The Sextones new 45 produced by Kelly Finnigan
The Sextones - Without You / Love Can't Be Borrowed - Record Kicks
Record Kicks presents a new 45 vinyl release from US soul combo The Sextones, featuring two singles from their upcoming new album produced by Monophonics' frontman Kelly Finnigan.
Shipping out on or around June 16, 2023
Edition of 500 61 remaining
Without You / Love Can't Be Borrowed by The Sextones
The Sextones return with a new 7" release, featuring singles from the band's highly-anticipated LP, Love Can't Be Borrowed. The new 45 "Without You" / "Love Can't Be Borrowed" is limited to 500 copies worldwide and it will hit the streets on June 16th, while the album, produced by Monophonics frontman Kelly Finnigan, will be available on September 29th on LP, CD and digital format via Milan-based label Record Kicks.
"Without You", on side A of the new 45, is an uptempo burner, showcasing playful call-and-response vocals, xylophone and horns over an unapologetically locked-in rhythm section, while on the flip side we find the album's namesake "Love Can't Be Borrowed", which brings the mid-tempo soul magic and speaks to the moral expectations of a rocky relationship.
Friends since childhood, The Sextones are Mark Sexton (guitar, vocals), Alexander Korostinsky (bass), Daniel Weiss (drums), and Christopher Sexton (piano). Having known each other for so long, their musical chemistry is effortless and forms the foundation of the band's longevity and creative workflow. Despite their bond, each member has been able to channel their creativity into other acclaimed groups—Alexander and Mark with their cinematic-soul project Whatitdo Archive Group, whose acclaimed debut LP The Black Stone Affair was released on Record Kicks in 2021, and Daniel with the soul/jazz group Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (Colemine Records). Flexing their creative muscle individually has only strengthened The Sextones' collective songwriting ability and heralds their formidable return to the spotlight. With their recent signing to Record Kicks, the self-made heroes of soul begin a new chapter in their sonic journey, ready to scale new heights and plumb deep emotional depths in service of the genre they love.
𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗔 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗟𝗜𝗡 (S4R29)
So Soon / It Was You
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗬 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 (S4R30)
Baby, Baby, Baby / You Can Always Get It Where You Got It / Same Old Loverman
https://soul4real.es
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𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗔 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗟𝗜𝗡 (S4R29)
So Soon / It Was You
Whenever the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, covered another artist's song, she had an uncanny knack of making it her own. The two tracks presented here are no exceptions.
Released for the first time on CD in 2007, the brisk Motown-esque “So Soon” penned by Van McCoy (and officially recorded by Donnie Elbert), and James Brown's down-tempo “It Was You” were recorded in 1967 as part of the Atlantic New York sessions which spawned Aretha's second album for the label 'Aretha Arrives'. For some inexplicable reason, they were left in the can.
Featured musicians include such Muscle Shoals luminaries as Jimmy Johnson (guitar), Spooner Oldham (organ) and Roger Hawkins (drums). Aretha's sisters Carolyn and Erma provide sterling backup vocals, especially prevalent on the driving “So Soon” whilst horns punctuate the stark, declarative “It Was You”, as does Aretha's strident piano chords.
Two outstanding and contrasting outtakes that rightly belong on a single 7" format.
𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗬 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 (S4R30)
Baby, Baby, Baby / You Can Always Get It Where You Got It / Same Old Loverman
Percy Sledge’s 1966 worldwide smash “When A Man Loves A Woman” did more to internationally establish southern soul than any record up to that time. The man from Leighton, Alabama subsequently became one of Atlantic’s biggest artists, charting 11 R&B/Pop hits in three years.
Nevertheless, as the 60s drew to a close, Atlantic’s interest in Percy inexplicably dwindled. Very few masters that his producer Quin Ivy sent from Sheffield, Alabama to New York saw contemporaneous release, although some eventually appeared in countries like South Africa, where Percy was revered.
The tracks on this exceptional ‘maxi single’ waited till 2010 to debut digitally. Percy’s terrific take on Aretha’s “Baby, Baby, Baby” dates from August 1969, the others from his penultimate session for Atlantic. Great songs too from Swamp Dogg and the late Gordon Lightfoot; either of which could have given Percy a hit in 1972.
We’ll never know why they weren’t issued then - but let’s be grateful to Soul4Real for making them available on vinyl now…
𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲
Up on youtube the full VHS Capital Soul Club Dome 2001 Video
It's in 2 parts 1 hour each, worth a watch
Filmed by Steve Heinsen during the 'Sidney Barnes Live Night 30th March 2001 and released at the time as a purchasable VHS Video.
Capital Soul Club Dome 2001 Part 1
'Janine introduces this Video, showing the dancers, record bar and Sidney Barnes performing. The Flirtations were also there.. Apologies for it being so dark'
Capital Soul Club Dome 2001 Part 2
'Recorded live. Interviews with Dj's and promoters by WINSTON HEATH'
If you where there, great memories from 22 years, if you wasn't I'd say it's still worth a check out to see what some considered the premier northern soul event at the time was like!
More CSC Dome past items via the below
https://www.soul-source.co.uk/tags/Capitol SC/
New releases from Ace records June 2023
This months releases from Ace go like this (see other news post for Candi Staton Lp release details)
Richard Hawley's Jukebox
Eclectic
Various Artists (Richard Hawley)
LP £27.00
I’ve called this Little Bangers because the tracks are like miniature musical hand grenades. Each recording contains so much energy and yet they’re all over in a flash: magnesium lights that explode and fizzle out almost as soon as they’ve started. That’s what I find incredibly beautiful about them.
CD £11.70
Folk, Funk & Beyond - The Arrangements Of John Cameron
Eclectic
Various Artists (Saint Etienne)
CD £13.12
John Cameron's arrangements – jazzy woodwind and belting brass – were among the most distinctive and innovative of the 60s and 70s. He played a starring role on hits by Donovan, Hot Chocolate and Heatwave, as well as working on KPM library albums and film scores. Mod dancers, pastoral folk, funky soul - John Cameron mastered the lot.
Reflections Of A Golden Dream
Spiritual Jazz
Lonnie Liston Smith
LP £22.14
Released in 1976,“Reflections On A Golden Dream”, the follow-up to “Expansions”, was his fifth album for Flying Dutchman and featured the core band of the Cosmic Echoes, including his brother Donald Smith, David Hubbard and Wilby Fletcher.
Freeze
Funk
Junie
LP £22.14
Recorded at the world-famous Ardent Studio in Memphis, "Freeze" saw Junie play every instrument, from a traditional rhythm section to a barrage of the latest synthesizer technology. The result was an avant-funk masterpiece.
When We Do
Funk
Junie
LP £22.14
Recorded at the world-famous Ardent Studio in Memphis, "Freeze" saw Junie play every instrument, from a traditional rhythm section to a barrage of the latest synthesizer technology. The result was an avant-funk masterpiece.
He Gave Me Nothing To Lose
Gospel
The Clark Sisters
LP £22.14
The Clark Sisters’ fourth album for Westbound's Sound Of Gospel label is the one that pushed them firmly towards the crossover market. It’s time to go back to church via the dancefloor.
Details of a new vinyl release from Ace Records
I'm Just A Prisoner - Candi Staton - LP £22.14
With Candi Staton hitting the UK to play the Love Supreme festival over the weekend of 30th June/2nd July, Ace is delighted to reissue her debut LP, which has been out-of-print on vinyl for decades. “I’m Just A Prisoner” was released in 1970 and remains a definitive slice of Southern soul.
Release Notes
I’m Just A Prisoner was released in 1970 and remains a definitive slice of Southern soul. Recorded at Rick Hall’s legendary FAME studio in Muscle Shoals I’m Just A Prisoner pulled together five tracks - I’d Rather Be An Old Man’s Sweetheart (Than A Young Man’s Fool), I’m Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin’), Evidence, You Don’t Love Me No More and Sweet Feeling - that had appeared as A and B-sides on early singles issued in 1969 and 1970. These were augmented by another five tracks recorded specifically for the album; Someone You Use, Get It When I Want It, Do Your Duty, That’s How Strong My Love Is and Another Man’s Woman, Another Woman’s Man. Like Southern fried chicken, this music is essential food for your ears.
This new edition includes an inner sleeve featuring a new interview with Candi conducted by Ace Records, Ian Shirley about this magical stage of her career as well as photos from the period.
Side 1
01 Someone You Use
02 I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man's Fool)
03 You Don't Love Me No More
04 Evidence
05 Sweet Feeling
Side 2
01 Do Your Duty
02 That's How Strong My Love Is
03 I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')
04 Another Man's Woman, Another Woman's Man
05 Get It When I Want It
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/im-just-a-prisoner
2 New 45s from Stream records
Ches Haynes and The Outfits
cat # STR009 - 7"/45rpm
Please Don't Go b/w Instrumental (Previously Unissued)
250 Limited Pressing Bundle Available With The Creators (see below)
Pre-order now (ships July 23)
https://cannonballsoul.com/streamrecords/
Ches Was born in Barbados, and from that faraway small group of islands comes this outstanding piece of Caribbean Soul.
Like many of the artists we love, Ches had his fair share of travels and troubles. He dedicated his whole life to music pursuing that ideal of living by the dream we all keep sticking to when it comes to soul music.
After the teenage years spent listenting to the sound of the American Black Music legends of the times, whose frequencies made it to the radio stations in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, he decided to pack up and go big studying music in New York City thus finding he was gifted with songwriting, where he always puts soul, jazz and a touch of reggae music.
Wirl label (West Indies Record Ltd.) was his recording home with which he released a number of tunes both solo and with his band The Outfits. He then traveled far and wide, spending a couple of years in Canada (another proof of Canada’s music industry solid ties with the sound from the islands), eventually ending up where Funk Investigators’ patrol member Yann Vatiste has found him and secured the license for this release.
Stay tuned for more tales about this man, he might be closer to you than you think.
The Creators
cat # STR010 - 7"/45rpm
"I Can't Believe It's True" Mono / Stereo
250 Limited Pressing
Bundle available with Ches Haynes (see above)
"I cant believe its true" is a great uplifting Modern Soul tune produced, written and published by Gospel music veteran and Coconut record label owner Pastor Dr. Arris D. Wheaton from Dallas, Texas. He's now 77 years old, still kicking and licensing his stuff to respectful little labels like Stream Records.
Counting on the vocals of Bobby Patterson’s of Pama and Jetstar labels fame, “I can’t believe it’s true” is a dancefloor destroyer of the highest order with perfect hooks and a production that still leaves you wondering why in the world these guys didn’t become acclaimed music stars as they sure deserved.
Creators’ formation included Bobby Patterson (vocals), Andrew Jones (Guitar and background vocals), Timothy McNealy (Tambourine, Trombone, Organ and vocals), Ronnie Brewster (Drums), Robert (bobby) Simpson (Sax, Vocals and Band Leader), Billy ‘Sweet ‘Pea Thomas (Trumpet) and Michael Fugett (Bass and background vocals)
A quick highlight news post of a recently added feature to our active and vibrant Source Event Guide..
Source Event Guide Featured Events
Intro
The 'Featured Events' feature now allows promoters/organisers/members to 'upgrade' any Event's exposure/awareness via the event listings in our Soul Source Event Guide.
For a small cost members can now 'upgrade' their own or indeed others Event Guide Entry in minutes
How
To take advantage of this feature, it's just a simple case of entering the events url (by pasting) and then our inhouse store takes care of everything else.
A no-fuss 2 minute affair - see the image below
What You Get
Once purchased your featured event will then instantly be granted the following benefits...
Be displayed in our Event Guide listings with pop out 'Featured Event' markings (see the images below)
In Weekly Event Listings, it will be displayed at the 'Top' of the day of the event listings, in both all events and also its subsection - allnighter section, alldayers etc (see the images below)
In Daily Listings, your 'Featured Event' will be displayed at the top of the hours listing eg 9pm etc
Upcoming 'featured events' will be displayed on our Front Page and on our main Forum and Event indexes (see below)
Further Info and Purchase
The below store page has all the info and the easy setup feature
So all you need to do to get more exposure and awareness for your own or fav event is simply read, paste the url and purchase via
https://www.soul-source.co.uk/store/product/613-featured-event-status-one-week-slot/
Timmy Carr & The Cooperettes - "Got No Time" / "I Want My Loving From You" - (Soul Direction)
News on upcoming 45, available to pre-order 28th May 2023
Here's Soul Direction's release/press notes and promo videos...
Timmy Carr & The Cooperettes - "Got No Time" / "I Want My Loving From You" - (Soul Direction)
Mastered from the original studio tapes.
Release Date - 11°" June 2023 (Pre Order from 28 May 2023)
The two tracks featured on this release initially surfaced as an Impact Recordings Studio Acetate. Another copy did surface later but has also been featured on a compilation CD but never as fully licensed 7" vinyl single. We have decided to release the extended "Studio
Master" version of "Got No Time" with the engineer count in and unedited run out.
According to Howard Ravitsky the songs in question were backed by the Cooperettes which were an all-family affair of sisters, Janette, Debbie, Tina and Angie Cooper and not the Persianettes as previous thought.
The songs were written by Howard Ravitsky and Phil Hurtt. Hurtt went on in later life to write the massive hit song "I'll Be Around" for The Detroit Spinners. Timmy recorded a song on the Kee Label titled "Workin" backed with "I'm Not Lyin'" which possibly is his rarest
release.
It should be noted that well known Collector Tim Ashebende was the first UK person to track down and meet Howard in Philly some years ago, which largely lead to some of the tracks from his stable reaching a wider audience on the Northern soul scene.
Thank you again for your continued support.
The Soul Direction Team.
Burford Fishback - A man with many irons in the fire (aka Sonny Fishback / Sonny Fisher)
Burford 'Sonny' Fishback was born in Nashville, Tennessee but moved to Louisville, Kentucky at the age of 13. He attended Madison Jr. High there in 1953 and in 1957 he transferred to Central High School joining Mohammad Ali there. Sonny's plan and dreams included becoming a nightclub singer and a recording artist. In 1957 Sonny wrote a song called "You Ain't Going Nowhere" which was a mild local hit. Sonny then dropped out of school to become a performer in the Louisville area. He ended up at the age of 17 working in local nightclubs such as 'the Top Hat', Charlie Moore's, the Crosstown Cafe and the Diamond Horseshoe up until 1965. He then went on the road working in various nightclubs across a wide geographic area. Sonny was soon booked by an agency in Detroit, Michigan and via that deal got to meet James Brown, The Godfather of Soul. JB offered him a position as a songwriter with his organisation. From there, Sonny went to New York to begin his song writing career, while still trying to get a hit record himself. He decided to form his own label called 'Out-A-Site' Records and cut the self-penned song "The Heartbreaking Man".
