Tlscapital

Maybe am I not the only one that doesn't like that Gene Chandler's tune after all ? Suddenly feeling a bit less lonely out there... 😉 More seriously maybe it's not featured on this Gene's comp as it was not 'cut' for Gene being a composition of George Smith. Even if George Smith's release dates from July or August 1964 and Gene Chandler's December 1963 or January 1964. George Smith's rendition is much more 'in tune' with his song. Where Gene Chandler's sounds rather uptight there IMO.

Typical of most 'big' scenes and their misconceptions of other smaller "parallel" scenes IME. Only fair to ask about them. And to make any point to use what is familiar to one as reference. Pop-Corn people for example for too long only had misunderstanding of Northern Soul and were just stuck in their wrong ways trying to compare it to their own. Which evidently doesn't work when it comes to dance (couple versus solo) and up-beat variations with ballads as opposed to a constant mid-pace to dance to in couple. The 'Low-Rider' scene is not only musically orientated it is also 'ethnically' very 'closed in'. Which makes it rather hermetic for most to 'dive deeper in' into it. Maybe for the better...

FWIW I believe a lot of these 'slowies' are with time falling more and more into the 'Low Rider' category. Where before not. Although some 'purists' might dispute that. At first it was likely mostly the very sad themes and 'dark' sounding tunes. Rarity was also somehow a factor as it is also a collector's scene and competition to find the 'IN' tunes of the moment or the elusive rarities is part of the game. But with time the need for new sounds presses and so the quest for new sounds forces them to lean on previously 'overlooked' sounds. Just like it was and still is with 'Northern Soul'.

Not to break anyone's enthusiasm but ask anybody with a 'musical' ear and they'll tell you otherwise. Now it's totally fine to dig it no matter what. But to state that it's far from being weak is an 'overkill' far from what it actually is. Still it has its "charm" but Sonny Parker's singing is really weak on both sides IMO. I first tried to keep it for the 'what can I do' side as 'Mr romance' is just too messy for me. But playback after playback it didn't stood my 'pass' test. This is just another 'vanity' record from a random (non singer) dude. There are finer 'vanity' records out there. A record that beyond the 'rare' factor and its 'charm' wouldn't do much otherwise I really believe. On both scenes.

8783 I can't say if it exists but seen promos and stockers (like here) of 8784.

Have the 12" on Beverley Glenn and it's just a 5:30 longer some (extended) version / mix than the regular 7". Sounding 'bigger' and 'deeper' than the 7". Still nothing dramatically different to change the tune. If there's some other re-mix I wouldn't be surprise as the opening keyboard and horn hook refrain is so catchy.

ARP it is. Archer it is not. Just that.

A 'Pop' artist that was genuine enough to strike both the 'connoisseur' and the 'general public's' hearts. With some of the most risky and hybrid compositions and musical arrangements at times... Here's an early one of his on the 'Island Waltz' side of things. RIP Mister Wood +

No matrix info on this Sugar and the Spices release but other Swan styrene release from the same pressing plant (similar typos and label design of the same 'time' or 'era') like with the 3° Degrees medium hit 'Gee Baby (I'm Sorry) bares this matrix ∆55454X and ∆55454 on the flip.

A bit rarer for a rare recordicould can mean for some 'never seen before'. Only I did see it before so that was a bit of a let down expectation here. Was looking for something maybe more trivial or audacious too somehow (anorak's).

There could be up to 3 stocker pressing variants as there are 3 for the promos. But have yet to see a Monarch West-Coast styrene stocker variant if ever... In the meantime here 2 of the vinyl stocker variants ;

To each its own. I love some early Temptations. 'Slow Down Heart' being one I really dig. But not all. And this one not.

I'd say no. The Surinameses "sound" involved way too much oddities too. Far from being 'soul' orientated or even mostly we have yet to catch what made 'IT' when we browse through them in Holland's record stores. Northern Soul is easier to resume as a 'club dance sound', Belgium Pop-Corn too as a mid tempo to dance R'n'R in slow-motion and the Carolina's Beach-Sound too as a 'happy go lucky' uplifting soul dance sound.

It's indeed a weak Temptations kind of ballad (perfect fit for the Surinamese thingy) called 'Baby, baby I need you'... Totally forgettable. Mind you all these Surinamese boots I've seen respected the original pressings flips in not the labels at all times.