Have had so much fun reading and contributing to the Philly International tread. This made me think about TK and all of Henry Stone's other labels.

Although he started out in the 60's, his biggest output has to be about the same time as the Philly International label. Infact you could say apart from Motown, he was Philly's main indie competitor.

So hard to find tunes from his stable and sound clips if you've got them. This compared to many other areas is a bit of a gap for me so, i'll read and listen with interest.

Dave

Always had an fascination for Florida soul and collected the TK labels for years.

Can start off with a few obscure ones with a funky edge:

Phillip Wright "Keep her happy" Dash

Robert Moore "Tears of the world" Blue Candle

Raw Soul Express "The way we live" Cat

Broomfield Corporate Jam "Does anybody really know" Taurus

And philly connection - Silver Blue had one or two Tk distributed discs.

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by KarlM

rumpus / loves gonna find ya / dash

rocky mizzel / never never girl / drive

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by sepia

Agree with Karl on the Phillip Wright, Milton Wrights brother I believe.

I think plenty of Latimore stuff is very worthwhile.

Particular cheap fav of mine at the mo is Archie Bell / Dancing To Your Music on Glades, with the great line:

'I'll cut you a rug, cause I'm so in love.......'

Controllers had some nice sides too.

rocky mizzel / never never girl / drive

Was he related to the Mizzells? As in the Blue Note fellas?

rumpus / loves gonna find ya / dash

rocky mizzel / never never girl / drive

There is also a nice George McRae version of "Never never girl", can't remember the title of the lp its on but it's the one with a painted portrait in a frame.

Rumpus sure is not a soul group more like rock fusion in the same vein as Foxy, don't know of any other releases than the one mentioned above though.

Was he related to the Mizzells? As in the Blue Note fellas?

There we have another Philly connection, the Blue Notes Glades album has a couple of philly styled killers - "We can make it" and "Standing by you girl" (also 45 release).

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by KarlM

my faves have to be

purple mundi on cat

brand new on du-vern

the first k.c and the sunshine lp.....not a duff track on it

There is also a nice George McRae version of "Never never girl", can't remember the title of the lp its on but it's the one with a painted portrait in a frame.

Rumpus sure is not a soul group more like rock fusion in the same vein as Foxy, don't know of any other releases than the one mentioned above though.

Not sure Karl about Rumpus, it's a great uptempo dancer, don't sound very rock influenced to me

my faves have to be

purple mundi on cat

brand new on du-vern

the first k.c and the sunshine lp.....not a duff track on it

2 of my early great buys, when I was a young un. Found a Purple Mundi in a junk shop in Swindon and then played at Yate. Brand New got as a new release, but never played it out until Stafford

A few fave steppers/mellow groove tracks:

Billion Dollar Band "Smiling morning love" Good Sounds LP

Paulette Reaves "You are my star" Blue Candle LP

Latimore "Sweet vibrations" Glades LP + 45

Variations "I can show you" Amour LP (also on Salsoul 7" as well as on their non tk distributed Amour album)

Phillip Wright "Keep her happy" Dash

Raw Soul Express "The way we live" Cat

Love these.

Still haven't got myself a copy of that Philip Wright 45 though.

Wouldn't mind the Funky Nassau "Bahama Soul Stew" 45 on DRIVE either.

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by Sebastian

Wish I Had A Girl Like You - all the people feat. robert moore - blue candle

14199 refosoul

My current T.K. favourite is T-Connections Playing Games on Dash!

Probably has six or seven guitar solos and I would'nt dare to play it out but I can't help loving it.

here's a few nice ones from the TK stable

both sides of the J.P. Robinson are good

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by Chunky

Wish I Had A Girl Like You - all the people feat. robert moore - blue candle

14199 refosoul

Good call! I prefer All the People before the Little Beaver version. Both All the People 45's and the "Look what you can't get" flip of Funky Nassau definitely has that great Miami funk feel.

Take it all off - george mccrae - blue candle

14201 refosoul

would this be the local release....Soul City being West Coast?..

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by platters 81

Take it all off - george mccrae - blue candle

14201 refosoul

would this be the local release....Soul City being West Coast?..

ummmn never seen it on Blue Candle!

another that's just sprung to mind on the TK label is Sundray Tucker "If It Was Me"

Not sure Karl about Rumpus, it's a great uptempo dancer, don't sound very rock influenced to me

Karamba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Philly AND a Florida 70's thread going at the same time - me head's going to explode

Do like Rumpus - more of a disco/soul dancer and not a lot of rock in there imho!