James Brown wasn't happy with the label name Sonny used and so he discontinued his label in 1968. Sonny then began to record for NOla based Tou-Sea Records under the name Sonny Fisher. The song "Oh Love This Is Sonny" was released, but once again found little success (apart from it being picked up by EMI in the UK for inclusion on their 'Bell Cellar Of Soul Two' compilation LP). In the same year Sonny accepted a record deal with Duke Peacock out of Houston, Texas. While under contract with the company (still under the name of Sonny Fisher), he wrote and produced another song "I'm Going All The Way". In 1971 Sonny's desire for a hit record again drove him to form another of his own label's (Brown Sugar Records) in New York. The first release (1972) was badged up as by Brown Sugar & was titled "Somebody Stronger" but yet again this single brought him little success (even when put out again on ABKCO --.who acted as distributors for him for a time). Next up came a 45 he produced on 1619 B.A.B. ("World / For Your love") and this caught the eye of Chess Records who licensed it for national release late in 1973 (Chess # 2147).
With the lack of success both as a recording artist & label owner / producer, Sonny decided to close the label in 1973 and he then got into the concert promoting business. Some of the concerts he staged were by Kool & The Gang, The Persuaders, The Chi-lites, Evelyn Champagne King, The Flamingos, Eddie Holman and many others. In 1975 Sonny he branched out again, going into the nightclub business. He opened a club called 'Night People' where he catered for a high profile crowd, superstars plus hustlers. Sonny eventually returned to Louisville (1990) to take care of his ailing mother, who died in the early 90's. After his mother's death, Sonny was devastated, he became a drug addict and eventually ended up in prison for drug possession. During his incarceration Sonny developed a passion for writing and authored a number of books and scripts, the most notable these being his 'Plant A New Seed'.
I first became aware of Sonny's work when I bought the Bell Cellar Of Soul Two album late in 1968. I really liked his track on that LP a lot & therefore started to look for his name when scanning record lists. Back then, it was all mailed-out printed sheets that listed 45's for sale or for auction. Being a true Yorkshireman (tight), I'd scan such lists after postie had pushed them through the letterbox for likely obscure imports that I hoped I could get cheaply (the big niter sounds always going for a quid or more back then). If I spotted a name I knew or a import label I had sumat on that I liked, I'd bid silly money to try and get a bargain (buying blind really). Putting a bid in of 1/11d or 2/7d, I'd miss out on loads but win some. As my taste in soul was quite wide (dancers, ballads, bluesy cuts, gospely tracks, big city sounds, Motown, Stax, LA labels, NOla stuff, etc.), more often than not, I'd be content with my haul (whilst worrying I'd missed out on a future biggie by bidding 6d too low). In Sonny's case, I never did come across another 45 with his name on it back then. But as he only had 2 releases under the name of Sonny Fisher, it turns out that my hopes of coming across other stuff by him was low.
News of a new album release from Ace Records
Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night Brooklyn Disco 1974-5
Release notes via Twitter say
In 1975, writer Nik Cohn investigated the burgeoning discotheque scene for @NewYorkMagazine ; two years later, his feature would be filmed as Saturday Night Fever. These are the records Cohn heard in those dark dance dens - irresistible R&B and soul, disco before it was 'disco.'
Track listing
Side 1
Side 1
01 Helplessly - Moment Of Truth
02 After You've Had Your Fling - The Intrepids
03 Welcome To The Club - Blue Magic
04 I Can't Move No Mountains - Margie Joseph
05 Supernatural Thing Part 1 - Ben E King
06 Mellow Me - Faith, Hope & Charity
07 Georgia's After Hours - Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
08 Date With The Rain - Eddie Kendricks
09 Just As Long As We're Together - Gloria Scott
10 Wendy Is Gone - Ronnie McNeir
11 Got To Get You Back - Sons Of Robin Stone
12 Night Of The Wolf (Tema Del Lupo) - Ivano Fossati
13 Good Things Don't Last Forever - Ecstasy, Passion & Pain
14 Tell Me What You Want - Jimmy Ruffin
15 Keep It Up - Betty Everett
16 Free & Easy - Satyr
17 Each Morning I Wake Up - Major Harris
18 It's The Same Old Story - Act I
19 You Can't Hide Love - Creative Source
20 The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy - John Gary Williams
21 If That's The Way You Feel - White Heat
22 Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
Site notes...
Given that Nik Cohn later admitted that the whole account that was published was fictional am guessing there's some sort of generalisation going on here
After persuading New York editor Clay Felker to let him write an article about the 1970s disco scene, Cohn, a newcomer to the United States, set about researching the American working-class subculture he was trying to cover. One night he travelled to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to visit the disco 2001 Odyssey. However when he arrived a drunken fight was taking place outside the club, and one of the participants rolled over in the gutter and threw up on Cohn's trouser leg, leading him to return to Manhattan. Despite this brief visit, Cohn did notice that the scene was surveyed by one clubgoer standing in the doorway and calmly watching events. Cohn returned to the club subsequently but the young man wasn’t there.
To overcome his lack of familiarity with the New York disco scene, Cohn combined the image of the figure outside the club with people he knew from his youth, including a gang member from the Northern Ireland city of Derry, where Cohn had grown up, and a young man he knew in England. “My story was a fraud,” he wrote. “I’d only recently arrived in New York. Far from being steeped in Brooklyn street life, I hardly knew the place. As for Vincent, my story’s hero, he was largely inspired by a Shepherd’s Bush mod whom I’d known in the Sixties, a one-time king of Goldhawk Road." For additional detail Cohn returned to Bay Ridge during the day to get a better feel for the area.
Source of clip above
Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night - Wikipedia
The original Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night article in full
Inside the Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night -- New York Magazine - Nymag
Inside the Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night -- New York Magazine (archive.org)
-----------------------------------------------------
Available 30th June 2023 in CD and Lp versions
more info via
https://acerecords.co.uk/tribal-rites-of-the-new-saturday-night
Del Corazon is back at it once again with another obscure and sought after double dose of Rare Panama Soul!
The Exciters originally covered Ralfi Pagan’s “Make It With You” on a the Loyola label as a 45 and later cut it again as a live version on LP. The OG LP sells for up to $400 and the 45 studio version can sell for the same amount easy!
Pressed for the 1st time on 45, the live version of “Make It With You” by The Exciters! Latin Percussion, heavy reverb, silky lead vocals, a killer horn section and the thrill of a live audience grabs the souls of many!
The A-SIde is a reissue of a Rare Guajira song titled, “Simplemente Maria de Panama by Alegria 70.
Available now on Gold & Clear wax, officially Licensed from Tamayo Records, and just like Del Corazon’s last issue, this will sell out!
Last Bastion Records have shared their latest 45 release info, available for pre-order now...
MONICA ROCHA - The Chicano EP 7"
LAST BASTION RECORDS presents MONICA ROCHA ‘THE CHICANO EP’
HELLO STRANGER / TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT / THE ONE THAT REALLY LOVES YOU
For LB05, debuting on vinyl and this three track EP, we have the Chicano Soul /Brown eyed Soul/low-rider sound of Monica Rocha plus her fabulous duet with Malik Malo!
Limited to 300 with picture sleeve - there will be no repress.
Originally pioneered by artists from San Antonio, Texas “Chicano Soul” (a fusion of Mexican-American and Black musical cultures) has always had an enthusiastic audience among Latino /Hispanic communities throughout the southwestern United States. These are slow jams from the moment when doo-wop morphed into soul. Mostly pleading and woebegone, they’re wrenching and transcendent in the way the best soul music always has been.
There’s now a new Californian movement of low-rider oldies music and resurgence in the Chicano Soul sound today with Monica and Malik.
The EP opens with ‘Hello stranger’ produced and arranged by Edward ‘E-Dub’ Rios. Monica dueting with Malik and delivering their trademark ‘Chicano’ magic on a track originally released by Barbara Lewis as a soul 45 in 1963. It was written by Barbara herself a few years earlier.
Continuing on the A side is ,‘The One Who Really Loves You’ again infused with that Chicano /low-rider style, E-Dub’s production with Monica’s vocals transforming this Smokey Robinson penned 1962 Mary Wells soul classic to stunning effect.
‘Tonight Is The Night’ on the flip has Monica with a sultry and evocative mid tempo recording reimagining Betty Wright’s 1974 sophisticated, smooth and polished studio production synonymous with that formative disco era. It’s stripped away and taken back a decade. Tantalising Lo-fi perfection with vocal intensity against a snare drum backbeat and in doing so, creating a soundtrack for evenings of low-rider music and gatherings of 50s vintage cars under the California sun.
FEATURES
Hello Stranger
Tonight is the night (shorter version)
The one that really loves you
£13.99 Plus delivery
Videos
Detour Records link...
https://detourrecords.co.uk/epages/es785745.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=42670161
Another month and another informative addition to this quality series by Steve Krakow on the Chicago Reader Website
This time its all about 'The Independents'
THE SECRET HISTORY OF CHICAGO MUSIC
Soul vocal group the Independents grew out of a powerful songwriting duo
Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy went from Jerry Butler’s famous workshop to hit-making partnerships with the likes of Natalie Cole and Ronnie Dyson
by Steve Krakow April 23, 2023
The full article can be read via
https://chicagoreader.com/music/the-secret-history-of-chicago-music/soul-vocal-group-the-independents-grew-out-of-a-powerful-songwriting-duo/
A place for 2023 digital soul releases, set up due to both the quality and quantity of current digital (non-physical) releases.
Basically using the comments to this article and forum post will give us a place where both the site and all members can share and discuss the most current digital soul release news and info
Word from Hayley Records in our soul markt about two great 45 releases , both are available right now - purchase details at the end
DEON JACKSON Happily ever after/(You've got) The power of love HR034
Two more previously unreleased tracks from one of Detroit's favourite sons - DEON JACKSON.
'Happily ever after' was originally recorded by Len Barry but found its way to Detroit and producer Ollie McLoughlin and arranger Mike Terry in the mid 1960s.
The flip '(You've got) the power of love' was written by CAPITOLS member Richard McDougall but never recorded by the group. It did gain a release by The ESQUIRES under the title 'You got the power'
hayley-deon-jackson.mp3
GROOVESVILLE PLAYERS Don't hurt me / AL KENT ORCHESTRA The way you've been acting lately HR035
Another fantastic discovery in the form of the backing track to 'Sweet Sherry' and 'Has it happened to you yet' under it's original title 'Don't hurt me'. Who it was intended for or what the original lyrics were are unknown.
Backed with another classic - the original backing track to 'The way you've been acting lately' complete with false start and no background singers.
hayley-Groovesville-players.mp3
Purchase direct from Hayley Records via
www.hayleyrecords.co.uk/vinyl/index.asp
Original Soul Markt topic by @Rob Moss
https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums/topic/441129-latest-hayleys-groovesville-players-deon-jackson/
TONIGHT !!!
FRIDAY 19TH MAY 2023
8PM - MIDNIGHT
SOUL ORIGINS with COLIN CURTIS & JOHN MURPHY
ON HITMIX RADIO 107.5FM or https://www.thehitmix.co.uk/
As we look back at the music and times of Soul Music
from the 1960's going forward as the Northern Soul
scene developed . With Local Stoke On Trent Clubs Characters
Record Shops and more with one of Stoke on Trents Orinal
DSoul Dj's John Murphy !!
Chat Here as we take a unique ride through Soul Music
from The Potteries and Beyond xx
Chat Here x
Press Release: Crystal Motion There’ll Be Another/Million Dollar Baby” SJ551
Release Date: Tuesday May 30th 2023
“Crystal Motion” were a vocal quartet of Cape Verdean descendancy from New Bedford, Massachusetts. The original members being lead vocalist “Kevin Gomes”, Kevin’ s cousin, Rodney “Skeeta” Santos, Daniel “Buddy” Monterio and John Paris the man responsible for coining the group’s eventual performing name “Crystal Motion”. The group was managed initially by Eddie Carter of Carter Management out of Onset, MA.
As a then unnamed ensemble, the group entered the now defunct “Metcalf” Recording studio in New Bedford during 1972 to record the Kevin Gomes penned demonstration song, the sweet soul ballad, “There’ll Be Another”.
A copy of this song was later submitted to the recently formed Independent Recording Studio, “Omega Sound Productions” in Philadelphia, PA. The label owned by Frank Fioravanti having just hit paydirt with William DeVaughn’s smash hit “Be Thankful For What You Got” continued with his policy of supporting up and coming talent and upon hearing Crystal Motion’s demo decided to offer them a recording contract. Although deciding against using the submitted demonstration song (which was to remain unissued) Fioravanti chose to record the group on a song he had co-written with another Philly writer and recording artist Pal Rakes, the title of the song was “You’re My Main Squeeze (Part 1 & 2)” an exciting disco dance orientated song that Frank released on them in 1975 on his Sound Gems label imprint.
The song became a minor hit in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island plus other towns throughout New England. The record was also popular in the Philadelphia area while also receiving extensive airplay in Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas. Following the success of “You’re My Main Squeeze” John Paris was to leave the group being replaced by a longtime friend of the other group members Douglas “Dougie” Mendes.
With attention coming from the producers of “American Band Stand” and “Soul Train” the group continued to tour the East coast circuit throughout 1975 and 1976 in preparation for their proposed upcoming album project. The song “There’ll Be Another” was originally cited to be included on the album, rehearsals had begun on another two Fioravanti and Rakes songs firstly “Wrap Your Love Around Me” (although no actual recording of this song was laid down) and “Million Dollar Baby” which the group did manage to finish and record. The album was never completed as lead singer Kevin Gomes left the group due to unforeseen personal reasons and ultimately the group broke up. Little did “Crystal Motion” know at the time but their solitary 45 release was finding a new audience across the pond in the UK with “You’re My Main Squeeze” being championed by inspirational DJ Colin Curtis in the hallowed halls of Blackpool Mecca, a timeless classic that never fails to bring a smile to the listening audiences faces even to this current day.
Sadly Rodney Santos, John Paris and more recently Douglas Mendes have all passed to a better place, leaving Kevin Gomes and Daniel Monterio to continue the Crystal Motion legacy. Now joined by the late Rodney Santos’s brothers Renee and Rory and first tenor Tony Simmons. They are from time to time are also joined by a female vocalist Angela Kronillis. Throughout their performing career the “Crystal Motion” members have often performed with their childhood, neighborhood and lifelong friends the Tavares Brothers of the hit group “Tavares”.
Returning to the here and now, following Soul Junction’s introduction to Kevin Gomes and already being involved in a licensing deal with Melomega Music it was agreed to license both of the unissued ‘Crystal Motion’ songs from their respective owners and pair them together for a long overdue 45 release. With ’Crystal Motion’s’ “You’re My Main Squeeze” cult and anthemic status being forever assured with Northern/Modern Soul devotees we’d like to think this long overdue discovery and release of these two slightly differing Sweet Soul offerings will 's Mecca garner and enhance the group’s wider appeal with the growing aficionados of the Chicano, Group Harmony and Lowrider genres, Enjoy.
