Project Soul [197?] - Ebony / Sweet Things Of Life [USR-4174]

Now here's a rarity and price reflects that with none available on Discogs and the last one selling for £535 in Feb 2020.  

Project Soul were formed in 1969 and later named themselves Con Funk Shun in 1971 (after the Nite-Liters track of that name) and signed to Mercury in 1976 who they released a total of 11 albums with until they disbanded in 1986.  

This is the only 45 I can find from Project Soul.  I'm not sure if they released any other material, but this is a great double-sider. There's no date on it but must be some time between 1969-1971 and I'd guess it's a self-released pressing as no label name on label, in fact it's a pretty primitive label design with bare minimum info, but don't let that fool you or put you off as both sides have their own charm.

Ebony

I'm not quite sure how to describe this.  It's got a Stax feel about it with Hammond organ, sort of funky but not funk if you know what i mean.  Anyway, I don't really need to as the sound clip's here so make up your own mind. 

Sweet Things Of Life

This one is right up the Lowrider's street - sweet soul group harmony.

Con Funk Shun [1980] - By Your Side [Mercury #76066]

Another one for the steppers! Don't be fooled by the band's name Con Funk Shun, they weren't an out and out funk band and released some nice mellow stuff as well, including this mellow stepper from 1980.

The group was formed in 1969 as Project Soul.  In 1971 they changed their name to Con-Funk-Shun (after a Nite-Liters track of the same name). Originally from California (Bay Area), the group relocated to Memphis in 1973 and were hired as backup band for The Soul Children. Whilst in Memphis they recorded 2 albums on Fretone in 1973 before changing their name again by removing the hyphens. They also released 2 45s on Freton in 1974, both of which were released on UK Contempo (owned by Blues & Soul editor John E. Abbey). One was an 'unrecognisable' funk cover of Bob Dylan's Tambourine Man. In 1976 they signed to Mercury and released 11 albums until they disbanded in 1986.

The group included Michael Cooper who went solo with Warner Bros. after they disbanded.  In 2015 they got back together to released an album ('More Than Love') on Shanachie and 3 of the original members (including Copper) continued touring as Con Funk Shun.

If, like me, you've steered clear of Con Funk Shun because of the implication in the name (i.e. Funk) then you, like me, have been missing out on some of their great recordings.  You could say that it's a bit of a marketing 'faux pas' as it could have limited their appeal - it certainly did in my case as I wouldn't pick up any of their albums blind, assuming that it was full of funk tracks.  So I've trawled through all their singles (A/B sides) and albums to bring you a collection of their better non funk sides.  Its' a mix of modern soul, steppers, slow jams, sweet soul ballads and even a few jazz flavoured instrumentals, no funk in sight!  Rather than clutter this post with links I've created a YouTube playlist of the selected tracks. The list is in chronical order starting with singles and then album only tracks. There's 64 tracks so a good few hours entertainment! Just let it play and enjoy!

Boz Scaggs [1980] - JoJo [Columbia #1-11281]

Another 'left-fielder' to add the to the 80s Hidden Gems. Boz Scaggs with 'JoJo' which reached #17 US R&B and coincidentally #17 Hot 100 in 1980 which, surprisingly, is much higher than 'What Can I Say' which got to #68 / #42 and was his highest entry in UK Pop chart #10 in 1977. The only other release from him that entered the R&B charts was of course 'Lowdown' #4 / #3 in 1976.

JoJo did get a UK release, but I don't recall ever hearing it at the time (and I was DJing in clubs back then), so must have gone under the radar. It didn't bother the UK chart but what a great little stepper this is!

Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Beverley Knight, Ahsan - Ribbon In The Sky

Staying in a more commercial mood - could this be Stevie Wonder's best song?

Many have tried to cover this song and many have failed miserably as it simply cannot be matched as this is a masterpiece.  However, Yolanda Adams' live version is superb and Birmingham's own Beverley Knight also did a great job recently at The London Palladium in Oct 2019.

Initially released on Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium 1, which was essentially a greatest hits album, but this was one of only a few original tracks which was then released as a single in 1982.

