On this post I aim to post as many of the Shrine 45s that I can find. I have found them all except the B side of the unreleased SR 105 Jimmy Armitage - It's Gonna Take Love (I don't know if it even exists?). I am also missing a couple of label scans J.D. Bryant - Walk On In SR 108 (and the sound clip is not great quality), and Bill Dennis - Poor Little Fool SR 113. Help with any of these or better labels scans would be much appreciated - just leave a comment.
To avoid confusion I haven't posted any unreleased tracks other than SR 105 and will aim to put these in a separate post.
To make this post more interesting, how about a poll of the best release either A or B side? Just post your top 5 in the comments and I'll tally them up and post the results.
Kent released a couple of CDs: Shrine The Rarest Soul Label in 1998 with 24 tracks and followed it up with a Volume 2 in 2002 with another 24 tracks. Prior to this 14 tracks were issued on vinyl LP on Horace's Shrine The Rarest Soul Label in 1990 and another 16 tracks on Capitol Soul - The Sound Of D.C 1965/66 in 1991. There is some overlap between Horace's and Kent but there are also many previously unreleased tracks on these compilations
Discography
Linda & The Vistas [1964] - Bad Apple / She Went Away [Shrine SR0100]
Leroy Taylor & The Four Kays [1965] - Takin' My Time / I'll Understand[Shrine SR0101]
Jimmy Armstrong [1965] - I'm About To Say Goodbye / Mystery [Shrine SR01102]
Ray Pollard [1965] - This Time / No More Like Me [Shrine SR0103]
The Cautions [1965] - Watch Your Step / Is It Right [Shrine SR0104]
Jimmy Armstrong [1966] - I Believe I'll Love On / It's Gonna Take Love [Shrine SR 105] Unreleased
The Epsilons [1966] - Mad At The World / I'm So Devoted [Shrine SR0106]
The D.C. Blossoms [1966] - I Know About Her / Hey Boy [Shrine SR 107]
J.D. Bryant [1966] - I Won't Be Coming Back / Walk On In [Shrine SR 108]
Sidney Hall [1966] - The Weekend / I'm A Lover [Shrine SR 109]
Shirley Edwards [1966] - It's Your Love / Dream My Heart [Shrine SR 110]
The Cairos [1966] - Don't Fight It / Stop Overlooking Me [Shrine SR 111]
Eddie Daye & The Four Bars [1966] - Guess Who Loves You / What Am I Gonna Do [Shrine SR 112]
Bill Dennis [1966] - I'll Never Let You Get Away / Poor Little Fool [Shrine SR 113]
Les Chansonettes [1966] - Deeper / Don't Let Him Hurt You [Shrine SR 114]
The Cautions [1966] - No Other Way / Poor Loser [Shrine SR 115]
The Prophets [1966] - If I Had (One Gold Piece) / Huh Baby [Shrine SR 116]
The Counts [1966] - Peaches Baby / My Only Love [Shrine SR 117]
The Enjoyables [1966] - Shame / I'll Take You Back [Shrine SR 118]
The Cavaliers [1966] - Do What I Want / Tighten Up [Shrine SR 119]
There is a very detailed story regarding Shrine on Soul Source by Andy Rix
Synopsis
Eddie Singleton (William Edward Singletary) was an independent producer based in New York who met Raynoma Mayberry (who had just divorced Berry Gordy Jr) in New York and they later formed Shrine in 1964 along with Ray's brother Mike Ossman and married in 1966. They formed a music publishing company Ramitary an amalgiamation of their names Ra(y)Mi(ke)(Single)tary on which all Shrine sides were registered.
After the 5th release (The Cautions SR0104) they entered into a deal with investors from New York and set up a sister label Jet Set and also entered into a distribution deal with Schwartz Brothers. The next scheduled release (SR 105) was Jimmy Armstrong's I Believe I'll Love You, but Singleton had played it along with some other Shrine songs to Jackie Wilson who liked it and decided to release it. At which point Singleton, Ray and producer Warren Dale (Ray's nephew) spent the next 10 months commuting to New York to work on Wilson's Brunswick output.
