Derek Martin - Complete Discography

This post was initially just going to feature a previously unreleased Northern Soul track by Derek Martin but has turned into a full blow discography which includes all his earlier recordings with a number of, mainly, doo-wop groups.  The pre 1963 singles will be of interest to doo-wop fans, for soul fans I suggest you skip to Derek Martin's solo discography.

There's an interview with Derek Martin which goes through his whole career over at Soul Express.  It would appear that Martin didn't perform on Howie & The Sappires 45.

Flashback

A superb 'stomper' found on an acetate in the late 90s.  Apparently only 3 exist and two of these have poor sound quality (i.e. low sound on first 30 seconds).  They were found at Rich Rosen's 'Wax Trax' in Las Vegas.  It is thought that Mark 'Butch' Dobson owns one and Richard Searling another.  It was released on a 2007 compilation CD: Derek Martin ‎- Take Me Like I Am - The Roulette Recordings [Stateside].  The first 8 tracks are both sides of his 4 Roulette 45s released between 1965-68, tracks 9-21 were previously unreleased Roulette recordings and the last 4 tracks are all 4 sides of his Buttercup 45s released in 1970/71.

Here's a few more of the better unreleased tracks from the CD:

On A Magic Carpet Ride

I Can't Take It No More

After All Is Said And Done

Baby, What Changed Your Mind

The Noon Express [1967] - Flashback [Embassy #C-1970]

A psyche/garage original(?) version of Flashback by The Noon Express from 1967 ... only for comparison!

Complete Discography

Recommended tracks flagged with *

Sources: Discogs, 45Cat, Soulfulkindamusic, Doo-Wop Blog

The Five Pearls

Howard Guyton, Derek Martin, David Cortez Clowney (aka Dave "Baby" Cortez  cousin of Howard Guyton), Coley Washington and George Torrance

1954 - Please Let Me Know / Real Humdinger [Aladdin #3265]

The Sheiks

Derek Martin, Howard Guyton, Coley Washington, Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez

1954 - Walk That Walk / The Kissing Song [Cat #116]

The Pearls

Derek Martin, Howard Guyton, Coley Washington, George Torrance, Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez 

1956 - Shadows Of Love / Yum Yummy [Atco #6057]

1956 - Bells Of Love / Come On Home [Atco #6066]

1956 - Let’s You And I Go Steady / Zippidy Zippidy Zoom [Onyx #503]

1956 - Tree In The Meadow / My Oh My [Onyx #506]

1957 - Your Cheatin’ Heart / I Sure Need You [Onyx #510]

1957 - Ice Cream Baby / Yuz-A-Ma-Tuz [Onyx #511]

1957 - It’s Love, Love, Love / The Wheel Of Love [Onyx #516]

1959 - Ugly Face / Band of Angels [On The Square #320]

Howie & The Sapphires 

Howard Guyton & Derek Martin? + ???

1959 - More Than The Day Before / Rockin' Horse [Okeh #7112]

The Dreamers

There's 'speculation'(on 45Cat) that The Dreamers may actually be The Top Notes i.e. Howard Guyten & Derek Martin, but I guess that this is only on the basis that they wrote the A side.  The B side is credited to Leroy Kirkland and P. (presumably Pearl) Woods who also wrote Etta James classic Somthing's Gotta Hold On Me with Etta James in 1962, however there are several songs with the same title all credited to different composers. I can't find a sound file so don't know if it's a different song or not..

1960 - (That's Why) I Sing This Song / Mary's Little Lamb [Apt#45-25053]

The Top Notes

Howard Guyten & Derek Martin

1960 - Wonderful Time / Walkin' With Love [Atlantic #45-2066]

1960 - Say Yes / Warm Your Heart [Atlantic #45-2080]

1961 - Hearts Of Stone / The Basic Things [Atlantic #45-2097]

1961 - Always Late (Why Lead Me On) / Twist And Shout [Atlantic #45-2115]

1962 - Wait For Me Baby / Come Back Cleopatra [Festival (#45-1021]

1963 - It's All Right / I Love You So Much [ABC -Paramount #45-10399]

Jimmy Ricks & The Raves

Jimmy Ricks and Leonard Puzey (former members of The Ravens) plus Howard Guyton and Derek Martin

1961 - Deep River / Um Gowa [Festival unreleased]

1962 - Daddy Rolling Stone / Homesick [Atco #6220]

1962 - Daddy Rolling Stone / Um Gowa [Festival #25004]

Derek (Martin) & Howard (Guyton)

1963 - Wait For Me Baby / I Love You So Much [Festival #25005]

Can't find sound file but guess it will be the same as The Top Notes on Festival #45-1021 above.

