Soul Strutter: Ike Noble

The initial intention of this post was to present the current play by Ike Noble - It's Bad, but on consideration there were just too many quality tracks he released to ignore them. Therefore ,this has turned (more or less) into an Ike Noble Discography barring a few funk/disco tracks that are not appropiate to post here in order to focus on real soul.

Ike (Izear) Noble Jr. was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in Nov 1948 and died in Jun 2007 in Toldeo, Ohio aged just 58.

His first 45 was as Noble & The Up Tights in 1966 on Memphis label Action. He then recorded a solo single on Alley (an Arkansas label owned by Joe Lee) in 1967 and another with The Up Tights in 1969.

There was a 9 year gap before his next release appeared on Smoke (Ohio) in 1976 (NB Soulfulkindamusic lists another by him on Smoke - You Cheated / Why Must I Cry with the same Cat. No (1045) but I have not found any trace of it).

A release also came out on Detroit's Sound Patterns label late 70s (1977?) followed by one on Chanson in 1978 before he set up the Connowil label with Howard Collins and Jimmy Williams in 1979 and releasing 6 45s and 2 albums between 1979-85. Connowil is an acronym for Howard COllins, Ike NOble, Jimmy WILliams.

Timeless, a German label, released an album consisting of a compilation of tracks from both Connowil albums in 1987.

In 2014 UK label Soul7 reissued the Alley release as Ike Noble & The Up Tights on the flip to an previously unreleased track by The Up Tights, followed by another 45 with a further 2 unreleased tracks by them.

Most of his 45 are presented here omitting several that are funk/disco tracks.

Noble & The Uptights [1966] - Don't Worry About It [Action 45-116]

The debut 45 on Memphis label Action on which he wrote both sides.

Northern Soul

Noble & The Uptights [1966] - Lonely Man [Action 45-116]

Deep soul

Ike Noble [1967] - It's Bad [Alley AL-1058]

A great mid-tempo deep soul tune that's been tucked away on the B side to the Northern Soul A side for too long and has now been gaining Sunday session spins from John Manship at Feed Your Soul (Newark).

Ike Noble [1967] - That's What I Get [Alley AL-1058]

Raw, thumping Northern Soul R&B dancer.

Soul 7 re-issued this track in 2014 as Ike Noble & The Up Tights with a track by The Up Tights 'That's The Sound Of My Heart on A side which I 'presume' was previously unreleased? Both made recordings on Alley around the same time. Up Tights only released the one 45 both sides of which were written bu Izear Noble Jr. Does this indicates that Noble a member of the Up Tights?

Live footage of That's What I Get

The Up Tights [1969] - Look A Little Higher [Alley 1045]

Deep Soul written by Izear Noble Jr. (Ike Noble)

The Up Tights [1969] - Just A Dream [Alley 1045]

Northern Soul/Crossover written by Izear Noble Jr. (Ike Noble)

This was also (first?) released on Solid Beat 101 as the B side to Henry's Guitar. This is the only 45 listed for the label, so I would guess that it's a self-release single for selling at gigs as on the label scan for Henry's Guitar booking details have been hand written on it?

Ike Noble & Means Of Persuasion [1977] - One Way Street [Sound Patterns SP 9068]

Another deep soul killer tune written by Curlee Edwards (who I am guessing was a group member?) which Manship describes as 'the most soulful 45 he's listed since Eddie Parker's But If You Must Go' - who am I to argue? The flip side is an instrumental version by Means Of Persuasion.

This is what he says about this song:

"Quite easily the MOST SOULFUL 45 we’ve listed since Eddie Parker’s “But If You Must Go”, this recording too, is saturated in despair and delivered by a stand-out vocal, unafraid to declare his pain.

Ike Noble gives up an on-his-knees performance that will have you stretching for the replay button more than just once.

Listen to desperation, misery & pain served up stone-cold. With an equally effected girl chorus caught up in the whirlpool of this man’s anguish, as the breath yet another level of class into the session.

THIS IS REAL-SOUL AT IT’S MOST CONVINCING!!

