Marlena Shaw [1969] - The Spice Of Life [Cadet #LPS-833] (Full Album)

I was going to select a couple of tracks by Marlena Shaw but the list kept growing so I thought I may as well post her full second album "The Spice Of Life" released in 1969 on Cadet 

It kicks off with the sister funk anthem "Woman Of The Ghetto" which was 're-imagined' recently by Melanie Charles. 

Other tracks of note are a cover of the Film Night theme by Billy Taylor "I Wish I Knew", "Liberation Conversion" which uses the scat from "Woman Of The Ghetto" and the Ashford & Simpson penned "California Soul". 

The original version of "Go Away Little Boy", as oppose to the 70s re-recording as "Yu Ma Go Away Little Boy" with the rap intro (a Goffin & King 'standard' recorded by dozens of others).

"Looking Through The Eyes Of Love" first released by Gene Pitney but recorded first, but not released, by The Drifters until 1996).  

The surprise of the package to me was the last track. A superbly delivered ballad "Anyone Can Move A Mountain" which I've never really previously taken notice of, and the double-whammy is that I've got it on a single as it's the flip side to "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love"!

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Ramsey Lewis v Marlena Shaw [1966] - Wade In The Water [Cadet #5541 /#5549]

"Wade In The Water" has been a Northern Soul floor-filler since the very early days of The Twisted Wheel via Ramsey Lewis Trio jazz instrumental for which a vocal version was then recorded a few months later by Marlena Shaw. 

It's a traditional gospel song which I've featured before on the blog with a dozen different versions and a little background on the roots of the song but seeing as I'm focussing on some Cadet gems today I'll post them again.

George Kirby [1965] - What Can I Do [Cadet #5523]

Quite an in-demand Northern Soul tune and an early release on Cadet (after changing its name from Argo) for singer/comedian George Kirby with "What Can I Do". 

Kirby also  released an album on Argo ("The Real George Kirby") in 1965 which may have got reissued on Cadet as I've seen one on YouTube with a Cadet label but it's not listed. It's not of much interest in any case as it's full MOR songs and this track is not included.

The Dramatics [1974] - Choosing Up On You / Don't Make Me No Promises [Cadet #5704 / #5706]

After a five year spell at Stax subsidiary Volt, The Dramatics switched to Cadet just before Stax went belly up for two releases, "Choosing Up On You" followed quickly by "Don't Make Me No Promises"  both in 1974. 

I've also thrown in a one-off, and often overlooked, single they recorded for Mainstream afterwards in 1975 "No Rebate On Love". Three good mid 70s modern soul tunes.

They released a third single on Cadet with The Dells in 1975 "Love Is Missing From Our Lives" (also recorded by Chuck Cissel in 1979) both version were posted last year.

Barbara & The Browns [1966] - I Don't Want To Have To Wait [Cadet #5544]

Staying with the classic oldies I thought I'd have a trawl through the Cadet catalogue picking out a few more gems. "I Don't Want To Have To Wait" is a killer deep soul ballad by Barbara & The Browns with their only release on the label after leaving Stax. They did, however, record another which was never released by the label "I'm Gonna Start A War" c/w "Can't Find No Happiness". The latter side was eventually released on Atco in 1968 under her own name Barbara Brown.

Barbara is Barbara Jean Brown and The Browns are her siblings Maurice, Roberta and Betty from Memphis. They were a gospel group who were persuaded to record two R&B songs in 1964 which were a one-off release on Wil Mo (probably a private press). It sold well enough to interest Stax who leased it and then released another single by them. 

The one-off Cadet release came next in 1968. For the next few years the releases were credited to Barbara Brown with the release on Atco of the unreleased Cadet recording and another on Tower. In 1971 another as Barbara & The Browns appeared on XL ("You Don't Love Me" which you will probably recognise as it was covered in 1994 by Dawn Penn as a reggae version titled "You Don't Love Me (No. No, No" which reached #3 on UK pop chart) and was later released on Sounds Of Memphis (an MGM subsidiary). Two further releases were issued on Sound Of Memphis as Barbara Brown. The first one being the marvellous  "Pity A Fool" in 1972 which has been played on the UK rare soul scene for decades.

A couple of excellent compilations are well worth checking out "Can't Find Happiness - The Sounds Of Memphis Recordings" (2007) and "Got To Be Somebody: The XL Sessions 1960s Memphis Gold" (2019) both released by Kent.

