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Thursday 24 November 2022

David Oliver v Mahdi & Tracy Kerr [1978/1980] - Who Are You [Mercury #74071 / Indy 5 #IN 111]


Another post inspired by a play today on Gary Van Den Bussche's Starpoint Radio show. A sublime song "Who Are You" written and recorded by David Oliver on his sophomore album "Mind Magic" in 1978. It also came out as a single and is relatively cheap in the scheme of things (£25-£60) and certainly better value than spending the asking price of £200 for the new House Bros. single posted yesterday!

Oliver released four albums between 1977-80 all produced by ex-Crusader Wayne Henderson. He was the first to record the Cecil Womack and Edward 'Gip' Noble song "Love TKO" on his last album "Here's To You" in 1980 which went on to be a big hit for Teddy Pendergrass. He was also first to record "Friends And Strangers" which featured on his debut album "Jamerican Man" and was later recorded by both Ronnie Laws and Dave Grusin. Sadly Oliver died in 1982 aged only 40.

The song "Who Are You" was also recorded by Mahdi & Tracy Kerr on Indy 5 in 1980 which will cost a little more (£60-£75). 

Tracy Kerr is the daughter of legendary writer/producer George Kerr. She released a single on Stang in 1972 as Little Tracy Kerr (a very young and naïve sounding cover of Michael Jackson's "We've Got A Good Thing Going" not quite the same standard as Jean Shy's version, Esther Phillips also recorded it in 1981!) and another in 1984 on 12" on her fathers' label Tra San. The label was named after his two daughters Tracy and Sandra who recorded an answer song to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean "(I'm) Billie Jean" on the label in 1984.

Details
Rating: 9
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Modern Soul
Format: Single
Media: 7" Vinyl
Label: Mercury / Indy 5
Cat No: 74071 / IN 111
Date: 1978 / 1980
Key/BPM: N/A
Price: £50 / £65 approx.
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2 comments:

USMAN47 said...

Very good song. Both versions are interesting.
Note that the B side of Mahdi & Tracy Kerr "Check Out My Mind" is also superb!!!

Yves

SoulStrutter said...

Yes the B side has been picking up spins in progressive venues in UK .. considered posting it but decided to keep it clean.