Margaret Little [1966] - Love Finds A Way [Genebro #230 G]

A week or so ago I posted up the latest story on 'The World's Rarest Soul Record' and suggested that there were many other records almost as rare and posted up a few rarities as examples.  Well here's another.  

There are only a handful of know copies of this 45 by Margaret Little in existence.  It is the only record listed for the Genebro label based in Detroit.  The song was written by Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie and Tony Hester and arranged and produced by Mike Terry for Bandwagon Productions so almost guaranteed Northern Soul status based on that!

Margaret Little was born in 1945 and was the daughter of a member of The Four Kings. Her father divorced her mother when she was young and didn't have much to do with her upbringing.  She auditoned for Motown but was told her voice wasn't what they were looking for!  

How the single got released as one off, on a one off label, remained a msytery until I came across this great article by Andy Rix who interviewed Margaret Little, it was posted in Feb 2013 but interview may have been much earlier.

A well respected contributor on Soul Source seems to recall that the label name came from the name of the person who sponsored the recording. Gene Bro...., Bro being an abbreviation of his surname but he didn't recall the full name, but it has been suggested that it may be Brooks which would connect with the writer J. Brooks on the B side.  It is also speculated that this is a custom press following the 'legend' that Popcorn Wylie was being pestered by his postman to record his daughter and this is the result.  In Andy's article above, Margaret seems to recall that Brooks may have been Wylie's barber.

Much of the info above was gleaned from this thread on Soul Source

'Love Finds A Way' has been played on the NS scene since around 2001 (it is claimed that the first play was at the last Albrighton all-highter on 1st Dec 2001 by Soul Sam) and is still popular today as, since there are only a few copies,  it hasn't been hammered to death and  is a guaranteed floor filler.  I remember the first time I heard this played by Sam and doiing the 'walk of shame' to the decks to discover who it was. I guess he would have had it covered up for quite a while before it was known but I don't recall the cover up name.

Checking on Popsike, there have been 5 sales since 2004 (some may be the same record changing hands), with the price ranging between  £4,610-£5,762, the last sale being 10 years ago on 6th Apr 2010.  One sale was for a cracked copy which still achieved £500!

The scans aren't the best quality but as you can imagine with such a rare record they are  difficult to come by.

Margaret Little [1966] - I Need Some Loving [Genebro #230 G]

The flip has another Northern dancer written by Wylie, J, Brooks & H. Stone

Margo & The Marvettes [1967] - When Love Slips Away [Pye #7N.17423]

I haven't posted much Northern Soul for a while so let's put that right!.  I don't normally like (approve of?) many 60s blue-eyed covers, but this cover of Dee Dee Warwick's classic, recorded the same year, is an exception.  Margo Burns from County Down, Northern Irleand and her Marvettes do a terrific job.

There are a few other versions by The Fashions (1968 on 20th Century Fox and also got a UK release on Stateside), The Identities (released twice in 1970, first on House Of Fox and then on Together titled as 'When You Find Love Slipping Away' - this is a great crossover version) and also by Jay & The Techniques on their 1968 'Lost And Found' album on Smash.

Margo & The Marvettes are only credited with four 45s all released between 1964-1967, with this being their last.  All the others are 60s beat tunes that are of not much interest to soul lovers.

Margo released a solo single in 1964/65 under the name Sherri Weine 'Dont Forget' / 'Start The World Spinning', produced by Shel Talmy on World Artists in US.

In 1968 Pye changed her name to Liza Dulittle and released a single 'I've Got To Get A Grip Of Myself / Did You Hear A Heartbreak Last Night'.  Parlophone, her label before Pye, also changed her name to Sherry Cantrell as she was married to Tony Burns from the group and they didn't think it was a good image for the band for fans to know she was married!  I don't know if anything was released under that name but I can't find anything.

Margo released another solo single in 1969 on Deram called 'The Spark That Lights The Flame / Left Over Love. 'Left Over Love' is a pleasant enough pop/soul outing.

Her name was changed again to Maggie Brown and she released her next 45 in 1970 on Penny Farthing  'You're My Little Bit Of Sunshine / O.K. Have It Your Way'. After having no hits, the group disbanded in 1972.  

