Mark Ribowsky

Another in the  occasional series where we make the most out of the amazon "look inside" to provide some heads up reading on kindle releases.
This time around its a kindle preview visit to a book that saw publication in June just gone ( thats 2015 for any Dave channel viewers) . Had mixed reviews on amazon but the kindle preview does allow a certain amount of making your own mind up...
By Mike in News Archives ·

The Amazing Nina Simone Documentary Film Opens This Month

The Amazing Nina Simone documentary film is set to open later this month with a showing in New York. Followed by other select showings in the USA and showings in Madrid and Ontario and a winter DVD release to follow.
This believe it or not is the second of three Nina Simone related films scheduled  for release this year,  "What Happened Miss Simone ?" being the earlier one  and a third bio-flick movie titled  "NIna" set to follow later in the year. Film maker filmmaker Jeff Lieberman has said that his works will be an even more detailed and accurate portrait of the legend.
More info from the films website below
Much beloved and often misunderstood, the story of America's most overlooked musical genius is finally brought to light in "The Amazing Nina Simone". Director Jeff L. Lieberman brings audiences on Nina's journey from the segregated South, through the worlds of classical music, jazz joints & international concert halls. Navigating through the twists & turns of the 1960's fight for racial equality, the film delves deep into Nina's artistry and intentions, answering long-held questions behind Nina's most beloved songs, bold style, controversial statements, and the reason she left America.
The Amazing Nina Simone is the only documentary film to tell Nina’s story through over 50 exclusive and intimate interviews with the people who knew Nina best: her friends, family, musicians and fellow activists
 
Official Website link
http://amazingnina.com/
 
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Sad News - Wilton Felder RIP - Crusaders and more

apologies if posted else where
http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/the-crusaders-founder-and-motown-bassist-wilton-felder-dead-at-75/54214
 
added by site
Houston Press has a fitting piece on this sad news
Houston and the world lost a giant today with the passing of Wilton Felder, saxophonist for the fabled Crusaders. Mr. Felder was 75. Word of his passing reached the Internet via longtime collaborator Ray Parker, Jr.’s Facebook page around 2 p.m. today.
Felder’s passing comes only a year after the death of his lifelong friend and fellow Crusader Joe Sample. Crusaders trombonist Wayne Henderson died in April, 2014, which now leaves drummer Nesbert “Stix” Hooper as the only living Crusader from the original four.
read more at
http://www.houstonpress.com/music/legendary-crusaders-sax-man-wilton-felder-passes-away-7800449
Wikipedia below
He was born in Houston, Texas in 1940.Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper founded the group while in high school in Houston. The Jazz Crusaders evolved from a straight-ahead jazz combo into a pioneering jazz-rock fusion group, with a definite soul music influence. Felder worked with the original group for over thirty years, and continued to work in its later versions, which often featured other founding members.
Felder also worked as a West coast studio musician, mostly playing electric bass, for various soul and R&B musicians, and was one of the in-house bass players for Motown Records, when the record label opened up operations in Los Angeles, California, in the early 1970s. He played on recordings by the Jackson 5 such as "I Want You Back" and "The Love You Save," for Marvin Gaye and Grant Green. He also played bass for soft rock groups like America and Seals and Crofts. Also of note was his contribution to the John Cale album, Paris 1919, and Billy Joel's Piano Man and Streetlife Serenade albums. He was one of three bass players on Randy Newman's Sail Away (1972) and Joan Baez Diamonds & Rust. Felder also anchored albums from Joni Mitchell and Michael Franks.
His solo album, Secrets, which prominently featured Bobby Womack on vocals, reached No. 77 in the UK Albums Chart in 1985.[2] This album featured the minor hit, "(No Matter How High I Get) I'll Still be Looking Up to You", sung by Womack and Alltrinna Grayson.
Felder played a King Super 20 tenor sax with a metal 105/0 Berg Larsen mouthpiece. He also used Yamaha saxes. He played a Fender Precision bass, and also played Aria bass guitars.
He died on September 27, 2015, aged 75
Street Life Solo time framed from extended version -see http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2015/08/wilton-felders-street-life-solo-transcription/ for transcripts etc
 
 
 
