Well this started off as a straightforward Discography for The Fascinations ... but the 'fascinating' thing is what I discovered doing it and the paths it led me down, so it as ended up being much bigger than originally intended, but hopefully you will find it interesting.
For example did you know that Martha Reeves was an original member of The Fascinations? I always 'assumed' that they were from Chicago because of the Mayfield connection, but they were from Detroit. Shirley Walker aka Shirley Lawson was also an original member, which led to exploring her solo releases which, in turn, led to a story regarding Dave Godin's (Blues & Soul writer) Soul City release and looking into the writers of one of her records which led down another path which linked to some well known Northern Soul records.
Also, as The Fascinations released the majority of singles on Mayfield, I thought I may as well complete the whole Mayfield discography which led to some background info on The Mayfield Singers from some of the original members. I noted that Guy Draper wrote and co-wrote many of the Mayfield releases but hadn't realised that he was one of the members of the group along with Leroy Hutson and Donny Hathaway! Anyway, enough of the preamble, all will be revealed below.
The Fascinations
Formed in 1960 by Shirley Walker (aka Lawson) and Martha Reeves, who recruited the Boswell sisters, Bernadine and Joanne and Fern Bledsoe. Reeves left later in 1960 leaving a quartet. They were introduced to Curtis Mayfield (after meeting Fred Cash & Sam Gooden of The Impressions) who got them signed to ABC Paramount where they released 2 45s in 1962 and 1963 which did nothing commercially so were released by ABC. They went back to their day jobs until Mayfield signed them to his new Mayfield label in 1966. The Fascinations featured on 5 of the 7 Mayfield released until it folded in 1968, although, subsequently another 45 would appear on the Mayfield imprint (which was published by Buddah) in 1971 by Marvin Smith (former lead singer of The Artistics) - You're Really Something Sadie c/w Who Will Do Your Running Now which is a well respected NS favourite.
Mayfield Discography
ABC Paramount
Both released as The Fasinations
1962 - Mama Didn't Lie / Someone Like You [45-10387]
Composers: Curtis Mayfield / Alvin Williams
Mama Didn't Lie was a hit for Jan Bradley in 1963 which cut short The Fascination's version.
Composers: Bernadine Boswell / Curtis Mayfield
Mayfield
Name changed to The Fascinations
1966 - (Say It Isn't So) Say You'd Never Go / I'm So Lucky (He Loves Me) [7711]
Composers: Curtis Mayfield / Guy Draper
A: Skippy
B: Great Northern Soul
1967 - Girls Are Out To Get You / You'll Be Sorry [7714]
Composers: Curtis Mayfield / Curtis Mayfield, Guy Draper
A: Northern soul classic
B: Nice soul harmony
1967 - I'm In Love / I Can't Stay Away From You [M-7716]
Composers: Curtis Mayfield / Curtis Mayfield
A: Another 'skippy' Northern soul dancer
B: Deep Ballad
1967 - Hold On / Such A Fool [M-7718]
Composers: Curtis Mayfield / Curtis Mayfield
An unreleased track called 'Crazy (Keep Telling Me Baby)' was discovered on an acetate (by well known UK soul aficionado Tim Ashibende) and bootlegged on T.N.T. as Sherry Gibbs & The Hearts with 'I'm A Fool' on the flip side which is an alternate version of 'Such A fool. 'Crazy' has subsequently been issued by Outta Site on a UK 45 as the flip to 'Girls Are Out To Get You' in 2011.
Composers: Curtis Mayfield / Curtis Mayfield
The Mayfield Singers
The Mayfield singers were students in Washington D.C. who were auditioned by Curtis Mayfield and the other two Impressions at the time, Fred Cash & Sam Gooden. Their original name was The Cavaliers - from the name of the apartment building on 16th Street where a couple of them lived.
The Cavaliers sang an Impressions song that Donny had re-arranged so uniquely that Curtis, Sam Gooden and Fred Cash did NOT recognize it for several bars! They loved the group.
The group members were Guy Draper (California), Marshall Morrison (Tennessee) (the soulful second lead voice heard), Augustus Pearson (Omaha), Michael Hawkins (Washington DC) , Leroy Hutson (New Jersey) , Barbara Carter (Washington DC), Tommy Williams (Washington D.C.) and Donny Hathaway.
Leroy Hutson became the lead singer for the Impressions when Curtis Mayfield went solo.