Listeners of Mick O’Donnell’s popular “Soul Discovery” Radio Show may already be familiar with “There’ll Be Another” with Mick having championed a raw demo take of the song in his past broadcasts.
Words By: David Welding
With acknowledgements to Kevin Gomes.
Photographs courtesy of Kevin Gomes.
For further information please contact Soul Junction at:
Tel: +44 (0) 121 602 8115 or E-mail: sales@souljunctionrecords.co.uk
To Pre-order visit https://souljunctionrecords.co.uk/SJ551.html
A heads up release news that MD Records latest 45 is now out and about and available via quality soul stockists.
Great double sider, 2 great tracks on vinyl for the first time.
Alfreda Brockington - Give me what you givin’ her / Waitin’ for your touch - MD Records
Check out the below for the full details
Video/Audio
Two interesting pre-orders showing up
CBLL042 The Nu' Rons You Came Thru b/w Hurry Up Tomorrow
CBLL041 Force de La Vie | Force "Holy Moses" French Unissued + Streaker Version
Out July '23 at £20 each
Preorder info https://www.teslagroove.com
CBLL041 Force de La Vie | Force "Holy Moses" French Unissued + Streaker Version
Out July '23
Preorder info https://www.teslagroove.com
A new album release, available in all 3 formats, digital, vinyl and cd, release notes below has more...
Soul Steps' is the second album by Berlin and San Diego based band The Everettes, who have been an insider tip in the soul landscape for a few years now. On the one hand, the title alludes to the musical footprints they follow, as their danceable music is rooted in Northern Soul, Stax and Motown and with their three female singers they carry the magic of the 60s girl groups into the present. On the other hand, the songs are also about personal development steps and the paths and decisions one has to take in life with oneself and others.
With a lot of charm, likeable performances and their self-titled debut album released in 2020, The Everettes have won themselves an international audience and have been a permanent fixture at the renowned Baltic Soul Weekender since 2019, among other things.
Third single from the new compilation “The Originals 3” by Golden Rules that made waves on the international funk & soul scene contains New York based soul man Carlton Jumel Smith, who had his debut on Timmion Records.
His exclusive contribution is a warm and soulful anthem. It delivers a fresh drum break, smooth guitar lines and a lovely horn section - all making space for the powerful voice of Carlton Jumel Smith.
A demo/start up/test of a new news category
part of ongoing tweaks - all a bit work in progress at moment
first post starts a news item and a forum topic
comments show on both
Arlena Arpels' setlist with timestamps:
1) 0:05 "You Know I Love You" (George F. Smallwood);
2) 4:56 "Strike a Spark" (Chateau);
3) 7:45 "Just a Chance in Life" (The Last Generation);
4) 11:44 "The Burg" (Larry McGee Revolution);
5) 14:21 "This Party Is Just for You" (Special Touch);
6) 16:28 "Shake Your Body" (Manujothi);
7) 19:37 "On the One" (World Quake);
😎 22:36 "Portia Carey - I Wanna Thank You
9) 26:02 "Happy" (Sandi Havens);
10) 28:20 "Fabric" (Jonas Munk);
11) 30:37 "Take Them in Prayer" (Earl Young);
12) 34:02 "Cash Money - Seeking
13) 35:44 "I'm Your Man" (Spade Brigade)
https://www.patreon.com/myanalogjournal
Details of a new album release just landed, press release follows...
Funky Finns releases a debut album of humane soul songs
Funky Finns is a new Finnish soul group whose debut album "United Souls" will be released on May 12th. Many people are familiar with the band from the spectacular songs and videos released during the pandemic. On their debut album, a wonderful group of professional musicians serves the music with great soul and tight groove. The album will be released through Eclipse Music.
In autumn 2019, Antti Kleemola asked Mikko Pettinen's band Happy People at the time to perform in Helsinki. As a result of this gig, the ensemble soon appeared in California; in San Francisco and Palo Alto. At the San Francisco concert, one of the guest speakers called the band Funky Finns. And that's how Antti’s and Mikko's new band was born!
Antti and Mikko started composing music together for their new line-up. Jonnu Heikkilä was asked to be the lyricist, and she enthusiastically joined the band. The rest of the band took shape around the songs naturally. Energetic and grooving playing on the album is served in addition to the above-mentioned talents by top domestic musicians when Onni Lonka shines on guitar and vocals, Sampo Tiittanen on bass and Markku Heikkilä on drums. The stricter brass players are saxophonist William Suvanne, trombonist Hannu Lamminmäki, trumpeter Teemu Mattsson and baritone saxophonist Joakim Berghäll. The cavalcade of players on record and live is even bigger than the music's multi-talents bringing the tunes to life with the power of a versatile arsenal of instruments. The wonderful singers Jonnu Heikkilä and Jepa Lambert sing background vocals in the band.
The first single was released in the summer of 2020 when United We Stand was released in connection with the anti-racism campaign. This song featured guest soloists from five different countries and four continents. The song was recorded and videoed during the Corona lockdown so that everyone recorded and filmed their part themselves. The style became familiar to many during the Corona lockdowns and connected musicians and listeners worldwide.
After this, the band has released numerous singles from their upcoming album. In 2021, two singles, Very Dark Winter and Simpler Times, were released. During this spring, two songs from the album were also released; Rebel and the latest Do It Like U Wanna in March 2023. Even before the album release, there will be one single release of the song Fly.
Funky Finns' music is humane soul music, and the group's sincere intention is to make the world a little better place with their music. The songs on the album deal with the different themes of life. The songs are encouraging insecure and anxious young people to find their direction. The lyrics encourage people to be themselves and the band wants to spread love, positivity, and a good mood.
The album release concert is at the Myyr York Rhythm & Jazz Festival in Myyrmäki on May 12th.
https://www.tiketti.fi/myyr-york-rhythm-jazz-festival-lobby-myyrmaki-vantaa-tickets/86585
Lenis Guess presents...Unbroken Melodies: Various Artists Out Of Norfolk Virginia.
Rare & Unissued 1970s Cuts
Soul Bitter - Soul Sweet
Plut LP #2 - It ain't a boot if its on Plut!
Details just in of a new lp that has just been released via Plut Records
Titled "Unbroken Melodies" this brand new album from Plut Records has been compiled by Brent Hosier and is being billed as unearthing lost soul music from the archives of "Norfolk Sound" producer Lenis Guess.
It's from the same people who have previously been involved with the 'Raw Soul' And 'Ol Virginia Soul' compilations, this time around the album concerns itself with the studio productions of Lenis Guess, the head of LGA Records.
The 11 tracks are listed below. followed by a few audio clips, 7 of the tracks are previously unreleased, with 4 being released as singles.
Track Listing
Side 1
1. Lenis Guess/The Royal Robins – No Steps Away *
Previously unissued
2. Little Wink/Eddie's 25th Century Band – Sentimental Love (instrumental)
1st Issue Brock 501
3. Jack & The Mods – Don’t Wake Me Up
1st Issue Bamtown 501115
4. The Symbolics – Find Yourself Another Baby *
Previously unissued
5. Deltones Ltd – Keep My Company With You
1st Issue D-Tone 500
6. Deltones Ltd – You Don’t Believe I Love You
1st Issue Plut-04
Side 2
1. The 35th Street Gang – Your Love Gave Me Peace Of Mind*
Previously unissued
2. Jato Vondel – You Don’t Miss Your Water (Til Your Well Runs Dry)*
Previously unissued
3. Jato Vondel – How Long Have I Been A Fool*
Previously unissued
4. Deltoned Ltd – You Don’t Believe I Love You (instrumental)**
Previously unissued full version
5. The Symbolics – Home Ain’t Home
1st Issue - Guess 633
Audio Previews
Lenis Guess/The Royal Robins – No Steps Away
track-1.mp3
Jato Vondel – You Don’t Miss Your Water (Till Your Well Runs Dry)
Jato-Vondel-You-Dont-Miss-Your-Water.mp3
The 35th Street Gang – Your Love Gave Me Peace Of Mind
35th-Street-Gang-Your-Love-Gave-Me-Peace-Of-Mind.mp3
Jato Vondel – How Long Have I Been A Fool
Jato-Vondel-How-Long-Have-I-Been-A-Fool.mp3
Leaflet/Insert Details
Brent Hosier the complier has also has put together the album liner notes, which start on the back lp cover and continues onto an extensive 8 page full size insert, taking a most detailed look at each track's group/artist and background
Leaflet/Insert Preview Scan - Page 1/8
Lenis Guess presents... Unbroken Melodies: Various Artists Out Of Norfolk Virginia, is available now at various online stockists
Welcome to Epsilon Record Co. latest Californian re-releases
Two fantastic Modern Crossover 45rpm
ORDER NOW! (shipping from Tuesday)
https://www.epsilonrecord.com
EPS021
Bobby Baker
Holy Grail Modern Soul Crossover Vocal & Instrumental
Listen:
A: “Everything Has Got To Be Alright”(4:07)
B: “Everything Has Got To Be Alright” Inst. (4:07)
Written by: Dana V Andrews
Los Angeles CA / 1980
(official reissue)
EPS020
Dana V Andrews
Superb Modern Soul Crossover Vocal & Instrumental
Listen:
A: “Mr Justice”(3:33)
B: “Mr Justice” inst. (3:33)
Written by: Dana V Andrews
Los Angeles CA / 1976
(official reissue)
2 New Jai Alai 7s - Ruby Wilson / Queen Emily & G.C. Cameron / The Green Brothers
𝗥𝗨𝗕𝗬 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗦𝗢𝗡 / 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 (JAR09)
𝗥𝗨𝗕𝗬 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗦𝗢𝗡
An unmissable pairing of Texan-born soul queens! Ruby Wilson was Memphis based for most of her life whilst Emily spent her formative years in Houston before relocating to Stockton, CA, to raise her family. Both were signed to Malaco Records in Jackson, MS, where these two timeless example of Southern Soul were recorded nearly 30 years apart and now appear on 7” vinyl for the first time.
Ruby Wilson first came to our attention in the mid-70s with two singles on T.K. subsidiary Glades, with Number One In Your Heart and the funkier Sky High both still sounding good today. She signed to Malaco during their most fruitful period, and her self-titled album in 1981, from which this classy below-midpaced selection comes, despite being a typically polished affair never reached the highs with the label that Jewel Bass, Fern Kinney, and of course Dorothy Moore had set over the previous few years. It remained her only outing with them, but she went on to make a further three albums in the late 80s with the Hot Cotton Jazz Band, one with the Climax Jazz Band, and finally back on her own A Song For You (2000 Cadre Ent.) and Show You A Good Time (2005 Unkut Music). She became an accomplished actress and was also known as the Queen Of Beale Street for her many club performances in Memphis. Sadly, Ruby died in 2016, but hopefully this release on Jai Alai will help us remember what a talent she really was.
𝗥𝗨𝗕𝗬 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗦𝗢𝗡 Love Has Come / Throw Away Me
𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬
Not only is Emily David an extraordinary talent, she is a remarkable woman too. Her only album Queen Emily was a direct result of her finishing as a semi-finalist of America’s Got Talent in 2008 at the tender age of 40. She was no stranger to talent shows having won a Sammy Davis Jr award in 1999, but back then, as a single-mother decided to put her singing career on hold to bring up her two daughters. One day her troubled sister arrived to stay but left without taking her two boys with her, so Emily felt she had to bring up her nephews as well. Her dreams of a musical career had evaporated but years later her daughters encouraged her to try once again.
It was almost a year after America’s Got Talent that Malaco boss Tommy Couch Jr. called out of the blue and offered her a contract without meeting her. As Queen Emily, a digital 4-track EP was released in the US, but her eponymous CD album, bizarrely released by Malaco in the UK before the US, is one of the best examples of 21st century Southern Soul, steeped with the label’s trademark live instrumentation by the Muscle Shoals Horns Rhythm Section and contains a number of polished standards such as Use Me, Angel In Your Arms, I Betcha Didn’t Know That and Going Crazy. However, it is the George Jackson-penned ballad Throw Away Me that really stands out and deservedly received critical acclaim in the UK at the time. It now gets a very welcome vinyl debut on Jai Alai and makes for a fabulous pairing.
Queen Emily - Throw Away Me
𝗚.𝗖. 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗡 / 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 (JAR10)
𝗚.𝗖. 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗡
Every soul fan will be familiar with "It’s A Shame", one of the most definitive 70s soul releases of all time, written and produced by Stevie Wonder - the first he’d produced for another group. How many realise though, that the song has two lead vocals - both by G.C. Cameron? Extraordinary vocal gymnastics for sure, and a performance that will cement his place in soul music history - he’d joined the group and suddenly was enjoying the benefits of their most successful record. Of the seven octaves, I am sure that G.C. goes through at least five of them on that song alone; a natural born singer - one of a kind.
Motown had picked up The Spinners by purchasing the Tri-Phi label in 1963, and it seemed to have been decided quite quickly that when their contract was finished, they would not be held back from moving on. However, by then Cameron had married Berry Gordy’s sister, Gwendolyn, and the couple were living it large in Beverly Hills. So he decided to stay with Motown whilst The Spinners moved to Atlantic in 1971 and went on to have 27 more Top 100 hits. He recorded a few singles on the subsidiary label MoWest plus 3 albums; G.C. Cameron, Love Songs & Other Tragedies and You’re What’s Missing In My Life, the latter being cited as one of Motown’s 10 best albums of all time;
By 1980, fed up with the decadence, G.C. Cameron went back to live in his parents’ trailer in McCall. He became more involved with the church and re-evaluated his life, but by 1983 he was at the Malaco studios in Jackson, MS, recording the album Give Me Your Love, which wasn’t a ground breaker but did contain the sublime title track, a mid-pacer that is so perfect for the Modern Soul scene. It was LP (or cassette!) only so really did get overlooked, but is now available on 7” vinyl for us all to enjoy - quite possibly one of George Curtis Cameron’s best recordings.
In 2000 he had a call to re-join The Spinners and spent 3 years touring with them as lead singer, after which he left to join The Temptations for another 4 years. In 2008 Cameron packed it all in, but does still occasionally performs for a Motown Review Special.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦
Give Me Your Love
The Green Brothers
Robert L. Green (Bobby) and younger brother Aaron Alexander (Al) were born in Fort Pierce, Florida, and raised by their pastor father and step-mother who also sang and preached in church. They relocated to Royal Oak, Michigan in the mid 60s and by 1968 had joined the gospel group The Violinaires (Wilson Pickett was a member in the late 50s) and headed out on the road. Bobby’s voice can be heard for the first time on a live album recorded in the early 70s but Al had left the group by then and his vocals would not appear on vinyl until 1974.
They started their own label Warfell Records at some time around 1967 but Bobby is quoted as saying that they didn’t release anything on it, yet Faith, a single by The Soul Superiors penned by Aaron & Bobby Green exists, presumably with Fred Burns on vocals? Warfell quickly folded, but other sources quote it as being a 70s label?
Two further releases exist as The Soul Superiors of Detroit Mich. for Designer Records, Style Wooten’s gospel imprint. Whatever You Do, Do Good / Great Day (1971) written by Aaron featuring Bobby on vocals (both tracks can also be found on a 4CD compilation released in 2014), and Up Above My Head / Amazing Grace (1973) with the top side written by Bobby and featured his vocals (the flip featured Fred Burns).
In April 1974, Stax producer Dave Clark saw the brothers perform in a gospel talent show at Ford Auditorium and was so impressed he got them to send a tape of a few songs for boss Jim Stewart to hear. They were signed to the prestigious label and managed to get some studio time a couple of months later with the intention of releasing an album, however, a single on subsidiary label Truth was finally released in 1975. One can only wonder if choosing the novelty A-side, Dy-No-Mite (Did You Say My Love), was a wrong decision by the label? The flip, If You Change Your Mind (I Can’t Love You Too Much), co-written by Bobby & Al and Bobby’s uncredited wife Virgie, was a much better vehicle to showcase their harmony style with Bobby hitting the most incredible high falsetto note just before the fade. A couple of cheques from Stax bounced, so the brothers knew the end was in sight.
After the fold, they hooked up with legendary ex-Stax producer Don Davis to record Lack Of Attention / Sweet Lovin’ Woman, a fabulous double-sider under his expert production (Tortoise International 1977). This was a much more credible release; the Ronnie McNeir penned Sweet Lovin’ Woman is a classic example of Southern Soul being given the kind of Detroit production skills that remind you of the way the Willie Henderson and Leo Graham gave Tyrone Davis that vintage Chicago feel. The flip, Lack Of Attention, just underlines their gritty vocal talents. My tip would be to get one of these under-played and under-priced beauties before the price rockets, as it will, after this Jai Alai release
After the unfortunate failure of the Tortoise release, Al moved back to Florida whilst Bobby remained in Detroit. Some 30 years later Bobby Manuel, who had played on the Stax recordings, contacted Bobby regarding the unreleased material and the result was amazing. The tracks were enhanced by live strings and horns and the 2009 CD Soulsville (LocoBop Records) featured these long lost tracks. By this time, Al had passed, and just a couple of months ago, Bobby sadly passed too, but the selection here on Jai Alai was from that fruitful session. Grab some serious soul history with a copy of this almighty gem now on vinyl for the first time.
The Green Brothers - Your Love Lifted Me
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘀
(𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 / 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼)
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Label design by Jordi Duró.
𝗣𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗙𝗢𝗥 14𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗔𝗬!
(𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 - will send together with Annette Snell and/or Frederick Knight. 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗/𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗞𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 7𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗘 𝗝𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘)
14 euros + postage as it follows (𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱/𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗞):
1 to 5 copies: 6,90 euros UK & Europe
1 to 5 copies: 3 euros Spain
1 to 5 copies: 10,45 euros USA & rest of the world
Payment by PAYPAL as friends & family:
soul4realrecordlabel@gmail.com
www.soul4real.es
Around 1968, a Philly vocal group, the Naturals, were looking for a fresh bunch of musicians to back them up on live shows. A local band found out about this and made contact with the singers. Thus the Soul Crusaders and the Naturals teamed up to form an 11 strong ensemble. There were already a number of recording groups using the name the Naturals and so their managers came up with an appropriate new name for them; the FUTURES. Life & their career progressed for the Futures & after 4 years, the group were signed up by Gamble & Huff. Now Gamble & Huff had the use of the best musicians in the land in 1972 and so the musicians section of the group was now surplus to requirements (the guys had all played on the group's earlier Amjo / Avalanche tracks). So they went off and found useful employment backing the Delfonics on live shows.
But this didn't fully satisfy the guys, so they went into the recording studio in their own right and cut a song they had developed in their section of earlier live performances. A deal was struck and soon after the Reprise 45 "Tell Me Why" hit the record shop shelves -- this record being credited to LIFE. The 45 got lost in the shuffle in late 73 / early 74 coz so much other great soul music was around at the time. Disheartened, a member of the group drifted off to find other work, the remaining members relocating to LA to find their fortune. Time passed & the guy left behind began to miss his old life. So in 1978 he too 'went west' and teamed up once more with his old bandmates. Live work kept THE LIFE GROUP busy and as their reputation grew, they came to the notice of some figures in authority. As a result of this, they were signed up by the United Services Organisation (the corporation that sourced entertainment for US military personnel based overseas). LIFE were signed up and undertook a trip to Asia in 1983 where they played Korean US military bases, undertaking 21 shows in all. The group impressed all their audiences and not long after they returned to the US, the Department Of Defence booked them yet again (this time to play bases in Germany, Austria & Italy).
Back from these tours, the group felt ready to go into the recording studio once again. Their line-up had evolved since 1973 as they had added a female lead singer -- Juanita Dickens. The result of their studio work was enough decent tracks to fill an album. But by 1983, record companies were dealing with a different world. They were now turning out product to please a whole slew of musical genres for which charts were compiled; rock. adult contemporary, disco, black, latin, jazz, blues, gospel, country. The type of music LIFE had made was the style that could feature on the adult contemporary chart, the disco chart and the black chart. But major labels execs were totally confused about what product to license for release at the time but by then, those majors just about monopolised what was being played on black radio stations. With product from independents standing little chance of being heard over the airways, potential exposure & sales were limited unless a major put out your stuff. All the majors passed on LIFE's efforts and the group's future instantly got less promising.
Things moved on and LIFE member Vel Lewis wanted to stay in the music biz, so he adapted to suit current circumstances. Being a versatile keyboard player he found session work in both the soul and jazz worlds. He participated on a number of other artists recording sessions and was generally kept busy. He even toured the UK as a backing musician with Dionne Warwick. In 2005, under the name of Shady Grady, he stepped back into the spotlight and put out an album of his own. Tracks on this album reflected both his current work and past work. He took one of the 'unissued' LIFE GROUP tracks ("Let It Ride") and cut a new version of the song. His album was well received and led to him getting enough exposure to enable a new chapter of his musical career to blossom. He relocated again and eventually found himself living and working in Houston. He kept cutting & releasing new recordings but also became aware of the 'life' his old 1973 recording had taken on. Taking advantage of the opportunity the popularity of "Tell Me Why" had attained to travelling to Vegas to perform the song for those soulies assembled there for Soul Trip 2018.
Still finding live work at venues such as the 'House of Blues' Vel's career was still ticking away. He couldn't help wonder what he might have achieved in earlier times if the 'chips had fallen differently'. A Brit made contact with him (me) to obtain the full facts on his long musical career in order to write an article about him. During the exchange of information, that Brit (me) sent him an e=-mail titled 'AN OBVIOUS QUESTION'. The obvious question was of course .. had the master tapes of the 'unissued' 1983 album survived. Vel didn't know but set about finding out the answer. He contacted other members of his old group and a search was undertaken. Weeks passed but eventually digital copies of those tapes were unearthed. Feelers were put out and some interest was forthcoming from soulies with involvement in releasing 45's that (through no fault of their own) remained unissued back in the day. Lots of steps still have to be taken and negotiations started and concluded. BUT HOPEFULLY, a good outcome will result for Vel and his old colleagues in LIFE.
LaTasha Lee from Corpus Christi, Texas, first broke the hearts of Rare Soul collectors with her acoustic porch performance of "I Regret It" on YouTube! Although "I Regret It" on YouTube only has an acoustic guitar, some spring, one backing harmony and LaTasha Lee's lead, it's enough to break hearts on sight!
Although LaTasha Lee regularly hits millions of views on YouTube on her own, Industry Music Group offers her the production and growth that will remain timeless and appropriate for such a soulful delivery compared to her previous retro recordings. The Rare Soul collector's scene can offer her the market and room to express herself soulfully in a way only Oldies fans can cherish.
LaTasha Lee’s debut 45 is a modern take of sought after “I Don't Want You” by The Lovations on the elusive Cap City label that's authentic and straight from the heart!
TITLE / ARTIST: I Don’t Want You - LaTasha Lee
UPC: 197644467037
To help celebrate the purchase of The Shrine label by Kent Records and the release of the new Shrine Northern Soul Lp, here is a treat for Soul Music lovers. It is an audio from Sidney Hall that Sidney sent to Andy Rix when Andy was putting together the Shrine Story. 30 minutes long with one side of his Shrine 45 at the beginning and the end.
TORONTO'S CLAIRE DAVIS SHARES HER SMASHING DEBUT LP "GET IT RIGHT"
OUT TODAY!
Toronto-based retro-soul artist Claire Davis shares her journey of self-worth and love on her debut album "Get it Right", out April 21st 2023, via LRK Records. This lively 10-track analog soul LP was recorded to an 8-track tape machine by engineer Braden Sauder in a converted garage- studio in Toronto, owned by the renowned instrumentalj azz/hip-hop group, BADBADNOTGOOD. Featuring some of the city's top-flight musicians in the R&B/Soul scene, the album was laid down live-off-the-floor in one week during the winter of 2022. Davis shares, "My heart really lies in live performance so I wanted to recreate that experience as much as possible for this record by having the musicians all record together to tape. I feel like I personally thrive under the limitations that tape gives you; it offers the opportunity to capture a vibe of a performance more so than chasing perfection. Knowing that my favourite soul records were recorded this way gives me an even deeper appreciation for the skill and talent involved in this process. "Get it Right" is a record born out of the faith that there's better things on the other side of fear. Whether that's breaking toxic cycles or being truly honest about what is and isn't working in life.
The first song written for the record was the title-track of the album which began as a jam between Davis on guitar, producer Scott McCannell on bass, and drummer Chino deVilla. "The lyrics were inspired by my relationship with my partner and the intention that we both have to work on healing ourselves in order to make our partnership work. I'd like to think that it's a love song with a strong sense of maturity and understanding to it. And the whole record was really shaped around that idea of my relationships and experiences stemming from my own sense of self-love and my desire to live and create from an authentic place." The songs on the album feature co-writes from Scott McCannell, Kyla Charter, and Toronto production house Safe Spaceship Music, in addition to horn and background vocal arrangements by composer La-Nai Gabriel. Musicians include Heather Crawford on guitar, Scott McCannell on bass, Adrian Hogan on keys, Chino de Villa on drums, Juan Carlos Medrano on percussion, Aphrose, Tegan Michelle Gordon and Chynna Lewis on background vocals, and horn section The Northern Soul Horns. "Get it Right" follows up Davis' most recent 7" vinyl release of "Long Gone"/ "Times Have Changed" and most recent single release "Intuition" on LRK Records.
Order here in all formats: https://lrkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/get-it-right
https://lrkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/get-it-right
Get It Right by Claire Davis
WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF BMR 1014 JIMMY RADCLIFFE- 'THE THRILL OF LOVING YOU' B/W 'YOU MADE A MAN OF ME' DUE OUT FIRST WEEK IN MAY 2023, TWO PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED TRACKS REMASTERED, SLEEVE NOTES BY ANDY RIX, COMES IN A CUSTOM CARD PICTURE SLEEVE, A6 COLLECTORS CARD IN A POLY OUTER SLEEVE.
TWO SUBLIME RECORDINGS FROM JIMMY RADCLIFFE, TOP SIDE IS A FABULOUS DOWN TO MID TEMPO MASTER CLASS IN THE BIG CITY SOUL STYLE WITH AN OUT AND OUT SLAB OF NORTHERN SOUL ON THE FLIP. ORIGINALLY ANDY RIX FOUND TWO STUDIO ACETATES ON A RECORD HUNTING TRIP TO THE STATES WHICH HE STILL HOLDS IN HIS COLLECTION TODAY. DETAILED NOTES FROM ANDY TELLS THE WHOLE STORY OF THESE TWO REMARKABLE RECORDINGS WHICH WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ANDY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THIS RELEASE. FULL CREDIT TO HIM FOR FINDING THE TRACKS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS RELEASE IS THE FINAL JIMMY RADCLIFFE RELATED RELEASE IN A SERIES OF THREE FROM BIG MAN RECORDS BMR 1012 - 'BIG CITY BLUES' B/W 'YOU CAN'T LOSE SOMETHING YOU NEVER HAD' AND BMR 1013 - JIMMY RADCLIFFE/BARBARA JEAN ENGLISH - 'TASTE SOUR DON'T IT' (2 VERSIONS) WHICH CEMENTS THE IMMENSE TALENT OF A MAN WHO WAS ACTIVE MUSICALLY FROM 1959 TO 1973 WHEN HE SADLY PASSED AWAY, SINGER, WRITER, MUSICIAN THE MAN WAS A GENIUS.
AVAILABLE NOW TO PRE ORDER DEMO £30.00 (LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE) ISSUE £20.00 PLUS £4.00 UK POSTAGE & £10.00 REST OF THE WORLD, PM MARK BICKNELL EMAIL bicknellmark@aol.com OR bigmanrecords1@gmail.com
THIS RELEASE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BMR 1015 THE FALCONS - 'LOVE LOOK IN HER EYES' B/W LOVE YOU LIKE YOU NEVER BEEN LOVED' REMASTED SOUNDING FABULOUS DUE FOR RELEASE EARLY SUMMER 2023 RESERVE/PRE ORDER IS NOW OPEN FOR THIS RELEASE BMR 1016 IS ALSO IN DEVELOPMENT WITH A PLANNED RELEASE DATE OF LATE SUMMER 2023 WHICH WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING IN DUE COURSE.
Just had a message from Dave Clements on his latest blog entry...
My Blog story: Detroit A Go Go 2022. It is an End of an Era documentation of performances of recording artists from Detroit. Produced out of England, this event may be the last.
The world’s largest office building, as of 1921, was the massively stamped General Motors Corporation. Opposite of that is the Hotel St. Regis, which was the venue for the Fourth Detroit A Go Go. Three nights of live Detroit recording and performing artists from the 1960’s era.
Tap below for words and photos...
Well here we are quarter of the way through 2023 and MD are proud to bring you our first release of the year we have been busy working away on various things which will pan out through the coming months. But back to this release and what a way to kick of the year with a standout pair of tracks never before available on vinyl.
All the way out of Philly comes Alfreda Brockington, a well known and much loved artist with a catalogue of releases that span from the sweet soul and gospel through thundering northern soul monsters to absolute bombs of sister funk.
Here we have on the A side a stunning piece of funky crossover magic that pounds along. Written by Howard Ravitsky off Lash records fame and Bunny Sigler - who needs no introduction. Flip it over for a sweet and smooth soul sound that just oozes along powered by Alfreda's yearning anguished vocal beautifully supported by the backing singers and a backing that has more than a nod to the fabulous southern soul greats of the era.
So don't delay, turn the volume up and hit play on the sound clips.
All the best the MD collective.
Terri Walker has just released her vicennial album ‘My Love Story’
Details and audio follow below
Release Blurb
The British singer is a natural, bringing a deeply jazzy sensibility to songs that would sit comfortably beside those of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. There's an audible effervescence here, no matter which genre she touches—whether it's UK garage, deep house, or retro-leaning popcorn soul—and a kind of irrepressible hopefulness. But more than that, listening to this woman sing just makes you happy.
Thanks to Dave Nowell, here's news about a play touring this autumn
Do I Love You ? A brand new play by John Godber
Here's the Company blurb ...
'Touring this autumn…
This hilarious new dance fuelled comedy follows burger bar employees, Natalie and Kyle, as they fall in love with Northern Soul. Trouble is Natalie and Kyle are not that soulful!
But long after a weekender in Skegness our star-crossed lovers can’t wait for the next all nighter in Blackpool. Out on the floor they are in a world of their own, far away from egg muffins and deep fried chicken. But as the north levels up Natalie and Kyle’s life takes a downturn, and they find themselves steered by music which was a failure the first time round, where has it come from and what does it mean?
It’s all about living for now, as Nat and Kyle realise that Time Will Pass You By! So spread the talc and polish your brogues, we are staying up all weekend!
Multi award winning playwright John Godber has been a fan of Northern Soul since 1972. Here the author of the iconic Bouncers helps keep the faith with a nod to Frank Wilson!
Do I love you; indeed I do! '
More info via https://www.thejohngodbercompany.co.uk/do-i-love-you
Details of a new 45 from The Kevin Fingier Collective on Acid Jazz imprint Fingier Records. 45 due out on 28th April 2023. Digital version available now (see link below)
Release notes, info and audio follow right below...
Release Notes
'The Kevin Fingier Collective is back with a brand new 7" single release, featuring Diane Ward, on our group label Fingier Records. An explosive side for the club dance floor, 'I Really Care' is a hybrid of R&B and Northern Soul with funky guitar, driving piano and killer horns.
The B-side, 'The Great Akerman', is exclusive to the 7" - a flute and organ flavoured Bossa/Mod Jazz instrumental, with the Fingier signature touch. Another dynamite release from Latin America produced by Kevin Fingier, offering shades of what is to come from a full album due later this year, hot-on-the-heels of the recent comp 'El Sonido de Fingier Records'. '
Video Preview
Digital Streaming Link
https://pias.ffm.to/d5omdq6
Info
Artist: The Kevin Fingier Collective
Title: I Really Care / The Great Akerman
Cat No: AJX736S
Format: 7”
Release Date: 28th April 2023
New Spring 2023 Cd release from Outta Sight Records, label release notes below..
Real Side Records Presents SOUL ON THE REAL SIDE #15
NEW FROM OUTTA SIGHT 'Soul On The Real Side Volume 15'. The architects of soul are back with a stunning new 16-track Spring 2023 collection.
Once again we uncover the building blocks of modern soul with a play list of mid-tempo Northern and Crossover Soul – classics and rarities.
This fifteenth anniversary edition is brought to you from the West Midlands – the stomping ground of Real Side Records founder member Mr Tee – and we salute the regions varied architecture courtesy of Tom Podmore’s stunning photograph of The Library of Birmingham sited in Centenary Square (opposite).
Volume 15 is packed with modern soul gems all culled from the incredible Captiol Records soul legacy. They need little introduction to the UK rare soul scene, but here is a snapshot of a few highlights.
OSCD065 £13.99
Tracks
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose – Big Time Lover
Brown Sugar – The Game Is Over (What’s The Matter With You)
Tavares – Too Late
George Soule – Get Involved
Bettye Swann – (My Heart Is) Closed For The Season
Corey Blake – How Can I Go On Without You
The Rance Allen Group – Reason To Survive
Leon Haywood – Consider The Source
Freddie Terrell & Blue Rhythm Band – You Had It Made
Charles Williams – Standing In The Way
Peabo Bryson – Why Don’t You Make Up Your Mind
Enchantment – Thank You Girl For Loving Me
Mark Capanni – I Believe In Miracles
Marian Love – Can’t Forget About You Baby
C.M. Lord – Oh Mama (Your Daughter’s A Woman Tonight)
Z.Z. Hill – That Ain’t The Way You Make Love
https://outtasight.co.uk/Real-Side-Records-Presents-SOUL-ON-THE-REAL-SIDE-15-p544234147
Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances: A Life In Mod – From the Revival to Acid Jazz by Eddie Piller
Just published, available in hardback, Kindle (preview below) and Audiobook editions, a new book written by Eddie Piller.
Release notes follow below...
This is the memoir of a teenage mod from the East End of London.
A journey of discovery for a schoolboy dabbling with punk, funk, record shops, discos and clothes, and then... WHAAAM! An unstoppable wave of like-minded kids fall headlong in love with 60s mod culture, revived and reformatted for the 70s and 80s generation.
Eddie Piller was one such kid. His life was changed forever. Written with humour, passion and attention to detail, CLEAN LIVING UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES is perhaps the ultimate mod memoir, taking us from meeting the Small Faces as a toddler, to the 1979 Mod revival, through the more purist 1980s mod scene and eventually to Acid Jazz.
A born storyteller, Eddie takes us evocatively into a world of scooters, clothes, and music. We run with the crowd to decaying seaside towns, East End backstreet boozers and sweaty teenage gigs, all fizzing with an uncontainable excitement and often exploding into violence.
Once mod touched your soul it changed the way you looked at life, unexpectedly broadening your horizons. In Eddie it awakens a can-do attitude that sees him setting up a fanzine, putting on club nights, hustling jobs in the music industry, and eventually setting up a record label. It even takes him to Ireland at the height of the troubles and to Australia where the local mods take him on a military exercise...
Visceral and always entertaining, CLEAN LIVING UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES is a stand-out memoir that relives the thrill of the 70s and 80s, and the movement that helped make mod the most enduring and successful British youth culture of all time.
Cover
Press Release: The Petersons “Just What I’ve Been Looking For/What’s It Gonna Be” SJ550
Release Date Monday April 24th 2023
‘The Petersons’ were a vocal trio from Waycross, GA, their performing name came from their founder, lead vocalist and drummer Kenneth Peterson, along with Keyboard player Salem Chatman and vocalist/bassist Johnny Members. The trio regularly performed shows along America’s East Coast, and it was while working in Philadelphia during early 1973 that the group answered an advertisement in Billboard Magazine quote “Masters Turned Down? We Are Looking for New Acts to Sign, Contact Omega Sound Productions, Philadelphia, PA”.
Omega Sound was a fledgling independent Recording Company formed by Frank Fioravanti a budding songwriter and former Encyclopedia Britannica Salesman for the initial purpose of find some extra work for the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra who were looking to earn some side money. As a result of answering the Billboard advertisement ‘The Petersons’ found themselves booked into Frank Virtue’s recording studio to record two Fioravanti and the late Alan Felder penned songs, the up-tempo “What’s It Gonna Be” backed by the melodic “Just What I’ve Been Looking For” Mel Omega (1833).
With the release failing to make much noise, The Petersons returned to their native Georgia where they continuing to perform and record but under the group name of ‘Toll Darkness’.
Fast forward circa 30 years and a couple of copies of this obscure Mel Omega 45 was introduced into the UK by Soul Bowl’s John Anderson where they gained belated recognition initially at the Soul Essence Weekenders through resident DJ Steve Guarnori with “Just What I’ve Been Looking For” being his chosen side.
These initial copies had a paper sticker on them crediting the Artist as ‘Toll Darkness’ but the subsequent find of further copies with no sticker coverings, revealed the real artist to be ‘The Petersons’, intriguing? The reason behind the differing artist names is reputedly assumed to be that Ken Peterson took some copies of the Mel Omega 45 back to Georgia and pasted the ‘Toll Darkness’ group name stickers over the Petersons label credits to enable him to sell them at shows with his other ‘Toll Darkness’ 45 “Party/Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things on Alpha Records.
The up-tempo backing track of The Peterson’s “What’s It Gonna Be” was a Frank Virtue arrangement that he had great faith in, hence it’s usage on plethora of other Philly artists recordings, i.e. Fred Mark, Liza Mae, Michael Christian, Cody Michaels etc over different record labels, Melomega, Concept, Fox Century Plaza and Merben.
Frank Fioravanti also founded the Sound Gems label which brought us the timeless classic “Your My Main Squeeze” recorded on the New Beford, MA group ‘Crystal Motion’. Omega Sound’s most notable achievement would be William DeVaughn’s 1974 hit “Be Thankful For What You Got”.
Words by: David Welding
For further information please contact Soul Junction at:
Tel: +44 (0) 121 602 8115 or E-mail: sales@souljunctionrecords.co.uk
To buy visit https://souljunctionrecords.co.uk/SJ550.html or your usual stockist or give Dave Welding a shout on here via @Louise
WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE BMR 1015 THE FALCONS - 'LOVE LOOK IN HER EYES' B/W 'LOVE YOU LIKE YOU NEVER BEEN LOVED' - BIG MAN RECORDS BMR 1015, DUE FOR RELEASE JUNE 2023, UNDER LICENCE FROM ROLLERCOASTER RECORDS TO BIG MAN RECORDS, REMASTERED BY BREED MEDIA, SOUNDS FABULOUS.
THE FALCONS (SECOND GROUP) HAD A HANDFUL OF RELEASES ON BIG WHEEL RECORDS ALL OF WHICH ARE PURE QUALITY RECORDINGS, 'STANDING ON GUARD,' 'GOOD GOOD FEELING'/'LOVE YOU LIKE YOU NEVER BEEN LOVED', 'LOVE LOOK IN HER EYES', '(I'M A FOOL) I MUST LOVE YOU', THIS RELEASE WE HAVE PAIRED THE TWO HIGHLY COLLECTABLE 'LOVE LOOK IN HER EYES' AND THE SUBLIME 'LOVE YOU LIKE YOU NEVER BEEN LOVED' THE FLIP OF COURSE TO 'GOOD GOOD FEELING' WHICH NOW CHANGES HANDS ON THE BIG WHEEL ORIGINAL FOR A FEW HUNDRED POUNDS AS DOES 'LOVE LOOK IN HER EYES'. BOTH TRACKS HAVE THAT SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT THEM, FIRST CLASS MALE VOCAL GROUP
VIDEO : 'Love Look In Her Eyes'
QUIK_20230321_153256.mp4
VIDEO : 'Love You Like You Never Been Loved'
QUIK_20230321_153204.mp4
PERFECTION. AS GOOD AS IT GETS, SUBLIME SIMPLY SUBLIME. THE VOCAL TALENTS OF JOHNNY ALVIN, ALTON HOLLOWELL, JAMES GIBSON, CARLIS "SONNY" MONROE HIT THE SPOT CREATING SUCH A GOOD, GOOD FEELING WITH A HANDFUL OF 45'S CUT OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO. THEIR LEGACY CONTINUES WITH THIS THE LATEST BIG MAN RELEASE.
THE RELEASE WILL COME IN A CUSTOM CARD PICTURE SLEEVE, A6 COLLECTORS CARD IN A POLY OUTER SLEEVE, LIMITED DEMOS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND STOCK/ISSUE COPIES, TO RESERVE/PRE ORDER PM MARK BICKNELL EMAIL bicknellmark@aol.com OR bigmanrecords1@gmail.com
ALSO BMR 1014 IS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MAY, FULL DETAILS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST AND WILL BE POSTED HERE SHORTLY.
MASSIVE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED OUR RECENT RELEASES BMR 1012, BMR 1013 LONG MAY IT CONTINUE.
Home Run Soul Club - The Glamour of Manchester
There was a time!!...
…Gene Chandler enthusiastically announced, ‘when he used to dance’! Where that dancing took place was never specified, but it was probably Chicago, Illinois…
Industrial cities are often alike. They’re usually cold and wet, characterful, and steeped in culture; culture that is often formed around the city’s residents, and, in a circular way, their own relationship to that environment. In this regard, Manchester and Chicago are very much alike. These are also cities of soul and dance!
Manchester’s latest soulful city-centre offering is Home Run Soul Club. Launching on Saturday April 8th, Home Run Soul Club sits beneath the Grade II listed building of the Refuge Bar and Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford Street (M60 7HA). Entering through its own private entrance, you drop down into the belly of the 132-year old building into a newly refurbished basement club with low ceilings, wooden dance floor and an impeccable bespoke sound system. There is even a little nook for sales boxes!
And if you want a little break, or somewhere to go beforehand, maybe try the public bar or winter garden.
Formerly the Palace Hotel, the home of the original Manchester European Soul Weekender (that lineup, that ballroom!) co-organised by Home Run residents, Liam Quinn, Gary Bratchford, are just one small part of the soulful connections that makes Home Run Soul Club a product of the city. Over the past 15 years the Home Run Soul Club Resident DJ’s have all had a hand to play in what the Manchester soul scene has sounded and looked like. Beat Boutique founder Liam Quinn, along with two of its residents, Mangas and Evans, helped oversee the growth and development of the Beat Boutique from progressive rare soul night to the city’s premier up-tempo / modern soul party, hosting NYC’s John Morales, Red Greg and Dimitri from Paris to name but a few.
Not just a club night, the Home Run team will host a live, warm-up radio session with their guest Djs on the day of the main event from 1-3pm, broadcast via Reform Radio and archived for future listens and downloads.
Photo credit: Hayley @readysetjet.
Home Run Soul Club is the combination of all that of which has informed it. A quarterly soul night with companion radio show & website, Home Run Soul Club will mix the UK’s finest and Europe’s best in an offering that will keep the basement venue dancing from 8pm through till 2am.
The Industries that give cities like Manchester (and Chicago) their identity, come and go, but they leave legacies. The same can be said for their respective music and club scenes. With a little touch of glamour and a lot of soul, Home Run Soul Club builds on these histories, and it all starts April 8th!
Tickets are available online at www.homerunsoulclub.com and on the door.
The 2023 Programme:
June 3rd 2023
Sept 9th 2023
Nov 4th 2023
Transport:
10 minutes walk from Piccadilly train station.
0- mins Oxford Road Train station (the station is opposite the hotel).
5 minutes walk from St Peter’s Square Tram Stop.
Regular buses from Piccadilly Gardens straight to the door of the venue. Info here. (little fact but possibly a myth,, Oxford Road is Europe’s most serviced bus route).
