Mel Nicholls

Yes Nick,Thats on the eclipse CD,agree no sight of a single...."Love is a mystery",only seems to be released on ABC-504 LP "shindig" again with applause, perhaps Ady may know more as i have in the back of my mind that he said when the Definitive CDs came out the holy grail of signed contracts with all the Imps were with the masters.So maybe the Live tapes do exist. My personal thoughts on the UK Buddah single,are that the BBC radio would have made sure it was off their playlist ,the world was a different place back then as their songs were banned on American radio at that time.Keep hunting for what seems the illusive 45's.

Two more from the Nashville era,,,You Kept Me....Eternally Blue...Forgot I had them on a CD i helped Peter Burns put together,2012.Again never released,songs or CD.Warner Group and Mayfield Family own the curtom masters.Leroy Hutson owns his own Curtom recordings.When you look into the ABC era it becomes a whole new game,a live album recorded in Chicago around 1966,of all their hits of the time Fred was told they went in a fire,may have been pulled,who knows. While on the earlier era I have two questions,anyone seen,know of,ABC10869 Loves a Coming/Wade in the Water Also was This is my Country on UK Buddah ever released,Mel

Hi Nick,Long time no see,hope your well.Between myself and Peter Burns i hope I can help. 1975,Nate Evans,Reggie Torrian,Fred Cash,Sam Gooden......Unreleased Curtom masters All over the world...Colours blow my mind...I get high...Whatever happened to a thing called love...Where is my love... Double your pleasure...I will overcome...Just my imagination...Exorcist. 1977,Nate,Reggie,Sam,Fred......Unreleased cotillion?Chi-Sound. Bicentennial christmas...Passing on...Take my time...Illusions...Pressure...Inside out...Lets talk it over...Who you been loving. Some recorded for an LP ,never released. 1989,Known as "The Nashville Sessions"Ralph,Sam,Fred,Vandy (Smokey) Hampton. All unreleased in your question,apart from" Whatever it is",this did come out on edel CD.Something said love same line up.I received a copy of the tapes many years later,but it all seems a bit of a mystery how they made their way to the UK.Francis Tee did have some info but has sadly passed.As i have,over the last 20 years spoken to Fred and Sam about many things,it never got answered fully why so many recordings were not released.I have some of the answers but will keep them private.Music Business not one to fully poke ones nose in.Vandy stopped with the Imps untill he passed in 2005,In 2000 Eric Clapton recorded his"reptile"album with Sam,Fred,Vandy and Willy Kitchens on backing vocals and tour dates.Reggie came back in 2006 untill he passed in 2016,when Jermaine Purifory took lead up to their 60th year in shows and recording. Hope this fills a few answers for you,Mel