Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Lanier & Co. - Discography


Lanier & Co. released two albums, in 1983 and 1987, and a handful of singles and seemed to disappear after their 1987 album from which this featured track was taken. After some research I discovered that they were previously known as The Jacksonians, so I decided that, rather than just post their modern soul gem from 1987, I'd expand it to a full discography.

Lanier & Co. [1987] - I Don't Know (What To Do About You) [Threeway #WAY102T]

A cracking modern soul tune from 1987 which rarely gets a look in nowadays. The UK extended 12" is a full minute longer than the US 12" version and 2 minutes longer than the album version.  The US 12" posted below in the discography is a different mix which seems a little faster.
I've had this since release and it's always stuck in my mind and is so soulful and still stands up 30 odd years later, unlike so many 80s tunes.


They started out as The Jacksonians around 1968 with the line-up being Farris Lanier Jr. (lead vocals), Fenoye Lanier (drums), Joseph McKinney (keyboards), Lee Freeman (guitar), Mark Brown (trumpet) and Sam Frazier Jr. (tenor sax). Lanier & Co. was the same line up with the addition of Marion Lanier (alto sax) and Milton Price (fender bass). 

I'd hazard a guess that they were from Jackson, TN, from their name?  (There is a 'token' entry for Lanier & Co. on Wiki that confirms this and also states that Farris Lanier died in Nov 2019 aged 70.)

The Jacksonians released their first single in 1968 on Cleveland's Way Out label. It's a funky/R&B affair titled 'Hook It To The Mule' (instrumental on flip) which has Northern Soul appeal/potential.

The only other recordings by The Jacksonians that I can find is a good (deep) cover of The Mamas & The Papas "California Dreamin'" c/w 'Laugh (Tickle Your Belly Button)' which was released on Pawn in 1976. 'Caifornia Dreamin' also seems to have been released three years earlier on MGM in 1973 on the flip to 'Sparkle Eyes', both produced by Dan Greer. Both of these records appear to have been promo only i.e. never actually released.

There was a previously unissued track by them released on a Kent CD compilation 'More Lost Soul Gems From Sounds Of Memphis' in 2014, which is a cover of 'If I Could Build My World Around You' recorded by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. It looks like it was an unissued Sounds Of Memphis (subsidiary of MGM) recording, probably recorded at same session as the MGM promo.  They later also recorded it as Lanier & Co. on their 1983 self-titled album with a reggae feel.

Another couple of unissed tracks I've come across are on another Kent CD compilation from 2010 'Steppin' Stone: The XL & Sounds Of Memphis Story Volume 3'  'I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know' a real deep southern soul tune, and 'Saturday In The Park'. These also appear to be previously unissued Sounds Of Memphis recordings.

I'm not sure when they changed their name to Lanier & Co., but their next recording wasn't until 1982.

Discography

Albums

## prefix denotes album only track. Links to other tracks are in Singles section.

Lanier & Co. [1983] - Lanier & Co. [LARC #LR 8102]

After I Cry Tonight (4:26)
I Just Got To Have You (4:52)
Share Your Love With Me (5:54)
Come On Out, Let's Party (4:11)
##Please Don't Go (3:28)
Fallin' In Love Again (3:28)

Lanier & Co. [1987] - Dancing In The Night [Waylo #WAYLO 13005]

Dancing In The Night (5:42)
Stranger Love Affair (4:05)
I Don't Know (4:05)

##Up In Smoke (5:07)
Afraid Of Losing You (3:51)
Let's Go For It (5:01)
##Lately (3:22)

Singles

The Jacksonians

1968 - Hook It To The Mule (Vocal) / Hook It To The Mule (Instrumental) [Way Out #WAY 1004]

1973 - California Dreamin' / Sparkle Eyes [MGM #K 14640]


Lanier & Co.

1982 - After I Cry Tonight / Living For My Music [LARC #LR 81010] (R&B #23)

1983 - I Just Got To Have You / Come On Out "Let's Party" [LARC #LR-81017] (R&B #47)

1983 - Share Your Love With Me / Fallin' In Love Again [LARC #LR-81021] (R&B #57)

1986 - Let's Go For It / Let's Go For It (Inst) Waylo #WAYLO 3004]

1987 - I Don't Know (What To Do About You) / Super Lady [Waylo #WAYLO-102]
NB Super Lady was a non-album track

1987 - I Don't Know / Afraid Of Losing You [Waylo #3018]

1987 I Don't Know / Afraid Of Losing You [Waylo #WAYLO-12-3018] 
NB I Don't Know is a slighter faster US 12 " mix

1987 - Dancing In The Night / Dancing In The Night [Waylo #Waylo 7-3011]

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