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Monday 22 March 2021

Junior Giscombe [1991] - Morning Will Come [MCA #MCSX 1504]


A great stepper from 1991 by Junior Giscombe which was co-produced by 'The Funky Ginger', Simon Law (original member of Soul II Soul) who I mentioned last week who is the brother of Joanna Law whose 'Rhythm Of Years' track I posted.

Beware of the 1995 version by M-Beat Feat. Junior Giscombe as that's a speeded up jungle version.

It's got a Mazwell vibe about it long before Mazwell arrived on the scene.


Details
Rating: 9.4
Genre/Style: Modern Soul 90s
Format: Single
Media: 12"
Label: MCA
Cat No: None
Year: 2021
Key: N/A
BPM: 84
Value: £1


Chuckii Booker [1992] - Games [Atlantic #PR 4882]


From his sophomere, and last, album 'Nice And Wiild' and released in 1992 as a promo CD/12" single only. 

The song was co-written by the late Gerald Levert (son of O'Jay Eddie Levert and member of Levert and LSG).


Details
Rating: 9
Genre/Style: Neo Soul / Modern Soul
Format: Single
Media:12"/CDs
Label: Atlantic
Cat No: PR 4882
Year: 1992
Key: 3A
BPM: 93
Value: £1


D'Influence [1997] - Magic [Echo #ECSY45]


What a tune! One of the best ever modern soul tunes from D'Influence now nearly 25 years old (as it was released in 1997) but still sounds fresh. With all these rehashes of 70s/disco tunes doing the rounds it's about time one of these producers did a rework of this track!

I've already posted another track from the 'London' album called 'Hypnotize' which was one of only two UK hits they had.


Details
Rating: 9
Genre/Style: Modern Soul
Format: Single
Media: Digital
Label: Echo
Cat No: ECSY45
Year: 1997
Key: 10B
BPM: 109
Value: £3


Rahsaan Patterson [1998] - Where You Are (Silk's Old Skool Mix) [Universal #WMCST 48073]


Rahsaan Patterson was discovered on a US talent show 'Junior Star Search' around 1984 and then won a part in TV series Kids Incorporated. In 1986 he won a follow up show 'Star Search' aged 12.

He released his debut, self-titled, album in 1997. This was the second single from the album which was released with several mixes ranging from an acoustic mix to a deep house mix. The mix that was favoured on UK modern soul dancefloors was Silk's Old Skool Mix.


Details
Rating: 9.5
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: 12"
Label: Universal
Cat No: WMCST 48073l
Year: 1998
Key: N/A
BPM: N/A
Value: £5-£8


Gerald Levert [2000] - Baby U Are [EastWest #67066-2]


As far as I'm concerned this is Gerald Levert's best track. From the 1999 album 'G' and released as a single in 2000.  It scraped into the Hot 100 and peaked at #89.

He died of an accidental drugs overdose (prescribed and over-the-counter) in Nov 2006. He was son on O'Jay Eddie Levert who tragically also lost his other son Sean due to complications of sarcoidosis only six days into a 22 month prison sentence for failing to pay child support in Mar 2008.

They formed the group Levert with Marc Gordon in 1983 and had twelve US R&B top 10 singles, five of them reaching #1.


Details
Rating: 9.5
Genre/Style: Neo Soul
Format: Single
Media: 12"/CDs
Label: EastWest
Cat No: 67066-2
Year: 2000
Key: 11A
BPM: 86
Value: £1


Frank McComb v Stevie Wonder - Golden Lady


This was first played c2000 from a bootleg CDr 'The Motown Sessions' which were unreleased demo recordings he made for Motown. Tracks from the album were subsequently released on UK's Expansion label in 2006 as 'The Truth Vol. 2'. 

This track is a cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Golden Lady' from his 1973 'Innervisions' album, sounding very like Donny Hathaway.

Frank McComb [2006] - Golden Lady [Expansion #XECD 51]


Stevie Wonder [1973] - Golden Lady [Tamla #T 326L]



Rahsaan Patterson v Donell Jones - I'll Go


Rahsaan Patterson wrote and recorded the original version of this tune, which was also recorded by Donell Jones and featured on the soundtrack of 'Love And Basketball' in 2000. I don't think Jones officially released it as only a 12" promo exists of the recording other than on the soundtrack album.

A, now defunct, UK internet radio station Soul24/7.com received a demo from Patterson when he was interviewed by them. Terry Jones played it on his show and at his gigs around the UK. It was then picked up by Ralph Tee's Expansion label and released on 'Soul Togetherness 2001' compilation. As Donell Jones was a hot property at the time, it was decided that he should release it, rather than Patterson, and it came out on a LaFace 12" promo in 2000.

