I'm not sure of released date but I believe that this is the same group as Shep (James Sheppard) & The Limelites as B side is written two member Charles Baskerville and Clarence Bassett (and George Smith). Shep & The Limelites disbanded in 1966. Baskerville joined the Drifters briefly in 1967 replacing Charles Thomas the last of the existing members of The Five Crowns who became The 'New' Drifters in 1958 whilst the original group were renamed Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters. Bassett joined The Flamingos and then Creative Funk in 70s. The Limelites released a 45 on Creative Funk in 1975 Before The Next Teardrop Falls.
Baskerville and Bassett reunited with Sheppard in 1970 to play the oldies circuit but this was very short-lived as Sheppard was shot dead in his car on 24 Jan 1970. However they did release a 45 together in 1970 so perhaps this was it, although it sounds earlier than 1970 - I's guess 1967/68.
This is a very rare record. Only three found on Popsike and only a handful of known copies exist in UK. The record was discovered by Dave Raistrick who provided it to Dave Withers & Rod Shard who tried it without success at Stafford. Dave sold it to Keb Darge who covered it up as both The Silhouettes and Otis Pollard (or may have been Otis Pollard & The Silhouettes) at Top Of The World, Stafford mid 80s. Otis Pollard was an odd cover-up name to use as he wasn't a performer rather a producer mainly for The Jive Five and Shirley Vaughan.
The Limelights [196x] - Don't Leave Me Baby [Uncle 1422]
'Proper' Northern Soul which should be a huge sound but suffers from it's rarity as only a few known copies exist.
The Limelights [196x] - Time Has Passed You Don't Love Me Anymore [Uncle 1422]
It's been a long time coming for Fred Douglass Shorts who has 'flirted' with the music business since the 60s singing with The Visitors (originally The Mists from Kansas City), Shades Of Brown and then formed The Master Plan Inc. in the early 70s until they broke up in 1980. They had a verbal contract with Brunswick around 1976 but at the time Brunswick was in a legal case over payola and none of their material was released. Two singles were self-released on 'vanity' labels in 1980 and 1984. In 1986 he had a chance to audition with a band for Motown in LA but was let down by one of the members not turning up through fear of flying. More recently his early material was discovered by Andrew Brearley and his wife Sheila Hernando who formed Cherries records and cut several new sides with him and an EP and a few 45s have been released on Daptone. Jazman has released an album of mainly previously unreleased material and a couple of other albums have been released on his own Yawls productions label.
A very detailed biography is available on Chicago Reader. This guy has certainly 'paid his dues' and his material is now finally getting exposure in his 60s.
A short interview
Master Plan Inc. [1980] - Something To Be Done [Mundo 41180]
Master Plan Inc. [1980] - You [Mundo 41180]
Master Plan Inc. [2013] - Master Plan Inc. [Jazzman JMANLP058]
Album of previously unreleased material
From Jazzman website:
"All serious record collectors agree that finding rare records can be a difficult, time consuming and often expensive business. Finding previously unknown records takes this challenge to another level; another step further and you’re into the realm of lost master tapes, acetates and demos in record company archives – take one step further still and you’ve just stepped into a black hole: the mysterious, unknown world of private recordings made by individual musicians, never before circulated beyond the four walls of their studio or home.
Such is the case with Master Plan Inc, a band from Chicago led by Fred Shorts. With just one single to their name – an uber-rarity rated at over $2000 – nobody had any idea that within the confines of a studio archive and Shorts’ private residence there would be a wealth of other recordings on acetate, reel to reel tape and cassette.
Despite our 24/7 commitment to search for such material, such a find is very rare indeed, coming up only once every few years. Yet what marks this as so special is that only when these soulful treasures had been fully excavated did it come to light that the quality of the music would make for a complete album of astonishingly high quality – most albums have one or two gems padded out with filler, but here we have the real deal - gem after gem after gem. And all previously unreleased! If you’re into modern soul, ‘70s funk, smooth mid-tempo crossover dancers or high energy funk blasts – you’re in for a treat!
A whole album of previously unreleased soul and funk gems recorded 1973 -84. CD with 16 page booklet with liner notes and previously unpublished photographs."
NOTE not 100% accurate as Something To Be Done / You was released on Mundo private press 45 in 1980 and is valued around £600 and also How Slick Is Slick appeared on a Yawls 45 in 1984.
From IZipho Soul (Patrick Biggerstaff) "There are not enough superlatives to describe this classic piece of music. It has and always will evoke happy memories. Recorded in 1995 and featuring the ultra soulful vocals of James Robinson with MJ himself blowing a saxy storm!
On the flip we present a brand new recording, never heard before until now. SOAKIN’ IN THE SUNSHINE featuring the superb voice of David Caceres, escapism to tropical climes is the name of the game here, much needed at present."
