Version Excursion - Too Late To Turn Back Now

A massive US hit for Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (#2 Billboard Top 100 in 1972) which did absolutely nothing in UK at the time but has become popular on the underground soul scene.  As it was such a big hit stateside many groups have covered the song.  Many reggae artists in particular like The Sattalites, Alton Ellis, Maxi Priest and Jackie Mittoo. Rene Geyer (an Australian Blue-Eyed Soul/Rock singer did a poor acoustic version in 2009 which removed all the soul).

Here are a few of the better and/or more recent versions.  There are other versions which are not particularly good (e.g Stray Dogz from 2010, The Barking Dogs (2006), Jamaican Me Breakfast Club (2019)) or I can't find a sound clip for e.g. Cut Glass (1974) and  Eban Brown (Exit 15 2006) etc.

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose [1972] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [United Artists 50910]

Featuring Carter, Eddie, Rose and Billie Jo Cornelius.

 Live footage on Mike Douglas Show 1972

Jackie Mittoo [1972] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Studio One SOL 1124]

The only way to get it (as far as I can ascertain) is on Reggae Magic album from 1972 on Jamaican Studio One and was issued in Canada on Canadian Talent Library and reissued on Pickwick in Canada in 1980.  He had emigrated to Canada in the mid 70s so the Canadian issue is the original. It has also been reissued in US but as far as I know not UK.

He was taken by cancer in 1990 aged only 42.

The Kustoms [1972] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Kustoms LP-1001]

Lead track on a one-off (self-releases?) album from blue-eyed soul band from San Antonio, Texas recorded at Zaz Studios, San Antonio around 1972(?). Group members were Mark Hilbirich, Chuck Taylor, Rock Rakowitz, Mike Zolkoski, Dell Cherry, Larry Horwedel, John Haese

Beo Wulf [1972] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Crown CST-631]

From Beo Wolf's only release from 1972 on Crown which was a budget label owned by Modern/Kent. They appear to have only released this album and no singles.

The Chi-Lites [1973] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Brunswick BL 754188]

From "Letter To Myself" 1973.

Tyrone Davis [1990] - Too Late To Turn back Now [Future FR 1004]

From album 'Come On Over' 1990

Frank Dell [199?] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Valise Unissied]

An unissued version by Frank Dell which I believe he recorded in the 90s but never released.  I think he had it posted on his now defunct website.

No label scan as unreleased.

Alex Schultz & Tad Robinson [2004] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Severn CD 0025]

From 'Did You Ever Wonder' album from 2004.

Holiday Band, The [2007] - Too Late To Turn Back Now [Ripete 2340]

A beach version from 'Yearbook (Best Of)' album from 2007

Pepe Marquez [2010] - Too Late To Turn Back Now (Feat  Steve Salas of Tierra) [CDBaby]

From self-titled CD from 2010

Rose Cornelius [2012] - It's Too Late To Turn Back Now [Jasmi Records]

From a 2012 album "Everybody".

Personal Touch [2019] - It's Too Late To Turn Back Now [Self Released]

From "Better With Time" album 2019.

Ken Boothe [1972] - Is It Because I'm Black [Splash (JA) ]

One that has been getting spins at Sunday Soul Sessions is a great two-step/reggae version of Syl Johnson's Is It Because I'm Black which adds another dimension to the original deep soul cut.

It got a US release on Splash and came out a couple of times in UK on legendary reggae label Trojan in 1973 and as a b Side to Who Gets Your Love in 1979.  It is also on UK only 'Let's Get It On' album from 1974 on Trojan.

Syl Johnson [1968] - Is It Because I'm Black [Twinight 125]

The original deep soul version from 1968.

Ken Boothe [1974] - That's The Way Nature Planned It [Trojan TR.7910]

Another Ken Boothe track worth checking out is his version of The Four Tops - That's The Way Nature Planned It which is also on UK only Let's Get It On album from 1974.

COVID-19 17th May 2020

Summary

A quick look at Global figures:

16-May
Total Cases	4,736,395
Deaths	313,545
Recovered	1,818,119
Active Cases	2,604,731
Death Rate	6.62%
Recovery Rate	38.39%
Active Rate	54.99%

	New Cases	Change	Deaths	Change	Rec'ry Rate	Death Rate
IT	875	110.90%	153	63.2%	79.45%	20.55%	Inc.
ES	2,135	124.06%	104	75.4%	87.47%	12.53%	Inc.
DE	545	75.28%	26	35.6%	95.00%	5.00%	Inc.
FR	-141	-22.17%	96	92.3%	68.85%	31.15%	Inc.
UK	3,450	96.91%	448	116.7%	21.69%	78.31%	Red.
US	23,488	88.00%	1,606	100.7%	79.01%	20.99%	Inc.

Commentary

Russia now has 2nd no. of highest cases in world with 281,752

Brazil now has 5th highest no. of cases moving ahead on Italy with 233,511

IT - new cases +86 (110.9%), deaths -89 (63.22%), active cases -1,883 (64.84% of peak)

ES - new cases +414 (124.06%), deaths -34 (75.35%), active cases -1,352 (56.87% of peak)

FR - new cases -777 (-22.17%), deaths -8 (92.31%), active cases -855 (95.08% of peak)

Something odd with FR figures as less total cases reported than yesterday!

"The Government has reported a decrease in the number of EHPAD and EMS probable cases; therefore, the overall figure for total cases is lower than yesterday's "

NB EHPAD is care homes so it looks like they over estimated cases in care homes and have adjusted figures.

