Johnny Honeycutt is yet another mystery artist to me. A driving RnB beater from 1966. It is believed that only a handful of these still exist.
Back in 2010 (when this posting was made) this record had only ever appeared on eBay once. Here are the vendor's (www.raresoul45.co.uk) comments when it was listed in June 2009: NB This copy sold for £1551
"DESCRIPTION - FIRST TIME THIS RECORD HAS EVER APPEARED ON EBAY THAT JUST SHOWS HOW TRULY RARE THIS IS, A TRUE HOLY GRAIL RECORD WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF KNOWN COPIES IN EXISTENCE THIS IS A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY COLLECTOR OR DJ TO FINALLY ADD THIS NORTHERN SOUL TROPHY TO THERE COLLECTION THIS WONT COME ALONG AGAIN IN A HURRY"
Since this was originally posted back in 2010 there appears to have been several copies that have surfaced. There are at least 7 originals now listed on Popsike selling between £650 and £2,000. (Of course some of these may be the same copy re-selling)
The record was unofficially reissued on Triode 1001 to meet demand. Even the bootleg will probably now cost you around £50-£75. Note it has a different flip side to the original i.e. Love Theme not If You Love Me.
Johnny Honeycutt [1966] - I'm Coming Over [Triode 111]
Johnny Honeycutt [1966] - If You Love Me [Triode 111]
Discography
1957 - Blue Songs Of Love / I Will Never Part From You [Teenage 1007]
1962 - I'm Tired / Get To That [Willo 23008]
1966 - I'm Coming Over / If You Love Me [Triode 111]
1974 - Advice On A Man's Love / Love Theme [Fury 6000]
1975 - A Woman And A Man's Love Life Pts 1 & 2 [New City N7275]
1975 - Love By Numbers Pt 1 & 2 [New City N-7277]
1976 - Loving You / More Love [New City N-7280]
It seems a little odd that after a few early releases 1957, 1962 and 1966 that he seemed to reactivate between 1974-76. The only 2 I have heard from this period are 'Advice On A Man's Love' and 'Woman And A Man's Love Life and these are very 'slushy' almost spoken country style 'preaching' ballads. I haven't bothered posting them because quite frankly they are dreadful! 'Blue Songs Of Love' is a typical Rock N Roll number from the era which sounds very similar to Elvis' Teddy Bear to me.
'Curiously', although credited as Johnny on the labels, his BMI entries are for Johnnie Honeycutt.
Discovered by Blackpool Mecca DJ Ian Levine on one of his regular US trips to Miami in 1975, this became a massive sound at Wigan Casino in 1977. A typical mid 60s girlie group sound so popular at the time which sounded great in big all-nighter halls. I'm not sure of the year it was issued but would guess around 1964/65. (Discogs states 65 and 45Cat 66). It sounds earlier than 66 to my ears but could have been an early sound released late?
The Twans are a mystery and I don't know if they ever released anything else. According to Jeff Lemlich (author of 'Savage Lost' a 416 page book covering the music scene in Miami in the 60s) in a comment in response to Colin Dilnot's article, The Twans were one of many Miami girl groups of the 60s and one of the singers replaced Annette Snell ('It's All Over Now' Epic) as lead singer of The Fabulettes ('The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall' fame). You can read more about Annette Snell here.
The record itself is ultra rare and can sell for up to £1200. The last copy listed on Popsike sold for just under £600 but was not in great shape. It was bootlegged after it became popular on a counterfeit white label promo which has sold in 2018 on Discogs for £70!
Written by Brad Shapiro and Henry Stone and produced by Bradley and Steve Alaimo and issued on Henry Stone's Dade label, this is the most elusive record to find on the label. According to Jeff Lemlich this is the only Miami girl group record that he does not own and he has never been able to find it despite living in Miami all his life!
Sean Hampsey (a renown UK collector, DJ, promoter and now record label owner (Diggin' Deep)) has discovered from Betty Wright that The Twans were her sister Jeanette (Wright) Williams, Margaret 'Pepper' Williams and Leotha Carter.
