Bobby Wade
A song that has been 'haunting' me for years is a magnificent deep soul cut by Bobby Wade, so I thought I'd do an article that includes his full output.
1966 You Don't Understand Me / They Call It Stormy Monday [Marjon MJ-508 A]
1966 Flame In Your Heart / Can't You Hear Me Calling [Big Jim 3275]
1967 Four Walls And One Window / Can't You Hear Me Calling [Way Out 2001/2002]
1970 Four Walls And One Window / Can't You Hear Me Calling [DeLuxe 45-121]
1970 Blind Over You / Funny How Time Slips Away [DeLuxe 45-128]
1971 I'm In Love With You / Down Here On The Ground [Way Out 102]
Way Out was a Cleveland label owned by Lester Johnson and Bill Branch as an outlet for its African-American music.
A bit of info over at SirShambling
Note SirShambling has Bobby's 1st 45 dated 1966/67 and Soulfulkinda Music 1964. It certainly sounds more 64 that 66/67, however sirShambling's date was provided by someone who knew Bobby then so probably a better bet.
Bobby Wade was born in Meadville, PA in 1942. He released around 5 45s between 1966 and 1971. In 1971 he joined Little Anthony (Jerome Anthony Gourdine) & The Imperials replacing Kenny Seymour who had just replaced Ernest Wright who had left to join The Platters. After several more member changes and the departure of Little Anthony a trio was left, Clarence Collins (a founding member), Harold Jenkins and Bobby Wade and they continued as The Imperials. When Collins left in 1988 he was replaced by Sherman James and they continued as Bobby Wade's Imperials. However, in 1992 Little Anthony reunited with Collins, Wright and Sammy Strain for a one-off concert which was such a success that they decided to tour, so Wade relinquished The Imperials name and his group were known as Bobby Wade's Emperors when they became the resident band at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Bobby Wade
Little Anthony (left) & The Imperials (Bobby Wade 2nd left)
The Imperials (Bobby Wade right)
Bobby Wade [1966] - You Don't Understand Me [Marjon MJ-508 A]
Marjon records was based in Sharon, PA. I am guessing that they provided a custom pressing service as label has Custom Series on it and most of releases are by different artists i.e. no artist has more than one release. 511 was 1966 and 513 1968 so I am also guessing that this came out 1965/66 (or at least between 64-66). It sounds earlier than 66 to me.
Written by Bill Massey. of The O'Jays, this song was originally a B side to Bobby Freeman's Do You Wanna Dance on King. It was also recorded by Smiley Moon & The Moontunes on Star. It is claimed by some that The Beatles - This Boy is very similar!
Bobby Wade [1966] - They Call It Stormy Monday [Marjon MJ-508 B]
Bobby Wade [1966] - Flame In Your Heart / Can't You Hear Me Calling [Big Jim 3275]
A bit of rocking R&B style Northern Soul from 1967. Big Jim was is a 'sort of' off-shoot of Way Out records. It was owned by Cleveland Brown football player Jim Brown but run by Way Out. There were only 2 releases, this one and another by Occasions - Baby Don't Go / There's No You.
Bobby Wade [1970] - Four Walls And One Window [Way Out 2001 / DeLuxe 45-121]
If you have not yet had the pleasure of hearing this track then you are in for a real treat.
Wade took the song to Way Out to audition in 1966. Rod 'Rico' Simmons and John Washington of The Sensations helped to re-write it and it came out on Way Out 2001 with The Occasions (on Big Jim) on backing along with Can't You Hear Me Calling previously released on Big Jim as flip.
This came out originally in 1967 on Way Out 2001 and was re-issued in 1970 on DeLuxe 45-121.
Bobby Wade [1970] - Can't You Hear Me Calling [way Out 2002 / DeLuxe 45-121]
This came out originally in 1967 on Way Out 2001 and was re-issued in 1970 on De-Luxe 45-121.
Bobby Wade [1970] - Blind Over You [DeLuxe 45-128]
Written and produced by Walter Williams and Bobby Massey of The O'Jays. The O'Jays performed background vocals.
Bobby Wade [1970] - Funny How Time Slips Away [DeLuxe 45-128]
Bobby Wade [1971] - I'm In Love With You [Way Out 102/103]
There were two pressings of this release, the first on grey Bodie press W-102-A / W-103-B and the 2nd on the red lettering on white background 103A/103B.
Verna & Rob [1969] - I'm In Love With You [Way Out 1966]
I'm In Love With You was also released on Way Out by Verna & Rob Middlebrooks who were a husband and wife writing partnership. Note that both sides of this 45 were arranged by the legendary Mike Terry.
Bobby Wade [1971] - Down Here On The Ground [Way Out 102]
The Imperials [1978] - Who's Gonna Love Me [Omni OM 5501]
Here' a nice piece of footage. The Imperials from 1977 with Bobby Wade on lead. I believe that this saw a UK release in 1977 before the US release. It reached #17 in Uk Pop charts in Dec 1977 and was on charts for 9 weeks so perhaps it got a release in US after chart success in UK.
The Imperials [1977] - Who's Gonna Love Me [Power Exchange PC 266]
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