DE - new cases -179 (75.28%), deaths -47 (35.62%), active cases -381 (21.43% of peak)

US - new cases -3,204 (88%), deaths +11 (100.69%), active cases +10,401 (100% of peak)

UK - new cases -110 (96.91%), deaths +64 (116.67%), active cases ???

UK Testing - Last 7 Days

	Daily		Cumulative
	No. Tests	People  Tested	No. Tests	People  Tested	% No. People Tested	% of  Pop.
09-May	92,837	64,362	1,821,280	1,334,770	69.33%	2.68%
10-May	100,490	65,337	1,921,770	1,400,197	65.02%	2.83%
11-May	85,293	60,410	2,007,146	1,460,517	70.83%	2.95%
12-May	87,063	61,741	2,094,209	1,522,258	70.92%	3.08%
13-May	126,064	71,644	2,219,281	1,593,902	56.83%	3.26%
14-May	133,784	69,590	2,353,078	1,663,492	52.02%	3.46%
15-May	136,486	78,537	2,489,563	1,742,028	57.54%	3.66%

The 'r' number

We've been hearing more and more about the 'mythical' r number which the government is using to guide their strategy..  Whilst I fully understand what it is, what I do not understand, nor has it been explained, is how it is calculated.  I have found an article which explains what it is quite well, but even it says that experts have said that 'without up-to-date and comprehensive data the reproduction number is a “blunt monitoring tool.”'

It goes on to say:

Azra Ghani, a professor in infectious disease epidemiology at Imperial College London, said, “At present, we are estimating both R and the infection rate from data on hospitalizations. These form only a small fraction of all infections and represent an estimate of transmission that occurred 1-2 weeks earlier—and are therefore a blunt monitoring tool.’

Common sense would tell me that in addition to the r number they should be watching carefully the daily new cases and UK continues to see significantly more new cases than any other EU country. In the last week the average daily new cases are: UK 3,557 (11.6%), ES 1,960 (5.2%), IT 927 (3%), DE 703 (3.4%), FR 342 (1.4%) (percentage figure is increase in total cases from one week ago).

Another 'blunt instrument' is that their whole strategy is based on London and urban areas.  How can it possibly be the case that the r number is the same in London, Birmingham, Manchester as in Norfolk, Cornwall or the Lake District?  I know they state that the r number is different in different areas...  but their lockdown strategy isn't!  Why can't places with lower r rates, lower infections and less densely populated areas start to get back to normal gradually releasing the country from lockdown in stages rather than a big bang approach?

Latest stats from Worldometers

Latest v previous day - Recovery rate v Death Rate

	Total	Active	Conc.	Recvd.	Deaths	Recvd%	Death%
IT	224,760	70,187	154,573	122,810	31,763	79.45%	20.55%
ES	276,505	56,589	219,916	192,353	27,563	87.47%	12.53%
DE	176,244	15,617	160,627	152,600	8,027	95.00%	5.00%
FR	179,365	90,674	88,691	61,066	27,625	68.85%	31.15%
UK	240,161	196,175	43,986	9,540	34,446	21.69%	78.31%
US	1,507,773	1,078,428	429,345	339,232	90,113	79.01%	20.99%

Latest v previous day - increase / decrease

Country	New Cases 16 May	New Cases 15 May	New Case Increase	Deaths 16 May	Deaths 15 May	Death Increase
IT	875	789	86	153	242	-89
ES	2,135	1,721	414	104	138	-34
DE	545	724	-179	26	73	-47
FR	-141	636	-777	96	104	-8
UK	3,450	3,560	-110	448	384	64
US	23,488	26,692	-3,204	1,606	1,595	11

Latest v previous day - actuals

Day	16-May				15-May
Ctry	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	875	224,760	31,763	14.1%	223,885	31,610	14.1%
ES	2,135	276,505	27,563	10.0%	274,367	27,459	10.0%
DE	545	176,244	8,027	4.6%	175,699	8,001	4.6%
FR	-141	179,365	27,625	15.4%	179,506	27,529	15.3%
UK	3,450	240,161	34,446	14.3%	236,711	33,998	14.4%
US	23,488	1,507,773	90,113	6.0%	1,484,285	88,507	6.0%

Latest v one week ago - actuals

Week	16-May				09-May
Ctry	New Cases	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%	Total Cases	No. Deaths	Death Rate%
IT	875	224,760	31,763	14.1%	218,269	30,395	13.9%
ES	2,135	276,505	27,563	10.0%	262,783	26,478	10.1%
DE	545	176,244	8,027	4.6%	171,324	7,549	4.4%
FR	-141	179,365	27,625	15.4%	176,970	26,310	14.9%
UK	3,450	240,161	34,446	14.3%	215,260	31,587	14.7%
US	23,488	1,507,773	90,113	6.0%	1,347,309	80,037	5.9%

Latest v one week ago - percentage rate increase

	Daily		Weekly
Country	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor	Total Cases Increase Factor	Death Rate  Increase Factor
IT	100.4%	100.1%	103.0%	101.5%
ES	100.8%	99.6%	105.2%	98.9%
DE	100.3%	100.0%	102.9%	103.4%
FR	99.9%	100.4%	101.4%	103.6%
UK	101.5%	99.9%	111.6%	97.7%
US	101.6%	100.2%	111.9%	100.6%