Soul Strutter: 11/24/21

Jean DuShon (aka Anna Jean Harris) from Detroit has an interesting story. She was first to release "For Once In My Life" for Cadet in 1966. The song was co-written by a Motown writer Ron Miller and once Berry Gordy got wind of it he put a stop to Chess/Cadet promoting it. Gordy had already recorded it with Connie Haines but not released it and then recorded it with Barbara McNair and several other Motown artists (Four Tops, Martha & The Vandellas, Temptations), but of course it was Stevie Wonder who had a world-wide hit with it.

The two songs featured here are her first "Feeling Good" (the Anthony Newley song made famous by Nina Simone) and last of four recordings on Cadet "As I Watch You Walk Away", although she did record one on the forerunner Argo, one side with The Ramsey Lewis Trio.

After recording "As I Watch You Walk Away" DuShon never recorded again citing the reason as not being able to sing "For Once In My Life".

Ramsey Lewis [1967] - Saturday Night After The Movies [Cadet #5565]

"Saturday Night After The Movies" is a new one on me and wonder if it ever got spins on the NS circuit, especially in the mid 70s when instrumentals were all the rage? A bit MOR perhaps? I have certainly never heard it played.

It's from a soundtrack album called imaginatively "The Movie Album" and features Cleveland Eaton on bass and none other than EWF's Maurice White on drums as well as, of course, Ramsey Lewis on piano.

Skimming through Maurice White's wiki entry reveals that he also played drums on Fontella Bass "Rescue Me", Jackie Wilson "Higher And Higher " and Billy Stewart's "Summertime".

There are more NS connections as Eaton replaced Eldee Young on bass and White replaced Isaac 'Redd' Holt on drums as Young and Holt left The Ramsey Lewis Trio to form Young-Holt Trio / Unlimited (with Don Walker on piano) who of course recorded the classic Blackpool Mecca instrumental 'ender' "California Montage" as well as "Soulful Strut" the instrumental of Barbara Acklin's "Am I The Same Girl" which was a far bigger hit than the vocal reaching #3 on Billboard Hot 100 after Acklin's vocal version.

UPDATE: At the suggestion of blog reader Yves I've added "Goin' Hollwood" which he rightly pointed out is another good track from the soundtrack album but as far as I can tell wasn't released as a single.

Fuji [1970] - I'd Rather Be A Blind Man [Cadet #5677]

An alternative male version to the Etta James classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" retitled as "I'd Rather Be A Blind Man". Well, I say alternative' but actually Fuji (aka Fugi) is one of the song's writers Ellington Jordan.

The song, of course, has been covered dozens of times including by the likes of Clarence Carter, Bettye Swann, Margie Joseph, Spencer Wiggins and even Rod Stewart and Christine Perfect (Fleetwood Mac) in the 70s and many, many others since, but I wonder how many of us have heard it sung by the song's writer?

There are 90 versions listed on SecondHandSongs and probably many others not listed as blog reader Yves left a comment suggesting two recent versions not listed by Canadian singer Renee Wilkin from her album "Soul 67" in 2017 and another by Spanish group Georgina Peach & The Savoys from their 2019 album "I'm On My Way".

There is also a great version by Paloma Faith and Ty Taylor recorded at live from BBC Proms 2014. What a voice Ty Taylor has! You may recognise him from a role he played in Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger's' "Vinyl" TV series in 2016. He is the lead singer with an L.A. rock band Vintage Trouble.

James Phelps [1966] - Oh, What A Feeling [Cadet #5534]

James Phelps is best known in rare soul circles for his original recording of "The Look On Your Face" covered by Nate Evans (The Impressions) and John Edwards (The Spinners) in 1972. It was also released by Satin (Lenny Satin) in 1971 as "Your Loves Got Me", same tune but different title and lyrics, so I'm not sure which came first Satin or James Phelps . All versions were posted here.

Phelps is from the deep south but moved to Chicago aged 17 to escape the racial hatred in the south. He began his career as a gospel singer with various gospel groups (which included Lou Rawls) before forming The Clefs Of Cavalry in the early 60s. In 1964 he joined The Soul Stirrers which boasts Johnnie Taylor, Lou Rawls and Sam Cooke as one time members. He was signed by Chess in 1965 and released two singles on the fore-runner to Cadet, Argos, and then this typical mid 60s Chicago skip-a-long single "Oh, What A Feeling" on Cadet in 1966.

Etta James [1969] - Tighten Up Your Own Thing [Cadet #5664]

Etta James does sistah funk! I'm not sure how well know "Tighten Up Your Own Thing" is? Released in 1970 as a single which never troubled even the R&B charts. It was also released on a 1970 album "Etta James Sings Funk" which is a bit of a misnomer as there are only two or three tracks that I would describe as funk on the album as it is predominantly deep and bluesy ballads.

The Dells v Terry Callier [1972] - Just As Long As We're In Love [Cadet # 5694 / 50019]

As it's still pretty dire on the new release front I'll continue trawling the catalogue of Cadet records.

"Just As Long As We're In Love" is a song written by Terry Callier with his writing partner Larry Wade released on his debut Cadet album "Color Of Love" (1972). It was released as a single by The Dells.

Mezzoforte [2021] - Broke N Hip [Self Released]

A new release from Iceland's Mezzoforte "Broke N Hip" who are probably best know for their 1983 hit "Garden Party" which was a Top 20 pop hit in the UK (#17).

I can't seem to find it anywhere available for sale at present (not even on their website), which is odd, but it was apparently released on Friday (19 Nov 2021).

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Jazz Funk / Instrumental
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/11/2021
Key/BPM:	5A/102
Value:	£1