Derek Martin. Brilliant genius, or what?

Here's the thing; first time I heard You Better Go, I was well confused. I mean here's this song with a strange construction, full-on emotion drenched vocal, gorgeous jazzy chords and sublime lyrics.

But then there's a problem.

Big one.

It's the backing vocals. Part of me thinks they are angelic, but part of me is also thinking of White Horses (Jackie, remember?) Took me a while, but I finally put them firmly in the angel category. It's been one of my top five records ever since.

But it's his voice I keep coming back to. His tone. His way with a lyric. His range. Does he have the recognition he deserves? Anyone else rate this guy as high as I do? Has anyone got any lesser known tracks to recommend?

Colin

Agree with you Colin great voice.

Have allways loved Derek Martins stuff since I heard Daddy Rolling Stone years ago. Was'nt it featured in the Ray Winstone film Sexy Beast.

I love Moving hands of time which is on the flip of You blew it baby on the Buttercup label.Arranged & produced by Teddy Randazzo ,its really underrated ,costs peanuts and builds and builds into a terric tune. Another thing about it is it's around four and a half minutes long which is most unusual for a 45!

Movinghands.mp3

Derek Martin had quite a long career beginning in doo wop as far as I know. I always thought his best known record was issued in the UK on Sue in about 64 or 65: Daddy Rolling Stone/Don't Put Me Down Like This, and his name was misprinted on the label as Derak Martin. Later he recorded Sly Girl, not sure of label but played on Northern scene as far as I know. Another one by him that I know is from 1973 on Vibration called Falling Out Of Love.

As I write this it occurs to me that there was an article about him in In The Basement some time ago. I will check it out later, after doing the shopping, lol.

Just proves to me that we are so lucky in soul music to have so many great singers, of both sexes. Pity so many are underrated.

"Here's the thing; first time I heard You Better Go, I was well confused. I mean here's this song with a strange construction, full-on emotion drenched vocal, gorgeous jazzy chords and sublime lyrics".

A great ballad, in my opinion, which he released on Roulette. Also gained a British release in 1965 on Columbia.

Edited February 18, 200619 yr by Gene-R

Spot on Dayo with the Derek Martin ' big up ' ! Terrific haunting and heartfelt passion . . .

Always loved ' Sly Girl ' since I was a young 'un - and realised I don't have a copy of ' Go ' . . . Am rectifying that right away.

From clips on JM site and Craigs ' mp3 of Moving Hands I think Derek is absolutley ripe for a retrospective / collection . Dont think there is one currently but I may be wrong. Maybe someone reading this could start something or give us more info on the man and his recordings . Judging by the different labels he recorded for there must ( I hope ) be a wealth of material.

Brilliant post .

ATB

Rich

This is an old fave I spin out now & again

Derek Martin If You Go Sue 143 .mp3

Just a note to say thanks to Craig & Rowley for posting those great tracks. Would be fantastic if someone could put together a Derek Martin CD. Ady?

Check out "In The Basement" magazine No38 for a full discography(US) and interview with the wonderfully talented and terribly underrated Derek Martin. Currently resident in Switzerland. Is that too far from Cleethorpes Ady?

love "sly girl"

also got a copy of "breakaway" on roulette ....magic....does this get played out much?

Check out Count to ten (can't remember the label) and If you go, which is on Sue.

I had a whole box (25) copies of You better go on Columbia in the mid 80s............

Tony

The memory isn't what it used to be Count to Ten is the other side of If you go and IMO the better side.Its a blistering slowie, gives me shivers.....

Tony

Isn't there 2 different cuts of If You Go, one with and one without the keyboard towards the end??

also got a copy of "breakaway" on roulette ....

Don't forget to flip that one over for the fine deep soul ballad "Take Me Like I Am".

There are two later Derek Martin cuts on the CD "Flying High-The Modern End Of Northern Soul", namely "Falling Out Of Love" and "Beautiful Woman"

https://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.co.uk/flyinghigh.html

There's several unissued acetates which are believed to be Derek Martin, Flashback for one.

Mr R. Searling played "Flashback" at his 50th in Stockholm. The room went nuts. Considering most of them had never heard it before and that they all seemed to be under 35 I took it as a very good sign.

Isn't there 2 different cuts of If You Go, one with and one without the keyboard towards the end??

Yeap think the Sue issue piano Sue demo Keyboard

HB

Derek Martin. Brilliant genius, or what?

