https://www.raresoulman.co.uk/d/88929/HOUSTON,_CISSY_c.WITH.w_DETROIT_EMERALDS

 

I have got this plus one or two others like it...Seven inch 4 track EPs, play at 33rpm. They're all various artists but a very odd compilation of what would have been non-hit oldies at the time. Mainly soul but the odd rock n roll or big band number....Think they date from about 1974...

 

Anyone know what these were all about? Were they commercial releases or promotional? Who were they aimed at and why?

 

(Have also got an excellent UK comp LP on the same label that seems to be related..has A Brother's Guiding Light Feat. David, 'Getting Together' on it and a picture of them on the back, among others....)

Edited November 24, 201311 yr by son of stan

Yep they were dj promo records promoting latest artists / albums. Motown did a few in the UK too.

Yep they were dj promo records promoting latest artists / albums. Motown did a few in the UK too.

Thought so, but they are all recordings that would have been quite a few years old at the time (apart from the LP which seems to be a round up of new US releases). Seems a strange thing to do....

Edited November 24, 201311 yr by son of stan

Well John's got the date wrong on his site for s start.  Polygram handled Chess and so many other labels, that's why Suzie Q is on there, they probably had a Chess Story of Chess Rockabillies to promote, the Cissie Houston is off one of the then current "Mobile Discotheque" series

Yep, I've had some of them in the past, but I've never seen that one before. As Pete says, they're early multi-artist promo e-p.'s for album/comp releases. These are the sort of things which got 'left in the cupboard' a lot because there were usually more exciting things to promote rather than some back-cat albums. I never really bothered with 'em 'cos the fidelity wasn't that great and they were a bit gimmicky.....

 

Ian D 

Ian, cheers for mentioning the fidelity. Was pondering selling the Cissy Houston one!

In my dreams they did one off that LP I mentioned it would have 'Getting Together' Aaron Neville 'Hercules' and Etta James 'Out on the Streets Again'. I am sure it must be out there somewhere

(Whoops! I meant to add) Next charity shop I go in will have one or the one after that..