Hitsville Record Review: Steve Edgar

Hi! The name's Steve Edgar, I live with my girlfriend Tina in the "Northern Soul" outpost of Carlisle England. I'm 49 and started my love affair with the music when I was 14. I walked into our local club "The Gretna", and was mesmerised by what I saw and heard. I had no idea of what I was listening to, but I know now, that first sound I heard was Jackie Edwards "I Feel So Bad". Yup! I was hooked!

I collected as a youth, then circumstances found me souless for a few years whilst I brought up the kids with my then wife. I got back into the scene and started to collect again - late 80's. Pretty broad palate when it comes to the music nowadays, but anyone that knows me, knows I'm kinda into them "Beat Ballad" sounds. But, I still love the four-beat Detroit, smooth Chicago harmonies, and sweet Philly sounds. The collecting is getting a bit more fanatical now, and a lot more expensive these days! I'm thankful that there is still so much semi-known stuff out there to go after, as the prices on the "biggies" and even the classics seem to soar!

For this review I've stuck to the "classics" and I'm thankful to the HItsville Soul Club Of America for letting me share with you some of the plethora of platters that have cemented my love of Northern Soul.

A dear friend of mine once said to me ... "The music never leaves you! it will never let you down or lie to you!" True words indeed!
Steve


REVIEW #1 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Billy Hambric I Found A True Love/She Said Goodbye, Drum 1204-B, Drum 1204-A Classic Detroit "double sider"'. Both sides penned by the brilliant Don Juan Mancha (not to be confused with Steve Mancha, aka Clyde Wilson), produced by Luther Dixon, and arranged by Bert Keyes - it all adds up to essential Northern Soul in my book! "She Said Goodbye" starts with a pounding beat, that has Billy's powerful, pleading voice searching for his long lost love, if she came back he'd surely change his ways! Complete with one of those breaks that lifts you off the dance floor before crashing you back down into the pounding beat. "I Found A True Love" A little bit more subdued in tempo but this is Oh sooo soulful!!! A swaying hand clapped tambourine beat backs Billy's celebration of his new found love, that gives this an almost Motown feel for me. Another fine vocal performance from a very underrated singer and a very polished and accomplished arrangement, perfect, just perfect 'Northern Soul'. I only have one other disk on Drum, Little Charles' outstanding "Hello Heartbreaker" (1202) never seen a label listing! But, I suspect there must have been a couple more, (anyone know of any others?).

REVIEW #2 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Darrow Fletcher - What Have I Got Now Jacklyn, 1002 Wrap up warm, we're back in the Windy City - Chicago; home to Darrow Fletcher, who started singing at the age of 14 at Groovy Records. He cut three 45's with the label, and all (like anything he's done i.m.o.!) are pure class! After he left Groovy (I think it was at his fathers instigation) he signed for Jacklyn, which I've been lead to believe was set up by his father. He cut a further three 45's, and from these I've chosen this (main reason is to me), it's the best thing the guy did! That haunting clarinet, Phil Wright's arrangement (Phil was responsible for the legendry Dells "Run For Cover" arrangement), those lyrics plaintive and mournful - expertly delivered by Darrow and oh, so poignant, "What Have I got Now?". The guy should have been a star! But after the Jacklyn sides and a couple or releases on Revue and Uni, he seemed to fade away from the scene. So sad as he had so much to offer, and he left us with some fantastic 'Northern Soul' waxings. He certainly stamped his mark on this scene of ours. I believe Darrow was born in Inkster Detroit, and his cousin, to be one Rose Batiste.

