The Village Choir ... The Best Of ...

The Village Choir [1972] - Talk To Me Sometime [SCM 1000]

Stunning deep soul cut written by Sir Charles Ezra Matthews.

The Village Choir [1973] - The Mind Of A Fool, Wisdom Of A Genius [Paramount PAA_0254]

Mind-blowing deep soul ballad.  This must be 'as yet' undiscovered as you can still pick it up very cheaply.  Get it while you can.

P.S. Sound not great and cut by 90 seconds ... but the only clip available.

The Village Choir [1976] - Along The Beach - Part One [N.Y.C. 1000]

This is the slower version.

The Village Choir [1976] - Sweet Hot Lips [N.Y.C. 1000]

This was also released on 12" 4:47 long.

The Village Choir [197?] - Along The Beach [SCM 3XXX] - faster version

SCM stands for Sir Charles Matthews who wrote most of The Village Choir's material and produced them.  I would guess that this was released before the N.Y.C. issue but no date available - possibly 1973 (on the basis that 1000 was 1971 and 2000 was 1972 ... and guessing that 3XXX may be 1973).

The Village Choir [197?] - Street Opera With A Blues Waltz  [SCM 3XXX]

Epic ballad.  This is quite simply a superb piece of music.  They also released an album with this as the title track. 

The Village Choir [197?] - All Purpose Love [SCM 2000]

Superb 70s dancer which has Lee McDonald on lead vocals. Taken from the extremely rare album 'Street Opera With A Blues Waltz'.  There is a note for the entry on Discogs that Sir Charles Matthews claims that the album has never been released, (and he should know as it's his label) but a/ I cannot verify the source of the comment and b/ there are copies in existence .. so what are they ... promos/test pressings/bootlegs?

Chuck Ray - Discography

Chuck Ray released 5 45s between 1967 and 1974, on 4 different labels (Tam-Boo, Five-O (2), Buddah,  Gemigo).  He's another artist that I can find absolutely no info about.  

Discography

1967 - I Don't Mind / Come Alive [Tam-Boo 6719]
1970 - Baby Please Don't Let Go / There AIn't A Thing You Can Do [Buddah 207]
1970 - Double Dog / Come Alive [Five-O F-501]
1972 - I Go For That / Silvers & Ray - Stroke Your Yoke [Five-O F-502]

1974 - Reconsider Baby  / I'll Be There Baby [Gemigo GMA 101]

Chuck Ray [1967] - I Don't Mind [Tam-Boo 6719]

This track is his first from 1967 which is 'real deal' soul on the deep side of crossover in my book which should also appeal to Lowriders.

An interesting note on Discogs for the 'repress' was that it was repressed with a shorter time (2:37 v 2:47) so as not to discourage radio play as DJ's tended to ignore tracks longer that 2:30 (so why not 2:27 instead of 2:37?)

There is only one other release listed on Tam-Boo 6720 by Ricky Allen - Cut You Lose / Soul Street. (Driving funky northern which is a remake of the original 1963 R&B version on Age) / northern on the R&B side)

Chuck Ray [1967] - Come Alive [Tam-Boo 6719]

Fairly pedestrian run-of-the-mill 60s soul. Nothing special to my ears at least.

Chuck Ray [1970] - Baby Please Don't Go [Buddah 207]

Early 70s northern dancer.

Chuck Ray [1970] - There AIn't A Thing You Can Do [Buddah 207]

A fairly average / non-descript funky/soul plodder.

Chuck Ray [1970] - Double Dog [Five-O F-501]

Only included for completeness. This track provides me with no musical satisfaction ... enough said! 

Chuck Ray [1970] - Come Alive [Five-O F-501]

I 'assume' that this track is the same as the flip on Tam-Boo from 1967?

Chuck Ray [1972] - I Go For That [Five-O F-502]

Northern soul with a funky beat.

Silvers & Ray [1972] - Stroke Your Yoke [Five-O F-502]

Nothing to do with Chuck Ray apart from it being on the flip side to I Go For Love.

Chuck Ray [1974] - Reconsider Baby [Gemigo GMA 101]

His last recording on the Gemigo label in 1974, shut your eyes and this could be Tyrone Davis with echoes of If I Could Change My Mind!

Chuck Ray [1974] - I'll Be There Baby [Gemigo GMA 101]

The flip side is another that is right in the Tyrone Davis school. i.e. southern soul Chicago style.

