This is a 'strange' record. It obviously has the 'right beat', however to my ears this sounds like 'Rawhide' and is a cross between a rock and country & western tune and also sounds like a show tune from the very early 60s. This is what you would call popcorn. If it wasn't for the flip side I would have guessed that this was recorded by a white country & western artist! Probably best to say that this is a 'Marmite' record.
Era was also the label for Billy Watkins 'The Ice Man'. The label ran from 1955 until 1970. It was Steve Flanagan's only release on the label as with Billy Watkins. Jewel Akens, however, had 9 releases between 1964 and 1969.
Steve Flanagan became a member of Creative Source (he is the one in the foreground of photo below). Creative Source's - Don't Be Afraid (Take My Love ) got plays at the Blackpool Mecca upon release in 1976 (oddly only released in UK). They released 4 albums and about a dozen or so 45s between 1973-76.
Steve Flanagan [1967] - I Need To Be Loved So Bad [Era 3186]
As equally as I dislike 'Ive Arrived', I love the flip side. A superb crossover tune from the pen of the talented Willie Hutch. (Unfortunately I can't find a label scan for it)
Jewel Akens [1966] - I've Arrived [Era 3164]
Creative Source [1976] - Don't Be Afraid (Take My Love [Polydor 2066 680]
UK 45 release only from the 1975 album Pass The Feelin' On, this was played at Blackpool Mecca on release. Due a reactivation methinks!
Creative Source [1976] - Pass The Feelin' On [Polydor 2066 680]
On the flip of 'Don't Be Afraid' and the title track of the album is 'Pass The Feelin' On' which is no slouch. I would describe it as a modern soul stepper well worth a spin (if it hasn't had any already).
Yvonne Keely & Steve Flanagan [1978] - We Got Love [Ariola ARO 130]
The only other recording I can find by Steve Flanagan is this duet with Yvonne Keeley which got a UK and Dutch release in 1978 which are both a pop/soul/disco numbers quite typical of the era.
Yvonne Keely & Steve Flanagan [1978] - Never Had Nobody Like You [Ariola ARO 130]
Marv Earl Johnson recorded the first 45 on Tamla in May 1959 'Come To Me'. He had his greatest success in the early 60s (released on United Artists) and ceased recording for Motown in 1968 but continued to work for them in sales.
He is another Detroit artist who joined up with Ian Levine and re-recorded 60s hits and new material in the 80s/90s. He died from a stroke in 1993 at the age of only 54.
His finest hour on the Northern scene was 'I Miss You Baby' issued on Gordy in 1966 but not picked up on until much later. It was issued in the UK as the flip to 'I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose' in 1969.
Marv Johnson [1966] - You Got The Love I Love [Gordy G-2077]
Another of my favourite Marv Johnson tracks issued on Gordy as the flip to I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose' is ' You Got The Love I Love' produced by Frank Wilson.
Marv Johnson [1967] - Save My Love For A Rainy Day [Unissued]
Marv recorded Save My Love For A Rainy Day (a big tune on the scene for The Van Dykes (Gordy) also done by Undisputed Truth) in October 1967, it was left on the shelf, where it stayed until 2002, when it was included in A Cellarful Of Motown compilation.
Marv Johnson [1969] - So Glad You Chose Me [Tamla Motown TMG 737]
Marv Johnson [1970] - Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues [Tamla Motown 5C 006- 90714 M]
Only got a 45 release in Holland in 1970, taken from the I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose' LP. It's a re-working of The Miracles track of the same name released on Tamla 54048 in 1961.
Marv Johnson [1970] - Sleep (Little One) [Tamla Motown 5C 006- 90714 M] The official A side of the Dutch release is yet another re-working, this time of the Herman Griffith track released on Motown 1028 in 1962.
Lawn was a subsidiary of Swan records which ran from 1960-65 of which this was the penultimate release in 1965. It appears that this was his only 45 and the only copies listed are white promos so it seems that it may never have actually got a release? It sounds very blue-eyed to these ears but nevertheless this was a monster all-nighter tune in the late 70s. Scanning through the Lawn roster, other notable 'Northern' acts include Modern Red Caps, Billy Harner, Jesse James and Larry Clinton.
