Soul Strutter: 12/13/10

Monday 13 December 2010

NS561 Florence DeVore [1965] - Kiss Me Now (Don't Kiss Me Later) [Phi-Dan 5000]

561 Florence DeVore [1965] - Kiss Me Now (Don't Kiss Me Later) [Phi-Dan 5000]

b/w:	We're Not Old Enough
Format:	45
Label:	Phi-Dan
cat No:	5000
Year:	1966
Value:	£75 for Issue

The song was written and produced by Bobby Susser. He produced four singles in 1961 and 1962 with Paul Simon (a childhood friend) for Tico & The Triumphs, including his first Billboard Hot 100 chart record 'Motorcycle' on Amy. He then focused on writing and producing R&B songs. In 1963, he wrote, produced, and sold the master recording of the song "Kiss Me Now" to Phil Spector. It was the first release on Spector's new Philles Records subsidiary label, Phi-Dan Records, and received a good deal of interest within the music industry but wasn't a hit.

From 1965 through 1973 he wrote and produced songs for Florence DeVore, Sharon Redd, Lily Fields, Mamie Lee, Morgana King, Robert John, and Trini Lopez.

Phi-Dan released only 10 45s, all in 1965. Other notable acts on Phi-Dan were The Lovelites, The Ikettes and Al DeLory (known on the scene for the instrumental 'Right On').

Phi-Dan Discography

Other 45s tracked down by Florence DeVore include: (The Yew releases were also written and produced by Bobby Susser):

Florence DeVore [1966] - The Guy Next Door / ?

Florence DeVore [1972] - He Doesn't Love You / He's Got The Money Bags [Yew 1009] $40

Florence DeVore [1972] - It Takes A Lot To Love You / Look Out [Yew 1011]

I found a recent cover version by The Shogettes in 2017 on Rookie

Florence DeVore [1965] - We're Not Old Enough [Phi-Dan 5000]

Florence DeVore [1972] - He Doesn't Love You [Yew 1009]

Florence DeVore [1972] - He's Got The Money Bags [Yew 1009]

NS562 Benzine [1965] - Village Of Tears [Parkway P-996-B]

562 Ben Zine [1965] - Village Of Tears [Parkway P-996-B]

b/w:	What The Heck's The Hanky Panky (official A side)
Format:	45
Label:	Parkway
Cat No:	P-996-B
Year:	1967
Value:	$132 £305

Ben Zine is a pseudonym for Ernie Maresca (Ernest Peter Maresca 1938-2015) the writer of the song who also wrote many hits for Dion (DiMucci) (e.g. Runaround Sue and The Wanderer). He had a #6 hit in 1962 with Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) on Seville (Those in UK may recognise this song from the cover version by Racey in 1980 and then by Rocky Sharp & The Replays in 1982). He continued to write and reluctantly record. Eventually he became head of publicity at Laurie records. The co-writer is Joey Day (DiFranceso) who had several aliases Joey Day, Joey Day & The Dares, Joe Cyers, and Wombat (I'm Gettin On Life [Gemini]. Wombat was formed from Joey Day & The Dares and consisted of Joey Cyers, Stan Topij and Omar Tame.

For anyone interested here's Ernie Maresca's catalogue on Discogs

This appears to be his only outing using the Ben Zine pseudonym, released in 1965 as the flip to 'What The Heck's The Hanky Panky' on Parkway P-996.

I'm not sure when this was first played but it was spun at Wigan Casino around 1977/78 but could have already been an oldie by then? It's an atmospheric, a little off-key, early / mid 60s almost garage type sound. It starts off with a bass line very similar to Fontella Bass - Rescue Me. It was bootlegged to supply demand.

Ben Zine [1965] - What The Hecks The Hanky Panky [Parkway P-996-A]

NS563 Norma Jenkins & The Dolls [1966] - The Airplane Song [Malteste MLT 107]

563 Norma Jenkins & The Dolls [1966] - The Airplane Song [Malteste MLT 107]

b/w:	A Lover's Stand (official A side)
Format:	45
Label:	Maltese
Cat No:	MLT 107
Year:	1966
Value:	$835

Originals are styrene not vinyl and marked in dead wax with: ZTSC121035. Bootlegs look pink not red.

Norma Jenkins had two releases in 1966 on Maltese with The Dolls 'This Is Our Day' / 'What's Next' MLT 100 followed up with 'A Lover's Stand' / 'The Airplane Song' MLT 107.

