Md Records

Two upcoming 45s from MD Records Fourth Level - Deep South - MDJW 001 John Laughter and Third Generation - In Our time - MDJW 002 What is the definition of a rare 45, keep in mind that often the press runs that were done ranged from a handful of private press 45s for promotion, through to the 1000’s for major labels. The Fourth levels only release, Deep South, has remained elusive for the last 25 years. Shifty is sited as the first to get and spin a copy from a record digger in Detroit, followed by Mick H then Dave Thorley. A few collectors in the US were known to have copies, but overall, no one really knows how many copies as people tend not to broadcast when they sell a 45 on. It is so elusive that many have not heard the track and know virtually nothing about it. Jordan Wilson managed to track down Larkin Yewell to speak to him at some length about the release. Having started a conversation – that was not based on asking if he had any 45s – something Larkin has been plagued with since 2010. Jordan wanted to understand more about the band, who they were and how they came to make such a great recording and why it never got the recognition it deserved. Through several conversations and trawling the internet for any information we could, we started to build a picture of the story around the release and where copies might be. A random post from 2016 said that Larkin had no records but was still in possession of the master tapes. A quick message to Larkin and he confirms that he still has them somewhere. Following on from this, when Jordan posted that we had agreed a deal and where in the process of getting it mastered and pressed, a guy in the US posted he had a copy, and it was covered in writing. I could see Larkins’s name written on the label so we set about finding out. It turns out it was the copy Larkin gave to his sister when they went back to the south to play gigs. When she sadly passed away the copy found its way to a thrift store as the family could not keep all her belongings. Once Larkin confirmed he still had the tapes, we agreed on a contract to ship the tapes to a studio in LA for restorative work to preserve the tape and for them to be digitised. Once we had that part safely done, we looked to working up the designs and getting the track mastered to make sure it would sound good with modern pressing techniques while not losing that raw edge that it always had. If you have never heard this track have a listen to it here and also listen to Larkin talking about it with Jordan. Promo Video MD Records are properly pleased to have tracked this down to bring to audiences new and old. This track never had the success it should have done back in the day and Larkin explains why in his interview. This 45 will be available from Mid March 2021 and alongside of this we are also issuing another properly tough to find track out of Florida. John Laughter and the Third generation recorded and released “It’s our time” in Dave Plummer’s Cypress studio. This track is a Sax driven monster RnB dancer that previously remained covered up and elusive. Johnny Beggs first found it and started playing it as 3rd Generation and then Des picked up on it and found a copy. Des reached out to the studio but we didn’t really get anywhere at that point. A couple of years later and another conversation brought it back to mind so off we went again scouring the internet for clues on John Laughter to see if we could get to the track that way. Sure enough John was on line and more than happy to talk. He is still playing Sax and gigging whenever he can – although the pandemic put paid to that for the last 12 months or so. So here we are with our 2 new releases on our new fully licenced re-issue label which is fronted by Jordan Wilson. The aim of the label is to bring the tough and hard to find tracks to vinyl to give them a new day in the sun and to get money back to the artists and rights owners. Just circling back to my original point, when is a rare record, rare, well originally both of these releases had 1000 copies pressed back in the day. Deep South probably has less than a dozen known copies at this moment in time – we added to the tally with the one that appeared in the US that belonged to Larkins sister and is still owned by a US collector, we also managed to source another 3 copies that now reside with us in the UK and following the story through further back to Detroit, discovered another copy, possibly 2 in an archive. On John Laughter and the Third Generation we know of 3 copies currently, so neither one is as an easy find! You never know, more might surface of both titles as people start to play the tracks and talk about them, but they might not! Let us wait and see. The MD black top series are limited to 500 copies on stock pressing and the first 2 releases come with a picture sleeve containing notes on the tracks. There are also 20 test presses of which only 15 are sold via our website. The remaining 5 sit on file with us. Sound files for both tracks are on our website mdrecords.co.uk https://www.mdrecords.co.uk/