Ockers'll be along in a minute cos his avatar is Rumpus

Right, 70's Detroit........................only joking - got enough on our plates at the mo'

Cheers

Steve

Two good ones by King Tutt:

"Keep on" Dash 45 + Tk Disco 12" - dancer

"Even though" Tk 45 + Tk Disco 12" - fab stepper

Opening up the Jamaica connection. A couple of more there that springs to mind is Chosen Few (US Konduko Lp + 45, UK Trojan LP "Chosen Few in Miami", Jamaica Micron LP "Night & Day" - I think all the mentioned LP's contains the same tracks) and Funky Brown (US Glades LP, Jamaica LP release as well but forgot the label, can be Micron). The later is a pretty dull LP with PIR classics like "Let's make a baby". Chosen Few includes the soul killer "Wandering" (b/w "Funky buttercup") which also got a 45 release in Usa and Europe.

Btw the issue of the Charles Johnson Dash 45 has a great flip in "Don't loose the groove", another example of the fine Miami funk soul sound.

Karamba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Philly AND a Florida 70's thread going at the same time - me head's going to explode

Do like Rumpus - more of a disco/soul dancer and not a lot of rock in there imho!

Ockers'll be along in a minute cos his avatar is Rumpus

Right, 70's Detroit........................only joking - got enough on our plates at the mo'

Cheers

Steve

Well it took you long enough to get here

Do like Rumpus - more of a disco/soul dancer and not a lot of rock in there imho!

Still feel this got a white rock sound to it.. A bit like the Hokis Pokis releases, fusion between rock/soul/funk/disco.

Talking about that sound - Foxy! "Madamoiselle" is one of my all time faves. Anorak confession of the day - I have three releases of that album. One with plain yellow Dash design, one with black logo on green background and the multicoloured with a photo like background (Like Charles Johnson Dash issue). I also have a vague memory that there might be one more label design it was released on...

Take it all off - george mccrae - blue candle

New one to me - excellent stuff!

Current TK faves are the George & Gwen McCrae LP with Winners Together & Mechanical Body.....

Little Beaver - Groove on

And this little gem

Girf

Here's a profile and an interview Henry sent me sometime ago. I've a few other bits somewhere he sent. Henry also has his own website ands still in the business, plenty of cds on his site on offer....

https://www.henrystonemusic.com/

Industry Profile: Henry Stone

" By Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

Henry Stone has long been known around the world as one of the pioneers of the record industry. After working with vinyl, cassettes and CDs, Henry is now moving into music's digital era with worldwide digital distribution of his product on The Legendary Henry Stone label to all of the most popular digital services in the world.

In his almost six decades in the business, Henry has discovered talents that have sold millions of records and become international stars. He has formed record companies with hits so big and meaningful that they created new categories in music. Henry was born in the Bronx, N.Y. He played the trumpet, and after a stint in the Army he moved to Los Angeles where, in 1946, he started his career by selling records to jukebox operators from the trunk of his car. In 1948 he moved to Miami, Fla. and started to record and distribute the abundance of Miami doo-wop, blues, gospel and R&B artists. Henry says he "wanted to funk up the world," and he started doing just that via his own Chart, Rockin' and Glory labels.

Dabbling in production, Henry was one of the first to record Ray Charles, James Brown, Wilbert Harrison, Sam & Dave and Hank Ballard and The Midnighters. Hank Ballard and The Midnighters scored with "The Twist." In 1954 Henry entered into a deal with King Records as a 50% owner of the Deluxe Label. His first million-selling hit was The Charms' "Hearts of Stone" in 1955. Other records from that era include Otis Williams and the Charms on Rockin' Records with "Ling, Ting, Tong," "Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin')" and "Two Hearts Two Kisses;" and Nat Kendrick and The Swans (James Brown's Band) on Dade with "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes."

Henry soon launched a dozen more Miami based record labels such as Dade, Glades, Marlin and Scott in the '50s. He also founded Tone Distributors in that same year. Tone became one of the most successful independent record distribution companies, working with Atlantic Records, Motown Records, MGM, and Warner Brothers.

