I think this is probably one of my biggest posts to date featuring the 60s and 70s recordings of one of my favourite singers Lenny Williams (Leonard Charles Williams). It features tracks from his early years, then as a member of Tower Of Power, right through his solo years in the 70s. His most successful period was his releases on ABC in 1977/78. There is far too much material to do a full discography so I've limited it to his output from 60s and 70s. His later material I will cover in a different post.
1968 - I Couldn't Find Nobody [Fantasy 618]
Northern Soul
At the time of writing tere is one for sale on Discogs for £599.99! (even though the highest sale figures is £179.99). It was reissued on Soul
45/Jazzman in 2008.
1968 - Lisa's Gone [Fantasy 618]
Deep soul
The flip side of his debut 45 and apparently one he hated singing!
No label scan available.
1969 - I'd Cry Every Minute Of The Day [Fantasy 631]
Sweet Soul Ballad
Came out as a same-sided demo and on issue with
Lisa's Gone
(see above) on the flip.
1970 - How Can I Forget You [Galaxy 770]
1972 - People Make The World Go 'Round [Atco 45-6888]
Thom Bell and Linda Cred sing also originally recorded by
The Stylistics on their debut album and their 5th single from the album. It has
been recorded by many others including Michael Jackson,
Erroll Brown & The Chosen Few,
Angela Bofil
and most recently
Kandace Springs.
Not great sound quality but slightly better than the only other clip
posted.
The flip side is Don't Sign The Papers which I can't find a sound clip for so any help appreciated.
The flip side is Don't Sign The Papers which I can't find a sound clip for so any help appreciated.
The Tower Of Power Years
Lenny Williams was a member of Tower Of Power between early 1973 to late
1974 and I think I'm correct that he appeared on 3 albums Tower Of Power
in 1973 and Back To Oakland and Urban Renewal in 1974 (please leave a
comment if this is not correct).
1973 - Tower Of Power [Warner Bros. BS 2681]
Tower Of Power's 3rd album and 1st to feature Lenny Wiliams as lead
singer. There were 3 45s (6 tracks) released from this album.
1973 - So Very Hard To Go [Warner Bros. WB 7687]
The flip side is Clean Slate (see link below)
1973 - This Time It's Real [Warner Bros. WB 7733]
Flip side is Soul Vaccination (see link below)
1973 - Clever Girl [Warner Bros. WB 7748]
The flip side to What Is Hip? (see link below)
Links to remaining album tracks:
1974 - Back To Oakland [Warner Bros. BS 2479]
Tower Of Power's 4th album and 2nd to feature Lenny Williams. There
were 2 45s (4 tracks) released from this album.
1974 - Time Will Tell [Warner Bros. WB 7796]
Flip side is Oakland Stroke
Just When We Started Makin' It
A nice deep soul cut on album only.
Love's Been Gone So Long
Mellow modern soul album only track.
Links to remaining album tracks:
Don't Change Horses (In The Middle Of A Stream) released as 45 1974 Warner Bros.
WB 7828
I Got The Chop released as 45 1974 Warner Bros.
WB 7828
1974 - Urban Renewal [Warner Bros. BS 2834]
Tower Of Power's 5th album and 3rd to feature Lenny Williams. Only 2 45s
(4 tracks) released from this album. One of the tracks (It's Not The
Crime) was released as 45 (A side) in UK only. They were starting to get
more funky on this album.
1974 - Willing To Learn [Warner Bros. WBS 8083]
Killer deep soul cut
Walkin' Up Hip Street funky instrumental track on flip
Come Back, Baby
Mellow modern soul / crossover album track only
It Can Never Be The Same
Modern soul / crossover album track only
Links to remaining album tracks:
Only So Much Oil In The Ground released as 45 1974 Warner Bros. WBS 8055
It's Not The Crime released as 45 1974 UK Warner Bros.
K 16543
Give Me The Proof released as 45 1974 Warner Bros.
WBS 8055
I Believe In Myself (a nice funky modern dancer)
1974 - Pray For The Lion [Warner Bros. BS 2797]
Lenny Williams first solo album
Lenny Williams first solo album
I've embedded the best tracks and provided links to all other tracks
We're Gonna See It Through
Modern soul stepper
Modern soul stepper
Problem Solver
The first version of Problem Solver from Pray For The Lion which for some
reason no singles were ever release from. The track was re-recorded for
Choosing You album and was released on 45 only in UK on flip to Shoo Doo Fu Fu
Ooh! I slightly prefer the later version.
Keep On Keeping On
Modern soul ballad/stepper
1975 - Rise Sleeping Beauty [Motown M 1369F]
Amazingly, Motown only released one 45 from this great album (Since I Met
You / Motion). Perhaps there were issues?
Since I Met You
Superb Modern Soul cut.
Motion
Mid-paced jazzy/funky dancer
'Cause I Love You
The original 'faster' version of this classic song. The better
known, longer and slower version was released on 'The Spark Of Love' album
on ABC in 1978.
Shame
Modern soul
Loving Station
Mellow and deep jazz-flavoured ballad
Sons Of Thieves, Slaves And Braves
Modern soul with a message.
Modern soul with a message.
Rise Sleeping Beauty
Mellow and soulful ballad
Mellow and soulful ballad
1977 - Choosing You [ABC AB-1023]
His first of two ABC albums. All but one track was released on 45.
