Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band [2021] - If This Is Love [Outta Site ##BMV003]

A Northern Soul anthem recorded by Detroit's Precisions in 1967 on Drew. Another version was discovered in the 70s by a Jamaican artist Eddie Spencer who recorded a version on Canadian label Arc in 1968. It was reissued in the UK on Power Exchange in 1976 such was its popularity.

Geno Washington recorded it sometime between 1967-1972. It gets its first commercial release on 7 " vinyl by Outta Site soon (date not yet announced).

He is still perfroming live. I saw him a couple of years ago, but have to admit that he's past his best!

The flip side is a previously unknown and unreleased version of another  classic, Ray Pollard's 'The Drifter' by an unknown singer named UK Stuart Smith. This will be about the fifth known version of this song (I posted four of them last year here) and all four covers are by white British singers.

Geno's version of 'If This Is Love' was certainly known about at least 30 years ago as it featured on the Bretby 1st Anniversary giveaway LP in 1992. I understand that it was dubbed from a studio acetate owned then by Chris King.

It also appeared on a Castle compilation CD 'Foot Stompin' Soul' which I believe was first released in 1998 (although Discogs lists it as 2006).

The song was written by Cholly Bassoline, Marty Coleman and Mike Valvano and was The Precisions biggest hit reaching #26 R&B and #60 Hot 100 in 1967. 

Marty Coleman was a member of The Valadiers who released a few 45s on Gordy in the early 60s.

Mike Valvano was lead of Mike & The Modifiers who released one 45 on Gordy in 1962. He recorded couple of solo singles in the 70s and another as Mike & The Modifiers on Ian Levine's Motorcity label in the 90s. In 2010 Outta Site released a whole album by him titled Michael Valvano's Contours 'I'm A Winnner: The Albuquerque Sessions 1978-79'. The promo material states that Valvano was Motown's first white act and that he recorded two albums for them that were never released.

Other known versions:

The Precisions ‎[1967] - If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) [Drew #D-1003] £40-£60

Eddie Spencer  [1968] - If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) [Arc #A 1206] £230-£365

The B side is 'You're So Good To Me Baby' which, to these ears, has some similarities to Sam & Dave's 'Soul Man'.

Spencer recorded only three known singles, the other two were on another Canadian label Goodgroove and these appear to be the last two of only eight releases on the label. The first was 'Power Of Love' and a cover of UK group The Foundations debut single 'Baby, Now That I've Found You which was a UK #1 hit. 'Power Of Love was released as flip to the UK reissue of 'If This Is Love' in 1976. His last 45 was a Northern Soul rendition of Bobby Darin's 'Dream Lover' and a cover of The Moody Blues'  'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'

Jamie & The Numbers ‎[2019] - If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) [ Deltaphonic #NZ-1875-001]

The follow-up single was 'Magic Touch' another cover of a NS favourite recorded originally by Melba Moore on Musicor on 1966 but was unreleased until it appeared on a 6Ts 100 Club 2nd Anniversary single by Kent in 1986. It's first commercial release was on Ady Croasdell's Horace's label in 1987.

UPDATE

Thanks to USMAN47 for leaving a comment stating that Billy Prince (who sang lead on this track for The Precisions) released a version on a live album released only in Spain in 2017.

Billy Prince Of The Precisions [2017] -  The Soulful Member Of The Precisions [Gure Gauza Records #GGLP 101]

I managed to find a clip on YT of him performing it live at the Southpaw in Brooklyn posted in 2010.

And another from Mojo Workin' festival in Spain 2016, which may be when the live recording was done?