Three Of A Kind - 'Tell Me You're Mine'

A song written by Jack Ashford and Andrew 'Mike' Terry, released at least 3 times (to my nowledge) in slightly different variants by Lorraine Chandler, The Hesitations and Four Sonics - Plus One.  The second by The Hesitations is credited to Ashford & Lewis - Ermastine Lewis which was Lorraine Chandler's real name she used for writing credits.

Lorraine Chandler [1966] - Tell Me You're Mine [Giant #G-703]

Lorraine Chandler passed way in Jan 2020 aged 73, so I've turned this into a tribute to her work. 

'Tell Me You're Mine'. was her first single released on the flip to 'What Can I Do' on Jack Ashford's short-lived Detroit based Giant label which released only 5 singles in 1966 (not Jo Armstead's Chicago based label of the same name which started the following year).

Chandler/Lewis was predominantly a writer with her partner Jack Ashford but did release a few more singles on RCA Victor, the Giant 45 was picked up by RCA Victor for national distribution, followed by two further 45s 'She Don't Want You' / 'I Can't Hold On' in 1966 and 'Oh How I Need Your Love' / 'I Can't Change' in 1969.  

In recent years several unreleased tracks have been issued in the UK on 45, one being a demo for the 1967 James Bond movie title track 'You Only Live Twice', 'I Hear Music', 'Mend The Torn Pieces Of A My Heart', (recorded by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations in 1965 on Junior with 'I Can't Change') and 'Ease My Mind'.

There are also two other tracks on CD only 'Don't Leave Me Baby' (which has the same backing track as Willie Kendricks - 'What's That On Your Finger' a Pied Piper Production) released in 2018 on 'Jack Ashford - Just Productions Volume 2 [Kent #CDKEND 478]'. The other is 'Lost Without You', also recorded by Four Sonics on flip to featured track, which came out in 2015 on 'Pied Piper - Follow Your Soul 2015 [Kent #CDKEND 429]' CD.

It is suggested on Discogs that she also recorded with The Ebonies who released two 45s on Midwest in the early 60s, but I have not been able to confirm that.

As a footnote there was a single released on the Black Magic label in UK in 1975 with a version of Eddie Parker's classic 'Love You Baby' (which was a huge tune at the time and the only release on Ashford) with 'What Can I Do' on the flip.  Lorraine Chandler has categorically stated that this was NOT her singing 'Love You Baby'.

In addition the the songs she has recorded she was also involved in writing and producing many other great records, far too many to mention them all, but a few of the greats are Eddie Parker's superb deep soul cuts 'But If You Must Go', 'I Need A True Love' and 'Crying Clown' (NB this is the slower previously unreleased version), the NS dancer as Eddie Parker & The Sunlovers - 'You'll Never Make The Grade', c/w 'This Love Of Ours', Ray Gant & The Arabians - 'Don't Leave Me Baby' / 'I Need A True Love', 'I'll Never Forget You' recorded by The O'Jays and also The Metros, and NS favourite The Smith Brothers ‎- 'There Can Be A Better Way'. to name just a few.

The Hesitations [1967] - She Won't Come Back [Kapp #K-822]

A 1967 reworking of Chandler's 1996 outing with same tune but different lyrics. This is the lead track from their 1967 album 'Soul Superman'.  A fine album which has another different take on an absolute Northern Soul classic, and one of my all-time favourites, 'That's The Way Love Is' uses the same backing as Eddie Parker's ultra rare NS gem 'I'm Gone' which was one of only 3 releases on another Jack Ashford label Awake. 

It was repressed in 70s to meet NS demand but the original must now be valued near 5 figures (only 3 listed on Popsike and 2 of these were pretty 'beaten up'). It was also recorded by Billy Sha-Rae on Spectrum in 1971. A vocal and instrumental remake was done in 2011 by The Emerald City Soul Club in LA with Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme.

Four Sonics - Plus One [1968] - Tell Me You're Mine [Sepia #1]

The Four Sonics were Jay Johnson, Bill Frazier, Steve Gaston and Eddie Daniels with 'Plus One' being Joe Buckman who released a 45 on Sepia #3 in 1969 'Right Now' / 'Till The End Of Time'.

They released two 45s on Sport prior to the Sepia release, mainly sweet soul harmony tracks, the first being a cover of 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' a UK #1 hit for Dusty Springfield in 1966. They released a single on yet another short-lived Ashford lable Triple 'B' in 1969, followed by a release on JMC which sounds like early/mid 70s 'If It Wasn't For My Baby' (no date on listing but JMC-141 is dated 1976 which sounds about right, although some of the earlier numbers are from 80s.  From the sound, I would guess around 1973/74?  No clues on label as to label's location, except JMC-141 states Detroit, which i would expect as all their other material was released in Detroit.

The only other release on Jack Ashford's Sepia label is another ultra rarity Al Gardner - 'Sweet Baby' / 'I Can't Stand It' on Sepia #2 in 1968 which was also released on French label Googa-Mooga the same year which is a bit easier to find.