Criminally, this didn't even make the UK Top 40 falling outside at #45 and sandwiched between the bland Ebony & Ivory with Paul McCartney and the 'cheesy' I Just Called To Say I Love You' both of which got to #1 ... can anyone please explain this to me?

I came across this, which touched me, the sheer class of Stevie surprising young Ahsan who does a terrific job of this song. If this clip doesn't move you then you have no soul! Please don't skip it, you need to watch from 2:10 and see what happens!

Yolanda Adams Live

Not sure when or where this was recorded but this lady is sheer class! No pressure ... only performing it in front of 'The Man'!

Beverley Knight Live @ London Palladium Oct 2019

Alicia Keys [2003] - You Don't Know My Name [J #82876-56599-7]

  

This one may be a bit of a surprise as not rare at all but there are no boundaries on this blog to quality and this is sheer quality and hard to believe that it's now 17 years old as Alicia Keys is about to enter into her 20th anniversary of her debut album Songs In A Minor.  This came from her follow up album in 2003 The Diary Of Alicia Keys.

For the uninitiated, this samples the beautiful melody and piano riff from Main Ingredient's - Let Me Prove My Love To You which came out on the B side to Instant Love in 1976 having originally been on the 1975  'Shame On The World' album. As a result the price of this 45 has soared and you might find yourself having to shell out £40-£50 for a copy in decent condition!  You may be better of buying the album for around £10.

Main Ingredient [1976] - Let Me Prove My Love To You [RCA Victor #PB-10606]

High & Mighty [1974] - You Gave Me A Brand New Start [Chelsea #CH-3005]

Linked to William DeVaughn is this one-off 45 by High & Mighty released on Chelsea in 1974.

It was co-written by Pal Rakes and Frank Fioravanti who was also the executive producer/co-ordinator on DeVaughn's first album Be Thankful For What You Got. Fioravanti  also co-wrote one of the tracks on the album with DeVaughn, Sing  A Love Song, and Pal Rakes played guitar on most of the tracks (in fact all but the title track).  

Fioravanti is the founder of Sound Gems label based in Philadelphia and both Fioravanti & Rakes wrote the modern soul classic by Crystal Motion - Main Squeeze released on Sound Gems in 1975 (their only release).  Another interesting release on the label was another modern soul spin by Vivilore Jordan - Put My Loving On You, also from 1975.  Her other modern soul spin was All Work And No Play on Task from 1977 which was also recorded by Serena Johnson on Big 2.

Another interesting observation is that Fioravanti wrote the deep soul track 'What About The Children' released by blue-eyed soul singer Billy Harner on Mel-Omega in 1973.

There looks like a few other goodies on the label so will have to explore and report back!

I'm pretty sure Rakes had a record played on the Northern Soul scene (even though he is basically a country singer).  The record in question is I Can't Deny The Hurt on Uptight which then got a national release on Verve from 1967.

Anyway, before digressing any further, onto the track in question.  I came across this via another version recorded by DeVaughn which has been released on re-issues of the Be Thankful For What You Got album since 1989. i.e. it wasn't originally on the album and never previously released.  Check out my William DeVaughn Discography if you want to hear his version.

High & Mighty were Carlton & Clayton Rembert, Frank Mundy, and Rich Bransdorf. I found the following comment from Carlton Rembert left on a YT post:

"The High and Mighty originally formed as the Primes and then changed their name to "The Accomodations" performing in the New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore areas."

I believe that this is their only recording - there's certainly nothing else listed from them.

William DeVaughn - Discography

Following on from the previous post, it started me investigating in full the catalogue of William DeVaughn.

He's possibly only known to many for the 70s classic 'Be Thankful For What You Got', recorded at the famous Sigma Sound Studios in Philly using MFSB musicians, which has been covered by many others in every decade since it's release in 1974, including some of these better ones:

70s Love, Intruders 

80s Craig Peyton, Sunset Gun

90s Portrait, Pauline Henry (The Chimes), Massive Attack, Cleveland Watkiss

00s Omar & Erykah Badu (2000), Omar & Angie Stone (2001), Walter Beasley (2007), Lipbone Redding (2009)

10s Rumer (2015), David C. Johnson (2016), Sade (Live) (2016),  Lady C (2017), Raquel Rodriguez & Stan Taylor (2019) and most recently in May 2020 by J-Felix Feat. Sol Goodman, ... and there's many more especially reggae versions.

