I haven't posted any 'proper Northern' for some time, to so let's correct this with an extremely well known track as it was released on flip side to Wigan's Chosen Few - Footsee on Pye Disco Demand in 1975 peaking at #9 in UK Chart and was in Kev Robert's (original) Northern Soul Top 500 book at #10.
Is this the same Chuck Wood?
Originally released on US Roulette in July 1967, it had already seen 2 previous UK releases on Big T in 1967 and Mojo 1971 prior to the 1975 release), but is there a better 'archetypal' Northern Soul record? If you had to explain to anyone what Northern Soul was then just tell them to listen to this. It has everything ... the beat, the vocals, the melody, the breaks, the hook, the horns, the angst, the energy, how was this never a commercial hit?
Seven Days Too Long
Soul Shing-A-Ling
The identity of Chuck Wood has always been a bit of a mystery and only a couple of releases were made by him, the 45 above and I've Got My Lovelight Shining / Baby You Win also on Roulette Feb. 1968. There is country singer with the same name, active at the same time, who is often confused as the same artist in discographies. It is generally considered by several highly respected UK soul connoisseurs (in a thread on Soul Source) to be J.R. Bailey, as he co-wrote the track with Vernon Harrell and also co-wrote and produced the follow up I've Got My Lovelight Shining / Baby You Win. In fact 45Cat lists both Chuck Wood 45s under J.R. Bailey, which seem to slot right into his Discography seamlessly between 1966-1969. Perhaps he recorded as a pseudonym as he was still contracted to Columbia, but then he used his real name for writer/producer credits?
J.R. (James Ralph) Bailey was a member of The Cadillacs, he joined the group in 1956 aged 19, leaving around 1963 to join The Jive Five, but returned to The Cadillacs in 1970. He also wrote and recorded solo. He co-wrote Main Ingredient's hit 'Everybody Plays The Fool' with Ken Williams and also wrote their 'Let Me Prove My Love To You' which I posted a few days ago which was sampled for Alicia Keys' - You Don't Know My Name.
He also had several tracks played on the Modern Soul scene, the best known probably being 'Love Won't Wear Off (As The Years Wear On)' along with 'Love, Love, Love' (also recorded by Donny Hathaway), 'Just You Me 'n' You' (also recorded by Eramus Hall) and 'The Eyes Don't Know The Feeling' in 1976. His final recording was 'I'm Still In Love With You' on Spring in 1984. He passed in Sep. 1985 aged only 48.
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