Came across this a while back, as an unknown accetate on a tape, to me it deffo Derek Martin in the hands of the late great Teddy Randazzo. anyone know it? and the propper title, it's something like "Put Some Love Into My Life". Soz bout quality, I've tried to clean it up as much as poss. Derek's standout track for me is "Sly Girl" imo Teddy Randazzo's greatest moment Northern Soul wise! Love anyting I've heard by Mr Martin, he has such a unique vocal and delivery.

steve

There's several unissued acetates which are believed to be Derek Martin, Flashback for one.

just my worn out ears or does anyone else reckon flashback and breakaway have a lot in common

always mean to compare them both together to check just how much but never got round to it

Came across this a while back, as an unknown accetate on a tape, to me it deffo Derek Martin in the hands of the late great Teddy Randazzo. anyone know it? and the propper title, it's something like "Put Some Love Into My Life". Soz bout quality, I've tried to clean it up as much as poss. Derek's standout track for me is "Sly Girl" imo Teddy Randazzo's greatest moment Northern Soul wise! Love anyting I've heard by Mr Martin, he has such a unique vocal and delivery.

steve

Razzle Dazzle studio disc. There's another called Show Me That You Love Me, (or Miss Me) will check my tapes, they are on one somewhere. Was told there were 5 tracks from same session???

Edited February 20, 200619 yr by chalky

Razzle Dazzle studio disc. There's another called Show Me That You Love Me, (or Miss Me) will check my tapes, they are on one somewhere. Was told there were 5 tracks from same session???

File didnt go! Doh! I'll try again

steve

File didnt go! Doh! I'll try again

steve

Steve

Certainly sounds like Derek Martin, and it's a great record whatever. Thanks for the post.

Regarding the Sly Girl comments elsewhere; couldn't agree more. Perfect Northern Soul. Leaving out DM's vocal, the bass line is stunning, don't you think?

Colin

I do think Col - brilliant record ...

Great tracks - The unknowns / well knowns - to me, kind of adds up to the fact someone like DM should have some sort of collection issued . .

Rich

I do think Col - brilliant record ...

Great tracks - The unknowns / well knowns - to me, kind of adds up to the fact someone like DM should have some sort of collection issued . .

Rich

Well I'd be first in the Q for that.

Where's Ady when we need him!?

Hi,

I was interested to see the comments re the potential unissued Derek Martin sound that was posted earlier.

I have owned the Associated Studios acetate for 10 years or so and I was told it came out of Teddy Randazzo's collection. It just has the title on it and is uncredited. Butch spun it a few times before I prised it from him and I played it as Brooks Odell c/u.

I was not sure who it was but I thought that it may be Derek Martin some time ago having noticed the vocal similarity to 'Sly Girl' and the Randazzo link. My interest was reignited recently when I listened to the Darrell Banks Atco LP where there is a song with a very similar backing track and there is an obvious Derek Martin link.

Any further knowledge/ideas would be appreciated

All best

Ion

Hi,

I was interested to see the comments re the potential unissued Derek Martin sound that was posted earlier.

I have owned the Associated Studios acetate for 10 years or so and I was told it came out of Teddy Randazzo's collection. It just has the title on it and is uncredited. Butch spun it a few times before I prised it from him and I played it as Brooks Odell c/u.

I was not sure who it was but I thought that it may be Derek Martin some time ago having noticed the vocal similarity to 'Sly Girl' and the Randazzo link. My interest was reignited recently when I listened to the Darrell Banks Atco LP where there is a song with a very similar backing track and there is an obvious Derek Martin link.

Any further knowledge/ideas would be appreciated

All best

Hi Ion

You really should get out a bit more and play some of those choons you have.

all the best

Kev

Ion

Hi Kev,

Great to hear from you too. I saw your bro last year @ Guy's bash - I think he is dating Billy Jackson!

All best

Ion

Spot on Dayo with the Derek Martin ' big up ' ! Terrific haunting and heartfelt passion . . .

Always loved ' Sly Girl ' since I was a young 'un - and realised I don't have a copy of ' Go ' . . . Am rectifying that right away.

From clips on JM site and Craigs ' mp3 of Moving Hands I think Derek is absolutley ripe for a retrospective / collection . Dont think there is one currently but I may be wrong. Maybe someone reading this could start something or give us more info on the man and his recordings . Judging by the different labels he recorded for there must ( I hope ) be a wealth of material.

Brilliant post .

ATB

Rich

There's a great CD collection out of Derek's Roulette material including lots of unissued tracks like " Flashback " .Budget price as well .Best,Eddie

There's a great CD collection out of Derek's Roulette material including lots of unissued tracks like " Flashback " .Budget price as well .Best,Eddie

great cd it is too Eddie there's four killer unissued tracks in the middle of the cd as well as Flashback, again as you say bargain price, about 7 quid on amazon.

Ion, hope you are well. A mate of mine has an acetate of the "Put Some Love Into My Life" and "Show Me That You Miss Me". Both without artist credit but we both thought it was Derek Martin, both Teddy Randazzo productions...Razzle Dazzle. Kenny Burrell also has the "Show Me That You Miss Me", was covered up as Billy Woods and he was surprised when I told him what it was when he played it me

Edited October 18, 200817 yr by chalky

There's an old topic HERE it has some of the unissued stuff from the Roulette Years cd in the topic.

There's a great CD collection out of Derek's Roulette material including lots of unissued tracks like " Flashback " .Budget price as well .Best,Eddie

Nice rec Eddie

...............good to have Ion on 'ere as well eh?