 
By kevinsoulman in News Archives ·

Feeling Nice Volume 3 - Tramp Records Release 2nd Oct. 2015

Friends and fans of Tramp Records in general, and of the 'Feeling Nice' series specifically, will be feeling even nicer his time around with the release of this deep and soulful new collection: Feeling Nice Volume 3. These recordings have been painstakingly sought-out and unearthed from as far away as Hawaii, Canada, and Jamaica (in addition to the usual Texas, Ohio, and Georgia). This music has been carefully transferred (in some cases form the sole known copy) and remastered to the highest standards of audio quality. Finally, through a determined and diligent research effort leading to interviews with the owners of the rights to the original masters, Feeling Nice Volume 3's detailed liner notes offer you an enlightening window into the lives of the musicians, producers, and independent record labels responsible for some of the deepest music on the planet. All of this in addition to full color label scans and never before seen publicity photos.
 
Of course, to friends and fans of Tramp Records, none of this is a surprise as you have come to expect consequential projects promoting cultural and historical significance delivered with the love of a fellow record digger and the science of a musicologist. Tramp Records remains as one of the champion of rare deep funk soul and jazz on vinyl, uniting thorough research, respect of the original artists and art form, and thoughtful curation of great singles, albums and compilations. You will enjoy spinning this record, your guests will enjoy listening to it, and you will be proudly displaying it in the hallowed "Tramp Records" section of your record shelf, right next to Feeling Nice 1 & 2.
Some of the highlights of Feeling Nice Volume 3 are one of the rarest 45s on the Alston label and in our opinion also one of the best, Clarence Reid's "I Get My Kicks". A James Brown influenced wah wah funk monster, "Stand-Up Baby" by Canada's Saint John. "The Jack Mod Kick" by Jake, Ricky and Jack Townshend aka Jack & The Mods, ranging in age from 6 to 18 and discovered almost accidentally while rehearsing in a rundown shack in rural Virgina! We've got Rickey Andrews taking us on a late 60s dance-move tour of the U.S. with "Chances Are Your Dance is Mine". A rare sister funk masterpiece called "Leave Me Alone" by Nadine Brown from 1977. Leroy & The Drivers' critical track, "The Sad Chicken", produced in under 30 minutes with their last remaining studio time in 1970 and still ringing loud across the land. One of the nastiest versions of The Iselys' "It's Your Thing" coming out of Jamaica and SO MUCH MORE!!


Key selling points:
- 16-page CD-booklet and deluxe double-gatefold LP with detailed liner notes, label scans & unseen photographs
- 400 of the 1000 pressed vinyl LPs come with a bonus 7” by William Cummings (“Make My Love A Hurting Thing”)
- properly mastered for the best sound-quality possible
 
Tracklisting:
1. William Cummings - Your Soul Searchin' Love (W.Cummings)
2. Clarence Reid - I Get My Kicks (C.Reid)
3. Saint John - Stand Up (Baby) (W.St.John)
4. Rickey Andrews - Chances Are Your Dance Is Mine (R.Andrews)
5. Nadine Brown - Leave Me Alone (F.Forsh)
6. Jack & The Mods - The Jack Mod Kick (J.Townsend)
7. Leroy & the Drivers - The Sad Chicken (B.Yates)
8. Ellen Jackson - Getto Boogie (E.Jackson)
9. Oladepo Ogomodede - It's Your Thing (R.Isley)
10. Walt Bolen - Breaking Out (W.Bolen)
11. Sid Sidney Wallace & the Belairs - The Grinder (S.Wallace)
12. Jesse Morgan - I Gotta Get Back (J.Morgan)
13. Jay Floyd - Push Push (J.Floyd)
14. J.Young – B. Hill - It's Got Soul (J.Young)
15. Soul Express - Determination (W.Crews)
16. Billy Bailey - You Better Stop (B.Bailey)

 

By Badsamba in News Archives ·

Ace Records - October Cheat Sheet

A new month's creeping up on us, here's a cheat sheet for the months Ace records releases

New releases for October 2015 from Ace Records
    
 Toujours Chic! More French Girl Singers Of The 1960s
Girls
Various Artists (Ace International)
CD £11.50Experience the hip sounds of 1960s France on this hand-picked collection of groovy Gallic girl-pop.
        
Toujours Chic! More French Girl Singers Of The 1960s
Girls
Various Artists (Ace International)
LP £17.80
A 12-track 180g lavender vinyl release with fully illustrated inner bag.
        
