Charay label was owned by Major Bill Smith in Fort Worth, Texas. It was a subsidiary of Le Cam along with Austin records and had a couple of subsidiaries itself namely Soft and Zuma. Major Bill was renowned for reusing backing tracks and reissuing the same songs. Here is an example of one such track 'Salvation'. I have found four different versions all on Charay.
Robert Thomas [1969] - Salvation [Charay C-87]
This was the first version of this track discovered/played in mid 70s (Cleethorpes Pier). It was also repressed on on Charay G-100 and G-103 billed as Robert Thomas & Six Feet Under with Soul Of A Man on flip. It has recently been reactivated since other versions have been found and played, hence price has risen rapidly and now you'd have to find £250-£350 or more for an original.
There is an article on SirShambling regarding Robert Thomas which it incorrectly states that all other versions of Salvation are instrumentals. Actually only the Men From Macon's version is an instrumental, the other from Cresa Watson and Rita Lee (who may actually be Cresa Watson) are vocals. See below.
Robert Thomas' only other solo outing was on Venture (Ve-617) Bye By Baby / True Love Is Hard To Find in 1968.
Thomas recorded with his cousin Matt Brown under the name Matt & Robert. They cut 3 45s as Matt & Robert (on Soft, Uni & Le Cam) and one as Matt & Robert 'The Soul Cousins' on Jar-Val all around 1969-70. They were mainly cover versions e.g. Marvin Gaye's Pride And Joy and Otis Redding's These Arms Of Mine and Mr, Pitiful.
Matt Brown recorded a few solo 45s several of which received NS spins
Everyday / Baby I'm A Want You [Jar-Val JV 0004]
Thank You Baby / Sweet Thing [Jar-Val JV 0006]
Funky Soul Train / Love Me Just A Little Bit [Sew City SC 108] as Mathew Brown
NB 'Love Me Just a Little Bit' was covered-up as Johnny Bartel.
Both the Jar-Val 45's were reissued in UK by Grapevine JV 006 in 2001 and JV 0004 in 2003.
In true Major Bill eccentricity he also released tracks recorded as Matt & Robert by Matt Brown i.e.
A Man Without A Woman / Soul Of A Man [Soft S-1035]
Soul Of A Man / A Man Without A Woman [Le Cam LC 357]
Soul Of A Man was written by Major Bill and it was released at least 6 times 1 by Robert Thomas, 2 by Matt Brown and 2 by Matt & Robert and it also by The Men From Macon as instrumental. He like to get his money's worth out of a track!
There is an article on SirShambling regarding Robert Thomas which it incorrectly states that all other versions of Salvation are instrumentals. Actually only the Men From Macon's version is an instrumental, the other from Cresa Watson and Rita Lee (who may actually be Cresa Watson) are vocals. See below.
Robert Thomas' only other solo outing was on Venture (Ve-617) Bye By Baby / True Love Is Hard To Find in 1968.
Thomas recorded with his cousin Matt Brown under the name Matt & Robert. They cut 3 45s as Matt & Robert (on Soft, Uni & Le Cam) and one as Matt & Robert 'The Soul Cousins' on Jar-Val all around 1969-70. They were mainly cover versions e.g. Marvin Gaye's Pride And Joy and Otis Redding's These Arms Of Mine and Mr, Pitiful.
Matt Brown recorded a few solo 45s several of which received NS spins
Everyday / Baby I'm A Want You [Jar-Val JV 0004]
Thank You Baby / Sweet Thing [Jar-Val JV 0006]
Funky Soul Train / Love Me Just A Little Bit [Sew City SC 108] as Mathew Brown
NB 'Love Me Just a Little Bit' was covered-up as Johnny Bartel.
Both the Jar-Val 45's were reissued in UK by Grapevine JV 006 in 2001 and JV 0004 in 2003.
In true Major Bill eccentricity he also released tracks recorded as Matt & Robert by Matt Brown i.e.
A Man Without A Woman / Soul Of A Man [Soft S-1035]
Soul Of A Man / A Man Without A Woman [Le Cam LC 357]
Soul Of A Man was written by Major Bill and it was released at least 6 times 1 by Robert Thomas, 2 by Matt Brown and 2 by Matt & Robert and it also by The Men From Macon as instrumental. He like to get his money's worth out of a track!
Cresa Watson [1969] - Salvation [Charay C-90]
This track was released twice with the same catalog no. but with different B sides:
'You're No Good'
'if You Stopped Loving Me'
and to compound things here is also a C-90 release with these two paired without Salvation resulting in 3 issues with the same catalog no.!
Men From Macon [1971] - Salvation [Charay C-100]
This is an instrumental version by The Men Form Macon believed to be Robert & Matt.
Rita Lee [1971] - Salvation [Charay 101]
It is believed that this was a repress done by Major Bill in the 70s because of the demand for Robert Thomas. It may or may not be the Cresa Watson reissued with a different name.
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