'Hello Stranger' by BARBARA LEWIS has always been one of my all-time favourites and I was pleased to pick up a cover demo on VOLT by REGGIE MILNER in New York some years ago. A very nice crossover version too, with a nice tenor vocal and great backing track produced by OLLIE MCLAUGHLIN in 1969 according to the label. I well remember strolling past the Empire State as night fell and feeling genuinely chuffed with myself at having found a quality record that I did not know, especially as I'd snaffled a GENE DOZIER 'Your the best girl' demo out of the same box for 5 dollars!

Recently I purchased another version of 'Stranger' on KAREN, this one dated 1974 with the artists credited as THE QUICKEST WAY OUT, an odd moniker even in Northern Soul terms. Interesting bit, apart from the fact that this version is an absolute belter in my book (Higher lead male vocals, beautiful femme backing), is that this seems to be carrying the same backing track five years later and once again the production credit is down to OLLIE McLAUGHLIN. The track has been mellowed slightly in the mix and is a superior take on the MILNER cut, but does anybody know why OLLIE was cutting this tune twice five years apart, on different labels (Who owned the mix?), I assume in different cities, with different artists?? And who were THE QUICKEST WAY OUT, that name does not quite ring true to me. I'd appreciate it if anybody can shed some light?

i feel the same way about ooh baby baby, i'll listen to any version but the miracles is the real thing. But I think that the quickest way out version of hello stranger is great in its own way because it adds a totally different feel / pace to the song. Any other version to me is just sort of a copy of the original and not a unique interpretation standing on its own merits.

So try new york rubber rock band,uptempo totaly different.

I have an unreleased Jean Carn version - I played at Yarmouth a couple of years ago.

Went down an absolute storm, but I filed it afterwards as I don't think any of 'em top Barbara.

Sean

i feel the same way about ooh baby baby, i'll listen to any version but the miracles is the real thing. But I think that the quickest way out version of hello stranger is great in its own way because it adds a totally different feel / pace to the song. Any other version to me is just sort of a copy of the original and not a unique interpretation standing on its own merits.

1000% agree with you on 'Ooh Baby Baby' Bob

Another one that I could listen to every day and never be sick of - totally unsurpassable!

That first line gets me every time!

Cheers

Steve

1000% agree with you on 'Ooh Baby Baby' Bob

Another one that I could listen to every day and never be sick of - totally unsurpassable!

That first line gets me every time!

Cheers

Steve

Spooky! Only had time to play a couple of records in the last 2 days - one was QUICKEST WAY OUT 'Hello Stranger' 3 or 4 times and THE STAIRSTEPS 'The Girl I love', a cracking finger snapper, only thing is it came off the shelf wrong way round and I unknowingly put on their B-Side cover of 'Oooh Baby Baby' which is a nice version of course but yeah no-one can beat Smokey on that, one of the great hymns of Soul!

Even weirder...Picked up SOLARIS 'You and Me' with QUICKEST WAY OUT and last night I realised you have that pictured a few discs down on your site!

I have an unreleased Jean Carn version - I played at Yarmouth a couple of years ago.

Went down an absolute storm, but I filed it afterwards as I don't think any of 'em top Barbara.

Sean

Jean Carn and 'Hello Stranger' that's got to be good Sean! Perhaps you ought to dig it out again.

Edited June 12, 200915 yr by chorleysoul

Capitols knocks the socks off the lot of 'em

Cheers

Richard