Derek Martin

1963 - Daddy Rollin' Stone / Don't Put Me Down Like This [Crackerjack #4013]

1965 - *You Better Go / You Know [R-4631

1965 - I Won't Cry Anymore / Your Daddy Wants His Baby Back [R-4647]

1966 - Bumper To Bumper / Don't Resist [R-4670]

1965 - Cha Cha Skate / Too Soon To Know [Sue #118]

1966 - *Count To Ten / *If You Go [Sue #143]

1967 - *Breakaway / Take Me Like I Am [Roulette #R-4743]

1968 - Soul Power / *Sly Girl [Tuba #2010]

1971 - You Blew It Baby / Moving Hands Of Time [Buttercup #45-009]

1971 - Your Love Made A Man Out Of Me / *I Got To Chase That Dream [Buttercup #45-011]

1973 - How Can I Get Away / *That's What I'll Do [Vibration # VI-526]

1973 - *Falling Out Of Love / That's What I'll Do [Vibration # VI-522]

1975 - *Beautiful Woman / Inst [All Platinum #AP-2358]

A great mid 70s shuffler, his version of 'Beautiful Woman' from 1975 which The Moments released the same year on their 'Look At Me' LP, I don't believe that they ever issued it on a 45?

Three Of A Kind - 'Tell Me You're Mine'

A song written by Jack Ashford and Andrew 'Mike' Terry, released at least 3 times (to my nowledge) in slightly different variants by Lorraine Chandler, The Hesitations and Four Sonics - Plus One.  The second by The Hesitations is credited to Ashford & Lewis - Ermastine Lewis which was Lorraine Chandler's real name she used for writing credits.

Lorraine Chandler [1966] - Tell Me You're Mine [Giant #G-703]

Lorraine Chandler passed way in Jan 2020 aged 73, so I've turned this into a tribute to her work. 

'Tell Me You're Mine'. was her first single released on the flip to 'What Can I Do' on Jack Ashford's short-lived Detroit based Giant label which released only 5 singles in 1966 (not Jo Armstead's Chicago based label of the same name which started the following year).

Chandler/Lewis was predominantly a writer with her partner Jack Ashford but did release a few more singles on RCA Victor, the Giant 45 was picked up by RCA Victor for national distribution, followed by two further 45s 'She Don't Want You' / 'I Can't Hold On' in 1966 and 'Oh How I Need Your Love' / 'I Can't Change' in 1969.  

In recent years several unreleased tracks have been issued in the UK on 45, one being a demo for the 1967 James Bond movie title track 'You Only Live Twice', 'I Hear Music', 'Mend The Torn Pieces Of A My Heart', (recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations in 1965 on Junior with 'I Can't Change') and 'Ease My Mind'.

There are also two other tracks on CD only 'Don't Leave Me Baby' (which has the same backing track as Willie Kendricks - 'What's That On Your Finger' a Pied Piper Production) released in 2018 on 'Jack Ashford - Just Productions Volume 2 [Kent #CDKEND 478]'. The other is 'Lost Without You', also recorded by Four Sonics on flip to featured track, which came out in 2015 on 'Pied Piper - Follow Your Soul 2015 [Kent #CDKEND 429]' CD.

It is suggested on Discogs that she also recorded with The Ebonies who released two 45s on Midwest in the early 60s, but I have not been able to confirm that.

As a footnote there was a single released on the Black Magic label in UK in 1975 with a version of Eddie Parker's classic 'Love You Baby' (which was a huge tune at the time and the only release on Ashford) with 'What Can I Do' on the flip.  Lorraine Chandler has categorically stated that this was NOT her singing 'Love You Baby'.

In addition the the songs she has recorded she was also involved in writing and producing many other great records, far too many to mention them all, but a few of the greats are Eddie Parker's superb deep soul cuts 'But If You Must Go', 'I Need A True Love' and 'Crying Clown' (NB this is the slower previously unreleased version), the NS dancer as Eddie Parker & The Sunlovers - 'You'll Never Make The Grade', c/w 'This Love Of Ours', Ray Gant & The Arabians - 'Don't Leave Me Baby' / 'I Need A True Love', 'I'll Never Forget You' recorded by The O'Jays and also The Metros, and NS favourite The Smith Brothers ‎- 'There Can Be A Better Way'. to name just a few.

