Which Musician?

[Guest in town Mikey]

I just stumbled across the James Jamerson segment in Wikipedia, and it got me thinking about the 'Standing in the shadows of Motown' documentary.

On the Northern Soul scene there are a plethora of favourite labels, Okeh, Loma, Reviliot, Romark...the list goes on and on. Finding out much of the info on some labels much smaller than these is pretty difficult at the best of times. Finding out if Bass player X played on all the Fame tracks, or which drummer did that break on Landslide, is pretty much the domain of people a lot more dedicated and knowledgable than i could ever be.

So my question is, which musician would you like to throw into the spotlight as having an indellible impression on the Northern Soul scene, that maybe hasnt had the recognition he deserves?

The one (whoever he is) that springs to mind to me is the Sax player on Maurice Williams - Being Without You. Would he be sat in the Wigan cafe, and be ashamed to tell Kev Roberts as Kev clears his table, that it is him playing the sax on the song playing on the cafe juke box?

There must be so many guys in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Muscle Shoals, Philly... that can be heard on any number of our faves. Not all masquerading Motown musicians upping their motley wage packet. Maybe we can bilud up a bit of an unsung heroes list.

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Ray Monette - first session at about 16 years old: United Sound/Detroit 'Cool Jerk' by The Capitols. Became a session player on many of the Pied Piper Productions of Joe Hunter/Jack Ashford. Played on every Invictus recording I believe. Bob Babbit was also on that 'Cool Jerk' session and indeed the Invictus sessions. Ray was also in Rare Earth.

Edited November 15, 2007 by Carl Dixon

[timthemod]

Maurice White (of Earth Wind & Fire) was the drummer in the Chess studio band, he was also in the Ramsey Lewis Trio after Young and Holt left. Pretty sure it would be him playing drums on Landslide.

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Maurice White - nice choice. And to think that the musical styles are so different he has been invloved with.

What about Bobby Eli? The great Philly writer,producer, arranger. Wrote and produced songs like 'Prove yourself a lady'/James Bounty and went on to play guitar on all those great Phily tracks incuding MFSB and most of Salsoul. He still writes and wrote one of my fav blue eyed soul songs called 'Got to get you back'/The Sons on Robin Stone around 1974. He wrote 'Zoom' for Fats Larry and of course 'Sideshow' for Blue Magic. He just produced this new album called 'All the way from Phildelphia':

https://www.amazon.com/All-Philadelphia-Thr...1117&sr=8-1

and also the latest from Deniece Wiliams:

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Niecy-Style-Den...s/dp/B000N3TZBY

He also produced many tracks on The Soulful Tale CD from last year!

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/104-37...he+soulful+tale

Edited November 16, 2007 by Carl Dixon

[soulsalmon]

Maurice White - nice choice. And to think that the musical styles are so different he has been invloved with.

What about Bobby Eli? The great Philly writer,producer, arranger. Wrote and produced songs like 'Prove yourself a lady'/James Bounty and went on to play guitar on all those great Phily tracks incuding MFSB and most of Salsoul. He still writes and wrote one of my fav blue eyed soul songs called 'Got to get you back'/The Sons on Robin Stone around 1974. He wrote 'Zoom' for Fats Larry and of course 'Sideshow' for Blue Magic. He just produced this new album called 'All the way from Phildelphia':

https://www.amazon.com/All-Philadelphia-Thr...1117&sr=8-1

and also the latest from Deniece Wiliams:

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Niecy-Style-Den...s/dp/B000N3TZBY

He also produced many tracks on The Soulful Tale CD from last year!

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/104-37...he+soulful+tale

Sure i read somewhere that they tried to induct Bobby Eli into the black music hall of fame without realising he was white & jewish

[Guest Carl Dixon]

That is true about the music award!

I have just learnt that 'Cool Jerk' was recorded at the Golden World studios in Detroit and mixed at United Sound:

https://www.sixtiesdetroit.com/60s-detroit/z-gw20.htm

[Guest SoulBoogieAlex]

The tightest drummer ever to walk the face of the earth. Al Jackson kept Booker T & the MGs in line during their early years and was responsible for much of that hypnotic feel on the Al Green records.