Soul Strutter: The Return of Doug Shorts of MasterPlan Inc.

Sunday 24 May 2020

The Return of Doug Shorts of MasterPlan Inc.

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.

Try It You'll Like It

You

Something To Be Done (Brunswick Version)

Younger Generation

Bright Lights, Big City

Special Love

Bonus Tracks CD only

For The Brothers (Demo)