'Put That Woman Down' and the flip side were written by General Norman Johnson (Chairman Of The Board) and is reminiscent of the style put out by The Showmen ('Our Love Will Grow') of which he (General Johnson) was a member and who also recorded for Swan.
Released in the UK on Destiny in 1979 owing to huge demand. Destiny was predominantly a Northern Soul reissue label owned by Kev Roberts (one of the original Wigan Casino DJs) which released between 20-30 records in 1979-80 including some 'taylor-made' cover versions by UK blue-eyed artists (many, it has to be said, of dubious quality).
John Leach [1965] - Love Don't Turn Your Back On Me [Lawn L-256-P]
Very rare blue-eyed soul from Danny Monday and one of the rarest singles released on Modern label. It is thought that it was never released as only original promos have ever been found. It was reissued/bootlegged in mid 70s (probably around 76 when it was big) on a white demo with black lettering (originals have red lettering) and a red stock copy, however no one 'in the know' has ever seen an original stock copy. It is said that the reissue is pressed from the same master plate in which case it is more likely to be a legal reissue to meet new demand than a bootleg ... but who knows? Originals don't crop up very often and the price reflects this. Baby Without You has been reissued a couple of times in the UK on Kent (1983 and 2002) and apparently Ady Croasdel (6Ts/100 Club promoter / DJ and runs Kent records) has several different takes of the track which presumably he has obtained from out takes on master tapes.
It is believed that Danny Monday is white, however you can not tell from the soulful flip side, which I actually prefer and is perfect for today's scene but would have been far too slow in the heyday of Northern Soul. Check out the sound clip below. The topside is a stomper.
After all this time there is still nothing known about the artist. This is pure conjecture on my part ... but I wonder if it may be one of the Vegas (real name Vasquez) brothers Lolly or Pat? This is based on the fact that the song was co-written by Jim Ford (who wrote Harry Hippie, Tell Me Why, Secrets, Where Do We Go From Here and many others for Bobby Womack) & L. (Lolly) Vegas. Pat had recorded a single in 1962 as Pat Vegas and they also recorded several 45s as a duo Pat & Lolly between 63-65. So why would they not use their own name of this? Well perhaps they were contracted with another record company at the time of release? They did record an album on Mercury in 1966 and a 45 from it, so perhaps the Modern 45 was a bit of moonlighting? Pat & Lolly went on to form Redbone in 1969.
I've read through Redbone's early history without any hints, however they did record under various aliases in their early years e.g. The Individuals (62), Deuce Coupes (63), Avantis (63/64), (NB the history article states that they were in Routers & Mar-kets but can't find any evidence of that!). In 1966 they were the resident band at The Haunted House in LA and recorded a live album which consisted of a lot of soul covers so they were disposed to sing soul at that time.
Lolly Vegas/Vasquez died of cancer in 2010, so possibly only Pat will be able to confirm or deny the above?
Since writing the above I have received an anonymous comment (March 2014 below) stating: "Danny Monday was white I knew him and his wife as a kid in L.A. He had a band then 'Danny Monday & The 2nd Revolution'. I saw him open for Wilson Pickett. They were too good and Mr. Pickett did not like it!" I thank whoever posted the comment but as it was anonymously posted I am not able to reply but if the person that wrote it reads this I'd be very interested in learning more.
Bootleg
Gene & Gary [2010] - Baby Without You [Kent 6T 26]
On the flip side of the 100 Club 31st anniversary giveaway 45 (which has the wonderful Paramount Four on the other side) is a version of Baby Without You by Gene & Gary. Curiously for this 45 Pat Vegas' name has been added to writer credits.
I've no idea who Gene & Gary are but definitely blue-eyed and (for me) nowhere near as good as Danny Monday's version.
Danny Monday [1966] - Good Taste Of Love [Modern 1033]
Marvin Holmes was one of the major movers and shakers of Bay area soul and funk through the 60s and 70s, recording with the Uptights, Justice, and under his own name. He recorded 45s for a number of different labels including Revue, Brown Door, Uni, Kon-Kord, and Boola Boola.
'You Better Keep Her' is a 70s shuffler first played at Blackpool Mecca from initial release. The track was taken from their second LP on Brown Door 'Honor Thy Father', the first LP being 'Summer of '73'.
