Tuesday, 10 November 2020

R.I.P - Rance Allen (20/11/1948 - 31/10/2020)

Rance Allen R.I.P.

Yet another legend departs this mortal coil!  Bishop Rance Allen died after an operation ('medical procedure') on 31st Oct 2020 aged 71 - which surprised me, as for some reason I thought he was much older, most probably because he seems to have been around for so long!  He formed The Rance Allen Group in 1969 with his two brothers Tom and Steve.

There a good Bio over at Soul Tracks.



If you are not familar with Rance Allen's music then you simply have to watch this 'prophetic' clip from his live show 'The Live Experience' 2004 with an extended version of classic gospel / soul song.



His last recording was released on 18th Oct 2020, a collaboration with Mydason - 'God Has Been So Good'. There is a message from Rance Allen on Mydason's Facebook page recorded on 28th Oct 2020.   There is 'inevitably' speculation that he died from Covid-19 but, if this  was recorded the day it was released, 3 days before his death, then it is unlikely!

Album Discography (with links to full albums where I can find them)

1973 - Brothers
1973 - Wattstax - The Living Word - Lying On The Truth (VA Boxset) [2]
1975 - Sanctified (UK-only Compilation)
1975 - A Soulful Experience (reissued 1981 as Ain't No Need Of Crying)
1977 - Say My Friend (reissued 1979 as The Way It Is)
1978 - Straight From The Heart * (reissued on CD with bonus tracks in 1994)
1979 - Smile *
1983 - Hear My Voice *
1991 - Phenomenon
1995 - Up Above My Head (Compilation)
2000 - Miracle Worker *
2001 - The Soulful Truth Of The Rance Allen Group (UK-only Compilation)
2002 - All the Way * [1]
2004 - The Live Experience
2014 - Celebrate

NB Those marked * are playlist I've created on YouTube - there may be odd tracks missing that aren't uploaded yet.  I haven't created playlists for compilations as most tracks will be on other albums.
1. Several tracks missing from All The Way - I'll have to dig through my collection to see if I can fill any gaps. The following 6 (of 15) tracks i can't find anywhere - any help appreciated.
Honey Out Of The Rocks
Rain On Me
Taking It Easy
The Sweetest Name
The House Of The Lord
Jesus Can Satisfy
[2] Apart from the 2001 compilation The Soulful The Truth Of Rance Allen Group this was only released on the Watsstax live album.

Singles Discography

Reflect
1969 - Let's Get Together And Love / First Day In Heaven [RF 1]
The Gospel Truth
1972 - Just My Imagination (Just My Salvation) / Up Above My Head [GTA-1201]
1972 - There's Gonna Be A Showdown / That Will Be Good Enough For Me [GTA-1204]
1973 - I Got To Be Myself / Gonna Make It Alright [GTA-1208]
1973 - I Know A Man Who / Hotline To Jesus [GTA-1212]
1973 - Be True / We're The Salt Of The Earth [GTA-1216]
Truth
1974 - Ain't No Need Of Crying / If I Could Make The World Better [TRA-3210]
1974 - White Christmas / White Christmas (Inst) [TRA-3216]
1975 - I Give My All To You / What A Day [TRA-3229]
Capitol
1977 - Peace Of Mind / I'm Gonna Make It After All [4512]
1977 - Reason To Survive / Got To Be Ready [4443]
Stax
1977 - There's Gonna Be A Showdown / Just My Imagination (Just My Salvation) [STX-1037]
1977 - Gonna Make It Alright / Hotline To Jesus [STX-1040]
1977 - Ain't No Need Of Crying / I Got To Be Myself [STX-1050]
1978 - I Belong To You / The Wheel Of Life [STX-3217]
1979 - Smile / Security [STX-3221]
1979 - Where Have All Your Friends Gone / My Recipe For Love [STX-3223]
1980 - Some People / I'm Coming Back To You [STX-3226]
Myrrh
1983 - Ceasefire, That Is My Desire / Jesus, Ill Never Forget [M-297]
Bellmark
1991 - Miracle Worker / God Bless America [SPRO 79659]
G.A.M.M.
2009 Jazzy Jens / The Rance Allen Group ‎– Africa / U Got 2 B Ready (DJ Prime Edit) [GAMM049]
This is  a Swedish edit of Got To Be Ready from Say My Friend LP
Brainstorm
2020 - Mydasn Feat. Rance Allen - God Has Been So Good

Below I've put together a summary of his singles discography with links to each track.