Cheers Paul (AKA Paco, Curnows mate.....if you're lurking Ion)

There's a great CD collection out of Derek's Roulette material including lots of unissued tracks like " Flashback " .Budget price as well .Best,Eddie

Also contains a very good previously unissued version (probably the original) of "What Greater Love", and a pretty weak one of "On A Magic Carpet Ride". Be warned, however, that a lot of the other unissued sides veer closely towards 'Chicken In A Basket' territory...

Derek Martin. Brilliant genius, or what?

Here's the thing; first time I heard You Better Go, I was well confused. I mean here's this song with a strange construction, full-on emotion drenched vocal, gorgeous jazzy chords and sublime lyrics.

But then there's a problem.

Big one.

It's the backing vocals. Part of me thinks they are angelic, but part of me is also thinking of White Horses (Jackie, remember?) Took me a while, but I finally put them firmly in the angel category. It's been one of my top five records ever since.

But it's his voice I keep coming back to. His tone. His way with a lyric. His range. Does he have the recognition he deserves? Anyone else rate this guy as high as I do? Has anyone got any lesser known tracks to recommend?

Colin

Don't forget his stuff with the Top Notes on Atlantic, produced by Phil Spector. There is also the Top Notes - I Love You So Much on ABC - a duet with Howard Guyten!

Don't forget his stuff with the Top Notes on Atlantic, produced by Phil Spector. There is also the Top Notes - I Love You So Much on ABC - a duet with Howard Guyten!

The Top Notes were just Derek and Howard. They had been together previously in a doo-wop group, the name of which escapes me at the moment...

...the Top Notes original version of "Twist And Shout" is absolutely abysmal!

Edited October 19, 200817 yr by TONY ROUNCE

The Top Notes were just Derek and Howard. They had been together previously in a doo-wop group, the name of which escapes me at the moment...

The Pearls wasn't it?

The Pearls wasn't it?

Yep, that'd be they. George Torrence of "Lickin' Stick" fame was also in the group, and so, at one point, was Dave 'Baby' Cortez.

Cheers for the prod!

The memory isn't what it used to be Count to Ten is the other side of If you go and IMO the better side.Its a blistering slowie, gives me shivers.....

Tony

I'll second that. A fantastic beat ballad!

Funny how Marvin Jones got renamed and Derek never did,might be an image thing.

I guess he was positioned.

Paul

Derek Martin. Brilliant genius, or what?

Here's the thing; first time I heard You Better Go, I was well confused. I mean here's this song with a strange construction, full-on emotion drenched vocal, gorgeous jazzy chords and sublime lyrics.

But then there's a problem.

Big one.

It's the backing vocals. Part of me thinks they are angelic, but part of me is also thinking of White Horses (Jackie, remember?) Took me a while, but I finally put them firmly in the angel category. It's been one of my top five records ever since.

But it's his voice I keep coming back to. His tone. His way with a lyric. His range. Does he have the recognition he deserves? Anyone else rate this guy as high as I do? Has anyone got any lesser known tracks to recommend?

Colin

I fucking love this record. One of my top ten deep records. Heard it on that great Soul Spectrum CD years ago with Mary Wheeler and stuff on it. I had to have the demo and issue I loved it so much. Great choice!

Also on this CD was George & Sonny Sands - Down By The Ocean. I got one of these for a steal (thanks to Des Parker). It's surreally good.

If you like this, go for Baby Baby All The Time by The Superbs. One in the sales section at the moment. Class intro...

or

Isle Of Sirens - Jerry Butler

Baby Don't You Go - The Perfections - Big B. Want one want one want one. But can't afford. Top of my deep list. No band was better named. Heavenly harmonies

Don't Be Afraid - Frankie Karl & Dreams - Died recently. Very sad.

Somebody Please - The Vanguards.

Look Over Your Shoulder - The Escorts. Brilliant tales of how this group were let out of prison to record. The EP on Alithia is beautiful.

Just a few.

Yep, that'd be they. George Torrence of "Lickin' Stick" fame was also in the group, and so, at one point, was Dave 'Baby' Cortez.

Cheers for the prod!

BTW, the flip of licking stick is great!

M

Derek Martin

You're too much is a crackin powerhouse dancer on roulette... also Breakaway on roulette is fookin brill...and an early rca outing if you love me (i think) is wonderful. Agree with the If you go on sue and its flip count to ten, is a crackin beaty-ish ballad. I know these cause i have them, along with daddy rollin stone all really cracking stuff....His vocal on breakaway is very very strong....He has made some right clangers too, yet the good far outways the bad.

Mike.

love "sly girl"

also got a copy of "breakaway" on roulette ....magic....does this get played out much?

Hi Edwin

Ive been playing 'Breakaway' for about a year now, always have people coming up and asking about the 45.

Great track and deffo worthy of more spins

cheers

paul