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Chalky

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Everything posted by Chalky

  1. How To Sing Your Way Out Of Jail: The Charles L. Blakely Story In 1969, a 20 year old Charles Lorenzo Blakely along with fellow members of the street gang he hung out with became involved in a shoot out with another rival Milwaukee street gang which resulted in the death of one of their rivals members. Following the arrival of the Police, the shoot out developed into a high speed car chase with Charles being the driver of one of one of the evading vehicles. Charles’s vehicle was eventually brought to a halt when the Cops shot all four tyres out which caused the car to crash at 90mph into a department store called Schuster’s Warehouse. The other occupants of the vehicle managed to get away with the exception of Charles (who himself was packing a gun) being shot twice by the Cops in the back and shoulder as tried to vacate the vehicle as well as sporting a broken arm received in the crash. Following his arrest and conviction he was sentenced to 30 years for ‘Attempted 1st Degree Murder’ (due to the shots being exchanged with the Police) and a consecutive 10 year sentence for ‘Eluding’ (evading) arrest in a high speed car chase. After a subsequent retrial Charles as the car driver was found not to have been directly involved in actually shooting at the Police, so the initial 30 year sentence was quashed. This left Charles to continue serving his other 10 year sentence at the high security Green Bay Reformatory in Allouez, Wisconsin. At the time a common practice within the US Prison System was to encourage inmates who had shown some musical ability to channel their energy into performing as groups for their own and their inmate’s entertainment. Thus in 1970 Charles Blakely formed his first ensemble under the name of the Mansion, a name he chose after reading a book on English Stately Homes! Mansion 45 The Mansion’s line up included at different times Michael Locke, Stanley Newburn, Carl Anderson, John Crawford, Michael Smith, Larry Moses, Ronald Hardin, Jerome Wagner, Lewis Lister, Maurice Payne and Charles himself. One day while rehearsing in the prison chapel, The Mansion attracted the attention of the warden’s wife who happened to be showing some local dignitaries around. Impressed by what she heard the warden’s wife was instrumental in The Mansion being invited to perform for the city’s television station WBAY, where they recording two holiday programs. The warden later gave them permission to perform outside the prison which brought them to the attention of a Milwaukee neighbourhood program adviser by the name of Al Dunlap of the Commando Project One. It was through Dunlap that The Mansion recorded their solitary 45 release in 1974 “The Girl Next Door /Stop! Let Your Heart Be Your Guide” for the local Milwaukee label Gibbs (406). The label’s owner Bill Gibbs held the release back until some of the members of The Mansion were granted their release papers, as Prisoners were unable to sign contract agreements while still incarcerated at that time. Although Charles Blakely remained incarcerated, he was later moved to a medium security prison in Fox Lake County, Wisconsin. While there he formed a further group, a gospel ensemble called the ‘Bell Tones’ who’s line up included Charles, Mayweather Lee, Joe Hayes, and Levell Rudd. The formation of this group was seen as major factor in Charles’s rehabilitation which led to his eventual parole in late 1976, thus serving 7 years of his initial 10 year sentence. The Final Chapter James Taylor Charles (Sonny) Bryant Charles L. Blakely Van Kimble Once on the outside Charles with former ‘Bell Tone” member Mayweather Lee were joined by Charles (Sonny) Bryant and Jimmy Taylor to form a new ensemble by the name of The “Final Chapter”. As the final Chapter in 1980 they recorded a solitary release for Milwaukee main man Marvel Love’s New World Label “Now I Know/Get Down For Your Action” (NW800), a brief association that for several reasons was to eventually break down. Although Jimmy Taylor left to pursue a career as a blues musician the remaining three members of the ‘Final Chapter’ continued to perform until they finally disbanded in 1987. Although recorded, further Final Chapter songs post to their new World release remained unissued, a situation soon to be rectified with their inclusion as part of a future Soul Junction project. New World 45 Charles himself is still active in the music business and is currently working on a gospel project. Following his parole in 1976 Charles has left his notorious past behind him and has stayed on the right side of the law with not even as much as a speeding ticket to his name to this day. The Mansion Group Photo taken in the Prison Chapel during 1972 The group line-up as follows: Back row Left to Right: Michael Locke- Ronald Hardin- Morris Payne- Charles Blakely Front Row Left To Right: Carl Anderson- John Crawford. Words By: David Welding Acknowledgements to: Charles L. Blakely for the colourful interview and photographs. Label scans courtesy of Mark (Butch) Dobson. The above article is an extended version from the sleeve notes of the forthcoming Soul Junction CD album “We Got A Sweet Thing Going On” catalogue number SJCD 5009. Which will feature both sides of ‘The Mansion’ 45.
