Willie Tee's real name is Wilson John Turbinton. He was born 6th Feb 1944 and died from colon cancer 11 Sep 2007 aged 63 and spent most of his life in New Orleans. There's a tribute page on SoulSource when news of his death was announced.
Discography
I'm not going to list the discography as there is a fairly comprehensive one over at (Soulfulkindamusic).
There is an error in the Discography: Nola 732 Caught You In A Lie / Holdin' Out is Robert Parker not Willie Tee. Also, some of the dates may be incorrect e.g. according to 45Cat Gatur 509 is 1969, 511 is 1971, G-557 is 1970 and 701 is 1968. There are also a couple of previously unreleased 45s that have surfaced in 2016 and 2017 on Super Disco Edits Flambeaux imprint that are not listed. So I may decide to relist and correct.
I've not included his early pre-1965 material i.e. 2 45s on A.F.O. (1963/63) and 1 on Cinderella (1963)). He played piano for The Wild Magnolias (a native American Mardi Gras indian band) in the early 70s and this funky material has not been included. In addition I have omitted his recordings with The Gaturs, which is mainly funk, as this is a soul site, but links included below.
The Gaturs 45s:
1970 Gatur 508 The Booger Man / Cold Bear
1971 Gatur 510 Wasted / Gaitor Bait
1972 Gatur 555 A Hunk Of Funk / Yeah Your'e Right You Know You're Right
1972 Gatur 556 Swivel You Hips Pt. 1 / Swivel Your Hips Pt. 2
The label was based in New Orleans and owned by Ulis Gaines (Willie Tee's cousin who also had a stake in Nola) and Willie Tee (Wilson Turbinton) which is how the name was derived Ga(ines)Tur(binton).
Albums
Willie Tee released 2 solo albums in the 70s 'I'm Only A Man' 1970 and 'Anticipation' 1976, and another with his brother Earl Turbinton in 1988 'Brothers For Life'.
I've added all album tracks to bottom of this post and provided links to sound clips to those tracks not released on 45s as they will have already been posted.
There are also 2 compilations:
The Gaturs Feat. Willie Tee - Wasted from 1994 (which includes all Gaturs 45s and a couple of Tee's later 45s.) CD 15 tracks LP 10 tracks
The album includes the Gaturs tracks above (except Swivel Hips Pt. 1 & 2) plus the following 9 tracks:
Nobody Can Be You
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (CD only)
One Thrill Fool (CD only)
First Taste Of Hurt - see below
Funky, Funky Twist - see below
Man That I Am - see below
Sweet Thing - see below
Concentrate - see below
Get Up - see below
Teasin' You from 2002 CD 20 tracks / LP 15 tracks and covers most of his earlier 45s with the notable exception of First Taste Of Hurt (which IS included in the Gaturs CD above, but NOT on LP). All tracks included below.
Footnote
Willie Tee also wrote Margie Joseph's classic 1969 crossover track One More Chance on Volt.
Also UK's Joss Stone recorded a version of 'First Taste Of Hurt' on her Soul Session Vol. 2 in 2012.
Willie Tee [1965] - Teasin' You [Nola N-708]
Willie Tee [1965] - Walking Up A One Way Street [Nola N-708]
Willie Tee [1965] - Thank You John [Atlantic 45-2287]
Willie Tee [2965] - Dedicated To You [Atlantic 45-2287]
Willie Tee [1965] - I Want Somebody (To Show Me The Way Back Home) [Atlantic 45-2302]
R&B Dancer
Willie Tee [1965] - You Better Say Yes [Atlantic 45-2302]
R&B stroller
Willie Tee [1966] - Ain't That True Baby [Bonatemp 401]
Bonatemp was a New Orleans label which was a subsidiary of Nola. There are only 6 45s listed: 801-804 between 1963-65 and 401-402 from 1966.
Willie Tee [1966] - You Gonna Pay Some Dues [Bonatemp 401]
This track was 'reissued' (bootlegged?) on Sonic Wax as a single sided 45 SWD 009 around 2010 as 'You Got To Pay Some Dues'.
Willie Tee [1967] - Please Don't Go [Nola 737]
Willie Tee [1967] - My Heart Remembers [Nola 737]
Willie Tee [1967] - Close Your Eyes [Hot Line 910]
No sound clips available but these 2 tracks appeared on the 'Teasing You' compilation.
Willie Tee [1967 - I Heard Everything You Said [Hot Line 910]
Willie Tee [1968] - I Peeped Your Hole Card [Gatur 701]
By far his rarest 45. The producer Ulis Gaines was Willie Tee's cousin who was a partner in Nola and Gatur. The title refers to a hidden card (hole card) in a poker hand.
Willie Tee [1968] - She Really Did Surprise Me [Gatur 701]
This is such a rare record that I cannot find a label scan nor a sound file for the flip side. The track was released on a 2002 compilation Willie Tee - Teasin' You which I have got somewhere so may try to upload to YouTube and link at some point. I think there are a also few tracks on the CD that didn't get a 45 release.
Here is what John Manship posted about the record:
"Willie Turbinton a highly esteemed Northern Soul icon, an artist who gave so much material for the British Soul fan to feast upon. Most all his own creations, and all offering the NS scene a quality 45 or album to chase.
Here is his rarest 45, on his own label with himself rattling the piano rhythms. In typical Willie Tee style, his pleading vocal style is so easy to pinpoint to him and only him. Decorating his accusing voice with the compulsory girl-group verse or two. Just like in "First Taste Of Hurt" he exposes the hurt hidden inside the lady of his intent. But unlike "First Taste Of Hurt" this disc is unicorn-rare, considered a "Rarest Of The Rare" which very few DJ/Collectors have ever owned.