He also recorded an album 'Ooh Ooh The Dragon & Other Monsters' as Marvin Holmes & The Uptights in 1969 on Uni.
Marvin Holmes & Justice [1974] - Kwami [Brown Door MH-6576]
Marvin Holmes & Justice [1973] - Summer Of '73 [Brown Door MH-6574] Most of his other stuff with Justice is early 70s funk but this flip of 'Tell The Truth' and the title track off the LP of the same name is worthy of posting - a sort of early jazz/funk instrumental groover.
Originally recorded, but unreleased, by Jimmy Ruffin. I understand that during 80s/90s unreleased Motown tapes were discovered by Chris King and Pat Lowry and I assume that this was on the tapes and was probably played 'out' on an acetate. It was bootlegged on a counterfeit white promo Soul label around 2002/03. If anyone has further more accurate info please leave a comment. The song was released on Motown by The Temptations in 1968 on 'Wish It Would Rain' LP, Edwin Starr as flip to 'War' in 1970 on Gordy and appeared on his '25 Miles' LP, and Rare Earth did it in 1976 on 'Midnight Lady' LP. The Carstairs recorded a version on Okeh in 1969.
Jimmy is the elder brother of ex Temptation David Ruffin. He is best known for his 1966 Motown hit 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' which was originally written for The (Detroit) Spinners. He was never able to repeat it's success and was more popular in the UK than US. He left Motown in 1974, had a hit on Chess / Polydor with 'Tell Me What You Want' and another on RSO 'Hold On To Love' 1980 and eventually moved to the UK in the 80s.
This track is available on a white label Soul bootleg or on Jimmy Ruffin The Motown Anthology CD released in 2004 and various Motown/Northern compilation CDs. Since the original posting made in 2010 this side has been released on a Tamla Motown 45: The Motown 7's Box Rare And Unreleased Vinyl Volume 2 box set in UK in 2014 with Gladys Knight & The Pips - If You Ever Get Your Hands On Love of the flip.
Edwin Starr [1970] - He Who Picks A Rose [Gordy 7011]
Released as the flip to his US Pop #1 and world-wide hit 'War'
Carstairs [1969] - He Who Picks A Rose [Okeh 4-7329]
The Carstairs performing 'He Who Picks A Rose' live @ Blackpool Mecca 1998
Video footage of The Carstairs at Blackpool Mecca Nov 1998. The audio is not live.
I attended this event and have some VHS footage which I'll try to digitise. Also appearing was Frank Wilson who did a live version of 'that' record! He also signed one of the 2 known copies for the then owner Kenny Burrell at this event.
The Carstairs performing The Salvadors 'Stick By Me Baby' live @ Blackpool Mecca 1998
Video footage of The Carstairs at Blackpool Mecca Nov 1998. The audio is not live. You can safely assume that The Salvadors will not lose any sleep over this version!
The Brook Bros. on this release were brothers Arthur, Richard and Harrison and Harrisons's son Harrison Jr. It looks like Harrison wrote both sides and copyright was registered in March 1966. They released another 45 on Chicago's Thomas label in May of the same year (according to 45Cat) so it was probably released after the Tay 45.
Originally released on Tay 501-A but it was reissued (bootlegged?) on Kingy 81156 around 2004 with Melvin Davis - Find A Quiet Place (And Be Lonely) on the flip.
Tay was a subsidiary of Detroit Sound Studios owned by Turner & Taylor. This appears to be the only release (listed).
Richard & Arthur Brooks moved from Cattanooga, Tennesses to Chicago in the 50s where they met Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield and they formed Jerry Butler & The Impressions in 1958, they left in 1962. The full story by Dave Welding (Soul Junction Records) has been posted on Soul Source by Chalky (Karl White), there is also another version on Soul Junction site.
After leaving the Impressions and recording a couple of 45s they moved back to Chattanooga in the 70s and formed Brothers, Sisters And Cousins but later had to change the name (over a name dispute from another band of the same name) to Bits 'N Pieces.
