The article below originally appeared in 'Voices From The Shadows' Issue #14 (Mid 1990) and was spread over two pages with a scan of the logo plus White Demo scans of Barbara Hall 'Drop my heart off at the door' & Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign 'How's your wife'

Everything is exactly as it was in the article including the description of each track that I made at the time!

Where I have added new bits of info for this thread in Oct'08 I have marked it as ***

70'S SOUL - THE INNOVATION II RECORD LABEL

With the interest in 70's Soul now at an all time high, I thought it would be the right time to reflect on one of the most in-demand and influential labels of that genre - out of Chicago - INNOVATION II

My personal interest in the label came about some years ago through conversations with Mecca stalwarts Pete Haigh and Pete Mason who both recommended anything on the label. As I had one or two singles already, I set about trying to locate the rest.

Although there are three duffers on the label, the rest are all generally excellent examples of 70's Chicago soul, most being midtempo dancers backed with great ballads.

The original numbering system makes it difficult to know whether there are more Innovation II singles out there - the label was affiliated with WARNER BROS so the first singles have Warner Bros numbers pre-fixed firstly with 'WB' going on to 'INS' then eventually getting their own distribution leading to sequential numbers prefixed with 'IV'

Probably due to lack of chart success, the label ceased trading in 1975. It is generally accepted that the remains of Innovation II merged into the Chi-Sound label which saw much more success with Chicago artists like Gene Chandler, The Chi-Lites, Walter Jackson, Windy City, Carl Davis and Margie Alexander.

LABEL LISTING

WB 7804 WINDY CITY "If By Chance"/"Hey it's Over" (SIL0042/43) 1974

Two fine Chicago group sounds. 'If' is a nice falsetto ballad which also appeared on their 'CHI SOUND' album, while 'Hey' is a midtempo mover. (Also released on the actual Warner Bros logo with the same number)

***As spotted by eagle eyed Mr Hampsey ALL copies seem to have INNERVISION II in the logo rather than INNOVATION II. As this is the first release on the label we can only assume the Warner Bros designers made a cock up on the logo and the proof readers didn't spot it! Are there any more releases like this? Are there any issues or demos of the above with the correct spelling?

WB 7826 QUADRAPHONICS "Betcha If You Check It Out"/"Prove My Love To You" (SIL0046/47) 1974

Reached No. 51 in the US R&B/Soul Top 100. 'Betcha' is a classic 70's dancer b/w a tidy ballad on the flipside. (Also obtained a UK release on CONTEMPO in 1975)

***(Also released on the actual Warner Bros logo with the same number)

INS 8002 THE LOST GENERATION "Your Mission (If You Decide To Accept It) Pts 1&2" (SM10026/27) 1974

Reached No. 65 in the US R&B/Soul Top 100. In-demand midtempo tune from a group who rarely put a foot wrong. Another goodie from the pens of Simon and Brownlee.

Multi Coloured Issue Pt1

Multi Coloured Issue Pt2

INS 8019 QUADRAPHONICS "Betcha If You Check it Out"/"Prove My Love To You" (SIL0046/47) 1974

(See WB 7826)

INS 8035 BARBARA HALL "Can I Count On You"/"V.I.P," (SIL0053/54) 1974

Two tremendous soul sides. 'Can' is a soulful swayer while Barbara's version of 'V.I.P.' has a nice 60's feel. Both tracks could well be played at most of today's soul venues - possibly the best release on the label?

INS 8045 SIR WALES (WALLACE) "Whatever You Want"/"l Wish I Could Say What I Want" (SIL0055/56) 1975

Original release of IV 9157

***(I missed this off the original article but put it right in Issue #15!)

***I've been told there are issues of this but I haven't seen one personally? I have seen double sided demos of 'Whatever' credited as both 'Sir Wales' AND 'Sir Wales Wallace' though!

INS 8047 SIMTEC SIMMONS "Some Other Time"/"Classified Crazy Man" (SIL0058/59) 1974

Reached No. 66 in the US R&B/Soul Top 100. 'Some' is another classic midtempo dancer while the flip is a funky dancer. (Also obtained a UK release on CONTEMPO in 1975)

IV 9157 WALES WALLACE 'Whatever You Want"/"l Wish I Could Say What I Want" 1975

'Whatever' must be the best 'in-vogue' dancer on the label; dubbed 'Son Of...Overdose Of Joy'. Another excellent ballad on the flip.