Rahsaan Patterson [2001] - I'll Go [Expansion #EXP 14]


Donell Jones [2000] - I'll Go [LaFace #LFDP-4411]



Tower Of Power [1997] - It Really Doesn't Matter [Epic #EK 68002]


A track picked up on by UK modern soul scene from Tower Of Power 1997 'Rhythm & Business' album. It features Brent Carter on lead vocals who has also recently appeared on a couple of other projects: 'Work To Do' and is lead on Output/Input's current single 'Can't Hide Love'.



Git Shorty [2020] - Walking On Air [MD #MD106]


This track appeared on a 2000 CD by Shorty (aka Elbert Ferguson) 'Git Shorty' on Bonedog records recorded at Mojo Boneyard studios. It was released on vinyl for the first time in Feb 2020 by Mark Anderson & Des Parker as their sixth release on their new MD label.  

Des knew the studio owner and brought copies back to the UK and some DJs started playing it in the early noughties.  It was pressed in the usual limited 300 run and sold out within three weeks of release making it MD's fastest selling release to date.

The song is a cover of O.C. Smith's 'Walking On Air' released on his 1980 album 'Dreams Come True' produced by Van McCoy. 

Interestingly, the song was written by twin brothers Mervin & Melvin Steals who were members of The Four Perfections and released just the one single 'I'm Not Strong Enough' on Party Time in 1967 which is regarded as a Northern Soul classic. There a good article about The Four Perfections on Soul Source written by Dave Moore.

They have written songs recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Trammps, Gloria Gaynor, The Impressions, Archie Bell & The Drells, Brenda & The Tabulations, A Touch Of Class, Arthur Prysock and many others. Under the pseudonym Mystro & Lyric (Mervin was Mystro and Melvin was Lyric), they have written songs such as  The Detroit Spinners hit, 'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love', Major Harris 'After Loving You' & 'Each Morning I Wake Up' as well as songs recorded by First Choice, Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, Moments Of Truth, Margie Joseph & Blue Magic and others.

MD has just released their eleventh single which contains two previously unreleased (on vinyl) sides by Patty & The Emblems, 'Love Will Come' (1968) with 'She's So Confused' (1964) which is an answer song to 'Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl'. Both sides featured on a 2001 Philly Archives compilation CD 'Mixed Up,  Shook Up Girl'.

Check out MD latest releases on their website.

Git Shorty [2020] - Walking On Air [MD #MD106]

O.C. Smith [1980] - Walking On Air [Family #FAM 1000]

Git Shorty [2020] - Walking On Air [MD #MD106]



Maktub [1999] - Just Can't Make It [Jasiri Media Group #JMGCD0023]


A great track from the Seattle based group's debut album 'Subtle Ways' released in 1999. I think it was Gavin Page who first played this in 2000.

The group has released four more albums since this one, their last being released in 2008. Their website is now defunct so it's possible they have now disbanded.



Katie Love & The Four Shades Of Black [1971] - It Hurts So Good [ Muscle Shoals Sound #100]


You may need to put this one on repeat as this is the outstanding original version of the Phillip Mitchell song (credited on this release as Leroy Mitchell) made famous by Millie Jackson two years after Katie Love & crew recorded it. 

Don't be deceived by the 'gentle' intro as Katie Love gets deeper as the song progresses, although her voice sounds quite young.

It was originally released on Muscle Shoals Sound and then got a national release on Specter.

It never ceases to amaze me the injustice of the music business, whilst Millie Jackson's version is good, Katie Love's to my ears is a better arrangement. Jackson's version featured in the blaxploitation movie Cleopatra Jones

The song did far better in the UK, albeit interpreted as a reggae version, by Susan Cadogen who had a #5 hit with it after Jackson's version in 1973. Jimmy Sommerville covered Cadogen's reggae version in 1996 and reached #15. Neither Millie Jackson's nor Katie Love's versions charted in UK but Jackson's got to #23 Hot 100 and #3 R&B in US.

There are, surpisingly, only a few other versions, but none of them are particulary good, so not worth posting.

Katie Love released only one further single: 'How Can You Mistreat The One You Love' 'You Made Your Bed' (a George Soule & Terry Woodford song recorded a year earlier by Eddie Bradford on Quinvy/Chess) on Stax in 1973.



Tony Lampkin [1974] - He's A Better Liar Than Me [Jemkl Soul #5001]


More soulful 70s out of Miami and one of only two listed releases for the Jemkl Soul label and the first of three singles released by Tony Lampkin. 

