Born Ronaldo Edward Jones in March 1950, he was nicknamed Domino because his
voice was sweet as sugar, Domino being an American sugar brand name.
He had a relatively short recording career releasing only 7 singles
between 1967-1971. His first 45 was recorded whilst he was still
attending high school on a tiny label Arnell on a low budget. It is the only release on the label listed on Discogs and isn't even
listed on 45Cat. I can't find a sound clip for the B side so suspect it is
probably quite rare now as they only pressed a small amount, and was possibly a
private/custom press. I only found 2 listed on Popsike, the last one selling in 2016 for £500, the other copy sold in 2013 for $321
but the condition was desribed as poor with stained and written on
labels.
I did actually find another release on the label (Arnell #1002) written
by the same writer (Melvin Johns),
Magnificents - Don't Grip / Song For My Father. I don't know if it's the Horace Silver song as no label scan for
it.
The Arnell 45 did well enough for him to get signed to Smash (a Mercury
subsidiary) where he released two 45s, re-recording 'I'm Hip To Your Game'
for his second Smash single, as it's a different version to the one
released on Arnell. His third 45 was released on another Mercury
subsidiary, the now revived Blue Rock which had been 'suspended' since
1966 and reacivated in 1968. The records sold reasonably well
locally but Dominio left to join Twinight, feeling that his material
wasn't being promoted by Mercury, where he released a further three
singles between 1969-71. Twinight released him in 1971 and despite trying
to get another recording contract he was unsuccessful and left the music
business to pursue another career.
He was managed by William Sandy Johnson who also managed LaShawn
Collins and Wendy Woods who recorded on Johnson's Sincere label, the
only 2 releases on the label. He also wrote Renaldo Domino's first
4 A sides: 'I'm Getting Nearer To Your Love', 'Just Say The Word', 'Not Too Cool
To Cry', 'Let Me Come Within'. In addition he wrote 'Do It Now'
for Wendy Woods and the flip to LaShawn Collin's classic 'What You
Gonna Do Now', 'Girl Chooses The Boy'.
In 2007 Numero group reissued Not Too Cool To Cry / Nevermore on a look
alike Twinight label with the same cat. no. as the original and he has
subsequently released 4 new singles in 2008, 2017, 2019 and 2020 so is
still active. It is his photo that appeared on the sleeve of Numero
Group's Eccentric Soul:
Twinight's Lunar Rotation
which features his complete Twinight catalogue.
Here's some footage posted on 26 Sep 2020 of him performing. It features his latest single released in 2020 so I assume that it
must have been recorded last year. I must say that he looks very
sprightly for being 71.
1 - Let Me Come Within 1970
2 - Not Too Cool to Cry 1969
3 - No Laggin’ and Draggin’ 2020
4 - Move On Up
Discography
Renaldo Domino & The Orientations
1967 -
I'm Hip To Your Game
/ I Love My Girl [Arnell #1001]
The original cut and different from the one later released on Smash. A
'softer' more lo-fi version released on Arnell
Renaldo Domino
1967 -
I'm Getting Nearer To Your Love
/
Don't Go Away
[Smash #S-2127]
A: Soul Harmony
B: Northern Soul
1968 -
I'm Hip To Your Game
/
You Don't Love Me No More
[Smash #S-2160]
A: Sweet Soul Harmony
B: Northern Soul
1968 -
Just Say The Word
/
Don't Go Away
[Blue Rock #B-4061]
A: 'Dreamy' mid-paced NS/crossover/Soul Harmony
B: Same as track released on Smash
1969 -
Not Too Cool To Cry
/
Nevermore
[Twinight #128]
A: Deep Soul Harmony
B: Deep soul
God forbid, apparently Cherly Cole sampled Nevermore on Heaven in
2009!
1970 -
Let Me Come Within
/
I'm A Good Man
[Twinight #139]
A: Funky
B: Superb soulful Deep Soul Harmony
1971 -
You Need To Be Loved On
/
I'm A Good Man
[Twinight #147]
A: Funky
B: Same as Twinight 139
Later Releases:
2008 -
I'll Get You Back
/ Two Years, Four Days
[Sincere #ES-004]
A: Sweet Soul Harmony ballad
B: Modern soul / crossover / Neo Northern Soul
2017 - Mercy On Me / Lady (You Are My Woman) [Pravda]
A: Deep Soul ballad
B: Deep Soul ballad
2019 -
Never Thought / xRob Black - Never Thought (Versio) [Happy As A Lark]
A: A reggae tune
B: Reggae 'version'
2020 -
No Laggin' And Draggin'
/
Give Up The Love
[Colemine #CLMN-180]
A: Funky Northern Soul
B: Neo Northern Soul
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