REVIEW #3 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Falcons - Good Good Feeling/Love You Like You Never Been Loved Big Wheel, 1972A, Big Wheel, 1972B (1967) Well! ... Sticking with the Detroit sound here, albeit via New York, the home of the legendry and short lived Big Wheel records. Their out-put numbered some seven releases, and all bar one (Eddie King "I Talk Too Much" and rarest on label i.m.o.) were straight Detroit in their feel. Here we have The Falcons, but not the original Falcons! The group started late 50's and included in their various line-ups: Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, and Joe Stubbs (Levi Stubbs' bro.). When the original line-up disbanded Robert West, who owned the name, wanted to keep the Falcons flying so he persuaded another group The Fabulous Playboys to change their name! Fronted by Carlis Monroe they cut the stuff we know on Big Wheel. This to me is the best of their offerings, a great "double sider" of the highest quality, "Good Good Feeling" is a fantastic group dancer, that pounding beat underpinned by layers of great bass, sax and vibes makes this an instant favourite for me. Flip it over for a current 'fav' of mine - "Love You Like You Never Been Loved". A little more subdued but, BOY - What a tune! More of a swaying beat. The ripple of ivory, hints of suede coated brass, and fantastic group harmony, it all adds up to a fine scoop of mid tempo soul from 1967.

REVIEW #4 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Five Stairsteps - Don't Waste Your Time Windy 'C', 601 Over to Chicago and Curtis Mayfield's Windy 'C' label. Apart from one release I think all the output on the label was by this family Burke group. This being the first on the label, with all of their releases worth picking up ... don't think I've heard a bad one! "Don't Waste Your Time" is a real "oldie" that deserves to be big again i.m.o. Typical Curtis in a 'Northern' feel. At only 2:12 it's too short for me ... I want it to flow on longer, very easy dancer for these old shoes of mine, it sways at just the right tempo. Great group harmony with that Chicago orchestration and a step step catch up beat.

REVIEW #5 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Frank Beverly And The Butlers - If That's What You wanted, Sassy, 1002 (1967) Over to Philadelphia for possibly one of the greatest 'Northern' tunes ever ... in my opinion. A subtle tambourine like the ticking of a clock, a fanfare, a roll of the drums then ... Action! Out on the floor action! Frankie's self penned classic epitomises all that is good about 'Northern soul' to me. It came out 1967/68 and got re-issued on Gamble records.

REVIEW #6 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Furys - I'm Satisfied With You Keymen, 104 (1966) At Fred Smith's Keymen records an LA quartet fronted by the late Jerome Evans cut this 'Northern' standard that still packs the floors today. Penned by Jimmy McEachin and arranged by that man James Carmichael, it zips along with an infectious dance beat, held throughout by hand claps and tambourine complete with a great break and strings, so typical of those great mid 60's Hollywood/Mirwood recordings to me. I noted this track is produced by Jimmy Mack. I take that to be Jimmy McEachin the writer, and I also read somewhere that he starred in the 60's TV detective series Tenafly!

REVIEW #7 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Garnet Mimms - Looking For You, United Artists, 951(1965) From the pen of Jerry Ragovoy we have one from my "all time" top ten. Garnet's association with Ragovoy gained him a Billboard top ten and R&B no. 1 with "Cry Baby" in 1963, but two years later in 1965, "Looking For You" was released, and gave us one of the best loved 'Northern' tunes of all time. It starts with one of the best known guitar intros on the scene, add a drum and piano lead beat, sprinkle a touch of vibes, then cue Garnet ... "Looking For You ... Everywhere ... I Miss The Touch Of Your Fingertips ... The Burning Fire Of Your Sweet Lips ...". A truly 'classy' New York arrangement from the great Garry Sherman combining with Ragovoy's writing and production skills. Garnet who hailed from West Virginia was actually born "Garrett".

REVIEW #8 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Jimmy Lewis - What Can I Do Now Era, 3158 (1965) Staying in 1965 for this L.A. singer/songwriter's fine and underrated outing on the California based ERA label. Often overlooked except in collectors circles, the self penned "What Can I Do Now" has the perfect feel for today's scene. A mid tempo mover with Jimmy's sometimes rough edged voice over an excellent James Carmichael (of Mirwood fame) arrangement. Copies should be quite easy to pick up, and certainly wont stretch the wallet, also worth noting is the flip side "One Love" well worthy of a spin or two to me.