The Hesitations [1967] - She Won't Come Back [Kapp #K-822]

A 1967 reworking of Chandler's 1996 outing with same tune but different lyrics. This is the lead track from their 1967 album 'Soul Superman'.  A fine album which has another different take on an absolute Northern Soul classic, and one of my all-time favourites, 'That's The Way Love Is' uses the same backing as Eddie Parker's ultra rare NS gem 'I'm Gone' which was one of only 3 releases on another Jack Ashford label Awake. 

It was repressed in 70s to meet NS demand but the original must now be valued near 5 figures (only 3 listed on Popsike and 2 of these were pretty 'beaten up'). It was also recorded by Billy Sha-Rae on Spectrum in 1971. A vocal and instrumental remake was done in 2011 by The Emerald City Soul Club in LA with Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme.

Four Sonics - Plus One [1968] - Tell Me You're Mine [Sepia #1]

The Four Sonics were Jay Johnson, Bill Frazier, Steve Gaston and Eddie Daniels with 'Plus One' being Joe Buckman who released a 45 on Sepia #3 in 1969 'Right Now' / 'Till The End Of Time'.

They released two 45s on Sport prior to the Sepia release, mainly sweet soul harmony tracks, the first being a cover of 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' a UK #1 hit for Dusty Springfield in 1966. They released a single on yet another short-lived Ashford lable Triple 'B' in 1969, followed by a release on JMC which sounds like early/mid 70s 'If It Wasn't For My Baby' (no date on listing but JMC-141 is dated 1976 which sounds about right, although some of the earlier numbers are from 80s.  From the sound, I would guess around 1973/74?  No clues on label as to label's location, except JMC-141 states Detroit, which i would expect as all their other material was released in Detroit.

The only other release on Jack Ashford's Sepia label is another ultra rarity Al Gardner - 'Sweet Baby' / 'I Can't Stand It' on Sepia #2 in 1968 which was also released on French label Googa-Mooga the same year which is a bit easier to find.

Jackey Beavers [1967] - Love That Never Grows Old [Revilot #RV 208]

 A much overlooked side, as the record is generally sought for the A side 'I Need My Baby' which is a fantastic example of mid 60s Detroit soul much loved by the UK Northern Soul scene, but flip it over and there's another great Detroit 'thumper', 'A Love That Never Grows Old'.

Robert Lewis Beavers released around 15-20 singles between 1965 and 1975 mainly on Checker, Jaber and Seventy 7, this was his only release on Revilot.  A couple of the Jaber releases were released as The Jackey Bevers Show and as Flame & The Lovelights. It would appear that in the 80s he turned to gospel releasing 4 gospel albums on New York's Glory label in the 80s/90s.

His last 45 release on Dade in 1975 also got a UK release on Jay Boy in 1976 and is one of my favourite tracks by him and well worth checking out 'Trying To Get Back To You Girl'. His only other UK release (apart from some a couple of reissues of 'I Need My Baby') was Mr Bump Man on Buddah in 1975.

He recorded as a duo Johnny (Bristol) & Jackey cutting around 5 singles between 1959-63 prior to his solo releases.  He recorded the song he co-wrote with Bristol and Harvey Fuqua 'Someday We''ll Be Together' as Johnny & Jackey in 1961 and ten years later in 1971 as a solo version on the other side of the track I featured a few weeks ago 'Lover Come Back'. It was, of course, a #1 hit (US) for Diana Ross & The Supremes in 1969.

David Ruffin [2004] - I Can't Be Hurt Anymore [Hip-O Select #B0002509-02]

Pure class! From "David" Unreleased LP & More CD released in 2004 limited to 3,500 copies on Hip-O Select and reissued in 2012.

Anita Baker [1987] - One Night Of Rapture Live

I've just been in a time machine which has taken me back 33 years to watch Anita Baker live in concert promoting her classic album 'Rapture'.  It is many years since I have listened to the album properly in full and what a joy it was watching her perform all the songs from the album pitch perfectly.  This is an official video released by Elektra Records in 1987 and is interspersed with clips of Anita being interviewed.

She had a difficult upbringing, being abandoned by her mother aged two and then brought up by foster parents who died when she was 12, thereafter being raised by her foster sister. At 16 she was singing in nightclubs in Detroit before joining Chapter 8 in 1975 who were later signed by Ariola, releasing their first album in 1979. Ariola was acquired by Arista, and as mentioned in a previous post, some 'genius' at Arista decided to drop Chapter 8 as they didn't think Baker had 'star quality'.  She then proceeded to release 6 solo albums and a Christmas album (a very jazz infused production), four of which went multi-platinum (selling over 1m copies) and her last in 2004 went gold (500k copies), and was awarded 8 Grammy's from 18 nominations. Christmas album aside, only her highly regarded 1983 debut  album 'The Songstress' on Beverly Glen failed to go at least gold.