He recorded two albums in 1974 and 1980 respectively, and left the music business after the release of 'Figures Can't Calculate' album in 1980 but returned in 2004 releasing a single and a new album 'Time Will Stand Still' in 2008 on his own Mighty Two Diamonds label.  A few unreleased tracks surfaced on various compilations. His latest release was in 2017 with a cover of Junior Walker's - What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) - yet another one covered by many.

After bit of digging I've just discovered that he has released a new single in Sep 2020 New World Living a sample of which is on his website:

Facebook

Website

Image used with permission of copyright owner Eli Meir Kaplan

Discography

Albums

1974 - Be Thankful For What You Got [RLX 100]

Give The Little Man A Great Big Hand

We Are His Children

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Kiss And Make Up

Be Thankful For What You Got

Sing A Love Song

You Can Do It

Something's Being Done

You Gave Me A Brand New Start 

A bonus previously unreleased track which began to appear on reissues of the album after 1989. It was originally released by High & Mighty (their only release) on Chelsea in 1974 which is quite an in demander fetching between £100-£150 with only one currently available on Discogs for £200.

1980 - Figures Can't Calculate The Love I Have For You [TEC SA 1200]

Figures Can't Calculate

Love Comes So Easy

Boogie Dan

You Send Me

Be Thankful For What You Got (New Version)

I Never Found Me A Girl (Who Loves Me Like You Do)

Hold On To Love

Mighty Two Diamonds (His own label - very hard to find!)

2008 - Time Will Stand Still [30474] (NB link takes you to samples on AllMusic)

What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye)

Mr Politician

Figures Can’t Calculate

Be Thankful For What You Got 2008

Time Will Stand Still

I Came Back

Never Too Much Love /Choice Of Colors (Curtis Mayfield)

Same People 4:49

Cry On Me

Same People 4:50

Singles

Roxbury

1974 Be Thankful For What You Got / Be Thankful For What You Got (Part 2) [BRB0-0236]

1974 Blood Is Thicker Than Water / Blood Is Thicker Than Water (Part II) [RB 2001]

1974 Give The Little Man A Great Big Hand / Something's Being Done [RB 2005]

1974 Kiss And Make Up / Sing A Love Song [RB-2018]

Tec

1980 Figures Can't Calculate / Hold-On-To-Love [TEC 767]

1980 Be Thankful For What You Got / You Send Me [TEC 770]

An updated, 'bouncier' 1980 version c/w Sam Cooke cover.

HSRC

1982 Crème De Crème / Crème De Crème (Instrumental) [WS4-03279]

Mighty Two Diamonds (His own label)

2004 I Came Back

A mellow modern soul stepper

Sound Gems

2014 Staying Power (From Lost Soul Gems)

A smooth soul ballad/stepper

2014 Love Ballad of the Year (From Lost Soul Gems)

Ballad

2016 Love in Any Language (From Lost Soul Gems)

Mid-tempo modern soul

2017 What Does It Take (to Win Your Love for Me) / I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying

A cover of Jr. Walker & The All-Stars - too 'synthesised' to these ears!

2020 New World Living (snippet only)

William DeVaughn [1980] - Figures Can't Calculate / Hold On To Love [Tec #TEC 767]

Will you find a much better 45 for under a fiver? A good double-sider with a silky smooth soul ballad/stepper from William DeVaughn taken from his second album of the same name, backed with Hold On To Love, nice mid-tempo modern soul.

William DeVaughn [1980] - Figures Can't Calculate [Tec #TEC 767]

William DeVaughn [1980] - Hold On To Love [Tec #TEC 767]

Isley Brothers [1979] - Footsteps In The Dark [T-Neck #ZS8 2277]

I could have posted this with the previous Isley's post but wanted to keep it separate as this one's from the 70s. 

Never actually released as an A side, this was originally tucked away on the B side to 'Groove With You' in 1978, however, Epic rereleased it on 7" vinyl for Record Store Day last year (Apr 2019) c/w Between The Sheets. It was featured on the 1977 'Go For Your Guns' album.

