Mike

Kents got some new cd releases out, the first one that gets a highlight is a comp from a familar name Al Wilson - Searching for the Dolphins: the Complete Soul City Recordings and More 1967-1971 Release notes clip below IIn The Basement magazine carries a Vinyl Spotlight feature, which look at twenty tracks from LPs not available on CD, and also picks one ‘special’ album to cover in its entirety. Way back in November 1998, in issue #8, the in-depth scrutiny was on all-time top-tenner, SEARCHING FOR THE DOLPHINS by Al Wilson. I summed up by saying “This set deserves like-for-like CD reissue, not least because my vinyl is worn out!” Well, it has taken a little over nine years for my wish to be granted but the wait has been worthwhile. I can wallow in Gene Page’s splendid arrangement of Fred Neil’s The Dolphins, interpreted by the magnificently rich vocals of Al Wilson and lovingly produced by Johnny Rivers for his own Soul City Records in pristine sound quality. Born in Meridian, MS, in June 1939, Al Wilson settled in California after serving with Uncle Sam, singing in local clubs as a solo performer and working in a line-up of the Jewels, which subsequently became Liberty recording artists, the Rollers. Passing through Johnny “Legs” Harris & the Statesmen and its metamorphosis, the Soul Brothers (as the drummer) Al met up with ex-Motown staffer, Marc Gordon, manager of the Versatiles (who became 5th Dimension). He took that group, along with our man, off to the fledgling Soul City company. Al had to be patient with the label to get his first record released but, after a handful of 45s and chart success with Do What You Gotta Do and The Snake, the stunning “Searching For The Dolphins” album hit the streets. Do What You Gotta Do, penned by staff-writer, Jim Webb,... full release notes can be read on Ace records Site (link below) 1. Dolphins 2. By The Time I Get To Phoenix 3. I Stand Accused 4. Summer Rain 5. Do What You Gotta Do 6. Snake 7. Who Could Be Lovin' You (Other Than Me) 8. Poor Side Of Town 9. Shake Me Wake Me (When It's Over) 10. This Guy's In Love With You 11. Brother Where Are You 12. When You Love (You're Loved Too) 13. Now I Know What Love Is 14. Gettin' Ready For Tomorrow 15. Lodi 16. Sometimes A Man Must Cry 17. Mississippi Woman 18. You Do The Right Things 19. Bachelor Man 20. I Hear You Knocking 21. Sugar Kane Girl 22. Falling (In Love With You) http://www.acerecord.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=7731

A new label along with the first release annouced, from the Daptone people, info from the Daptone website below... Daptone Records is proud to announce the launch of our new re-issue imprint, EVER-SOUL Records. As avid fans of Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Gospel, Latin, African, and all forms of Soulful Music, we are anxious to use this new arm of our company to extend some of our favorite rare and unreleased records to our customers. Our debut release, Hank Mullen’s ‘He Upset Your Dreams’ b/w ‘Listen’, is a record for which we have special affection . . . The A side is an up-tempo groover concerning the saddest subject of all; not one, but two broken hearts. This is an effort from the Avengers on the Audel imprint out of Buffalo NY. The band formed in the mid-sixties and toured a dynamic show with three very different vocalists: Hank Mullen, Moe Jones and Carlena Weaver; they released two singles in the fall of 1970 on the homegrown/financed label. Through then manager, all around music hustler and Macon, Georgia native James Reese, the Avengers traveled to Capricorn Records Studio (Macon, GA) for a session in October of ’70. ‘He Upset Your Dreams’ & ‘Listen” were penned by two staff writers: Earl Simms & Alan Osborne for then Walden Artists and Productions, under the publishing Redwal Music. (Redwal was formed in 1965 by Otis Redding, Phil & Alan Walden. Earl Simms was first Otis Redding’s, later Arthur Conley’s road manager and wrote Conley’s 1968 hit, ‘Funky Street’.) In the ‘70s the group toured the Midwest and the South as backing band for Eddie Floyd, Arthur Conley, Betty Wright and Betty Swan. Carlena additionally has a 45 on William Nunn’s MODO imprint and spent time working and singing for the Ikettes. Sadly, soon after the records release, Hank Mullen, then in his mid-twenties, died tragically due to a heart attack. HANK "SOULMAN" MULLEN He Upset Your Dreams b/w Listen Listen: SIDE A | SIDE B AVAILABLE: SPAN class=style8FEBRUARY 5TH, 2008 SPAN class=style8 Click here to Pre-order info and clips from the tip top Daptone website http://www.daptonerecords.com/eversoul-records.html http://www.daptonerecords.com/

Ady C posted the below... Andy Rix just passed on this sad news from Harry Bass. Eddie had been living in South Africa for several years. He was most famous on our scene for his magnificent Shrine record label that created some of the most exciting, and beautiful soul music of the 1960s. Shrine has become a byword for top quality rare soul and is now spoken of in awe and affection. I had the honour of releasing the first Shrine recordings in the UK in the mid 80s with two LPs and two singles on the Horace's label. Andy Rix researched and recorded for posterity the story of the Washington DC label that featured Ray Pollard, Eddie Daye, The Cautions, The Cairos, Shirley Edwards, The Prophets and JD Bryant among its releases. This detailed history was documented in the booklets to the two volumes of Kent CDs "Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label". The quality and rarity of the Shrine records combined to make the label a Northern Soul collector's Holy Grail. Eddie had been a successful writer, producer and artist in the late 50s and early 60s working with Barbara Lewis, The Matadors and Marie Knight. He later wrote for Motown contributing 'Don't Bring Back Memories' for the Four Tops and composed the great Northern Soul classic 'The La Rue' for Lada Edmund Jr. He married Berry Gordy's ex-wife Raynoma in the early 60s and she was a cornerstone of his Shrine operation being a very musically talented lady. Harry Bass was Eddie's right-hand man throughout most of his musical endeavours and contributed songs and business skills to the label. In later years he was re-married Motown singer Barbara Randolph who pre-deceased him by about ten years. He was a warm talented man who was very happy that his commercially unsuccessful work at Shrine was eventually appreciated overseas. Ady C You can read a length draft version of the Shrine Cd release notes from Andy Rix (poste d in 2001) in the soul words section on this site the clip below is taken from there EDDIE SINGLETON - THE EARLY YEARS William Edward Singletary always knew he was going to be somebody in the music industry. His mother Mary, a gospel singer, actively encouraged Eddies musical abilities from an early age. He took his first tentative steps into the world of show business, from his home in Asbury Park, New Jersey, whilst still in his teens by organising concerts at the local army base. During this time he met many talented artists and subsequently felt that there was no reason why he could not join their ranks. A move to New York, in 1956, brought him into contact with Hy Weiss, the owner of Old Town records, and before too long a recording contract was signed. Eddie cut a few solo sides, that remain unreleased, and then moved on to Brunswick Records with a group he had assembled called The Chromatics. Their only release Too Late/My Heart Let Me Be Free (Brunswick 55080), issued in 58, enjoyed moderate sales and remains a collectors item for followers of that genre. The group did a number of shows and dates out of town but Eddie, who was by now composing his own material, decided that he didnt really enjoy being in the limelight as a performer feeling that his talents would be put to better use elsewhere. By 1959 Eddie had his own office at 1650 Broadway. Despite having been in New York for less than three years he had built up an impressive roster of associates and was well connected with all of the major players in the city; Eddie had finally found a home.... Sad news indeed forum post can be read here https://www.soul-source.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=64427