Jerry Butler & The Impressions Top: Jerry Butler, Sam Gooden, Arthur Brooks, Bottom: Richard Brooks, Curtis Mayfied
Discography (Excluding Impressions) Brooks Bros./Brothers 1966 Looking For A Woman / Two Great Lovers [Tay 501] 1966 You Got Something Baby / Come See [Thomas 302]
Brothers, Sisters And Cousins
1972 - Sinner (Have You Been There) / Smoke Stream [Nasco N 029]
Bits 'N Pieces
1973 - Did I Scare You / Smoke Stream [Nasco 031]
1974 - Keep On Running Away / Sinner (Have You Been There) [Nasco 033]
The Old (M) Pressions 1978 - Let Me Know / Right On [Brooks Brothers 9270]
A chance meeting by the wife of Dave Thorley (Stafford Top of The World Promoter and well respected DJ) on a business trip to Chattanooga unearthed some unreleased tracks via a CD presented to her by Richard Brooks. Two of these tracks have subsequently been released as a 45 on Soul Junction. Richard Brooks 2014 - I'll Do Anything To Make You Happy / With All My Heart [Soul Junction SJ528] 2018 - It's Gotta Be A Change [Brooks & Johnson]
Very similar to 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction'. The song was copyright registered in March 1966 so assume that the record was also released the same year ('Satisfaction' was released in 1965!)
The Brooks Bros. [1966] - Two Great Lovers [Tay 501]
The Brooks Brothers [1966] - You Got Something Baby [Thomas 306]
The Brooks Brothers [1966] - Come See [Thomas 306]
Starts off a bit like Fontella Bass' - Rescue Me. I winder if there is a connection as both Chicago records released around the same time?
Brothers, Sisters And Cousins [1972] - Sinner (Have You Been There) [Nasco N 029]
Brothers, Sisters And Cousins [1972] - Smoke Stream [Nasco N 029]
Bits 'N Pieces [1974] - Did I Scare You? / Smoke Stream [Nasco 031]
Bits 'N Pieces [1974] - Keep On Running Away [Nasco 033]
Bits 'N Pieces [1974] - Sinner (Have You Been There) [Nasco 033]
Old (M) Pressions [1978] - Right On [Brooks Brothers NR9270]
Old (M) Pressions [1978] - Let Me Know [Brooks Brothers NR9270]
Richard Brooks [2014] - I'll Do Anything To Make You Happy [Soul Junction SJ528]
Richard Brooks [2018] - It's Gotta Be A Change [Brooks & Johnson] Found this available on CD Baby from 2018 ... still recording at 78! a Mayfield'ish bluesy number.
Motor City soul singer, songwriter, and producer Lorraine Chandler was born Ernastine Lewis and bred in Detroit, she met songwriter and producer Jack Ashford, previously known for his own percussion work with the Funk Brothers, and together they penned 'I'm Gone', a 1966 single for singer Eddie Parker an absolute monster sound on The Northern Soul scene around 1977 and still extremely rare on original Awake label. Sadly Lorraine Chandler passed away on Jan 2nd 2020.
After collaborating on the O'Jays' 'I'll Never Forget You', Ashford convinced Chandler to sign on full-time with his fledgling Pied Piper Productions not only as a writer but also as a performer. Her first single, Ashford and Mike Terry's 'What Can I Do', appeared on Jo Armstead's Giant label in 1966, becoming a smash in Detroit and Chicago. RCA then picked up the song for national distribution, soon followed by Chandler's sophomore effort, 'I Can't Hold' On. RCA also cut a production deal with Pied Piper that resulted in a series of Chandler-authored singles for the likes of the Cavaliers, the Metros, and Willie Kendrick. While in Chicago for an RCA-funded session, she also cut her third solo single, 1967's 'I Can't Change'. That same year, Chandler also recorded an unreleased version of the title theme to the James Bond film 'You Only Live Twice'. (Nancy Sinatra's rendition was instead present over the opening credits.)
OOTP (Out Of The Past) Bootleg
In addition to the RCA deal, Pied Piper negotiated a similar production agreement with Kapp, forcing Chandler to focus her time and energy behind the scenes. For singer Freddy Butler, she penned the singles 'I Fell in Love' and 'There Was a Time', and for the Hesitations she authored the hits 'Soul Superman', 'Wait a Minute,' and 'Clap Your Hands'. In 1968 she and Ashford attempted to go it alone, founding their own Ashford label. The venture would yield just one single before going bankrupt, but what a single: Eddie Parker's 'Love You Baby' was a flop upon its initial release, but enjoyed new life in the 1970s thanks to its massive popularity among the DJs and clubgoers populating Britain's Northern soul revival scene. Chandler and Ashford then resumed their careers as writers and producers for hire -- the former's compositions of note include: NOTE There was a UK release on Black Magic in 1975 credited to Lorraine Chandler - Love You Baby. Lorraine has categorically denied that it is her singing. She has posted messages as such on Soul Source forum and also on Discogs comments for the master release.