REVIEW #9 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Joe Simon - The Girl's Alright With Me Sound Stage Seven, 45-2589 (1967) Over to Nashville now and the late great "WLAC" DJ, John Richbourg's Sound Stage 7 label, for this tremendous 1967 outing, which, if it was rare, would be a monster sound imo! (just shows, they don't have to be big buck tunes to be good!). Not to be confused with The Temptations "The Girl's Alright With Me". This Allen Orange/Bob Wilson penned number with it's syrupy sax and perfect dance beat should make it a winner out on the floor. This is actually the flip to "Nine Pound Steel" and was re-issued on the Seventy Seven label. Joe released a lot of stuff on the label, some a bit country/soul in feeling but amongst his recordings there are such class numbers as "I Got A Whole Lot Of Lovin", "When" and the old favorite "No Sad Songs" Sound Stage 7 is an important and under reviewed label in Southern Black music. Jackey Beavers once said of John Richbourg ... "He loved Black music more than me!" Fitting testament and epitaph to the man!

REVIEW #10 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Marlina Mars - I'm Gonna Hold On (To Your Love) MGM, K13404 (1965) Marlina (real name Marlene Jenkins) scored big on the 'Northern' scene with her other MGM outings "Head And Shoulders" and "Put My Love On Strike", but I've gone for the third of her MGM singles here, from I think 1965. Mainly because I think it's her best! perfect happy dancer, I'd forgotten how good this sounds. I believe this to be self penned by Marlina, but I'm not 100% on that. Marlina found 'Northern' acceptance with another group, she was in The Clickettes who scored on checker with "I Just Can't Help It" and was also a member of The Jaynetts.

REVIEW #11 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Marvellos - Something's Burnin Loma, 2045 (1966) Had to include something from one of "THE" soul labels of the 'Northern' scene. I've gone for this 1966 number by the West coast outfit (not to be confused with the Chicago group The Marvelows on ABC). This flame charged mover is co written by Marc Gordon and Willie "Hutch" Hutchison. Marc having just left Motown as a Director of West Coast Operations and having been influential in Brenda Holloway's work, and Willie yet to have success on Motown himself. Indeed Marc went on to be a main player behind Fifth Dimension and Soul City records also working with Al Wilson, he was co producer on the 'Northern' Anthem "The Snake". Really worthy of note is the ballad flip of this, "We Go Together" a pure Temptations Motown sounding tune.

REVIEW #12 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Ronnie Forte - That Was Whiskey Talkin' Tarx, 1011 Travelling to New York for Ronnie's Tarx "double sider". For me "Whiskey Talkin" is about as R&B as I want my 'Northern' to get! A real raw edged, sweaty dancer, with a fantastic bass line and nonchalant "yeah whatever!" Horns backing Ronnie's apologising plea to his woman "If I ever get a drinkin' notion, You can bet it will be from the ocean! ... YEAH! ... (huh! now that WAS!) ... Whiskey Talkin!" This used to be really hard to pick up in the 'early days', and it was booted on Ban Records, then copies turned up quite cheap, but like so many other records, they seem to have dried up and demand is increasing for this disk. As I said, it's a double sider, the flip "Nervous Breakdown" though not as instant, is in the same bag, and very popular.

REVIEW #13 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Roy Hamilton - You Shook Me up RCA, 47-9171 Ah... Mr "Golden Voice" himself! Sadly the soul world lost one of the finest when Roy died in 1969, but not before he laid down some outstanding vocal performances on Epic MGM and RCA, His "Cracking Up Over You" is legendry on the scene, and from the same RCA stable comes this Northern thoroughbred. It just builds into an emotion filled dancer. Strings, Horns, Guitars and storming beats and backing vocals and over all this Roy's Booming Baritone voice! ... It's got it all for me! Beat Ballad fans, check out his "Heartache Hurry On By" also on RCA ... and of course his MGM stuff.

REVIEW #14 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Steinways - You've Been Leadin' Me On Oliver, 2002(1966) New York 1966 now, and Linzer and Randell's ABC distributed Oliver label. The Steinways, fronted by Florida born Frances Gearing give us this "galloping" 'Northern' favourite. Drum laden intro relentlessly carries us through this outstanding dancer, with a fine vocal performance from Frances. On a real resurgence on the scene these days, and rightly so in my opinion. Also have to mention the equally outstanding flip ... "My Hearts Not In It Anymore" penned by Linzer and Randell and arranged by Charles (4 Seasons) Calello. A real "fingerpopper" and sometimes the prefered side to me! Point of interest.. Frances Gearing went on to further 'Northern' success with the Glories on Date with the likes of "I Worship You Baby".