Bridge [2000] - Crying For Love [FER LP1]

Modern soul classic (well it is in my book!). Anthemic tune that was hammered on the modern soul scene back in 2000.  An album recorded for Bang in Boulder, Colorado in 1981 that lay dormant and unreleased since then, was finally issued in the UK on Mark Coddington's First Experience Records (FER).

A marvellous album which features Freddie Hughes and his son Derick Hughes and former members of Vitamin E (Paul Tillman Smith) who released the fabulous 'Sharing' album on Buddah in 1977 produced by Norman Connors.  All tracks were written by Paul Tillman Smith.

Debravon Lewis (who also recorded under alias Fizzy Quick on Motown mid 80s) leads on this title track with Freddie Hughes on background vocals.

Bridge [2000] - Stella [FER LP1]

Another killer cut from the album is Stella, recorded originally on Norman Connors 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 with vocals from Jean Carn and James Robinson. Debravon Lewis and Derick Hughes lead on this track.

Bridge [2000] - Listen [FER LP1]

Listen was written by Paul Tillman Smith and was originally recorded originally on Norman Connors 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 with vocals from James Robinson. The great Freddie Hughes leads on this track.

Bridge [2000] - Reach Out [FER LP1]

Derick Hughes is on lead vocals on this one.

If, like me, you only own the original issue, the 2014 Japaneses reissue includes 2 extra tracks 'Magic' and 'Back Here Again' that weren't included on the first issue, so I've included them here. (But I have to say neither track makes me want to rush out and replace the original!)

Magic

Back Here Again

Willie Tee [1972] - The First Taste Of Hurt [Gatur 509/G-55]

There are 2 versions of this great crossover track released on 3 different 45s:

1/ Gatur 509 Green label organ version c/w Funky, Funky Twist
2/ Gatur 509 Blue label piano version c/w Funky, Funky Twist
3/ Gatur 557 Green label organ version (same as 1/ 509) c/w I'm having So Much Fun

The hardest version to find is the piano version on blue 509, followed by the 557 version with the different flip which is also in-demand.  The more 'common' issue is the green 509 which are currently selling at around £350+.

Just found this ... read what Raresoulman John Manship has to say about the track:

"THE VERSION TO OWN - Not only because it is significantly rarer than the green label release, more importantly a totally different version to the green label release even though the labelling carries the same release number 509 release number and oddly master number1005 also .

This release is even more unimaginably brilliant, thoughtfully considered, a softer take, with a different vocal, than the muscular Hammond organ propelled version on the later green label release; was preceded by mesmerising piano and horn alchemy, brought down into an awesome flood of beseeching Northern Soul, sublimely filled with warnings of impending "hurt".

Preeminent New Orleans Northern Soul with few comparisons; Willie knew he had written something very special, indeed lyrically remarkable, unadulterated Soul poetry drenched in the irony of karma. One of the greatest records ever to emerge out of The Crescent City, we think inexplicably revamped and re-promoted by Willie Tee. But he knew he had written a gem but he didn't feel it carried enough "funk" to capture the public's attention. So he abandoned his first draft and re-recorded it for release on the more familiar green Gatur label take. Leaving the original "session" adrift, to be discovered by dedicated European Soul Scholars and DJ's who still swoon in its soulful purity today.

For me no superlative is too strong, to clothe this record in, utterly brilliant, frustratingly rare and seldom if ever encountered in anything but poor condition."

Willie Tee [1972] - The First Taste Of Hurt [Gatur 509] Green

Willie Tee [1972] - The First Taste Of Hurt [Gatur 509] Blue

Willie Tee [1972] - The First Taste Of Hurt [Gatur G-557]

The flip sides:

Willie Tee [1972] - Funky, Funky Twist [Gatur 509]

This is the same on Green and Blue issues.

Willie Tee [1972] - I'm Having So Much Fun [Gatur G-557]

Joss Stone [2012] - First Taste Of Hurt [S-Curve]

Joss Stone recorded a version for her Soul Sessions Vol. 2 album in 2012 - it was included as a bonus track.

Live

Bags [2017] - Hey Girl / Beautiful Birds [It's Soul Time ST 006]

New 45 in 2017 for Bags taken from 'The Plainfield Admirations into Bags' CD.

The album title comes from the fact that they were a 70s soul/funk band from Plainfield NJ called the Admirations founded by Richard Boyce (who was first bass player with George Clinton's Parliament) and consisted of a changing line-up due to some members being drafted for the Vietnam war. Members included Richard Boyce, John 'Jo Jo' Boyce, Glenn Lamont Goins (also previously with Parliament/Funkadelic) , Richard 'Shaidi' Banks and Gary Brunson.