Maltese was owned by Bud Grandhoff and was based in New Jersey. Norma Jenkins was used to demo many of the Kerr-Barnes NY songs including the Motown version of 'Try Love (One More Time)', (recorded by The Sparkels on Old Town) which is unreleased. George Kerr co-wrote Edwin Starr's 'I Have Faith In You' but put his wife's name on the credit due to some contractual situation (note the publishing company is Maltese Music). He wrote 'The Airplane Song' as a direct result of a bad flight. According to soulfulkindamusic discography, The Airplane Song was also released on MLT 108 by The Young Men perhaps this was a demo version or a later withdrawn version? 'This Is Our Day' by The Dolls was co-written by Alice Ossman.

Maltese Discography @ soulfulkindamusic

Maltese Discography @ Global Dog

Norma Jenkins & The Dolls [1966] - A Lover's Stand [Malteste MLT 107]

The Dolls [1966] - This Is Our Day [Malteste MLT 100]

The Dolls [1966] - What's Next [Malteste MLT 100]

She went on to record a 45 for Carnival followed by a release with Troy Keyes on ABC in 1967. In 1973 she had 3 45s released on Jean, Kerr (another George Kerr label) and Alithia and released a duet with J. Ray on Alithia. She joined Desert Moon in 1976 and cut 2 45s and an album 'Patience Is A Virtue'. The first release on Desert Moon is her only showing in the U.S. R&B charts peaking at 92 in Feb 1976 with Gimme Some (Of Your Love) / It's All Over Now. The second Desert Moon 45 6401 was a cover version of 'Love Jones' with 'Can You Imagine That' on flip which got plays at Blackpool Mecca as a new release. My favourite cuts from the album include 'It's All Over Now' and 'I Did It For Real' included as You Tube clips below.

Norma Jenkins [1967] Need Someone To Love [Carnival CAR-528]

Norma Jenkins [1967] Me Myself And I [Carnival CAR-528]

Norma Jenkins Discography @ soulfulkindamusic

Norma Jenkins & Troy Keyes [1967] - A Good Love Gone Bad [ABC 11116]

Norma Jenkins & Troy Keyes [1967] - I Can Wait My Turn [ABC 11116]

Norma Jenkins [196?] - Try Love (One More Time) [Unreleased Motown]

Norma Jenkins recorded this Sidney Barnes song on acetate for consideration by Motown who passed it by. It was later released by The Sparkels on Old Town 1160 in 1964. It was a big hit on the Belgian Popcorn scene before crossing over to the Northern Soul scene. There appear to be copies on a white Carnival label which I assuem to be bootlegs as it was never released, existing on acetate only. More info at Soul Source.

Norma Jenkins [1973] - Go Home To Your Wife Kerr K-13 / Alithia AR-6074]

Norma Jenkins [1973] - One Girl Too Many Kerr K-13 / Alithia AR-6074]

Norma Jenkins [1973] - Puzzle Man (Figure It Out If You Can) [Jean JR 730 A]

NOTE The flip is the instrumental version.

Norma Jenkins [1976] - Gimme Some Of Your Love [Desert Moon DMS 6400 A]

Norma Jenkins [1976] - It's All Over Now [Desert Moon DMS 6400 B]

Norma Jenkins [1976] - Can You Imagine That [Desert Moon DMS 6401 B]

Norma Jenkins [1976] - Love Jones [Desert Moon DMS 6401 A]

Norma Jenkins [1976] - Patience Is A Virtue [Desert Moon DMS-3200]

To complete Norma Jenkins (known) recordings here are 4 LP only tracks. The other tracks on the LP were all released on 45 (above).

I Did It For Real

A nice piece of deep mid-tempo soul. An LP track from Patience Is A Virtue 1976. It saw a 45 release c/w I Fooled You (Didn't I) in Brazil (only?) on Black Horse.

I Fooled You (Didn't I)

Reachin' Out In Darkness

You've Been Here Since Then

NS564 Bud Harper [1964] - Wherever You Were [Peacock 1932]

564 Bud Harper [1964] - Wherever You Were [Peacock 1932]

b/w: Let It Rain

Format: 45
Label: Peacock

Cat No: 1932

Year: 1964

Value: $192

The first of two 45s from Bud Harper issued on the Peacock label between 1964 and 1965 that were played on the scene. 'Wherever You Are' is a perennial favourite which still gets plays out to this day especially with the emergence of more R&B flavoured sounds hitting the turntables in recent years.

There is a fabulous article on Peacock records by Dave Rimmer which includes a discography over at soulfulkindamusic Peacock

Peacock Discography @ Global Dog