REVIEW #15 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Superlatives - I Still Love You Uptite, 250 (1966) Keeping the tempo hot 'Northern' style brings me onto my personal "oldies" fav of the moment. Recorded at Cameo Parkway studioes in Philadelphia, but with a strong New Jersey/New York connection in 1966-ish. Its not the same outfit who did the Detroit stuff on Dynamics and Westbound Labels. I once read that lead singer of this release was one St Julian Bonaparte! Co-written by Paul (Burnin Sensation) Kyser. This is pure unadulterated 'Northern Soul'. Instant "get on the floor" stuff. It bristles with dance moves and a perfect record to get 'ya' shoes covered in 'talc' with. It's out on three different label designs; A yellow label with black print, this blue label, and a blue label with lines (the rarer one). Also beware it was 'booted' at least twice! The boots I've seen have been on this label design, but the Vinyl has a bevelled edge and the blue label color is a different shade.

REVIEW #16 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	Teddy Randazzo - You Don't Need A Heart DCP 1134 (1965) For a very personal offering I've slowed it right down for this, The "Beat ballad" maestro himself. So typical of his mid 60's stuff (this is from '65) Alessandro Randazzo, a Brooklyn born kid, found a welcoming in the world of 'Northern Soul'. The man was responsible for the likes of Little Anthony "Better Use Your Head" and "Gonna Fix You Good" on Veep, Derek Martin "Sly Girl" on Tuba, Sheila Anthony "Living In Love" Buttercup (Sheila was Sheila Ross from The Royalettes, Teddy's female equivalent of Litte Anthony!), "I Watched You Slowly Slip Away" Howard Guyton on Verve, Annabelle Fox "Lonely Girl" on Satin ... I could go on and on! Teddy in various collaborations had a phenomenal output! Anyway ... "You Don't Need A Heart" has all the right ingredients of an exceptional Beat Ballad ... dramatic swaying start, then Teddy draws you close before raising you up on a wave of swirling strings and emotion. Time and time again the song rises and crashes, like a tempestuous sea, soaking my soul and drenching my heart with spray ... Teddy passed away in Nov. 2003 at his home in Florida ... a passing that at the time seemed to go largely unnoticed on the soul scene, but he left something perennial in us all.

REVIEW #17 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Volcanos - Gotta Be A False Alarm Harthon, 138 (1967) Cutting across to Philadelphia and Weldon McDougal's Harthon setup for this often now overlooked dancer from the 'future' Trammps outfit. As The Volcanos they had a couple of outstanding 'Northern' tracks on Artic before cutting 2 sides on Harthon in 1967, this their first is my favourite, a storming Philly mover with Gene Jones in fine form on lead. Co-written by the same guy who gave us "Aint Nothing But A Houseparty" by the Showstoppers Del Sharh (Carl Fisher) it typifies that 60's Philly sound that I love. After their Harthon sides, Gene Jones changed his name to Gene Faith and went solo the rest of the group reformed as The Moods and cut "Rainmaker" for Wand before Earl Young Harold and Stanley Wade and now also with Jimmy Ellis on lead and Robert Upchurch, they evolved into The Trammps.

REVIEW #18 CLICK on RECORD to LISTEN!	The Vows - Tell Me V.I.P., 25016 (1965) Well had to delve into Mr Gordy's empire somewhere, so i left this till last. But, I have gone out of Detroit here! Well, I'm pretty sure I have! The Vows, fronted by Morris "Too Darn Soulful" Chestnut cut this one side for Motown, and it's so untypical of the Motown sound from 1965. Though it is pure 'Northern Soul', I think it's West Coast and co-written and produced by Gordon (who I believe to be Marc Gordon - where have we heard his name before?), who was as I said earlier, working for Motown West Coast Operations at the time. I also believe the Vows were an LA group, and minus Morris (who went solo) they went on to become The Younghearts on Canterbury of "A Little Togetherness" fame.

TO VISIT OUR OTHER RECORD REVIEWS, CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW