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Friday 3 April 2020

Patty LaBelle & The Bluebells [1965] - All Or Nothing [Atlantc 45-2311]


The last post for Byrdie Green was written by the duo Lori Burton and Pam Sawyer (who wrote  hits such as Love Child for The Supremes and Love Hangover for Diana Ross) led me to post this by Patty & The Bluebelles who at this time consisted of Patti LaBelle, Sara Dash, Nona Hendryx (who all went on to form LaBelle) and Cindy Birdsong who later left in July 1967 to replace Florence Ballard in The Supremes.

Labelle & Birdsong prior to this were in a group called The Ordettes (can't find anything recorded by them) and Dash & Hendryx were with The Del-Capris.  

Discogs has them linked to the wrong Del-Capris who had a record played on NS scene called Hey Little Girl c/w Forever My Love which was released in 1967 (so too late, and also they are a male group!) and which would later be used as a cover up name for The Construction - Hey Little Way Out Girl.  The name stuck and it was issued in UK on Grapevine in 1979 as The Del-Capris - Hey Little Way Out Girl.

I think it is more likely to be the Del-Capris who recorded on Almont in 1963 but not certain as Almont is a NY label and they were from Philly (although Dash & Hendryx were from Trenton NJ so may be plausible?) however, by 1961 they were in The Blue Belles with Patricia Holte (Patti LaBelle)?


Patty LaBelle & The Bluebells [1965] - All Or Nothing [Atlantic 45-2311]

A great beat ballad and their first release on Atlantic. Note spelling for Patty which she used intermittently up to this release and then became Patti thereafter


Rare video promo footage from 1966



Luther Vandross [2001] - All Or Nothing LIve at BET
Just found this version which I never knew existed.  Luther Vandross live at what I think is 7th Annual BET Walk Of Fame Salutes Patti LaBelle.



Patty LaBelle & The Bluebells [1965] - You Forgot How To Love Me [Atlantic 45-2311]

A Phil Spectorish early 60s tune written by Bert Berns and his wife Ilene Berns (nee Holub) who used Stewart or Stuart for writing credits.  This appears to be her first writing credit.


Patty LaBelle & The Bluebells [1967] - I Need Your Love [Atlantic 45-2446]




Byrdie Green [1969] - Don't Make It Hurt [Hallmark XX8]


Byrdie Green was soul/jazz singer from Detroit and was active mainly in the 60s. She died in 2008 aged 72.  Probably best known for 'Return Of The Prodigal Sun' from her 1968 album Sister Byrdie which was reissued on Jazzman in 2003 and to the popcorn scene for 'Tremblin'' on End in 1962.


Byrdie Green [1969] - Don't Make It Hurt [Hallmark XX8]

A beautifully crafted deep soul ballad written by Lori Burton & Pam Sawyer and delivered so soulfully by Byrdie Green with lush strings and wailing female backing singers.  One for the deep soul lovers and lowriders.


Byrdie Green [1969] - The Magic Of Your Love [Hallmark XX8]

String section in prominence on the intro.  This has a dated sound for 1969, it sounds much earlier - early 60s  'bossa nova'.  Interestingly both Discogs and 45Cat date this release as 1969 by her Wiki page states 1963.  This track certainly sounds from that era but the top side later.  The writer Vincent Catalano was active between 1958 to 1964 so perhaps it was just an old song they decided to put on the flip?




Geater Davis [1971] - My Love Is So Strong For You [House Of Orange HO45-2402]


Geater Davis (real name Vernon Davis) was a southern soul singer active from 1970 - 1983 who tragically died young of a heart attack aged only 38 (or 42) (some sources state is birth year as 1942 others 1946).  He released around 20 45s and 2 albums.  There are also 5 posthumous compilations which contain many previously unreleased tracks.  There is a listing of all tracks on all albums at Soul Blues Music. Most of his material is southern deep bluesy soul but I've selected one of his few uptempo numbers.

There is great article on him on SirShambling who states that he is one of his favourite artists.



Geater Davis [1971] - My Love Is So Strong For You [House Of Orange HO45-2402]

I'm not sure how much exposure this 45 has had over the years but one I've owned and liked since the 70s (probably a soul pack find).  A driving bluesy dancer from 1971.

This side allo came out as a B side to 'I'll Play The Blues For You' on the only release on Odds & Ends label #7600 in 1975.



Geater Davis [1971] - I Can Hold My Own [House Of Orange HO45-2402]

Deep soul southern style with more than a hint of the blues.




Frederick Hymes III [1971] - Time Ain't Gonna Do Me No Favor [Fab Vegas LRSV-ST-4526]


This is a 'monster' crossover tune and one of the best discoveries of modern times.  It was discovered by Mark 'Butch' Dobson in Pittsburgh in 1997 who brought it back to UK and played it (covered up as The Delacardos) at The 100 Club.  Keb Darge also got a copy and plugged it. It wasn't until a few years later in 2000 after other top DJs (e.g. Arthur Fenn) found copies that it went big. [2] There is an ongoing discussion regarding the 45 and its variants. The most plausible story behind it is that it is believed that the record was a private/self press that Hymes sold at his live shows and hence was never 'officially' released as such.  It is alleged that it was later re-pressed by Hymes on a lighter label with the address rubber-stamped under 'Side 1' which is regarded as a 2nd press.  There also appears to be a yellow label, on which it is alleged that the vinyl is see-through when put up to a bright light. It is disputed that the yellow issue may be a later pressing or even a bootleg.  There are several threads on SoulSource debating the legitimacy of the various issues.  The 'original' copy found by Butch was the orange label one.