Apart from a cover of Tyrese's 'Lately' in 2012, she hasn't produced any new material since 2005.  'Lately' was due to feature on a new album scheduled for release in 2013 titled 'Only Forever' but it was never released. 

She announced a 'Farwell Tour' in 2018 when she reached 60 and in 2020 quashed rumours that she was making a comeback by announcing her retirement on Twitter. So we will have to make do with the existing catalogue.  I wonder how many of today's neo soul artists we will still be listening to and appreciating in 35 years time?

1. Mystery 1:28

2. Caught Up In The Rapture 9:23

3. Same Ole Love 15:29

4. You Bring Me Joy 19:20

5. You've Changed 25:34

6. Watch Your Step 27:55

7. Sweet Love 34:55

8. Been So Long 41:38

9. No One In The World 48:35

Jessie J [2018] - I Have Nothing

I came across this performance of Whitney Houston's 'I Have Nothing' this evening by Jessie J and was 'blown away'. I had absolutely no idea that Jessie J could sing like this.  Reading the video comments, it would seem that almost everyone was impressed so thought it ought to be shared.  I've no idea what the show is, I would guess an Asian TV show which looks like a talent contest which is confusing as she has been an established artist since at least 2011 with her hit 'Price Tag' and has released 5 albums since.

Having looked into it further, it's a Chinese singing contest 'Satine' ('Singer') on Hunan TV which invites professional singers. Jessie J actually won the competition in 2018.

I was in the process of posting each performance individually but I found a video which shows all her performances:

00:00 Domino

04:58 I Have Nothing

10:24 Killing Me Softly With His Song

16:03 Flashlight＋Earth song

21:42 Ain't Nobody

27:21 Purple Rain

33:47 Never Too Much

39:24 My Heart Will Go On

44:48 Ain't No Mountain High Enough

48:41 Reflection

53:17 Bang Bang（COCO LI、KZ）

58:47 I Will Always Love You

63:57 I’ll Be There（Luke James）

The Very Best of Luther Vandross - his lesser known sides!

I stated a few days ago that I've been exploring Luther Vandross'  catalogue. As good as Luther was, it's almost inconcievable to realise that, out of approx. 61 singles released, only 12 of his recordings entered US Top 40, only 5 Top 10 and no #1s!  He fared better in UK with 20 Top 40 entries, but only 3 made Top 10: duets with Mariah Carey #3 and Janet Jackson which entered twice first in 1992 #2 and then #7 in 1994.

He received 8 Grammy awards from a total of 33 nominations.

US & UK Top 40 Chart History

US/UK

1981 #33/#44 Never Too Much

1983 #27/#99 How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (w Dionne Warwick)

1985 #29 Til My Baby Comes Home

1986 #15/#24 Stop To Love

1988 #30 She Won't Talk To Me

1989 #6 Here And Now

1991 #4/#31 Power Of Love/Love Power

1991 #9 Don't Want To Be A Fool

1992 #10/#2&#7The Best Things in Life Are Free (w Janet Jackson)

1994 #2/#3Endless Love (w Mariah Carey)

2001 #26 Take You Out

2003 #38/#21 Dance With My Father

UK Only

1987 #16 I Really Didn't Mean It

1987 #33 So Amazing

1988 #26 Give Me The Reason (1988)

1988 #28 I Gave It Up (When I Fell In Love)

1989 #13 Never Too Much (1989)

1993 #28 Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)

1993 #34 Heaven Knows

1993 #38 Love Is On The Way

1994 #31 Love The One You're With

1995 #20 Always And Forever

1995 #22 Ain't No Stopping Us Now

1996 #14 Your Secret Love

If I'm brutally honest, the only track from above that would make my Luther Top 10/20 would be 'Never Too Much' and perhaps 'Give Me The Reason' and 'So Amazing' from the UK entries. I have a 'soft spot' for Little Miracles (Happen Every Day) for purely personal reasons as it was literally playing on the radio (Capital FM) as my first child (daughter) was born on 24th May 1993!

I've put together 2 mixes of material that either never charted or only reached lower low end of chart or are B sides or album only tracks.  In my opinion many, if not most, of these are superior to the efforts that made the charts.  One mix is more uptempo, dance, tunes and the other shows his mellow side consisting of ballads. This is all material released as a solo artist, I've deliberately not included his earlier material before he went solo as I will create a separate mix which includes most of his better earlier recordings as a featured artist e.g. with Luther, Mascara, Charme, Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie, Soiree, New York City Band, Quincy Jones and Change.

