Kim Tolliver - Then and Now - Sad News 1998

Kim Tolliver - Then and Now

Note This article was originally posted on Soul Source in !998.

Kim passed away on 6 June 2007

The other day received some email regarding site from Andrew Hamilton, it turned out that Andrew Hamilton from Cleveland apart from being an respected writer on USA soul scene and journalist (you may have read some of his informative articles in Soulful Kinda Music, AMG Bios, LP/CD reviews), also co-wrote the mid 70 s northern spin "I dont know which foot to dance on" by Kim Tolliver.

Well also he had the bad news that Kim is now in hospital in Cleveland and in a bad way. Bearing this in mind and also that he gave me a lot of info on her I thought I'd share it with you. For those around the scene in the 70s one of the most rememberable sounds of the batch of 70s spins, was "I don't know which foot to dance on" from its unusual western type intro to the main funky stomping meat with the powerful vocal of Kim Tolliver giving it a uptempo southern soul touch. Other info on this track is Andrew Hamilton co wrote the track with her husband Fred Briggs.It was initially published by Briggs' publishing company Power Cube then Groovesville Publishing in Detroit, MI. Johnny Taylor was supposed to have recorded the song, but it never happened, so Fred cut it on Kim and released it on his own label.

Briggs also recorded as Coldwater Stone. Whilst this track is the only impact Kim has had on Northern circuit her other recordings are well respected in the mainstream soul department, some say her best stuff was during the Rojac day a listing of her singles follows:

IN RETURN FOR YOUR LOVE/GET A LITTLE SOUL-SURESHOT 5037

I'LL TRY TO DO BETTER/I GOTTA FIND A WAY-ROJAC 126

TUESDAY'S CHILD/(YOUR TRYING TO) COP MY STUFF-ROJAC 128

LET THEM TALK/I'LL TRY TO DO BETTER-ROJAC 129

DRIVING ME TO THE ARMS OF A STRANGER/I GOTTA FIND A WAY-ROJAC 131

I CAUGHT YOU/GET MYSELF TOGETHER-GAR 322

I DON'T KNOW WHAT FOOT TO DANCE ON/same inst.-CASTRO 101

STANDING ROOM ONLY/YOUR LOVES ON THE MONEY-PATHFINDER 101

WHERE WERE YOU/same-TAY STER 5600 (12")

On the LP side it is a little know fact that she has recorded two LPs, I have since found both on net, and just awaiting next record order day to grab one. Anyone out there heard any of them?

 Come And Get Me - I'm Ready / Chess

Passing Clouds - Kimberly Briggs - Fantasy (her husbands surname)

Mike Grey passed on the track info of the Chess LP Tracks :

The other side of town

She don't know you like I do

Come and get me I'm ready

The way he used to

I need you

(Come as you are) Drop whatever you're doing

Takin' a woman's stand

I'm losing the feeling

Learn to get along without you

All written by Fred Briggs or D.K.Briggs (Kim?) 1 by Clarence Reid 1 by W.Hale/Beaver

All tracks never released on singles

Mentioned on the Blackpool Mecca CD sleeve notes is the fact that Kim is now a respected R+B DJ in Cleveland, well unfortunately this wasn't true, afraid whoever gave this info got confused as Andrew points out,

 "Kim never was a disk jockey in Cleveland, Lynn Tolliver, Dave Tolliver, and Kim Sellers are all D.J.'s on the most popular Urban Station in Cleveland -- WZAK. The first two are men, both related with Dave being one half of the Urban Duo -- Men At Large. Sellers is a female and the wife of former NBA Player, Brad Sellers. Though to be fair its easy to see how mistake was made. "

As said early Kim is in a bad way nowadays, really sick and with her mind almost gone Andrew sent in a photo of her taken about 5 months ago with one of her grand-daughters which is printed below. As someone who has enjoyed the pleasure and good memories her recordings have given me, I would just like to pass on to Kim our thanks and best wishes. mike

Thanks go out to Andrew Hamilton for all the info and also to Nobby for the singles list and Mike Grey for the track listing.