Curiously all were written by Jack(ie) Ball, so I wonder if that was his real name?  All singles were released on different labels, the first Jemkl Soul (Miami), and the other two were released in 1976 on SRI (Specter Records International) and SWAR (Miami). 

His record is one of only four listed for SWAR and again, curiously, all were written and produced by Jack Ball, more fuel for wondering if Tony Lampkin was Jack Ball?



Jean Shy [1976] - What Can I Do I'm So In Love With You [Fantasy #F-766]


Gloriously 'so-soulful 70s' tune by Jean Shy from 1976.

The song was co-written by Shy and her husband Edward Alexander Walker (the bass player with 70s New Jersey funk band Strutt), Harvey Fuqua (instrumental in helping to create Motown and married to Gwen Gordy)  and Vernon Bullock (co-founder of New Birth with Fuqua, and producer of groups such as Younghearts, Bobby Wilson, Livin' Proof and writer of far too many Motown tracks to begin to list).

Jean Shy released around half a dozen good quality soul sides in the 70s before being 'lured' into the dark disco world in the late 70s and 80s with disco versions of 'That Old Black Magic' and Eric Clapton's 'Layla'!  She now performs mainly as a blues artist.



We The People [1973] - Making My Daydream Real [Lion #LION 164]


A wonderful modern soul tune from 1974 (written by Landy McNeal and arranged by Bert DeCoteaux) with an equally good, but overlooked, modern soul/crossover flip side.

The group released half a dozen singles between 1969-74, two on Map City, a one-off on Verve (1971) and three on Lion (an MGM subsidiaty label), this was their last release and their only chart entry reaching #86 US R&B in 1974.

One of the members of the group was Bill McEachern who later joined Odyssey replacing Tony Reynolds after the release of their debut album in 1977 and remained with them throught their RCA career to 1982.

Another member was Terri Gonzalez who joined The Tymes in 1976 and went on to have a solo career in the 80s releasing six or seven singles and an album produced by Nile Rogers (Chic) in 1987 on Atlantic.

The other two members were Robert Taylor and Shabi Weems.

If you like 'Making My Daydream Real', then you'll also probably also like Inner Space 'Break The Chains' (also written by Landy McNeal and arranged by Bert DeCoteaux) which was released in 1974 on Sweet Fortune, as it could almost be MMDR Pt. 2.

Brace yourself ... it was sampled for a club track by Viveen (Wray) a former member of Driza, (a later incarnation of Vinny Garcia's Drizabone) and producer Ian Lovatt as ATFC & Ghostcopy Feat. Viveen - 'Don't Look Back' and was a hit in the UK dance charts reaching #5. It was released on Hed Kandi compilation The Mix: Summer 2008.

We The People [1973] - Making My Daydream Real [Lion #LION 164]


We The People [1973] - Whatcha Done For Me, I'm Gonna Do For You [Lion #LION 164]


Details
Rating: 9.3 / 9
Genre/Style: Modern Soul / Crossover
Format: Single
Media: 7"
Label: Lion
Cat No: LION 164
Year: 1973
Key: N/A
BPM: N/A
Value: £50-£100 (approx.)


Gene Chandler [1973] - Without You Here [Curtom #CR-1992]


The 70s, especially between 1972-78, was a barren period chart-wise for The Duke Of Earl until he went disco and had a worldwide hit with 'Get Down' in 1978. 

Gene Chandler's only Hot 100 top 10 hit was in 1961 when he had a #1 hit with 'The Duke Of Earl'.

He had success with Vee Jay, Constellation, Brunswick, Checker and Mercury in the 60s. This was his third, and last, single on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label between 1972-73 but none of them charted even on US R&B chart.  He moved to Carl Davis' Chi-Sound label which by that time was distributed by 20th Century Fox, where he had a few hit singles in the late 70s/early 80s. After 1980 he released a handful on singles on various labels but never had another crossover hit although a few of them did enter the lower reaches on the US R&B chart.

His birth name was Eugene Dixon which he used on writing credits, hence E. Dixon appears on this release.



Rick Sheppard [1975] - Can We Share It [Columbia #3-10242]


A great 70s modern soul dancer from Rick Sheppard.

Sheppard was a member of The Drifters between 1966-70. Prior to joining the group he'd already released two singles. As far as I can tell he released three singles after leaving them. He became a NYC police officer for 23 years. 

In 1996 two compilations were released as The Drifters Featuring Rick Sheppard, so I guess  he must have rejoined one the groups using The Drifters name. 

He is one of the only remaining 'true' Drifters and has had legal disputes over the years with other groups over using the name.  I found an advert for a gig at The Coach House, Orange County, CA from 2011 so he was still performimg with them then.

