The label for Unlimited Four, Mel Hueston etc. Where is it from? I gather U4 were from Detroit yet the label was distributed by All Platinum (NJ). Can anyone point me at any info  - and ideally a label listing please?

 

Cheers

Billboard says Tennessee-based label.

 

Discogs has a few listed (a bit confused though, the majestics are on a different label):

https://www.discogs.com/label/199739-Chanson

 

The only one in R&B Indies not on discogs is

1181 Unlimited Four - Somebody help please / true love is hard to find

Then again, the texas chanson and tennessee chanson seem to be the same label: https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/101/Bill/SJR0560.pdf

Now that you've got me started I can't stop.

 

Texas was wrong, just as misprint in r&b indies. Both labels were tennessee and run by James Monroe Brown who also had JBP and Tee Vee labels:

 

Thanks Lars. The Ike Noble in the discogs listing is a weird one: it's supposed to share its cat number with Charlie Chuck 1177, yet there's no reference to that number on the label. Same 'Czar music' and H Collins credits as other Chanson releases though.

 

Anyone know what 1181 is?

The way it looks now I think the Ike Noble was released much later than the other 45s on Chanson. Label design is different and most references in billboard is to activity back in 1970.

 

The cat number is on the right hand side of the label. Small print. Czar music was also J.M. Brown.

An old discussion on here raises a question:

Was Ike Noble issued on three labels, and if so, which was the first one? Looks like Chanson may have been the second issue.

 I gather U4 were from Detroit

 

Toledo, Ohio if the comment below this blogpost is true:

https://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/07/30/unlimited-four-slow-down/

Edited September 30, 201410 yr by LarsC

Toledo, Ohio if the comment below this blogpost is true:

https://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/07/30/unlimited-four-slow-down/

 

Billboard 1970 has Unlimited Four recording in Detroit for a Chanson release though. Not that easy to read I'm afraid but it's seven lines from the bottom.

 

True, but that doesn't mean they're from Detroit.

I was told the Unlimited Four were from Toledo by someone else (they could have seen the same blog post but that looks pretty authentic). There were no good recording studios (for soul or rock music) in Toledo at the time so it makes sense they took the 1/2 hour drive to Detroit.

I was told the Unlimited Four were from Toledo by someone else (they could have seen the same blog post but that looks pretty authentic). There were no good recording studios (for soul or rock music) in Toledo at the time so it makes sense they took the 1/2 hour drive to Detroit.

That's WHY it was listed as a Detroit record.  Toledo is essentially part of the greater Detroit metro Area, just as Camden, New Jersey is part of metro Philadelphia, Newark, Hoboken, and the rest of Northeastern new Jersey are part of the greater New york Area, East Chicago, Hammond and Gary, Indiana are part of Chicagoland, The Kansas suburbs are part of greater Kansas City and so on.

 

Lots of Detroit singing artists, session players, songwriters producers came from Toledo.  Most artists from Detroit and southeastern Michigan played venues in Toledo, as well.

The label was from Toledo, Ohio and owned by Howard Collins. He live there but also worked in Detroit and for Motown at one stage. Most of the artists were from around the Toledo area, Ike Noble was living there at the time, Charlie Chuck owned the main black radio station. Howard moved down to Nashville with his job in the 80's, where he still lives today. When Howard left Toledo he left most of the over stock from the label in the basement of his old house. He contacted the now owners in the 90's but it had, by that time gone.

 

Toledo had it's own music scene, with labels like Chanson, Glass City, Clarks, Walking Tall etc. It also had a vibrant club scene and a major concert venue. Along with this was Charlie Chuck's radio station which signal went up as far as the outta suburbs Detroit, Youngstown and Cleveland. So with it location half way between Detroit and Cleveland many musicians went to work in both these cities also. The draw of Motown was immense as we all know, so yes many went up there looking for a break.