On the back of having just binge watched Godfather Of Harlem (prequel to American Gangster) I decided to watch the 1992 Malcolm X movie starring Denzel Washington (as Malcolm features extensively in GOH). The full 8:22 Aretha Franklin's version of Someday We'll All Be Free plays over the closing credits. A few weeks ago I posted several versions of Someday We'll All Be Free but omitted the version by Aretha Franklin which is only available on the soundtrack or as a promo CD, cassette or 12" on Qwest. It's not available on YouTube so I tried to upload it but it was blocked due to copyright but the full version has been posted on Soundcloud (link below).
What a great tune this is! Taken from his 2015 album River Of Soul which appears to have been released by CD Baby.
He's a new artist to me but must have been around for quite a while as he was inducted into The New York Blues Hall Of Fame in 2013. Don't confuse him with a country singer with the same name active between 1967-76.
He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, moved Houston and then New York. He's lead for The Original Blues Brothers Band which is led led by Stax legend Steve Cropper and Lou Marini who released The Last Shade Of Blue Before Dark in 2017.
Discogs list a 12" from him (probably from 80s) - I Found Love (When I Found You) on Nyota - the only release on the label listed so perhaps a self-release? No label scan except for the picture cover and no credits available.
I found a transcript of an interview he did in 2013. It would appear that the 12" was released around 1984. He thought he'd bought the rights to the song from the writer Charles Ray Burton but turns out he'd only bought the publishing rights and he mentions that he wrote the B side Tell Me You Want My Loving which isn't on this release of the !2", so perhaps there is another? I don't think it's the same song as recorded by The Spinners on Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow as it is credited to Phillip Pugh & Sherman Marshall but who knows? Bobby Harden Website on here he has lots of live footage from performances.
Bobby Harden [2019] - Where Is The Love [DALA 103]
Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints [2020] - Runnin' (To Get To our Love [Dala DALA-103]
Release at the end of last year around Nov 2019 is his first 45 and the third release on Datone imprint Dala is a neo Northern Soul track. This seems to be a single-sided 45.
Here's a couple of stand-out tracks from Rivers Of Soul
I first came across Little Royal with a soul pack record from 70s I Want To
Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me)
His real name was
Royal Torrence
and he was also known as Leroy Little and was often referred to as little
James Brown owing to his physical appearance and the similarity of his
vocal style. It has been claimed that he was James Brown's
half-brother but I don't know how much truth is in that. He opened
for James Brown in the early years and I think the 'rumour' has
'evolved' from a statement: he made in an interview “James Brown looked at
me and said we have to be brothers we look so alike.” It is also claimed that Little Royal 'discovered' Teddy Pendergrass who
was working as a waiter in a club in Atlantic City nightclub when he held auditions for the Swingmasters. Pendergrass got the job as drummer.
Again, I am not sure how accurate that is as according to other
sources [1][2] he was with
The Cadillacs
before joining The Swingmasters in 1968 and then of course joined Harold
Melvin & Blue Notes around 1970. However, I have just found this comment left on Discogs by group member
Doug McKinzie: "Little Royal is still doing live performances, he can be contacted
through . Artiscard.com/Little Royal. I am the MC and saxophonist that
is playing on Little Royal Jealous Album and currently still working
with him and his band The Swingmasters. I started working with the group
in 1965, in 1968 I introduced Teddy Pendergrass to Little Royal in
Atlantic City N.J. after our drummer Marvin Jolly left Little Royal band
The Swingmasters. Little Royal hired Teddy Pendergrass in August 1968 at
Edgehill"s Lounge at Illinois Ave and Baltic Ave A.C. N.J. The rest is
history. Tracks 15 through on this album or CD (referring to a
Japanese compilation) was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston,Texas It was one of our last sessions done at that studio. The
artists playing on those unreleased songs are Doug McKinzie Baritone
Sax, Andrea Sims Tenor Sax,David Akers Trumpet, Michael Rogers Trombone
Earnest Carter Drums, Norman Perkins Bass Guitar, Donnie Chillis Guitar,
Herman Gissindiner Guitar, and Little Royal. WE are The
Swingmasters."
