A Brief Introduction To Lowriders

Since re-launching the blog we've had some up to date tunes, deep, Northern and beat ballads, so it's time explore what is now becoming more popular on the UK Sunday soul sessions taking our lead from our US cousins in L.A. Chicano/lowrider scene. 

For the uninitiated: Chicano mainly because it is the Mexican (descent) community and lowrider relates to the fact that they cruise around in (lowered) vintage cars playing the 'oldies' from their cars. Essentially the 'oldies' are the slow deep, sweet and mellow side of soul which we in the UK have overlooked in our quest for 'dancers' whether it be four on the floor Northern stompers, R&B, Popcorn, modern dancers, two-steppers or crossover - the thrust has always been for soul you can dance to ... sadly quite often at the expense of soulfulness ... as long as it's got the right beat!    Perhaps this is why this sound is becoming increasingly more popular to the 'soul connoisseurs', although to be fair, this music has been played in The Jim Wray Lounge at Soul Essence Yarmouth weekenders for the last 2 decades. Also, since the popularity of Sunday sessions, without the need to necessarily 'please' the dancefloor, DJ's are being a bit more adventurous.

Here's an article which has taken extracts from Wax Poetics #49 Latin Issue which had a feature called 'Bittersweet Harmony' dedicated to lowriders by Allen Thayer

As I understand it (more than happy for comments to correct/update me) the scene tends to be split between northern and southern California.  In the south there's a group of DJ's who call themselves The Southern Soul Spinners who are Ruben Molina, Soulera 5051 (Arlene Sepulveda) & Josh Whittemore.

Kent released a compilation last year (Jan 2019) called This Is Lowrider Soul which is a great introduction if you're coming to this fresh.  This was compiled by soul aficionados Sean Hampsey (UK) & Ruben Molina (US).

Here's a track from it that may highlight how the scenes 'crossover' (pun intended) as this has been played this side of the pond for years (coincidentally also on US Kent).

Four Tees [1970] - One More Chance [Kent]

The Ambasadors [1969] - I Really Love You [Arctic]

Here's a more 'typical' sound and one which we (in UK) would have previously bypassed.

Kansas City Express [1975] - This Is The Place [American Artists]

Another example of the genre which has just been reissued on Ocean Of Tears due to demand (NB NOT on the Kent compilation).

Durand Jones & The Indications [2017] - Is It Any Wonder? [Colemine]

It is not restricted to oldies as there is a scene evolving making 'neo' sweet soul music e.g. Durand Jones & The Indications and many others.

Ray Pollard [1965] - The Drifter [United Artists UA 916]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.5

In 1965, after The Wanderers had disbanded, Ray Pollard launched a solo career.  The Drifter was his second UA 45 and is regarded as a classic in Northern Soul circles.  Not your typical 100 mph stomper, this is the archetypal 'beat ballad', typically played towards the end of the night to bring the tempo down.

I'm not quite sure when this first got spins but has been around as long as I can remember and simply oozes with soul.  Apparently this is one of the hardest to find United Artists 45s.

There is a discussion here on Soul Source regarding this tune.

The song was obviously popular in the UK as there are at least 3 UK blue-eyed covers by Long John Baldry, Don Charles and Dane Hunter which I've linked to for comparison .... none come anywhere near Ray Pollard's original in my view .. what do you think?

Here's a great professional looking video produced by Rob's Big City Soul

Long John Baldry [1966] - The Drifter [United Artists (UK)]

Don Charles [1968] - The Drifter [Parlophone (UK)]

Dane Hunter [2016] - The Drifter [Record Collector]

... and finally as a matter of interest/intrigue there was another UK blue-eyed cover by Dane Hunter which was found on a rare (CBS?) acetate that was sold on with Record Collector magazine website in  2016. There was a limited edition of 500 signed and authenticated released.  There are 2 versions - a restored version and original acetate.  I'd guess the sound clip below is the original acetate as it sounds a bit tinny! I suspect that it was recorded in 1965 after Pollard's was released because he has only 3 other 'known' recordings all from 1965 ... one being a cover of The Tams - Silly Little Girl from 1964.

The Salvadors [1967] - Stick By Me Baby [Wise World 301]

Soul Strutter's Rating: 9.75

Following on from the previous Jo Armstead post, musically this track is completely different, however, it was actually written by her and is one of the finest Northern Soul records you are ever likely to hear. 

