Originally released in 1967 on the Chicago Twilight label (later renamed
to Twinight after only four releases) is the only recording by George McGregor.
It's not a name that trips off the tongue to all but those with the
thickest anoraks! However, he was a well know figure and in-demand session
drummer in and around Detroit in the 60s and was the in-house drummer at Golden World
studios. He went to the same school, at the same time, as Smokey Robinson,
Aretha Franklin, Barrett Strong and Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie and was cousin
of Motown Funk Brother, trombonist, writer/arranger Paul Riser. He was also in a very early 60s group The Atennas with is brother Billy
McGregor (as well as McGregor Brothers) and formed the Don Davis Trio with
Don Davis, obviously, and Clarence McCloud.
Whilst his own recording career was less than prolific, he should be
well known to Northern Soul devotees as he has been involved in writing
and/or arranging multiple recordings well known on the scene including a
couple of early Ric-Tic classics "I'm Satisfied" San Remo Strings (which
was 'actually' recorded by the Don Davis Trio!) and Edwin Starr's
"Harlem" as well as Rose Batiste "Hit & Run", Tobi Lark (aka Tobi
Legend) "Happiness Is Here" (written initially for Barbara Mercer for
release on Golden World but it was rejected) He worked with many
artists well known to the scene such as The Precisions, Ruby Andrews,
Timmy Willis, Teri Bryant, Barbara Mercer, C.O.D.'s, Gwen
Owens, (Little) Rena Scott, Almeta Latimer, Betty LaVette and Wilson
Williams to name some of the main ones.
There is a really interesting and in depth article on George McGregor on
Soul Source. Information from McGregor himself stating that The Precisions' Northern
Soul classic "Such Misery" was originally intended for Timmy Willis and
that "If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)" was intended as a B side and
Motown deliberately sabotaged the group by hiring the writers to
infiltrate Sidra / Drew to persuade them to put it out as an A side as
Motown felt that The Precisions were a threat to The Temptations and didn't think the song would be a success.
The Bronzettes where a female quartet from Chicago who released only one
other single "(Beggin) Baby Don't Leave Me" which had the same backing as
Jerry-O (aka Jerry Murray Tom & Jerrio) "Karate Boo-Ga-Loo" who,
unsurprisingly, wrote and produced it.
1 comment:
Very nice article on one of the unknown majors of the great Detroit era !!!
Yves
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