My favourit record in the eighties,bout time it took off again..............now this isn't played anywhere no more,what happened ?

With you in a minute

larry houston - let's spend some time together - hfmp

larry houston - let's spend some time together - hfmp

 

Top Cat...ha ha, just asked my mate to bring it to Driffield on Sat.

I'm getting ready to make a compilation of Mike James Kirkland in his solo years and of his work with The Censations. I was wondering if anybody could supply a good picture of Mike & The Censations or if not possibly just a photo of Mike himself. I'm looking for something so I can slap together an album cover. I'd also be interested if anyone could supply a bio or any other information of interest on him / and the group. There doesn't seem to be much on the net.

mike james kirkland - Give it to Me -

Thanx in advance 4 any help that can be shared on this subject....

G MAN

I'm getting ready to make a compilation of Mike James Kirkland in his solo years and of his work with The Censations. I was wondering if anybody could supply a good picture of Mike & The Censations or if not possibly just a photo of Mike himself. I'm looking for something so I can slap together an album cover. I'd also be interested if anyone could supply a bio or any other information of interest on him / and the group. There doesn't seem to be much on the net.

mike james kirkland - Give it to Me -

Thanx in advance 4 any help that can be shared on this subject....

G MAN

Wow that was fast Bob.........thanks a million for that, I appreciate it!

G MAN

MIKE & THE CENSATIONS - YOU'RE LIVING A LIE - REVUE

Artist: MIKE & THE CENSATIONS
Title: YOU'RE LIVING A LIE

 

MIKE & THE CENSATIONS - YOU'RE LIVING A LIE - REVUE

Awesome soul from a great and under acknowledged group......good to hear that you're planning on a compilation CD....will it include their Pride releases without Mike, and is there any unreleased material ?

Awesome soul from a great and under acknowledged group......good to hear that you're planning on a compilation CD....will it include their Pride releases without Mike, and is there any unreleased material ?

i don't think the pride group is actually related, it's listed that way in the soul harmony singles book but i always assumed that was a mistake, do you think that is actually the same group?

Awesome soul from a great and under acknowledged group......good to hear that you're planning on a compilation CD....will it include their Pride releases without Mike, and is there any unreleased material ?

The PRIDE recordings you are referring to.......is that the group named THE NEW CENSATION that issued the album NEW CENSATION in 1974? I really don't know much about this group....so were these indivuals the same that were with MIKE JAMES KIRKLAND previously? If you have any info on this please share it.

I'll post a track list soon that I'm considering for the comp.

G MAN

i don't think the pride group is actually related, it's listed that way in the soul harmony singles book but i always assumed that was a mistake, do you think that is actually the same group?

BOB are both of talking about the group named THE NEW CENSATION? I was trying to search for the band members of this group but didn't come up with anything.

G MAN

MIKE JAMES KIRKLAND - LOVE IS [NOTHING BUT A FEELING] - BRYAN
 

This is the current list I'm trying to narrow down to fill one 80 minute cd. This includes some of Mike's solo tracks also.

Click on the attatchment for a better view.

G MAN

Edited September 18, 200915 yr by G MAN

i don't think the pride group is actually related, it's listed that way in the soul harmony singles book but i always assumed that was a mistake, do you think that is actually the same group?

That's where I'd picked the information up from. assuming that Jeff and Jim had confirmed their research, but you're probably right the two groups may not be connected. I've not been able to find any details of group line up after searching the net for an hour or more.

Edited September 19, 200915 yr by Wrongcrowd

I've been a long time admirer of 'TOGETHER' ZAY RECORDS the othe side to 'THE PROPHET' which you have included in the tracklisting

Cheers

Pat

Some info in the Highland bit I did in my blog, it's taken from one of their Lp's...

if anyone could supply a bio or any other information of interest on him / and the group.

G MAN

G MAN, here's what I know.....

From L.A. - line up: Michael Kirkland (lead) Robert Kirkland (2nd tenor) Armand Postell (1st tenor) Lonnie Wade

The roots of the 1965 recording of "Victim Of Circumstance" go back into the Missisippi delta where the Kirkland family originated, There were seven siblings in the musically gifted family. As the Seven Seals Juniors, the Kirklands performed on the gospel music circuit. Around the time Michael turned ten the family had packed up and moved to Los Angeles. After graduating from Dorsey High School, Mike started attending L.A. Valley College. It was around this period that Robert Kirkland put a group together, consisting of himself, Mike, their sister, her husband Armand Postell and Michael Trotter, called The Censations. They started working on a song Mike had written called "Victim Of Circumstance" and eventually ended up at Madelon Baker's Audio Arts Studio.

