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I think Edward's interview is an interesting one and his memory was good, which is why I want to make a video, despite the poor quality of the recording. Edward was born in 1944 and left school in 1962 - those two bits are said at the very start, but fast and unclearly. I may just delete them and type the dates on a graphic. Edward doesn't mention any other dates (1966) in that segment. Obviously it's easy to get confused with dates, but he says the group had records out before he graduated in '62 - these would be his Jam 45 for Johnnie Mae Matthews (the group's first recording) and on Carrrie for James Hendrix. I have c. 1960 for The Shack (Jam 3738) and 1961-62 for My One Possession b/w Somebody Tell Me (Carrie 1516) As you say, he mentions Don Davis and the Fabulous Playboys, who had a Daco release in 1961, so to me it all fits in. If anyone is a dab hand with Adobe Audition and is willing to have a go at improving the audio, please get in touch.

Thanks, Robb - I'm frustrated, but have spent some time using different audio software and it's not sounding much better. There was one other Brit there with me, plus a local guy who had taken us to see Edward. At the time I wasn't thinking of making clear recordings - just getting the salient points so I could write about him. I reckon Edward was sat about 10 feet away and recall sitting on the floor - not on chairs, around a table. This was over 20 years ago. Here's another edited audio clip which will form the start of the finished YouTube interview - it gives a better idea of how it sounds... Edward Hamilton 3.mp3

Here's another clip - more typical of what it sounds like.... Edward Hamilton. 2 mp3.mp3

Cheers, Robb. I'm now working on an interview with Edward Hamilton (Arabians). The audio quaity is poor, as I just had a cheap cassette tape recorder and mic, and Edward was on the other side on the room. I've spent some time (a day!) trying to get it to sound right, but it's like trying to make a silk purse out of a pig's ear. Here's a sample of what it's like now - please let me know what you think... Edward Hamilton.mp3

Hardly any singers got paid from 45s released - even when they were hits. Hopefully Buddy is doing well - it seems like he is from Yann's message. Please let Buddy know the interview is on YouTube - it was done over 25 years ago.

I've just uploaed the inyertview in which Budy talks about Tony Clarke and his own Brute recording...

Great - many thanks.

I'm editing my interview with Buddy and would like to include the flip side of his Brute 45 for the YouTube video. Does anyone have an MP3?

Al went to Chess in Chicago (hence the Checker release) and cut four songs, two of which were Berry's compositions (That's Why and Lonely Teardrops). I'm not sure if it'd have been Berry or Harry Balk who was the producer - he didn't say. Maybe it's still buried somewhere in Chess's vaults. I've never heard Al's version.... I should have asked him to sing a bit of it, as he did two songs.

Sorry, Robb... I typed that addendum late when tired and not fully focused. The other thing I was going to mention is that Al said he sang Lonely Teardrops in a slow, Ray Charles style, so it doesn't seem to be directly connected to Jackie's recording.

It's a bit of a gap between Al Kent recording Lonely Teardrops and Jackie Wilson. I just think Gordy resurrected the song(s) once he'd got in with Jackie via Reet Petite in 1957. My assumption is Chess released the one 45 and as it didn't sell well, the two other recordings stayed in the can. I don't think that's the same Wizard label - the Hal Davis 45. The whole (edited) interview is now on YouTube...

Al talks about his early career and his time with Ed Wingate, and things in between...

You had me worried for a second 😳. Tony's widow said when she first heard it, it was not clear. Maybe it's the Internet. These interviews were done on a cheap cassette tape recorder and a basic microhone that I got from Radioshack in Detroit. After being stored for so long, I'm surprised the casettes still function.

I've edited the video to add notes about the various female backing singers - here's a fresh YouTube link...

September, 2002. He'd starting writing a book, so wanted to keep certain things to himself at the time. Have you read his book - Custodians of the Hummingbird ?

I think nearly all 'Motown' books fail to go into detail about the pre-Motown era and recordings.

I found this ...

Here's a clip of an interview I did with Al... 0 EDIT Lonely Teardrops.mp3

I'm working on another interview and wonder if anyone can shed some light on Al's statements in this short segement, as I can't trace his recording of Lonely Teardrops. Please take a listen... 0 EDIT Lonely Teardrops.mp3

Thanks. The text with label release info' is very weird - I tried to change it without any luck. I'll try and get another interview done soon.

Cheers, Robb - you can see I've just uploaded one more.

Another one rolls off the production line....

Yes - but I'm really focusing on what the Debonaires and The Holidays were involved with. In fact my main focus is on The Holidays, as Elsie gave me feedback on the YouTube video I uploaded recently (Tony Gray interview - she was married to him). She's since clarified which songs The Debs sang background on, as my note gave the impression her group sang on all the songs added at the end. That's not the case. I subsequently asked about any other recordings I could include (I've got to edit it) and she listed a few... and then we got around to her group and The Manhattans. Anyway, as my title is what it is, we can keep on the direction we're on. Thanks again.

Sorry - my reply got merged with the one to The Yank.