Rhythm & Bluesin' By The Bayou - Vocal Groups
Rhythm & Blues
Various Artists (By the Bayou)
CD £11.50
Our ongoing series featuring rarities from the Louisiana swamps continues with this collection of harmony vocals.
       
The Birth Of Surf Volume 3
Surf
Various Artists (Birth of Surf)
CD £11.50
Seminal and collectable instrument nuggets from the early surf music boom. Many titles new to CD.
    
Gears
Funk
Johnny Hammond
CD £11.50
A 40th anniversary edition of this mid-70s Funk masterpiece, featuring new transfers and six previously unreleased tracks.
    
Gears
Funk
Johnny Hammond
LP £21.00
Our 40th anniversary edition, as a 180g clear vinyl double album.
    
Full Circle
Vocal Jazz
Leon Thomas
CD £7.43
The final studio album from Thomas’ classic period, a glorious combination of soul, funk and jazz.
   
Off The Rails And Live In '78
Punk Rock
Little Bob Story
CD £11.50
French powerhouse RnB singer Bob Piazza’s first UK album release with 5 bonus live tracks from a ’78 show at Dingwalls Dancehall. Raucous.
    
    
The Very Best Of Bettye Swann
60s Soul
Bettye Swann
CD £11.50
The finest tracks from right across an illustrious soul career.
By Mike in News Archives ·

New Album - Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Out Oct 2nd 2015

A early shout for this October the 2nd album release from Timmion Records
This is the third album from Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators and looks set to be yet another must buy. Full details below... 
If you are not fully aware of just what is on offer here, then here's the much praised "One In A Million" track that was released last month as a single and features on this release
The second single from the upcoming Nicole Willis album Happiness in Every Style opens up the promised spectrum of joy into new ecstatic states. 
 
Blurb below:
This Autumn, Nicole Willis rolls out with her third album made together with The Soul Investigators Happiness In Every Style. It is bound to send shivers through backs all around the world. As the name suggests, the new album will offer variety and tilt towards a more positive note after the murky Tortured Soul from two years back.
This means Nicole and the boys have made things a bit more soothing for the listener, offering upbeat modern soul and even embrace more sophisticated melodies alongside their highly evolved raw funk sound. To get a taste of this, one only has to put on Let's Communicate or One In a Million to have their hands clapping and toes tapping in no time, or respectively, witness the dance floor explode. From minor key ballads such as Thief In The Night to the unapologetically poppy Angel, the new album is bound to bring to the hearts of humans in every shade and style.


Purchase
http://www.timmion.com/shop/happiness-in-every-style/lp-happiness-in-every-style/
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Sad News - Peggy Jones (Lady Bo -The Jewels)

Sad news reported of the passing on of Peggy Jones at the age of 75.  (19 Jul 1940 - 16 Sep 2015)
Peggy Jones was known as Lady Bo in recognition of her relationship with Bo Diddley. Peggy Jones played rhythm guitar in Bo Diddley's band in the late 1950s and early 1960s, becoming one of the first (perhaps the first) female rock guitarists in a highly visible rock band, and was sometimes called the "Queen Mother of Guitar" Bo Diddley once said "she knows every move I make... she is the only one that knows the original ways...”
Later also known for her work via her own group the Jewels of  "We Got Togetherness" fame in the 1960/70s
The website 'Bo Diddley The Originator' features a informative biography of which you can read a preview clip below
Link http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/ladybo.html
...by artists such as Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Etta James, LaVern Baker, Mahalia Jackson, Linda Hopkins and Sam Cooke, she began to compose and arrange her own music. In 1955 she bought her very first guitar, and it was in this same year that she first heard the music of BO DIDDLEY. 
In the following years she recorded 3 local hits, and in 1957 joined The Bop-Chords vocal group as first tenor, and went on to enjoy a further 2 hits with them. That year, after meeting up with BO DIDDLEY, she replaced his guitar player Jody Williams, who had been drafted for military service. The following year she was hired full-time to play on all of his recording sessions and for all of his stage performances. SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE LEAD GUITARIST IN HISTORY TO BE HIRED BY A MAJOR ACT.
She worked full-time with BO DIDDLEY until 1961, when she formed her own group The Jewels, later to be known as LADY BO & The Family Jewel. In the summer of 1966, The Jewels recorded their classic track "We Got Togetherness" for MGM Records. This monster soul stomper is now a perennial favorite on the UK's northern soul scene...