The Dance Mix (95 Mins)

00:00 - I'm Only Human (with Cassandra Wilson & Bob James) (85.9)

1998 - Stepper R&B #57 only

05:00 - Creepin' (88.9)

1985 - Stevie Wonder song Album only B side to 'She Won't Talk To Me' UK CD in 1988

08:25 - Don't You Know That (92.0)

1981 - Flip to Never Too Much on some issues and then issued as A side #107 US

11:55 - I Won't Let You Do That To Me  (92.1)

1997 - I don't understand it - the best song he'd recorded for years (about 10) and it did absolutely nothing on any chart anywhere?

15:45 - Busy Body  (94.0)

1984 - Flip to Make Me A Believer - non-charting 45

20:10 - For You To Love  (93.9)

1988 - Non charting 45 - R&B #3

25:00 - Nights In Harlem (LP Edit)  (Feat. Precise) (99.0)

1998 non-charting 45 R&B #29 only

29:13 - You Stopped Loving Me  (101.0)

1981 - Flip to Never Too Much on some issues

34:00 - She's So Good To Me  (102.0)

1985 non charting from The Goonies OST

39:04 - Better Love  (102.7)

1983 - Flip to Promise Me non charting 45 (#77 R&B)

44:35 - Once You Know How  (101.5)

1982 flip to Bad Boy /Having A Party #55 Hot 100

48:45 - See Me  (102.1)

1987 - Non US release UK chart #60

53:39 - My Sensitivity (Gets In The Way)  (103.10

1985 - Flip to Wait For Love non charting R&B #11

57:25 - The Night I Fell In Love  (103.6)

1985 Title track from album non 45

62:58 - The Thrill I'm In (Radio Mix)  (106.7)

1995 non charting from Money Train OST

66:40 - Heaven Knows  (107.3)

1993 - #94 US/ #34 UK

71:08 - Shine (Original Album Version)  (107.0)

2006 - #116 US / #50 UK

75:20 - You're The Sweetest One  (113.9)

1983 - flip to Since I Lost My Baby - non-charting R&B #17

79:26 - It's Over Now (Full Album Version)  (113.6)

1985 - #101 US

84:40 - I Wanted Your Love  (120.3)

1984 non-charting US #88 UK

87:15 - For The Sweetness Of Your Love  (125.0)

1983 - Album only (Busy Body)

89:47 - Are You Using Me  (125.0)

1998 - non-charting 45 - #46 Club chart only not even R&B!

The Mellow Mix (90 mins)

00:00 Superstar / Until You Come Back To Me (58.4)

1984 - #87 US

08:52 Anyone Who Had A Heart (56.5)

1987 - Album only (Give Me The Reason)

13:35 I Who Have Nothing (Feat. Martha Wash) (60.5)

1991 - Album only (Power Of Love)

19:29 A House Is Not A Home (53.7)

1981 - Album only (Never Too Much) except as a B side to See Me in UK in 1987

25:56 If Only For One Night (55.0)

1986 - non-charting 45 #59 R&B only

29:46 The Closer I Get To You (w Beyoncé Knowles) (58.2)

2006 - non-charting 45 #62 R&B only

34:33 Going In Circles (Album Version) (58.6)

1996 - #95 double A side

39:10 Love Won't Let Me Wait (LP Version) (55.0)

1988 - Album only (Any Love) cover of Major Harris.

45:30 Wait For Love (61.9)

1985 Non charting 45 #11 R&B

50:32 Other Side Of The World (60.4)

1986 - B side to If Only For One Night

55:24 If This World Were Mine (w Cheryl Lynn) (63.8)

1982 #101 US (#4 R&B)

60:02 The Second Time Around (60.9)

1988 - Album only (Any Love)

66:00 I Can Make It Better (Single Edit) (64.0)

1996 - #80 US #44 UK

70:04 Because It's Really Love (66.6)

1987 Album only (Give Me The Reason)

75:32 Make Me A Believer (66.9)

1984 - Non charting 45

80:32 Since I Lost My Baby (74.1)

1983 - non-charting 45 #17 R&B

85:26 Promise Me (77.4)

1983 - non-charting 45 #72 R&B

A tribute to artists who have left us during 2020

Sadly it's the time of year that we need to look back and pay respects to artists we have lost in 2020. In a year where we have lost household names like Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Kirk Dougas, Barbara Windsor, Vera Lynn, Trini Lopez, Deigo Maradona, Kenny Rogers, Helen Reddy, Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals) and Terry Jones (Monty Python), I'll dedicate this post to soul related artists we have lost in the last year and post one or two tracks for each as a memorial.  The blessing is that there have been no particularly premature deaths with youngest being Pamela Hutchinson at 61 and oldest Candido at 99.