In Jan 1966 work continued on the the remaining Shrine 45s which were recorded and pressed (2,500 of each) ready to be released at intervals. However, word got out to Berry Gordy about Shrine and he wasn't happy that his ex-wife may become successful and compete with Motown so it is alleged that he put pressure on radio stations and distributers which meant that Shrine records were not getting exposure, record shops wouldn't stock the record without demand from airplay and distributors weren't interested in promoting the records without commercial oulets (record shops). Inevitably the investors started pulling out. By Nov. 1966 Shrine folded. Ray wanted to return to Motown in Detroit and persuaded Eddie to go with her. He left all his material goods in Washington, the stock of records were in his office, home and Swhwartz Brothers warehouse and later moved to Waxie Maxie's. The stock in the office and home were disposed of by the new owners when these prpperties were sold.
Synopsis
Eddie Singleton (William Edward Singletary) was an independent producer based in New York who met Raynoma Mayberry (who had just divorced Berry Gordy Jr) in New York and they later formed Shrine in 1964 along with Ray's brother Mike Ossman and married in 1966. They formed a music publishing company Ramitary an amalgiamation of their names Ra(y)Mi(ke)(Single)tary on which all Shrine sides were registered.
After the 5th release (The Cautions SR0104) they entered into a deal with investors from New York and set up a sister label Jet Set and also entered into a distribution deal with Schwartz Brothers. The next scheduled release (SR 105) was Jimmy Armstrong's I Believe I'll Love You, but Singleton had played it along with some other Shrine songs to Jackie Wilson who liked it and decided to release it. At which point Singleton, Ray and producer Warren Dale (Ray's nephew) spent the next 10 months commuting to New York to work on Wilson's Brunswick output.
In Jan 1966 work continued on the the remaining Shrine 45s which were recorded and pressed (2,500 of each) ready to be released at intervals. However, word got out to Berry Gordy about Shrine and he wasn't happy that his ex-wife may become successful and compete with Motown so it is alleged that he put pressure on radio stations and distributers which meant that Shrine records were not getting exposure, record shops wouldn't stock the record without demand from airplay and distributors weren't interested in promoting the records without commercial oulets (record shops). Inevitably the investors started pulling out. By Nov. 1966 Shrine folded. Ray wanted to return to Motown in Detroit and persuaded Eddie to go with her. He left all his material goods in Washington, the stock of records were in his office, home and Swhwartz Brothers warehouse and later moved to Waxie Maxie's. The stock in the office and home were disposed of by the new owners when these prpperties were sold.
Waxie Maxie's, 1836 Seventh Street NW Washington DC, where the majority of remaining stock was stored after the closure of Shrine, was burnt down in April 1968 during the civil rights race riots, hence why copies of Shrine records are so scarce.
Here's a video from John Manship with images of ALL 18 Shrine release - the only one missing is the unreleased SR 105.
Linda & The Vistas [1964] - Bad Apple [Shrine SR0100]
Value £100-200
Linda was Linda Tate, she died in July 2015 aged 72 and there is a tribute article by And Rix on Soul Source.
Her first 45 was Linda & The Pretenders - Believe Me / It's Not My Will on Assualt 1979/1880 from 1963, both sides written by Eddie Singleton and which must be a particularly rare record as not listed Discogs/45Cat. One was auctioned a few years ago (2016) here and another in 2019 here.
I understand that when Believe Me was first played it was covered-up as Frankie & The Classicals (of 'What Shall I Do' fame ... which has the same backing as Laura Greene's 'Moonlight Music And You' ... but that's another story).
Linda & The Vistas [1964] - She Went Away [Shrine SR0100]
Leroy Taylor & The Four Kays [1965] - Takin' My Time [Shrine SR0101]
Value £100
Northern Soul R&B
Leroy Taylor also released the great track Oh Linda / Nobody Can Love You on Brunswick 55345 in 1967.
Another in 1961 If I / Time After Tin on H&H 1000/1001
A previously unreleased Shrine track by Leroy Taylor & The Four Kays appeared on Kent's CD Shrine - The Rarest Soul Label Vol. 2 'I Ain't Worried About You'
Another couple of unreleased Leroy Taylor sides recorded at Edgewood Stuios in Washington were issued in 2018 on Federal Green - The Marrying Kind / Baby I Love You.
Another interesting note is that one of the members of The Four Kays was Richard Lewis Spencer who later became a member of another Washington DC group The Winstons and won a Grammy for writing Color Him Father in 1969 which was a million selling Gold record that reached #7 on Billboard's Hot 100. The flip side had a track entitled Amen Brother which contains a drum solo by G.C. Coleman which has become the most sampled piece in music history.
