Gene-r

Thought it was covered up as The Beach Boys.................

Excellent analogy Mikey!! And that's why I've always hated C-Rap - untalented yobs (thieving magpies) who think they can string a few words together to make a poem about how hard (as diahorrea) they are, yet don't have the brains to compose their own backing tracks. Hope you're well Mikey - drop us a line sometime! Gene

As usual, exploitation of other artists' sounds by the completely untalented (just a longer, drawn-out term for utter shite). Love to know if you're paying the likes of First Choice, Stephanie Mills etc royalties. Just another bit of advice - don't waste your time telling us about this "stolen" effort - we've been there and done that over 20 years ago already. Open-minded we are - brainwashed we are not! Gene

From www.news.independent.co.uk Alexander Downing (Big Al Downing), musician and songwriter: born Centralia, Oklahoma 9 January 1940; married; died Worcester, Massachusetts 4 July 2005. Big Al Downing was a journeyman musician, making records for several different markets, although his cheerful, piano-based style did not change much with the years. His 1958 recording "Down On the Farm" became a rockabilly classic and he was among the few black artists to have had success on the US country charts. It is often considered surprising that black artists should be interested in country music, but Chuck Berry, Solomon Burke, Ray Charles and Big Al Downing all grew up listening to it on the radio. In Downing's case, he was born in 1940 into a large family on a farm in Lenapah, Oklahoma. From the age of 10, he was teaching himself to play a piano he found on a scrapheap, although it only had 40 working keys. He loved the early rock'n'roll records of Fats Domino and in 1957, won a radio competition in Kansas by impersonating him. As a result, Bobby Poe invited Downing to join his group, the Poekats, even though the other band members were white. Downing quickly became the main attraction. He wrote "Down on the Farm", which had a nonsense lyric, "Rooster won't crow, chicken won't cluck, Walking round the barnyard doing the hucklebuck", but a driving rhythm. In 1958 it became a regional hit for the White Rock label in Dallas, which was owned by Kenny Rogers's brother Lelan. The group made several other records, including "Yes I'm Loving You" and "Georgia Slop". The Poekats backed Wanda Jackson on the road and it is Downing who provides the madcap piano on her frenzied "Let's Have a Party" (a UK hit in 1960) and "Mean Mean Man" (1961). He also plays on her country hits "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache". They toured the southern states and on occasion, Downing had to be smuggled into motel rooms inside the bass fiddle bag. Downing opened for several country stars, including Marty Robbins. He revived Robbins's hit "The Story of My Life" in 1962. The following year he had some success with a soul record, "You'll Never Miss the Water (Till the Well Runs Dry)", a duet with Little Esther Phillips. In 1964 he wrote several songs for Fats Domino, including "Mary Oh Mary", "(I Met) The Girl I'm Gonna Marry" and "Heartbreak Hill". By the mid-Sixties Downing was opening for Johnny Mathis and Lou Rawls. In 1974 Downing made a disco record, "I'll Be Holding On" for Chess, but he preferred country music. He complained, "The first thing the labels say is, 'You're black, so you've got a handicap.' It should be, 'You're handicapped because you can't sing good.'" Warner Brothers gave him a contract and he made the US charts with "Mr Jones" (1978) and "Touch Me (I'll Be Your Fool Once More)" (1979). Much to his surprise, he won a New Artist of the Year award from Billboard magazine in 1979. In the late 1970s many European enthusiasts were discovering rock'n'roll gems and inviting the vintage performers to appear at concerts and festivals. Downing was one of the first to benefit from their interest and his "Down On the Farm" and its equally strong B-side "Oh Babe!" were lauded like hit records. His lively act included impersonations and, like Fats Domino, he was continually smiling. He made the albums Back to My Roots (1995) and One of a Kind (2003) and had just completed a new one at the time of his death. Spencer Leigh

From www.news.independent.co.uk Alexander Downing (Big Al Downing), musician and songwriter: born Centralia, Oklahoma 9 January 1940; married; died Worcester, Massachusetts 4 July 2005. Big Al Downing was a journeyman musician, making records for several different markets, although his cheerful, piano-based style did not change much with the years. His 1958 recording "Down On the Farm" became a rockabilly classic and he was among the few black artists to have had success on the US country charts. It is often considered surprising that black artists should be interested in country music, but Chuck Berry, Solomon Burke, Ray Charles and Big Al Downing all grew up listening to it on the radio. In Downing's case, he was born in 1940 into a large family on a farm in Lenapah, Oklahoma. From the age of 10, he was teaching himself to play a piano he found on a scrapheap, although it only had 40 working keys. He loved the early rock'n'roll records of Fats Domino and in 1957, won a radio competition in Kansas by impersonating him. As a result, Bobby Poe invited Downing to join his group, the Poekats, even though the other band members were white. Downing quickly became the main attraction. He wrote "Down on the Farm", which had a nonsense lyric, "Rooster won't crow, chicken won't cluck, Walking round the barnyard doing the hucklebuck", but a driving rhythm. In 1958 it became a regional hit for the White Rock label in Dallas, which was owned by Kenny Rogers's brother Lelan. The group made several other records, including "Yes I'm Loving You" and "Georgia Slop". The Poekats backed Wanda Jackson on the road and it is Downing who provides the madcap piano on her frenzied "Let's Have a Party" (a UK hit in 1960) and "Mean Mean Man" (1961). He also plays on her country hits "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache". They toured the southern states and on occasion, Downing had to be smuggled into motel rooms inside the bass fiddle bag. Downing opened for several country stars, including Marty Robbins. He revived Robbins's hit "The Story of My Life" in 1962. The following year he had some success with a soul record, "You'll Never Miss the Water (Till the Well Runs Dry)", a duet with Little Esther Phillips. In 1964 he wrote several songs for Fats Domino, including "Mary Oh Mary", "(I Met) The Girl I'm Gonna Marry" and "Heartbreak Hill". By the mid-Sixties Downing was opening for Johnny Mathis and Lou Rawls. In 1974 Downing made a disco record, "I'll Be Holding On" for Chess, but he preferred country music. He complained, "The first thing the labels say is, 'You're black, so you've got a handicap.' It should be, 'You're handicapped because you can't sing good.'" Warner Brothers gave him a contract and he made the US charts with "Mr Jones" (1978) and "Touch Me (I'll Be Your Fool Once More)" (1979). Much to his surprise, he won a New Artist of the Year award from Billboard magazine in 1979. In the late 1970s many European enthusiasts were discovering rock'n'roll gems and inviting the vintage performers to appear at concerts and festivals. Downing was one of the first to benefit from their interest and his "Down On the Farm" and its equally strong B-side "Oh Babe!" were lauded like hit records. His lively act included impersonations and, like Fats Domino, he was continually smiling. He made the albums Back to My Roots (1995) and One of a Kind (2003) and had just completed a new one at the time of his death. Spencer Leigh