Originally released on their own Brian label "Victim...." was eventually re-released on Sid Talmadge's Highland Records. The record got its first spin from DJ Al Scott at KGFJ - that was the push it needed. It started to get airplay throughout the West Coast and climbed L.A.'s soul charts at KGFJ to the No. 5 position by early March of 1967. By August the same year their second single "There's Nothing I Can Do About It" was also sitting at KGFJ's No. 5 spot. After six singles the Censations split with Highland and signed a deal with Revue that produced three quality recordings, all of which were released in 1969.

(courtesy of Ruben Molina)

Good luck with the project, looking forward to it !!

RossyBoy

Edited September 19, 200915 yr by RossyBoy

My absolute fave from the guys is, 'Baby What're gonna do' on Highland.

Superb understated production...deep rich bassline, chimes in all the right places and a tambourine riding over it all.

MIKE & THE CENSATIONS - VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE - BRYAN
 

I've been a long time admirer of 'TOGETHER' ZAY RECORDS the othe side to 'THE PROPHET' which you have included in the tracklisting

Cheers

Pat

PAT, I agree....that is an absolute killer track!

G MAN

On 9/19/2009 at 10:44, chalky said:

Some info in the Highland bit I did in my blog, it's taken from one of their Lp's....

Wow........great stuff CHALKY! Thanx for the info.

There are a few songs listed in that story that I don' think I've heard before.

Could anybody provide the following tracks:

1. DON'T MESS WITH ME

2. I NEED YOUR LOVIN'

3. BE MIN FOREVER

4. WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO

G MAN

G MAN, here's what I know.....

From L.A. - line up: Michael Kirkland (lead) Robert Kirkland (2nd tenor) Armand Postell (1st tenor) Lonnie Wade

The roots of the 1965 recording of "Victim Of Circumstance" go back into the Missisippi delta where the Kirkland family originated, There were seven siblings in the musically gifted family. As the Seven Seals Juniors, the Kirklands performed on the gospel music circuit. Around the time Michael turned ten the family had packed up and moved to Los Angeles. After graduating from Dorsey High School, Mike started attending L.A. Valley College. It was around this period that Robert Kirkland put a group together, consisting of himself, Mike, their sister, her husband Armand Postell and Michael Trotter, called The Censations. They started working on a song Mike had written called "Victim Of Circumstance" and eventually ended up at Madelon Baker's Audio Arts Studio.

Originally released on their own Brian label "Victim...." was eventually re-released on Sid Talmadge's Highland Records. The record got its first spin from DJ Al Scott at KGFJ - that was the push it needed. It started to get airplay throughout the West Coast and climbed L.A.'s soul charts at KGFJ to the No. 5 position by early March of 1967. By August the same year their second single "There's Nothing I Can Do About It" was also sitting at KGFJ's No. 5 spot. After six singles the Censations split with Highland and signed a deal with Revue that produced three quality recordings, all of which were released in 1969.

(courtesy of Ruben Molina)

Good luck with the project, looking forward to it !!

RossyBoy

Thanks for all of the great info ROSSYBOY! ROSS do happen to have any of those tracks I mention in the previous post?

G MAN

My absolute fave from the guys is, 'Baby What're gonna do' on Highland.

Superb understated production...deep rich bassline, chimes in all the right places and a tambourine riding over it all.

FLYNNY do you think you could share that one..........I don't think I have that.

G MAN

MIKE JAMES KIRKLAND - YOU'RE GONNA SHARE YOUR LOVE

Artist: MIKE JAMES KIRKLAND

Title: YOU'RE GONNA SHARE YOUR LOVE

Label: BRYAN RECORDS

Here's the album cover I've been working on for the comp.......

G MAN

Mike & The Censations - Don't Mess With Me - Highland

My favourit record in the eighties,bout time it took off again..............now this isn't played anywhere no more,what happened ?

With you in a minute

larry houston - let's spend some time together - hfmp -

Bump !!

I'm glad it's not played out any more, it's rubbish.

I'm glad it's not played out any more, it's rubbish.

You obviously got no taste whatsoever

My favourit record in the eighties,bout time it took off again..............now this isn't played anywhere no more,what happened ?