The Sepias 1968 'Tell Me You're Mine',
Billy Sha-Rae 1969 'Do It',
Sandra Richardson 1971 Buddah label release 'The Ring',
Baby Washington 1973 'I've Got to Break Away',
Ray Gant & the Arabian 'Don't Leave Me Baby'
This is a 70s reissue
When Ashford relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1976, Chandler was left in limbo, and did not resurface until 1980, when she co-produced Parker's 'The Old, the New, the Blues 'LP, even headlining a pair of duets. During the mid-'80s, British record exec Ady Croasdell unearthed a cache of unissued Pied Piper productions in the RCA vaults, among them Lorraine Chandler's 'You Only Live Twice' - when issued on vinyl, the song became a cult hit, inspiring the singer to cross the Atlantic to sing live at a Northern soul weekender. In the decades to follow, Chandler has been a staple of the Northern soul touring circuit, with her original singles reissued on CD to much renewed interest.
Taken from TheSoulGuy (site now defunct)
Ian Levine re-recording 90s
Lorraine Chandler [1966] - She Don't Want You [RCA Victor 47-8980]
Lorraine Chandler [1967] - I Can't Change [RCA Victor 47-9349]
As I am no longer posting the full Northern Soul 500 I will include this track here which was positioned at 392.
Yvonne Baker & The Sensations [1965] - I Can't Change [Junior 1010] Recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations 2 years before Chandler's release. It was re-ssued in 1967 on Junior 1071.
Lorraine Chandler [1967] - Oh How I Need Your Love [RCA Victor 47-9349]
Lorraine Chandler [1966] - What Can I Do [Giant G-703]
Lorraine Chandler [1966] - Tell Me You're Mine [Giant G-703]
The Four Sonics - Plus One [1968] - Tell Me You're Mine [Sepia 1A]
The Four Sonics were Jay Johnson, Bill Frazier, Steve Gaston and EddieDaniels and the 'plus one' for this release was apparently Joe Buckman. They released 5 singles on various Detroit labels 2 on Sport, this one on Sepia and one one Triple B and JMC between 1967-69
The Hesitations [1967] - She Won't Come Back [Kapp K-822]
Wriiten by Lewis and Ashford. Now I would guess that its is Lorraine Chandler using her birth name (Ermastine) Lewis. This uses the same backing track as 'Tell Me You're Mine'.
Lorraine Chandler [1997] - You Live Only Twice [Kent 6T 13] A previously unreleased track of her 'audition' for the theme song for the Bond film of the same name. It was issued by Kent for the 100 Club 18th Anniversary 45 in 1997.
Lorraine Chandler [2017] - Ease Your Mind [Kent 6T 33] Another unreleased track discovered by Kent (Ady Croasdel) It was released on the 100 Club 38th Anniversay 45 in 2017.
The Magnificents [2017] - I Can Fly [Kent 6T 33]
For 'completeness' I've included the flip side of the Kent 38th Anniversay single. This track was originally recorded and released by Jack Ashford on his Hotel Sheet album as 'I Can Fly To your Open Arms' on Magic Disc in 1977.
Jack Ashford [1977] - I Can Fly To Your Open Arms [Magic Disc MD-116]
Lorraine Chandler [2014] - I Hear Music [Pied Piper 006] A recent (2014) release on Kent off-shoot Pied Piper imprint targeted at publishing rare and previously unreleased Pied Piper productions.
Lorraine Chandler [2016] - Mend The Torn Pieces Of My Heart [Pied Piper 009]
Another recent (2016) Pied Piper release. This track was originally recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations who also recorded the Northern Soul classic You Didn't Say A Word.
Yvonne Baker & The Sensations [1965] - Mend The Torn Pieces [Junior 1010] Originally recorded in 1965 by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations.