Street parking free from 8pm (as well as on single yellow lines!) otherwise the Palace Park NCP is best -Palace, Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6NE
Hotels:
If you want to make a night of it then you have:
The Kimpton Clocktower, an IHG Hotel - Guest Reservations
The Holiday Inn Express (opposite the Kimpton) Holiday Inn Express Manchester CC - Oxford Road, an IHG Hotel - Guest Reservations
Great John Street Hotel: a new definition of lifestyle in Manchester 2 mins walk away
Hotel Innside Manchester, modern hotel in Manchester | Melia.com 5 mins walk away
Central Hotels: Holiday Inn Manchester - City Centre (ihg.com) 10 mins walk away
The latest Northern Connections episode #32 from Kenb
Northern Soul Connections #32 i.e. that is Disciples of Soul
Disciples of Soul-Phantom
The Disciples of Soul vocalists on 'Together' & 'That's The Way Love Goes' were Bill Ferrell, Steve McKeown, and Bud Rand. They were under the management of Jeff Reed (Rand & McKeown names you can find on the Phantom label & credits) and the sides were recorded in the summer of 1968 and released in Feb 1969.
Whenever I've listened to RI 2755 B-side 'Together' it has always sounded so close to the lead vocals of The Intruders release. That might be because both Rand & McKeown were in The Intruders, before the band grew larger (nine members i think) and changed its name to The Disciples of Soul.
Site info
You can check out all Kens other quality 31 Northern Connections and more via his 'activity' profile page, via the link below...
https://www.soul-source.co.uk/profile/37754-kenb/content/?type=cms_records5&change_section=1
Added by site
Van McCoy - "Sing Yeah, Sing" / "Wait Till I Get You In My Arms" - (Soul Direction) SD016
Latest 45 from Soul Direction is coming soon, billed available right now to pre-order with the release date being 22nd April 2023
Release and sleeve notes follow below...
Van McCoy is well known on the soul scene with his name being credited on so many great songs and for most people he has already gained the status of a “Legend”. The "Sing Yeah Sing" acetate was discovered by Kev Roberts in 1977 when he cleaned out April Blackwood publishing's office. As far as we can recall, he went on to sell it to Jim Wensiora, and since changed hands a couple of times since. The Acetate of "Wait Till I Get You In My Arms" came via a UK collector and resides in the collection of Alan Kitchener. This of course being a demo take of the Major Lance track which backs the Iconic "You Don't Want Me No More" and a version by Kenny Carlton on his Blue Rock release "Lost and Found" penned by Van himself.
Soul Direction are proud to bring you two unreleased tracks from the legendary Singer, songwriter and producer Van McCoy.
Van McCoy - "Sing Yeah, Sing" / "Wait Till I Get You In My Arms" - (Soul Direction) SD016
Pre Order Date - 31st March 2023 for delivery on or before 22'° April 2023.
Van's musical venture started when his brother, Norman, Jr. and a few high school buddies formed a street corner singing group called the Starlighters. Van became the lead singer, writer, and music director for the group. They quickly moved from school programs and talent shows to recording their first 45rpm single, The Bird land, named for a popular dance of the late 50s. The group appeared on stage in Washington, D.C. at the Howard Theatre, and in Philadelphia at the Royal plus The Apollo in NY. Vi Burnsides, a musician from the famous Sweethearts of Rhythm all female band, took the Starlighters with her to enhance her performance tours on the east coast corridor. This gave them their first exposure to audiences in theatres and stages in major cities away from home. The Starlighters ended as military draft, marriage and college called them away one by one.Van, who had entered Howard University, left after two years, and moved to Philadelphia, then later to New York, to begin a serious music career. The late Reginald Morrison, a local building contractor and relative of a Starlighter backed his first solo music venture and later Jocko Henderson, a popular Philadelphia Disc Jockey, was the first to play Van's records and later formed Vanda Record label with Van. Van was hired by the late Florence Greenberg as a staff writer at Scepter Records. He worked with Messrs. Lieber and Stoller and with writer/producer, Clyde Otis. David Kapralik, A&R at Columbia Records, hired Van as a songwriter with April Blackwood Music. Van wrote hits for Chad and Jeremy, Ruby and the Romantics, Irma Thomas, Nancy Wilson, Barbara Lewis and others. He also formed the original Peaches and Herb duo. Impressed with the smooth and mellow quality of Van's own voice, Columbia's famed, "Mitch Miller," produced an album of beautiful ballads sung by Van McCoy. Nighttime is Lonely Time, is now a collector's item. Van continued with his real love, writing, and producing music for other artists. He wrote for Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Roberta Flack, Vikki Carr, Tom Jones, Nina Simone, Jackie Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Brenda and the Tabulations, Nat Cole, Melba Moore, Stacey Lattisaw, David, The Shirelles, Chris Bartley, Chris Jackson, and the list goes on-and-on.
Van continued with his real love, writing, and producing music for other artists. He wrote for Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Roberta Flack, Vikki Carr, Tom Jones, Nina Simone, Jackie Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Brenda and the Tabulations, Nat Cole, Melba Moore, Stacey Lattisaw, David Ruffin, The Shirelles, Chris Bartley, Chris Jackson, and the list goes on and-on. Van formed the Soul City Symphony orchestra, and with singers Faith, Hope and Charity, produced several albums and gave many performances. In 1975 he recorded the Grammy nominated Disco Baby album with the Grammy winning, gold single, The Hustle. The Disco explosion of the mid-70s propelled Van and the Hustle into a worldwide tour. Van McCoy was overwhelmed by the sudden burst of stardom and life in the fast lane. He never got back to the mellow life and fun career he had so dearly cherished. The 39-year-old star was stricken with heart failure in his fashionable home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and died July 6, 1979, at Englewood General Hospital. Van McCoy is well known on the soul scene with his name being credited on so many great songs and for most people he has already gained the status of a "Legend". The "Sing Yeah Sing" acetate was Initially discovered by Kev Roberts around 1977 when he cleaned out April Blackwood publishing's office. He went on to sell it to Jim Wensiora and changed hands a couple of times since. The Acetate of "Wait till I Get You In My Arms" came via a UK collector. There have always been comparisons with Chris Bartley but we are pretty certain that Van McCoy is behind the microphone and that was confirmed by Van McCoy Music Inc. This of course being a demo take of the Major Lance track which backs the Iconic "You Don't Want Me No More" and a version by Kenny Carlton on his Blue Rock release "Lost and Found" penned by Van himself.
𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗟4𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦
------------------------------------
𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗟 (S4R27)
I Think I´m Falling In Love / Tonight I Feel Like Dancing
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗞𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 (S4R28)
You´ve Never Really Lived / How, When Or Where
ANNETTE SNELL
The Sandersville, Georgia-born Annette ‘Slim’ Snell arrived at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in April 1977 at a time when the studio’s house band, nicknamed ‘The Swampers’, was firing on all cylinders. The thirty-two-year-old Snell was at the cusp of becoming a successful solo artist after more than a decade as a Miami backing vocalist and latterly in Nashville, where she cut for Buddy Killen’s Dial label. The Muscle Shoals session, which was produced by Jimmy Johnson and Roger Hawkins, resulted in four tracks but only two appeared at the time.
Annette Snell never got to hear the finished labours. She was killed when the plane in which she was returning to Atlanta crash-landed and caught fire near New Hope, Georgia. Soul music had lost a rising star.
These two cuts, co-written by pre-eminent songwriters including George Jackson and Philip Mitchell, have been languishing in the vaults for over forty years, a forgotten testament to what might have been.
𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘀
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FREDERICK KNIGHT
One of the main figures in Alabama’s music scene, Frederick Knight arrived at Stax in 1972 and hit with the country soul of "I've Been Lonely For So Long", making number 8 on the R&B chart, and the subsequent album was a real milestone in his career.
Prior to this he played a significant part as a producer/writer at Neil Hemphill's Sound of Birmingham Studios where the Stax album was cut. Later that decade Knight would again achieve commercial success with his own record label, Juana, and the recordings of The Controllers and, most notably, Anita Ward.
These early 70s tracks have never surfaced on vinyl before, both of which were also recorded in Birmingham. The plaintive ballad "You've Never Really Lived" with its subtle tempo will have you hooked from the off, while "How, When Or Where" is a mid-tempo opus that will please the dancers out there.
Two utterly fabulous tunes.
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿
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Label design by Jordi Duró.
PRE-ORDER NOW FOR 14th MAY
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Greg Wilson’s Discotheque Archives - Extended Hardback Version (2023)
A recent release that may be of interest
In January 2023, Discotheque Archives will be made available as an extended hardback. It includes 20 extra sections, with additional DJs, records, venues and labels, which fill in some of the gaps from the original series, and comes complete with a number of new Pete Fowler DJ illustrations, plus a comprehensive index that lists around 750 records referenced in the book’s pages.
Having originally unfurled as a monthly series for DJ Magazine, Discotheque Archives was first issued in book form two years ago, during lockdown, as a limited run paperback. The hope was that it would sell 250 copies, with a best-case scenario target of 500, but the response exceeded all expectations and the final amount swelled to 1600 in a matter of weeks. Putting a cap on things at this point, the intention has since been to extend the book for future publication.
Purchase and more information via a tap of the below link
https://superweirdsubstance.com/product/greg-wilson-discotheque-archive-extended/
TO KNOW THE FUTURE, FIRST YOU MUST KNOW THE PAST
By nature of the scene, dance music is very forward-looking: DJs always pursuing the next record to break, venues pushing the boundaries with sound and lighting techniques, label's seeking out the latest artist to emerge and musicians/producers continually moving the sound forward in new directions. The past is of course constantly referenced and drawn from, but this hasn't been enough to prevent the scene often disconnecting from its roots.
Through a series of concise articles, which first appeared in a monthly DJ Mag column, Discotheque Archives explores the pre-rave era of dance music. Placing focus on classic DJs, venues, records and labels to celebrate the giants of dance culture and illuminate its forgotten characters.
Written from the personal perspective of Greg Wilson, with countless first-hand experiences within the developments of the scene, the story begins, in the 1960s, over a decade before he took to the decks, where the foundations were laid by a series of trailblazers. With the scene set, most of the book focuses on the following decades, as mixing took root with the DJ community, initially in '70s New York, whilst advancing technology plateaued with an explosion of underground electronic experimentation in the '80s, the narrative finishing up just ahead of the much-told story about the rave explosion
The upcoming release of the Shrine Vinyl Lp from Kent Records stirred Andy Rix aka @Andy Rix to pass on his second set of his Shrine related sleeve notes, the ones written for the 'Shrine - the Rarest Soul Label Vol.2' 2000 Cd release, which dovetails nicely with the set of original uncut sleeve notes from the Shrine Volume One Cd already posted in our Article section (link at bottom)
Shrine - the Rarest Soul Label Vol.2 Sleeve Notes by Andy Rix 2000
The story of Shrine Records, from its creation to demise, was told in Volume One. As promised Volume Two will look at those who contributed to the creation of the Shrine sound and the songs that have captured the attention of 60s Soul fans all over the world.
Assembling the team
Eddie Singleton, Raynoma ‘Miss Ray’ Gordy and, her half-brother, Stanley 'Mike' Ossman were the nucleus of the company. It was always their intention to surround themselves with individuals who had the potential, and talent to achieve, if given the opportunity. These gifted souls were to become the backbone of Shrine Records.
Harold E Bass was already an established member of the team moving down to D C with Mike in the spring of 1965. Harry had grown up in New York and met Eddie whilst singing in a group called The Toreadors. Impressed with their vocal talent, Eddie signed the group, to his new enterprise, Keith Records in 1962, where they released two singles as The Matadors. Fellow group member Richard Tenryck was to become one of the most respected arrangers in New York; as Richard Tee, his name was to be associated with many of the greats over the next four decades.
With Eddie to guide him, Harry started to learn about other aspects of the music industry and began writing songs. It was during this period that Miss Ray arrived in New York to open Motown’s publishing arm, the Jobete office. The relationship that subsequently developed between Eddie and Miss Ray saw Eddie take the uncharacteristic step of publishing some of his songs through Jobete, as opposed to using his own company. Harry took full advantage of the Motown connection, becoming friends with George Kerr, Sidney Barnes, Timothy Wilson and the future Mrs Wilson, Alice Ossman. It was with Alice that Harry co-wrote the bitter-sweet 'Right Now' for Sammy Turner, (Motown 1055), released in the February of 1964. This was to be one of only two New York acts that were accepted by Motown and like The Serenaders, they secured just the one release. Harry continued to sing with the Matadors who provided vocal back-up for Jackie Wilson on 'She's All Right', (Brunswick 55273), in August 1964 and for a short spell became a member of Ray Pollard’s group The Wanderers. His role within the company would focus on writing, producing, finding new talent, mentoring the new recruits and helping Mike to run the company when Eddie and Miss Ray were absent.
The first batch of new recruits arrived together, just as the first wave of releases were hitting the streets. They were all local guys who had known each other for a number of years. Sidney Hall had been born in Virginia moving to D C in 1960, where he performed as a solo act in the local clubs and it was here that he first became acquainted with Keni Lewis.
Keni formed his first group, The V-J's, whilst still attending Washington’s Cardozo High School. Modelling themselves on The Spaniels and The Dells, they started entering local talent shows with Keni composing original songs; one of which, 'Bad Detective' (Atco 6300), was eventually recorded by The Coasters in December 1963. A succession of group names and personnel changes followed and as The Lovebeats, whose line-up included Tommy Monteir and Gerald Richardson, they had an uncle drive them to New York's famous Apollo Theatre for amateur night, where they secured second place. In 1962 Keni was once again on the look out for new group members and by chance met up with Sidney, who, at a loose end, agreed to audition at Keni's house. The final member was Carl Lomax Kidd, who was originally from Charleston, West Virginia. He was an old friend of Keni's and had just returned from a tour of duty in Germany with the Services. The new group called themselves The Surgeons and performed with their own band, which included future Shrine session man Charles 'Skip' Pitts. In the early part of 1963 the band split away and another name change saw the group become The Enjoyables. The line up remained fluid with Gerald Richardson, James Johnson and William Britton all spending brief periods with the group; by the fall of 1963 Keni, Maxx and Sidney had become a trio.
Their work in the clubs had brought them into contact with many of the top artists of the day and they became quite friendly with Smokey Robinson. At his suggestion they went to New York in early 1964, to audition for Miss Ray, but her recommendation for Motown to sign the group was rejected. Their next stop was at Capitol Records where they arrived without an appointment, but managed to get Robert Bateman to audition them, only because as Sidney recalled; he thought the group waiting in the lobby "were broads". Nevertheless Bateman signed them on the spot and had them in the recording studio within the week. They cut around half-a-dozen tracks and in April 1964 released their only single for the label, ‘Push a little harder’ / ‘We'll make a way’, (Capitol 5321). Despite the record deal the group didn't appear to be making any significant impression, so they returned to D C where they disbanded, choosing to concentrate on new projects which included writing new material.
By then the arrival of Shrine was already creating interest across Washington, when Miss Ray, remembering the trio from their Motown audition, contacted Maxx and invited them to come down to the Shrine building. They duly arrived to see exactly what was on offer and liking what they saw, all signed contracts; Sidney as a solo artist, Keni and Maxx as songwriters, producers and recording group leaders.
