Roburt

Pearl Woods was around on the New York music scene in the late 50's & early 60's. She helped Horace Ott get started on the NY R&B scene by encouraging him to travel into Manhattan to work on demo recordings. From there, he went on to work with the Shirelles (he arranged their hit "Tonight's The Night" in 1960), Chuck Jackson, Gladys K & the Pips, Hank Ballard, Jackie Wilson, Doris Troy, Nina Simone, Jive Five, Helena Ferguson ("Where Is The Party"), Sam Cooke, Aretha, Don Covay, Johnnie Taylor, right through to the Softones (& including many more along the way). Anyway, back to Lillie Pearl Woods ....... She wrote songs herself, cut demos, set up sessions, etc, etc. In 1960 / 1961 / 1962 she was even getting 45 releases herself ....... BUT ... what became of her after the early 60's, anyone know ??

Steve, ......... RE: Yes already packed in the box. Didn't know it was from 1969 though..... Freddie's version of the song isn't from 69 (it was cut in the late 70's I believe) .. BUT the song was originally written in 69 (or so it says; I not know nowt bout it mesen).

... & their "Live" Japanese album (there are copies on Gemm) ....

The Softones Japanese booking agents back in time ........

The Baltimore guys name IS Billy Butler ..... My ??? was because I was unsure if the W. Butler who wrote for & co-produced / arranged for the Inclinations was even a Billy Butler, never mind the same Balto Billy Butler. I got my Billy Butler's mixed up in the past as Balto's Kenny Hamber told me that he knew Billy Butler well and I assumed he meant the Baltimore Billy Butler. He didn't, he knew the New Jersey Billy Butler (jazz guitarist) who co-wrote a big Bill Doggett tune ("Honky Tonk") back in the mid 50's. BTW, Kenny H also slightly knew Jerry Butler's brother Billy. ................ It all gets very confusing.

I guess that the W. (Billy?) Butler who worked with the Inclinations is the same Baltmore guy who also worked with Allan Harris & Perpetual Motion on Exact Change.

CHEERS Bob

OR ......... even better, this one ....... Both tracks were of course included on his UK released LP ........ https://www.discogs.com/Freddie-Waters-Just-Enough-To-Get-Me-Cool/release/2536261

Hope you're gonna include this track on your radio show, Steve ......... https://souldennis.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/freddie-waters-im-gonna-walk-right-out.html

I like records, books and magazines about soul music better than the electronic equivalents. ... Got to agree with you there.

Marvin Brown was in the Tones in the early to mid 80's, but had gone solo by the late 80's. It seems certain (to me at least) that the New Softones (on Exact Change) became 'THE NEW' because Marvin was no longer in the group (as it had been his lead vocals that had been the group's identifiable sound). I'd guess that the 'new' group was made up of Elton Lynch together with one of either Byron Summerville or Steve Jackson plus a new lead singer. Will have to go on the Softones Myspace page & see if I can get them to answer a question about who was in the Exact Change version of the group. ......... Here's the 3 main guys on a gig with the Dells back in better days for them (1980) .........

YEP & YEP.

The Tones (Criminal Records) were just the Softones under a revised name (maybe Avco / H&L retained rights to the group's name) -- the trio still comprised of Marvin, Steve & Elton. Towards the end of the group's period with H & L (1977) they toured Japan & the Far East as support act for the Miracles. Some of the shows were recorded & an LP 'Softones Live In Japan' was released out there (anyone here got a copy ?). As the Tones, they cut a full album in Baltimore at Sheffield Recording Studios (1983) -- 'Here's To You' and this also escaped on Criminal Records. They also appeared in the 1982 movie 'Dinner' which was shot in Baltimore.

Done some more checkin & Marvin Brown was pushing himself as a solo singer back in the mid to late 80's. He had a12" single + an album out on B-More Records (the 12" & LP main track was his cover of "La La Means I Love You (Deifonics hit). ........... So I think he was a natural choice when they were looking for someone more recently to front a Delfonics tribute group. When the LP was being cut & after it was 1st released, he played quite a few live gigs around Baltimore with an 'interesting' female backing group . This group comprised Pamela Brockington, Carol Green & Karen Chambers.

