Thursday, 18 May 2023

Crystal Motion [2023] - There’ll Be Another / Million Dollar Baby [Soul Junction #SJ551]


A new single from Soul Junction contains two previously unreleased songs from Crystal Motion. The group was a vocal quartet from New Bedford, MA, but were originally from Cape Verde consisting of Kevin Gomes (lead vocals), his cousin Rodney 'Skeeta' Santos, Daniel 'Buddy' Monterio and John Paris (who came up with the group's name).

They are know in rare soul circles for their only other recording, "You're My Main Squeeze", on Frank Fioravanti's, Philly based, Sound Gems label in 1975.  

A demo of the lead song, "There'll Be Another", was recorded at Metcalf Recording, New Bedford, in 1972 and offered to Fioravanti's Omega Sound Productions around 1974. The group were signed to Sound Gems but, instead of releasing the demo, Fioravanti selected the song above he'd written with Pal Rakes. The record had some local success along the east coast and, on the back of that success, the group prepared to record an album, however, only the original demo and another song, "Million Dollar Baby", made it to tape which have been languishing in the vaults until now.

John Paris had left the group, replaced by Dougie Meadows, after the release of "You're My Main Squeeze" and lead singer Kevin Gomes left due to personal reasons after the recording of "Million Dollar Baby" hence the album was never completed and the group dissolved soon afterwards.

Three of the members have now passed, Santos, Paris and his replacement Mendes, leaving just Gomes and Monterio who are joined by Santos' brothers Rene and Rory, Tony Simons and occasionally female vocalist Angela Kronillis.

Soul Junction has licensed the only other two known recordings by the group for release as their latest single. They are a departure from the Northern/Modern soul gem "You're My Main Squeeze" being early 70s sweet soul (ala Stylistics/Chi-Lites/Delfonics/Blue Magic sound of those times) which should appeal to the lowrider community.

Available to pre-order now from Soul Junction for release on 30 May '23

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details
Rating: 8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Sweet Soul
Format: Single
Media: 7" Vinyl
Label: Soul Junction
Cat No: None
Date: 30/05/2023
Key/BPM: N/A
Price: £1
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