This label has no connection to the Texas one

Edited October 1, 201410 yr by Dave Thorley

Different label variations for this release

 

A few additions in red to what's in Discogs

 

1000 - Clentt Gant - Storms End / Certainly

1001 - Clentt Gant - I'm A Lucky So And So / I Need You So

1003 - Clentt Gant's Combo - So Hi-So Lo / Stormy Weather  ........ appears in Billboard May 30 1960

1004 - Clentt Gant - Growing Strong / If I Could Pretend

1005 - Clentt Gant - Just Like You Like It / All Mine  ........ also got a release on Duke

1006 - Majestics - Oasis Pt 1 / Oasis Pt 2

1007 - Majestics - Riding By / Safari

1008 - Majestics - Blue Flame / ?   ............... on Moerer's site

1177 - Ike Noble - Your Love / Your Love Has Got Gusto

1177 - Charlie Chuck - Curiosity Kills / Disc Jockey Rap

1178 - Unlimited Four - I Wanna Be Happy / Calling

1179 - Mel Hueston - Double Confusion / Time and Patience

1180 - Unlimited Four - Slow Down / Walk Away Lover

1181 - Unlimited Four - Somebody Help, Please / True Love Is Hard To Find (I Believe In You)

1182 - Evalene Braden - Somebody Else / That's What Soul Is

1184 - Bobby Shaw - Couped Up Apartments / Miserable World  ........... appears in Billboard Nov 13 1971

 

1002  , 1183  ????

 

another interesting thread

 

The label was from Toledo, Ohio and owned by Howard Collins.

 

This label has no connection to the Texas one

 

The commemorative bill I linked to earlier says the label was started by J.M. Brown. Billboard refers to J.M. Brown as President of Chanson.

 

There is no Texas label. It was a misprint in R&B Indies (TX/TN). The label is from Pulaski, Tennessee.

 

Howard Collins may have been co-owner?

Chanson.PNG

 

 

A few additions in red to what's in Discogs

 

1000 - Clentt Gant - Storms End / Certainly

1001 - Clentt Gant - I'm A Lucky So And So / I Need You So

1003 - Clentt Gant's Combo - So Hi-So Lo / Stormy Weather  ........ appears in Billboard May 30 1960

1004 - Clentt Gant - Growing Strong / If I Could Pretend

1005 - Clentt Gant - Just Like You Like It / All Mine  ........ also got a release on Duke

1006 - Majestics - Oasis Pt 1 / Oasis Pt 2

1007 - Majestics - Riding By / Safari

1008 - Majestics - Blue Flame / ?   ............... on Moerer's site

1177 - Ike Noble - Your Love / Your Love Has Got Gusto

1177 - Charlie Chuck - Curiosity Kills / Disc Jockey Rap

1178 - Unlimited Four - I Wanna Be Happy / Calling

1179 - Mel Hueston - Double Confusion / Time and Patience

1180 - Unlimited Four - Slow Down / Walk Away Lover

1181 - Unlimited Four - Somebody Help, Please / True Love Is Hard To Find (I Believe In You)

1182 - Evalene Braden - Somebody Else / That's What Soul Is

1184 - Bobby Shaw - Couped Up Apartments / Miserable World  ........... appears in Billboard Nov 13 1971

 

1002  , 1183  ????

 

another interesting thread

 

The Tennessee label cat No 1000-1008 is not related to 1177 - 1184 label, which is the Toledo, Ohio label.

I know Howard and his wife Susan really well. have chatted to them many times about their Toledo label. At the time the Tennessee label was running Howard was working in Toledo and Detroit.

Edited October 1, 201410 yr by Dave Thorley

PS

 

Howard also owned Skippyophonics label which had The Magnificent Opinions on it and Connowil which he put out more Ike material on. In 2002 he put out a CD LP on his Reppiks label, which contained some previous unreleased Ike vocals, laid onto contemporary backing, plus a couple of remakes. The album title is The d'Kalendars - Hotter than heat, the Ike songs are killas

Edited October 1, 201410 yr by Dave Thorley

Then who is J. M. Brown?

 

 

And why are both labels always publishing through Czar? Czar was also started by James Monroe Brown who ran the Tennessee Chanson.