First off here's a rare 45 released on Reflect label titled 'Let's Get Together And Love' / 'First Day In Heaven' alleged to be his first release in 1969 on independent label owned by a record shop in Monroe, Michigan (where Allen was born) in 1969.  Discogs has it listed incorrectly linked to the wrong label.

In 1971 The Rance Allen Group won a gospel talent show in Detroit and one of the Judges was record promoter Dave Clark who had them in the studio four hours later to cut an album. Stax bought the masters and as they say the rest is history. 

The first single with Stax was Just My Imagination (Just My Salvation) released in 1972 on their The Gospel Truth imprint. If you ever have to explain to anyone what soul music is then just play them this! The B side is an uptempo gospel song 'Up Above My Head'.

Then there is the follow up, another cover, this time of one of my favourite records by Archie Bell & The Drells - There's Gonna Be A Showdown written by the legendary Gamble & Huff, but the Allen brothers add another dimension to this classic.  The flip side is one of the best deep soul / gospel songs you will ever hear: 'That Will Be Good Enough For Me'!

The 3rd single hit the R&B top 30 'I Got To Be Myself' but personally I don't think it is anywhere as near as good as the previous two releases and the flip 'Gonna Make It Alright' (for me) is a far better side, available on 45 only (was reissued in 1977 on Stax).

The next release on The Gospel Truth in 1973 is regarded as a classic today 'I Know A Man Who'. On the flip is a funky number entitled 'Hotline To Jesus'.

This was followed up with 'Be True / We're The Salt Of The Earth', neither of which 'float my boat', but he was back on form with the next release on the, now abbreviated, Truth label in 1974 with 'Ain't No Need Of Crying' with another funky number on the flip 'If I Could Make The World Better'. This in turn was followed by a gospel version of 'White Christmas'.

In 1975 he released an underrated 'I Give My All To You' a pleasant modern soul stepper with 'What A Day' a gospel/bluesy number.

In 1977 Allen moved to Capitol which perhaps prompted Stax to re-issue Showdown c/w Imagination and Ain't No Need Of Crying c/w Got To Be Myself.

The first release on Capitol was 'Peace Of Mind' a popular gospel / jazz funk tune along with the deep soul/gospel 'I'm Gonna Make It After All'.  Then came his modern soul classic 'Reason To Survive' (I've linked to the 7 min LP version as 3.59 45 version is simply not long enough!) flipped with the funky 'Got To Be Ready'.

His 3rd Capitol release, still in 1977, was a mellower affair with the ballad 'You're My Everything' but flipped with a gospel funky stomper 'Truth Is Marching On'. I'm not sure if this got any plays on the Northern Soul scene at the time (might have been considered too funky back then) but it is ripe for the picking today!

He returned to Stax in 1978 with a deep soul / gospel release on the main label 'I Belong To You' backed with 'The Wheel Of Life' a late 70s modern dancer!

In 1979 he released 'Smile' which is probably as near as he got to disco! ... along with 'Security' which does nothing for this listener I'm afraid to say (at least compared with his other material - the vocals are great but the song is weak).  

The next 1979 release is much better, another deep soul number 'Where Have all Your Friends Gone' (the only sound clip I could find but lo-fi) with a ballad/stepper flip 'My Recipe For Love'.

His final release for Stax was in 1980 with the funky 'Some People' c/w a deep soul ballad 'I'm Coming Back To You' which is a bit ironic! (couldn't find a single clip but it is track 03 (at 08:50) in this clip of whole album).

After his departure from Stax the next single release was in 1983 on the gospel label Myrrh with another deep soul gospel tune 'Ceasefire Is My Desire' backed with 'Jesus Ill Never Forget' which is a pleasant uptempo bouncy gospel dancer.

