Gilly

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 ?

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

A very kind person has sent me privately 10 different versions of this song, 3 vocals and 7 backings

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

there is also a backing track only knocking about some where, 2 infact I think I don't have the CDs im afraid

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

if I have heard that version, its been along time since

What about other versions of this song, Martha Reeves ? yes/no

I know Gwen recorded other songs at Golden World but none of them released, (I have another song by her unreleased, written by Don Davis) and couldn't have been written and recorded after late 66 as Berry took ownership of that studio, again from the same engineer who worked at GW before moving on to United Sound Systems. Mind you Don put his name on anything and everything if he could

This is my old acetate I got from the engineer in Detroit, he said its Rose Batiste, when she was over the UK I played it her as she stood by me in Dave Clegs RIP house, she said "that aint me singing" I now believe it to be Gwen Owens

sorry forget that

Telma Lavern Hes a Lucky Guy Northern Del Lar

Funnily enough I happen to know the two world leading experts on Decoy's ducks and there usage, Les from Nuneaton and John Spaghetti Weston often piss people off by over usage at venues, don't you just love em

Just to add, travelling round in the US was a lot more prevalent than in the UK. lucky if you made it to Skeggy once a year

As far as I know both Barbara Lewis, Hello Stranger and a couple of years later Riley Hamptons take on that song were recorded in Chicago. Riley did some arranging for early Motown songs (strings) I guess the combination could have gone in different ways ie Ollie lived in Detroit (Ann Arbour) Barbara lived in Detroit at that time, Riley in Chicago but by 65 the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) were being widely used all over Detroit inc Motown. Maybe with Riley being involved in the first release, Ollie gave him a chance for his own take on that song. It could have easily been cut by the DSO at United Sound Systems in Detroit. After late 66 Ollie had his own office within the United Sound building so a lot of Carla destined releases were recorded there where as the Karen stuff would have been recorded at Golden World A bit more food for thought, if there wasn't enough room in a studio for a full orchestra they would use Tera Shirma studios to record large gatherings and over dub back at the original studio. Where this may not give answers to any questions raised it does do what Forums should do and that's discus things.

There seems to be a few subjects that I have touched on for my intended book of late and this Happy Cats topic is one of them. I thought These Boots 45 was the only release on this OMACK label, as far as I know the label derives from Ollies name, to me as much as I think and write its not a great tune for the Soul Scene (I remember it being played by Richard at Wigan for a short while) but musically I do believe its a make-up of the Funk Brothers, especially the drumming but I could be wrong. Now seeing another release with Joe Hunter's name maybe my thoughts were correct. There is another label ROMAC that it was thought to be Ollie connected, Clark Sullivan, (the ROMAC with the Enchanters release is not connected, that's Philadelphia) Yet more questions to be answered, i'm not young and cant see me living long enough to come up with all the facts, if indeed any of them.

sounds like a kangaroo on meth amphet I would think that might be Melvin Davis on drums. that can be easily established I guess

My thoughts on this topic 1 I wouldn't say the song wasn't written in 1967 and there may be a recording of it some where but what you hear from the 45 be it Karen or Moira or the acetate that was sold a few years ago doesn't come over to me as a 67 production more in keeping with a 69 production. If it turns out to be a proven fact that 67 was its recorded year then it was way ahead of its time. Compare other 67 releases from any other McLaughlin product or any other Detroit release from that year. Just a few of Popcorns 67 releases like Washed Ashore, GI Joe, I Spy. Maybe food for thought (that isn't a song btw)

If you listen to the Four Tops. Ask the Lonely. a Capello he croaks a word near the beginning

I spoke to Moira McLaughlin earlier She's a friend and a Facebook friend and asked her the question about the Karen release, she in turn said I will ask Ira McLaughlin (also a friend) and neither of them are aware that it even came out on anything other than Moira. She had a look at Soul Source btw and has read this thread. I will ask her to become a member if she isn't already, im sure the Forum would welcome her with open arms.

Spent an evening with Belita one time 1985 at Pat Lewis's house, also there were George Clinton and George McGregor and Sandra Richardson. Belita RIP dressed in tight leather clothing she looked the business, bless

Brill mate, ive touched on this subject of miss-truths on day one in my book, similar story to Reet-petite I guess.

the writers match up to be correct, but hey Don Davis put his name on lots of songs but unlikely he had a hand in most of them,

Gloria Jones at Prestatyn, she was trying to get the crowd singing because she couldn't, I thought your getting paid for this, im not you sing it

Ive got a couple. Trumpet break on Little Ritchie. Just another Heart. Also Carlena Weaver. Jealousy. Audel again the trumpet break and nearly all the Shrine stuff but that's why we like it, rough and ready