Some years ago I was given a tape of Unissued tracks by the Impressions. of the 20 tracks, 12 were re-makes of their 60s hits, one was "Something said love" (released as a 45 on Ripete) but the other 7 I can find no trace of online. The titles are:

Draw the line

In the middle

I found you

Tired of being alone (The Al Green song)

What a feeling

Winning combination

Whatever it is

They sound as though they were recorded in the 90's or 2000's, with Reggie Torian on lead. Does anyone know anything about them? Ever released anywhere? Any info much appreciated

The impressions recording career (in the main) ran for a period of almost 30 years -- from 1958 to 1987. After years with ABC, Curtis M took them with him to his Curtom label. The group stayed with Curtom till 1976, but then moved to Atlantic's Cotillion label. They were teamed with McKinley Jackson and then were reunited with Johnny Pate by Cotillion, but their stay with the label lasted less than a year (76 into 77). They seemed to be without a record deal in 1978. Next, like many other vintage Chicago soul acts, they were signed to Chi-Sound (20th Century) and worked there with Carl Davis & Eugene Record. There stay with the label ran from 79 to 81 and towards the end of that period, they cut a re-working of their old hit "For Your Precious Love". This track got them back onto the national R&B charts. But again, they went without a deal till MCA signed them in 87. Their MCA 45 put them back on the R&B chart but didn't result in a follow-up release.

I would guess that they were cutting tracks in an attempt to land a record deal in 1978 and from 1982 to 1986. Then again after 1987. With "Precious Love" getting them onto the charts, I'd make a stab at these tracks being cut around 1988 / 89 / 90 ... BUT I'm just guessing here. With the Ripete 45 dated as 1989, they would have had to have cut that track in 1988 or 89 and then gone shopping for the deal.

Many thanks for your reply, Robert. I think you’re right about the date of the tracks I listed - the backings and vocals sound very much like those on “Something said love”.

If memory still works, I got the tape from Mel Nichols of Ludlow. Mel had struck up a friendship with Fred Cash of the Impressions, so perhaps he was the source

Hi Nick,Long time no see,hope your well.Between myself and Peter Burns i hope I can help.

1975,Nate Evans,Reggie Torrian,Fred Cash,Sam Gooden......Unreleased Curtom masters

All over the world...Colours blow my mind...I get high...Whatever happened to a thing called love...Where is my love... Double your pleasure...I will overcome...Just my imagination...Exorcist.

1977,Nate,Reggie,Sam,Fred......Unreleased cotillion?Chi-Sound.

Bicentennial christmas...Passing on...Take my time...Illusions...Pressure...Inside out...Lets talk it over...Who you been loving. Some recorded for an LP ,never released.

1989,Known as "The Nashville Sessions"Ralph,Sam,Fred,Vandy (Smokey) Hampton.

All unreleased in your question,apart from" Whatever it is",this did come out on edel CD.Something said love same line up.I received a copy of the tapes many years later,but it all seems a bit of a mystery how they made their way to the UK.Francis Tee did have some info but has sadly passed.As i have,over the last 20 years spoken to Fred and Sam about many things,it never got answered fully why so many recordings were not released.I have some of the answers but will keep them private.Music Business not one to fully poke ones nose in.Vandy stopped with the Imps untill he passed in 2005,In 2000 Eric Clapton recorded his"reptile"album with Sam,Fred,Vandy and Willy Kitchens on backing vocals and tour dates.Reggie came back in 2006 untill he passed in 2016,when Jermaine Purifory took lead up to their 60th year in shows and recording. Hope this fills a few answers for you,Mel

Great to hear from you, Mel. We’re still here, after a lot of years! Thanks for your help with this and for all the info.

I’d love to hear the unreleased Curtom and Cotillion material - do you know if there’s any way of getting hold of them?

Two more from the Nashville era,,,You Kept Me....Eternally Blue...Forgot I had them on a CD i helped Peter Burns put together,2012.Again never released,songs or CD.Warner Group and Mayfield Family own the curtom masters.Leroy Hutson owns his own Curtom recordings.When you look into the ABC era it becomes a whole new game,a live album recorded in Chicago around 1966,of all their hits of the time Fred was told they went in a fire,may have been pulled,who knows. While on the earlier era I have two questions,anyone seen,know of,ABC10869 Loves a Coming/Wade in the Water Also was This is my Country on UK Buddah ever released,Mel

RE: their ABC period. ABC records were cutting stuff everyday for years. Some tracks were never released & the tapes just ended up in the master tape storage facility.

One day an application was made by the ABC creatives to have money allocated to construct extra tape storage space. The label's bean counters weren't happy. They had a better idea. Just take all the tapes that contain unreleased stuff & throw them away. That way, you'll create 10 to 15% capacity in the existing tape stores and we'll not have to waste money providing additional capacity ... AFTER ALL, what use are we ever gonna make of tracks that weren't released at the time they were laid down.

WHO KNEW MONEY MEN WERE CAPABLE OF TAKING SUCH A BRILLIANT DECISION.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Roburt