The Salvadors started singing together in 1957 whilst at High School in St Louis.  Originally there were 5 members: Gus (Augustus)  Winfield, Robert Vincent, Leroy McGhee, Carl Stark and Carl ?.  In 1960 they became four when Carl ? left and Donald Lloyd replaced Carl Stark. In 1960 Flint Lloyd (Donald's brother) replaced Leroy McGhee.

Donald Lloyd, Gus Winfield, Flint Lloyd, Robert Vincent

Their first 45 'Daddy Said' / 'A-E-I-O-U' on Nike 1010 was recorded in 1961. For their next (and last) release, E. Rodney Jones (radio DJ on Chicago's WVON) took them to Chicago to record 'Stick By Me Baby' / I 'Wanna Dance' on Don Clay's Wise World label #301 (David Lloyd was on  lead vocals). Apparently it got virtually no plays in Chicago but a few in St Louis until it was 'discovered' by the UK Northern Soul scene in the mid 70s.

The group split up not long after this release but various members continued to perform with other groups but didn't make any further recordings.

Still revered on the UK rare soul scene owing to the obscurity of original copies (it has been bootlegged many times, generally on blue labels (so easy to detect) but also on green).  Not only are original copies extremely rare, but you very rarely see any for sale, quite simply because if you owned one, why would you ever wish to part with it? ... Even though they currently sell for several thousand pounds. It's hard to say what the current value is as they don't come up for sale very often.

Here's a interesting discussion regarding the 45 on Soul Source from as far back as 2006 and another from 2014 where one was being auctioned which reached at least £3,500, and another more recently 2018 where it went for over £4,500.

There are only 6 'known' releases on Don Clay's Chicago 'Wise World' label all by different artists.  The catalogue numbering system is random  WW 1002 -1004 (1001 unknown),  62728 and  62769 and finally the Salvadors 301.

Anyway, by way of a change from the recent posts of modern and deep soul, here's an out and out classic Northern Soul stomper of the highest order from the pen of Jo Armstead.

NB If you open the link in YouTube you can read John Manship's comments regarding there being 2 original pressings a 1st and 2nd release.

The Salvadors [1967] - Stick By Me Baby [Wise World 301]

The Salvadors [1967] - I Wanna Dance [Wise World 301]

The Salvadors [1961] - Daddy Said [Nike 1010]

The Salvadors [1961] - A-E-I-O-U  [Nike 1010]

Jo Armstead [1990] - Won't You Join The Band (On My Caravan) [Preacher Rose]

Soul Strutter's Rating: 9.5

As an artist 'Joshie' Jo Armstead started her career as a member of The Ikettes. She went on to release around 20 solo 45s and (not including compilations) a solitary album 'Red Hot' in 2005.  The majority of her 45s were on her own Chicago labels Giant and latterly Preacher Rose.  A couple came out on Stax subsidiary The Gospel Truth in the early 70s and some earlier releases on De-Luxe 1962, Infinity 1963 and Tay-ster 1969.

Between 1964/65, after leaving the Ikettes, she also recorded 4 45s as Deena Johnson (apparently to avoid being found by Ike Turner) on Swa Ray, Wild Deuce and 2 on Simpson.

In 1977 she featured as lead vocalist on 4 tracks on Burt Bacharach's - Futures LP, 2 of which were released on a 45.

There is the transcript of a great interview with her HERE from 2012.

As a composer she has been prolific especially in collaboration with Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson.  Her songs have been recorded by Carl Carlton, Garland Green, The Crystals, The Apollas, Candy & The Kisses, Maxine Brown, The Shirelles, Ruby Andrews among many others.

The track featured here is from the flip side of her last 45 release on her own Preacher Rose label.  Apparently a limited edition release (but no idea how many copies).

If you've not heard it before, be prepared to be 'blown away'!  This track is 7 minutes of pure deep soul heaven and even though it is 7 minutes long I just want to keep playing it again and again (as fortunate enough to have a copy on the 45 .. and the value is creeping up as more and more get turned on to it!).

Jo Armstead [1990] - Got My Taste (Of The Honey) [Preacher Rose ROSE 1A]

Soul Strutter's Rating: 8.5

On the official A side this modern dancer got plays on the scene.

Elton John & Luther Vandross [2005] - Anyone Who Had A Heart [J]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.0

Yes, you have read that  correctly ... Elton John & Luther on a Bacharach & David 'standard' ... have I gone mad?  Well just take a listen.  If this is NOT soulful then I don't know what is! 

