Gene Chandler [1966] - I Fooled You This Time / Such A Pretty Thing [Checker #1155]

Following on from the early Gene Chandler tracks posted, I couldn't resist posting his first of four releases on Checker between his time with Constellation and Brunswick from 1966, although, oddly, his Checker and Brunswick releases seemed to overlap between 1967-68.

The top side is a 'so soulful' deep soul ballad, whilst the flip is a typical Chicago skip-a-long Northern Soul floater - a perfect double-sider, and a cheapie - you should be able to pick one of these up for under a fiver!  Personally, I'd rather have a collection full of records like this than a handful of 'trophy' 45's costing the earth, but that's just me!

Gene Chandler / Loleatta Holloway - What Now

In the last post I put up 4 tracks from Gene Chandler's 'The Girl Don't Care' album. It reminded me of his earlier 45 'What Now' from 1964 written by Curtis Mayfield. This, in turn, reminded me of Loleatta Holloway's superb rendition from her 'Loleatta' album from 1976 on Gold Mind (released on Salsoul in UK).

Loleatta Holloway [1976] - What Now [Salsoul #GZS-7500]

Loleatta Holloway [1976] - Worn Out Broken Heart [Salsoul #GZS-7500]

Another great deep cut from 'Loleatta' is the Sam Dees / Sandra LaVerne Drayton penned 'Worn Out Broken Heart' which he recorded himself in 1974 on Atlantic.

Sam Dees [1974] - Worn Out Broken Heart [Atlantic #45-3205]

The other side of this is well worth checking out too - a fantastic modern soul tune 'Come Back Strong' a long time favourite on the modern soul scene that's been played for decades.

Sam Dees is a prolific writer of good quality soul music.  The list of great songs he's written is endless so I won't even start, suffice to say if you see anything he's been involved in just buy it blind, you'll rarely be disappointed.

Gene Chandler [1965] - Here Comes The Tears [Constellation #C-164]

A class slab of Chicago soul, I guess you'd label this as a beat ballad. Released in 1965 on Constellation but did absolutely nothing, it didn't even enter the US R&B chart!

I found this whilst going through my albums as it appears on ' The Girl Don't Care' LP from 1967 on Brunswick, so checked to see if it ever got a 45 release.  Written by Gerald Sims.

Gene Chandler [1966] - Bet You Never Thought [Constellation #C-166]

Whilst we're here, another track I've always liked from the album is 'Bet You Never Thought'. This got a 45 release on the flip to 'Baby That's Love' in 1966 on Constellation, another one that didn't bother the US R&B chart.

Gene Chandler [1966] - (I'm Just A) Fool For You [Constellation #C-167]

And yet another great track, co-written by Gerald Sims and Carl Davis, from the album which got a release as a flip side, this time to 'Buddy Ain't It A Shame' on the next Constellation release and didn't see any chart action.

Gene Chandler [1967] - To Choose [Brunswick #BL 54124]

To round this off here's a great deep soul ballad which is album only.