Sheppard is second left

Discography

1965 - Misery Get Away From Me / Pretty Pretty Girl [Dormart #45D-1000]
1965 - I'm Gonna Change / I Ain't Trying To Please Nobody [Bang #B-500]
1975 - Can We Share It / You'd Be Surprised [Columbia #3-10242]
1983 - I Fall Deeper In LoveJust You And Me [Sonia #S-1189]
198? - For My Lady / Just You And Me [Jay Hill #JH 500]



David Ruffin [1977] - Rode By The Place (Where We Used To Stay) [Motown #M 1435F]


This 1977 Marv Johnson song, produced by Van McCoy, was tucked away on the flip to 'You're My Peace Of Mind' which did virtually nothing reaching only #71 on US R&B chart. It was picked up on by the Northern Soul scene in the noughties and was a massive tune.

It was also on his third, and last, Van McCoy produced album 'In My Stride' which also contained 'I Can't Stop The Rain' (not released as a single in US but was in UK before this one and in Holland with this on the flip) and 'Questions' which didn't get a 45 release.

David Ruffin was a member of The Temptations between 1964-68, when he was fired, but remained at Motown until 1977. He was signed by Warner Bros. where he released two albums in 1979 and 1980.  He died in 1991 aged only 50.



Softouch [1975] - Say That You Love Me Boy [Prodigal #P 618]


Softouch were a female quartet consisting of Alicia Ingram, Candice Ghant, Opal Jones, Paula Denson. Candice 'Candi' Ghant later joined the Mary Jane Girls (All Night Long fame).

The song was written by Jack Ashford (percussionist with Motown's house band The Funk Brothers and George Rountree who was a writer with Motown, music director for Four Tops and a member of one album band Morning, Noon And Night).

This was their debut single in 1975, They joined Fantasy in 1978 and released a disco album which spawned one single and then they disappeared.

The flip side was written by Ashford, Rountree and Sandra Richardson (aka Sandra Feva). Richardson recorded a version of the song which remained unreleased until it appeared on The 100 Club 6Ts 37th anniversary give-away 45 in 2016. I actually prefer her slightly slower (122 bpm v 130 bpm) version to the Softouch version.

Softouch [1975] - Say That You Love Me Boy [Prodigal #P 618]


Softouch [1975] - After You Give Your All (What Else Is There To Give) [Prodigal #P 618]


Sandra Richardson [2016] - After You Give Your All [Kent #6T 32]



Bobby Hutton [1974] - Watch Where You're Going [ABC #ABC-11441]


The flip side to 'Loving You, Needing You, Loving You, Wanting You' which is only present on the issues and not promos ... guess which one I have ... unfortunately only the promo!

Harold 'Bobby' Hutton has been a name synonymous with Northern Soul devotees for decades since his classic 'Lend A Hand' was played off his 1973 debut album 'Piece Of The Action' on ABC at Blackpool Mecca. It was 32 years later before he would release his second album titled '20 Years Later' in 2005.

His debut single was released in 1965 on Checker as Harold Hutton, followed in 1968 with one on Blue Rock. He then released four singles on Philips between 1969-71 followed by this one on ABC in 1974. In 2007 a UK label, Selecta, released the title track of his 2005 album as a single. 'Lend A Hand' was first released as a single in March 1978 on ABC in UK with Willie Hutch 'Love Runs Out' on the other side. He also released a Christmas single on SOC (Sound Of Chicago?), the year of release is unknown.

He acquired the name Bobby when he was hired by Roquel 'Billy' Davis at Chess to back Fontella Bass in place of Bobby McClure.


Found this clip of Bobby singing this song at Blackpool International Soul Festival 18 June 2016 being introduced by Blackpool Mecca DJ Colin Curtis.
 


Rocky Mizell & The Sugar Rock Band [1977] - Never Never Girl [Drive #LP-103]


An album only modern soul track from Rocky Mizell that we used to hammer c 2000. Rocky Mizell only released the one self-titled album and two singles between 1976-80. 

'Never Never Girl' was also recorded the following year by George McCrae on a self titled album on T.K.  

McCrae had a worldwide #1 hit in 1974 with 'Rock Your Baby'. The song was written by Harry Casey & Richard Finch and intended for K.C. & The Sunshine Band but they couldn't reach the high notes. They decided to ask George's wife Gwen to sing it but she was late for the session so George stepped in ... and as they say the rest is history. It became one of the first disco records and topped the charts both sides of the Atlantic and I remember it vividly.


George McCrae [1978] - Never Never Girl [T.K. #TK-608]