Archie Bell & The Drells [1968] - When You Left Heartache Began / A Thousand Wonders [Atlantic #SC 8181]

Two superb album only crossover tracks from their debut album 'Tighten Up'.  'A Thousand Wonders' did actually get a 45 release, but only in Spain on the flip side to 'Tighten Up' and was reissued in UK in 2004 with 'Here I Go Again' on flip.  Only three tracks on the album were issued on 45: 'Tighten Up Pts 1 & 2' and 'Soldier's Plea'.

The T.S.U.Tornadoes originally released 'A Thousand Wonders' on Houston label Ovide in 1967. It was written by one of the members Cal Thomas. They were Ovide's house band (named after their school, Texas Southern University, and favourite car the Oldsmobile Tornado).  Archie Brell & The Drells released their first three singles on Ovide and the T.S.U. Tornadoes were their backing band. 

'Tighten Up' was originally a B side on Ovide which was picked up by Atlantic after it was a local hit in Houston. It was a #1 hit on both R&B and Hot 100 (needless to say it failed to even chart in the UK at the time!). They have only had three UK Top 40 singles, and two of these owe much to their Northern Soul exposure. 'Here I Go Again' reached #11 in 1972 but was originally released in US in 1969 (as a B side to 'World Without Music') and  'There's Gonna Be A Showdown' reached #36 in 1973, again orginally released in US in 1968, both got their initial exposure on NS dancefloors. 'Soul City Walk' got to #13 in 1976. Two other singles just missed out on Top 40 positions 'Everybody Have A Good Time' #43 1977 and ' Don't Let Love Get You Down' #49 in 1986 which was a reissue from 1976.

Details

Rating:	8.5 / 8.6
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Crossover
Format:	Album
Media:	LP
Label:	Atlantic
Cat No:	SC 8181
Year:	1968
Key:	2B / 1B
BPM:	124 / 132
Value:	£60 (John Manship)

They have, of course, plenty of other quaility tunes only appreciated by soul connoisseurs. A few of the more obscure/lesser known ones to look out for if you're not already familiar with include: (there's loads more but I've tried to list the lesser known ones only).

Atlantic period

1967 - She's My Woman, She's My Girl - sweet soul harmony ballad

1968 - Dog Eat Dog  - this was the A side for the 'Tighten Up' first release on Ovide.

1968 - You're Such A Beautiful Child - B side to I Can't Stop Dancing

1968 - Love Will Rain On You - B side to Do The Choo Choo

1968 - Go For What You Know - B side to Showdown

1969 - Just A Little Closer - B side to I Love My Baby ballad

1969 - My Balloon's Going Up - Gamble & Huff Philly magic

1969 - Girl You're Too Young - anoter Gamble & Huff composition

1969 - Giving Up Dancing - flip to 'Balloon'

1971 - I Just Want To Fall In Love - written by Phillip Mitchell - always a good shout! but it sank without trace not even entering US R&B chart)

1971 - Archie's In Love - another that failed to chart

Glades period

1973 - Dancing To Your Music - this one's had NS spins but not that well known

1973 - Ain't Nothing For A Man In Love - another Phillip Mitchel song

1973 - Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys - and another Phillip Mitchel song

Philadelphia International period

1976 - Right Here Is Where I Want To Be - B side McFadden & Whitehead & John Carstarphen ballad

1976 - Where Will You Go When The Party's Over - for some reason this was never releaed in US as a single - one of the best Philly dancers released!

1977 - There's No Other Like You - another B side McFadden & Whitehead & John Carstarphen ballad

1977 - It's Hard Not To Like You - a modern soul spin which was a B side and another McFadden & Whitehead had a hand in

1978 - Old People - another that's had modern soul spins

1979 - Show Me How To Dance - a Gambe & Huff modern soul stepper which failed to chart

1987 - Look Back Over Your Shoulder (12" version) - Ian Levine production from 1987

Album only tracks

1968 - I Can't Stop Dancing

I've Been Trying - the Curtis Mayfield song

Sometimes I Wonder - another Curtis Mayfiled song best known by Major Lance on OKeh. they also recorded another Mayfield/Lance outing 'Monkey Time'.

1969 - There's Gonna Be A Showdown

Mama Didn't Teach Me That Way - Written By Bell

1975 - Dance Your Troubles Away

I Love You (But You Don't Even Know It) - deep soul ballad from pen of McFadden, Whitehead & Carstaphen

1977 - Hard Not To Like You

Real Good Feeling - another that's had modern soul room spins.

1979 - Strategy

How Can I - album only ballad from Strategy

We've Got Something - a storming modern soul Philly dancer. I'm surprised that his was never release as a single.

Tighten Up At The Disco - blatant Disco exploitation and playing on their biggest hit - but it's got a good backing that's let down by the crass lyrics!