Regarded as brilliant at discovering and nurturing new talent, Henry's biggest worldwide successes came during the '70's with Tone Distributors and a small label called TK Records that was built into a row of warehouses in Hialeah, Fla., an industrial area west of Miami, far from the major record business centers. There he exploded with what became the number one independent record label in the world.

Henry had let two kids who were working in the warehouse experiment in the recording studio: Harry Wayne Casey, who became known as KC, and Rick Finch. They wrote the number one "Rock Your Baby," which George McCrae sang, and soon, as KC and The Sunshine Band, released their own string of number one hits such as "Get Down Tonight" and "That's The Way I Like It." With hits that kept dance floors and film soundtracks hopping, Henry and TK Records helped create and lead the disco phenomenon.

At the same time that he spearheaded the disco era, Henry and label vice president Steve Alaimo, himself a former teen idol and hit recording artist, had created another new category in music that took the world by storm: "The Miami Sound." In addition to KC and The Sunshine Band and George McCrae on the TK label, Henry's other labels included Betty Wright ("Clean Up Woman") on Alston, Timmy Thomas ("Why Can't We Live Together") on Glades , Clarence Reid ("Nobody But You Babe" on Alston, Little Beaver ("Party Down") on Cat, Peter Brown ("Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me", "Dance With Me") on Drive, Bobby Caldwell ("What You Won't Do For Love") on Cloud, Anita Ward ("Ring My Bell") on Juana, Beginning of the End ("Funky Nassau") on Alston, Foxy ("Get Off") on Drive, T-Connection ("Do What You Wanna Do") on Dash, Gwen McCrae ("Rockin Chair") on Cat, and Latimore "Let's Straighten It Out," and "Keep the Home Fire Burnin") on Glad.

Regarded as a living legend, Henry is one of the last, still active independent label executives who was one of the heavyweights with artists from the '40's, '50's and '60's, with label heads like Syd Nathan, George Goldner, the Bihari Brothers, Ewart Abner, the Erteguns, Jerry Wexler, Hy Weiss, and Morris Levy.

For decades, followers of Henry and his music from all over have made pilgrimages to Florida to meet the man who has uniquely worked with so many greats, and so many genres, for so many years. In fact, it is with the help of some of his loyal admirers that Henry has been able to find and digitize some of the old and lost rare classic records by artists like Ray Charles, James Brown, Earl Hooker, Steve Alaimo, Nat Kendrick and The Swans, Yvonne Fair, Lightnin' Hopkins and many more. On his new label, The Legendary Henry Stone Presents, many of the rare and cherished classics created by Henry are available on his site at www.henrystonemusic.com and distributed by the Orchard to all digital and mobile services around the world.

Henry recently won his claim in court that he is the owner of four original Ray Charles master recordings that were cut at his Miami studio in 1951. Henry's claim was challenged by Joe Adams, representing the estate of Ray Charles, but the estate never responded to the legal questions of ownership and the court awarded Henry the final judgment.

Henry said that back then Ray Charles was just another young musician in need of work. Though he was very good, he had not yet made a name for himself, and Henry gave him time in the studio to make the four recordings, "I Found My Baby," "Walkin' and Talkin,'" "Why Did You Go," and "I'm Wondering and Wondering."

"As was customary in those years for studio musicians," says Henry, "there were no contracts, musicians were paid as work-for-hire, and the record label owned the music recorded. There were no mega music companies and no mega music law firms; deals were man to man between honorable men in the business. The studio musicians were grateful for the work."

In 2005 Henry was awarded the first-ever Pioneer Award for the Dance Music Hall of Fame, which was presented in New York City at Spirit Nightclub. He also received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for the Winter Music Conference in Miami.

Why did you have so many different record labels at the same time?

When I started TK Records, I had George McCrae and KC & The Sunshine Band on the label. I started to make quite a few records and found that if I put them all on TK there would be a problem with the radio stations playing numerous TK hits, so I decided to use different labels i.e. Timmy Thomas on Glades, Betty Wright on Alston, Gwen McCrae on Cat, Peter Brown on Drive, Bobby Caldwell on Clouds and numerous other hit records on various labels. This way I was able to have five, six or seven hit records on the radio charts at the same time.

How important is dance/disco music in the history of American music?

One of the first disco hit records was the song "Rock You Baby" by George McCrae on TK. This song was number one in every disco club in the world, followed by KC & The Sunshine Band and over 20 gold and platinum disco records. So, of course, with this kind of impact and popularity, the 70's were very instrumental in making history in the music business where TK was a leader in this era. Disco left its mark not only in the music but also was part of a cultural revolution. Disco took on a life of its own and became a part of American music history.

