In this post I'll kill two birds with one stone i.e. full Lamarr discography and a Star-Tels/Chymes dicography as there was only one other release on Lamarr apart from The Star-Tels.
Down To Earth and Lamarr labels were mentioned yesterday in the General Crook post as he had a few 45s released on Down To Earth owned by Walter & Burgess Gardner who also owned Lamarr. Lamarr only released 3 45s, two by The Star-Tels/Star-Tells and one by The Esquires. The Gardner's also owned More Soul but 4 of the 5 the releases were by The Soul Crusaders (the house band) and are instrumentals and the other by Ben Branch & The Downhomers is also an instrumental so won't bother posting these.
Down To Earth and Lamarr labels were mentioned yesterday in the General Crook post as he had a few 45s released on Down To Earth owned by Walter & Burgess Gardner who also owned Lamarr. Lamarr only released 3 45s, two by The Star-Tels/Star-Tells and one by The Esquires. The Gardner's also owned More Soul but 4 of the 5 the releases were by The Soul Crusaders (the house band) and are instrumentals and the other by Ben Branch & The Downhomers is also an instrumental so won't bother posting these.
The Star-tels were brothers Victor, David and James Martin. They recorded two 45s on Lamarr and then renamed themselves The Chymes/Chimes and recorded two 45s on Down To Earth in 1970, then one on Ed O'Kelly's Teako and finally one on Margie in 1977 (which I'm guessing is their own label as states distributed by Chymes Enterprises on the label and it's the only release).
45Cat lists a 1964 release on Musictone for The Chymes but this is almost definately not the same group as they were a doo-wop group from Brooklyn and Discogs lists a 1966 release on Okeh as them ('Bring Your Love Back To Me' - the same song as Linda Lyndell on Volt) which again I don't think is the same group as both sides written by Cliff & Eddie Thomas who between them wrote several popular NS songs e.g. The Poppies - There's A Pain In My Heart, Major Lance - Investigate, Barbara Lynn - Take Your Love And Run, Jay D. Martin - By Yourself, Tommy Ridgley - My Love Is Getting Stronger, Johnny Copeland / Johnny & Lilly - Sufferin' City).
45Cat lists a 1964 release on Musictone for The Chymes but this is almost definately not the same group as they were a doo-wop group from Brooklyn and Discogs lists a 1966 release on Okeh as them ('Bring Your Love Back To Me' - the same song as Linda Lyndell on Volt) which again I don't think is the same group as both sides written by Cliff & Eddie Thomas who between them wrote several popular NS songs e.g. The Poppies - There's A Pain In My Heart, Major Lance - Investigate, Barbara Lynn - Take Your Love And Run, Jay D. Martin - By Yourself, Tommy Ridgley - My Love Is Getting Stronger, Johnny Copeland / Johnny & Lilly - Sufferin' City).
Discography
Lamaar
Lamaar
The Star-Tels
1970 - Exterminator Man What More Can I Ask For [Lamarr 1000]
The Star-Tells
1970 - Falling In Love With You Girl / You're Wrong About Me [Lamarr L1002]
The Esquires
1971 - Girls In The City / Ain't Gonna Give It Up [Lamaar L 1001]
The Star-Tels/Chymes
The Star-Tels
1970 - Exterminator Man What More Can I Ask For [Lamarr 1000]
The Star-Tells
1970 - Falling In Love With You Girl / You're Wrong About Me [Lamarr L1002]
1970 - My Baby's Gone Away / Where I Came From [Down To Earth 71]
The Chimes
1970 - The Beginning Of My Life / Coming Changes [Down To Earth 72]
The Chymes
197x - Dancing Shoes / I've Lost [ Teako 784]
1977 - Wanting You Back / Wrng Crowd [Margie MRC-001]
David Martin & The Rare Essence
1974 - You're Mighty Right / Jay Pee Studio Band Feat. Regi Boyd Jr.- You're Mighty Right [Jay Pee J.P. 3]
1975 - You're Mighty Right / Rare Essence Feat Reg. Boyd Jr.- You're Mighty Right [Rekord 702]
1974 - You're Mighty Right / Jay Pee Studio Band Feat. Regi Boyd Jr.- You're Mighty Right [Jay Pee J.P. 3]
1975 - You're Mighty Right / Rare Essence Feat Reg. Boyd Jr.- You're Mighty Right [Rekord 702]
The Star-Tels [1970] - Exterminator Man [Lamarr 1000]
Funky Soul
Soul group harmony / Crossover
Superb harmonies. Although the B side, it has Bunky's Pick suggesting that this was the 'play' side, and quite rightly so as the A side does nothing for me.
