The Counts [2021] - What's It All About / Watch The Clock [Soul Junction #SJ1017]

The latest offering from Dave Welding's Soul Junction are two sides from Detroit's The Counts aka The Fabulous Counts. The 'main' side is their superb modern soul classic "What's It All About", which was the only release on Terry Mendelson's T.M. label in 1978, coupled with a previously unreleased  funk track. Terry Mendelson is the brother of Bernie Mendelson who produced The Floaters self-titled debut album in 1977.

The single will be released on vinyl only on 12 Nov 2021 and is available to pre-order from Soul Junction website.

"What's It All About" was written by Leroy Emmanuel who also performs the lead vocals. It was part of a self-funded session recorded in Atlanta in 1978 from which the previously unreleased flip "Watch The Clock" is taken written by Mose Davis who is also lead vocalist on the track.

One of the original members of the group was Jim White who I wonder, and wouldn't be surprised, if it is the same Jim White who has recently released a load of previously unreleased 80s material.

The Fabulous Counts were originally a Detroit High School group of five musicians who were later joined by Leroy Emanuel and managed by Fred McClure who also managed The Metros. They regularly worked with Dwight 'Spyder' Turner and were initially billed on his major hit "Stand By Me" as Spyder Turner & The Fabulous Counts but their name was dropped due to contractual reasons at the insistence of their manager Fred McClure.

They recorded three singles on Ollie McLaughlin’s Moira label in 1968-69 all of which appeared on a Cotillion album "Jan Jan" in 1969 along with some cover versions. In 1970 they left Moira to join Westbound changing their name to The Counts where they released just one single and an album "What's Up Front That-Counts" in 1971, which gained a CD reissue in 1994 and included both sides of the 1978 T.M. 45.

However, whilst still at Wesbound they recorded another three singles, one under the pseudonym  Bad Smoke on Chess and two as Lunar Funk on Bell.

They then moved to Atlanta becoming a quartet, with two members  (Jim White and Raoul Mangrum) deciding to remain in Detroit, joining Michael Thevis's Aware label releasing two albums and four singles between 1973-75.

Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Soul Junction
Cat No:	SJ1017
Date:	15/12/2021
Key/BPM:	6B/110 / N/A
Value:	£12