Jeanette Wright Williams used several other pseudonyms such as Jeanette Holloway, Jeanette Black, Jeanette Wright-Black and Jeanette Holloway (Wright) on Milton Wright's Friends And Buddies allbum. She seems to have done a lot of session work and was in group Fire (with Margaret Reynolds & Beverley Champion) who were K.C. & The Sunshine Band's backing group but also released their own album and around 7 singles between 1975-79. Fire changed their name to Girlfriends and released a couple of singles in the 80s (1984/85).
Discogs links her to Jeanette Williams who recorded several sides on Back Beat best know for her 'All Of A Sudden' which has the wonderful Mr Soft Touch on the flip. I am not so sure that this is the same artist as most of her material is Miami based but Back Beat is a Houston label? Also the dates of her earlier Back Beat (1965-69) sides conflict with The Twans release. i.e. why would she join a group if she was well on her path with a solo career?
12 Mar 2020 Please note it appears that someone (bargainvinyl1) has copied my original text above and pasted into Discogs NOT the other way around! I have now updated my text. I don't mind my text being used but a reference / acknowledgement to the site would have been the 'polite' thing to do!
The Twans [1965] - Darling Tell Me Why [Dade 1903]
There used to be a sound clip of the flip side Darling Tell Me Why over at InDangerousRhythmsbut it doesn't appear to there any longer!
There are a couple of images on The Twans Discogs page which have been taken from an advert on page 8 of The Miami Times from 29th April 1966. I've taken the liberty of taking a copy of the page as it's quite difficult to find.
The Trends [1967] - I Never Knew How Good I Had It [ABC 10993]
The Trends [1964] - Dance With Me Baby [Smash S-1914]
The Trends [1964] - (To Be) Happy Enough [Smash S-1914]
The Trends [1964] - Get Something Going / That's The Way The Story Goes [Smash S-1933]
The sound clip for 'Get Something Going' is low quality but gives and idea on the song. I'm not able to find a sound clip or label scan for the flip side That's Where The Story Goes.
The Trends [1965] - Not Too Old To Cry [ABC 45-10731]
The Trends [1965] - If You Dig The Blues [ABC 45-10731]
The Trends [1966] - Gonna Have To Show You [ABC 450-10817]
The Trends [1966] - A Night For Love [ABC 450-10817]
The Trends [1966] - No One There [ABC 45-10881]
The Trends [1966] - That's How I Like It [ABC 45-10881]
The Trends [1967] - Don't Drop Out Of School [ABC 45-10944]
The Trends [1967] -Check My Tearsl [ABC 45-10944]
The Trends [1968] - Soul Clap [ABC 45-11091]
The Trends [1968] - The Big Parade [ABC 45-11091]
The Trends [1968] - You Sure Know How To Hurt A Guy [ABC 45-11150]
The Trends [1968] - You Sure Know How To Hurt A Guy [ABC 45-11150]
Emmett Garner, Jr. [1970] - So Much Better [Maxell L-802]
And finally the only sols single released by Emmet Garnerr Jr.
Taken from The Poet album. It would appear that this was only released as a single in the UK on Motown. Great crossover Northern / Modern tune. SInce originally posting this back in 2010 the prices have risen from £20 to £100!
Bobby Womack is one of the truly great soul men and although he has been recording since the early 60s and has had 45 entries on the R&B charts, I don't believe that he has truly received the wider recognition that his talent deserves outside of soul circles. It is a travesty that only one of his singles ('Looking For A Love' #10 a 1974 remake of his first R&B hit in 1962 recorded with The Valentinos) has made the Top 10 nationally and only 18 of the other 45 have made the national charts only 2 of which made Top 40.
'Looking For A Love' and 'Woman's Gotta Have It' (a Modern Soul favourite) both made #1 in R&B charts in 1974 and 1972 resepectively.
His other high notes are: 'Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much' from So Many Rivers LP in 1985 'That's The Way I Feel About Cha' 'Nobody Wants You When You're Down And Out'
Full R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the Soul Man as he has never sold out and to highlight the quality of his music I have listed a few of my favourite Womack tracks which barely scratch the surface as these are 45 A sides without delving into B sides and album tracks. If you are a lover of real soul music I defy you not to like every single track listed here!