1000 - Clentt Gant - Storms End / Certainly ......... Billboard 7. des 1959

1001 - Clentt Gant - I'm A Lucky So And So / I Need You So ........ Billboard 23. jun 1962

1003 - Clentt Gant's Combo - So Hi-So Lo / Stormy Weather  ........ appears in Billboard May 30 1960 AND Billboard 23. jun 1962

 

These records must have been circulating for quite some time.

Czar in Pulaski:

 

Then who is J. M. Brown?

 

Chanson2.PNG

 

And why are both labels always publishing through Czar? Czar was also started by James Monroe Brown who ran the Tennessee Chanson.

I'll ask Howard, but it could well have been a DJ. It was common to give DJ's titles at record labels, like president, head of A&R etc, that way you got yor records played

I'll ask Howard, but it could well have been a DJ. It was common to give DJ's titles at record labels, like president, head of A&R etc, that way you got yor records played

 

It would be great to hear from Howard on this

Brown also has writers credits on many of the songs released on the 70's Chanson label.

It would be great to hear from Howard on this

Brown also has writers credits on many of the songs released on the 70's Chanson label.

 

Also Lars, sorry had a massive brain freeze, Howard now lives in Atlanta, have amended above posts to read correctly

Thanks for the input guys - great info here and the kind of thing that this site does so well. I've solved 1183, so this is what we have so for for the (Toledo) Chanson label:

 

1177 - Ike Noble - Your Love / Your Love Has Got Gusto

1177 - Charlie Chuck - Curiosity Kills / Disc Jockey Rap

1178 - Unlimited Four - I Wanna Be Happy / Calling

1179 - Mel Hueston - Double Confusion / Time and Patience

1180 - Unlimited Four - Slow Down / Walk Away Lover

1181 - Unlimited Four - Somebody Help, Please / True Love Is Hard To Find (I Believe In You)

1182 - Evalene Braden - Somebody Else / That's What Soul Is

1183 - Street People Incorporated -   Hurt's On Me, Baby / Someday We'll Be Together

1184 - Bobby Shaw - Couped Up Apartments / Miserable World 

 

The Street People Inc 45 is written by S Robinson  - presumably Sylvia and same as The Moments, which provides another link to All Platinum.

 

Do we think that's it or there any further releases?

The producer on 1183 is also interesting. Most releases credit the producer as "chanson staff".

They've also used Gambi as publisher, just like on several All Platinum releases.

 

Edited October 1, 201410 yr by LarsC

This label appears to be related:

https://collectorsfrenzy.com/details/370591785306/NORTHERN_SOUL_45__INTERNATIONAL_FIVE__I_NEED_YOU__STARWAY__RARE

This label appears to be related:

https://collectorsfrenzy.com/details/370591785306/NORTHERN_SOUL_45__INTERNATIONAL_FIVE__I_NEED_YOU__STARWAY__RARE

 

 

Cheers Matt, that's a new one on me

1181

This label appears to be related:

https://collectorsfrenzy.com/details/370591785306/NORTHERN_SOUL_45__INTERNATIONAL_FIVE__I_NEED_YOU__STARWAY__RARE

 

Chanson production credit and written by Skip August. I'd love to know how this fits with the rest.

 

Skip August had one (or more) record on J.M. Browns Tee Vee label: https://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=4025595

He's also credited on several releases from Skippyophonic.

 

Image from link added for reference:

 

Edited October 2, 201410 yr by LarsC

I just went back and read the old and noticed this scan:

 

 

That is probably Evalene Braden. On James M. Brown's JBP label from Pulaski. The old Chanson and new Chanson are clearly linked in my opinion.

Chanson production credit and written by Skip August. I'd love to know how this fits with the rest.

 

Skip August had one (or more) record on J.M. Browns Tee Vee label:

 

 

Two by Skip on Tee-Vee...his "What Goes Up" is fabulous Northern and still under the radar   

OK lets start with an apology. Sorry to those I disagreed with over the connection between all labels. Met with James Browns sister and spoke to Howard over the last two weeks. They were connected, the label started down in Tennessee with James running it. Skip August was Howard Collins, who got more and more involved, when he moved to Toledo, he started recording more artists up there and became Vice-President of the label. Howard then left taking his artists with him and started up Connowil Records. James did a licence deal with All Platinum to put some of the releases out. James died some years ago, I now working with all to try and pull the whole thing together.

