Soul Strutter: Git Shorty [2020] - Walking On Air [MD #MD106]

Monday, 22 March 2021

Git Shorty [2020] - Walking On Air [MD #MD106]

This track appeared on a 2000 CD by Shorty (aka Elbert Ferguson) 'Git Shorty' on Bonedog records recorded at Mojo Boneyard studios. It was released on vinyl for the first time in Feb 2020 by Mark Anderson & Des Parker as their sixth release on their new MD label.

Des knew the studio owner and brought copies back to the UK and some DJs started playing it in the early noughties. It was pressed in the usual limited 300 run and sold out within three weeks of release making it MD's fastest selling release to date.

The song is a cover of O.C. Smith's 'Walking On Air' released on his 1980 album 'Dreams Come True' produced by Van McCoy.

Interestingly, the song was written by twin brothers Mervin & Melvin Steals who were members of The Four Perfections and released just the one single 'I'm Not Strong Enough' on Party Time in 1967 which is regarded as a Northern Soul classic. There a good article about The Four Perfections on Soul Source written by Dave Moore.

They have written songs recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Trammps, Gloria Gaynor, The Impressions, Archie Bell & The Drells, Brenda & The Tabulations, A Touch Of Class, Arthur Prysock and many others. Under the pseudonym Mystro & Lyric (Mervin was Mystro and Melvin was Lyric), they have written songs such as The Detroit Spinners hit, 'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love', Major Harris 'After Loving You' & 'Each Morning I Wake Up' as well as songs recorded by First Choice, Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, Moments Of Truth, Margie Joseph & Blue Magic and others.

MD has just released their eleventh single which contains two previously unreleased (on vinyl) sides by Patty & The Emblems, 'Love Will Come' (1968) with 'She's So Confused' (1964) which is an answer song to 'Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl'. Both sides featured on a 2001 Philly Archives compilation CD 'Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl'.

Check out MD latest releases on their website.