This post is inspired by the play on DJ Kool Keith's latest show of
Solid Solution's "This Must Be Love" which I had thought was an album only track which I have
languishing in my collection since the mid 90s, which I haven't played
for years as it was bought solely for the modern soul spin "Think About It Girl" at the time. Hearing the track prompted me to revisit the album and
there are some fine tunes on it.
"This Must Be Love" along with "Think About It Girl" was legally reissued on a single circa 2007, on Ernest Kelly's
Soul'O'Sonic label. Kelly was also the executive producer on the album
so that's the connection. The reissue was instigated by Dave Welding
and John Anderson in between the closure of Grapevine and the opening
of Soul Junction.
Solid Solution were a five piece soul harmony group from Detroit, MI,
who recorded one album, "Loving You", in 1978 for the Detroit label Silver Spoon. The label was owned
and operated by the brothers Robert and Joe Hill which is alleged to
have been set up to launder drug money. They were both
musician's, older brother Robert a bass and keyboard player and Joe a
drummer. Their cousin Kennedy "Kenny" Hollman, a respected singer,
arranger and songwriter, was recruited to assist them. He is credited
(as A Hollman) for writing both sides of the El Count Executives
"Pot Of Gold" / "Nothing Comes To A Sleeper (But A Dream)"
on Gemini in 1971 and also The Soul In-Pressions
"Zing (Somebody Pulled A String)" / "Girl Don't Worry"
on Aquarius in 1973. Robert and Joe Hill were credited with
writing six of the eight album tracks, whether they actually did or
not is questionable as it was common practice for label owners to
claim writing credits.
Solid Solution were formed during 1977 by Mike Wilson and his old
school friend Stanley Greer who recruited Kurt Jefferson Sr, Horace
Wilbanks Jr and Kevin Chapman. Their album was recorded at three
different studios in Detroit, United Sound, Super Disc Inc and Sound
Suite Inc and was released in September of 1978.
A few years ago you could have picked up a copy of the album for
around £30-£40 but the asking price has spiralled with the
cheapest (in decent condition) listed on Discogs being £80 and there
is a mint/still sealed copy for $300 (£240). It was reissued on a Japanese CD in 1992 and even these are commanding upwards of £90!
The lead single "L.O.V.E." was released on Silver Spoon SP-7117 and featured an instrumental
version on the flip (not on the album) to pre-promote the album. The
album's distribution was handled by former Motown studio co-ordinator
and Soul 'O' Sonic label owner Ernest Kelley through his independent
Inter/Soul Promotions distributorship.
With the album initially selling well, work began on a follow up
album scheduled for release the following year. However, the album was
removed from air-play by all the radio stations reputedly following a
raid by the drug squad at the Silver Spoon offices. A series of
unfortunate events for the group then occurred, one of the Hill
Brothers was killed in a car accident and then following the eventual
conviction and imprisonment of some of the other members of the Hill
family, the label closed down.
I was surprised to see a Silver Spoon single for "Think About It Girl" which has stimulated many threads on Soul Source speculating on its
existence. It is alleged that DJ/record dealer Ian Clark found a copy
on a record buying trip in the US from Karl Moye’s Goose Creek record
shop in South Carolina. He
auctioned a copy in 2010
which sold for a reported £1k to a collector in Japan. It has been
reported that Clarkie admitted to it being a 'wind up'. However, I have
found another copy, alleged to be only the second one found, which is
listed on
Popsike which sold in Oct 2019 for £1,624. Whether this is the same
copy sold by Clarkie is anyone's guess but the label scans are
identical to those on Discogs. The seller even states that there is a
label correction i.e. the time on "Loving You" side has been hand
written which might suggest that it was the seller who listed it on
Discogs (soul-hawk). Some are still sceptical as to whether this
single exists but why go to the bother of correcting the timing in
writing unless it's a double-bluff to give it some
'authenticity'?
There is speculation that the 'disputed' single was due for release
but, owing to the the label closure, never got released and perhaps a
few copies made their way out. Dave Welding interviewed the
group and asked about the single but none of the group members ever
recall having seen a copy adding to the mystery.
LISTEN to FULL ALBUM
HERE
A1 - Think About It, Girl (3:52)
A2 - L.O.V.E. (Love) (3:33)
A3 - Once You Fall In Love (5:13)
A4 - Lovin You (2:32)
B1 - This Must Be Love (4:33)
B2 - Don't Ask Me (3:14)
B3 - If It's Good To You (3:57)
B4 - Spending My Money (3:50)
A big thanks to Dave Welding (Soul Junction Records) for sending a transcript of his interview with Solid Solution from
where the information here is culled. You can read Dave's full article
on Soul Source
(posted in in March 2016). There is even a one hour video there of the
group performing live.
| Rating: | 8.5 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | Modern Soul |
| Format: | Album |
| Media: | LP |
| Label: | Silver Spoon |
| Cat No: | SP-7118 |
| Date: | 09/1978 |
| Key/BPM: | 1A/100 |
| Price: | £30-£40 |
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