  2. How To Sing Your Way Out Of Jail: The Charles L. Blakely Story View full article
  3. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Northern-Soul-The-Group-feat-Cecil-Washington-I-Dont-Like-To-Lose-/171540217093?pt=UK_Records&hash=item27f097fd05
  4. yeah Na-nana-naa-nah! Beat that Ted
  5. dunno mate, was sent them some time ago.
  6. I know and I was saying it isn't hard to do a book these days especially a digital one and with photos. The guy has a book out soon with photos from 77 to 83 or something like so he knows how to do it. Not sure what that book covers though. You would think with the mass interest in Northern Soul right now he'd cash in and make them available?
  7. These are some of Franceso's photos. A photobook isn't hard to do and a digital version is pretty simply.
  8. might help if state which one, theres at least three and one came out on other labels as Baby Al and the Capps on Silver Fox and a Euro 45 as well. Somewhere In This World There Is A Girl/ There She Is Lonely, Days Of My Life/ TCB (Takin' Care Of Business) Do Your Own Thing/ Laugh Now Boy
  9. I'd love to hear it, I love listening to snapshots in time and that is just what these are and need preserving.
  10. For comparisons sake, some more top 10's and 20's from around the same period, two from Pat B at Clifton Hall but I presume he was playing the first at Wigan as well?
  11. Was sent these sometime ago....just been sat on the PC. ]
  12. I'll get the echoes I have out later and see, don't think I have any later on the PC although I will check.
  13. Here you go mate, I'll post it again for you... 14th March 1981
  14. Dunno if anyone has already mentioned but this is Cody Marshall on Sound Judgement. Looks a great set bar one or two, has it been uploaded (I haven't caught up with all the posts yet)? P.S. Now caught up and seen Petebangor mentioned it
  15. Fantastic CD. Motown just do not realise or appreciate some of the material they canned.
  16. The Major also did Stafford and think he did somewhere else as well?
  17. Got a mesage earlier today with the sad news and I am shocked. Like most knew Tony well, funny as f*** with his witty one liners. You never knew when he was being serious. Top top bloke, a character and will be greatly missed. R.I.P. Tony.
  18. Mick Jagger poarently the prodcer of this and he is the guest on Mayo & Kermode Film review on Friday talking about it.
  19. There are dozens and dozens of classics fit for any venue including Kings Hall and Blackpool that don't have to cost the earth. There are also may competent DJ's with the right attitude and quality play boxes good enough for any oldies venue. There is abslutely no need nor any excuse for playing boots or reissues at any major event. It is irrelevant IMO what the paying punters think or whether they care, it is the duty of the promoter to care and set some standards. As long as those who have paid good money are happy that is all that matters and there is no reason to move away from origianls to satisfy this......IMO of course.
  20. Never realised Tommy Ridgely was Wigan spin for Searling. Always thought it was John Vincent and few years later.
  21. I understand that Rick and don't disgree but like I said i think we are simply just complicating matters for the sake of it. We generally class records as either, demo (or promo), issue (local and nationally for general sale to the public)), reissue or a bootleg. It is irrelevant if the pink is a special press, it was for all imtents and purposes the first time it was made for sale to the public. So really unless a pink chess distributed copy appears, and there's never been one seen as far as I'm aware or any proof it was even pressed, then this pink one has to be the first issue for general sale.
  22. Nick & the Jaguars was a one off deal for a pre recorded song rather than a signed contract as Motown artists. Debbie Dean was I think the first contracted white Motown Artist to record, I think

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