From 1985 he focused on his ministry work from 1985 and is wasn't until 1991 that his next (and what would be his last) single was released. 'Miracle Worker' is a bit of a non-descript tune typical in the 80s/early 90s c/w 'God Bless America' ..as it sounds a bit of a slushy patriotic tune.

His last recording was released on 18th Oct 2020, a collaboration with Mydason - 'God Has Been So Good'.

That was it as far as original material single releases were concerned.  There were a few reissues and a remix of Got To Be Ready.


If you were previously unaware of Rance Allen's catalogue I hope you will be pleasantly surprised at the sheer quality of most of his material.
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Freddie North [1968] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Abet #9436]


Freddy North's finest hour?  Beat ballad heaven from 1968, a cover of Big Maybelle's 1964 release on Scepter. Penned by Luther Dixon and Burt Keyes.

I know of 5 other versions, one previously unreleased until this year (2020) by Jerry Williams (believed to have been recorded in 1967), Big Maybelle (the original? from 1964), Dionne Warwick (also 1964 album only), Brenda & The Tabulations (1967 album only) an Leslie Uggams (1972 album only)



Jerry Williams [2020] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Soul 4 Real #S4R12]

A previously unreleased  version (on vinyl - I believe it did come out on Telling It Like It Is compilation CD) by Jerry (Swamp Dogg) Williams Jr was issued by Soul 4 Real in Sep 2020.  According to Soul 4 Real notes by Tony Rounce it was originally recorded in 1967 as a follow up to Baby You're My Everything but never released.  However, 'Baby' was released in 1965 - so I wonder if it was actually recorded in 1965?



Big Maybelle [1964] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Scepter #1779]



Dionne Warwick [1964] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Scepter #SRM-517]

So, who did it first Big Maybelle or Dionne Warwick?  Both released on Scepter in 1964.  Given that Dionne's is album only (Anyone Who Had A Heart), I'd plump for Big Maybelle being first.



Brenda & The Tabulations [1967] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Dionn #LPM 2000]

Released on Dry Your Eyes album (only) in 1967.



Leslie Uggams [1972] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Sonday #SL 8000]

A slightly MOR version by Leslie Uggams (who was essentially a show type singer) from her  1972 album 'Try To See It My Way' on Sonday - the same label that she had her Northern Soul biggie Love Is A Good Foundation which is also on the album (side 1 track 1). 

NOTE: The link to 'Love Is' has some great rare live footage of her singing this track on a US TV show (Is has 'Reeling' In The Years' emblazoned across the screen, so I guess that must be the name of the show?) ... and an added bonus I found a clip of Dionne Warwick singing it live which i never knew existed!



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UK Soul Chart - 9th Nov 2020

Here's the latest UK Soul Chart with links to tracks:

01 (1) Jarrod Lawson - Be The Change (Full Album)
I posted links to the whole album a few days ago - just follow link.

02 (9) Patrick McLean - Go Right On / There's A Reason (One Heart One Beat)
Patrick McLean was a member of Brit Funk band Hi-Tension in 70s/80s. Go Right On was originally released in 2015 and There's A Reason was released in 1979 by Hi-Tension.  Both tracks are featured on his new album One Heart One Beat to be released on 13th Nov 2020 , hence i can't find a clip of There's A Reason so have linked to the original Hi-Tension version.

03 (4) Lukas Setto - Do It Again
This starts off just like Omar's -There's Nothing Like This!

04 (26) Charlie Wilson feat Smokey Robinson - All Of My Love
Another posted a few days ago - follow link.

05 (NE) Emeli Sande - More Of You (Mixes)

06 (5) Clauds - Identity (Full Album)

07 (10) AC Soul Soul Symphony / Dave Lee ft Billy Valentine - Manhattan Skyline / Power Of The Mind

08 (2) Francisca Thomas Feat. Incognito - Fall Into My Love

09 (18) Paprika Soul - Standing Right Here

10 (3) Light of the World - Jazz Funk Power (Full Album)

11 (12) The Regime - Never Gonna Stop / Deuzy Vibe
Loving this cool vibe from Australian outfit. Never Gonna Stop is in the Young Rascals - Groovin' vein.  The flip is a 70s funk throwback with brass and heavy bassline. Released by IziphoSoul and sold out already, but is being repressed in Jan 2021.  Garb one before those sell out!