Leroy Taylor & The Four Kays [1965] - I'll Understand [Shrine SR0101]
Value £100
Bluesy
Jimmy Armstrong [1965] - I'm About To Say Goodbye [Shrine SR01102]
Bluesy deep soul
Jimmy Armstrong released around half a dozen 45s between 1963-69 on as many labels. He recorded 2 45s for Shrine but the 2nd on SR 105 was never released. SirShambiling has an article about his career.
Jimmy Armstrong [1965] - Mystery [Shrine SR01102]
Value £235
Northern Soul
Ray Pollard [1965] - No More Like Me [Shrine SR0103]
Value £1,500-£2,000
Deep soul ballad.
Ray Pollard was formerly with The Wanderers before embarking on a solo career starting at Shrine before moving on to United Artists releasing 3 singles (one of which is The Drifter classic already featured on this blog) and then Decca where he released a further 2 45s. In 1973, 6 years after his last release on Decca, he released his last record 'Soulmate' on Omnipotent. Pollard died in 2005 aged 74.
Ray Pollard [1965] - This Time (I'm Gonna Be True) [Shrine SR0103]
Value £1,500-£2,000
Northern Soul
The Cautions [1965] - Watch Your Step [Shrine SR 104]
Value £500-£850
Value £500-£850
Mid-paced Northern Soul
A local group whose members were AB Jones, Joe Clayburn, Albert Nicks, Billy Blanchard and Julius Hayes. This was their first of 3 releases on Shrine. They split up a year after Shrine's demise.
Northern Soul bordering on garage.
Jimmy Armstrong [1966] - I Believe I'll Love On / It's Gonna Take Love [Shrine SR 105]
This 45 was not released, but there is an Edgewood acetate.
In 1965 Eddie Singleton played some Shrine material to Jackie Wilson who particularly liked 'I Believe I'll Love On' which Armstrong had recorded in July 1965. Wilson recorded it in Aug 1965 using the Shrine backing c/w Lonely Teardrops (ballad version) on Brunswick 55283 (a non-album track i.e. only avavilable on 45) - it reached #96 on Billboard Hot 100. It also got a UK release on Coral Q.72482. This, I suspect, is why this 45 was never released on Shrine.
Here's short video footage of Jackie Wilson performing it on Shindig 1965 - looks like The Blossoms (Darlene Love) are the backing singers.
The Epsilons [1966] - Mad At The World [Shrine SR0106]
As mentioned in yesterdays post for Keni Lewis, here's 2 tracks he wrote and produced by The Epsilons.
Not to be confused with The Epsilons from Philly who had (John) McFadden & (Gene) Whitehead as members and released The Echo on Stax in 1968 and also had another release on Triple G in 1972. These Epsilons were from Washington DC and consisted of James Duval, Stanley Williams, Ronald Williams and Gregory Thomas. They had just the one 45 on Shrine and then one on HEM 1003 the great doble-sider Mind In A Bind / It's All Right
Not to be confused with The Epsilons from Philly who had (John) McFadden & (Gene) Whitehead as members and released The Echo on Stax in 1968 and also had another release on Triple G in 1972. These Epsilons were from Washington DC and consisted of James Duval, Stanley Williams, Ronald Williams and Gregory Thomas. They had just the one 45 on Shrine and then one on HEM 1003 the great doble-sider Mind In A Bind / It's All Right
Soul Group Harmony
The D. C. Blossoms [1966] - I Know About Her [Shrine SR 107]
Soul Group Harmony ballad
Soul Group Harmony ballad
Jacqui Burton, Vicky Burton, Jeanette Talley and Roberta Miller formed The Tropicals in 1958. Roberta Miller later left the group and they renamed themselves as The D.C. Blossoms.
The D. C. Blossoms [1966] - Hey Boy [Shrine SR 107]
Northern Soul 60 girl group
J.D. Bryant [1966] - I Won't Be Coming Back [Shrine SR 108]
Northern Soul / Popcorn
I think this one is considered one of (if not the) the rarest on label and sold in 2008 for almot £8,000, the only other listed on Popsike sold in 2011 for £6230 but was not as good condition.
I can find no background info on J.D. / Jay Dee Bryant other than he was active from 1960 to 1974 releasing around a dozen singles and that this was his only Shrine release - if anyone knows anything about him then please leave a comment.
Jay Dee Bryant Discography on SoulfulKindaMusic
J.D. Bryant [1966] - Walk On In [Shrine SR 108]
No label scan available and low quality sound clip ... but only one available!