What Is This Harry Hippie Across 110th Street You're Welcome To Stop On By Check it Out Daylight Home Is Where The Heart Is (Northern & Modern Soul classic) Trust Your Heart How Could You Break My Heart If You Think You're Lonely Now Where Do We Go From Here Love Has Finally Come At Last with Patti LaBelle Tell Me Why Ain't Nothing Like The Loving We Got with Shirley Brown
A huge tune from The Twisted Wheel era. Fairly easy to find a copy at around £25.
Walter Sigler was born on March 27, 1941 in Philadelphia, one of 8 children. Apparently, he got the nickname 'Bunny' from his mother when he was an infant because he was born with a fully grown front tooth and she commented that he looked just like a bunny rabbit, an alternative story is that it came from the Easter bunny because he was born around Easter. He is also known as 'Mr. Emotion'.
His early years were spent singing gospel, although his true desire was to become a professional basketball player which was ended when when he injured his leg.
Sigler first recorded for the V-Tone, Hi-Lo and Bee in 1959 and subsequently recorded for Craig, Bamboo, Decca, Parkway and Neptune in the 60s, Philadelphia International and Gold Mind in the 70s and Sugar Hill, Jersey Connection and Star Island in the 80s.
In his teens he sang with various doo wop groups like the Opals. He recorded for various local labels singing, playing guitar and piano in nightclubs where he was spotted by Leon Huff who introduced him to producers John Medara and Dave White (Len Barry's '123') who then signed him to a deal that lead to the release of his first album, 'Let the Good Times Roll & Feels So Good' on Cameo Parkway. The first single, 'Girl Don't Make Me Wait', received both R&B and pop airplay ans was a huge tune on the UKs Northern Soul scene. The title track (originally a hit for Shirley & Lee) was the second single and was making a respectable showing on the R&B/pop charts (number 20 R&B and number 22 pop) when Cameo Parkway suddenly folded.
Sigler then started writing songs for Gamble & Huff Productions which became Philadelphia International Records in 1970. He co-wrote 'Sunshine' with Phil Hurrt which was released as a follow-up single to the O'Jays' million-selling 'Back Stabbers' as well as 'When the World Is at Peace' and 'Who Am I' which appeared on the Backstabbers album.
He also wrote 'You Got Your Hooks in Me' and co-wrote 'Don't You Call Me Brother' with Kenny Gamble for The O'Jays' follow-up album, 'Ship Ahoy' and continued to write, produce, play and sing on many PIR productions.
In 1972 Sigler was given approval to cut tracks on himself and brought into the studio TNJs (T for Trenton, NJ for New Jersey) and their backing band Instant Funk. His first single was the 'Regina' and another single was a remake of Bobby Lewis' 'Tossin' and Turnin' gave Sigler his first chart hit (number 38 R&B) since 'Let the Good Times Roll'.
PIR issued two albums by Sigler in 1974, 'That's How Long I'll Be Loving You' which featured a remake of the O'Jays' 'Love Train' and 'Keep Smilin'. 'My Music' was issued in 1976 which contained 'Somebody Loves You' an Opal's tribute, 'Just Let Me Love You Tonight'. This album featured the Instant Funk rhythm section.
Sigler worked with a number of acts as a writer and/or producer, including the Whispers, Ecstacy, Passion and Pain, and Carl Carlton and cut tracks for artists on Curtis
Mayfield's Curtom label, including Mayfield himself ('Trippin' Out'). He also made a duet album with Barbara Mason.
In 1976, Sigler got Instant Funk an album deal with Gamble & Huff's TSOP label, 'Get Down on the Philly Jump' which featured clubs hits for the title track and 'It Ain't Reggae (But It Sho Is Funky)'.
In 1978, Sigler switched to Gold Mind (started by MFSB guitarist Norman harris) bringing along Instant Funk and scoring a top 10 R&B hit single with 'Let Me Party With You (Party, Party, Party)' with his first release and an album of the same name was a smash in disco clubs. When Goldmind folded, all of its acts were transferred to Salsoul. Sigler and Instant Funk worked with many acts on Salsoul such as Loleatta Holloway, Double Exposure, and First Choice.
In the early '80s, when Salsoul folded, Sigler continued to write and produce, hitting with 'Somebody Loves You Baby', a million-seller for Patti Labelle, and taking Shirley Jones to number one R&B with 'Do You Get Enough Love' in August of 1986.
