Mike

Out today (10th October 2023 ) 2 very strong releases from the Soul Direction label. Details follow below Hank Hodge & The J Notes Band - Eye for An Eye / Since You Said Goodbye – (Soul Direction Origins SDO1008 The Caressors - I Can’t Stay Away / Sir Joe - Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) – Soul Direction Origins SDO1008 Hank Hodge & The J Notes Band - Eye for An Eye / Since You Said Goodbye – Soul Direction Origins SDO1008 Info Initially brought to the attention of the rare soul scene by Mark "Butch" Dobson in some of his first ventures into his DJ career covered as "Lancaster Johnson". A 45 that has always been very elusive for the years after it's initial plays and still commands a king's ransom to own. After some initial research into Willie Henry Hodge (Hank to his friends and family) and sadly finding his obituary, further searching lead us to his brother "Larry Hodge". We contacted Larry, and we had a couple of conversations about Hank and the two releases for the "Eye" Label. He did recall that Hank had already been with the "J-Notes" for a while before the two releases and that both were released locally but were only minor hits in the area, and "Eye for An Eye" being played the lesser of the two, so with no commercial success came no financial rewards. This led Soul Direction to propose a re-release of "Eye for An Eye" and a chance to at least give something to the family for what was an inspired piece of rare soul on vinyl. Larry spoke with the family and anyone else connected with the initial release and agreed this would be a fitting tribute to his brother and the rest of the J-Note Orch. (sadly according to Larry have all but passed away). Backed with the Joel Bernard Ledbetter song "Since You Said Goodbye" and all permissions granted, it seemed a perfect double sider. Sleeve Notes A native of Calhoun County, GA, Hank resided in Jacksonville, Florida, where he received his early education graduating from Stanton Senior High School-Class of 1957. Furthering his education, he earned his Barber License from Jones College. He helped form the J-Notes Band which were managed by Joe Giles and featured vocalists Evelina Smith and Henry “Hank” Hodge as lead singers with Ray Love on tenor sax and flute; Ron Tooley on trumpet, John Sanders on guitar and vocals, Ed Coley on bass and vocals and Dick Curtis on drums and vocals. The band played many of the local dances at the Women’s Club of Jacksonville in Riverside as well as other venues like the Southside Women’s Club and more. His brother Larry recalls the tracks recorded on Hank’s own label Eye with fondness and did play on some of the sessions but could not recall if he took part in the final recordings. They only recorded 2 records on the label, and both have continued to be elusive to collectors and DJ’s alike. Unfortunately, they never made a huge impact on their release but did stay popular songs around the community Hank lived in. The J-Notes did record one album of classic covers named “Versatility” on their own label which again is rare itself. He later became a self-employed Carpenter and Owner/ Operator of Interior Design with 40 years of dedicated service. Mr. Hodge was a dedicated member of the church until his passing. Mr. Willie Henry Hodge, age 74, passed away July 16, 2012, in a local hospital with his family around him. Discography: Hank Hodge (With The J-Note & Orch) - Eye for An Eye / Since You Said Goodbye - Eye Productions Hank Hodge - One Way Love / Thank You Girl - Eye Productions J Notes Band - Versatility, Volume 1 - No Label Name Licensed Courtesy of Larry Hodge & the Hodge Family Alan Kitchener (Soul-Direction) https://www.soul-direction.co.uk Hank Hodge (With The J-Note & Orch) - Eye for An Eye SDO-1007A-HANK HODGE - Eye For An Eye-cut.mp3 Hank Hodge & The J Notes Band - Since You Said Goodbye SDO-1007B-HANK HODGE_Since You Said Goodbye-cut.mp3 The Caressors - I Can’t Stay Away / Sir Joe - Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) – Soul Direction Origins SDO1008 Soul-Direction bring you these two classic and rare slabs of soul from the Ru-Jac stable fully licensed and ready to unleash on your turntables. The Caressors - I Can’t Stay Away – Soul Direction Origins SDO1008A Info The Caressors needs no introduction as a veteran of the Northern soul Dance floors and an elusive 45, as most have been sat in collectors' boxes for many years, with only a few appearing for sale in collector's circles and internet auction sites. Co written by Rufus Mitchell and George Charles Brown and released in 1968. Mitchell had a involvement in a few Ru-Jac outings including tracks with Winfield Parker and Gene & Eddie. According to the Label owners at Ru-Jac and other artists at the stable, no one recalls anything about the band at all. At that point they decided to change the label colour to yellow and adopted a new font for the label text, and The Caressors was the first release in the new colour. Other than a promotional photo of the group attached to an artist contract, they seemingly formed, recorded and disappeared again. They could have well been session singers who sometimes performed a song in the studio but never pursued a further career together. Sir Joe - Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) – Soul Direction Origins SDO1008B Info The Sir Joe track is one that has been around in sales boxes and on collector's tapes and CD's for the best part of 30 years without really breaking into the mainstream of the DJ playlists. This maybe down to its rarity and of course obscurity to many people outside the hardcore of collections. This is one release that Soul Direction had planned some time ago, but do to pressing plant constraints has taken it's time, but happy to say it has had some dance floor exposure recently, which is something that has been long overdue. Penned and performed by Joe Quarterman himself in 1970 and remains an elusive 45 in the world of collecting. Joseph Patrick Quarterman hailed from the Shaw neighbourhood in Washington D.C. He started writing songs at a young age and after graduating from Dunbar High School he met song writers Eddie Best and Don Downing and began singing lead vocals with a Washington. DC group called “The Knights” and adopted the name Sir Joe.” He later formed a recording group Sir Joe and The Maidens” after most of the knights went into the armed services. The Baltimore label primarily active between 1963-1974, with one additional release in 1980. “Ru-Jac” was named as such based on the initials of its founder, Rufus Mitchell, and associate Jack Bennett. The record label had no studio so recordings were usually done at Edgewood or Virtue studios so we can presume these tracks were recorded at one or both of these studios. Licensed courtesy of Omnivore Recordings. Alan Kitchener (Soul-Direction) https://www.soul-direction.co.uk The Caressors - I Can’t Stay Away SDO-1008-A-The_Caressors_I Can't stay away-cut.mp3 Sir Joe - Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) SDO-1008-B-Sir_Joe_Every Day-cut.mp3