Gilly
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My forthcoming book. I Searched For Soul and Found The Stars. Well at last I can announce that this much anticipated book will be available for your pleasure in November 2020. It tells of the 5 trips I made to the States (85-94) and along with others, what we got up to, record finds, and more importantly who we met and the quality time with those people 'The Stars' that we met along the way. In most cases a first for anyone outside the USA. From day one it has always been my intention to put into words these talented peoples legacy, and for their families going forward to know just what an impact they had on peoples lives here in the UK. Their musical creations, from singer, backing bands, label owners, and studio engineers, not only formed our lives but some could claim, gave us our lives. This music that was sadly ignored on the day of it's creation in the States has stood the test of time, interest has grown world wide, and in part has found it's way back to the States. Here are a few prominent features from each trip that I made Trip 1 in this myself, Guy Hennigan, and Chris King, spent time with "Popcorn" Wylie and his wife Gloria. Pat Lewis held a party for us three, and in attendance were George Clinton, George McGregor, Don Davis, Belita Woods, Sandra Richardson. (Dance Fever) In this trip we spent time with Lorraine Chandler, Gino Washington, Casablanca,(James Stanford) Edward Wolfrum, Artie Fields, Barbara Acklin. 2nd trip, on my own. I stopped with "Popcorn" Wylie and his wife for a week. He took me over to meet Dave Hamilton, which eventually led through ACE/KENT a massive amount of unreleased stuff. Spent a few hours with Barney "Duke" Browner. Met "Popcorn's" mother his brother, and his cousin who was in the Superlatives. Trip 3 myself and everyone' s favourite Andy Tats Taylor, on this trip we spent a week with Melvin Davis, found at the time the biggest mystery of Richard Searling's c/up the Rose Valentine and the Sisters Three song 'When He's Not Around' the now familiar name of Little Ann Bridgeforth 'What should I Do' spent quality time with Bettye Lavette, and meeting Tony Johnson of Tony and Tyrone. Trip 4 myself, Tats, and Rob Wigley, spending a day with Johnnie Mae Mathews, her daughter Audrey (Kaiya) and Chuck, Johnnies son, of the ADC Band and drummer on the Black Nasty 45s. (you must have seen the video footage of 'I Have No Choice' taken that day) Trip 5 myself and John Kingan, spending time with the owner of the SVR, Ranger, and FGS label, provisionally arranging the deal on Dave Hamilton's master tapes that eventually yielded up names such as James Lately, OC Tolbert, and so many more that got released through Ace. There are a few UK stories involving the stars, I tell. OK that's the run down on what to expect, it's an easy book to read (I know, I wrote it) Hoping to retail this at around £25-27 and from that I want to donate a modest amount to the Kettering General Hospital (stroke unit) something close to my heart, and something that might be a million years away from anyone's thoughts, right up until it happens. For now I have set up a dedicated email address; gillybook@btinternet.com I'm not looking for deposits, just a number indication for the final product which will be a hard back edition only. Containing about 60k + words and photos of which most won't have seen before. -
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SOUL SOURCE
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and so are you, and I can help matters by pointing you in the right direction to hear some soul music, black or blue eyed
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country and western
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I was listening to some unreleased stuff today and a song came on called 'Better Place' that sounds very much like 'Hit and Run' just checked the BMI and hey presto its written by George McGregor, as is of course the song in question. Anyone know this song
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that's not quite what im trying to say Phil, I was trying to link her name with the CD that came out as Thelma Records with Martha Reeves rumoured version on Goldmines Thelma collective #69
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oh I didn't know that cheers
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She is also Thelma Lavern on Northern Da La label, Johnnie Mae Mathews Label.
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I will chuck another question in the mix, 'This Heart is Lonely' released by UK Pied Piper (ACE) ive never asked Ady about this, but its down as Rose Batiste as singer. If you go on BMI for this it gives Telma Hopkins as the singer? it just gets deeper and deeper me thinks
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Another thing is, it could have been the Debonairs singing Hit and Run, but don't forget Rose Batiste was a stunner, and a model, so if you wanted your song to do well, you will always go for the pretty girl
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Telma (Thelma) Hopkins is one half of Tony Orlando's group Dawn, the other girl being Joyce Vincent, I also wonder if Telma is being taken as a spelling mistake for Thelma as in Thelma Records ?
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I doubt Martha did this song, but I can tell the story behind the David Ruffin 'Still in my Heart' as told to me by Don Davis in 1985. Steve Mancha's release is late 65, or early 66. Don told me that David had been bugging him to do a take on Still in my heart, for a long time. Don gets a phone call at some unearthly time in the night/morning, the conversation went something like this, "Don its David" Don replies, "David, do you know what time it is?" "No" he says, adding "I want to do that song" Don says "I know you do, but when?" "Now" said David. So Don gets out of bed, makes a few phone calls to assemble someone to work the studio equipment, (they will be using the original backing for the song as used on Mancha's take) David begins to sing in an upright standing position, and as the song progresses, he drops down to crouch, then knees, and finally finishes the song, lay flat on his back, one take, nailed it in one. Don said he had never seen anyone prior or since do what David had just done. Now Don didn't own United Sound Systems until 71/2 so it must have been sung from then onwards, (5/6 years after Mancha's) I don't know if or who David was in contract with, but its fair to say, and his 'Wife' agrees, (spoke to her the other week) that David sure was a loose cannon. If he was under contract then that would have been a good reason why it never came out, until Tim at Anglo bought masters from Willie Davis (Dons brother) and it went onto CD. This and other trivia/facts will be included in my forthcoming book due Nov 2020
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A very kind person has sent me privately 10 different versions of this song, 3 vocals and 7 backings
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Yes, thankyou, I know where that tape is, and that's how I now know its Gwen Owens, I also know the other two songs, as one of them is something I got in 1994 from the engineer. I will contact the owner and see if he wants to join in on this conversation. Thank Nick
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there is also a backing track only knocking about some where, 2 infact I think I don't have the CDs im afraid
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Back in 1985 we tried to by some masters from Don Davis on visiting his studio, it was before CDs got going and his prices were like telephone numbers, so it was a no, no. Tim Brown did a deal with Dons Brother Willie Davis his prices were more favourable + CDs were all the rage so he had a better chance of making something from it
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if I have heard that version, its been along time since
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What about other versions of this song, Martha Reeves ? yes/no