Patty and the Emblems - Love Will Come / She’s So Confused - MD records MD 111 Jordan Wilson has been playing this track for the last few months on his Tuesday night show- in fact since we licensed it from Frank Bendinelli. Some of you might be asking what is so special about this, well both sides of this have not had a release on vinyl previously. Hailing from Camden in New Jersey, Pat Russell was the core of the Patty ( Patti) and the Emblems and was supported by Eddie Watts, Vance Walker and Alexander Wildes with the fantastic harmonies that showed the Doo Wop heritage of the band. This 45 brings together the heavyweights of Leroy Lovett, Frank Bendinelli and Leroy Huff ( of Gamble and Huff fame) all together with the beautiful vocals of Patty. Both sides are taken directly from the tapes in Franks vaults and we were really pleased to be able to work with him to go through some of the fantastic music he has had a hand in producing over his career. The a side – Love will come was issued on CD format in 1999/2000 but now for the first time you can put the 45 into your collection. The vocals from Patty climb and soar with the harmonies from the Emblems holding her up and sounding as fresh today as the day they were recorded. Flip it over and you can hear Patty at the start of the recording talking to Leroy Lovett about what she wants in the song, before clearing her throat and launching into a response song to mixed up, shook up girl. From the first beats, hand claps and doo wop inspired harmonies this track just bounces through as a motownesque dancer of the finest calibre. This is as close as you can get to being in the studio when a track is laid down! So 2 sides on vinyl for the first time fully licensed as usual. Sound files below so click play and enjoy. Both available through the website https://www.mdrecords.co.uk/ for £10 each!!!! Mark n Des

Two more releases available from the MD gang on the MD - Kicking off with this one!! SOUL SENSATIONS - BABY I LOVE YOU/PART TWO Virtually nothing is known about this band other than they recorded for the late great Phil Gaber at his studio. The laid down three tracks plus an instrumental, the fabulous Baby I Love Pt1 and its instrumental version Pt2 which is now available on this single release. Round and Round we go and Wait for you. All of these have previously only been available on Impact Sound Acetates that reside in the collections of some of the most well known DJs on the northern scene. This bongo and brass fueled track hammers out of the speakers and just demands the attention of those listening and dancing to it. Jordan Wilson has been playing this every week on his Soul Archive show and its gone down a storm. It is now available as part of a limited run of 500 singles on the MD yellow series and as usual there are only 500 pressed with no re---runs. Turn the volume up, hit play and dance your arse off. Baby I Love You SS.MP3 Baby I Love You 2 SS.MP3 ROLAND JOHNSON - YOURS AND MINE/CAN'T GET ENOUGH The eagerly awaited second release from Roland Johnson on our Yellow series brings the fabulous Yours and Mine form the first album - Imagine this - to vinyl. Elmore magazine said; “Yours and Mine” and “Promised Land” bring to mind the loving duets of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, sounding perfect for film. and when reviewing the flip; The horns and saxes are crisp and energetic. Johnson co-wrote 9 of the 10 songs including the inviting up-tempo opener “Can’t Get Enough” with its O’Jays influence. Roland’s first album, “Imagine This” was released by Blue Lotus Recording studio in 2016. This album was a deliberate move into mainly self-written songs and marked the desire by Roland to break out to wider audiences, gaining even more success than that shown by his live performances appreciated by all on the St Louis and Beale street Blues and Soul Scene. Often compared to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, which you can hear the influence, but Roland Johnson is a singer destined to come out of the shadows. The success and increased interest in Roland’s first album bright about more interviews with the Missouri press and News, with interviews and award nominations celebrating his highly successful blend of heartfelt Southern Soul with a classic vintage delivery in a new way. In the UK Brian Goucher of Vibe UK picked up on the album and reviewed it excellently. I don't think we need to add much more than that in all honesty, Roland is the real deal, hit the play buttons and decide for yourself. Yours And Mine RJ.MP3 Cant Get Enough RJ.MP3 Both available through the website -https://www.mdrecords.co.uk/ for £10 each!!!! Mark n Des

