The Yank

I thought you were referring to the Record World article. After reading Bob Paladino's info, it might be he misremembered or the proofreader changed his info ( the same info is on the back of the Go Ahead label reissue from 2010.) Here's a Cleveland survey with the 45 at number 30 and the release year as 1967. Also , look at Lou Ragland at #23-

There's only a month difference between your article (June 10, 1967) and the WJLB survey (July 10, 1967) so the time seems about right to me.

"You Don't Love Me " also got some airplay in Detroit ( #27) -

Discogs also posted his passing. Besides his great singles, as Al Hamilton he wrote many classic tunes- "Hungry For Love", "Real Humdinger", "Headline News" , "Stop Her On Sight", "You're My Mellow" and many 45's for the Fantastic Four. R.I.P. Al !!

Sussex Productions was formed in 1966 according to this article from the November 12th issue of Billboard-

Both of Terri's 45's were released in 1967. "Geni"/ "When I'm In Your Arms" was reviewed by Cashbox in their April 22 issue. "When..." was a Best Bet and "Geni" received a B+ rating. "Straighten Up and Fly Right" was another Best Bet and was reviewed in the October 7, 1967 issue.

The song was used in season 2 of "Mad Men" -

Mr. Moers also was involved with these two-

I"m not an expert on 60's record industry lingo but, it looks like Del La Rose(??) was an owner of Hi-Lite/REM/ Pillar-

According to the book "Come And Get These Memories", Brian's wife Sharon did have a mother named Dorothy Pierce. But... I can't confirm that name was used by H/D/H to work outside of Motown.

You might want to tell Johnny "does this for a living" Manship that "Joey Byers" who wrote "Somebody's Always Trying" for Ted Taylor(auction ends 19/05/2021) is actually Joy Byers the wife of Bob Johnston. No one is perfect- we all make mistakes sometimes.

I think Nick is right -

And here's a later single written by Valerie-

I've never seen any 45's on the Big D label in Chicago. I did see a couple of the Tempos "Don't Leave Me" in Chicago stores though and a Diamond Jim 45 but I don't remember which one. I can't say where or how much effort Amy/ Mala/ Bell put into promoting the Big D label but, they did think enough of the label and Mr. Bo to include them in this Cashbox ad from July, 1967.

"I Ain't Gonna Suffer"was also distributed by Bell -

Most of the Riley's releases got airplay in Detroit and Cleveland. The Tempos "Don't Leave Me" did pick up some airplay in Miami (#37). Major Lance's "You Don't Want Me" also did well on the survey.

Here's the back of the Cd previously mentioned (the song is at 22) - the song was not released. I'm not sure what the seller is trying to do -

By 1968, the labels also had a branch office in Los Angeles (from Billboard's August 31st issue)

Another 45 by Al, "Black Lady" got some airplay in Chicago -

I'm not sure about the James Velvet =James Ellis theory. According to the liner notes of the Ace CD "The Satintones Sing!", James Ellis left the music business after the Satintones split up.

Cashbox describes the song as "a soulful ballad".

I did some snooping on you tube and someone says Don Oriolo told them the group was from Newark, New Jersey. Another person says this singer was part of the group-

This is the only info I could find on the group besides details about their 45 - (from Cashbox - July, 1972)

Billboard ad from April '62-