I've already posted obituaries for several artists this year: Betty Wright, Bill Withers, Little Richard, Rance Allen and Len Barry.

Marty Grebb (The Buckinghams) 1 January 2020 (74)

Marty Grebb is 2nd on left

The Buckinghams formed in 1966 and disbanded in 1970.  They had 5 US Top 10 hits in between 1966-67.  Mary Grebb was a multi-talented musician who worked with many of the greats including Eric Clapton. He released 2 solo albums in 1999 and 2009.

The primary track I've selected is one written by Marty Grebb, recorded by The Buckinghams,  'You Misunderstand Me', a non-album track from 1968 on the flip side to 'Back In Love Again'.

Their best recording, for me by a country mile, is 'Don't You Care', what was called a 'floater' back in the day.  The sort of melodic, anthemic, tune that echoed around large all-nighter dance halls.  I've only just noticed that on the label credits it lists J. Holvay, that's James Holvay who was with The Mob.  I received a Chrsitmas card from James many moons ago (around 2000 if memory serves) along with a CD containing some demo material he had just recorded and we played a track called 'Hot 'N Heavy Love' which was very Curtis Mayfield influenced. I'll have to dig both out and post them.  I don't believe that any of the tracks were ever  released.

Most of The Buckingham's earlier material was garage, but if you like blue-eyed tunes then the flip side to 'Don't You Care', 'Why Don't You Love Me', 'You Are Gone' (flip to 'Mercy., Mercy, Mercy'  and 'Makin' Up, Breaking' Up' (flip on 2nd pressing of 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy'), and 'And Our Love'  (flip to 'Hey Baby')  may appeal to you.

Lorraine Chandler 2 January 2020 (73)

She was predominantly a writer with Jack Ashford on many Detroit recordings, but did release several 45s in the 60s.  She generally used her real name Ermastine Lewis for her writing credits.  My personal favourite is 'What Can I Do' released on Jo Armstead's Giant label.

Robert Parker 19 January 2020 (89)

He reached the ripe old age of 89 and is probably best known for 'Barefootin'' he recorded when he was 36. It's his crossover classic on Nola 'Caught You In A Lie' that I have chosen.

Barbara Martin  4 March 2020 (76)

One the the original members of The Supremes from 1960-62, pictured on left in photo above.  She recorded only their first album 'Meet The Supremes' but is not on the sleeve, only Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and  Florence Ballard are on the cover photo.  She shared lead vocals with Ross on '(He's) Seventeen'.

Manu Dibango 24 March 2020 (86)

Sadly a victim of COVID in March 2020 aged 86. From Camaroon, he is best known for 'Soul Makossa' in 1972, but had a record played on UK dancefloors around 1976 called 'Big Blow'.

Bob Andy 27 March 2020 (75)

Bob Andy's real name was Keith Anderson. When I was pretty young and before I really got into soul music I flirted with reggae in the late 60s/early 70s when it was very much in vogue (probably owing to the skinhead youth culture adopting reggae music), so the song I've chosen to remember Bob Andy is the #5 UK hit with Marcia Griffiths (Bob & Marcia) 'Young Gifted And Black', (their interpretation of a song written by Nina Simone and Wlldon Irvine - Simone (1969) and Aretha Franklin (1972) also recorded the song).  The link has live footage of them performing the track.  They had another #11 hit with 'Pied Piper' in 1971.

Bill Withers 30 March 2020 (81)

Please visit link to full obituary

My personal favourite Bill Withers track is probably 'Lovely Day', followed closely by 'Harlem'.

Vaughan Mason 3 April 2020 (69)

Mainly a disco / post disco / electro artist who's material is not of great interest to me personally, but may be to lovers of 'that' 80s sound. Best known for 'Bounce, Skate, Rock , Roll'.  I've selected 'Feel My Love' from 1983.

Patrick Gibson (Gibson Brothers) 4 Aprl 2020 (64)

Gibson Brothers were a French based West Indian group who burst onto the Disco scene in the late 70s with 'Cuba'.  They had a series of UK pop hits after this with another 2 Top 10 entries with 'Oh What A Life', and 'Que Sera Mi Vida' (one we use to mock as Kiss My Ass Sweet Vera).  Patrick Gibson was singer and drummer who was another victim of Covid.