MD Records and Blue Lotus Recording Studio present Roland Johnson – Set Your Mind Free Just who is Roland Johnson! If you have not come across Roland before then be prepared to hear Soul music at its very best. Roland lives in St Louis, Missouri and up until the age of 68 had been plying his trade in front of live audiences and on a couple of releases. Most of the songs were adaptations of standards and other writers’ songs but expressed in such a way that you could hear Roland’s life experience shining through. Roland’s first album, “Imagine This” was released by Blue Lotus Recording studio in 2016. This album was a deliberate move into mainly self-written songs and marked the desire by Roland to break out to wider audiences, gaining even more success than that shown by his live performances appreciated by all on the St Louis and Beale street Blues and Soul Scene. Often compared to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, which you can hear the influence, but Roland Johnson is a singer destined to come out of the shadows. The success and increased interest in Roland’s first album bright about more interviews with the Missouri press and News, with interviews and award nominations celebrating his highly successful blend of heartfelt Southern Soul with a classic vintage delivery in a new way. In the UK Brian Goucher of Vibe UK picked up on the album and reviewed it excellently. Come 2019 and Roland set out, with fellow musicians and producers Paul Niehaus IV and Kevin Connor amongst others, to create a 10 track album follow up to “Imagine This”. The aim, to drive forward in search of redefining, St Louis Soul reaching far beyond the boundaries of the Gateway Arch and firmly putting the great city in the limelight for its musical talent. When you listen to both albums you can hear how far Roland, with the support of the band – there’s no MIDI here its real music and soul through and through, has developed the sound and brand of music. The title track “Set your mind free” just jumps out of the speakers and drags you into the story. This is a dance floor winner in all counts, the rolling drums and superb brass work underpinned by that driving strings section. Fabulous production overlay Roland’s gravely soulful delivery with the backing group piercing the song with a sweet punctuation. The Southern guitar lines remind you of the fact this is Soul tinged with the South and all the pain and heartache life can deliver. Its message clearly that you can rise above the day to day world and achieve whatever you want, just Set your mind free. Flip it over and just let “Now your gone” wash over you. The fabulous production, the arrangement with Roland just letting his heart pour out the pain of loss. If this doesn’t pull a heart string then you need to get checked out! The album was picked up in the UK by DJs such as Cliff Steele, who following a visit to St Louis, started including the title track in his playlists, Andy Bellwood who was playing it on his radio shows and Brian Goucher to name but a few. The track lists on both albums really cover pretty much most genres from the properly deep through the sweet soul ballads to the feelgood winners all just laden with brass and strings. Roland recorded both albums at the Blue Lotus Recording Studio in St Louis, set up, owned and run by Paul Niehaus IV – the studio was wet up in 2016 and is a traditional grass roots affair, self-funded by Paul who is himself a multi-talented musician, songwriter and producer. Kevin Connor, also a talented musician and producer, who is part of the studio and can be heard on the albums, along with a host of other musicians and singers. Blue Lotus has an ethos of community to it that comes through in its musical output. The Studio is heavily entwined in the St Louis music scene, having produced 5 of the St Louis Blues Society compilation albums and having received 3 nominations for the Blues Blast Music Awards run by Blues Blast Magazine out of Chicago. Blue Lotus had been looking into breaking more into the European market to gain more fans for not only Roland’s music but also some of the other award nominated singer/songwriters that form part of the collective at the studio. Following discussion contracts were agreed with MD Records Group in the UK, this is the label that has been releasing tracks that have not been available on vinyl 45s previously. This is the first in a series of planned releases on the label. Cheers Mark n Des https://www.mdrecords.co.uk/product-category/new-releases/

NEW RELEASE ON MD RECORDS!!! KARLA DENNING - I BEAR WITNESS/DYNAMIC SIBLINGS - I BEAR WITNESS - MD 103 Joe Stevenson was born in 1930 in North Philly, and from a young age was passionate about music, graduating from playing & writing to producing, whilst holding down two jobs in the post office and as a school teacher. By the end of 1960, Joe had built a studio – Imperial Sound Studios at 447 N. 60th St, Philadelphia and was putting out 45’s on his own “Pentagon” label, and from 1965, in association with partners, Bill Lucas and Ed Kelley, was producing and putting out releases on the “Del Val” label. MD records, in association with Joe Stevenson bring you two tracks, recorded at Imperial Sound Studios that sadly did not make it to vinyl at the time. Vince Apollo (Marvin Brown) had recorded, and released “I Bear Witness” on Joe’s “Pentagon” label in 1967, but had also cut a duet version with his sister Connie, as the “Dynamic Siblings”, which never made it past the acetate stage until now!!! Coupled with this, we have Karla Denning’s “Funky” take on the “Vince Apollo” tune, recorded in 1971 and again, not getting past the acetate stage until now!! Just a heads up, first class postage costs have been increased by Royal Mail, prices below now reflect this. As usual the singles are £10 each and postage first class recorded in the UK is £2.70 for 1 to 3 singles. Europe and RoW on request. Payment is via PayPal friends and family, so 1 single to UK would be £12.70, 2 singles £22.70, 3 singles £32.70. If paying goods and services please add 5%, so for example, one single would be £13.35, 2 would be £23.84 etc. PayPal address is d.parker299@btinternet.com Soul Source pm via @Soul Inc

