Greg Perry [2021] - One For The Road (Expanded Edition) [Republic Records]

An expanded edition of Greg Perry's 1975 debut album "One For The Road" has been remastered and reissued (digitally) on 2 Jul 2021. It says 'expanded' but there is only one additional track "The Boogie Man" which was his first single for Casablanca in 1974.

He released his first single in 1967 on Chess which has a Northern Soul following "Love Control" / "Head Over Heels (In Love)" both good sides. There's a pedigree behind the single as he co-wrote the A side with Harold Thomas of The Masqueraders and the B side with Detroit legend Sydney Barnes with both sides being arranged by Charles Stepney who worked with most of the top Chess acts such as Rotary Connection (which included Minnie Riperton), The Dells, Ramsey Lewis, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf etc.

Greg Perry is one of five brothers all involved in the music industry with the best know, to rare soul followers at least, being Jeff Perry (aka Jeffree) who has released some superb music. You can read a bit more about the brothers on the post I did for Jeff Perry last year.

Greg was married to Edna Wright (aka Sandy Wynns) who was the lead singer of Holland Dozier Holland's Hot Wax act Honey Cone, and the sister of Darlene Love (The Blossoms but was also an uncredited singer with The Crystals and a highly sought after session singer). Edna died only last September. I guess they must have met at Invictus/Hot Wax as Perry was a keyboard player for the labels. I just noticed from the credits that Edna Wright was an executive producer for the album, and from reading the album sleeve she also provided background vocals with several of the Perry brothers..

Whilst listening to the album again, his voice reminds me of another artist, perhaps a bit like his brother on his album "Jeffree", but also similar to Leroy Hutson in places. The killer tracks are the title track "One For The Road", "Come On Down (Get Your Head Out Of The Clouds)", "Variety Is The Spice Of Life" (the two previous tracks were released together on a 45 in 1975 and was his biggest hit reaching #24 R&B) and "Will She Meet The Train In The Rain?", in fact the whole album is a good listen!

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Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Republic Records / Casablanca
Cat No:	None / NBLP 7009
Year:	2021 /1975
Value:	£9.90 / £15-£30