Darrow Fletcher is a firm favourite here at SS who,
apart from in rare soul circles, has been criminally overlooked. Kent
Records has put that right over the years with several compilations of
his music and Kent supremo Ady Croasdel inviting him to perform at the
now defunct legendary Cleethorpes Soul Weekenders.
We did a
full discography
for him many years ago in 2009 which was migrated here from a previous
blog in 2020.
A song he recorded in the early 70s as a demo, to try to gain interest from Ray
Charles' Crossover label (who he later signed for), that has never
made it onto vinyl until now, is "Hope For Love" which Kent received via a master tape from Grapevine Records some
years ago. The song first surfaced on a Kent CD compilation "Masterpieces Of Modern Soul (Volume 2)" in 2009 (an excellent CD well worth acquiring if you don't already
own it as it is full of gems).
It is now being made available from 28 Aug on a 7" paired with "No Limit" which first saw the light of day as an unissued side on Kent Select
in 2012 with his Northern Soul stormer "What Good Am I Without You" originally on Jacklyn 1967. "No Limit" was written by Grey &
Hanks and recorded by Philly group Breakwater in 1978 on their self-titled debut album and was later released as single on 7" and
12".
With so much great music that he recorded it's difficult to choose a
favourite but if pressed it would his 1975 Crossover release "It's No
Mistake" which Kent reissued along with another previously unissued
Grey & Hanks song (with Jerry Butler) "(Love Is My) Secret Weapon"
in 2019. We're kicking ourselves as could have bought a Crossover
original many moons ago for £40 but passed on it and they are now
selling for approaching £200 if you can find anyone willing to part
with it.
Included below are a few videos shot at a performance at
Scottish Soul Weekender, Dumfries in Nov 2012, The first begins with "No
Limit" as the first track then "My Young Misery" (1966 Groovy). The others include "(Love Is My) Secret Weapon" and his debut single "The Pain Gets A Little Deeper" released on Groovy in 1965, followed
by "Changing By The Minute" (Uni 1970).
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
%20%5BOrpheus%20Enterprises%5D.webp)
No comments:
Post a Comment