So once again immerse yourself the sound of New Orleans from one of it's greatest ever Black artists. A highly accomplished man with a gift of conveying real-emotion, carving a tapestry of life situations, serving them up woven into a Rare Soul dance arrangement.
What a talent Willie Tee was.. here he is with not only his most elusive Gatur recording but also his best.
Do not pass by, it is doubtful we'll ever be able to offer this 45 in flawless condition again..
All record collectors don't need reminding of this century's heartbreaking New Orleans human disasters, weather that obliterate people homes & possessions. Is there another super-clean Gatur 701 out there to find? "
Willie Tee [1968] - I'm Only A Man [Capitol 2369]
Willie Tee [1968] - Walk Tall (Baby, That's What I Need) [Capitol 2369]
Originally recorded by Cannonball Adderley Quintet in July 1967, which was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for Footprints in 1990 on 'People's Instinctive Travel And The Paths Of Rhythm'
Follow link above to a previous post.
Follow link above to a previous post.
Willie Tee [1970] - Reach Out For Me [Capitol 2892]
His version of the well known Bacharach & David song covered by many.
Willie Tee [1970] - Love Of A Married Man [Capitol 2892]
Willie Tee [1972] - Man That I Am [Gatur 511]
Willie Tee [1972] - Sweet Thing [Gatur 511]
Willie Tee [1972] - Teasing You Again [Gatur 512]
Willie Tee [1972] - Your Love, My Love Together [Gatur 512]
Willie Tee [1976] - Look Out World [United Artists UA-XW910-Y]
Willie Tee [1976] - I'd Give It To You [United Artists UA-XW910-Y]
Willie Tee [1980] - Concentrate [Gatur GS-8001]
Willie Tee [1980] - Get Up [Gatur GS-8001]
Willie Tee [2016] - Run Around [Flambeuax SDE18]
A previously unreleased track from 1976.
"Not often you dream about finding some old Willie Tee reels, stuffed in an old New Orleans studio. But that's what happened! Almost destroyed by hurricane Katrina its amazing they survived. We at Super Disco Edits felt it our duty to preserve such a musical legend as Willie Turbinton. "Run Around" is the first of two releases salvaged and restored. The 45rpm contains two mixes. One sublime lush produced horn laden version, with a more sparse mix on the B-side for the kats who like it a bit harder."
Willie Tee [2017] - Don't Get Caught [Flambeuax SDE23]
A previously unreleased track from 1976.
"The second and last instalment of the unissued willie tee discovery. A weird piece of music that we guess was really just a jam session between the musicians during studio takes for the "Anticipation" lp on United Artist records. The song wasn't fully finished as was missing many many bars of music.. But we couldn't let such a great groove go to waste. So we used our imagination and got together a long enough slice of new orleans funk for you all."
Willie Tee [1976] - Misery Loves Company [Crazy Cajun 2041]
Not one of his better sides!!! Sound a 'lil bitty' country to me!
Willie Tee [1976] - Sick & Tired [Crazy Cajun 2041]
No sound clip available.
Album Tracks not on 45:
Willie Tee [1970] - I'm Only A Man [Capitol ST 199]
Bring On The Heartaches
I'm Only A Man - see above
Loneliness
Reach Out For Me - see above
No Answer Came
Walk Tall (Baby That's What I Need) - see above
Mirror
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Take Your Time
I'm Related To You
People (Not available)
Willie Tee [1970] - I'm Only A Man [Capitol ST 199]
I'm Only A Man - see above
Loneliness
Reach Out For Me - see above
No Answer Came
Walk Tall (Baby That's What I Need) - see above
Mirror
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Take Your Time
I'm Related To You
People (Not available)
Willie Tee [1976] - Anticipation [UA-LA-655-G]
The Moment Of Truth
I'd Give It To You - see above
Do What You Want
Liberty Bell
Anticipation
Come To Me
I Can Feel It
Look Out World - see above
Let's Live
He recorded another album in 1988 with his brother Earl Turbinton: Earl Turbinton Feat. Willie Tee - Brothers For Life on Rounder 2064, but, from the only track I've found, it appears to be a jazz instrumental album on which Willie plays piano and his brother the sax.
Willie Tee [198?] - Can It Be Done? [Unreleased?]
This is a 'random' track that I found. The comment from the person that posted it reads:
"A touching solo version of a beautiful song that Willie wrote for his friend Joe Zawinul".
Joe Zawinul was a jazz pianist with Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis and founded Weather Report. 'Can It Be Done' was the lead track on the 1984 Weather Report album Domino Theory.
I'd Give It To You - see above
Do What You Want
Liberty Bell
Anticipation
Come To Me
I Can Feel It
Look Out World - see above
Let's Live
He recorded another album in 1988 with his brother Earl Turbinton: Earl Turbinton Feat. Willie Tee - Brothers For Life on Rounder 2064, but, from the only track I've found, it appears to be a jazz instrumental album on which Willie plays piano and his brother the sax.
Willie Tee [198?] - Can It Be Done? [Unreleased?]
This is a 'random' track that I found. The comment from the person that posted it reads:
"A touching solo version of a beautiful song that Willie wrote for his friend Joe Zawinul".
 |
| Joe Zawinul & Willie Tee |
Joe Zawinul was a jazz pianist with Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis and founded Weather Report. 'Can It Be Done' was the lead track on the 1984 Weather Report album Domino Theory.
