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REVIEW
#1
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The
Contours / Whole Lotta Woman / MOTOWN #1008
What can be said. Nearly ditched in favour of the, now
super rare, Supremes “I want a guy” was
this rockin` R&B tune penned by the very talented
Berry Gordy and Billy Hoggs. But I suppose when you
consider that the group consisted of relatives of Jackie
Wilson, members of the Majestics, Falcons and brother
of Levi Stubbs, one can only expect the best. Their
second single, first for Berry, was released in 3 versions
so check it out before you buy one. The doo wop style
album version and a more pop orientated release are
left behind by this gritty r&b version with superb
sax and guitar work. The gutsy vocals are to die for. |
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REVIEW
#2
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Karen
Brooks
/ Too Nice to Forget / SOUL-O-WATTS #SW 101B
A slow and steady moody tune, somewhere between Holly
St. James and Mamie Galore. This lovely tune was discovered
in a soul pack from John Manship in 1979 along with
two more tracks in my selection, a copy of the Sinceres’
Girl I Love You (Pzzaz) and a mint Donald Jenkins.
No one I ever met, in all these years, knew it until
I wrote it on my playlist from the Sidney weekender
and Eddie Barton, from England recognized it. No one
can help with details although I am sure Wilomina
Clayton must have written other things, having her
own publishing co. I have included it on a few soul
tapes and friends have commented on it. See what you
think. Was I right to hang on after 25 years?… |
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REVIEW
#3
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Lenny
Welch / Run to My Loving Arms / KAPP #712
2
minutes 32 seconds of soul, building up to the big beat
ballad finish. Not too dissimilar to “The Drifter”
and in the same vein as his other Kapp and Mercury outings.
But if you like it faster, it’s nowhere near “One
Hundred Pounds of Pain” he co-wrote. |
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REVIEW
#4
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Joe
Tex / If Sugar Was as Sweet As You / DIAL #4026
Joseph Arrington. It just wouldn’t
have had the same punch would it? From a plethora
of Dial recordings, (some 30 or more) comes another
self-penned, rocking R&B number. Flavored a bit
like “I Wanna Be Free”, it is filled with
great trumpet sections, Joe’s gritty voice and
fairly rocks along at a steady beat, you can still
get it for 10 dollars! |
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REVIEW
#5
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Mary
Wells / Bye Bye Baby / MOTOWN #1003
Another self penned hit. Early Motown r&b
type mod dancer recently given more spins here in Adelaide
courtesy of Pete Fevin. With an extensive catalogue
covering over 20 years and over 10 record labels its
hard not to include a Mary wells track. “ Can’t
you see i`m losing you” is also getting reactivation.
Neither is rare so we can all enjoy them. |
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REVIEW
#6
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Benny
Sigler / Who You Gonna Turn To? / PHIL-LA OF SOUL #314
Covered as Randolph Walker in the casino days. A gem
for the talc and back drop monsters. Absolutely tromps
along with the teen girl backing, “WE LOVE YOU
BENNY” plenty of breaks and a solid drum beat.
This is the type of sound that epitomizes the Wigan
era. Bunny is apparently Benny Siglar`s brother! The
radio station d.j. must have had us all in mind as he
stuck the “this side hot” label on. |
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REVIEW
#7
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Danny
Lee / Stop Calling Me Baby / UNITED ARTISTS #508
Once
again, no one can help with this track. I discovered
this one night in Blackpool along with Dora Hall, Diane
Pane, both to be reviewed and Bobby Day. It was one
of those magic nights when you can pick out something
new. I got 4. Apparently big on the Belgian Popcorn
scene, this ZTSP tune just oozes soul as the guy tells
his ex-girl, “stop calling me.” A lovely
drum/dance beat and ideal ender for today. |
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REVIEW
#8
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Dora
Hall / Did He Call Today Mama? / CALAMO #615
Chicago soul meets country come Hammond. Don’t
be put off by the Hammond organ on the first few bars.
It quickly steams into a great atmospheric dancer about
the girl who wants the guy to call but won’t call
him! Oh, and Randy Newman wrote it. CAN`T HAVE EVERYTHING
GUYS… |
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REVIEW
#9
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Sharon
Smith / I’m Waiting / VENUS #100
I include this as it was part of a tape sent to me by
Joe Corrance, from Barrow in England, in 1998. I just
loved the lot. This tune was one of the weirdest there,
but a catchy one at that. It certainly reflects the
output from the One-Der-Ful stable in terms of the R&B
being produced there. Good raw drums and voice. But
an acquired taste methinks. |
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REVIEW
#10
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Eddie
Floyd / Baby Bye / SAFICE #334
This guy can do most anything! He wrote “634-5789”
for Wilson Pickett, “Knock on Wood” for
himself, released over 15 singles for STAX, and a former
member of the FALCONS. But the ATLANTIC connection was
started long before then, with this storming 1964 full-on
stomping tune. Written produced and of course sung by
the man himself. DUFF, DUFF AWAY and still only around
20 dollars! |
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REVIEW
#11
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Diane
Pane / What Side Your Bread is Buttered On / LOGO #501
This record was the “hair standing up on the back
of my neck” record. I absolutely love it and hope
you at least like it. Written and produced by the evergreen
Clyde Otis, who also produced Timi Yuro, Dinah Washington,
Brook Benton and Roy Hamilton. It is total northern
soul, a big harmony sound with drums, violins and the
sharp breaks for the spinners. Great big production
about a gall telling her guy “leave” matey…coz
you don’t know what side your bread is buttered
on. It was probably the title that had any record searchers
stateside drop it back in the box. An A side too. Its
on the Perth National CD, thanks to Pete, a lot more
people will hear it. Kenny Burrell, the gentleman of
soul rushed out to find one after he heard it. |
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REVIEW
#12
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The Lownely Crowde / Shadows and Reflections
/ MGM #13740
A haunting sort of tune, the vocal flip reminds me of
an old village in Transylvania, old men and women running
around hiding there faces from the “masque of
the red death”. It was quite typical of the “sound”
of the time, along the lines of Jimmy Fraser’s
“hopes and dreams”. Stomping type of mid
tempo instrumental with a good trumpet to boot. |
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REVIEW
#13
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Misty
Moore / Little Things / PZAZZ #010
How diverse can a label go? Fortson and Scott gave us
“Sweet Lover”, the Sinceres “Girl
I Love You”. This is nothing like any of them.
