The World Column - A Profile Of ...

This post was inspired by a recent post on Soul Discovery website by respected rare soul DJ Dave Thorley. He tells the story of how he researched the group The World Column and tracked down a surviving member of the group, Bob Redding.

"So Is The Sun" was one of the biggest tunes on the Northern Soul scene around 1975. I believe it was first 'broken' at Cleethorpes Pier / Winter Gardens and eventually gained a UK release in Feb 1976 by Capitol. As Dave's article alludes, many thought at the time that The World Column were a white rock group as around the same time another big tune was Babe Ruth's "Elusive" who 'were' a white rock group! The publicity photo above shows that they were a mixed race group and Dave has debunked the myth as Bob Redding is African American.

Discogs states that they were from Munster, Indiana which is on the outskirts of Gary (although Dave's article suggests that they were from Gary) which in turn virtually converges Chicago. They were originally called the Seagrams but didn't release any recordings under that name. The original members of Seagrams included Dave Meyer (vocals), Joel Kaplan and Dan Boller. Bob Redding (vocals), Joe Odum (vocals) and Delroy Bridgeman (vocals) were brought in sometime in 1968 after their first single, which is very psych rock, to give the group a more soulful sound and renamed The World Column.

They released two singles as The World Column, the first on Atco in July 1968 followed by their best known on Tower in Oct 1969.

The group underwent some line-up changes and eventually Bob Redding and Delroy Bridgeman became The Love Column who were joined by Miss Madeline (Madeline Strickland) on their only recording, a cover of "You Made Me So Very Happy" and "Can't Get Enough" on Chicago label Duo.

Miss Madeline was previously a member of The Young Folk (previously Baby Miracles) recording a solitary single "Joey"/ "Lonely Girl" on Mar-v-lus in 1967. Later that year she recorded a solo version of "Lonely" along with "Behave Yourself". She later went on sing backing vocals for Loleatta Holloway on her 1978 album "Queen Of The Night" and "Love Sensation" in 1980.

"Can't Get Enough" sounds like an answer song to "You Made Me So Very Happy" written by Floyd Smith (who was married to Loleatta Holloway, so there's the connection, and Smith has been mentioned on the blog previously on Loleatta Holloway Discography and the post on The Look On Your Face) and Leo Graham who later wrote and produced several hits for The Manhattans ("Shining Star") and Tyrone Davis ("Turning Point") and others including Jackie Wilson and Linda Clifford often performing backing vocals.

By 1972 The Love Column had morphed into New World with Bob Redding and Delroy Bridgeman being joined by Doyle Cole and Maxine Crayton who had recorded a single "Don't Take Your Love" / "You Better Stop" on Gordon Keith's Steeltown label in 1967. Gordon Keith is credited as discovering The Jackson Five who recorded their first single "Big Boy" on Steeltown in 1968.

They recorded "Help The Man" / "We're Gonna Make It" on Polydor in 1972, with the latter being an in-demander written by Curtis Mayfield.

The Numero Group unearthed two previously unreleased recordings by New World which they passed to Dave Thorley for his radio shows. They have subsequently been released on vinyl 7" by Eastern Artists Recording Studio in 2020 and even in such a short time are fetching almost £500 on Discogs!

The World Column

1968 - Midnite Thoughts / Lantern Gospel [Atco #45-6604] 

1969 - So Is The Sun / It's Not Right [Tower #510]

Love Column

1970 - You Made Me So Very Happy / Can't Get Enough  [Duo #D-7460]

New World

1972 - Help The Man / We're Gonna Make It [Polydor #PD 14154]

2020 - Lolita / Stand By Me [Eastern Artists Recording Studio #EARS 003]