It has a roll-call of NS artists involved i.e
Frank Wilson
wrote several tracks and produced and arranged the album, and also
featured on backing vocals along with
Gerri Granger,
Sherlie Matthews
(The Mirettes/Belles) and
Venetta Fields (The Ikettes/Mirettes). James Gadson
on drums, Jack Ashford
on percussion and James Jamerson
on bass,
Ray Parker Jr. on guitar and The Tower Of Power Horn Section to name but a few on the
talented musicans on this album.
1977 - Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh! [ABC AB 12300]
Great Modern / Northern Soul dancer
1977 - Problem Solver [ABC 4194]
UK only 45 release on flip to Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh! everywhere esle went for
Trust In Me as flip. Originally on Pray For The Lion 1974 album but
re-recorded with a different version for Chooing You album 1977. I've
loved this track since buying it on release and now with things slowing down
it's been getting it's day in the sun.
Live footage of William's performing Problem Solver at Soul4Real in Bilbao
in 2017.
1977 - Choosing You [ABC DM-11]
A variety of issues of this single came out on 7" and 12" some with Trust In
Me on flip others with Problem Solver. UK went with Trust In Me as
Problem Solver already came out on flip to Shoo Do Fu Fu Ooh!. US put
Please Don't Tempt Me on flip.
I've gone with The US 12" release
1977 - Please Don't Tempt Me [ABC DM-11]
Modern soul/funky 70s dancer
Modern soul/funky 70s dancer
1977 - Look Up With Your Mind [ABC AB 12345]
Nice 70s modern soul dancer written co-written by Frank Wilson
1977 - Riding The High Wire [ABC AB 12345]
70s Modern soul dancer
The remaining tarcks, as stated above Trust In Me came out as a flip side but
I've Been Away was not issued on 45.
1978 - Spark Of Love [ABC AA-1073]
His second ABC album once again arranged and produced by Frank Wilson and featuring Angela Winbush and Chery Lynn (among others) on backing vocals. Other notable musicians involded included James Gadson, Paulinho Da Costa, Jack Ashford, Lee Ritenour, King Errison, Greg Philinganes and Wah Wah Watson.
His second ABC album once again arranged and produced by Frank Wilson and featuring Angela Winbush and Chery Lynn (among others) on backing vocals. Other notable musicians involded included James Gadson, Paulinho Da Costa, Jack Ashford, Lee Ritenour, King Errison, Greg Philinganes and Wah Wah Watson.
1978 - You Got Me Running ABC AB-12387]
70s modern soul dancer
1978 - Come Reap My Love [ABC AB-12387]
70s modern soul / funky dancer. A non-album 45 on the flip to You Got Me
Running.
1978 - Midnight Girl [ABC AB-12423]
Modern Soul dancer
Modern Soul dancer
1978 - I Still Reach Out To You [ABC AB-12423]
70s modern soul dancer
1978 - 'Cause I Love You [ABC 4239] UK Only!
'Amazingly' this killer deep soul cut was never issued as a 45 in US, but
was on the flip to Midnight Girl in the UK. However, by all accounts
the sound volume is low as I would guess that they had to narrow the
grooves to fit it on 7" and reduced volume to prevent sytlus
skipping. They 'should' have issued it as a 12" on the A
side!!!
Bone pick time - it is irritating that UK releases seldom stipulate
timings on label and conversely that US releases rarely state the release
year! Therefore (as I don't own this 45) I don't know whether this was the
full album version but believe it is.
Some great live footage of of William's performing 'Cause I Love You'
Links to the remaining album tracks:
1979 - Love Current [MCA 3155]
ABC was procured by MCA so next album appeaed on MCA label, his last 70s album which spawned 2 45s (5 tracks) as 'Here's To The Lady' featured on a UK 45 only as alternative flip to 'Think What We Have'.
This album, compared the the previous 3, was disappointing, and to be completely honest, I wouldn't have featured many (if any) of the tracks other than for the purpose of highlighting the 2 45 releases taken from it.
Once again produced by Frank Wilson and featuring many top musicians such as Rene Geyer, James Jamerson, Cydene Jackson, Earl Van Dyke, Greg Philiinganes, Patrice Rushen, Charlie Wison, Rene Moore. I just think the material is not up to the same standard as previous albums.
1979 - Doing The Loop De Loop [MCA 41034]
It's now the late 70s and artists (or more accurately the record companies) were being 'influenced' by disco, hence the material on this album (in my view) is not as good as the earlier stuff.
This sounds to me just like a rhythm track with some inane lyrics layed on top.
Here's To The Lady was issued on flip in UK
It's now the late 70s and artists (or more accurately the record companies) were being 'influenced' by disco, hence the material on this album (in my view) is not as good as the earlier stuff.
This sounds to me just like a rhythm track with some inane lyrics layed on top.
Here's To The Lady was issued on flip in UK
1979 - Think What We Have [MCA 41034]
This track is from the Spark Of Love album.
A fairly average ballad.
A fairly average ballad.
1979 - Love Hurt Me, Love Healed Me [MCA 41118]
A slightly better, but still averag, ballad.
A slightly better, but still averag, ballad.
1979 - Sweet Ecstasy [MCA 41118]
Modern soul dancer
Modern soul dancer
If You're In Need - NB don't be deceived by intro as turns into late 70s dancer!
Last Night I Dreamed (not avaulable)
Though We Love Once (not available)
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