This song has disturbed my day, his voice has moved me, impinged upon my heart..just so soulful

ABSOLUTELY SOUL AT VERY BEST…"

Sound Patterns was a Detroit Label active 60s to 80s owned by Danny Dallas who also owned Sound Pattern Studios. They released approx 45 45s and 6 or 7 albums and from a quick scan through the listed items this would appear to be one of very few soul releases on the label. There is no release date for this 45 but from other releases I'd guess this was from around 1977.

It was also released in 1977 on C&J billed as just Means Of Persuasion, but sounds the same so suggests that Ike Noble was a member (a closer inspection of the Sound Patterns label suggests that it is also by Means oF Persuasion but credits Ike Noble with vocals). It has copyright date 1972 and published date 1977. The only other listed release for the label is an album by them 'So Much Beauty' from 1977 which oddly doesn't contain this track. It looks like a private press / self-release and sells for big money.

Ike Noble [1976] - We Got To Hold On To Ourselves [Smoke 6045-30]

Nice mellow / deep 70s Modern Soul.

The only release on Ohio's Smoke label. (Although Soulfulkindamusic lists another with the same Cat. No. You Cheated / Why Must I Cry (which in any case is listed under the wrong Smoke label i..e George Blackwell's Newark label instead of the Ohio Smoke label) I cannot find anywhere so may be an error).

This is the flip side, the A side is She's All I Love which I can't find a sound clip for.

Ike Noble [1978] - Your Love [Chanson 1177]

Modern Soul stepper.

This is the original / first version that was released on 45 in 1978, it was also released on 'Fresh Start' album in 1980 which also got a 45 (edited 3:55) release (on Connowill 10742) and a new, mellower, version was recorded on 'Angie' album in 1984.

Flip side is Your Love Has Got Gusto

Ike Noble [1984] - Your Love [Connowil CON-10177]

Album version from 'Angie' 1984 which is a more mellow re-working of the original 1978 track.

Connowill was still going a years ago and released an album in 2008 by d'Kalendars who (backed Ike Noble at Connowil) 'Hotter Than Heat' which included Your Love - which sounds the same/similar to the 1984 release to me! There's a few other 'Ike Noble' tracks on the CD which can tide you over until an original vinyl copy of the rare 1980 album turns up! i.e. I Promise You, Love To Be Loved, I'm Gonna Miss Your Love.

Here's a link to the playlist for whole album

Ike Noble [1980] - Another Star [Connowil CON-10742]

Cover of Stevie Wonder's Another Star

Flip side is Your Love (above)

Ike Noble [1980] - I Promise You [Connowil CON-10744]

Flip side is tedious disco item Everybody Get Up And Boogie On Down

NB Label scan is flip as can't find a scan for A side.

Ike Noble [1982] - Best Years Of My Life [Connowil CON-10744]

This is the flip side, the A side is Shake It Loose - 80s disco/funk/boogie.

Ike Noble [1983] - Angie [Connowil CON-10742]

An underrated deep soul / quiet storm ballad written by Noble, Jimmy Williams (label co-owner), Ronal Martin, Skip August (producer/.arranger on many of his track)

This is the flips side, the A side is Keep Me Crying written by Al Green & Willie Mitchell.

Ike Noble & The Up-Tights [2014] - That's The Sound Of My Heart [Soul 7 038]

Reissue of the 1967 track on Alley 'That's What I Get' (above) along with an unreleased track 'That's The Sound Of My Heart' which is raw and gritty Northern Soul issued on Jazzman's Soul7 imprint in 2014.

The Up Tights [2014] - There's Gonna Be A Better Day Coming [Soul 7 039]

Another couple of unreleased tracks. Still available on Soul7 site for £7.99.

The Up-Tights [2014] - How Long Must I Wait For You [Soul 7 038]

Album ONLY tracks

Ike Noble [1980] - Fresh Start [Connowil 005039X]

His first and now pretty rare album

Another Star
Your Love

Everybody Get On Up & Boogie Down (Y'all)

I Promise You

All of the above have been posted above.

Love To Be Loved

The following 3 album tracks were not currently on YouTube so I've uploaded them from my collection to my channel SoulStrutter so that all album tracks now available on YouTube.

Never Get Enough Of Your Love