Hamilton Bohannon 24 April 2020 (78)

I first became aware of Hamilton Bohannon in the early 70s with 'South African Man', followed by 'Foot Stomping Music', and 'Disco Stomp' all bass heavy 'stompers'. He had a massive hit with 'Let's Start The Dance' however, it is the flip side to South African Man, 'Have A Good Day' that I've selected as it may not be that well known.

Millie Small 5 May 2020 (72)

Had a world-wide #2 hit with 'My Boy Lollipop' in 1964 at just 16.  That would be 'too obvious' to post so I've chosen 'Killer Joe' from 1966.

Hillard 'Sweet Pea' Atkinson 5 May 2020 (74)

Was best known as lead singer with 'Was Not Was'. He released an album and a few singles in the early 80s.  The best known is his cover of the Four Tops 'Don't Walk Away'

Little Richard 9 May 2020 (87)

Please visit link to full obituary

A huge discography to choose from, but it has to be his Northern Soul monster first played at The Torch 'I Don't Want To Discuss It'  and 'A Little Bit Of Something' both on Okeh from 1967.

Betty Wright 10 May 2020 (66)

Please visit link to full obituary

It's criminal that Bessie Regina Norris (Betty Wright) was virtually unknown to the general record buying public in UK with only 4 chart entries and only 2 were Top 40, 'Shoorah, Shoorah' (#27) and 'Where Is The Love' (#25). 'Pain' (#42 1986) and 'Keep Love New' (#71 1989) were the other two.  What happened to 'Clean Up Woman' and 'Tonight's The Night' and her many other US hits?

I'm going to choose an early minor US hit 'Girls Can't Do What Guys Do' from 1968 and an album only modern soul play 'Keep Feelin'' from her 1976 Exposion album.

Bonnie Pointer  8 June 2020 (69)

Patricia Eva Pointer left the Pointer sisters in 1977 to pursue a solo career, her biggest hit being a cover of The Elgins 'Heaven Must Have Sent You' in 1979.  The 'hit' version is a hideous disco version but she did do another version more sympthetic to the original which I've linked to.

Tami Lynn 26 June 2020 (77/78)

Had a UK Top 10 hit in 1971 with a re-issue of 'I'm Gonna Run Away From You', originally released on Solid Gold in 1964,  which was primarily driven by the demand on Northern Soul dancefloors.  I've selected a later release from 1971 'That's Understanding' taken from her 'Love Is Here And Now You're Gone' LP, and produced by Wardell Quezurgue and John E. Abbey - founder and editor of Blues & Soul magazine.

Marvin Brown (The Softones) 3 Jul 2020 (66)

Marvin Brown was the lead singer (tenor) of the 70s sweet soul group The Softones from Baltimore, he had previously been with The Unicefs briefly. He released a solo single in 1987 which was a cover of The Delfonics' 'La La Means I Love You'. He left The Softones in mid 80s and, apparently, in early 2000s formed a group called The Fonics with ex Softone Steve Jackson and ex Delfonic Johnnie Jonson and performed around Baltimore area as a Delfonics tribute group.

Wayne Fontana 6 August 2020 (74)

Glyn Geoffrey Ellis took his name  from Elvis' drummer D.J. Fontana and formed The Mindbenders in 1963.  They recorded a cover of Major Lance's 'Um Um Um Um Um Um' which reached #5 on UK pop chart and followed it up with their bigest hit 'The Game Of Love' (#1 US, #2 UK), but it's his solo outing from 1966 on the flip side to 'Pamela Pamela', 'Something Keeps Calling Me Back' he's best known for in Northern Soul circles.

Ronald Bell (Kool & The Gang) 9 September 2020 (68)

Khalis Bayyan was co-founder of Kool & The Gang with his brother Robert 'Kool' Bell who died in 1985.  Their first 45 was released in 1969 and called Kool And The Gang, it reached #59 Hot 100 and #19 R&B.  The only track I can recall ever played on Northern Soul dancefloors was from mid 70's (1976) when New York Disco sounds were 'crossing over', it also featured in the 1977 movie 'Saturday Night Fever', 'Open Sesame'.

Edna Wright 12 September 2020 (75)

Younger sister of Darlene Love and was married to Greg Perry. She was lead singer of Honey Cone and also recorded as Sandy Wynn's 'A Touch Of Venus' in 1964 which was a huge Northern Soul sound on Champion, the same label as Gloria Jones' 'infamous' Tainted Love.  The track I have chosen is the title track fom her 1977 solo album 'Oops, Her I Go Again'.  Apparently she turned down the opportunity of replacing Diana Ross in The Supremes in 1969 as she wanted to join Holland Dozier Holland at Hot Wax to be in the group Honey Cone.

