The latest, and fifth, 45 release on Alan Kitchener's Soul-Direction label
is set for release later this month. It's from a group known to Northern
Soul followers for their "I Can't Forget About You" and for several sides to
sweet soul lovers / lowriders, even though they only released five singles
it total.
The Decisions were a group of school friends from S.H. Archer High
School, Atlanta, GA who graduated in 1965. The group consisted of Hildred
Thomason (deceased), Fred White, Henry Little, Howard Simpson and Harvey
Poole, although Poole left later to join the U.S. Military. They formed
their own label 'York' in the late 60s, on which they released two singles
in 1969 before joining Sussex in the early 70s where they released three
more singles, two in 1971 and another in 1972.
After leaving Sussex three of the members, which included Fred White,
formed Unity who released just one single on Apex (Newark) in 1973. It was
the only release for both group and label.
Their Northern Soul favourite "I Can't Forget About You", written by
group member Fred White, was issued as the B side of both 1971 Sussex
singles and also gained a UK release on the second issue which has kept
the price down.
The two tracks being released by Soul-Direction are from an almost lost
master tape of tracks recorded in 1968 and would have been a possible
release for the bands own York label. The tapes were sent to an L.A.
music executive in 1968 by the group but were never returned. Alan has somehow got his hands on them and made them available for the first time, released on limited edition vinyl 7" 45 only. Click on label images to pre-order.
Discography
A: Crossover / Sweet Soul Harmony
B: Crossover
Both sides written by Fred White
A: Sweet Soul
B: Crossover
Both sides written by Fred White
A: Sweet Soul
B: Northern Soul
A side was a Bacharach & David song, the B side written by Fred White
with both sides arranged & produced by
Dennis Coffey
& Mike Theodore.
A: Sweet Soul
B: Northern Soul
Both sides written by Fred White and arranged & produced by Dennis Coffey & Mike Theodore.
A: Mid-tempo
B: Crossover
Both sides written by Fred White and co-written and produced by
Michael Stokes. There's an excellent Michael Stokes bio over at
Soul Walking who was only 17 at the time of this release.
Unity
A: Sweet Soul Harmony
B: Crossover
Both sides written by Fred White
2021 - We're In Love / I Love You [Soul-Direction #SD-005]
A: Crossover
B: Sweet Soul Harmony
Both sides again written by group member Fred White.
Rating: | 8.3 |
Genre/Style: | Crossover / Sweet Soul |
Format: | Single |
Media: | 7" |
Label: | Soul-Direction |
Cat No: | SD-005 |
Year: | 07/2021 |
Key/BPM: | N/A |
Value: | £15 |
Looking for a copy of THE DECISIONS ~I LOVE YOU
ReplyDeleteCAN ANYONE HELP?