Soul Strutter: Version Excursion - One Man At A Time - Nancy Butts / New Love Ltd / New Love Ltd & Interstate 95

Thursday 1 December 2022

Version Excursion - One Man At A Time - Nancy Butts / New Love Ltd / New Love Ltd & Interstate 95

Nancy Butts was from Sparta, GA, and was the lead singer in her family gospel group the Butts Sisters before releasing half a dozen secular singles, initially on Eugene Davis' Detroit label Flaming Arrow and Crow and then on Jar-Val out of Macon, GA, run by DJ Hamp Swain which was also responsible for the release of Matt Brown's superb "Thank You Baby". Her first release on Jar-Val included a cover of Don Covay's "Letter Full Of Tears" which was picked up nationally by King Records.

Hit And Run Records has just reissued both sides of her first single on Flaming Arrow "I Want To Hold Your Hand Baby" / "Your Friend Will Take The Man You Love". In that post I alluded to another song from her that I would post separately so here it is with another two later cover versions.

It's a deep soul song "I Can't Love But One Man At A Time" which was covered twice by New Love Ltd. as "One Love At A Time" who released it as a single on Arco in 1977 and then on their only album, "So Much To Talk About" (1978) (where they were billed as New Love Ltd & Interstate 95) which only appears to have been released in Brazil, although there is a 2015 reissue by Funky Planet. The album version is a different take to the single. It is thought that it is Nancy Butts on the single but the album vocalist is definitely Valerie Lipford.

Whilst the original song is credited to only Jackie Avery, on the Arco single Nancy Butts is also on writer's credits which may be why it is thought she is singing? However, on the album version both are replaced by Samuel Wilson who was a member of Today, Tomorrow, Forever's band and is credited with writing all songs. The things that went on! He has other writing and performing credits with Rivage on their rare 1981 album "Sittin' On It" from where their sought after modern soul gem "Strung Out On Your Love" came from, as well as with Philly Cream and The Mighty Ryeders. Incidentally Ronald Broomfield (aka Eugene Wilde, brother of Vince) was also a member of Today, Tomorrow, Forever.

Nancy Butts [1972] - I Can't Love But One Man At A Time [Jar-Val #14]