Luther Vandross - House Is Not A Home - his finest performance?

You've just got to love Luther.  Granted, he lost his way, or more likely was steered in the wrong direction by the record company, trying to cash in on MOR material to appeal to a wider audience.

How could anyone who purports to love soul music not like his rendition, of what essentially was a very MOR Bacharach & David song, which Luther turns into this masterpiece?  Originally recorded by Brook Benton, many think it's Dionne Warwick who recorded it the same year, in 1964, but let's face it, who paid any real attention to it until Luther's version on his debut album in 1981?  Would you believe that the last person to record it before him was Rex  Harrison!  There are no fewer than 177 versions registered on Second Hand Songs.

Here he is at Wembley, I am privileged to say I saw him and Anita Baker at Wembley in mid 80s on the same bill at Wembley when they were both at their peak ... what a night!  I can't remember the exact year, it must have been 86 or 87?, but I also saw them individually later Baker in 1988 and Vandross in 1989 again at Wembley. I don't know why I still have these tickets but not the one from earlier, probably mislaid them.

Two of the greatest soul singers that have ever lived, both now sadly departed, but they have left a legacy that will live on forever!

... and together:

Wilson Williams - Discography

Wilson Augustus Williams started recording late 60s / early 70s on How Big based in Norfolk, VA which was a sister label to Noel Biggs' Shiptown who's main acts were Barbara Stand, Ida Sands, The Soul Duo (which included Ida Sands) and Jean Battle.  Ida Sands also had a 45 on How Big called 'Start All Over Again' which is an answer song to Tyrone Davis - 'Can I Change My Mind' which has the same backing track.

He cut  two 45s for How Big and one on Tri Us. In 1978 he recorded an album 'Up The Downstairs' for ABC at Sound Suite Recording Studios, Detroit which featured The Funk Brothers. Allegedly, this was the last recording session for both the Sound Suite studio and The Funk Brothers recorded together.

There are some nice modern soul tracks that have been played from the album.  Six of the ten tracks made it to three 45.

From 1994 Wilson has been a member of The Platters.

I found out that Wilson recently passed in Sep. 2019.

Discography

Albums

1978 - Up The Downstairs [ABC #AA 1077]

2013 - Eatin' Ain't Cheatin' [S.D.E.G. #CD45]

This is southern soul/blues album released on Swamp Dogg (Jerry Williams Jr.) Entertainment Group.

Singles

196/7? - I Got A Whole Lot To Be Thankful For / Honey Rock [How Big #202,767]

A: Deep Soul

B: ?

1971 - I Can't Get Used To Losing You / Ain't That Loving You [How Big #202,930]

A: Deep Soul Harmony

B: 'Chugging' Southern Soul

1972 - (Can't Get Over) Losing You / He's A Mother [Tri Us #911]

A: I believe that this is the same song as the How Big released with a slightly different wording to title

B: Funk instrumental

1978 - Up The Down Stairs / Faith Will Bring It Home [ABC #AB-12344]

A: Funky modern soul

B: Mid-tempo Modern Soul

1978 - Groovy Feeling / Take Me The Way I Am [ABC #AB-12398]

A: Modern Soul stepper  - superb!

B: Another Modern Soul stepper

1978 - Sho You Rite / All That Glitters Ain't Gold [ABC #AB 12377]

A: 'Plodding' funky soul

B: Soul Ballad

Album tracks not released on 45: 

I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine - Modern Soul

I Like Being In Love With You - Modern Soul

Thank You For Loving Me - Ballad

The Greatest Story Ever Told - Ballad/Stepper

Darrow Fletcher Live @ The Wilton Ballroom, Castleford, 10th Nov. 2012

I've always loved the music of Darrow Fletcher. His 'What Good Am I Without You' on Jacklyn was one of the very first records I bought when I first got into Northern Soul many moons ago!  His work has been criminally neglected until the UK soul scene fell in love with him and he has visited these shores several time to perform, but for whatever reason I've never actually managed to see him perform live ... until now, as Karl 'Chalky' White has just uploaded footage from a gig he did in Nov. 2012 at The Wilton Ballroom, Castleford, Yorkshire (along with footage from other gigs e.g. Richard Caiton).  The Wilton evens were run by Dave Box and his wife Val, Sadly Dave is no longer with us but he posted a detailed interview with Darrow Fletcher on Soul Source in Aug. 2012 Darrow Fletcher - The Interview - The Full Story.