After the sell out success of our first release - Here's the second release from MD records, back from the pressing plant and in fine shape. Taken from a session at the famous Virtue studios, it's a track by a previously unknown soul group called "The Fun & Funk Family" and the track is "Shouldn't Have Said Goodbye" and it's pretty darned good!!! Bizarrely on the same tape is Ronnie Walker's release for "Gala" records, but Ron had no recollection of this group. The flip is not too shabby either!! Listen to both sides below MD Records MD records is the brainchild of Mark Anderson and myself, Des Parker to put out limited issues of previously unissued Soul gems. We really want the releases to speak for themselves, no gimmicks or nonsense - All priced at £10 each (Postage £2.50 first class recorded), all available through ourselves on this site ( I'm SOUL INC @SOUL INC in case you didn't know) Ordering details PayPal can be done via lotusexcel@icloud.com. If using PayPal it’s friends and family at cost or goods and services with charges picked up by buyer- it’s around 5% uplift from experience. EG 1 single plus postage would be £13.16 including PayPal charges. £10 per single and £2.50 uk first class recorded post. Can get a price for other amounts/ countries. I can be contacted on here via pm to @hold tight Or emails to enquiryMDrecords@outlook.com

It is with utmost sadness that I inform members that Ronnie died on Tuesday night. Words cannot express the high regard with which I held for this man. R.I.P. Ronnie

MD records is the brainchild of Mark Anderson and myself, Des Parker to put out limited issues of previously unissued Soul gems. We really want the releases to speak for themselves, no gimmicks or nonsense - All priced at £10 each (Postage £2.50 first class recorded), all available through ourselves on this site ( I'm SOUL INC @SOUL INC in case you didn't know) Anyhow the first release is Ronnie Walker - Can You Love A Poor Boy/Now I Cry The topside was recorded in 1973, when Ronnie was approached by WDAS DJ Harvey Holiday who had the idea to get Ronnie to record a version of "Can You Love A Poor Boy" which never saw a release. The flip "Now I Cry" was recorded on 17th October 1967 at the same session where "You're The One" and "Thanks To You", but was not released ………………………...until now!! Thanks to Ronnie Walker and Dave Louis of Funkadelphia records for the help, anyhow let Ronnie introduce the tracks MD101-A-Ronnie-Walker-Can-you-love-a-poor-boy-Radio-intro.mp3 Your browser does not support the audio element MD101-B-Ronnie-Walker-Now-I-cry-Radio-edit.mp3 Your browser does not support the audio element Ordering details PayPal can be done via lotusexcel@icloud.com. If using PayPal it’s friends and family at cost or goods and services with charges picked up by buyer- it’s around 5% uplift from experience. EG 1 single plus postage would be £13.16 including PayPal charges. £10 per single and £2.50 uk first class recorded post. Can get a price for other amounts/ countries. I can be contacted on here via pm to @hold tight Or emails to enquiryMDrecords@outlook.com