Taken from the album 'So Amazing An All-Star Tribute To Luther Vandross'

I'm not entirely sure whether this track was recorded before or after Luther's untimely death (Jul 2005).  It was released 3 months after he died (Sep 2005), but not sure whether Elton John's vocals were overdubbed on Luther's existing track or recorded with him before he died (None of the other tracks are duets with Luther). I 'suspect' the latter, given that he had a stroke in April 2003. If anyone knows for sure please post a comment.

Of course Luther, in his heyday, had a knack of taking B&D songs and re-arranging and interpreting them beautifully e.g. A House is Not A Home, Close To You and this one to name a few.  However, it has to be said that, Elton John adds another dimension to this song which, I have to confess, I have always loved (probably because I heard Dionne Warwick's and Cilla Black's version it when I was a toddler and it has become ingrained).

Have we ever heard Elton more soulful?

Dee Dee Simon [2019] - If I Leave You [Vulnerable]

SoulStrutters Rating: 9.5

I've only recently 'discovered' the vocal talents of Miss Dee Dee Simon from the strength of her latest outing 'Queenin' which samples Kool & The Gang's Ladies Night taken from her new album 'Soulmate.'

The track featured here, however, is  a non-album track from Sep 2019 released as digital single only (as far as I am aware).  It is a tremendous deep soul cut in the vein of the Betty Wright/Shirley Brown school of southern soul. It could easily be mistaken as a vintage cut from that era (i.e. the 70s).  If you like your soul deep then I can't recommend this track highly enough.  I'd go as far as to say it is the best neo deep soul cut I've heard.

The 'official' release is only 3:08, however Dee Dee has posted up an extended 4:45 version on her YouTube channel (That Lady DJ Productions) and that is the track featured here as even almost 5 minutes is not long enough!

Taken from a recent concert promotion for House Of Soul II June 2019 :

"A native of Oakland, California, Ms. Dee Dee Simon was born to sing. Her skills have been compared to the sassy vocal ability of Patti LaBelle, the richness of Gladys Knight, the fire of Chaka Khan, the edge of Tina Turner and the pureness of Whitney Houston. With a five-octane range, this songwriter, thespian, and executive producer has been hailed as the Soul of the Bay.

Dee Dee has opened for Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Faith Evans, Jeffrey Osbourne, Charlie Wilson and many more. She is a winner of the Steve Harvey National competition, twenty-two Black Music Awards, a Best Female Vocalist award, and is the reigning Entertainer of the Year. She sings with all of her heart and soul because that’s all she knows."

Her latest album 'Soulmate' is available HERE.

And her previous album 'Ahh Hell Queen Dee' is available HERE:

She has done another album 'Diamonds Are Forever' in 2014 but can't find it for sale anywhere.

Dee Dee Simon @ Facebook

Dee Dee Simon @ YouTube

Heather Park [2004] - Baby I bw No Better Love [Stush]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.0

Going back to 2004 for this one from Heather Park on a 4 track 12" EP. 'Not What You Expected'.  This samples Luther Vandross' Better Love from his 2nd album Forever, for Always, For Love 1982.  So if you're familiar with Luther's track then you know what to expect.

The label states that the track was mixed at Stush Studios NYC but I believe that Stush is a UK label.  

It also came out on her album 'Dream In Pictures' released in Jan 2005.  Not really a soul album, it seems to be a mix of styles, the only other track I can recommend is  'Your Woman'.

It appears that Heather released 2 singles and an album around 2004/05 but nothing since and I can't find much information about her but did stumble across THIS from which I deduce she was Korean/American R&B/Soul artist from New York who 'retired' in 2011.

Tyra LeVone [2019] - Keep Steppin' [Soultownie]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.2

Released Jun 2019 on the Boston MA independent label Soultownie (owned by Kevin McGofff and neo blue-eyed soul artist Dennis 'Youngblood' Taylor) which is building quite a reputation for quality modern soul releases with that classic 70s/80s feel.  Their 7th release on the label is from Tyra LeVone - Keep On Steppin'.  

Other releases are from Dennis Taylor (1,2,4), L. Young (3), Vick Allen (5), Terri Green Project (6) and Ty Juan (8).

As the title implies, a nice little stepper that just grooves along that gets the feet tapping and the head nodding.  Soulful vocals and a tight production.

This track has also been included in the latest Luxury Soul 2020 compilation containing 35 of the latest tracks for £7.99 digital or £15.83 on CD can't be bad!

Tyra has previously released an album Testimony A Soul Set Free in 2017.  The stand-out track (for me) is 'You And You'.

Tyra LeVone [2017] - You And You [Lyrics To Life]

Soultownie @ Facebook

Soultownie @ Bandcamp