12 (30) Take Three - One Two Three (Three Steps To Your Heart)
I can't find any trace of this track anywhere - perhaps a mistype?  Not on Youtube or Amazon and a google search (with various combinations) returns nothing, which begs the question how on earth does a track that can't be found appear in the top 30?

13 (25) S.E.L. Feat. Bryan Chambers - Falling (Mixes)

14 (NE) HD Feat. MJ Soul - Love Will Find A Way

15 (17) Rena Scott - Driftin' On A Dream (Re-Mastered) / Kick It
Another IziphoSoul release. To hear 'Kick It' (both tracks previously unreleased) go over to their website.

16 (6) Debra Debs - Seven (Full Album)

17 (14) Bey Bright - Turning Me On

18 (20) True Music Group Feat. DaQuela & Joe Jordan - Closer and Closer
For those of a 'certain age' - No it's not the Leeds & Scotland striker!

19 (16) TanQueray Hayward - This Kind Of Love
A deep soul ballad with hints of Mary J. Blige in the vocal department.

20 (NE) Shaila Prospere - Under My Skin (Full Album)

21 (7) Yolanda Parker - Everything You Do Blows My Mind
One for the steppers

22 (15) Dee Dee Davis - Straight From The Soul (Full Album)
Jazz flavas

23 (19) Super db - Open Line to Me
Blue-eyed 70s/80s throwback in the Hall & Oates / Doobie Brothers vein which tends to get classified as Yacht Rock these days.

24 (21) Sargent Tucker - Lets Get Away
Another which is reminiscent of 'Groovin' '

25 (NE) Devon Gilfillian - What's Going On (Full Album)
A re-recording of Marvin Gaye's whole What's Going On album. Some of the tracks are samples only. To be honest i'm not sure of the point of it as they are all faithful reproductions of the original that add nothing, although to be fair the various female guest vocalist do lift some of the tracks!  ... but that's just my take.

26 (8) Darryl Anders Agapesoul Feat. Tommy Sims - Bulletproof
I haven't heard anything from Tommy Sims since his debut (and only) album Peace And Love from 2000 from which we used to hammer New Jam!

27 (NE) Richard Alexander Davis Feat. Don E - Just Call (Mixes)
Several mixes of Sherrick's - Just Call which came out in 1987 and none of them a patch on the original classic which can be picked up cheaply so why bother buying an imitation?  Sherrick's promising career was cut short apparently due to his drug addiction. He 'disappeared' in 1988 but ironically he had cleaned himself up and was launching a comeback in the late 90s but died in Jan 1999 of unknown cause aged only 41.  His last recording was a decent cover of The Originals' Baby I'm For Real in 1987.

28 (NE) Jack Tyson Charles - Something
Nice track which samples Isley Brothers - Here I Go Again. He hails from London town and is the son of actor and BBC soul DJ Craig Charles ..and looks remarkably like Marvin Gaye on the sleeve photo!

29 (11) D. Folks - No One / The Truth

30 (27) The Parkmans - I'm Good
New name to me but these brothers, Marvin 'Chantz' (keyboard) & Anthony (Tony) (vocals) Parkman, have been around for decades performing, writing and producing for such artists as: Angie Stone, Charlie Wilson, Freddie Jackson, Natalie Cole, Isley Brothers, Keith Sweat, Boyz II Men, OutKast,  Patti LaBelle, Glen Jones and Anthony Hamilton to name but a few!  This appears to be their first release as artists in their own right.


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What's Going On?

After having a peek at the latest UK Soul Chart, I noticed that Devon Gilfillian has done a re-recording of Marvin Gaye's seminal album What's Going On.  The soulful female vocals on the title track are from Jasmine Cephas-Jones .There is an interview with Devon here.


On 22nd September 2020 Rolling Stone published The 500 Greatest Albums  Of All Time and top of the list is What's Going On.