LADY BO Discography:
Continentals, Picture of Love/Soft & Sweet (Whirlin' Disc 105) 1957
Bop-Chords, Baby/So Why (Holiday 2608) 1957
Greg & Peg, Honey, Bunny, Baby/Why Do I Love You Like I Do (Ro-Nan 1001) 1957
Bob & Peggy, Everybody's Talking/I'm Gonna Love My Way (Peacock 1927) 1963
Jewels, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles/We Got Togetherness (MGM K 13577) 1966
more at
 http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/ladybo.html
Wikipedia 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Jones_(musician)
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Fellas, Don't Let The Girls Take Over - Soul Junction 45 Release

J.B. Bingham whilst in session under H.B. Barnum and Steve Binder laid down seven tracks.  Four were issued by United Artist.  The 70’s anthem “All Alone By The Telephone” b/w “Live and Learn” and a second 45 “She’s Gone” b/w “Keep On Walking” saw the light of day.  Three other were canned.
 
Fast forward to 2013 and under it’s licensing deal with H.B. Barnum, Soul Junction Records released two of the three.  The excellent mover “People On An Ego Trip” and the more laid back “She’s On Strike” were finally released to eager collectors and DJ’s alike.  Almost two years further down the line the final track, the excellent 70’s mid tempo moover “Fellas, Don’t Let The Girls Take Over” is finally released.  It has already been well received by collectors and dancers after play on various radio shows and at various events.  The 70’s classic, “All Alone By The Telephone” makes up the flip side.
 
 
  
J.B.Bingham Biography
 
James Bingham Jr was born on the 1st of September I945 in Chicago. He was the second eldest child of four raised by Thelma and James Bingham Sr. As a teenager JB cut his teeth  singing lead vocals and playing guitar with several neighbourhood groups. One group in particular under the unlikely name of “The Vermacharms” also featured Walter (Simtec ) Simmons, his brother Ronnie Simmons, Mathew Whitfield  and J.B
 
James’s first Guitar was loaned to him by the mother of Tom Jamerson, while Tom was away serving in Vietnam. Upon Tom’s return from the service James had to return the guitar. Tom later played bass guitar for Bettye Everette before eventually becoming her husband.
 
When James reached the age of 20 his family moved to Los Angeles but after a short time there they decided to return home to Chicago. James though decided to stay and try his luck in the music business. His first job came in 1966 when he signed to Johnny Rivers Soul City label as a staff songwriter and singer.  He worked under the auspice of former Motown West Coast President Mark Gordon. Gordon who by then had left Motown to become an independent producer also managed James. The most successful artists under Gordon’s management was the pop/soul  group, The 5th Dimension. Although during his time with Soul City James often toured and performed as one half of a singing duo with fellow Soul City stable mate Willie Hutch, no JB Bingham  recordings where ever made. Incidentally  it was while at Soul City that James was advised by Johnny Rivers to add the initial B to his name this was a decision influenced by one of hottest recording artists of the time, one B.J. Thomas (of  ‘Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’ fame) and so J.B. Bingham he became.
 
 JB later moved  onto Marlu Records where as a A&R man he managed a girl group known as” The Voices”. JB along with Jack Brown co-wrote and arranged two songs on the Voices  the “Soul Clinic” and An Imitation Of Life” with both songs gained a release on Marlu 1004 under the artist name of The Voices and Thee Counts”. The Voices line up included former Friends Of Distinction lead vocalist Barbara Love,  Geneva Crawford and Patrice Brown.
 
In September 1969 JB formed  his own  and most successful group the “Five Flights Up” the groups line up featured former “Voices” member Geneva Crawford, Blanton McFarlin, Carlnetta Kelly, Charles Termell and  JB as the lead singer.  JB was fortuitously introduced by Harry Elston of “The Friend Of Distinction” to their producer John Florez who had recently produced the “Friends Of Distinction’s million seller “Grazing In The Grass”( RCA 74-0107). Florez by now had left RCA to go as a independent producer and liking what he heard decided to sign the “Five Flights Up” to a production contract and signed them to the Bell distributed T.A. label.
 