Again, neither side was appreciated other than on the US R&B Chart #18 but that was probably for the ballad 'Groove With You'.  Footsteps In The Dark is now regarded as a steppers classic.

Isley Brothers [1980] - Here We Go Again [T-Neck #ZS9 2291]

I have generally considered the Isley's as a legendary Motown act ... but it surprised me to discover that they actually only released 2 albums and 4 singles on Tamla (that charted - I think they released about 8 singles in total) between 1966-68 and only one of these was a Top 20 pop hit (in US) - the classic 'This Old Heart Of Mine'.  Their singles were more popular in UK than US as all of them reached higher chart positions (2 Top 10 and 2 Top 20).  

Many of their Motown records are revered in Northern Soul circles, especially 'Tell Me It's Just A Rumour' never released as a 45 in US but released in UK in 1973 (but recorded in 1967) due to NS demand. Another, more recent, previously unreleased track, surfaced from a 1972 budget LP 'Tamla Motown Presents The Isley Brothers' - 'My Love Is Your Love (Forever)' written by Stevie wonder and Ivy Joe Hunter.

They were formed in the early 50s. Their first recording was in 1957 and their first hit was the legendary 'Twist And Shout' 1962,  which was originally recorded by The Top Notes in 1961 and of course a #1 for The Beatles in 1964. 

From 1969 through to 1983 they released material on their own T-Neck label (although it was established in 1963 prior to signing with Motown).

They were still recording in July 2017 with the release of a collaborative album with Carlos Santana 'Power Of Peace' - an unbelievable 7 decades after their first recording!

Featured in this post is a track completely overlooked in the UK at the time although it did reach #11 US R&B but did not appear on Billboard 100. It was possibly overlooked by radio stations due to the 4:14 length of Part 1 but to appreciate fully you need to play the full album version (Go All The Way) 7:34. It was only released on 12" as a promo and even then it was split over 2 sides with same running times as the 45 release.  

This is a timeless gem still sounding fresh 40 years on!

The track has been given a new lease of life by the current UK soul chart entry by Jack Tyson Charles (son of Craig Charles) sampling it on his latest release 'Something'.

Collins & Collins [1980] - Top Of The Stairs [A&M 2233]

Well known on the UK soul scene, broken on modern soul dancefloors and then crossed over to Northern Soul dancefloors, is this Ashford & Simpson song released by Collins & Collins.

No information available for this duo who I suspect are husband / wife (or possibly brother / sister?).  They released one 'self-titled' album and 2 singles from it in 1980.  Ashford & Simpson originally recorded the track on their 1977 'Send It' album, but this is one of those rare occasions where the cover version (in my opinion) is better than the original. I think the Collins & Collins version is tighter and has a bit more punch, but I'll post up both versions for you to decide.

Discography

Albums

1980 Collins & Collins [A&M #SP-4806]

Top Of The Stairs

You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good

Do You Wanna Dance

Can't Turn Down Love

You Made Me Believe

I'm Feelin' Your Love

Please Don't Break My Heart

Yo-Yo

Singles

1980 Top Of The Stairs / Please Don't Break My Heart [A&M #2233-S]

1980 You Made Me Believe / Do You Wanna Dance [A&M #2258-S]

Collins & Collins [1980] - Top Of The Stairs [A&M 2233]

Available on 3:33 single 'edited' version or 4:38 album version - a 45 issue will cost you around £175-£250 (even more on same sided promo although apparently these are not as rare as the issue!). An original album on vinyl will cost between £40-£85 at current prices although it has been reissued on CD 3 times 1998, 2006 & 2014.

Here's a surprise, I've found footage of the duo performing the track for the first time 'ever' at the 4th Baltic Soul Weekender in 2017.

Ashford & Simpson [1977] - Top Of The Stairs [Warner Bros. #BS 3088]

This is by far the cheaper way to own it as you should be able to pick this album up for less than £5.

As a bonus here are a couple of the better tracks from the album.

You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good

First off is a cover of the Gamble & Huff song recorded by Harold Melvin & Blue Notes Feat. Sharon Paige - You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good released in 1975 on Wake Up Everybody album and also as a 45 on flip to Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby.

I'm Feeling Your Love

A smooth and mellow stepper.