The Dells [1968] - Make Sure (You Have Someone Who Loves You) [Cadet #5631]

I'm having a break from drudging thorough the myriad of mediocre new releases to regain some sanity. 

You may have seen the final instalment of Richard Searling's Hot 100 Modern Soul 45s posted yesterday. This is one by The Dells, "Make Sure (You Have Someone Who Loves You)" which, in my view, that he missed although he did feature a Dells track at #26 "It's All Up To You" so I guess he was limiting it to only one recording per artist.

Released in 1968 on Cadet as the flip side to  "Does Anybody Know I'm Here".

The Dells are one of (if not 'the') longest running groups in history with the same members. They have released albums for 6, and singles for 5, decades between 1955 and 2002. Undoubtedly their 'golden' period was between 1967-74. Their last hit album was 'Second Time' in 1988 and single 'Oh My Love' was released in 1992.

They originally formed in 1952 as The El-Rays, consisting of Mickey & Lucius McGill, Marvin Junior, Verne Allison Johnny Funches and Chuck Barksdale.  

Lucius McGill left around 1954 leaving a quintet. In 1955 they changed their name to The Dells. The line-up remained the same, until Funches was replaced by Johnny Carter, who was a founding member of The Flamingos, in 1960. That line-up remained until the death of Carter (aged 75) in 2009. 

The group continued to perform until 2012 when the ill health of Marvin Junior and Chuck Barksdale forced the group to retire. Marvin Junior died in 2013 aged 77 and Barksdale in  2019 aged 84.  The original member who left in 1960, Johnny Funches, died in 1998 aged 62.

As far as I am aware the three surviving members are alive and will now be in their mid 80s (85/86).

Terry Callier [1968/1972] - Look At Me Now / Ordinary Joe [Cadet #5633 / #5692]

The first two singles released by Terry Callier are highly regarded in Northern / Modern Soul circles in the UK.

Both self-written and released on Cadet and both failed to chart even on US R&B chart. The first "Look At Me Now" was the flip side to "You Goin' Miss Your Candy Man" in 1968 followed by "Ordinary Joe" in 1972 which was actually recorded first by Jerry Butler on his 1970 album "You And Me".

His third single in 1973 is a much overlooked class double-sider "I Just Can't Help Myself (I Don't Want Nobody Else)" c/w  "Get Closer To You" on Cadet #5697.

Callier was born and bred in Chicago and grew up with Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler and Major Lance. He released his first album on 1966 and went on to release around sixteen albums in his career up to his death in 2012 aged 67 with the last being released in 2009.

He only troubled the charts on one occasion with "Sign Of The Times" from his 1979 album "Turn You To Love" which reached 78 on US R&B chart.

His later material was more jazz/folk oriented.

Blue Belly [2021] - Bad Behaviour (Busty and the Bass Remix) [Lighter Than Air Records]

Blue Belly are a four piece funk band of producers, instrumentalists and writers  Jonah Orbach (drums, vocals), Robert Feher (bass guitar/trumpet) and Darren Sacks (guitar/saxophone) and Matia Marks (vocals) from Sydney/Melbourne.

They released "Bad Behaviour" as their first single in 2019 and have re-released it today with a "Busty and the Bass Remix".

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Details

Rating:	7.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Lighter Than Air Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/11/2021
Key/BPM:	1A/100 / 1A/93
Value:	£1

Calyco [2021] - Dance With U [HW Records]

Calyco are a pop/R&B group from London founded in 2019 consisting of Chloe Gaffney, Tyger Hegarty with Angel Ntoni, Izzy Double, Juliette Dely joining later replacing three original members. Their first single "Flo" was released in May 2021 and their latest "Dance With U" was delivered on 1 Nov 2021.

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Pop Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	HW Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	01/11/2021
Key/BPM:	7B/98
Value:	£1

Rena Scott [2021] - An Interview with Gary Van Den Bussche on Starpoint Radio 23rd Nov 2021

Gary Van Den Bussche's interview guest today on his lunchtime Starpoint radio show was Rena Scott who was profiled on the blog back in Feb. 2021 so rather than repeat what was written there please follow this link for background information and sound files of many of her recordings.

Since the profile was posted in Feb she has recorded another single "So Far Away" released on Izipho Soul in Sep 2021.

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Kraak & Smaak Feat. Ivar [2021] - Persuade You [Boogie Angst]

Kraak & Smaak are a trio from Leiden, Netherlands founded in 2003. They released a new single "Persuade You" last week (12 Nov 2021).

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Boogie Angst
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/11/2021
Key/BPM:	3A/112
Value:	£1