In 1970 the Five Flights Up hit pay dirt with their first T.A. release which featured two J.B. Bingham compositions “Do What You Wanna Do” b/w “Black Cat” (T.A, 202). “Do What You Wanna Do” became a hit reaching number 37 on Billboard’s pop single chart. Their follow up release “ After The Feeling Is Gone” B/w “Where Are You Going Girl “ (T.A. 207) peaked at number 89 on Billboard’s pop chart. A third T.A. release followed in 1971 “Like Monday Follows Sunday” b/w “California Girl” (T.A. 212) but this did not achieve the success of the previous two releases.
 
A forth “Five Flights Up” release appeared on the independent Oak label “Day Before Yesterday” b/w “There’s Nothing Wrong (With Loving A Stranger) (Oak 113). A reputed Five Flights Up album project entitled “After The Feeling Is Gone” was planned but believed to have been shelved by the powers that be at Columbia records. John Florez later went on to continue his midas touch producing a string of hits on the 5th Dimension as well as the Hues Corporation.
 
In 1974 JB released his own first solo outing on Warner Brothers records, the John Florez produced “Peek A Boo” b/w “Sunshine”  the song was arranged by D’Arneill Pershing, under the management of Steve Binder. It was Steve Binder who was responsible for JB signing with United Artists records. At U.A, JB was produced by both Steve Binder and H.B Barnum.
 
Binder and Barnum recorded several songs on JB which they offered to United Artists. The powers that be at U.A decided to pick up four of the songs for two 45 releases. The H.B Barnum/ Joyce Clay penned “All Alone By The Telephone” b/w the J.B Bingham penned “Live And You Learn” (U.A-XW816-Y) followed by two Bingham compositions “She’s Gone” b/w “Keep On Walking” (UA-XW872-Y). Both releases never really achieved the sales that they duly deserved, partially due to the fact that around 1976 United Artists had begun to disband their records division and thus never really put the full weight of their promotional machine behind J.B’s output. This was also coupled with the fact that H.B Barnum had also recorded “All Alone By The Telephone” on another West Coast group the “Checkmates” which was released on their rival major Polydor label at virtually the same time. Salvation did eventually arrive for JB releases when some twenty years after their release they where championed by the Dj’s and collectors alike of the UK Modern Soul Scene with “All Alone By The Telephone” now being regarded as a all time classic of this genre.
 
Following the demise of United Artists, JB briefly return to Warner Brothers as a staff writer. JB’s writing talent’s eventually led him to become a music and artist reviewer at the” Los Angeles Sentinel”, the west coasts oldest and largest African-American newspaper a position he held for circa fifteen years. JB worked closely with his wife Carolyn who was also employed by the Sentinel as the Entertainment section Editor. James and Carolyn have two children, their daughter Anzantique and their son James Bingham the 3rd an aspiring young singer hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps
 
Moving forward to the present JB is still involved in the music business following the formation of his own record label TSOC (The Sound Of Chicago) with his lifelong friend and business partner Charles Lewis in 2012. They are producing new material on a new group called the Voices (no connection at all with the Marlu outfit).  J.B also performs his own one man act at several of the more notable steak houses throughout Los Angeles and Pasadena area.
 
In late 2011 we at Soul Junction records contacted JB asking the inevitable question regarding the availability of any unissued material. During the ensuing conversation JB mentioned three unissued tracks that he cut with Barnum and Binder that United Artists hadn’t picked up. So we made contact with legendary record producer H.B Barnum and struck a deal. The result of which, led to the release of two of the unissued JB Bingham tracks as a belated 45 single “People On A Ego Trip b/w  “She’s On Strike” (SJ525) in 2013 a popular, but now long deleted release.
 
The remaining unissued track “Fellas, Don’t Let The Girls Take Over” will be released on September 28th 2015 backed with J.B’s classic modern soul anthem “Al Alone By The Telephone” (SJ532).
 
 
 
Words by: David Welding.
 
Acknowledgements to: James Bingham , Carolyn Bingham and H.B. Barnum
 
Photograph’s courtesy of James Bingham.
 