With you in a minute

larry houston - let's spend some time together - hfmp -

Great track Ken but the first time Ive seen a red label copy...thought the label was white with red text

Great track Ken but the first time Ive seen a red label copy...thought the label was white with red text

Got both labels Martin,different mix loads more bass on the red one the R+W the label goes into the run out,most i have seen are like this.

Edited September 20, 200915 yr by ken

My favourit record in the eighties,bout time it took off again..............now this isn't played anywhere no more,what happened ?

With you in a minute

larry houston - let's spend some time together - hfmp -

One o` my all time faves Ken as you know,I think I bought mine off you-Cast your mind back to ancient times-remember that home made bong?

One o` my all time faves Ken as you know,I think I bought mine off you-Cast your mind back to ancient times-remember that home made bong?

Whats a bong ? king of the bucket now

Mike & The Censations - Don't Mess With Me - Highland

Thanx ROSSYBOY...........this one is going into the comp for sure!

G MAN

Mike Kirkland James - Blota Blota - Luv n' haight -

G MAN

MIKE JAMES KIRKLAND - YOU PUT IT ON MY MIND - BRYAN

 

MIKE & THE CENSATIONS - STRAW (THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK) - REVUE

 

I'm glad it's not played out any more, it's rubbish.

...proper soul.... ....if you don't get this, then......

tis a good record but loads of better 70s to revive imo....

tis a good record but loads of better 70s to revive imo....

...such as Mark ?

...such as Mark ?

heaven must be missing and angel........TAVARES LOL

That's a bloody awful version Ken. This is far superior in my humble etc.

Larry Houston lets Spend Some Time Long version hmpf -

That's a bloody awful version Ken. This is far superior in my humble etc.

Larry Houston lets Spend Some Time Long version hmpf -

But they are the same except maybe the above version is off a cd. maybe,its no longer anyway.

Edited September 21, 200915 yr by ken

MIKE & THE CENSATIONS - THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO - HIGHLAND RECORDS
 

...proper soul.... ....if you don't get this, then......

What's all this 'if you don't get this' rubbish? I don't like it, big deal.

I hadn't realised i had to like the same records as you Cliff, otherwise i'm not really a soul fan.

Edited September 21, 200915 yr by Matt Male

What's all this 'if you don't get this' rubbish? I don't like it, big deal.

I hadn't realised i had to like the same records as you Cliff, otherwise i'm not really a soul fan.

You're unlikely to like the same records as me 'cos my taste goes beyond Northern......

.........there's plenty of tunes on here I don't like.....but I wouldn't write them off as "rubbish" just because they don't fit into my world......

You're unlikely to like the same records as me 'cos my taste goes beyond Northern......

.........there's plenty of tunes on here I don't like.....but I wouldn't write them off as "rubbish" just because they don't fit into my world......

No, you're right, you don't call them rubbish, but you are pompous enough to suggest mistakenly that I only like northern soul. That says far more about you.

No, you're right, you don't call them rubbish, but you are pompous enough to suggest mistakenly that I only like northern soul. That says far more about you.

He didn't say that,did he ? i commented on your lack of taste though

He didn't say that,did he ? i commented on your lack of taste though

Yes mate and that was funny, in the spirit of me calling it 'rubbish'. Just having a laugh, even though i don't like it i don't care if others do. Some folks take things too seriously though.

No, you're right, you don't call them rubbish, but you are pompous enough to suggest mistakenly that I only like northern soul. That says far more about you.

Strewth.........you are touchy aren't you .....I didn't say that you only liked Northern, and you're right, if I had then I'd wear the pompous badge.

Ok, so if you like Northern, modern, deep, funk, crossover, soulful house, jazz, jazz-funk and deep disco as I do....then I apologise for being over presumptious im my take on your trashing a really great soul tune like Larry Houston...otherwise my comment stands.... ..

Strewth.........you are touchy aren't you .....I didn't say that you only liked Northern, and you're right, if I had then I'd wear the pompous badge.

Ok, so if you like Northern, modern, deep, funk, crossover, soulful house, jazz, jazz-funk and deep disco as I do....then I apologise for being over presumptious im my take on your trashing a really great soul tune like Larry Houston...otherwise my comment stands.... ..

...and i apologise for being touchy and i apologise for off the cuff insensitive remarks about Larry Houston, i've danced to it quite a few times in the past and didn't sound that rubbish in a big room

Actually i like progressive and MOR rock music, but don't tell anyone...