I've come across a couple of further releases from 1981 billed as Margo & The Nitelife - one being 'Fairytale' a country / soul song written and recorded by Pointer Sisters, and 'Soulful Dress' a cover of Sugar Pie Desanto written by Maurice McAllister, the other being 'Behind The Footlights' (another country song) and a cover of Paul Simon's 'Gone At Last'.

She performed with her husband Trevor as Take Two and in 1987 started performing in Mallorca in the sumer season.

The flip side 'I'll Be Home' is a slow soul/country ballad which may be of interest to 'Lowriders'?

As a bonus here's some TV footage of Dee Dee Warwick performing the song.  Dee Dee passed away in 2008 and was, unortunately,  always in the shadows of her older sister Dionne even though she released some great material.

Mark Capanni & Jackson Sisters - I Believe In Miracles - A Mash Up

The Rare Groove classic by The Jackson Sisters was also recorded later by Mark Capanni who co-wrote the song with Bobby Taylor.  Taylor is credited with bringing The Jackson 5 to Motown in 1968 and produced their first album.

The Jackson Sisters version did virtually nothing on release, reaching a paltry #89 on US R&B chart, but was picked up on by the UK Rare Groove scene in the 80s and was subsequently reissued in the UK in 1987 and got to #72 on UK Pop chart.

This 'mash-up' was originally posted on Soundcloud.  Capanni's version is rather bland in comparison to Jackson Sisters so Capanni's vocals are overlaid on Jackson sisters backing.

I've also posted the individual versions for comparions.

Mark Capanni [1974] - I Believe In Miracles [Capitol #3982]

Jackson Sisters [1973] I Believe In Miracles [Prophesy #ZS7 3005]

Marion Jarvis [1974] - Hell Of A Fix [Roxbury #RB 2000]

I now nothing about Marion Jarvis except that she released two 45s in the eary 70s on Roxbury.  It appears that the second single was promo only in the US and only released in UK.

Not even the knowledgeable Mr. Ridley at SirShambling is able to shed any more light except that he states he woudn't be surprised if these were recorded in Memphis.

However, I wonder if this 45 released in 1978 on Encore by Marion Javius is the same artist as the voice sounds similar?

Waiting In The Wings

A Fool's Love Song

Her debut single is a superb slice of 70s deep soul which entered US R&B chart in Oct 1974 peaking at #25 and spent 15 weeks on the chart, so must have been quite popular at the time. The flip 'Get It' is typical early 70s funky soul which unfortunatley doesn't warrant posting.

Marion Jarvis [1975] - Penny For Your Thoughts [Roxbury #RB 2012 / Chelsea (UK) #2005 038]

The follow-up single is a sweet soul number popular on the Lowrider scene.  It was written by Kenny Nolan who had several hit songs recorded in 70s, probably the most well know is LaBelle's Lady Marmalade. 

The flip side 'A Good Man To Wake Up To' was only on the UK issue as US was same-sided promo and I can't find a label scan or sound file so have no idea what it's like, but I would guess from the title that it may also be another ballad?

Mary Wilson [1980] - Pick Up The Pieces [Motown #TMG 1177]

Staying in a two-step mood and another from 1980 which only got a UK release as a single.  Taken from her debut solo self-titled album on Motown, from the beautiful Supreme Mary Wilson.

Mary Mundy [1980] - Mother Nature [Image #IM-308

Here's a few of the top tracks off the highly sought after (and rare) Modern Soul / Rare Groove album 'Mother Nature' by Mary Mundy released on the New York Image label in 1980.  A near mint copy currently sells for almost £400.

You Put A Hurtin’ On Me

Classic two-step

Take Me In Your Arms

The Ride Is Over

Deep deep soul

Mother Nature

Jazz flavoured title track

Mary Mary [2011] - Survive [Columbia #88697 62330 2]

Just came across this track which I'd completely forgotten about whilst sorting out my digital files, so thought I'd share it as it is sooo good!

Gospel tinged duo Mary Mary (Erica and Trecina 'Tina' Atkins-Campbell) burst onto the scene in 2000 with their 'Shackles (Praise You)' from their debut album 'Thankful'.  This track is album only (as far as I can tell as you can never really tell these days with digital releases!) from their 2011 album 'Something Big'.