 
 
Press Release: J.B. Bingham   “Fellas, Don’t Let The Girls Take Over/All Alone By The Telephone”   SJ532
Release Date:   Monday September 28th 2015
 
In 1976, James B. Bingham the former lead singer of the group Five Flight’s Up recorded 7 songs under the auspices of H.B. Barnum and Steve Binder. Binder then offered the fruits of this session to the United Artists label. Out of the 7 songs presented to them the powers that be only chose to pick up 4 songs  which they released on two 45 singles “All Alone By The Telephone/Live And You Learn” (UA- XW1059)and “She’s Gone/Keep On Walking” (UA-XW872-Y)which subsequently left three tracks sitting unused in the can. A situation later rectified when in 2013 we at Soul Junction contacted firstly J.B. Bingham and then H.B. Barnum which lead to the  final release of two of the U.A rejects “People On A Ego Trip/She’s On Strike” on a popular and now long deleted 45 single.
 
Therefore we had one track left at our disposal “Fellas, Don’t Let The Girls Take Over”
 
J.B’s upbeat and light hearted warning song to the men of the world to shape and not be swept aside by the growing women’s liberation movement!
 
That left us with the dilemma of what to use for a b-side, this situation thus being solved by the inclusion of J.B’s timeless modern soul anthem “All Alone By The Telephone” as the flipside.
 

 
 SJ532-J.B.Binham Promo.mp3
For further information please contact Soul Junction at:
 
Tel: +44 (0)121 602 8115 or E-mail sales @ souljunctionrecords.co.uk
 
Or visit the site to buy: http://www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk/SJ532.html
 
 
By Chalky in News Archives ·

Savage Lost - Miami Girl Groups and Deep City Article

Just read a great article on Jeff Lemlichs informative 'Savage Lost' blog titled the 'The First Deep City Related 45, and Miami Girl Group Confusion!'
If looking at 45s/acetates scans and soaking up great historical recording tales floats your boat then you need to get over there right now

Preview clip
It’s not always easy to tell the story of an artist, or the records they created. Sometimes every answer just brings another question, with clarity never really showing up for the ride.  It reminds me of George Harrison’s insightful line, borrowed from the Tao Te Ching:  “The farther one travels, the less one knows.". 
I now know more about the Diamonettes from Florida. I also know less about them.    This is one very convoluted story!
http://savagelost.com/the-first-deep-city-related-45-and-miami-girl-group-confusion
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Kindle: Roger Eagle - Sit Down by Bill Sykes

An occasional series where the site makes the most out of the amazon "look inside" to provide some heads up reading on both old and new books available on kindle. This time a kindle preview revisit to a book that news of was originally posted up back in 2012
Sit Down! Listen To This! The Story of Roger Eagle by Bill Sykes
Bill Sykes (Author), Elliot Rashman (Foreword)
When Roger Eagle rode into Manchester in the early 1960s, the music scene was dominated by imported pop and the hippest clubs were 200 miles away in London. Yet this man would become a pivotal figurehead in changing all that.
Fortune led him to a job putting records on at The Twisted Wheel. Ignoring the thriving Beat scene, Roger promoted gigs by and played the recordings of the original Blues and Rhythm and Blues artists, often bringing them over from the States at his own expense. The club's music policy, at odds with just about everything else in the country at the time, was an instant hit and crowds flocked to the Wheel all-nighters from all over the country.
Well seeing that the Kindle version is now selling at the remarkable price of £4, plus with the fact that the site kindle preview feature wasn't around back in2012 and it has a good video, well I say its a worthwhile revisit 
Now £4 for the Kindle version - see the preview below and £8 for hardback inc postage @ the publishers via the link below
http://www.empire-uk.com/SitDown.htm
 
By Mike in News Archives ·

60s Soul at The Movies - Urban Hymns

Seems to be that a spot of a northern soul reference in the movies shows up almost every week nowadays . 
This time around a couple of northern references crop up amongst a recent new release called Urban Hymn which (yet again) is showing in the Toronto Film Festival, so not seen it but the trailer does have a very brief Darrell Banks moment
Video below but note that it is time linked so you need to replay it to watch the full trailer
'URBAN HYMN is a redemptive coming of age story which follows a neglected and wayward teen, Jamie, whose incredible singing voice offers her an escape to a better life until she finds her loyalties torn between her inspiring, unconventional care worker and her possessive and volatile best friend'
After reading a review there may be a chance of further 'northern references' in the complete film as apparently the mother passed on to the main character her love of 'northern soul', but as the review seems to be a usa based one then there may be some confusuion about the term 'northern soul'. So guess the soundtrack details may be interesting once out
Anyway the film looks all right at first glance, and while haven't seen the full film, this and other recent 60s soul related exposure has to be a good thing yep?
Well I just looked out of the window and the sky still seems in place, how's it your way ?
 