I did a post on Darrow some time ago (Aug 2009), it was originally on my Modern Soul blog which is no longer maintained but is still live.

The sound quality is not brilliant as it captures a lot of the background noise, so if you want to hear the  recorded versions here's the track list.

Changing By The Minute

Honey Can I - great track which is pretty hard to find as it's only on the issue of Rising Cost Of Love [Atlantic] and most copies are same sided promos! I can find only 3 ever listed on Popsike and needless to say latest price is around £200.

(Love Is My) Secret Weapon

The Pain Gets A Little Deeper

No Limit

The Rising Cost Of Love

It's No Mistake - if I had to choose, this would be my favourite track of his!

What Have I Got Now - superb

Sunny - unreleased Crossover recording first issued on Kent compilation in 2012

Barbara Mason & The Futures [1975] - We Got Each Other [Buddah #BDA-481-N]

Staying in a mellow mood, a track that keeps popping up on my YT feed is by Barbara Mason & The Futures.  In the same vein as the Dells/Dramatics & Chuck Cissel tune posted earlier. A wonderful deep soul ballad 'We Got Each Other'.  I've never really listened much to The Futures, considering them to be mainly a funk outfit, but they compliment Barbara Mason beautifully on this track, perhaps I need to explore their catalogue further?  The deep male vocal is terrific. I've no idea which member it is, if anyone knows please leave a comment.  Barbara responds to 'I love you Barbara' with 'I love you too Johnny', at 2:27 so does this hint/suggest that it's John King?

As far as I can see it was only ever issued as the flip to 'Make It Last' (a pleasant modern soul dancer) on Buddah in 1975 reaching #38 US R&B. It looks like originally 'Make It Last' was scheduled as A side as promos have it on both sides, but the issue has 'We Got Each Other' as A side.  Perhaps it was considered a double A sides as 'Make It Last' also entered US R&B chart reaching #35 US R&B. There is, however, a double sided promo for 'We Got Each Other' which has mono short version on A side and stereo long version on the B side. The only other appearance I can find is as a bonus track on The Futures - Castle In The Sky reissue on CD in 2013, and it is longer than the single version at 6:01, so I've posted both the single and the album version.  It does not seem to feature on any of Barbara Mason's studio albums for that period.

The Fuzz [1971] - Ooh Baby Baby [Calla SC-2001]

A superb version and completely different arrangement to Smokey's classic.  Released in 1971 on their, self-titled, only album.

Sheila Young, Barbara (aka Roberta) Gilliam and Val Williams were a female vocal trio from Washington, D.C. They were originally called The Passionettes who changed their name to The Fuzz when they signed to Calla in 1971.

Discogs states that The Passionettes were formed in 1970, but I believe that this may be incorrect as there is another group called The Passionetts (without the 'e' at end) who recorded 2 45s in the 60s 'My Fault' / 'My Plea' on Path in 1965 (My Fault was played in mid 80s on NS scene covered up as Norma Jenkins & The Dolls) and 'My Life Depends On You'  / 'I'm Not In Love With You Anymore' in 1969 on Soul Burst (the only 45 listed for the label).  Listening to these tracks, they do sound like it may be the same group. What do you think?

As The Passionettes, they recorded only one 45 on Uni, 'Sister Watch Yourself' (a sister funk track also recorded by The Mirettes on Uni on their Midnight Hour album in 1969) / 'Stand By Your Man'  originally written and recorded by Tammy Wynette  of course, and also recorded by The Mirettes on Uni  in 1969 and released as a single.

The Fuzz is best known in Northern Soul circles for their 1971 Calla 45  'I'm So Glad'.

They have slightly raised the tempo of the original and it has an almost reggae/lovers rock feel about it.

Gloria Scott [1974] - That's What You Say (Everytime You're Near Me [Casablanca #NB 9002]

Gloria Scott is best known for '(A Case Of) Too Much Love Makin' which I posted several versions of a few days ago.  Here's another track from her only album 'What Am I Gonna Do' (produced by Barry White), which saw a 45 release only as a promo in France in 1975.  It was reissued along with '(A Case) Of Too Much Love Makin' on UK label Go Ahead (owned by Richard Searling & Sean Hampsey)  in 2012.