Great trumpet and piano work keeps the rhythm going
steady, while Misty belts out the little things that
get on her nerves…for a whole 3 minutes. Produced
by Paul Gayten of ANNA fame. |
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REVIEW
#14
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The
Originals / Goodnight Irene / SOUL #35029
Fingers in many pies. The Falcons, 100 proof
aged in soul, The Satintones, The Five Jets, The Voicemasters,
The Contours and a brother of Levi Stubbs all had their
part to play in the development of this absolute stomping
monster of a sound. Certainly clears the cobwebs. Who
would have thought such a cover of a popular country
song could be a hit? The Originals keep you going at
“speed” with a driving drum beat. |
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REVIEW
#15
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Al
Green / Let Me Help You / BELL #258
Discovered by accident in a 100 lot from E-bay. The
labels were totally wrecked, so I had no idea of who
or what it was. Getting ready for the Sidney national,
Denny said “that’s a 12 o’clock record,
that is” and the rest is Oz soul history. It rocks
along with a steady northern beat and interjected by
Al as he asks “let me help you”. Formerly
of the Soulmates and the Creations, this is quite different
from any track I could associate with Al, when you listen
to his HI, HOTLINE or A&M releases. Of course I
then had to go out and get a new one. 5 dollars to you
sir! |
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REVIEW
#16
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Bobby
Moore’s Rhythm Aces, featuring Chico / Try My
Love Again / CHECKER #1156
As a blues label, CHESS, started by Leonard and his
brother Phillip, created some gems, but so far I’ve
been unable to find out much about this little number,
excepting it was produced by Monk Higgins, who worked
for St. Lawrence and One-Der-Ful, with most success
working with Bobby Bland. Something just told me in
1979..."keep it." The other from the Manship’s
soul pack. A lovely song about a guy asking his gal
to “try again”. Simple, but effective, and
Chico makes good work of it. |
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REVIEW
#17
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Peter
Jarett and the Fifth Circle / Run Run, Baby Run / MGM
#13768
Originally covered up as The Velours, on the back of
their smash “I`m Gonna Change” and destined
to go absolutely huge. So in 1979 I handed over my 25
pounds. Sadly it didn’t do the business and slumped
into obscurity. I suppose you gotta expect that when
you then hear J.C. Messina and “Time Wont Let
Me” the next month. Good dance breaks and trumpets
below forth, similarly typical of the Wigan era. Tommy
James and the Shondells did a version on Roulette, but
it just wasn’t the same and probably had a negative
effect, once collectors knew there was a cheap version,
similar to the Phil Flowers scenario. |
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REVIEW
#18
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Tamala
Lewis / You Won’t Say Nothing / MARTON #1002
2 minutes and 25 seconds of sheer top drawer
northern soul. Power house stuff, this and they don’t
come any better. Rarely heard these days but a huge
sound still and sought after, 2000 would probably get
you this piece of Motown. The Motown connection being
Jobete publishing and George Clinton involved in the
writing. 1966…Jules Reme…must have been
a good year elsewhere too. |
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REVIEW
#19
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Phil
Flowers and the Underdogs / Discontented / LOFT #103
Discovered by Pat Brady, this is one of the best soul
records I have ever heard. Had the Loft version not
been so rare I bet the tune would have hit astronomic
proportions. The version on Dot is absolute rubbish
in comparison and the arrangement nowhere near as soulful,
in my opinion; the reason people just plain don’t
like the song. PREPARE for a change of heart. The saxophone
and the passion in his voice as he brings this tune
up from the roots, is awesome. |
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REVIEW
#20
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Billy
Soul / Big Balls Of Fire / KING #5929
Another “must-buy” from Joe’s tape.
A great soulful tune with a soft melody, kept smooth
by the flute. A flute in a soul record I hear you say,
click the sound bite and enjoy I recall record hunting
in Sidney 2000, with Frank Driscoll and finding an issue
of this in a record shop, up the road from Soul Biscuits. |
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