Another soul hero departs in 2020! Len Barry, real name Leonard Borisoff, was born in Philadelphia 12th June 1942 and died 5th Nov. 2020 aged 78. The cause of death, stated by his son Spencer, was Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) which is a type of blood cancer that affects bone marrow. Obituary.
Revered on the Northern Soul scene for his blue-eyed soul for '1-2-3' (#3 UK 1965), 'Like A Baby' (#10 UK 1966), 'You Baby', 'It's A Crying, Shame', 'The Moving Finger Writes', 'I Struck It Rich'. I would say that he was one of the most played Blue-eyed soul artists on the scene.
'I'll Always Love You', 'Love, Love, Love', 'When You Call Me Baby' and 'I'm In Love' weren't released until 2007 when they were released on 2 x 45s on That Philly Sound. 'I'll Always Love You', co-written by Barry & Leon Huff, was an 'anthem' by Dean Courtney in mid 70s and likewise for Joey Heatherton's - 'When You Call Me Baby' co-written by Barry, David White, John Madera, Leon Huff. 'Love, Love, Love' was also played by Bobby Hebb and became a #32 pop hit in UK.
'You Baby' was a huge Casino sound also for Jackie Trent released on UK Pye and fetches 3 figure sums these days.
Most of his material from '1,2,3' in 1965 to 1968 has 'that Northern beat', unfortunately, most of the material thereafter doesn't!
I watched this clip only a little while ago chatting with Doris Hall-James in 2018 who met at WMOT and worked together on Fat Larry's Band.
He also worked with these WMOT/Fantasy artists in late 70s/early 80s writing, arranging, producing, Sweet Thunder ('Baby, I Need Your Love Today'), Fat Larry's Band ('Zoom'), Damon Harris ('Silk'), Philly Cream ('Motown Review'), Slick ('Sunrise', 'I Can Understand It')
Discography (of his Northern Soul related recordings)
1964 - Hearts Are Trumps [Cameo #C-315 reissued on Parkway #P-969 in 1965]
1965 - I.O.U. /Treat Her Right [Decca #7-34346] - EP
B2: 1,2,3 part 2! This was on released on the flip side to Johnny Caswell - You Don't Love Me Anymore
B3: R&B
A: Northern Soul His massive world-wide hit in 1965 (#2 US, #3 UK). If you've never heard this then where have you been for the last 55 years? Here he is performing it on Hullabaloo A-Go-Go in 1965.
B: Northern Soul
1965 - Like A Baby / Happiness Is (A Girl Like You) [Decca #31889]
A; Northern Soul
B: Pop
1966 - Somewhere / It's A Crying Shame [Decca #31923]
A: Northern beat applied to the standard
B: Northern Soul
1966 - It's That Time Of The Year / Happily Ever After [Decca #31969]
A: Northern Soul
B: lovely mid-tempo stroller
1966 - I Struck It Rich / Love Is [Decca #32011]
A: Northern Soul
B: Northern Soul
1966 - You Baby / Would I Love You [Decca #32054]
A: Northern Soul
B: Doo-wop'ish ballad
1967 - The Moving Finger Writes / Our Love [RCA Victor #45-9150]
A: Northern Soul
B: Northern Soul
2007 - I'll Always Need You / When You Call Me Baby [That Philly Sound TPS-R101]
A: His version of the song he co-wrote and made famous by Dean Courtney on RCA.
B: A monster sound for Joey Heatherton which he co-wrote
2007 - I'm In Love / Love, Love, Love [That Philly Sound TPS-R102]
A: Northern Soul
B: Northern Soul huge for Bobby Hebb
Album Only
Selected album tracks not released on 45
1965 - 1-2-3 [Decca #DL 4720]
1967 - My Kind Of Soul [RCA Victor #LPM 3823]
cover of The Marvelettes
Previously Unreleased
Many of the tracks above featured on this 2010 compilation The Lost LP from That Philly Sound. I've selected a few additional tracks that appear to e previously unreleased.
Writer/Producer/Arranger
Here's a selection of records that he was involved with.
1966 - Chubby Checker - Hey You! Little Boo-Ga-Loo [Parkway]
1978 - Sweet Thunder - Baby, I Need Your Love Today - Note nothing in credits but he states in interview above he was involved in the production of this, perhaps as part of WMOT Productions.
1979 - Philly Cream - Motown Review