They previously only released one 45 on the GSF label in 1972 'It's Heavy' /  'Don't Mess With My Baby' (see below).

Bags [2017] - Hey Girl [It's Soul Time ST 006]

I guess this is best described as crossover, since it was originally recorded in 1972 - a mellow, mid-tempo groover.

Bags [2017] - Beautiful Birds [It's Soul Time ST 006]

You have to wait about 45 seconds for the intro to fade into a mid-tempo dancer.

Bags [1972] - It's Heavy [GSF 6977]

Heavy funk similar to Flaming Emeralds - Have Some Everybody, that I believe got some short-term turntable action on NS scene.

Bags [1972] - Don't Mess With My Baby [GSF 6977]

I only have a promo of this 45 which only has It's Heavy Mono/Stereo, so I've never heard this side and there is no sound clip on YouTube so if anyone has an mp3 please leave a comment.

Ernest Ernie & The Sincerities [2018] - Do Something / When [It's Soul Time ST 007]

One of the best neo Northern Soul releases of recent years. It sold out very quickly on  initial release in Dec 2018 and was later re-pressed in Mar 2019 to meet demand.

Ernest Ernie & The Sincerities [2018] - When [It's Soul Time ST 007]

Otis Clay / Ginji James - You Hurt Me For The Last Time

A couple of versions of this wonderful deep soul cut first released by Otis Clay in 1969.  The Ginji James version has led me to post several of her other cuts from her only album.

Otis Clay [1969] - You Hurt Me For The Last Time [Dakar 45-610]

Ginji James [1971] - You Hurt Me For The Last Time [Brunswick 741175]

Ginji James released a solitary album in 1971 for Brunswick 'Love Is A Merry-Go-Round' which spawned a 45 (promo only?) 'Love Changed His Face'.  On the album she covered Otis Clay's 'You Hurt Me For The Last Time'.

This is a great album with some fine crossover tracks.  On the strength of this album I'm very surprised that nothing else seems to have been released by her.  An original is not that expensive (priced £30-£50 on Discogs) and it was reissued 3 times in Japan (they obviously like it too!) in 2005, 2013, and 2016.

I can find absolutely nothing about Ginji James ... so if anyone knows anything please leave a comment.

A little bit I managed to decipher from the sleevenotes is that she was born in McGregor, Texas and holds a BSc in Biology & Chemistry from Prairie View A&M College Texas. As soon as Carl Davis heard her sing in Sep 1971 he signed her to Brunswick and this album is the result.  So, perhaps as this album wasn't successful, did she pursue a different career with her degree?

Ginji James [1972] - Love Changed His Face [Brunswick 55481]

I've had this 45 for many years which is still quite cheap/easy to pick up. A lovely bit of typical Chicago crossover from that turn of the decade era.

A couple of other crossover tracks from the album.

Ginji James [1971] - I Knew It Was Love [Brunswick 741175]

Ginji James [1971] - Here Is A Heart [Brunswick 741175]

Ginji James [1971] - Honey Babe [Brunswick 741175]

Ginji James [1971] - Love Had Come To Stay [Brunswick 741175]

Smooth ballad.

Bobby Patterson / Bobby Shannon [1973] - I Get My Groove From You [Paula P 386 / To-Mar 0011]

A great crossover track from Bobby Patterson which has been played on the 'real' soul scene for decades.  It was first released on his 'It's Just A Matter Of Time' album in 1972 and then saw a 45 release the following year. An unknown singer named Bobby Shannon also released a version in 1973 on To-Mar. Not sure which was released first first, but you would 'assume' Patterson's.

Bobby Shannon [1973] - I Get My Groove From You [To-Mar 0011]

This seems to be a one-off 45 for artist and label from 1973.  I Get My Groove was put on the B side, but what a great version. Not much to choose between the two versions but this one is smoother and slightly more uptempo.  This one is also much rarer and commands about 4-5 times the price of the Bobby Patterson version.

Bobby Shannon [1973] - You're An Uplift [To-Mar 0011]

Wonderful official top side is a delightful deep soul / crossover tune.

To-Mar had only one release and this side is by Swamp Music Inc. which had several other releases (Oscar Perry, Kool & Together, Freddy Fender) which mainly seem to be on Houston releases produced by Huey P. Meaux and recorded at Huey's Sugar Hill Studios. So from this I would guess that Shannon was probably from Houston.