Site note welcome to the first of a new feature. A lets have a look at members clubs... SOLID HIT SOUL — A LITTLE CLUB WITH A BIG PASSION FOR 60’s NORTHERN IN THE HEART OF LONDON The development of Solid Hit Soul has taken place over quite a few years to where we are now. The “music policy” for want of a better word is quite simple “60’s Northern”. Now that’s not to say that the odd “Crossover”, “70’s” or “R & B” doesn’t occasionally slip through the net, but overall that’s the main musical focus of the event. The other misconception is that we are somehow “anti” other styles of this great music of ours — Nothing could be further from the truth, we just felt that these other styles are catered for fantastically at other nights in London, and we wanted to create our own little niche for the style of music we’re all passionate collectors of :— “60’s Northern” Now that I’ve gotten the little political lecture out of the way, I can get off the soap box and tell you a bit more about the specifics:- WHO — The current SHS team is made up of Dave Greenhill, Shane Cox, Stuart Tyler and myself . All of whom, with the exception of myself have stunning collections and a passion and drive to find corking 60’s Northern tunes for your entertainment. I quite happily make up the numbers, and do bring down cheap records to sell!! At each night we try and bring in a guest, who is carefully chosen to bring something special to the party and past guest lists have been a “who’s who” of some of the country’s finest 60’s Northern spinners. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve also been fortunate to have live P.A.’s from Pat Lewis, and Ronnie Walker WHAT — As we said, 60’s Northern is our main bag, and to give a flavour of what to expect here’s the current top 5 from the residents play boxes:- Dave Greenhill (Bucking the trend and giving us 6!!) Jimmy Castor - It's Ok - Jet Set Jesse Slaughter - I Had A Dream - Les Stan Little Nolan & Soul Brothers - My Baby Confuses Me - Ty Do Bobby Mac - Shy Guy - Vended Gerri Taylor - I'm Satisfied With Your Love - Mica Billy Webster & Silvertones - Give Me Your Heart - Cover Up Shane Cox Inspirations - Your Wish Is My Command - Midas Three Jades - Makes My World - Maurci Tip Tops - A Little Bit More - Roulette Tokays — Baby, Baby, Baby - Brute Sinceres - Girl I Love You - Pzazz Stuart Tyler Ted Wilson - My Aim Is To Please - Sierra Locations - Mr Diamond Man — Ron Paul Bobby Kline - Say Something Nice To Me - MB Don Varner - Mojo Mama - Quinvy Melvin Davis - A Quiet Place — Wheel City Des Parker Bobby Guitar Bennett — Blow My Stack — Unissued V Tone Third Generation — It’s Our Time — Cover Up Beverly Savage — How Can You Face the World — Tornado Ethics — I’ll Be Gone — Unissued Vent Trade Martin — You Move Me — Cover Up WHERE — Our current home is a fanastic, atmospheric basement bar over the road from Liverpool Street station with free on road parking and good cheap accommodation nearby (e.g. Travel Lodge type gaffs!!!!!) Venue address is: - Shooting Star, 125-129 Middlesex St, London E1 7JF hold tight Mar 29 2014 02:51 PM Been going to SHS for best part of 6 years and still being put onto great new sounds by some very passionate and committed souls. The guests are of the highest quality and bring that something different in terms of both new and rare old sounds that you won't get to hear many other places down south. Keep up the good work! Andreas B Mar 29 2014 11:25 PM Looking forward to experiencing this club for the first time on the 11th, coming over from Denmark. Looks like it won't disappoint by the lot of you's descriptions! polyvelts Mar 29 2014 11:37 PM Great little club with good quality sounds ! Speaks volumes that I'd rather hear 7tsmodern and crossover and wouldn't normally go to pure 6ts club but still love going here !! (That's a compliment by the way dave ha ha !) Saxafone Mar 30 2014 11:28 AM Bunch of Ba&tards, it's that good, I keep missing the last train home ! After complaining to Boris about the ridiculous situation whereby the last train leaves Liverpool St 10 minutes before the end of SHS, they are now building Crossrail out to Essex and it will run 24 hrs, sorted ! Great sounds, top people. What's not to like. Taff wilxy Mar 30 2014 06:52 PM "A Little Soul Club, With A Big Passion", perfectly sums up Solid Hit Soul, and is very well "summarised" in Des's article! A perfect night out I only belatedly discovered a couple of years ago, and TBH is now the most important date in my "Soul Calendar", bar none! "Proper Northern", with both passion and thought, played by a very competent resident DJ roster, complemented by a quality guest, making the "Shooting Star" in Shoreditch a "must do" event!