The last of the key players to arrive was the legendary Dale Ossman Warren. Dale was a true family member as his mother, Ines, was Miss Ray's sister. Dale was an accomplished violin player, classically trained and able to write and arrange for strings. He had been recruited by his aunt as an arranger for Motown in 1961 and Miss Ray felt these talents were exactly what Shrine needed to create a sound all of their own. A single phone call was made and Dale arrived three weeks later, ready for the challenge. Eddie felt that the team was now strong enough to start work on the second wave of Shrine product and so the creative juices began to flow
The Back Room Boys
The musicians who played on the Shrine sessions were all local guys, some of them being as young as 16. They formed a fairly stable outfit that was occasionally supplemented by personnel from the local Air Force bands and musicians who would drop in. The regular musicians were Otis McCoy (drummer), Maurice Gaskins (guitarist); Dewey C.. Holloway Jr (tenor & baritone sax), Donald "Duck" Rankin (trombonist); Waymond Harding (tenor sax); Carter R. Jefferson Jr.(tenor sax); Wornell Jones (bass), Fritz.......(bass); Donald Tillery (trumpet), Bobby Allen (trumpet) and Charles 'Skip' Pitts (guitar). After Shrine these guys continued to work in the industry, with many of them still playing to this very day. Additionally Freddie Perrin and Fonce Mizell were employed to write lead sheets for Shrine. This started their careers and they later moved on to Brunswick, Capcity and then to international success as part of the Motown songwriting group known as 'The Corporation', composing million sellers like 'ABC ' and 'I Want You Back' for The Jackson 5.
The 45's
100 LINDA & THE VISTAS - BAD APPLE / SHE WENT AWAY
Linda Tate heralded from Rochelle, New Jersey, was half-Indian and according to Eddie Singleton, had "a voice like a bird". She had met Eddie whilst going out with Billy Brown, a future member of The Moments, who knew Eddie from their home-town of Asbury Park. Her first recording, ‘Believe me’ / ‘It's not my will’ (Assault 1879), was written, produced and arranged by Eddie and credited to Linda & The Pretenders. Eddie believed that Linda had the talent required to make it big, so never wanting to miss a beat, he had taken her into the studio to cut her next single. The top side which was co-written by Harry Bass, was a bouncy girl group item which belonged to another era; sounding totally out of place as a Shrine 45. The flip was the tender, yet mournful, ballad, which provided such a perfect showcase for Linda's unique voice. The song had been inspired by the assassination of John F. Kennedy of whom Eddie was a great admirer. Sitting at his piano he composed the lyric "He went away and left me crying, He went away and left me blue"; the song, when finished, became 'She Went Away'. The plan to release the new recordings as a follow-up to the Assault single were shelved, as the deal fell through, but Eddie, believing the song to be worthy of release, decided to save it for a rainy day. When Shrine opened for business Eddie wanted to get some product out immediately and it seemed only fitting, given the circumstances of the song's inspiration, that it should become the first release on the label. After all, its very name reflected Eddie's admiration for the murdered President: literally a shrine to the memory of JFK. The single was pressed in early 1965 at the Custom Matrix plant on Long Island and it received some airplay, selling a few copies locally, but more importantly it served as an announcement that Shrine had arrived.
101 LEROY TAYLOR & THE FOUR KAYS - TAKIN' MY TIME / I'LL UNDERSTAND
As the Linda & The Vistas 45 was hitting the streets, Eddie was already arranging for the next batch of songs to be recorded. Leroy Taylor was one of the first local acts to arrive and having had records released on H&H and Columbia, had no objection to being taken straight into the studio to put his vocals on top of some tracks that Eddie had already prepared. Leroy, who hailed from Baltimore, had his own band, The Four Kays. These musicians included Richard Spencer, who would go on to have a million seller in 1969 with 'Color Him Father', (Metromedia 117), as a member of The Winstons. Leroy made his final record in August 1967, cutting ‘Oh Linda’ / ‘Nobody can love you’ (Brunswick 55345), before leaving the music industry for good
102 JIMMY ARMSTRONG- I'M ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE / MYSTERY
Jimmy was a prolific recording artist cutting songs for Stop, Enjoy, Brothers 3 and Jet Set. He was based in New York and had been enticed to D C by Eddie in July 1965 as an already established recording artist. He recorded a number of tracks and bagged the first release on the new, improved, label design. The top side is a mournful ballad which sounds very dated for it’s time, but that didn't stop it being re-recorded as the flip of his later Jet Set 45, interestingly enough sounding much better. As a contrast 'Mystery' is a frantic uptempo dance track, featuring some great whooping girl back-ups, which suited Jimmy's soul-shouting vocal perfectly.
103 RAY POLLARD - NO MORE LIKE ME / THIS TIME (I'm Gonna Be True)
Considered by many to be the jewel in Shrine's crown, this awesome double-sider ranks as one of the finest examples of 60's soul music. Ray was the biggest name on the label, having been lead singer with The Wanderers since the early 1950's. The group recorded for a multitude of labels including Savoy, Orbit, MGM, Cub and United Artists, making the R&B charts on several occasions. Ray decided he wanted to develop a solo career and called Eddie, telling him of his intention. Eddie was a great admirer of Ray's, describing him as "One of the voices of our time", so when the opportunity arose, Eddie wasted no time in getting Ray into the studio. On a three day visit to Washington Ray cut two tracks and helped on a few back-ups. The resulting single has contributed to the elevation of Ray to icon status among soul fans and many who saw him perform in England in 1991 describe it as the best show they've ever witnessed. Whilst Ray could not even remember the songs prior to his visit, having never owned a copy, Eddie cited it as one of his greatest achievements: "It was probably the most exhilarating mix I ever did", he recalls, "I remember being moved to tears with the excitement". The beautiful ballad 'No More Like Me' was one of many songs Eddie wrote as a direct result of his relationship with Miss Ray and they often reflected its turbulent, emotionally charged nature; Eddie recalls writing most of them after various marital disagreements. The Shrine tracks were cut almost exclusively at the Edgewood Studio, but Ray's visit clashed with some essential maintenance work, so the Rodeo Studio, in Georgetown was used for the session. The 45 sold locally but didn't provide Ray with the big push that Eddie had hoped for. Ray continued to record until the early 1970's securing releases on United Artists, Decca and Omnipotent before he shifted his focus towards a career in acting, which he is still pursuing in Las Vegas to this day.
104 THE CAUTIONS - WATCH YOUR STEP / IS IT RIGHT
The passage of time has resulted in everybody concerned forgetting the names of the teenagers who were better known as The Cautions. Given the group’s longevity at Shrine, this state of affairs has always puzzled me, as has the inability to track down one single group member. The best we can manage is; Nick, Joe Clyburn, Clooney and AB. The group were all local singers that Harry Bass had talent spotted and recalled them as being "tall and slender. They were good dancers who were really into the Temptations". Their release, in June 1965, proved to be a hit in Baltimore and Washington, even making it onto the local charts and thus helping to justify Shrine’s policy of using local talent. Dale Warren described them as being "our bread and butter group. They sold a lot of records and helped the money come in"
105 JIMMY ARMSTRONG - I BELIEVE I'LL LOVE ON / IT'S GONNA TAKE LOVE
This 45 was scheduled for release but never issued; with no vinyl copies ever being pressed. However the identity of the missing number is now known. Eddie had pencilled this in for release, with a provisional date of September 1965, but when Jackie Wilson said he wanted ‘I Believe I’ll Love On’ for himself, the release was cancelled and the catalogue number never reassigned. Jimmy may not have been too pleased, but the money that came in from the Brunswick deal certainly helped Shrine to keep moving forward. As a point of interest the proposed flip side was another of Eddie's 'marriage' songs.
106 THE EPSILONS - MAD AT THE WORLD / I'M SO DEVOTED
This recording marked the second wave of Shrine releases, reflecting the changes that had taken place within the company. A new distribution deal / financial investment was in place from the Jet Set connection and the introduction of Keni, Maxx, Harry and Dale as the main players in the recording studio was established. The Epsilons had been spotted by Al Fox of The Wisemen, who had taken them along to the studio to audition. James Duvall, who played guitar on the session, Ronald Williams and Gregory Thomas impressed all present and they were offered a recording contract. Miss Ray then gave the group their name, deriving it from the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet. It was released at the beginning of the summer of 1966 and it became the label’s best seller, even requiring a second pressing to meet the demand generated from airplay in the Tri-state area. Whilst this 'hit' appeared to herald an upturn in the commercial success of Shrine, it was to become their last moment of achievement in the market place.
107 D.C. BLOSSOMS - I KNOW ABOUT HER / HEY BOY
In 1958 a quartet of girls christened themselves The Tropicals and began to perform in the local clubs. Their repertoire consisted of many of the hit tunes of the day and old favourites that would get the audience up on their feet. The group, all hailing from the D.C. area, consisted of sisters Jacqui & Vicki Burton and their long-time friends Jeanette Talley and Roberta Miller. What the girls wanted more than anything was to get a recording deal and become stars, but their first break was a long time coming. In 1962 they were seen by Clyde Otis, who offered them his services as their manager and secured a contract for them with Okeh Records. Before their first visit to a studio, in August 1962 a change of name was required, so the girls became The Blossoms. Vicki recalled that they subsequently cut "enough tracks for an album", but all of their efforts only produced one solitary release the following month; ‘I'm In Love’/’What Makes Love’ (Okeh 7162), which failed to make any impression and the girls were released from their contract. Despite their immense disappointment, they continued to tread the boards and upon hearing about Shrine Jacqui recalled, "We rushed down there to get ourselves a piece of the action". The girls signed as a trio, with Roberta having retired from the group due to ill health which left her unable to perform and immediately went into the studio to start rehearsing. Another change of name was required to distinguish them from Darlene Love's West Coast group, so the girls became the D. C. Blossoms. Their record, the first to be picked up by the UK’s Northern Soul dance scene, became the first casualty of the label’s decline. It is almost certain that it never even got into the shops; as was probably the case with every one of the eleven releases stockpiled in readiness for the anticipated breakthrough that never happened.
108 J.D. BRYANT - I WON'T BE COMING BACK / WALK ON IN
J D was originally from South Carolina, but had been a fixture on the New York music scene for a number of years. He had recorded R&B records for a whole host of labels including Enjoy, Alfa and Josie. Eddie had written ‘I Won't Be Coming Back’ with the intention of giving it to Ben E. King. To present the song Eddie needed a demo and when his A&R man, Matt Parsons, suggested they use his half-brother, who had a vocal style similar to that of Ben E. King, Eddie agreed. The session was set up at Herb Abramson's A1 Sound Studio at 234 W. 56th St NYC, sometime in the middle of 1964. Eddie, wishing for the demo to sound as good as a finished master, made sure some of his usual session players were available, including the drummer Gary Chester. He was so thrilled with the finished track that he decided to keep it and release it himself, while hastily arranged for a 'B' side to be recorded. New York veteran producer Teacho Wiltshire stepped in to arrange ‘Walk On In’ in a style that J.D. was more familiar with. However Eddie's plan to issue the 45 was shelved, as his time became increasingly occupied with planning the move to D C. Whilst Eddie thinks J.D. may have visited Washington at some point and would have been given a copy of his record; the chances are he has no knowledge of the song’s release, let alone of the current popularity that the track enjoys on the international 60s soul scene.
109 SIDNEY HALL - THE WEEKEND / I'M A LOVER
Sidney's only solo 45 proved he had a gift. The top side, which is a snappy uptempo number with vocal back up provided by Harry Bass, captures the feeling of a specific point in time, never to be recaptured. It is about the celebration of a weekend of high living, including drinking, dancing and "driving a Cadillac to match my mohair suit" which portrays Sidney as a man about town. The flip side is an epic beat ballad that allows Sidney to show off his vocal skills. After Shrine closed Sidney joined The Flamingos for a while before leaving the business and moving to Springfield, Mass. His lead vocal can be heard on 'Itty Bitty Baby' (Philips 40413) a song composed by former Enjoyable Keni Lewis.
110 SHIRLEY EDWARDS - IT'S YOUR LOVE / DREAM, MY HEART
Shirley was a Washington native who had originally signed for Shrine as a group member with her cousins Sylvia Hampton and Marietta Anderson. As Shirley became a solo act they secured positions as backing singers. Shirley came from a musically rich background and her relatives included Billy Stewart, Jimmy & David Ruffin, Grace Ruffin of the Four Jewels and Little Richard. Like so many others this proved to be her only solo appearance on record, although she did work for a short time doing back ups for Dale Warren at Stax. Her biggest opportunity for a break came when Dale offered her the chance to try for a film theme he had a ten day option on, but Shirley's husband was opposed to her having to go out of town for the audition. As it transpired another singer got the deal when her company put up the money for the production costs The other singer was Shirley Bassey and the film was Goldfinger
111 THE CAIROS - DON'T FIGHT IT / STOP OVERLOOKING ME
Keni Lewis had started his career as a singer and, in addition to writing and producing, still wanted to continue performing and making records. Calling up some of his old friends he quickly assembled a new group who needed little practice to achieve their tight vocal harmony. Keni was joined by Famon Johnson, who sang lead on 'Stop Overlooking Me', Gerald Richardson, Tommy Monteir, whose distinctive bass propels Keni's lead vocal on 'Don't Fight It' and another of Shirley Edwards’ cousins, Wilford 'Dough Boy' Ruffin.
112 EDDIE DAYE & 4 BARS - GUESS WHO LOVES YOU / WHAT AM I GONNA DO
By the time they signed to Shrine the 4 Bars were already vocal group veterans. Originally formed in 1953, as The Four Bars of Rhythm, the group line-up changed regularly with Eddie Daye and Melvin Butler being the only permanent members. Their recordings for Joz, IPS, Cadillac, Len, Dayco, Time, Flying Hawk, Shelley and Falew have won them a legion of admirers from the world of R&B/Vocal Group collectors, but many consider the Shrine 45 as their finest moment on vinyl. The 1965 group consisted of Eddie Daye, Melvin Butler, Elsworth Grimes and Betty Wilson who all hailed from the D.C. area. The group continued to record in Washington, on Eddie's resurrected Dayco label, until 1975 when they formally disbanded.
113 BILL DENNIS - I'LL NEVER LET YOU GET AWAY / POOR LITTLE FOOL
Little is known about Bill other than he was a Baltimore resident who had always wanted to be a singer and had spent many hours rehearsing trying to improve his vocal before auditioning for Shrine. As Eddie recalled Bill was "just this fellow who walked in one day and I liked what he was about". With Harry feeling the same way, Bill got to realise his ambition. It is believed he went on to become a DJ for WHUR, Howard University Radio and the Voice of America network.