Soul group harmony / Crossover
The Star-Tells [1970] - You're Wrong About Me [Lamarr L1002]
Sweet soul group harmony
The Esquires [1971] - Girls In The City [Lamaar L 1001]
A sweet soul harmony / crossover tune In a similar vein to 'Falling In Love With You Girl' from The Esquires who gave us 'Get On Up' who started out with the line-up of Gilbert, Alvis and Betty Moorer (Speed Up written by her brother Gilbert and Bill 'Bunky' Sheppard, also recorded by The Imapals (her husband's band who also backed her on her version) in 1969 on Capitol before they also had a release on Down To Earth). Betty later left and the group went through several changes. The only surviving member is Mill Edwards.
This was one of their last releases, only releasing 4 more 45s between 1974-1980 one of which being a re-recording of Get on Up '76.
This was one of their last releases, only releasing 4 more 45s between 1974-1980 one of which being a re-recording of Get on Up '76.
The Esquires [1971] - Ain't Gonna Give It Up [Lamaar L 1001]
Sweet soul / crossover
I haven't listened to this side for quite a while as it has always been the other side that has been popular, but think with it's funky edge could well do with some new spins as these sounds are currently very in vogue.
The Chymes [1970] - My Baby's Gone Away [Down To Earth 71]
Great soul group harmony / Crossover
The Chymes [1970] - Where I Came From [Down To Earth 71]
This is not an expensive nor a rare record yet I can't find a label scan nor a sound file for it. If anyone can help with either or both then please leave a comment.
The Chimes [1970] - The Beginning Of My Life [Down To Earth 72]
Perfect crossover tune.
The Chimes [1970] - Coming Changes [Down To Earth 72]
This is the instrumental version of Beginning Of My Life and as such is actually The Soul Crusaders who were Down To Earth / Lamarr house band.
The Chymes [197?] - Dancing Shoes [Teako 784]
Deep Funk
No release date available but would guess 1971/72?
The Chymes [197?] - I've Lost [Teako 784]
Funk bordering on garage and if it weren't for the writing credits I would doubt that it's the same band!
The Chymes [1977] - Wanting You Back [Margie MRC-001]
Modern Soul
The Chymes [1977] - Wrong Crowd [Margie MRC-001]
Modern Soul
David Martin & The Rare Essence [1974] - You're Mighty Right [Jay Pee J.P. 3]
Modern Soul
David Martin was a member of Star-Tels/Chymes and released a solo 45 in 1974 on Jay Pee which was reissued on Rekord in 1975. I'm not sure if there is any difference between release but have posted both so you can decide for yourself.
This track sounds similar to The Eight Minutes - Looking For A Brand New Game written by Patrick Adams & Fay Hauser who had 'You Bring Me Sun In The Morning' played on release in 1975 which I recall Dave Godin recommending at the time in Blues & Soul magazine. After further investigation it should be no great surprise as Jim Porter was a writer of this track and writer/producer on several Eight Minutes tracks.
David Martin & The Rare Essence [1975] - You're Mighty Right [Rekord 702B]
The Jay Pee Studio Band Feat. Regi Boyd Jr. [1974] - You're Mighty Right [Jay Pee J.P. 3]
The flipside has a version which features Regi Boyd Jr. which is the instrumental version. On Jay Pee it's Jay Pee Studio Band Feat Reg. Boyd Jr. on Rekord it is credited to Rare Essence Feat. Regi Boyd Jr. I can only find a clip to Rekord version so don't know if they are different.
Rare Essence Feat. Reg. Boyd Jr. [1974] - You're Mighty Right [Rekord 702A]
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