Gene Middleton & The Funk Factory [1973] - No One To Love Me [Funk Factory CO 5506]

Discography

1965 - You Can Get It Now / A Man Will Do Anything [Soul Town 1]

1967 - Stop - Where Are You / You Need Love [D and B DB 102]

1967 - When A Boy Becomes A Man / You Need Love [D and B DB 103]

1973 - Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You / No One To Love Me [Funk Factory CO 5006]

197? - Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You / No One To Love Me [Andee 002]

NOTES

Soul Town and D and B were Tampa based labels owned by Charles Fuller and these were their only releases.  The Rare Breed backed Middleton on the first 2 singles.

The Funk Factory 45 is the only release on the label and there is nothing on the label to give a clue as to its location.  Given the backing band is called Funk Factory and limited info on label I wonder if this was self-released.

45Cat states that the Andee release is a reissue/bootleg but gives no year.  All the releases on Andee appear to have been previously issued (apart from a few) and are mostly from different artists which hints at it being a reissue label (legit or otherwise).  Its location is odd also - a PO box in Opa-locka, Florida which today has a population of only 15,000.

A bit more info on Gene Middleton can be found at John Ridley's excellent SirShambling

Gene Middleton & The Funk Factory [1973] - No One To Love Me [Funk Factory CO 5506] 

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.7

A record I've owned for many years that still hasn't had its day, but the with change in tempo over recent years, perhaps its time is coming and it's well overdue as I have always thought that this was a class record.  A posting by John Manship a few years ago stated it was 'hugely in-demand'. It was reissued on the somewhat dubious looking Andeee label (legit?)

If you are not sure what crossover is/means then this is IT.  The ultimate crossover record in my book, you would hard pressed to find a better example of crossover heaven than this. Get this while you can as when this takes off the price will soar. At time of writing only a handful for sale on Discogs and all (bar one) only VG condition or less. One is graded NM (£60) but states heavy WOL both sides - so how can it be graded NM?

My only complaint with this record is that it's only 2:05 long ... far too short as it finishes too soon.

Gene Middleton & The Funk Factory [1973] - Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You [Funk Factory CO 5506] 

SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.4

The flip (official A side) is a deep soul version of Wilson Pickett's 1970 hit Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You.  I have to confess I'm not a great lover of this style of southern soul as it's a bit too raw, earthy and bluesy.