The original version of this song has long been regarded as a Northern Soul
classic even though it is not typical of the type of record played. In
this post I'll bring you a few other versions, two of which were previously
unreleased until relatively recently.
To kick off this article here's some footage filmed by Richard 'Gilly' Gilbert
and Andy 'Tats' Taylor from arond 1990 on a visit to Detroit showing Johnnie
Mae Mathews and her daughter Audrey (Kaiya) singing part of the song in their
kitchen.
Johnnie Mae Mathews [1967] - Big Hit #TZ 105]
Johnnie Mae Matthews, was dubbed 'The Godmother of Detroit Soul' as she was the first Afro
American woman to own a record company. George Clinton referred to her
as 'Mother Funker'. She created several labels (Northern, Big Hit, Tank,
Reel, Bon, Jam, Art and Audrey, the last two named after her son and daughter respectively) in
Detroit in the 60s on which many future established artists started
their recording career e.g. Otis Williams & The Distants who later
became The Temptations. Apparently Berry Gordy asked her
repeatedly to record for Motown.
This is a highly in-demand rare record, now fetching up to 4
figures. It was written by Sharon McMahan who had her previously
unreleased 1967 version released by Hayley around 2016 (see below).
If you want to read more about her career there is a good article on
SoulfulDetroit.
Black Nasty [1973] - I Have No Choice [Enterprise #ENS 1031]
Taken from their 1973 album 'Talking To The People' on Stax subsidiary
Enterprise. The group contained members of the Matthews family. Artwell
was drummer and Audrey was lead singer. Johnnie Mae Matthews managed
them and produced their album with Sir Mack Rice who had recommended the
group to Stax when he began working at the label.
They released an album on Enterprise and half a dozen 45s, 3 on Big Hit
(Johnnie Mae Matthews label) and 3 on Enterprise. The last single on
Enterprise 'Cut Your Motor Off' was a big NS tune around 1976. Prior
to being named Black Nasty they were know as Raw Integrated Funk and
afterwards changed their name to Nazty (who recorded an album 'I Got To
Move' and two singles for Mankind in 1976) and then ADC Band and continued
recording, mainly on Cotillion (5 albums and a dozen or more 45s), into
the 80s.
Audrey Matthews [2001] - I Have No Choice #Kent #CDKEND 192]
Previously unreleased and discovered on an acetate and believed to be Audrey
Matthews, the daughter of Johnnie Mae Matthews. It first got a release on Kent
Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities CD in 2001 and has since been issued on a
45, on a 'look-alike' Northern label, with her mother's version on the other
side - I don't know whether this is an official release, I suspect not, but is
sells for between £75-£100. It is still not known for sure who the singer is
and many have speculated that it was a demo cut by Sharon McMahan who denies
it , and Audrey Matthews also doesn't recall recording it. She renamed herself
Kaiya and released around 4 singles in the 80s as well as recording with Black
Nasty, Nazty and ADC Band.
Sharon McMahan [2016] - I Have No Choice [Hayley #HR 021]
McMahan wrote the song and recorded a previously unreleased version in 1967 at
Detroit's United Sound Systems which got a released on Hayley around
2016. For some time it was believed that the Audrey Matthews version was
in fact Sharon McMahan, but this has now been dispelled with the release of
her version, which for me is probably the best as the production by Ollie
McLaughlin and arrangement by Mike Terry is fuller.
As an added bonus here's some footage from Cleethorpes Weekender in June
2015 of her performng it live. It is more like Johnnie Mae Mathews version
rather than the Hayley version and starts approx 2:30 into the video.
(Thanks to Karl White for uplodaing the video).
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