She recorded her first 45 in 1964 as Gloria Scott & The Tonettes - I Taught Him on Warner Bros..  A rockin' R&B tune written and produced by Sly Stewart (Sly & The Family Stone).  It failed to chart and later she became an one of The Ikettes, before meeting Barry White who signed her on a 7 year contract, but owing to his own career taking off, and being signed to a start up label, which Casablanca was at the time, Scott was neglected.  

Only one album and 2 singles were released.  The first 2 singles entered R&B charts, 'What Am I Gonna Do' / 'What Shall I Do' (an instrumental version of A side) reached #74 R&B and non-album track 'Just As Long As We're Together' / 'There Will Never Be Another' (again an instrumental of A side) reached #14 R&B (it was also issued in UK, NL, NZ).  A the third single '(A Case Of) Too Much Love Makin' / What Am I Gonna Do was only released in Australia and  is now a very much an in-demand item.  As previously stated, the track posted here was a promo only in France and was the B side to What Am I Gonna Do. 

Allegedly she recorded another album arranged by H. B. Barnum which was never released.  Now that's an album I'd like to hear!

You can listen to all the album tracks on this YouTube playlist.

Buddy Connor / World's Funkiest Band - When You're Alone

Buddy Conner/Connor [1970/72] - While I'm Alone [Breakthrough 1003/1004]

There are two version of this 1003 1970 orange label credited as Buddy Conner (same both sides) and 1004 1972 red/orange label credited as Buddy Connor.

World's Funkiest Band [1978] - While I'm Alone [California Gold # CG 79]

It was also issued on another Joey Jefferson label, California Gold (he also owned Breakthrough and Mutt & Jeff) in 1978 by The World's Funkiest Band.  I can't hear much difference between this and the Buddy Connor version, so is it actually the same track?  I think the general consensus is that it is exactly the same record, any difference is in the quality of the recording, however this version will cost you around £40-£50 whilst the buddy Connor sells for £200-£300

The Dells & Dramatics / Chuck Cissel - Love Is Missing From Our Lives

Just listening to this on Shaun Evans superb Triple S Show podcast by The Dells & The Dramatics.  If you're open minded and like deep, crossover and modern soul then I highly recommend Shaun's weekly soul show which he posts as a weekly 2 hour podcast on Mixcloud. 

Back to the record, whilst the Dells/Dramatics version is superb, so is Chuck Cissel's version which is album only released on his second, and last, album If I Had A Chance in 1982.

The song was written by Detroit Northern Soul legend Tony Hester, it just builds and builds to a crescendo of deep soul wonderfulness!

Hester left as far too early in 1980, aged only 37, and wrote so many songs adored on the scene, but his most successful commercial period was the early 70s with The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (1971 #3 R&B #9 Hot !00), In The Rain (1973 #1 R&B #5 Hot 100) and Hey You! Get Off My Mountain (1973 #5 R&B #43 Hot 100)

I'm not aware of anyone else covering this beautiful song. If you know of any others then please leave a comment.

The Dells & Dramatics [1975] - Love Is Missing From Our Lives [Cadet #CA 5710]

Features Ron Banks and Marvin Junior interchanging on lead.

It featured on The Dells Vs. The Dramatics album from 1974 in full 4:39 version and was also released on 45 as an edited 3:26 version.

Chuck Cissel [1982] - Love Is Missing From Our Lives [Arista #AL 9851]

Chuck Cissel's recording career was short spanning 1979-82, releasing 2 albums and a handful of singles.  He's probably best known for his disco hit Cisselin' Hot in 1979, the flip side 'Do You Believe' was played on the Modern soul scene.  The debut 45 released before this was 'Don't Tell Me Your Sorry' which has become a sought after item in more recent years, although has been played for a long time - I believe that Richard Searling played it in the later years of Wigan Casino, but it was much later before it became a big sound.  I was fortunate to find one years ago for the princely sum of 20p, but a copy now sells anywhere between £150-£200 such is the demand for it. It is a fine example of 70s Northern Soul.