The Fonics have had quite a high profile (as a Delfonics tribute act) for the last 5 / 6 years, so I'd think they got together 6 to 9 years back. They play loads of live gigs around DC & Baltimore plus have played a big soul show in Jamaica with the Manhattans & Billy Ocean.

Seems that ex Softone members Marvin Brown & Steve Jackson are now 2/3 of another Baltimore based group, the Fonics (the 3rd member DC's Johnnie Johnson was in the Delfonics in 79 & thru the 80's) ....... so I guess their name is derived from the Del-FONICS. Not established yet when the Fonics were formed but would say it was in the last 10 to 15 years. A lady called Angie Walker works with the group on their shows. She is also in DC based group Framewerk. Angie plays keyboards with Framewerk plus for PowerGlide and the Fonics. She is also musical director for the Intruders, the MD's, Blue Magic and Force MD's (busy lady).

Thanks for that. I guess it was Marvin Brown's absence that prompted the group to become the 'New' Softones then back in the late 80's. The group always had strong ties back in Baltimore, even when they were signed to 'out of town' labels in the 70's. Local outfit, A & D acted as their agents back then .......

Jerry Butler -- Impressions Bobby Womack -- Valentinos Ollie Nightingale -- Ollie & Nightingales Marvin Smith -- Artistics Eddie Kendricks -- Temptations David Ruffin -- Tempts Billy Griffin -- Miracles (after Smokey R) Teddy Prendergrass -- Harold Melvin & BlueNotes PLUS numerous gospel group lead singers quit to sing secular music as solo artists.

Another of their sweet soul ballads .......... Guess the females had gone when this track was laid down.

This outfit started out in Baltimore back in the 1960's & was recording from about 1972 to 1975. In the beginning the members were Marvin Brown (who had briefly been in the Unifics on Fountain in 1971), Steve Jackson, Elton Lynch & Byron Summerville (who left & then came back). One of their tracks .... When they cut for H & L (1976 to 79), the 3 remaining guys added 2 females to the line-up. In 1979 they did some dates on the Virgin Islands and by then, the two females had disappeared. In 1980, Byron Summerville returned. After that (in early 80's) they were known as the Tones, with another name change to the New Softones by 1989 (when they cut for Exact Change Records out of Baltimore). My question is .... anyone know what the New Softones line-up was in 89 ?? I guess they had to change their name as some (all ?) of the groups 'mainstays' had quit the biz or gone solo. The group reformed a few years back but I'm unsure what their line-up was then or what it currently is (but guess more of the 'original' guys are back now). The picture shows them in 1979 ........ L to R ......... Marvin, Steve, Elton with manager Rod Armstrong.

Jerry Butler, Bobby Womack, Ollie Nightingale, Marvin Smith, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Billy Griffin, Teddy Prendegast & many, many more.

Weren't they on at DigDeeper in New York (as the Green Berets) a couple of years back ?

Suprised Blackbeat / New Blackbeat (Steve G's baby) hasn't gotten a mention. ALSO back in the day (60's / 70's), nothing touched Blues & Soul for in-depth mainstream (& some not-so mainstream) coverage. Still love pulling my boxes of B&S out of the loft and 'getting lost' in the content for 4/5 hours at a time. Manifesto is a quality up-market 'glossy'l

This was Ted Jarrett & Robert Holme's label wasn't it (well they were responsible for most of the music released on the label if they didn't actually own it). Didn't Kent put out a good CD of the best cuts from the label some years back ? Ted went on to run the TJaye label (along with Robert Holmes & Freddie Waters) & cut loads more good stuff.

FRUSTRATED OF YOURCSHYRE ........... What you regard as a PASSION (45 collecting), your wife & kids regard as MADNESS !!! PASSION OR MADNESS, which is it ????