review here
http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/urban-hymn-review/5092469.article
Imdb film page here
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2184335/

 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Dore LA Soul Sides 2 - Kent Soul Release

After a bit of a revamp the news/article section has a spring in its step and is full of lofty aims and ideals. Getting the 'releases' section underway is word of a just released summer 2015 offering from Kent,Titled 'Dore LA Sides 2'
This (as you may guess) is the follow up to the 2014 release 'Dore LA Sides 1' which Chalky reviewed back then here on Soul Source Dore LA Sides 1 and again focuses on the Dore label. The tag line below does makes life easy when describing this release as it does sort of say it all...
Twenty years’ worth of elusive West Coast dancers, sweet soul ballads and all points in-between.
Heres a preview all tracks via Junos  records very smart player

Here's the blurb
This is the second and final volume of our Doré Soul story. As with the first volume, it’s strong on harmony groups, uptempo dancers and quirky one-offs from the vivid imagination of label owner Lew Bedell. The tracks were cut at the best Los Angeles studios using arrangers of the calibre of Miles Grayson, Gene Page, Ernie Freeman and Jack Eskew. Bedell produced most of the recordings and wrote several too.
The rarest of the rare is Little Johnny Hamilton’s ‘Keep On Moving’ of which there is one known issue that resides in the Potteries. The same scenario applies to the Swans’ punchy ‘Nitty Gritty City’; just to finally see the label scans was a thrill. The Milton James disc is almost as rare and the beautiful flipside ballad ‘That’s What Love Will Do’ is on CD for the first time. It was re-recorded by the outfit when they became War in ...
Read more at: http://acerecords.co.uk/dore-la-soul-sides-2#sthash.e1hUNRTv.dpuf
Video Ad
 
 
The Track List 
01 Gettin' Back Into Circulation - The Entertainers IV
02 I'm Givin' You Notice Baby - The Fidels
03 What Did You Gain By That? - Kenard
04 Wind In My Sails - The Superbs
05 Funky With My Stuff - The Natural Resources Unpolluted
06 Pictures In My Window - Eddie Williams
07 That's What Love Will Do - Milton James
08 I Wanna Chance - The Vows
09 I Want You - Dee Torres
10 My Pillow - The Darlings
11 We Together Baby - Smoky & The Bears
12 Keep On Moving - Little Johnny Hamilton
13 The Girl That I Loved - Bobby & Eddie Unlimited
14 Nitty Gritty City - The Swans
15 I Only Cry Once A Day Now - The Puffs
16 Goddess Of Love - The Superbs
17 Nothing Lasts Forever - The Natural Resources
18 Just Ain't My Day - The Entertainers IV
19 Stuffin' The Bird - Rambling Willie & The Euphonics
20 Just A Little Ugly - Gail Anderson
21 This Girl Is A Good Girl - Johnny Braff
22 Saigon To San Francisco - Toussaint McCall
23 As I Sit Here - The Whispers
24 I Look In The Mirror - Eddie Kool
Purchase highlights:
Available as cd album and also mp3 downloads at all good stores, links to just 3 follow 
Ace Records Website
http://acerecords.co.uk/dore-la-soul-sides-2
Juno Records 
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/la-soul-sides-2/573574-01/
Amazon

 

By Mike in News Archives ·

Strange World Of Northern Soul Film Now Online

First released in 1999  the documentary film  by Ian Levine  "The Strange World Of Northern Soul" has over time generated a lot of discussion here on Soul Source. With over 10 hours of footage and 130 artists it certainly was a one off.
Now 26 years later since the first showing at Blackburn it now seems that Part 1 (Over 4hrs)  has now been officially released for public online viewing as it now shows on the Ian Levine Channel on Youtube 
Its just been added to our in-house Soul Source Video feature, so you can now view, comment etc in ease via the link below

 
By Mike in News Archives ·

Advert via Google