Candi Staton [1970] - Now You've Got The Upper Hand / You Can't Stop Me [Unity #U-7-11]

Another Northern Soul rarity.  This is believed to be the first recording by Candi Staton, recorded in 1967 but not released until 1969/70 (45Cat states May 1970).  A comment left on Discogs says that it was released after she had some success on Fame, but was withdrawn as Fame had an agreement with Unity when she signed to prevent any of her earlier records being released.  This would be a reason why the record is rare.  

There is only one other release listed for Unity, a label based in Birmingham, Alabama, Underground Euphoria Featuring Keisa Brown - What Can I Do About You / Keisa Brown And Underground Euphoria - Let's Go Back (To Our Little World) also claimed on 45Cat to be released May 1970.  I thought that this might be equally as rare but have found a recently ended ebay listing (ended only a week ago on 11 Dec) from Craig Moerer listing it for £78.42 and described as funk.  It had a sound file which has unfortunatley now been removed.  There's also another listed for £50 - so probably not rare or 'in demand'!

There's about a dozen Candi Staton's on Popsike consistently selling for just over £1,000, the latest sold in Jan 2020 for £1,404.

Both sides were written by Bo Fowler (aka Robert Fowler), who has a few other songs registered with BMI, although I don't recognise any of them, and produced by Bob Grove and Richard Dingler.  I wonder if this Bob Grove is also known as Bob Groves (aka Robert Grove) as if so, he produced a few sides for Sam Dees on LoLo in 1969.

Candi Staton [1970] - Now You've Got The Upper Hand [Unity #U-7-11]

This was big in the mid 70s.  It was certainly played around 1976 and was so popular it was bootlegged on a look alike (counterfeit) label that year.

Candi Staton [1970] - You Can't Stop Me [Unity #U-7-11]

Back then the B side would have been instantly dismissed as being too slow, but listening to it now it could easily get spins these days.