Quick question guys...

 

Anyone know of any provenance to link the All Brothers/Phil LA of Soul group with the earlier Witney line up? The groups sound completely different but with ten years or more between he recordings I'm just wondering....mmm?

 

With Witney based in NY and los of groups making the trip to the Big Apple I guess it's feasible?

 

Any help/info appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

Dave

 

Lee Andrews and The Hearts, The Willows, The Dreamlovers and Garnett Mimms and The Enchanters are just 4 of the Philly groups that recorded, at some point in their careers, in New York.  I believe that The Emanons did, as well.  I've always heard and even read a few times that they were the same group, but with several member changes.  But, I don't have any hard evidence of that, and didn't know much about that group, as they were East Coast, and fairly obscure to people outside The Northeast.

Hi Rob,

 

Yep, the list of Philly groups that recorded in the Big Apple is about as long as your arm.  Have you seen group line-ups listed anywhere? What makes you believe they are the same group?

 

Any assistance appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

Dave

I never saw the complete lineup from any period, but seem to remember an Emanons group existing throughout the whole time period (sort of like the situations with The Velours from New York, and The Royal Jokers from Detroit. 

Lloyd Parks is the only member of the group listed in the soul harmony singles book.

 

And then there's this:

 

All Brothers Although this was a Philly label it's thought to have Detroit connections.White label bootleg copies exists of Ann Robinson & red ones of Emanon Bros.. Ann recorded initially for Sonny Hopsons All Brothers label which released 'Bird Walkin' by the Emanons Orch, which despite different writer/publisher credits, is a reworking of the rhythm track of 'World of happiness' ..... The Emanons as 'The Freedom Now Brothers' released a track called 'Sissy walk' on All Brothers and Ann cut a vocal on this entitled 'you did it' ....what Sonny told Dave was that he had wanted to do 'Bird Walkin' as a vocal but the Emanons (a male group) couldn't cut the vocal track how he wanted so he got Ann to do a vocal on that tune as well which was never issued.

Edited September 4, 201410 yr by LarsC

Hi Guys,

 

I've spoken to Sonny a few times about the group but his recollections aren't 100% reliable in my opinion. The Bird Walking track was a Virtue production involving Johnny Stiles and Luther Randolph.  I have some, (tenuous), info about the group  but will keep that off here for now as it may influence any furhr contributions and I'd rather see what (if anything), people come up with independently before pooling it all but I've never traced any connection to Detroit with Sonny's All Brothers label.  

 

Regards,

 

Dave

I was told in Philly that the "Bird Walking" track was some instrumental that Jesse James (though may have been someone else?) gave to Sonny Hopson to put on the flip to "Look In The Want Ads" and then credit to the "Emanons" consequently Sonny would have been "out of the loop" as far as a vocal cut of "Bird Walking" as it wasn't one of his productions

 

Des

I was told in Philly that the "Bird Walking" track was some instrumental that Jesse James (though may have been someone else?) gave to Sonny Hopson to put on the flip to "Look In The Want Ads" and then credit to the "Emanons" consequently Sonny would have been "out of the loop" as far as a vocal cut of "Bird Walking" as it wasn't one of his productions

 

Des

 

That's about the size of it I reckon too as far as 'Bird Walking' is concerned. The Shirley Turner vocal is a Harthon/DynoDynamics product by Johnny and Luther. 

 

Des, you ever come across any of the group or any provenance as to who they were and where they were from? 

 

Regards,

 

Dave