Pamela Huchinson (The Emotions) 28 September 2020 (61)

Pamela Rose Hutchinson joined The Emotions briefly from 1977 for the album Rejoice replacing her older sister Jeanette when she left when pregnant. Despite having recorded since 1964, the group peaked in 1976 with #1 Best Of My Love, soon followed in 1979 with a collaboration with Earth Wind  & Fire on disco classic 'Boogie Wonderland', however, they never again entered the Hot 100.  It's not abundantly clear which recordings Pamela definitley performed on but one she did for sure was 'Don't Ask The Neighbors', the follow up single to 'Best Of My Love',  so I've attached a clip from Soul Train with the group being interviewed by Don Cornelius, Pamela is on the left, she would have only been about 17 or 18 at the time.  I have to say after watching this clip how under-rated and overlooked this group was!

Johnny Nash 6 October 2020 (80)

I guess, like me, the first song that enters your mind when his name is mentioned is 'I Can See Clearly Now' from 1972, 16 years after his first recording in 1956.   His only other US Top 10 hit was earlier in 1968 with double-sider 'Hold Me Tight / Cupid'. He never again made Top 10 in US but had 6 Top 10 hits in UK with Hold Me Tight, You Got Soul, Cupid, I Can See Clearly Now, There Are More Questions Than Answers and Tears On My Pillow and just missed with Stir It Up (#13).  However, many of his mid 60s recordings have been 'rediscovered' on UK NS scene such as 'Good Goodness' c/w 'You Never Know' and '(I'm So Glad) You're My Baby' and the flip side 'Stormy' from 1967.  He also had a couple of other 45 only (i.e. non-album) tracks in 1970 '(What A) Groovey Feeling' and  'Falling In And Out Of Love'.

Spencer Davis 19 October 2020 (81)

Famous of course for The Spencer Davis Group who had hits such as 'Keep On Running', 'Somebody Help Me', 'Gimme Some Lovin'' and 'I'm A Man' all UK Top 10 hits (#1,#1,#2,#9 respectively) between 1965-67.  It was the flip side to 'When I Come Home' released between 'Somebody Help Me' and 'Gimme Some Lovin'' in 1966, that was spun on NS dancefloors, an instrumental called 'Trampoline'.

Roy Head 21 September 2020 (79)

His first and biggest hit, was 'Treat Her Right' as Roy Head & The Traits on the much loved Back Beat label which has turned up many great tunes played on NS dancefloors.  He was a bit of al all-rounder performing Rock n Roll, R&B, blue-eyed soul and country and ewas inducted into The Rockabilly Hall Of Fame in 2007. Other tracks worth checking out include 'Turn Out The Lights', a flipside to 'Broadway Walk' on Mercury from 1968; 'Don't Cry No More' (originally recorded by Bobby Bland) the flip to 'To Make A Big Man Cry' from 1966, 'She's About A Mover' and 'Soul Train' (reminds me of Robert Parker's - Barefootin'') from 1970 'Same People' LP and 'I Want Some Action' on Mercury 1969.

Rance Allen 31 October 2020 (71)

Please visit link to full obituary

I posted a complete discography of Rance Allen's recordings in the obituary above, but the song that springs to mind is the under-rated 'Peace Of Mind' from 1977 which appears on the same album ('Say My Friend') as the classic 'Reasons To Survive'.

Len Barry (Leonard Borisoff) 5 Nov 2020 (78)

Please visit link to full obituary

I know it's basically a pop song, but I've always liked '1-2-3', very Motownesque.  I hadn't, until now, investigated whether anyone else has recorded it (apart from Deon Jackson), and am surprised that there are at least 55 cover versions with some notable artists such as Sarah Vaughn, Leon Haywood, Herbie Mann & Tamiko Jones and some MOR versions - one by Jack Jones! It is also noteworthy that it is credited as an adaptation of HDH penned Ask Any Girl by The Supremes - so no wonder it sounds very Motownesque!

However, of most interest are his unreleased recordings of some Northern Soul classic which didn't see the light of day until around 2007 on That Philly Sound label: I'll Always Need You, When You Call Me Baby, I'm In Love and Love, Love,Love.

Candido Camero Guerra 7 Nov 2020 (99)

Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist Candido died barely 6 months before his 100th birthday (22 April).  Best known for his latin disco anthem 'Jingo' flipped with the equally good 'Dancin' & Prancin' and also 'Thousand Finger Man' all from his 4 track album 'Dancin' & Prancin' on Salsoul from 1979.