I've seen the Fiery Spartans on Manship's latest auction and don't know much about them. However i picked up a great Jimmy Scott 1972 45 on Detroit Gold with "music by Firery Spartan band. Are these related? I wouldn't have guessed at a Detroit connection with Charay; are the Martha Starrs the same as the Detoit singer? Or was a Fiery Spartan some sort of "in" word in the US back then?

I've seen the Fiery Spartans on Manship's latest auction and don't know much about them. However i picked up a great Jimmy Scott 1972 45 on Detroit Gold with "music by Firery Spartan band. Are these related? I wouldn't have guessed at a Detroit connection with Charay; are the Martha Starrs the same as the Detoit singer? Or was a Fiery Spartan some sort of "in" word in the US back then?

I'm sure sebastian will reply because this page quotes him as saying that it's just pic and bill:

/soulduos/SoulDuos.htm

I'm sure sebastian will reply because this page quotes him as saying that it's just pic and bill:

Indeed, it's the exact same recording as on the Pic & Bill "Talk About Love" 45 on CHARAY 99.

The Fiery Spartans 45, which is an earlier release (CHARAY 74), mention "Vocal by: PIC & BILL" so I think that the Fiery Spartans was the name of Pic & Bill's band (or just some made-up name that Major Bill thought would be a good name to releases it as... ). The b-side on the Fiery Spartans 45 is the same "Cool" instrumental which appeared on loads of Major Bill releases.

Both of these original US Charay releases of "Talk About Love" are rare, but the Fiery Spartans issue is SERIOUSLY rare!

By the way... would love a good CD compilation of the best Pic & Bill stuff...

Some label scans:

By the way, I just found a post on the Soulful Detroit forum where Jimmy Scott said that the "Firey Spartan Band" on his DETROIT GOLD releases consisted of the following members:

Dwight Pettifore - keyboard

James Branch - guitar

Gary Branch - bass

Jimmy Johnson replaced by Lee Marcus - drums

Detroit Horns - Garry Wiggins, Ken, Roland

I've seen the Fiery Spartans on Manship's latest auction and don't know much about them. However i picked up a great Jimmy Scott 1972 45 on Detroit Gold with "music by Firery Spartan band. Are these related? I wouldn't have guessed at a Detroit connection with Charay; are the Martha Starrs the same as the Detoit singer? Or was a Fiery Spartan some sort of "in" word in the US back then?

I played the jimmy scott with the fiery spartan band on my radio show last night, i was listening to it and the drumming is bizarre, if there's not two drummers there is at least two kick drums in the one drummer's kit.

Would say a deffo Detroit connection, they may have nicked the name from this...

The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic teams that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 23 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty.

Edited September 8, 200816 yr by Trevski

Would say a deffo Detroit connection,

I really doubt that the band playing on the Pic & Bill 45 are the guys that plays on the Jimmy Scott 45. But then again, I don't know for sure, perhaps someone can ask the people over at the Soulful Detroit forum? It just seems odd because Pic & Bill spent most of their time in Texas and the Carolinas.

Edited September 8, 200816 yr by Sebastian

I really doubt that the band playing on the Pic & Bill 45 are the guys that plays on the Jimmy Scott 45. But then again, I don't know for sure. It just seems odd because Pic & Bill spent most of their time in Texas and the Carolinas.

I meant with the name, Seb, and the label.

I meant with the name, Seb, and the label.

OK, I misunderstood.

By the way, I just found a post on the Soulful Detroit forum where Jimmy Scott said that the "Firey Spartan Band" on his DETROIT GOLD releases consisted of the following members:

Dwight Pettifore - keyboard

James Branch - guitar

Gary Branch - bass

Jimmy Johnson replaced by Lee Marcus - drums

Detroit Horns - Garry Wiggins, Ken, Roland

Wonder if James and Gary are any relation to Martha of Solid Soul fame?

By the way, I just found a post on the Soulful Detroit forum where Jimmy Scott said that the "Firey Spartan Band" on his DETROIT GOLD releases consisted of the following members:

Dwight Pettifore - keyboard

James Branch - guitar

Gary Branch - bass

Jimmy Johnson replaced by Lee Marcus - drums

Detroit Horns - Garry Wiggins, Ken, Roland

Nice one Seb, is the Detroit Gold one rare, i couldn't find it in either price guide. I agree I think the Pic & Bills aren't Detroit, just curious about the similar name.