Bobby Patterson [1970] - I'm In Love With You [Jetstar JS-121]

A new compilation album of Bobby Patterson's Jetstar recordings has just been released: My Thing Is Your Thing: Jetstar Strut by Bobby Patterson.  This has prompted my to post his finest recording in my view: 'I'm In Love With You' from 1970 written by George Jackson who wrote many a fine tune at Muscle Shoal's Fame studios.

I've found and included a couple of live performances in 2009 and 2014.  I recall seeing him live  (what seems to be way back now) I think it was at Blackpool Mecca in 1998 (but may have been Fleetwood 2000 when Frank Wilson also appeared - memory fails me).

Live at Prestatyn weekender 14th March 2009

Live at the Pickathon Pumphouse Sessions Portland 2014 

The Entertainers [1983] - I'm In Love With You [HMC UR3991]

The Entertainers were a beach group from Charlotte, North Carolina.  They had a stab at recording it in 1983 on Nick Hice's HMC (Hice Music Corp.) label.

I don't know of any other versions but if you do please leave a comment.

COVID-19 30th March 2020

For the very first time new cases in all countries are less than the previous day. 

The good news is that Italy now looks as if it may have peaked and that the signs of the effect of lockdown are now starting to be seen.  New cases hit a peak of 6,557 on 21st Mar and have been consistently lower for the last 8 days.

Spain peaked on 26th Mar with 8,271 and have now been lower for the last 3 days.

Germany peaked on 27th 6,933 and have been lower for the last 2 days.

France seemed to be stabilising after 23rd at 3,838 but spiked on 28th to 4,611.

UK peaked on 27th 2,885 but has seen new cases decline for the last 2 days.

US peaked 28th at 19,452 but is down to 18,882.

However, I believe that UK is 2 weeks behind the curve and US about 3 weeks behind so won't be surprised if we see these figures continue to rise before they flatten out and decline.

At current rates by end of today it looks like Italy will be over 100,00 cases and Spain will have more cases than China, as most likely will Germany before the end of the week.  The US has reported almost 110,00 cases in the last week alone. It makes me wonder how accurate the 'reported' China figures are .. or should the west learn from what China has done to contain it?

Latest stats from Worldometers.

The table below shows the daily increase/decrease in news cases and new deaths.

Country	New Cases 29 Mar	New Cases 28 Mar	New Case Increase	Deaths 29 Mar	Deaths 28 Mar	Death Increase
IT	5,217	5,874	-657	756	889	133
ES	6,803	7,516	-713	821	844	23
DE	4,740	6,824	-2,084	108	82	-26
FR	2,599	4,611	-2,012	292	319	27
UK	2,433	2,546	-113	209	260	51
US	18,822	19,452	-630	263	525	262

Table below shows total cases and total deaths for the last 2 days.

Daily	29-Mar				28 Mar (-1 Day)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	5,217	97,689	10,779	11.0%	92,472	10,023	10.8%
ES	6,803	80,110	6,803	8.5%	73,235	5,982	8.2%
DE	4,740	62,435	541	0.9%	57,695	433	0.8%
FR	2,599	40,174	2,606	6.5%	37,575	2,314	6.2%
UK	2,433	19,522	1,228	6.3%	17,089	1,019	6.0%
US	18,822	142,460	2,484	1.7%	123,578	2,221	1.8%

Table below shows total cases and total deaths for the latest day and one week ago.

Weekly	29-Mar				22 Mar (-1 Week)
Country	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	5,217	97,689	10,779	11.0%	59,138	5,476	9.3%
ES	6,803	80,110	6,803	8.5%	28,768	1772	6.2%
DE	4,740	62,435	541	0.9%	24,873	94	0.4%
FR	2,599	40,174	2,606	6.5%	16,018	674	4.2%
UK	2,433	19,522	1,228	6.3%	5,683	281	4.9%
US	18,822	142,460	2,484	1.7%	33,592	414	1.2%

The table below shows the Daily and Weekly increase cases/deaths.

US cases are more than quadrupling in a week and UK increasing by almost 3.5 times.

Germany has seen the highest increase in death rate but is still a long way behind every other country with their death rate less than 1% and Italy's at an alarming 11% now.

	Daily		Weekly
Country	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor
IT	105.6%	101.8%	165.2%	119.2%
ES	109.4%	104.0%	278.5%	137.9%
DE	108.2%	115.5%	251.0%	229.3%
FR	106.9%	105.3%	250.8%	154.2%
UK	114.2%	105.5%	343.5%	127.2%
US	115.3%	97.0%	424.1%	141.5%