114 LES CHANSONETTES - DEEPER / DON'T LET HIM HURT YOU
Harry Bass took charge of this trio of Baltimore high school girls who he thought were probably sisters. "They had never been in a studio before and were a little nervous. I remember their mother used to drive them in and acted as a sort of chaperone. I spent hours rehearsing them to build their confidence. One of them was called Delores, I don't recall the names of the others". The songs chosen for the girl’s debut had been written a few years previously, in New York and were published by T M Music which was owned by Bobby Darin. Fully titled, Trinity Music, the company had an office located down the hall from Jobete in the Brill Building and Rudy Clark, the only black songwriter at T M, had composed a song called 'Deeper'. He cut a demo of it and then took it to Miss Ray in the hope that she could place it with either The Vandellas or The Marvelettes. Harry, who was friendly with Rudy, then composed a song called 'Don't Let Him Hurt You', which had a similar feel and placed it with T.M. for publishing. When the move to Washington was made Harry took the acetates with him deciding to use both of the tracks for his nervous, but enthusiastic, girls. They managed one more release, on the Mon'ca label before fading into obscurity.
115 THE CAUTIONS - NO OTHER WAY / POOR LOSER
The only group to manage two releases on Shrine returned with a floorshaker of a recording that would test even the most energetic of dancers. The flip featured an early version of a synthesiser called an Ondioline, which featured on a number of Shrine recordings and demonstrated the willingness to innovate and experiment in the studio.
116 THE PROPHETS - HUH BABY / IF I HAD (One Gold Piece)
These were another talented group of local youngsters who were given to Maxx to work with in the studio. The resulting record was a stunning double header, which reflected the growing musical maturity of the company with its sophisticated arrangements and increasing diversity of musical styles. The group consisted of Raymond Davis, Tommy Brooks, Harry Courtney, David Budd, Preston Booze and George Kirksey. This was one of the last Shrine 45s to surface with its existence not being confirmed until 1991. Up to this point it was assumed that the tracks were unissued. David Budd was given the main lead vocal on 'If I Had', which was complimented by Raymond's earthier tones delivered in a call-and-response style. Raymond recalled that the group cut versions of 'Shame' and 'I'll Take You Back' whilst at Shrine; a recollection supported by Tommy and Preston.
117 THE COUNTS - PEACHES BABY / MY ONLY LOVE
Yet more local youngsters, whose average age was 16 meaning they had to have their parents sign the Shrine contract. The group consisted of Richard Collins, Clarence 'Money' Munroe, Jimmy Faison, Lamont Wash and Stanley Minor. This was another record whose existence was not established until 1991; again up to this point we assumed the tracks were unissued. When Eddie and Ady Croasdell first catalogued the surviving master tapes in 1989 'My only love' was there as a finished track but 'Peaches Baby' was simply a backing track woefully missing vocals. The first copy to surface came from Richard Collins who, in addition to his remaining copy, had found another in his aunt’s basement. At this point he trashed the first copy, as it looked a little worn and entrusted his mother with sending the second over to the UK. She completed his request but failed to protect the disc, treating it as if it was simply a letter. The disc duly arrived in six pieces and until another copy surfaced, some seven years later, the only way to hear the vocal version required calling Stanley Minor and asking him to sing it over the phone. Thankfully Lew Stanley, a highly respected USA record dealer, provided us with a dub of the track from a single he turned up years later, thus enabling us to include it on this compilation. The group continued to work with Maxx Kidd recording 'So Frustrated'/'Should've Been Satisfied', released locally on Spooky 10001 before going national on Chess 2116, as Five Miles High and also 'Come on, Fall In Line'/'Problem Child' (Calla 169) as 4 Miles High.
118 THE ENJOYABLES - SHAME / I'LL TAKE YOU BACK
Maxx felt the same way as Keni and formed a new version of the Enjoyables soon after joining the company. The new incarnation reunited former members, with Maxx, on lead, supported by James Johnson, William Britton and Gerald Richardson. The group had recorded their tracks in July 1965, during the first wave of sessions and James recalled that the group disbanded almost immediately after the songs were completed.
119 THE CAVALIERS - DO WHAT I WANT / TIGHTEN UP
The last Shrine record to be found, finally allowing us to complete the discography. The master tapes contained rhythm tracks for both songs in a format that can only be described as being at the rehearsal stage. The two copies, currently known to exist, were both rescued from Maxx Kidd's basement and revealed one of the most bizarre tracks recorded for Shrine, featuring a harmonica as the lead instrument. Maxx recalled they wanted to use a harmonica as "Bob Dylan was very popular at the time and we wanted to try and capture some of that sound". As a point of interest it was the only Shrine track that saw Keni, Harry and Maxx working together as songwriters. Nothing is known about the group other than, once again, they were all local teenagers consisting of Steven Carey, Albert Carmichael, Alfred Duncan, David Duncan and Theotrice Gamble.
HEM 1003 THE EPSILONS - MIND IN A BIND / IT'S ALL RIGHT
Due to the popularity of 'Mad At The World' Eddie decided to cut a follow up and took the group into the studio to personally supervise the session. 'It's All Right' was simply a continuation of the story told in 'Mad At The World', with a very similar, easily recognisable, rhythm track. 'Mind In A Bind' was another one of Eddie's songs about his relationship with Miss Ray, on which he put her name as composer to get it published with Jobete. The tracks were issued in 1967 on a local independent label that had a distribution deal with Atlantic. It has to be assumed that the masters that Eddie had left at the Edgewood studios were simply grabbed by persons unknown, as neither Eddie or James Duvall had any knowledge that this had taken place.
The Unissued Songs
TIPPIE & THE WISEMEN - LET ME WALK AWAY / WAIT 'TIL I GET THERE / I WOULDN'T MIND CRYING / BYE BYE
Like The 4 Bars the members of this group were also industry veterans by the time they arrived at Shrine. The Clovers, who hailed from the Washington area, had been recording since 1950; by 1961 the group had split and reformed as two, separate Clovers, one led by Harold Lucas the other by John Bailey. The line-up of the Lucas group was Robert Russel, James 'Toy' Walton, Al Fox and Eddie 'Tippie' Hubbard. On signing with Shrine in 1965 they became known as Tippie & The Wisemen, although they continued to perform as Tippie & The Clovers. Their first recording sessions took place in June 1965 and it is known they cut tracks in addition to those that have survived. Given the quality of the tracks, it is surprising that none of them were released, but as Al Fox explained; "None of our product was ever issued, the reason being that we had released a lot of records over the years and were happy for the younger, newer acts to get their records out first. We were content just to wait". In January 1966 Eddie took his tapes of 'I Wouldn't Mind Crying' and 'Bye Bye' to Brunswick, where he was head of A&R, with the intention of doing a deal, but when he walked out after a heated disagreement with Nat Tarnopol, the tapes were left behind. Whilst researching another project, Kent CD compiler Ady Croasdell noticed the tapes were logged into the vault and eventually managed to extract copies. On hearing the news Eddie was ecstatic as he viewed 'I Wouldn't Mind Crying', yet another of his marriage songs, as the best track he had ever recorded at Shrine.
BOBBY REED - CALDONIA BROWN / BABY DON'T LEAVE ME
Bobby spent a few years as a recording artist cutting tunes for various labels including Brunswick, Clay Town, Bell and Loma. These tracks were recorded in January 1966, produced by Clay Roberts, with the arrangement being done by Freddie Perrin, under Eddie's supervision, while he was still at Shrine.
LITTLE BOBBY PARKER-I WON'T BELIEVE IT 'TIL I SEE IT
Another local lad who did just one track before moving on. The tune is a powerhouse version of the Jimmy Armstrong song released on Jet Set.
TRACI - TAKE IT FROM ME
A mystery girl; who cut just one song and then disappeared. Eddie used the song again for Barbara Long on Jet Set.
THE CAUTIONS - FALL GUY / TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR BABY / I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND
Both 'Fall Guy' and 'Take A Look' were found by Ady Croasdell in the Scepter-Wand tape vaults in 1985 and were assumed to be Capcity recordngs. Further research established that they were Shrine tracks that Eddie had taken to Scepter, where he was head of A&R, in November 1966, in a last attempt to try and secure further funds for Shrine. They were probably the last songs recorded before Shrine closed. Yes the final track is the Beatles song being given a Shrine makeover. It's a personal favourite of Eddie's and he remembers thinking he was going to be a millionaire after he cut it. Reality dawned sometime later
JIMMY ARMSTRONG - I BELIEVE I'LL LOVE ON / IT'S GONNA TAKE LOVE
The tracks scheduled for Shrine 105 that got pipped at the post by the Jackie Wilson deal. 'Love On' is an uptempo screamer whilst 'It's Gonna Take Love' is a powerful bluesy ballad.
LEROY TAYLOR & FOUR KAYS - I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT YOU
A complete change of style for Leroy as he hits a dance groove on this lively uptempo number; The Cautions can be clearly heard providing back-up.
THE FOUR KAYS - FUNKY MONKEY
Leroy's boys jamming to create a wild rhythm track
D. C. BLOSSOMS - THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE
The girls deliver another of Keni's love songs on a track that got overlooked during the cataloguing in 1989 and therefore came as a real bonus find when the tapes were reviewed
Andrew Rix 2000
With special thanks to Eddie Singleton, Rob Thomas, Rob Hughes, Derek Pearson, Nick Brown, Bobby Allen and all of the Shrine family who have happily become too numerous to mention.
Acid Jazz Presents: Billy Valentine and The Universal Truth
A new album released today 24th March 2023, available via Vinyl Lp, Cd and Digital.
Release notes
'Since last September when we announced our collaboration with Billy Valentine, Bob Thiele Jr and the Flying Dutchman label, with Billy’s peerless cover of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue’, we have been looking forward to the moment when we could share more music with you. Earlier this month we shared Billy’s take on Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ and it followed its predecessor onto Jazz FM’s A list. Today we can share with you the news that the album ‘Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth’ is out on March 24th. It’s one you don’t want to miss.
The album sees Billy and a stellar cast of musicians including Larry Golding, Jeff Parker, Pino Paladino, James Gadson, Linda May Oh, Alex Acuña, Amber Navram from Moonchild and Blue Note recording artist Joel Ross and Immanuel Wilkins re-cast a series of important songs from the African American songbook in a unique and inimitable style, profoundly influenced by the events that were going on around them throughout 2020 to 2022 when the album was recorded at the historic EastWest Studios in LA. The works of Mayfield and Scott-Heron are joined by those of Pharaoh Sanders, Prince, Stevie Wonder, War and Eddie Kendricks. It is a sonically stunning and emotionally moving record.'
Tracks
1 We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue
2 Home Is Where the Hatred Is
3 My People... Hold On
4 You Haven't Done Nothin'
5 The Creator Has a Master Plan
6 Sign of the Times
7 Wade in the Water
8 The World Is a Ghetto
Preview
Billy Valentine and The Universal Truth by Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth
‘Many of the initial releases on Flying Dutchman were by important Black voices, both musical and political…. Cut to the summer months of 2020. America, in the throes of a global pandemic, was experiencing one more come-to-Jesus moment in our violent history: the murder of George Floyd. On the heels of a powerful new movement revolving around the hash-tag #BlackLivesMatter, it seemed the right time to resurrect Flying Dutchman and seed it with this collection of eight recordings by Billy Valentine and The Universal Truth.’
– Bob Thiele Jr. (Producer, Flying Dutchman)
’Since the moment we heard the first two track Ed and I were determined that we would release this album. It’s soul music performed at the very highest level, and we are convinced that it is one of the best records we have ever released.’
– Dean Rudland (Acid Jazz)
The vinyl comes in a beautiful gatefold sleeve that mimics the classic design of Flying Dutchman album releases, right down to the design of the spine and the producer’s box. With an atmospheric cover shot taken by LA based photographer and skate boarder Atiba Jefferson, and inner sleeve shots revealing the workings of the sessions. The soft-pack CD mirrors this look.
SOUL4REAL #28, BILBAO
19-20-21-22 OCTOBER 2023
𝗗𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗔 and 𝗔𝗡𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗢𝗡 LIVE!
The farewell party. Chapter 2
Yes, we know! Last year we already announced our farewell party…. But this time is 4 Real!
As we informed you a few months ago we are back by popular demand for one more final shot!
We still have the enthusiasm and the strength to throw one last party.... and what a party we have prepared for you.
Directly from Birmingham, Alabama we will be able to enjoy David Sea performing solo after many many years.
Be prepared to enjoy his incredible own repertory, be sure his voice will blow your mind.
What can we say about Ann Sexton, one of our favorite soul queens, what a voice and overwhelming talent.
So excited to have these two soul legends in an exclusive concert in Bilbao, a one and unique opportunity not to be missed!
Passes are still available, but do not sleep on this because they are selling really fast.
We still have some rooms available at the discounted price at the Hotel Silken Indautxu (the venue Hotel), but again they probably will be gone in the next coming weeks …so be quick.
Can´t wait to see you all!
Aitor, Javier, Alex
_______________________________________________________________________
Direct flights to Bilbao:
London (Easyjet, Vueling)
Manchester (Easyjet)
Bristol (Easyjet)
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀:
FULL WEEKENDER PASS (all days)
70 euros
FRIDAY + SATURDAY PASS
55 euros
Payments via paypal as friends/family:
soul4realrecordlabel@gmail.com
𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
Here are the hotel details for SOUL4REAL, as usual please contact us by facebook or soul4realrecordlabel@gmail.com for booking your room at this discount/special rate:
Double Room (twin beds): 138 euros including breakfast and taxes
Single Room: 128 euros including breakfast and taxes
HOTEL SILKEN INDAUTXU, 4 stars, walking distance to everywhere, same hotel than last year. It will host Thursday, Friday and Sunday Soul nights. Please remember that once you have reserved your room through us don´t need to do any payment in advance, it´s done at the hotel reception when doin´ the checkout.
More info / contact:
soul4realrecordlabel@gmail.com (Alex Subinas)
Sly Stone has announced that his memoirs titled 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' will be published later this year via White Rabbit.
"For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story," says Stone. "I wasn't ready. I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It's been a wild ride and hopefully my fans enjoy it too."
One of the few indisputable geniuses of pop music, Sly Stone is a trailblazer who created a new kind of music, mixing Black and white, male and female, funk and rock; penned some of the most iconic anthems of the 1960s and 70s, from "Everyday People" to "Family Affair"; and electrified audiences with a persona and stage presence that set a lasting standard for pop culture performance.
Yet he has also been a cautionary tale, known as much for how he dropped out of sight as for what put him in the spotlight in the first place. As much as people know the music, the man remains a mystery. In Thank You, his much-anticipated memoir, he's finally ready to share his story - a story that many thought he'd never have the chance to tell.
Written with Ben Greenman, who has written memoirs with George Clinton and Brian Wilson among others, Thank You will include a foreword by Questlove.
The book was created in collaboration with Sly Stone's manager Arlene Hirschkowitz.
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) by Sly Stone 28 Sept 2023
Kindle Edition £9.99 Hardcover £25.00
This title will be released on September 28, 2023.
Publisher : White Rabbit (28 Sept. 2023)
Language : English
Hardcover : 320 pages
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