Yann Vatiste (aka DJ Camembert) has been industrious in recent weeks and
releases, probably, one the best singles on his Epsilon
imprint. Two good crossover sides from Allison & The South Funk Boulevard
Band, "Pay Before You Lay" / "It's Love".
Allison Lewis' real name was Leroy Robert Alician Lewis Jr. who also
used various aliases such as Allison, Bobby Al Lewis and Leroy Lewis
mainly on writing credits.
He was a member of Houston group who backed Archie Bell & The
Drells, The T.S.U. Toronadoes (named after the university where they
were formed i.e. Texas State University and a General Motors car model).
He became the main writer of the groups songs after their first two
singles writing songs such as "Getting The Corners", "Work On It", "I
Still Love You", "Got To Get Through To You", "Only Inside" and "Flight
Too Many" as well as co-writing others.
When the group split up in 1971 he formed Allison & South Funk Blvd.
with two other members Jerry Jenkins (bass) and Nelson Mills (horns) and
some new members and released a single "What Happen to Association" /
"Turn On With Music" in 1971 on Ovide, the same label as T.S.U.
Toronadoes and Archie Bell & The Drells. They later become South
Boulevard Funk Band and released a single "Skying High Getting Off On
Your Loving" & "Be Together" on Captain Funk Records (presumably a
self press as it is the only single listed for the label) and two albums
on Crazy Cajun, a self-titled album on 1977 followed by another in 1978
billed and titled Allison & South Boulevard Funk Band from which
these two sides are taken.
Allison wrote an autobiography under the name Al Lewis in 2013 titled
"The Hidden Man: The Story of An Unfulfilled Dream" which has been reviewed, and recommended, by rare soul connoisseur
Dave Thorley.
The leader for it on Amazon reads:
"What does Leroy Lewis, (leader of the mid-60's group "The TSU
Toronadoes" who recorded the music for "Tighten Up" behind Archie Bell
& the Drells), Allison Lewis (founder of Allison & South Funk
Blvd and the writer of the funk classic "Skyin' High") and Al Lewis
(pastor and founder of Restoration UMC and the Imani New Life Recovery
program) have in common? Find out in this detailed autobiography. This
is the story of the man behind it all the dream that burned
within."
The single is available on vinyl (only) from
Epsilon. Check out Yann's website for some great vintage photos.
| Rating: | 8.7 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | Crossover |
| Format: | Single |
| Media: | 7" |
| Label: | Epsilon |
| Cat No: | EPS 010 |
| Date: | 31/01/2022 |
| Key/BPM: | N/A |
| Value: | £17.50 (incl. UK P&P) or £22.50 (incl. worldwide P&P) |
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