Tommy Williams was later 1st tenor for The Presidents, who recorded 5, 10, 15, 20 Years of Love. The Presidents also recorded in the 70's as Anacostia - named after the neighbourhood in Southeast, DC.
Mayfield signed them, changed their name to the Mayfield Singers and put them in the studio.
Acknowledgement: I took a lot of the info above from comments left by group member Michael Hawkins in the linked YT clip - so it 'should' be accurate.
1966 - I've Been Trying / If
A: Great arrangement of The Impressions classic
B: Northern soul which has sections that sound like The Magnificent 7 theme! Lo-Fi sound quality I'm afraid as only one i could find.
The above is the only 'official' release from them at the time, but several issue of previously unreleased tracks and bootlegs have appeared over the years.
???? - Don't Start None / Don't Start None (Inst) [Mayfield #7777]
This was discovered by Tony Rounce (Ace) on some Roulette tapes in the late 90s, who passed a copy to Ady Croasdel to play at 100 club. Ady gave copies to Butch and/or Keb Darge. It was 'dubiously' released on 45, Ady claims that it was 'nefariously' released on 45 by another record company i.e. not Ace/Kent who discovered it.
2011 - My Baby Changes Like The Weather / Don't Start None [OSV022]
This is a great tune written by Frank Wilson & Hal Davis originally released by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles on Going To A Go-Go album in 1965 and, as far as I'm aware, never saw a 45 release.
Another unreleased, version appeared on Cellarful Of Motown Vol. 4 CD in 2010 by The Vows, who had only one record released by Motown, Buttered Popcorn / Tell Me on V.I.P. in 1965. Morris ('Too Darn Soulful') Chestnut was a member but the line-up changed so not sure if he's on this track, but it does sound like him. There's a great thread on Soul Source about The Vows which covers Chestnut's further work with The Sound Masters and The Attractions.
Yet another version was discovered (or at least played) by Ian Levine in 2014 by Bobby Callender - My Baby Changes Like The Weather [Bamboo #101]. Bobby sounds very like a female singer on this track so I checked and can confirm he's male! ... am I even 'allowed' to say this in the woke world?
Tony Foxx
To complete the Mayfield Discography the remaining release is:
Two deep soul cuts, E.S.P. was released a year later as a B side on Calla.
That concludes the Mayfield Discography, but here's one for member Shirley Lawson.
Shirley Lawson
A: This has a Curtis Mayfield feel about it although not written by him, but Harry Gates.
B: Early 60s almost doo wop ish
Co-written by Anthony Wilson and Dale Warren. Wilson also had a hand in writing Tommy Rodgers Pass The Word, I Lost A Good Thing for Gwen Owens on Velgo as well as producing her NS classic Just Say You're Wanted (And Needed) and Two Plus Two - I'm Sure / Look Around), Sandy Hollis - I'm Tempted (on which, although uncredited, a duet with Sonny Monro (Carlis McKinley Monroe) of The Falcons - who did a modern take on Darrell Banks classic Open The Door To Your Heart in 1975 on Epic) / Tables Have Turned, Ortheia Barnes - Take My Heart And Soul , Ponderosa Twins + One - Bitter With The Sweet.
Warren co-wrote Ronnie & Robyn - Sidra's Theme and Gigi & The Charmaines - Guilty / Girl Crazy was arranger on dozens of 45s including the following:
Chuck Jackson - Good Things Come To Those Who Wait [Wand]
Betty Lavette - Let Me Down Easy [Calla]
Ja Neen Henry - Baby Boy [Blue Rock] - originally by Juanita Williams
Theresa Lindsey - It's Love [Correc-tone]
Deon Jackson - Love Makes The World Go Around [Carla]
Les Chansonettes - Deeper [Shrine]
The Falcons - I Can't Help It / Standing On Guard [Big Wheel]
The Cairos - Don't Fight It / Stop Overlooking Me [Shrine]
Art Posey - No More Heartaches [Scope]
I'll stop there as there are so many others. If interested further, then I suggest you explore Dale Warren's output.
1966 - The Star / One More Chance [Back Beat 567]
Another example of such a great double-sided Northern Soul record would be hard to find. £250-£350 might get you a copy. It was also scheduled for issue on Dave Godin's short-lived Soul City label in 1968 but was withdrawn as there was a dispute with Island who who were responsible for Back Beat licensing in UK, but some were sold before they were withdrawn which explains why they are so rare on UK Soul City fetching as much or more than the original Back Beat issues.