Skip August was Howard Collins

 

Oh, that makes some connections even more fascinating. He used both names on some later releases on connowil and skippyophonic.

If you get the chance I'd like to find out who "M. Harrison" was. That name is credited on several songs.

And who was Charlie Chuck on Chanson?

Hi Soul Source friends. Time will not permit me to bring you up-to-date concerning the past 50 years and more. I am Howard Collins, and my "show/performing" name is "Skip August". I am the arranger/composer/songwriter/trumpeter/bassist/vocalist, guitarist/ owner of Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, Reppiks Records, Skipper's Publishing Company, H  and  S  Productions and Connowil Productions. Owner of the artists Ike Noble, d' Kalendars, Heet 'n' Koolin Sistm, Magnificent Opinions, and my newly formed group Pryoritea ( which soundbites can be heard at: dkalendars/pryoritea/cdbaby ). In the past, I was the owner and arranger for my groups "Skip August and band, The Kalendars, LMNOPs, International Five, Paul Griffin, Mel Houston,  Charlie Chuck, and The Unlimited Four",(whose lead singer/Joseph Butts, I used to form my group Magnificent Opinions ). I am also a very quiet and family person, and this is why I am not on a lot of "social media". PLUS !!!! Would anyone really believe me if I had previously mentioned all of the above ? (smile).  But, I have tons of photos, sound recordings, write-ups etc. that I am now revealing to everyone, because after 50 some years of enjoying music, I will be completing my last album on my new group Pryoritea. Up for sale will be all my artists, their contracts, their "masters", the artists "registered names", 3 licensed record labels ( Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records and Reppiks Records), Skipper's Publishing Company, H  and  S  Productions and Connowil Productions. All collectables ( 45 rpms and 12 inch singles ) photos, "bios", and a "never-released Country Album" will also be up-for-sale. All of our artists can be heard at cdbaby.com . It took 50 years to say this.--- Howard Collins / "Skip August".  

What started off as a fairly simple question has developed into a fascinating and informative discussion that in some respects has become something of a voyage of discovery, one that's resulted with the man at the heart of the mystery - your good self - popping up as if a musical genie from a bottle! 

 

Welcome to Soul Source, Mr Howard Collins aka Skip August. 

 

Always been a huge admirer of the recordings of the Unlimited Four on Chanson, by the way. Now I'll let the more knowledgable folks on here resume their discussion. 

Hi Soul Source again. Recently, I posted information concerning my 50 years enjoying music. I've also noticed several questions that I will address: (1) I, Howard Collins AM "Skip August", (which is my "stage/show/performing name).  (2) I started playing guitar for James Brown of Pulaski, Tennessee after I got out of college. James released an artist named Clint Gant. I played guitar on the songs "Lucky So And So" and "I Need You So". James Brown made me vice-president of Chanson Records. I also was senior writer for several groups that I brought to Chanson Records/Czar Publishing/Tee Vee Records and J.B.P. Productions. Some of my groups on Chanson Records were "Skip August" and band, LMNOPs, The Kalendars, Mel Houston, Paul Griffin, The International Five, Charlie Chuck, and The Unlimited Four. ( 3) The agreement between Chanson and myself was that James Brown had me do the arranging/composing/songwriting and recording of my groups at United Sounds Studios in Detroit, and the "masters" would be shipped to James in Pulaski, Tennessee. Paul Griffin's "master" was taken to Toronto, Canada and released on Reo Records. (4) My group The Unlimited Four was first released on a BLUE LABEL on Chanson, but later picked up by All Platinum Records in New Jersey ( "I Wanna Be Happy","Calling","Walk Away Lover). (5) After my writing for my group The International Five ( So In Love With You / I Need You ), James had that group picked up by Starway Records. (6) James Brown kept me ("Skip August") on Chanson and Tee Vee Records, ( Shindig U. S. A. part 1, What goes up, Kalendars/It Takes Two Babe, I'll Love Only You, LMNOPS/Calling/"I Need You" ). (7) James Brown used Mel Harrison as his "road-man / A & R man / promotion man". But, the Chanson agreement was to list all of Chanson's  people at one time or another on our releases. (8) After working with James Brown for several years, I started my own licensed record labels ( Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, and Reppiks Records). I also established my own publishing company Skipper's Publishing Company, and I formed artists on my labels such as: Ike Noble, d'Kalendars, Heet 'n' Koolin' Sistm, Magnificent Opinions, and my newly formed group Pryoritea. My recording band d'Kalendars did much of the back-up recordings for our artists. As I have previously stated, I try to stay very quiet, or as one might say: "in the background". So, it took me over 50 years to mention these statements, plus the statement that I released earlier to Soul Source. The reason is that I am now putting my entire music business up for sale. I"ve enjoyed the years, and after I complete my new group Pryoritea's album, I probably will become quiet again (smile). Connowil Records artists can still be heard at cdbaby.com .

