Bessie Banks Discography

Bessie Banks is probably best known to soul connoisseurs as the original singer of 'Go Now'  (co-written by her ex-husband Larry Banks & Milton Bennett) later recorded by The Moody Blues who had a world wide hit with it, thus depriving Bessie Banks of the hit with her far superior version.  Just imagine what she could have potentially become had that hit been hers.

Bessie White recorded with several groups (Three Guys And A Doll, Miss Toni Banks & The Four Fellows, The Four Fellows and The Companions) in the late 50s.  One of the members of Three Guys And A Doll was Larry Banks who she married in 1955 but they later separated and divorced around 1963/64.

Discography
1964 - Go Now / It Sounds Like My Baby [Tiger TI 102]
1964 - Do It Now / (You Should Have Been A) Doctor [Spokane S4009]
1964 - Do It Now / (You Should Have Been A) Doctor [Wand 163]
1965 - Go Now / It Sounds Like My Baby [Blue Cat BC 106]
1967 - I Can't Make It Without You Baby / Need You [Verve 10519]
1969 - Linda Jones - Fugitive From Luv / Bessie Banks - Go Now [Cotique C-177]
1974 - Try To Leave Me If You Can / Ain't No Easy Way [Volt VON-4112]
1976 - Don't Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come / Try To Leave Me If You Can [Quality QA 503]
1976 - Baby You Sure Know How To Get To Me / Do You Really Want To Be Right [Quality QA 508]

NB She recorded with a number of groups in the late 50s up to 1960 but this discography includes only her solo releases.

Bessie Banks [1964] - Do It Now [Spokane S4009]

Deep soul beat ballad.

Bessie Banks [1964] - (You Should Have Been A) Doctor [Spokane S4009]

Rocking R&B dancer.

Bessie Banks [1964] - Go Now [Tiger TI 102]

Deep soul classic.  Forget The Moody Blues as this is THE version.  Much loved and championed by highly regarded British soul 'guru' Dave Godin (Blues & Soul) and released on his own Soul City label in 1968.

Kevin Banks, the son of Bessie and Larry Banks, produced an updated version which he posted on YouTube in 2011.  A good version - which he should release.

Bessie Banks [1964] - It Sounds Like My Baby [Tiger TI 102]

Not sure how to describe this one ... a sort of jazz/bluesy uptempo ballad.

Bessie Banks [1967] - I Can't Make It Without You Baby [Verve 10519]

Pure NS also released on UK Verve in 1967.

Bessie Banks [1967] - Need You [Verve 10519]

Mid-tempo NS.  This also got a UK release.

Bessie Banks [1974] - Try To Leave Me If You Can [Volt VON-4112]

One of the best deep soul ballads you are ever likely to hear.  I had this out of a soul pack back in the mid 70s but it was a same-sided promo so didn't get the other killer track.

Bessie Banks [1974] - Ain't No Easy Way [Volt VON-4112]

More deep soul heaven.

Bessie Banks [1976] - Don't Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come [Quality QA 503]

This has been a huge modern soul 'anthem' for years.

Bessie Banks [1976] -  Try To Leave Me If You Can [Quality QA 503]

This is also posted above, but put it in thinking it might be a slightly different version as it was released 2 years later but it sounds identical.

Bessie Banks [1976] - Baby You Sure Know How To Get To Me [Quality QA 508]

This has also been a favourite on modern soul dance-floors for many years.

Bessie Banks [1975] - Baby You Sure Know How To Get To Me [Contempo #CS.2070]

A different version/take of the song was released on Blues & Soul magazine's Contempo imprint before the release on Quality.

Bessie Banks [1976] - Do You Really Want To Be Right [Quality QA 508]

This must be pretty rare as no sound clips to be found.  Only appeared on the issue not promo and not on the UK Contempo issue which has "Try To Leave Me If You Can" on the flip. As far as I can tell it has never been released anywhere else other than on the original issue.

UPDATE 14-12-2021:

Many thanks to Yves who sent an mp3 of this track to compete the discography. Much appreciated my friend. What a beautiful tune, far too good to miss.