IV 9158 SIMTEC SIMMONS "Some Other Time"/"Classified Crazy Man" 1975

(See INS 8047)

IV 9159 EBONY RHYTHM FUNK CAMPAIGN "How's Your Wife (And My Child)"/"Oh Baby" 1975

Reached No. 68 in the R&B/Soul Top 100. 'How's' was so in-demand a year or so back. Midtempo guitar-led soulful builder with great lyrics. Flip is an OK funky dancer. (Also obtained a UK release on EMI in 1975)

IV 9160 LOST FAMILY "Pretty Face"/"Blow My Mind" 1974

Released originally on the tiny INT MUSIC BAG label, 'Pretty' is a nice ballad b/w 'Blow' the popular bustling dancer which saw Mecca dance floor action.

IV 9161 WINDY CITY "Good Guys Don't Always Win"/"We Party Heavy Up In Heah" 1975

'Good' is a great version of the Sam Dees classic song (which can also be found on their CHI SOUND album). Flip is a reasonable soul/funk dancer.

IV 9162 BARBARA HALL "Drop My Heart Off At The Door"/"You Brought It On Yourself" 1975

'Drop' is another Sam Dees original, a gem of a ballad b/w a great 70's dancer sounding similar to 5 Special 'The More I Get To Know You'. (Also obtained a UK release on EMI in 1975)

Multi Coloured Issue

Plain Green Issue

IV 9163 THUNDERFUNK SYMPHONY "40 Days And 40 Nights"/"Time To Discover" 1975

IV 9164 THUNDERFUNK SYMPHONY "Sky Blue"/"Hard Times" 1975

***Also obtained a UK release on EMI in 1975

IV 9165 PATTI DREW "The Mighty OJ (Vocal & Inst)" 1975

***Also obtained a UK release on CONTEMPO in 1975

The three duffers all appear one after another at the end of the label's releases, the Thunderfunk's being throwaway disco efforts while the Patti Drew is a funky chant about the American football giant O J Simpson.

***It was only recently that I realized that the 'UK only' 45 from 1975 on Contempo by Howeefeel "The devil's on the run"/"I just can't do without love (A thousand faces)" are actually INNOVATION II productions! Quite how it sneaked out over here is a mystery? 'Devil' is a funky groover that was quite popular in the London clubs at the time whereas 'I just' is a lovely soulful midtempo groover that has found favor with the Modern Soul collectors over the last few years!

This concludes my description of one of the most consistent 70's soul labels. Every one is available at prices that won't require a second mortgage and all (except the last three) are great examples of 70's Chicago soul, many of which have that 'in vogue' feel that echoes around many top clubs at the moment.

Steve Plumb

May 1990

***It would be good if folks could add any missing info to the article (or add to the descriptions) or post up scans of the labels (Issues, demos, logos, Warner Bros issues, UK issues etc) so we can build up a complete list of releases, descriptions & label scans.

Cheers

Steve Plumb

Oct 2008

Edited November 2, 200816 yr by Steve Plumb

Windy City

Barbara Hall missing B side and UK Demo

Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign UK Demo

Howeefeel UK only 45

Lost Generation 8002 Demo copy

Patti Drew UK Contempo

Quadraphonics 7826

Simtec Simmons Green label and UK Contempo 45

Wales Wallace

There you go Steve. I can't find the UK Quadraphonics or the US ERFC. Hope these are useful.

Cheers

Paul

For what it's worth, now this thread is 6 years old, here's my copy of Wales Wallace on WB - Whatever you want

 

 

Bloody Hell Neil, you took you're time.....................................BUT it was totally worth it!

 

Wales Wallace on a solid centre US WB 45, how nice is that?

 

I want one!

 

Cheers

Steve

And off topic really but kinda related, theres a track on the lp which has the same backing as Derek Martin Might Right is that Jim Porter related too? Will have to check my lp against the 45...

The plot thickens. There is another cut on the lp which has the same backing track as cindy & the playmates ' a portrait to gods love' on kemp and credited to s.nesbary . The record infact is almost identical and imo the best uptempo cut on the lp.

Andy

Bloody Hell Neil, you took you're time.....................................BUT it was totally worth it!

 

Wales Wallace on a solid centre US WB 45, how nice is that?

 

I want one!

 

Cheers

Steve

 

That label scan is of an Australian release, not a US copy. I doubt that it would have sold a single copy so quite rare.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank

Bloody Hell Neil, you took you're time.....................................BUT it was totally worth it!

 

Wales Wallace on a solid centre US WB 45, how nice is that?

 

I want one!

 

Cheers

Steve

 

 

Came from Australia as well, making it more bizarre! It does look rather fetching doesn't it Steve? 

Samantha mentioned this 45 recently to me, said she had never seen it... do you want to sell that TSU?

 

malcolm

Samantha mentioned this 45 recently to me, said she had never seen it... do you want to sell that TSU?

 

malcolm

Sorry, it's not for sale, but you can have first dibs should I change my mind!