Ike Noble & The Uptights [2022] - Look A Little Higher [Athens Of The North] (Full Album)

A new compilation of songs titled "Look A Little Higher" by Ike Noble & The Uptights released today (24 Jun 2022) by Athens Of The North.

The Up Tights were formed by Henry Bradley in Forrest City, Arkansas in March of 1967 while most of the band members were attending Lincoln High School. They took their name from Stevie Wonder's 1966 song.

Their first recording was as Noble and The Up Tights in 1966 "Don't Worry About It" / "Lonely Man" on  Memphis' Action Records, Noble being Izear 'Ike' Noble Jr. who sang and wrote both songs, neither of which feature on this compilation.

When Henry Bradley was drafted to Vietnam in 1968 his guitar duties were performed by his brother Arthur. They released the first version of "It's Just A Dream" along with "Henry's Guitar" as The Up-Tights on Solid Beat. I'm assuming that this was released around 1968 after Henry was drafted as the label scan on Discogs has Arthur Bradley's name hand written on it. The scant details on the label, and with it being the only listed recording for the label, indicates that it is most likely a private press.

Through hiring manager John Mitchell the group were introduced to Joe Lee who owned Variety recording studio in Jonesboro, Arkansas and the Alley label. They cut two songs written by Ike Noble, "Look A Little Higher" and an updated version of "Just a Dream", on Alley Records in 1968. Lee continued to experiment in the studio and produced many versions of the group’s original songs, adjusting the mix and adding elements to each unique take, hence the several alternate cuts feature on this compilation.

The next Alley release, billed as only Ike Noble, were two Charles 'Jamie' Holmes songs "It's Bad" / "That's What I Get". Curiously both Discogs and 45Cat date this as 1967 but the catalogue number is higher (1058) than the previous single (1045) dated 1968! "It's Bad" has become a very in-demand tune in recent years since UK rare soul dealer/DJ John Manship started championing it at Sunday soul sessions at Feed Your Soul in Newark.

Another Holmes song, "There’s Gonna Be a Better Day Coming", remained unreleased but was released by Soul7 in 2014 along with another three tracks "How Long Must I Wait For You", paired with the latter, and "That's The Sound Of My Heart" / "That's What I Get" which are all included on the compilation.

Apparently, Stax Records was interested in signing the group and wanted to re-record "It's Bad", but they ultimately passed since they generally had a policy of working with Memphis based groups.

Ike Noble continued to record into the 70s and 80s and an Ike Noble Discography was posted in April 2020 which contains several of these recordings and his later material.

01 - Money Wont Change You

02 - It's Bad [1967 Alley #AL-1058]

03 - Good Thing

04 - Best of Luck to You

05 - That's What I Get [1967 Alley #AL-1058]

06 - That's the Sound of My Heart [2014 Soul7 #SOUL7-038]

07 - How Long Must I Wait for You [2014 Soul 7 #SOUL7-039]

08 - Foxy Mama

09 - Look a Little Higher [1968 Alley #1045]

10 - I Take What I Want

11 - She's Got to Be Loved

12 - Just a Dream [1968 Alley #1045]

13 - I've Never Found Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)

14 - There's Gonna Be a Better Day Coming [2014 Soul 7 #SOUL7-039]

15 - Good Thing (Alternate Take)

16 - That's What I Get (Alternate Take)

17 - Just a Dream (Alternate Take 1)

18 - Just a Dream (Alternate Take 2)

19 - Foxy Mama (Alternate Take)

20 - She's Got to Be Loved (Alternate Take)

21 - Look a Little Higher (Alternate Take 1)

22 - Look a Little Higher (Alternate Take 2)

23 - Look A Little Higher (Alternate Take 3)

The compilation is available digitally on the main DSPs or on vinyl from AOTN Bandcamp store.

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / Vinyl
Label:	Athens Of The North
Cat No:	None
Date:	24/06/2022
Price:	£7.99 / £27.42

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