Chris Bartley & Vando - Discography

Chris Bartley is probably best know for 'The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven' which got to #10 in US R&B charts in 1967 and #37 on Billboard Hot 100.  He released an album on the back of the single's success on Vando (a subsidiary of Cameo Parkway).

Vando started in 1967 and was run by Van McCoy and Douglas 'Jocko' Henderson (a Philly radio DJ) and released 7 45s, 5 of which were by Bartley (the other 2 were Art Robins and Tony Talent), and one album by Bartley before it closed in 1968.

Chris Bartley released 5 45s on Vando, 2 on Buddah, 1 on Musicor and had 2 release in UK, one on Dave Godin's Right On! and a 12" on Edinburgh's Move records in 1988 which consisted of 4 tracks all previously released on 45s.  Unsurprisingly, almost all of his material was written by Van McCoy.

In the 70s he joined The Ray Alexander Technique who released an album and 2 45s and later joined The Ad Libs.  Bartley died in 2009 aged 62 with kidney failure.

As most of Vando's output was by Bartley, I have also included the only other 2 releases at the bottom of the post so that this post also provides a complete discography for Van McCoy's Vando label.  It also includes the complete output for The Ray Alexander Technique who Bartley was a member of.

NOTE: There are about 3 tracks for which I can't find a sound clip so if anyone would like to provide an mp3 for them then please leave a comment.

Chris Bartley [1967] - The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven [Vando DV-101]

The Presidents [1971] - The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven [Sussex SUX 217]

As a bonus, here's a version by The Presidents, which is pretty faithful to the original.

Papa Bear & The Cubs [1975] - Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven [SMA A-1002]

Although not a cover version, I think that this track 'borrows' heavily ... what do you think?

A rare record as apparently only 200 were pressed and the masters were destroyed in a fire.

Chris Bartley [1967] - Love Me Baby [Vando DV-101]

Chris Bartley [1967] - Baby It's Wonderful [Vando VAN 3000]

Chris Bartley [1967] - I'll Be Loving You [Vando VAN 3000]

Sweet soul ballad

Chris Bartley [1967] - You Get Next To My Heart [Vando VAN 3002]

Chris Bartley [1967] - For You [Vando VAN 3002]

Chris Bartley [1968] - Truer Words Were Never Spoken [Vando 14.000]

Chris Bartley [1968] - This Feeling You Give Me [Vando 14.000]

Chris Bartley [1968] - I Found A Goodie [Vando 14.001]

Chris Bartley [1968] - Be Mine Forever [Vando 14.001]

Chris Bartley [1969] - Baby I'm Yours [Buddah BDA 93]

Chris Bartley [1969] - I'll Take The Blame [Buddah BDA 93]

Chris Bartley [1969] - (My Baby's) One Wonderful Girl [Buddah BDA 115]

No sound clip available. If anyone can provide a mp3 please leave a comment. Thanks.

Chris Bartley [1969] - I Know We Can Work It Out [Buddah BDA 115]

One if his finest recordings written once again by Van McCoy

Chris Bartley [1971] - A Man, A Woman [Musicor MU 1437]

Note that this sound clip contains both sides. Tomorrow Keeps Shining followed by A Man, A Woman @ 2:47.

Chris Bartley [1971] - Tomorrow Keep Shining [Musicor MU 1437]

Chris Bartley [1975] - I See Your Name [Right On! RO 105]

The 5th of 7 UK releases on Dave Godin's UK Right On! label.  The flip side is an instrumental of A side.

Chris Bartley [1967] - The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven [Vando 60,000]

Album released in 1967 on Vando based on success of the title track.

Gotta Tell Somebody (About My Baby) (NB poor sound quality also recorded by Tony Talent see below)

Sittin' Pretty

Baby It's Wonderful - see above

That's How Much I Love You

Hooked on You  (also recorded by Tony Talent see below)

I'll Be Loving You - see above

Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven - see above

Sugar Baby

You Get Next To My Heart - see above

For You - see above

My Baby

Thanks For Loving Me

The Ray Alexander Technique Feat. Chris Bartley [197?] - I Am In Love With You [Lu Jun 2002]

No release date for this one-off 45 on Lu Jun.  The Ray Alexander Technique recorded only one album in 1974 on Lu Jun 2001 so I would guess this was recorded around that time.  The album sleeve notes states that Chris Bartley was the vocalist so assume that he was on all tracks on album, but the 2 sides on the 45 do not appear on the album.

No sound clip available. If anyone can provide an mp3 please leave a comment.

The Ray Alexander Technique Feat. Chris Bartley [197?] - I Wonder Why [Lu Jun 2002]

No sound clip available. If anyone can provide an mp3 please leave a comment.

The Ray Alexander Technique [1974] - Let's Talk [Lu Jun 2001]

Personally, I don't think this sounds like Chris Bartley on lead on this track, perhaps he didn't sing on all tracks?. The flip side is an instrumental of the A side (included in The Ray Alexander Technique album below).

The Ray Alexander Technique [1974] - Let's Talk [Lu Jun 2001]

The Ray Alexander Technique consisted of Raymond Jenkins (alka Alexander) (lead guitar), Douglas Wilkerson (Bass guitar), Ron Mack (drums), Holley 'Buzz' Jones (congas & percussion) and Chris Bartley.

The full album:

Let's Talk

Let's Talk (Inst)

My Special One

Taking The Long Way Home

My World

I Don't Bite

Wiser And Deeper

Save Me

Finally, to complete the Vando Discography, the only other 2 45s released that weren't recorded by Bartley.

Art Robins [1967] - I Can't Stand To See You Cry [Vando DV-102]

Great version of Jerry Butler's Beat ballad. Art Robins real name was Thearthur Robinson who called himself Arthur Robinson whilst with The Romancers and then The Ad Libs.  He was lead vocalist on The Ad Libs - Human.

Art Robins [1967] - Fountain Of Love [Vando DV-102]

Tony Talent [1967] - Gotta Tell Somebody (About My Baby) [Vando 3001]

Storming Northern Soul also recorded by Chris Bartley on his album.

Little Tony Talent released 2 45s, this one and one in 1966 on Juggy Murray's Sue label. His real name was William Anthony Anderson who later recorded with The Coalitions. 

Tony Talent [1967] - Hooked On You [Vando 3001]

This side was also recorded by Bartley on his album.