NOTE Doug has a playlist of videos of the
band performing live in 2013 Discography 45s Little Royal 1967 - I Can Tell / I Know (You Love Me Too) [Carnival CAR-531]
1971 - I'll Come Crawling / Royal Showband - Panama RedTri Us 908]
1972 - Soul Train / My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-910]
Little Royal & The Swingmasters
1972 - Jealous / Razor Blade [Tri Us TR-912]
Little Royal
1972 - You'll Lose A Good Thing / I'll Come Crawling [Tri Us 913]
Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms
1972 - Switch Blade / Rainbow [Tri Us TR-914]
Little Royal
1972 - I Surrender / Soul Train [Tri Us TR-915]
1973 - I'm So Glad To Do It / My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-916]
1973 - Keep Pushing Your Luck / I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me)[Tri Us TR-917]
Little Royal & The Swingmasters
1973 - I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me) / Keep Pushing Your Luck [Black Pride BP-105]
Little Royal
1977 - Keep Pushing Your Luck / That's My Desire [Pacemaker PM-1980]
1981 - Groovin', Ain't No Love, Just My Imagination / Bring It On Home, Higher And Higher [Flame NM 1000]
1981 - Down On The Sand / Down On The Sand (Part II) [Flame NM 1720]
Albums
1972 - Jealous [Tri Us KS 1145-498]
TRi Us was a Houston, Texas label and it would appear that most
recordings were made at Huey Meaux's Sugar Hill Studios and all but
one of the listed releases were by Little Royal. The other is
Wilson Williams - (Can't Get Over) Losing You. I wonder if this is the
same song as I Can't Used To Losing You he released on How Big a year earlier in 1971? Wilson
Williams recorded some nice modern soul tracks - so watch out for some
future postings.
Jealous / Razor Blade Live Footage on Soul Street TV Show Cincinnati,
Ohio 1972
Still performing in 2013 aged 79 just 3 years before his death 29 Sep
2016 (aged 82).
Little Royal [1967] - I Can Tell [Carnival CAR-531]
Deep Soul A song which he wrote himself as R. Torrence.
Little Royal [1967] - I Know (You Love Me Too) [Carnival CAR-531]
Northern Soul
Little Royal [1971] - I'll Come Crawling [Tri Us 908] Raw / Funky R&B
Royal Showband [1971] - Panama Red [Tri Us 908] Raw / Funky instrumental
Little Royal [1972] - Soul Train [Tri Us TR-910]
Funk
Little Royal [1972] - My Love Needs Company [Tri Us
TR-910]
Deep Soul
Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1972] - Jealous [Tri Us
TR-912]
Deep Soul written by Little Royal (as Royal Torrence)
Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1972] - Razor Blade [Tri
Us TR-912]
Little Royal [1972] - You'll Lose A Good Thing [Tri Us 913]
Deep Soul Cover of Barbara Lynn
Little Royal [1972] - I'll Come Crawling [Tri Us 913]
Raw / Funky R&B same as 908 above
Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms [1972] - Switch
Blade [Tri Us TR-914]
Funky Instrumental
Another odd release as the label on the TY clip credits it as The
Swingmasters Featuring Andre Simms which isn't listed but it is listed
as Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms. The
former credit would be about right as both are instrumentals and as such
don't feature Little Royal.
Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms [1972] - Rainbow
[Tri Us TR-914]
Funky Instrumental
Little Royal [1972] - I Surrender [Tri Us TR-915]
Hard / Deep Funk
Little Royal [1972] - Soul Train [Tri Us TR-915]
Hard / Deep Funk
Little Royal [1973] - I'm So Glad To Do It [Tri Us TR-916]
Raw Deep Soul
Little Royal [1973] - My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-916]
Deep Soul
Little Royal [1973] - Keep Pushing Your Luck [Tri Us TR-917]
Southern Soul Stroller
Little Royal [1973] - I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me) [Tri Us TR-917]
Northern Soul / Crossover
Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1973] - I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me) [Black Pride BP-105]
This is the copy I have. An 'odd' release as appears to be same
recording on the only release on this label billed as Little Royal &
The Swingmasters with a reference to Tri Us so presumably a re-issue? ...
but why on this label?
Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1973] - Keep On Pushing Your
Luck [Black Pride BP-105]
Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1975] - Miss Lady [Try-It
TI-711]
Funky Northern Soul which starts of a bit like Black Nasty - Cut Your
Motor Off
Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1975] - Rainbow [Try-It TI-711]
Funky Instrumental as Tri Us TR-914 above
Little Royal [1977] - Keep Pushing Your Luck [Pacemaker PM-1980]
Third release of this track which Discogs dates as 1977 which is in line
with other releases yet 45Cat lists as 1973.
Little Royal [1977] - That's My Desire [Pacemaker PM-1980]
Crossover This has got 'shades' of' Al Wilson - La La Peace Song.
Little Royal [1981] - Groovin', Ain't No Love, Just My Imagination
[Flame NM 1000]
A medley of 3 classics. I'd guess this was targeted at the beach scene as
ad-lib references to beach and another give-way is that it was recorded at
Fantasy Sound Studio which is in Granite Falls, North Carolina and record
was also distributed by a North Carolina label.
Little Royal [1981] - Bring It On Home, Higher And Higher [Flame NM
1000]
Another medley of 2 classics.
Little Royal [1981] - Down On The Sand [Flame NM 1720]
Another beach song.
Release date is a guess based on previous Flame release..
Album Tracks not on 45 Little Royal [1972] - Jealous [Tri Us KS 1145-498]