What was it like working with Ray Charles, James Brown, Sam & Dave and Hank Ballard and the Midnighters before they were well known?

Ray Charles - In 1950 I met Ray at a hotel in Miami's Overtown. I liked how he sounded and asked him to come by my little studio and cut a few sides. He came by and at first he played and sounded a lot like Nat King Cole, and I suggested that we try and record more blues type material. He was very cooperative and said, yes, he would. And we recorded four sides, "St. Pete Florida Blues", "I'm Walkin' and Talkin'," "Wondering and Wondering" and "Why Did You Go."

James Brown - I met him in Augusta, Ga. around 1954 when I went to sign him to be on King Records, where we recorded "Please, Please, Please," which was James Brown's first hit record. He was very enthusiastic, and a dynamic performer. He was very easy to work with in the early years though he was always a perfectionist when it came to his music. We became very good friends and remain so today.

Sam & Dave - In the early 1960's in Miami there were two young guys, Sam Moore and Dave Prater, who got together and called themselves Sam & Dave. I heard them in a club in Miami and fell in love with their sound. They were eager to get a hit record and were very easy to work with. Later on I put them on Atlantic/Stax Records, where they were produced by Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter, and where they had many hits.

Hank Ballard - During my stint with Deluxe/King records I did some recording with Hank Ballard and The Midnighters. When his contract with King was up, he came to me for some advice, asking me what label I thought he should sign with. He wanted to be on a major independent label--either Chess or V-Jay. I worked out a deal for Hank to record for V-Jay Records. They asked if I would record him, and I agreed. While doing the session one of the songs he played was a blues version of "The Twist." I suggested that he put a dance beat to it which he did, and the rest is history.

Why did you sign Sam & Dave to Stax rather than one of your labels?

I made a deal with Atlantic Records to sign Sam & Dave for national release. Atlantic informed me that they would like to put Sam & Dave on the newly formed Stax Label. I agreed with the stipulation that Issac Hayes and David Porter produced it.

What did you do after TK Records' golden years?

I formed SunnyView Records and had quite a few hits. "Funky Little Beat" by Connie and the group Newcleus with their hit "Jam On It," which sold over a million records. These were two of the biggest charted records on SunnyView.

What music are you putting on the web now?

The songs and music that I'm putting on the web now are songs and masters that I recorded in the '50's,' 60's and early '70's. The artists that I have released so far are Benny Latimore, Steve Alaimo, Sam & Dave, Bobby Byrd, J.P. Robinson, David Hudson, Jimmy Bo Horne, Ray Charles, Nat Kendrick and the Swans, Miami Funk Vol. 1 and Miami Funk Vol.2, Clarence Reid, Roach Thompson as well as a collection of Blowfly CDs. These are old masters and tracks that were originally on 45's or LP's. We have digitized them for the web where I'm selling them on my website/store. And, thanks to my old business friend and industry veteran Janet Oseroff, I'm also distributing the tracks globally through the Orchard to digital download services such as iTunes, eMusic, etc.

It's very exciting seeing this great old music being released on CD through the web, where it can be accessed throughout the world. This is music that would otherwise be lost or available to only a few collectors. They're now available for all to enjoy.

How do you feel about free internet downloads?

It's terrible. It's as though you own something and someone comes along and takes it for nothing. It's not fair to the artist, the owner of the master, the writers. When people walk into a restaurant and order a cup of coffee, they pay for it. Why should they get free music? This music is how people make their living.

Why did you call your label The Legendary Henry Stone Records?

Because for many years people have called me a legend in my own lifetime for my 50+ years of work in the music business. I thought it would be a good idea to let people know that these productions were created by me and rather than just putting out another oldies CD, I thought it would hold a special interest to people to know that this is part of a collection of music that I've been a part of.

Do you plan to go back to a traditional means of distributing music with new artists and sales in stores?

At the present time I want to concentrate on my website/store and digital distribution, but I'm keeping the doors open for any future hits that may cross my path. The original Ray Charles record of "Walking' and Talkin'" that I recorded on the Rockin Records label in the 1950's is being brought into the 21st Century with a great dance remix by Christian Dio, one of the industry's top mixers. Dio has mixed for artists as like Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Angie Stone.