Sidney Hall [1966] - The Weekend [Shrine SR 109]
Sidney Hall was a member of The Enjoyables which included Keni Lewis. This appears to be his only soul release.
Sidney Hall [1966] - I'm A Lover [Shrine SR 109]
Sheer quality deep soul / beat ballad
Shirley Edwards [1966] - It's Your Love [Shrine SR 110]
Deep Soul group harmony ballad.
The only release fro Shirley Edwards. A little bit of info at SirShambling
Shirley Edwards [1966] - Dream My Heart [Shrine SR 110]
Northern Soul stroller
The Cairos [1966] - Don't Fight It [Shrine SR 111]
Members were Keni St. Lewis, Famon Johnson, Tommy Monteir, Gerald Richardson and Wilford Ruffin. They had previously backed Billy Stewart under the production of Eddie Singleton. This is their only release.
The Cairos [1966] - Stop Overlooking Me [Shrine SR 111]
Northern Soul - one of the best on the label.
Eddie Daye & The Four Bars [1966] - Guess Who Loves You [Shrine SR 112]
Value £1600
Another local Washington CD group originally formed in 1953.
Eddie 'Jasper' Daye founded Dayco label in Washington DC on which the great NS/Crossover track was recorded by Betty Wilson & The Four Bars - I'm Yours arranged by Donny Hathaway (spelt as Donnie on label) and was released on the re-launch of the label in 1967.
Some more infor for Eddie Daye & The Four Bars by Marv Goldberg.
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| 1964 Line-up |
Eddie Daye & The Four Bars [1966] - What Am I Gonna Do [Shrine SR 112]
Deep Soul
Bill Dennis [1966] - I'll Never Let You Get Away [Shrine SR 113]
Northern Soul. His only 45 release. I would guess that this is pretty rare as the only one I can find listed on Popsike sold for £6,125 in Jun 2011 and I can't find a label scan of tye flip 'Poor Little Fool' anywhere. I have to say that, even if I had £6,000 to spare, I wouldn't spend it on this record ... not one of the better ones on the label!
Bill Dennis [1966] - Poor Little Fool [Shrine SR 113]
Deep Soul
No scan available.
Les Chansonettes [1966] - Deeper [Shrine SR 114]
Girl group Northern Soul
Douglas sisters Norma, BJ, Heysette, and Angela from Baltimore won several talent contests from a young age. They recorded one more 45 after this one on Mon'ca in 1970 (the label that gave us The Differences - Five Minutes) a deep soul cut I Almost Left You (Part 1) & (Part 2).
Les Chansonettes [1966] - Don't Let Him Hurt You [Shrine SR 114]
Great 'girlie' group Northern Soul, much better than the 'offocial' A side. Drums, horns, chorus and shrill vocals make this sort of sound stand-out in a large dance hall.
The Cautions [1966] - No Other Way [Shrine SR 115]
Storming Northern Soul
Their 2nd release on Shrine.
The Cautions [1966] - Poor Loser [Shrine SR 115]
Deep soul group harmony.
The Prophets [1966] - If I Had (One Gold Piece) [Shrine SR 116]
Northern Soul
The Prophets members were 'believed' to be Raymond Davis, Tommy Brooks, David Bird, Preston Booth, Harry Courtney and George Kirksby. This appears to be their only release.
The Prophets [1966] - Huh Baby [Shrine SR 116]
Soul group harmony
The Counts [1966] - Peaches Baby [Shrine SR 117]
Northern Soul
The only release from The Counts from Washington DC.
The Counts [1966] - My Only Love [Shrine SR 117]
Mid-tempo Northern Soul / Soul Group Harmony
The Enjoyables [1966] - Shame [Shrine SR 118]
The Enjoyables were Keni Lewis, Sidney Hall, Carl 'Maxx' Kidd, James Johnson, William Britton, Gerald Richardson. This is their only Shrine release but they did release another 45 on Capitol in 1964 Push A Little Harder / We'll Make A Way.
The Enjoyables [1966] - I'll Take You Back [Shrine SR 118]
Deep soul ballad
The Cavaliers [1966] - Do What I Want [Shrine SR 119]
Discogs has this listed as the same Cavaliers that had 2 45s on RCA Victor in 1966-67, but I believe this to be a different group from Washington DC as the other group was actve in Detroit and siged to RCA Victor when this Shrne record was released.
The Cavaliers [1966] - Tighten Up [Shrine SR 119]
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