Gareth - thanks for the info. I must admit, I was thrown by the typeface used on the titling when I got my copy. Other than that, I think it does look late '60s - well, I was taken in by it anyway! Gene

WTF?????????????? Is this right? How did it get to be issued so late? I always thought it was a legit '60s release! I certainly don't remember any publicity or controversy about this being unissued at any time, so what have I missed out on? Additionally, I remember this being played around 1990, covered up as "How I Get Lonely" by (I think) Eula Cooper. If anyone can shine more light on this, I'd be grateful - thanks. Gene

As far as I am aware, the bootlegs (solid or large centre) did NOT have serrated edges on the label - all copies I've seen have moulded labels. Are you sure both your copies aren't just "dinked" originals? Also, the originals have a STAMPED matrix - the boots simply have them scratched on. Gene

And then it began its trip "On The Road To Ruins (sic)"!!!

Did the Pertty Purdie LP track also have the same "Psychedelic Soul" intro on it?

I remember "Footsee" by Wigan's Chosen Few played at a Xmas disco at my secondary school in 1975!!! Can also remember that no one got up to dance to it!

Is this the same version that was released in the UK on Camp (1967 Polydor subsidiary) as Willie Amos Hunt?

Yes - someone was having a laugh around 1975 - it's a scam. Bit like the Earl Wright on Soul Galore which sampled the "Psychedelic Shite" intro, or the Royal Vibes "Wigan Joker" scam, which was quite simply the Mylestones track with the laughs taken off, and replaced by Patrick Moore on his vibraphone, during a break from filming The Sky at Night.

LMFAO!!!!!!

Top man Dayo!! What a record. For those who don't know it, the best way to describe it is a bit like "Under The Street Lamp" by the Exits, but slightly more uptempo. Also check out the excellent B-side, "Summer Kind Of Love". As soon as I get my CD recorder back from Richer Sounds (repair job) I will post sound clips of both sides up. Gene

Are you sure the word "liquor" isn't to be taken as an innuendo here Dan!! But you're right - the tone of the thread has rapidly gone down (ooo-errr!!)

Confucious say, "Seven day lover makes whole week"

I'll sell my Vivienne Courtland for the bargain price of £40 in that case - any takers???

The Empires - You're on Top Girl Los Canarios - Get on Your Knees Hector Riviera - Do it To Me Andy Fisher - A Wee Bit Longer Funky Sisters - Do It To It The Temptations - It's Growing Johnny Honeycutt - I'm Coming Over Dee Clark - Just Keep It Up (And See What Happens) Willie Hutch - I Can't Get Enough Sheri Taylor - He's The One That Rings My Bell (dunno why I put this - maybe because I always think of "ding dong" whenever I hear mention of the title!) The Yum Yums - Gonna Be A Big Thing Donald Lee Richardson - You Got Me In The Palm Of Your Hand Patience Valentine - If You Don't Come Paul Sindab - I'm Up Tight Carl Burnett - Jerk Baby Jerk .....and a couple of non-soul tracks: The Beatles - Why Don't We Do It In The Road The Monkees - Goin' Down Gene (Finbarr) R.

Well Jerry, in the words of Chuck Jackson, "Good things come to those......." Best of luck!!!

Well, I was the lucky bugger at the receiving end of a small Motown collection this Sunday at a boot fair!! How's these for £3 each, all Near Mint or EX? MARVELETTES: Playboy (US Tamla) MARVIN GAYE: I'll Be Doggone (US Tamla) JR WALKER & THE ALL STARS: Tune Up (US Soul) SUPREMES: Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart (UK Tamla Motown) SUPREMES: Nothing But Heartaches (UK Tamla Motown)

What - "There's No You"? Both original, I think. I don't think it was booted.

Couldn't help thinking how much the DJ at the end sounded like Mick Smith - was it?????

About £50 - £75 on Mica, and about £300+ on Vick. Don't think Jimmy Robins is on the Vick release tho.