Someone on Soul Source found and posted this Billboard magazine clip from March 1971 as there were claims that the record was on a tape of unreleased material and was only released circa 2000.





Tonny Hymes & The Soul People [196?] - Time Ain't Gonna Do Me No Favor [Azbill AZ-109]

This version was known before the Frederick Hymes III version surfaced.  It is a much slower ballad version. The flip side 'Jeannie' is said to be uptempo R&B / crossover, but I've never heard it.  Experts on Soul Source claim that there are only 3 known copies.  I only found one listed on Popsike which sold for £156 (a snip for such a rarity) in June 2007. Apparently Bob Abrahamian 'eventually' got hold of the one listed on Popsike which was previously owned by DJ Andy Dyson.  Tim Brown (Anglo American) had 2 copies, one he sold to a collector and the other was auctioned. [1]

Apparently Gary Capes (whilst he was with Grapevine) contacted Frederick Hymes with a view to releasing the Fab Vegas track and he confirmed that both versions were by him and that the Tonny Hymes version was the original, but he was not interested in releasing the tracks.  He was working as a hunting guide at the time (around 2003). [1]

This record is not listed anywhere apart from the Popsike entry mentioned above (and only 2 releases for label are listed 101 & 111). The label was based in Las Vegas and owned by A.J. 'Doc' Azbill who wrote the first 2 sides  on the label (registered in 1963/64) for Wanieta Vess (AZ-101).  The other listed release is a gospel record.  There is a comment on 45Cat with an extract from Las Vegas Sun newspaper in May 1962 that A.J. Azbill also had a business called Nu-Way Dental (fixing dentures).




COVID-19 3rd April 2020


Worldwide figures
Total Cases:           1,016,766
Total Recoveries:      213,161 (21%)
Total Deaths:               53,242 (5%)

Cases in Italy, US, Spain and Germany now all exceed China and account for 55% of world cases (556,978). 

Italy has now had 12 days of new cases lower than the peak on 21st Mar (6,667) but have been up for the last 2 days from the low of 4,050 on 30 Mar.

Spain peaked at 8,271 new cases on 27th Mar but still continues to have around 8,000 cases per day.  Spain has had the highest number of daily cases of all European countries.
 
As predicted a few days ago Germany now has more cases than China 84,794 v 81,620.  Germany 'may' have peaked at 6,933 on 27th Mar, but new cases have been increasing for the last 3 days from the low on 39th Mar of 4,450 to 6,813.

France has seen a massive reduction in cases 2,745 (2,116 v 4,861) but with an equally massive increase in deaths up 846 from previous day (1,355 v 509)

UK now has triple the number of cases than it had a week ago (33,718 v 11,658) (as does US).  Spain, Germany and France have double and Italy has one and a half.  UK has seen it's 2nd highest number of new cases, slightly lower than the highest on 1st Apr (4,224 v 4,324). Italy reached its peak on13th day of lockdown (9th Mar) on 21st Mar so let's hope that the UK peak was 1st Apr, but that's only 9th day of UK lockdown so we may see higher cases yet. 

US cases have almost tripled in a week from 85,435 to  244,877 and has seen new cases increase each day since 22nd Mar, but fortunately their death rate is relatively low at 2.5%.

Latest stats from Worldometers

Daily increase cases/deaths
Country
New Cases
2 Apr
New Cases
1 Apr
New Case Increase
 
Deaths
2 Apr
 
Deaths
1 Apr
 
Death
Increase
IT 4,668 4,782 -114 760 727 33
ES 7,947 8,192 -245 961 923 38
DE 6,813 6,173 640 176 156 20
FR 2,116 4,861 -2,745 1,355 509 846
UK 4,224 4,324 -100 569 563 6
US 29,874 26,473 3,401 968 1049 -81
Daily actuals v previous day

Daily 02-Apr 1 Apr (-1 Day)
Country New Cases Total Cases No. Deaths Death Rate% Total Cases No. Deaths Death Rate%
IT 4,668 115,242 13,915 12.1% 110,574 13,155 11.9%
ES 7,947 112,065 10,348 9.2% 104,118 9,387 9.0%
DE 6,813 84,794 1,107 1.3% 77,981 931 1.2%
FR 2,116 59,105 5,387 9.1% 56,989 4,032 7.1%
UK 4,224 33,718 2,921 8.7% 29,474 2,352 8.0%
US 29,874 244,877 6,070 2.5% 215,003 5,102 2.4%
Latest actuals v one week ago

Weekly 02-Apr 26 Mar (-1 Week)
Country New Cases Total Cases No. Deaths Death Rate%
Total
Cases
No.
Deaths
Death Rate%
IT 4,668 115,242 13,915 12.1% 80,589 8,215 10.2%
ES 7,947 112,065 10,348 9.2% 57,786 4365 7.6%
DE 6,813 84,794 1,107 1.3% 43,938 267 0.6%
FR 2,116 59,105 5,387 9.1% 29,155 1696 5.8%
UK 4,224 33,718 2,921 8.7% 11,658 578 5.0%
US 29,874 244,877 6,070 2.5% 85,435 1295 1.5%
Daily/Weekly increase percentage

Daily Weekly
Country
Total
Cases
Increase
Factor
Death Rate
 Increase Factor
Total
Cases
Increase
Factor
Death Rate
 Increase Factor
IT 104.2% 101.5% 143.0% 118.5%
ES 107.6% 102.4% 193.9% 122.2%
DE 108.7% 109.4% 193.0% 214.8%
FR 103.7% 128.8% 202.7% 156.7%
UK 114.4% 108.6% 289.2% 174.7%
US 113.9% 104.5% 286.6% 163.5%