Soul Strutter: Jean Wells

Not a full discography, rather a showcase of Jean Wells' best recordings.

She was born in 1952 in Florida but moved to Philadelphia where she recorded a couple of 45s for local Quaker Town label in 1965 (both produced by Charles Earland who may have owned the label as all 4 listed releases were Earland related) before being signed to ABC-Paramount for just one 45. Another 2 releases followed in 1966, a very rare 45 on Phila - Jean Wells, Charles Earland & The Bulters (probably a misspelling of Butlers) which was also released on Emerson (New York) billed as Jean Wells, and one on Eastern. She was then signed to Calla label owned and run by Nathan 'Big Nat' McCalla (but backed by Morris Levy owner of Roulette)* and proceeded to release 8 45s and an album 'World, Here Comes Jean Wells'. Her career started to diminish in 70s and she had only 5 releases on almost as many labels - Canyon, Law-Ton, TEC and 2 on Sunshine Recordings with a 5 track album also released on Sunshine Recordings.

* Story of demise of Nate McCalla at hands of Morris Levy

Discography

1965 - Song Of The Bells / Share Your Love [Quaker Town 1023]

1965 - If He's A Good Man / Welcome Home [Quaker Town 1026]

1965 - Don't Come Running To Me / The Jean Wells Trio - Little Boots [ABC-Paramount 45-10745]

1966 - I Know That She Loves Me / All This Madness [Phila PH 1835]

1966 - I Know That She Loves Me / All This Madness [Emerson EM 2107]

1966 - If You Ever Loved Someone / Hello Baby, Goodbye Too [Eastern 610]

1967 - After Loving You / Putting The Best On The Outside [Calla C-128]

1967 - I'm In Your Corner / I Feel Good [Calla C-137]

1967 - Have A Little Mercy / With My Love And What You've Got (We Could Turn The World Around) [Calla C-143]

1968 - Sit Down And Cry / Can You Feel It [Calla C-147]

1968 - Try Me And See / The Best Thing For You Baby [Calla C-150]

1968 - Ease Away A Little Bit At A Time / With My Love And What You've Got (We Could Turn The World Around) [Calla C-152]

1968 - What Have I Got To Lose / Broomstick Horse Cowboy [Calla C-157]

1969 - Keep Your Mouth Shut (And Your Eyes Open) / Our Sweet Love Turned Bitter [Calla C-159]

1969 - Keep Your Mouth Shut (And Your Eyes Open) / I Couldn't Love You More Than I Do Now [Volare V 1001

1970 - Somebody's Been Lovin' You (But It Ain't Been Me) / He Ain't Doin' Bad [Canyon C-39]

1972 - Drown In My Own Tears / What Have I Got To Lose [Calla C-185]

1972 - Keep On Doin' It / I Can't Get Over Losing You [Law-Ton 1557]

1979 - I Just Can't Stop Dancing / I Just Can't Stop Dancing (Inst) [TEC 760]

1980 - Love Is Just A Word / Sweetness [Sunshine Recordings SG 801]

1981 - Last Chance To Love / Last Chance To Love (Edit) [Sunshine Recordings SG 806]

1968 - World, Here Comes Jean Wells [Calla CS 1103]

Her debut album on Calla from 1968. All tracks appeared on Calla 45s (above).

Have A Little Mercy [Calla C-143]
Drown In My Own Tears [Calla C-185]
Broomstick Horse Cowboy [Calla C-157]
What Have I Got To Lose [Calla C-157/C185]
After Loving You [Calla C-120]
Our Sweet Love Turned Bitter [Calla C-159]
Try Me And See [Calla C-150]
Sit Down And Cry [Calla C-147]
I Feel Good [Calla C-137]
Ease Away A Little Bit At A Time [Calla C-152]

1981 - Number One [Sunshine Recordings SG-5001]

A 'comeback' album from 1981.

Number One

Last Chance To Love [SG 806]

Sugarman

Love Is Just A Word [SG 801]

Sweetness [SG 801]

1994 - Soul On Soul (Deluxe Edition) {BBE BBE189]

A CD containing all of her Calla recordings plus unreleased material. Originally released on Kent CDKEND 113 (21 tracks) with 3 Additional unreleased tracks (24 tracks) not on Kent CD.

Links to tracks not included above i.e. all previously unreleased

If You've Ever Loved Someone
Take Time To Make Time For Me
Roll Up Your Sleeves, Come Out Lovin' (Winner Takes All)
I Want To Live
Daddy Reconsider
Ordinary Woman

My Top 5

Links have been included above to all tracks I am able to find so will limit the next section to my personal favourite 4 tracks.

The following 5 are recommended:

Sit Down And Cry - Deep Soul

Can You Feel It - Northern Soul

Keep Your Mouth Shut (And Your Eyes Open) - Funky Northern Soul
He Ain't Doin' Bad - flavours of Otis Redding's Too Hard To Handle - Northern Soul
Love Is Just A Word - Modern Soul

Jean Wells [1968] - What Have I Got To Lose [Calla C-157]

Crossover

This has been one of my favourite crossover tunes for a couple of decades. Vastly underrated in my opinion playing second fiddle to With My Love And What You Got favoured by the Northern Soul devotees, which is a good tune but nowhere near as soulful as this side.

Also came out in 1972 to flip of Drown In My Own Tears Calla C-185

Jean Wells [1968] - With My Love And What You've Got (We Could Turn The World Around) [Calla C-143-B & C-152-B]

Northern Soul

Released as flip side twice.