Deon Jackson - A Profile

A posthumous birthday tribute to one of the great 'unsung' 60s/70s artists Deon Jackson, whose material I have loved for many years. He was born in Ann Arbor (just outside Detroit) on 26 Jan 1946, departing this world on 18 Apr 2014 aged 68 so would have been 77 today. 

He began his career whilst still at school after being signed by Ollie McLaughlin who ran three labels named after his three daughters Karen, Carla and Moira and another named after his wife Ruth which all produced some classic tunes loved on the Northern Soul scene.

Jackson's first single was in 1963 on Atlantic (aged 17) which was followed by a second on the label in 1964 before he transferred to the Carla label and had his first, and biggest, hit with "Love Makes The World Go Round". It reached #3 R&B and #11 Hot 100 but he was never able to emulate the success of this record. but on the back of its success an album with the same title was released on Atco. It was reissued on CD in 1997 with additional tracks by Marginal and then again in 2006 with just the original twelve tracks.

His next two singles didn't make the R&B chart but the first was #77 and second #11 Hot 100. The next two singles didn't register on either chart but his fifth single on Carla "Ooh Baby" made #28 R&B and #68 Hot 100 and that was his last appearance on either chart in 1967. That's a bit of a surprise as his next two singles are in my opinion, arguably, two of his best; "I Can't Go On" (1968) and the 1969 double-sider "You Gotta Love" (covered by Matt Lucas in 1975 on Celebration promo only)  / "You'll Wake Up Wiser" (covered by Chuck Boris on Enterprise in 1969 and Betty LaVette on Atco in 1972).

That was all but the end of his recording career with only one further, Leroy Hutson written and produced, single appearing on Shout in 1972 "I'll Always Love You" / "Life Can Be That Way" which are another two superb sides that are overlooked.

A few reissues appeared. A notable one was on John Abbey (Blues & Soul) Contemporaries label which had "Love Makes The World Go Round" backed with an alternate take of "I Can't Go On" which has female backing vocals not on the original and has become an in demand item.

UK Hayley Records uncovered and released a couple of previously unreleased tracks in 2016 "Pain In My Heat" (which starts of with a similar hook to Darrel Banks/J.J. Barnes "Our Love (Is In The Pocket) / "I've Got So Much Love".

I think I'd be correct in saying that apart from his Shout, and previously unreleased Hayley, singles and the alternate take of "I Can't Go On", this compilation is his complete catalogue and what a gem ... and wait for it, unbelievably, it is only £4.99! You won't spend a better fiver on a such a collection of magnificent tunes. How Deon Jackson wasn't a soul superstar is beyond belief. Sadly he died of a brain haemorrhage in 2014 aged 68.

Note the tracks not on the compilation have been sourced from YouTube, however three of them are only available on Steve Edgar's excellent Soul Hawk channel and embedding has been disabled but just click on link 'Watch on YouTube' to listen.

1972 - I'll Always Love You [Shout #S-254]

1972 - Love Can Be That Way [Shout #S-254]

1975 - I Can't Go On [Contemporaries #CS 9031]

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