While veteran music man Sam Weiss and I were sunning ourselves in Florida, our son's Joe Stone and Michael Weiss were brought together by record industry A&R man Hosh Gureli. They joined forces and put this great project together. The remix will be released on Nervous Records for worldwide distribution. Look for this ground-breaking remix to hit the street immediately.

First concert attended

James Brown in 1955 at The Palm's Of Hallandale in Hallandale, Fla.

First concert worked

In 1958 I promoted a James Brown concert in Miami, Fla.

First industry job

In 1947, when I was discharged from the army, I went to work for the Bihari Brothers' Modern Records in California in sales and promotion.

Career highlights

In 1954 I produced my first million-selling record with the Charms on my Deluxe Label, "Heart's Of Stone." In the 1960's I owned and operated Tone Distribution. I was an independent distributor, and I distributed Atlantic Records, Motown Records, MGM, and Warner Bros. These companies were all independent companies at the time.

I also recorded pre TK several labels such as: Rockin, Chart, Dade, Dash, Alston, etc. I recorded Ray Charles, Sam & Dave, Funky Nassau, Betty Wright and many more. In the 1970's I founded TK where I produced KC and the Sunshine Band, George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby," Peter Brown, T. Connection, Foxy, Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell", and many more. All in all I had 23 gold and platinum records worldwide in the 1970's. In the 1980's I had the group Newcleus "Jam On It" and the Dance Classic "Fascinated" by Company B. In the early 1990's I had another success with my group Two Live Jews created by my son Joe Stone with the album "As Kosher As They Want To Be."

Now in the seventh decade of my career, I'm re-releasing my pre TK catalog of R&B and funk classics for its entrance into the new frontier of digital music through the Orchard the largest distributor of independent digital music. They distribute to iTunes, Napster, EMusic and many more, making my product available worldwide. I also have my own website /store where all of my product is available with artwork, stories and photos.

Career disappointments

The collapse of disco, which TK was a big part of. Disco was denounced by the media unfairly. In 1978-1979 TK Records was flying high with disco. Disco music was everywhere, and I was enjoying the sound that my label was helping to spread. Practically every disco record that I put out, whether you want to call them disco or dance, I put on the pop charts. I crossed every one of those records over from the R&B stations to the pop charts. Quite a few number ones. The disco backlash happened in 1979-80 when TK was strong, going along with hit after hit. Then came the anti-disco movement over in Chicago and that spread around the country. Then the CBS-TV news program "60 Minutes" picked up on it and said," Disco is Dead" and mentioned my company TK Records and Casablanca. The Wall Street Journal had a headline, "Disco Is Dead..." It was terrible, really. At that time I had the number one record in the world with KC's first ballad "Please Don't Go." I was just freaking out because the feedback came financially. It hurt my company, every company. The whole industry collapsed.

Greatest challenge

Taking my R&B records that I believed in and crossing them over to the pop charts.

Best business decision

In the early 1970's Jerry Wexler, vice president of Atlantic Records, informed me that Tone Distribution, along with all the other independent distributors, would no longer be distributing the Atlantic, Warner Bros. and Electra Records, which were all owned by Warner Bros. They were going to form their own WEA Distribution Company and would no longer use independent companies to distribute their product. Upon hearing this information I made the decision to go 100% into the manufacturing business and form TK Records.

Best advice you received

Stay focused on what you're doing and be aware of change.

Best advice to offer

If you believe in what you're doing, stick with it, follow your gut and do what you love to.

Most memorable industry experience

There are many. One among those is in the 1970's, receiving 23 gold and platinum records.

Favorite team/athlete

Miami Dolphins/Dan Marino because he was a great quarterback and through the years that he played, I always enjoyed watching him. He stuck with his team and always played to win.

What friends would be surprised to learn about you

That after 55 years in the record industry I'm still active and have gone into the digital world.

Industry pet peeve

When people started to download records for free, which hurts the industry.

Office paraphernalia

Most important is my computer.

If I wasn't doing this, I would be....

...still be in the music business. Music is my passion.

Industry mentor

Berry Gordy.

Come On With It - lew kirton - marlin

14203 refosoul

One of the best 70's records IMHO. One of Henry's labels and distributed by TK.

another article Henry e-mailed......

Mr Henry Stone has another project too. He keeps it quiet but he is involved in a sort of "Talking Books For The Blind" organisation. His eyesight is extremely bad, (he is eighty too), and he fronts a donation programme that converts books to braille or records them onto CD. Top Bloke!

