James Ralph Bailey's solo career may not be that well known but he wrote several hit
songs, often with Ken Williams.
He co-wrote with Williams and Rudy Clark, The Main Ingredient's biggest
hit 'Everybody Plays The Fool' and also with Williams and Mel Kent 'Let Me Prove My Love For You' which was
sampled by Alicia Keys for 'You Don't Know My Name' in 2003.
It is now widely believed that he was also the elusive Chuck Wood who wrote
(with Vernon Harrell who was a member of The Coasters in the 60s) and
recorded another NS monster
'Seven Days Too Long'
on Roulette which sadly gets neglected since it was released as the flip to
the infamous 'Footsee' by Wigan's Chosen Few on Pye Disco Demand in 1974,
but it is the archetypal 'proper' Northern Soul sound. The same year (1967)
he also wrote a big Twisted Wheel tune with Harrell for The Platters
'Sweet, Sweet Lovin'.
Ken Williams had a popular NS tune with his 1967 OKeh outing 'Come
Back' and also as a member of The Superiors with 'What Would I Do' on Verve
(which he wrote with another writer with many different credits i.e. as
Wood/Ward/Dick Wood/Dick Ward so could this be a psedonym for Bailey?). This
group shouldn't be confused with a group with the same name who released
'I'd Rather Die' on Sue who later became the Dynamic Superiors on Motown (as
they have been on Discogs).
Some other top songs written by Williams include The Spellbinder's
'Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again)'
(Columbia 1966). Toni Lamarr
'It's Too Late' (Buddah 1967), Peaches & Herb
'Me And You'
(Date 1967) with Francine 'Peaches' Hurd/Barker, Sandra Phillips
classic
'Hoping You'll Come Back'
(OKeh 1968) with an F.P. (Francis Peck) Sturm who I think may actually be
Peaches using a pseodonym as nearly al her credits are for Peaches &
Herb; Bobby Treetop
'Wait Till I Get To Know Ya'
(Tuff 1967), The Fundamentals
'Let Me Show It To You' (OKeh 1967), Total Eclipes
'You Took Our Heart (That Was Torn To Pieces)' (Right On 1970).
Another song he wrote with Williams that he did record in 1972 was
'Love, Love, Love'
later recorded by
Donny Hathaway
in 1973. I've also found an obscure version by
Chuck Proffitt on Lar Ron
(undated and no sound clip) which sold for
£1,233 in Nov 2020.
The song featured here is Just Me 'N You which was album only from the 1974
album of the same name (full album below). It was
covered by Eramus Hall
in 1980 on their debut album 'Your Love Is My Desire'. The group were named
after a building in Chicago by George Clinton. The album was recorded in
1978 but not released until 1980 but very few copies left Detroit making
this a particulary rare album selling for up to £500. One of the group
members was Joe Anderson who had a big modern soul tune played 'You And Me',
(Buddah 1975) the backing of which was used by Ed Summers on 'I Can
Tell' (Soya 1980). (I posted both versions
here). P-Funker Garry Shider featured on their second album.
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