Version Excursion - Cowboys To Girls

I've just seen a rare version of The Intruder's "Cowboys To Girls" posted on facebook by Richard Gilbert aka Gilly who's a well known 'face' on the UK Northern Soul scene. It's a version by The Composers. Although not listed under the same artist on either Discogs or 45Cat, I wonder if it's the same group who did "Let's Get To The Point" on Complex 3 Records as it has that same naive / raw sound. Both recordings are the only recording on the respective labels i.e. Composer Recordings in 1969 and Complex 3 in 1970, so probably both private pressings. However, digging a bit deeper probably not as The Composers were known earlier as The Knightriders from Portland, OR and the other Composers recording was on a NYC label.

Anyway I thought I'd bundle together all the different versions I could find (23 so far) and to be perfectly honest none after 1980 quite cut the mustard!

Links to Discogs on cat. no. and to YouTube on artist.

1968 - The Intruders [Gamble #G-214]

The original, obviously. A #1 R&B hit and #6 Hot 100 and their biggest hit.

1968 - The Fantastics [Hit #324]

Nashville group not the group originally known as The Velours who moved to England as The Fantastics. The label released mainly covers of soul hits recorded by relatively unknown artists.

1968 - Gene Chandler [Brunswick #BL 754131] LP There Was A Time

One of the first covers by The Duke Of Earl which is album only.

1968 - The Hollywood Youngsters [Center #17026 ST] Top Hits Aus USA, Folge 2 LP

I've not heard this and can't find a sound file but don't expect much as it looks like one of those 'Top Of The Pops' type recordings but from Germany.

1968 - Detroit City Limits [Okeh #OKS-14127] 98c Ninety-Eight Cents Plus Tax and Other Great Hits LP

A surprising find, an instrumental version released on an Okeh album.

1969 - The Composers Feat. Arlee Evans [Composers Recording #1001]

You'd hardly call this a polished performance but as one comment on the YT post puts it, that's the 'essence' of rare soul. These guys probably turned up to a studio and did it in one take and put it on vinyl to sell at their gigs.

1969 - Joe Bataan [Fania #SLP 375] Singing Some Soul LP

Latin soul, album only,  version.

1968 - Incredible Soul-Tet [Empire #WWR 868-585] Various Reading 1968 LP

Obscure Philly version reissued in 2017.

1968 - The Jalynne Sound [Dakar #1451]

An instrumental version by a one-off group led by Willie Henderson.

1971 - The Ripples [Apace #AM 2005]

One of the best versions, a sweet soul female version which flips it to Cowgirls To Boys and takes the tempo down.

1975 - Sweet Blindness [Quality #2150X]

Disco version played on Northern Soul turntables.

1980 - Norfolk [Barbara Jean International #BJI 751] 12"

Modern Soul / Disco version which has an instrumental version on flip.

1980 - Philly Cream [WMOT #WS7 5350]

Disco version produced by Philly's Butch Ingram.

1983 - Commodores [Intermedia #QS-5047] Uprising LP (Rise Up in Europe)

Instrumental version by the Commodores on their second album after leaving Motown.

1983 - The Dirk Howell Band [Dirk Howell Records #DH3-83001]

Horrible blue-eyed beach version

1989 - Payday [Aircraft #AC-4511]

No sound file available but I'm guessing that it's a blue-eyed version on this Pittsburgh label.

1995 - Chris Gaffney with Lucinda Williams [Hightone #HCD 8062] Loser's Paradise LP

Blue-eyed country/soul version later recorded with Hacienda Brothers

2002 - Jimmy & The Soul Blazers [Self Released] It's About Time LP

Blue-eyed beach version

2002 - The Embers [Eee Records #None] With Love LP

Blue-eyed beach version

2006 - Hacienda Brothers [Proper American #PRPACD004] What's Wrong with Right LP

Blue-eyed country soul version recorded earlier by group member Chris Gaffney

2007 - Rickie Fox [Self Released #None] Monomusical LP

Another blue-eyed version

2012 - Tony Strong & The Philly Soul [Essential Media Group #None] It Ain't Over LP

Out of Bruce Ingram's stable

2013 - Tony Strong & The Philly All Stars [Essential Media Group #None] Perform Hits of Intruders LP

Probably the same recording as above

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