Story Jeff Lemlich told me....His ex wife, (Henry's), was having a garage sale and Jeff spied the address in then local paper. He rang her and asked if she had any records in the sale. She said yes. He asked if he could pop round and take a look. You know what 's coming next don't you?...Yep, he scooped...Jimmy Bo Horne, Purple Monday etc.

Regards,

Dave

www.theresthatbeat.com

www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

Talking about that sound - Foxy! "Madamoiselle" is one of my all time faves. Anorak confession of the day - I have three releases of that album. One with plain yellow Dash design, one with black logo on green background and the multicoloured with a photo like background (Like Charles Johnson Dash issue). I also have a vague memory that there might be one more label design it was released on...

I like that one as well. Very hippie-psych-rock-rare-groove-soul and a bit strange. I've got the LP on both green/black Dash design and on TK Holland. Did this track ever slip out on a 45 in some country?

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by Sebastian

Little Beaver "Do Right Man" (Saadia)

Available for mere mortals to hear, right here:

CLICK!

Check out GOOD THINGS the Saadia Records Story (on Jazzman) - Pearl Dowdell, Little Beaver, Robert Moore etc. There's also some great stuff on the FLORIDA FUNK comp, Sam Baker (on Saadia), Vanessa Kendricks "90% of Me Is You" etc.

There's also a great compilation "Eccentric Soul: The Deep City Label" on Numero, feat. Helene Smith, Betty Wright, Frank Williams. So much great Florida soul and funk...

Talking about that sound - Foxy! "Madamoiselle" is one of my all time faves.

So so huge on the two step scene of the late 80s/early 90s....

I like that one as well. Very hippie-psych-rock-rare-groove-soul and a bit strange. I've got the LP on both green/black Dash design and on TK Holland. Did this track ever slip out on a 45 in some country?

Don't think so but I keep hoping and flipping over every 45 I see with them. A Tk Disco 12" would be even cooler.

All the Foxy LP label designs I described are Us pressed. Is the Dutch one featuring the design with tk palm tree logos in pink and purple?

Is the Dutch one featuring the design with tk palm tree logos in pink and purple?

thanks that was the one I meant!

Bit of a cheat this,cause RCA copy Dutch

10112 refosoul but came out on CAT thats a TK jobby aint it.

Always loved the Del Rays Inc-Destiation Unknown-Tampete, from the first time I heard Steve Smith play it at an early Yate. I'm sure this was a TK label, it's a Marlin production.

Come On With It - lew kirton - marlin

14203 refosoul

One of the best 70's records IMHO. One of Henry's labels and distributed by TK.

Fantastic record - with an equally fantastic flip - 'Do What You Want, Be What You Are'.

Good version of 'Come On with It' by the writer Clarence Reid on Alston too.

Paulette Reaves 'Secret Lover' on Blue Candle is another favourite 'Deep' side of mine.

and I have to mention 'Calypso Breakdown' - Ralph Mcdonald which along with 'Kill that roach' by Miami were massive Mecca sounds!

Mike

A great thread. There is so much great black music from Florida and Henry Stone has been responsible for releasing a vast slice of it.

I can echo the sentiments of others on many of the sides mentioned so far and highlight a few personal favourites as well. The Clarence Reid original of "Come On With It" (Alston) is a big repeat play of mine at the moment, along with Lynn Williams suicide-soul anthem "Don't Be Surprised" (Suncut).

No-one seems to have mentioned Jerry Washington on Glades yet: a tremendously individual piece of soul music which I'm pleased the rare soul scene has taken to its heart. I love all the Willie & Anthony sides on Blue Candle (although these would appear to be technically from Georgia), but must reserve special mention for three artists who are soul legends and epitomise the Florida sound: Betty Wright, Gwen McCrae and Benny Latimore.

The three records which I find myself currently going back to from the trio are Betty's "Think I Better Think About It", a marvellously wistful outing from the Explosion album; Gwen McCrae's monumental "I Found A Love" from the Melody of Life set, and last but by no means least Latimore's mind-blowing early Dade outing "I'm A Believer" / "Have A Little Faith", two beautiful Jackie Avery songs which sum up everything that is great about the southern soul of the classic era.

Oh yeah, almost forgot two great tracks from Miami (the group): the all time classic "Party Freaks" and the almost equally wonderful "Funk It Up", both on Drive and both funk classics with tons of Soul.