Thanks you Soul Source and all its friends. I hope I have answered a great deal of your questions.

 

Howard Collins / "Skip August"    

Whats the Street People version like please?

Howard, thanks for clearing up some of the questions we had. I'm trying to clean up the listings of Chanson and everyone related to the label on discogs.com and you've made it a lot easier. Currently your profile is mixed with that of a jazz guitarist: https://www.discogs.com/artist/282559-Howard-Collins

I'm splitting them up, but just to be sure; You haven't had a jazz career, have you?

 

(If you don't know discogs.com it's a database that attempts to become a wikipedia for records. The site is built by contributions of volunteers.)

Hello Howard, thanks so much for your answers and for all the years of writing and producing music. Were the International Five, LMNOPs, and Kalenders groups from Toledo?

I found several copies of the Magnificent Opinions records out here in Bellingham, WA.

Hi LarsC,

Yes, I did have a jazz career in music playing trumpet. I also worked a country club circuit for 20 years.

Hi George G,

The following artists that I discovered were from Toledo, Ohio: International Five, Unlimited Four, LMNOPs, Kalendars, Magnificent Opinions, Heet 'n' Koolin' Sistm, Ike Noble, Skip August, Paul Griffin, Mel Houston, and Charlie Chuck. Being very close to Detroit, Michigan, Toledo had some very good talent. A great number of these artists were later placed on one of my three labels: Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, or Reppiks Records. C D Baby is still playing soundbites on some of these artists.

 

Howard / "Skip"  

Hi Godzilla,

Chanson #1181 was on my group The Unlimited Four: "True Love Is Hard To Find"/"Somebody Help, Please". Chanson #1177 was on another one my artist Charlie Chuck. When the #1177 was also given to my artist Ike Noble, that was a misprint. I brought Charlie Chuck to Chanson/Czar right before I brought Ike Noble to Chanson/Czar.

 

Howard / "Skip"  

Hi Russell Gilbert,

I'm glad you like my group The Unlimited Four. Just to bring you up-to-date: I took my lead singer from my group The Unlimited Four and formed a group named Magnificent Opinions. C D BABY is still playing soundbites of this group.  

 

Howard / "Skip"

On 01/10/2014 at 12:08, Dave Thorley said:

 

 

The Tennessee label cat No 1000-1008 is not related to 1177 - 1184 label, which is the Toledo, Ohio label.

I know Howard and his wife Susan really well. have chatted to them many times about their Toledo label. At the time the Tennessee label was running Howard was working in Toledo and Detroit.

Dave

As you know Howard really well I wondered if you could ask him about the Four Tracks on Mandigo as I have a sneaky suspicion that he may have well been involved (arranged is H. Collins) and the label was from Toledo

I have been doing some digging about the group (which I can find nothing about) and this is the only connection I can find, it would be great to clarify

Edited December 25, 20186 yr by Blackpoolsoul