Soul Strutter: The Salvadors [1967] - Stick By Me Baby [Wise World 301]

Soul Strutter's Rating: 9.75

Following on from the previous Jo Armstead post, musically this track is completely different, however, it was actually written by her and is one of the finest Northern Soul records you are ever likely to hear.

The Salvadors started singing together in 1957 whilst at High School in St Louis. Originally there were 5 members: Gus (Augustus) Winfield, Robert Vincent, Leroy McGhee, Carl Stark and Carl ?. In 1960 they became four when Carl ? left and Donald Lloyd replaced Carl Stark. In 1960 Flint Lloyd (Donald's brother) replaced Leroy McGhee.

Donald Lloyd, Gus Winfield, Flint Lloyd, Robert Vincent

Their first 45 'Daddy Said' / 'A-E-I-O-U' on Nike 1010 was recorded in 1961. For their next (and last) release, E. Rodney Jones (radio DJ on Chicago's WVON) took them to Chicago to record 'Stick By Me Baby' / I 'Wanna Dance' on Don Clay's Wise World label #301 (David Lloyd was on lead vocals). Apparently it got virtually no plays in Chicago but a few in St Louis until it was 'discovered' by the UK Northern Soul scene in the mid 70s.

The group split up not long after this release but various members continued to perform with other groups but didn't make any further recordings.

Still revered on the UK rare soul scene owing to the obscurity of original copies (it has been bootlegged many times, generally on blue labels (so easy to detect) but also on green). Not only are original copies extremely rare, but you very rarely see any for sale, quite simply because if you owned one, why would you ever wish to part with it? ... Even though they currently sell for several thousand pounds. It's hard to say what the current value is as they don't come up for sale very often.

Here's a interesting discussion regarding the 45 on Soul Source from as far back as 2006 and another from 2014 where one was being auctioned which reached at least £3,500, and another more recently 2018 where it went for over £4,500.

There are only 6 'known' releases on Don Clay's Chicago 'Wise World' label all by different artists. The catalogue numbering system is random WW 1002 -1004 (1001 unknown), 62728 and 62769 and finally the Salvadors 301.

Anyway, by way of a change from the recent posts of modern and deep soul, here's an out and out classic Northern Soul stomper of the highest order from the pen of Jo Armstead.

NB If you open the link in YouTube you can read John Manship's comments regarding there being 2 original pressings a 1st and 2nd release.

The Salvadors [1967] - Stick By Me Baby [Wise World 301]