Fantastic record - with an equally fantastic flip - 'Do What You Want, Be What You Are'.

Good version of 'Come On with It' by the writer Clarence Reid on Alston too.

Paulette Reaves 'Secret Lover' on Blue Candle is another favourite 'Deep' side of mine.

and I have to mention 'Calypso Breakdown' - Ralph Mcdonald which along with 'Kill that roach' by Miami were massive Mecca sounds!

Mike

Along with Miami's, mighty 'Party Freaks' with the wonderful vocals of Robert Moore

Along with Miami's, mighty 'Party Freaks' with the wonderful vocals of Robert Moore

Along with Snoopy Dean "Shake n bump", or so I've read . Got a rather disappointing album by him on Blue Candle..

Take it all off - george mccrae - blue candle

14201 refosoul

would this be the local release....Soul City being West Coast?..

The George McCrae on Blue Candle is new to me.

Had it for many years on Soul City (an old John Benson spin) and have seen it on United Artists but I had absolutely no idea that it came out on Blue Candle too!

Amazing!

I guess the two Joey Gilmore 45's on Saadia qualify here.

"Girl Your Best Friend Took Your Place" is a stunner... but the other track "Somebody Done Took My Baby And Gone" (also out on Phil La Of Soul.... and also recently recorded by Lee Shot Williams to reasonable effect) is one of my TOP 20 favourite 45's of all time and a very occasional Sunday afternoon spin for me down at Yarmouth.

JUST MINDBLOWING

Can't post a clip... but I hope somebody will.

Sean

Sean

Come On With It - lew kirton - marlin

14203 refosoul

One of the best 70's records IMHO. One of Henry's labels and distributed by TK.

Great record Chalky.

My favourite by Lew Kirton is "New York City" great deep soul. Originally cut, I think, by Clarence Reid on one of his albums.

A bit of a giant this one.

Others that come to mind are

Jimmy Bo Horne "If you want my love"

Great record Chalky.

My favourite by Lew Kirton is "New York City" great deep soul. Originally cut, I think, by Clarence Reid on one of his albums.

A bit of a giant this one.

Others that come to mind are

Jimmy Bo Horne "If you want my love"

Sorry pressed the wrong key then, I best continue!

Jimmy Bo Horne "If were still together" also on Alston

David Hudson "Must I kill her" same sort of backing as Timmy Thomas/J P Robinsons "What can i tell her" but with disturbing lyrics which I suspect are tounge in cheek.

Milton Wright "Keep it up" one of the best club records ever, other side "The silence that you keep" is pretty fine as well.

Ralph McDonald "The Path part 2" Marlin, great bit of African sounding Disco/Funk

This could run and run.

BFN

Alan

I played Joey Gillmore's "Girl, You're best Friend Done Took Your Place" on Saadia at Soul Or Nothing in Manchester last year. It completely cleared the floor but loads of people came up to ask what it was. As you say, Sean, a stunner. Is there a TK connection with Saadia other than them both being Florida labels? Also, I don't know what TK stands for. Has it been covered in the interview with Henry Stone above?

David Hudson, Must i kill her, on Alston a "killer" ballad (couldnt resist it)

rob h

Also, I don't know what TK stands for. Has it been covered in the interview with Henry Stone above?

I think Terry Kane? Anyway the initials of the guy who built the studio..

Edited February 1, 200718 yr by KarlM

Kc and the Sunshine band are obvious choices still a classic soul band to this day. Queen of Clubs i really like

Has anyone mentioned Jerry Washington's "Don't Waste My Time" (Glades) ??? !!!

My favourite by Lew Kirton is "New York City" great deep soul. Originally cut, I think, by Clarence Reid on one of his albums.

Spot on, its on his Running Water album, an absolutely fantastic album, with 4 or 5 great tracks, vastly underrated as singer in my opinion Mr Reid, and one of Florida's giants surely.

The other Lew Kirton track Chalky mentions, Come On With It is also done by Clarence Ried, although think LK version shades it slightly, on the On The Job LP which also contains the vastly superior version of Willie & Barbara Sleep With Me.

His 1st album contains a great version of I've Been Trying, but this is probably too early (late 60's) to qulify as a Florida sound record and it has a number of covers on it (Motown and the dreaded Beetles (sic)).

Cheers

Jock