This led me to start wondering how many cover versions there are of the title track.  I checked out Second Hand Songs and it lists 202, but I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of others not listed!  It is hard to believe that this legendary song is now over 50 years old as it was first recorded in June 1970, but not actually released until Jan 1971!

I explored as many as I could find and bring you the highlights here.  Some of the versions are pretty bad it has to be said - which begs the question why?  If you're going to attempt to cover such an iconic song then at least do it differently or at least do a good job otherwise you've opened yourself up to criticism.

For me the undeniable best version (which, dare I even suggest, may even be better than Gaye's original) has to be The Funk Brothers Feat. Chaka Khan from the 2002 Standing In The Shadows Of Motown CD, especially as this is a one-take live version. 


It may surprise many (in UK especially) that my next favourite version is by none other than Joe Longthorne (a UK TV personality).  It came out on Especially For You LP in 1989 and was also on a budget Music For Pleasure LP, Live At The Royal Albert Hall, in 1994 (from which this clip is taken).  He does a pretty good job of Jackie Wilson's Sweetest Feeling too which I don't think he ever recorded (the link is a live version performed on his TV show - it doesn't give a date but from his clothes I'd say late 80s/early 90s!)


David T. Walker with Bernard Pretty Purdie did a beautiful 9 minute live guitar instrumental version in Shibuya, Tokyo 1993 - I defy you to keep your feet still to this rendition with the incessant and hypnotic beat of Purdie.  He released a shorter version on his self-titled 1973 album on Ode.


Yet another live version makes the cut, and how could I leave out the late great Donny Hathaway's version recorded in 1972.


In 1999 GQ released The GQ Tribute Album consisting of covers of Billy Stewart & Marvin Gaye songs. It includes a great version of What's Going On. GQ are best known for their late 70s/early 80s Arista releases: Disco Nights(Rock Freak) and Make My Dreams A Reality and their covers of Billy Stewart's Sitting In The Park and I Do Love You.


There is a nice 'steppers' version by a female trio C-Nario (Terri, Nicole & Iona) who I'd not come across until I uncovered their version.  I presume that they are from Chicago as the 2001 album ('Turn Around') it is taken from was produced by Clarence Johnson and Eugene Record and released on Chi-City.  This was their second and last album (the first, self-titled, album was also released on Chi-City in 1997). Only 2 albums and an EP (which features 2 versions of What's Going on and a cover of the Jones Girls  - Your'e Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else) were released on the label, all by C-Nario, although it is also credited with re-issuing The Lovelites superb compilation The Lovelite years.  If any reader knows further information about C-Nario or Chi-City then please get in touch as I can find no further info..


A later version by Anthony David which only appeared on a 3 CD compilation, Song Of America, in 2007


Next up are a couple of British versions.  Mica Paris and Seal both recorded albums full of covers. 

Mica Paris did it on Soul Classics in 2005


Seal recorded a 'faithful' version  on Seal Soul 2 in 2011.


The next is 'probably' an obscure version to most unless you are Dutch as it is from Salomé Pieris, a Voice of Holland contestant in 2012 reaching the quarter finals.  This has a nice 'stepping' vibe to it.


Now the next one is a pleasant surprise. Nicholas David was also a Voice contestant, this time from the US show in 2012.  He sang What's Going On to reach the top 6 and ultimately came 3rd in the competition.  This is a silky smooth version.  He is the most unlikely looking blue-eyed soul singer resembling more of a heavy rocker (see his live performance here)!  Since 2004, he has recorded 6 studio albums and 2 EPs, none have charted.  He was 'chosen' by CeeLo Green and did a duet with Smokey Robinson singing Cruisin' in the final stages of the show.


An eclectic version from Playing For Change Feat. Sarah Bareilles from Songs Around The World released in 2013.


Another version which seems to only appear on a compilation is Profyle who had a hit with Liar in 2000. Their version appeared on Marvin Gaye is 60 - A Tribute Album released in 1999. 


Finally, I'll leave you with someone you probably know (if you're UK based) ... but perhaps don't know it. Tommy Blaize is a singer on UK TV show Strictly Come Dancing. He recorded a version on his debut solo album 'Life And Soul' in 2017.
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