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Friday 8 January 2021

Carolyn Franklin - Discography


I was prompted to do this post after an aricle in The Guardian newspaper published yesterday (7th Jan 2021). The article refers to a rehearsal session which I have been fortunate to have found some footage of and posted below.
Carolyn Franklin was the youngest of 6 children of New Bethel Baptist Church minister Rev. Cecil L. Franklin and of course sister to Aretha and Erma. She wrote many songs for Aretha, arguably, two of her very best: 'Ain't No Way' and  'Angel', and certainly two of my favourites by her. 

Amazingly, I found a few clips that someone has posted of Aretha rehearsing 'Ain't No Way' with Carolyn in the footage. They are each about a minute long, a great piece of history.

Ain't No Way has been covered by many artists in every decade since its release, but the best versions for me are Joann Garrett 1968, Jean Carne 20 years later in 1988, Aaron Neville in 1993 and Meli'sa Morgan almost 40 years later in 2005.

Surprisingly, 'Angel' hasn't been covered as much (only about 10 covers and 3 of these are by British artists Kokomo, Simply Red and Brian McFadden (Westlife) & Mica Paris (duet)). The best by a long way is Walter Jackson's retitled, album only, version 'Gotta Find Me An Angel' on 'I Want To Come Back As A Song' in 1977.  Kokomo's version is a decent one and Mica Paris' performance is excellent - she should have recorded it solo.

Franklin released 5 albums and 8 singles on RCA between 1969-72. Prior to that she released a couple of singles as Carol Carroll on Double L.  Soul Brother in UK released two tracks from her 1976 album 'If You Want Me' on a 45 in 2014.

She retired from the music business in 1976, but made an appearance in The Blues Brother's movie in 1980 as one of Aretha's backing singers.  She died of breast cancer in April 1988. aged just 43. Erma died in 2002 aged 64 and Aretha in 2018 aged 76, but all have left us a legacy of some fine music that will enjoy for many years to come.

Several of her recordings were produced by NS legend Jimmy Radcliffe who's recording of Bacharach & David's 'Long After Tonight Is All Over' was played as the first of the 'Three Before Eight' played at the end of every Wigan Casino all-nighter (the other two were Tobi Legend - 'Time Will Pass You By' and Dean Parrish - 'I'm On My Way'). Sadly he died in July 1973 just 2 months before the Casino all-nighters opened their doors, so was unaware of the cult status his record would achieve. He is also loved for his original version of 'My Ship Is Coming In' written by Joey Brooks and also recorded by The Walker Brothers, Walter Jackson and Carmen McCrae, and a reworking of a Pontiac commercial recorded with Steve Karmen's Big Band - 'Breakaway'.

Discography

Albums

1969 - Baby Dynamite! [RCA Victor # LSP-4160]


A1 - Reality *
A5 - Boxer *
B3 - Alone
* = released on 45

1970 - Chain Reaction [RCA Victor #LSP-4317]


A1 - Everybody's Talkin' (From The Film "Midnight Cowboy") *
A3 - Chain Reaction *
B4 - Right On!
* = released on 45

1970 - The First Time I Cried [Joy #JOYS 180]


This was a compilation of earlier material - sounds like early 60s mainly Popcorn recordings.  This is probably borne out by the fact that it includes East Livin' which she released as a single as Candy Carroll in 1964. Joy was a British label distributed by President and on the sleeve it states Rock/Blues/Early Soul so I guess they must have got hold of some previously unreleased masters. The label ceased around 1976 but someone 'must' own the rights but it has never been reissued, hence only a handful of the tracks are posted on YouTube. She wrote 9 of the 12 tracks.

NB this is Erma Franklin's version as can't find Carolyn's
A3 - The First Time I Cried
A4 - Gone Without Me
A5 - A Kiss And A Rose
A6 - Why Must I Always Be The One
B1 - Cry On
B4 - Cry Me A River
B5 - Easy Livin' *
B6 - It Hurts
* = released on 45
1973 - I'd Rather Be Lonely [RCA Victor #LSP-4411]


A5 - Don't See Him Much No More
B1 - Fire & Rain
B2 - Dad
* = released on 45

1976 - If You Want Me [RCA Victor #APL1-0420]


A lovely smooth and soulful mid-tempo ballad 
A2 - If You Want Me *
Superb mellow ballad
Another mood ballad
An almost reggae feel to this stepper
B1 - Dead Man
Superior 'deep' version of the Bell & Creed classic hit by The Sytlistics
Wonderful, moody  mid-tempo ballad
B4 - Song Man
Sistah funk
70s 'modern' Northern Soul
* = released on 45

Kent released her one, and only, compilation in 2016 with 22 tracks which covers all her RCA singles and several album tracks. (NB all have been posted above hence no links, but there is a link to the complete album playlist - click on title)

Singles

Candy Carroll

1963 - You Came A Long Way From St. Louis / Your Cheatin' Heart [Double L #725]

I can't find a clip for You're Cheatin' Heart written by Hank Williams which he recorded in 1953, so unless she did a marvellous rework on it, it's probably of not much interest anyway?

1964 - Easy Living / When I Fall In Love [Double L #LL 731]

No sound clips available
Carolyn Crawford

1969 - Boxer / I Don't Want To Lose You [RCA Victor #47-9734]
A: Northern Soul
B: Soul / Funk
1969 - Reality / It's True I'm Gonna Miss You [RCA Victor #74-0188]
A: Northern Soul
B: Deep Soul Ballad
A: Deep Soul Ballad
B: Sister Funk
1970 - Chain Reaction / Everybody's Talkin' [RCA Victor #74-0314]
A: Soul / Funk
B: Crossover - Her version of the song from Midnight Cowboy written by Fred Neil and made famous by Harry Nillson's version in 1969.

A: Deep Soul Ballad
B: Deep Soul Stepper
1972 - As Long As You Are There / I Want To Be With You [RCA Victor #74-0783]
A: Deep Soul Ballad
B: Soul Ballad Stepper
1973 - If You Want Me / You Are Everything [RCA #APBO-0022]
A: Soul Funk - bouncy crossover
B: Soul Ballad written by Thom Bell & Linda Creed a hit for The Stylistics produced by Jimmy Radcliffe!

A: Classy Soul Ballad
B: Soul Funk - bouncy crossover


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