VA [2023] - Eccentric Northern Soul [Numero Group] (Full Album)

A pretty respectable compilation of Northern Soul sounds from Numero Group was released yesterday (11 Jul) in their  Eccentric series "Eccentric Northern Soul". It is available digitally and on vinyl.

A rundown of each track below (NB values are approximate based on Discogs sales).

Out Of Sights [1970] - Tears Don't Care [Saru #1614] £150

A group from Cleveland, OH, who released four singles all on Chuck Brown's Saru label in 1969-70. The official title on original vinyl is "Tears Don't Care Who Cry".

The Sequins [1966] - He's A Flirt [Renfro #126] £10

Brenda and Patrice Holloway moonlighting with their friend/cousin Pat Hunt as The Sequins on Anthony Refro's L.A. based Renfro label in 1966. They recorded under other names such as Four Js, Wooden Nickels, The Secrets, The Watesians and possibly others. It was a popular tune in its day, so much so that it was bootlegged which has kept the price down.

Helene Smith [1966] - Thrills And Chills [Lloyd #009] £150-£250

Miami's Helene Smith who was married to Johnny Pearsall who owned a record store (where he 'discovered' Betty Wright) and also Lloyd and Deep City labels where Smith released most of her recordings until she was signed to Phil L.A. of Soul.

Morris Chestnut [1967] - Too Darn Soulful [Amy #981] £250

The only known solo recording by Morris Chestnut which has been a huge NS sound over the years. Originally released on Amy but reissued by Grapevine in 1979 after being bootlegged on Renfro which may seem odd until you realise that it was published and produced by Anthony Renfro. Chestnut was a member of The Vows who released a handful of a singles in the early 60s including one on Motown's V.I.P. imprint in 1965 and then The Sound-Masters and The Attractions all of whom have had records played on the scene.

The Sensations [1969] - Demanding Man [Way Out #2005] £1,750

Another Cleveland group who released this on #1 Cleveland label Way Out in 1969. This is a rare one with none ever selling on Discogs and only one available for sale for an eye-watering £1,750. Group members included John L. Washington and Rod Simmons who were the main writers for so many Way Out recordings including the wonderful "Four Walls And One Window" with Bobby Wade (A SS desert island disc).

The Extremes [1964] - How I Need Your Love [4 J #4J-514] £750+

The Extremes were an L.A. group whose members included Bobby Sanders who went on to form The Younghearts in 1967 who he managed and produced. Charles Ingersoll from The Extremes, who co-wrote this song,  was also a member of The Younghearts.  Sanders was also involved with several NS classics, he owned the Soultown label, including The Tempos "(Countdown) Here I Come", which may be a bit 'played out' but still an all time favourite.

It must be a rare record as there isn't even a label scan on Discogs, although there is for this side only on 45Cat and only one is listed on Popsike which sold for £732 in 2012 but the seller states that it was valued at anything between £1,300 (John Manship) - £4,000 (Tim Brown) in various guides.

Ed Crook [1966] - That's Alright [Tri-Sound #TS 601] £150-£200

An evergreen that, apparently, has seen a revival in recent years which I believe was a Torch (a legendary all-nighter at The Golden Torch, Tuntall, Stoke that ran for only a year 1972-73) spin originally from Ed Crook. It's another one-off recording by Edgar Crook in 1966 on Tri-Sound who only released one other single by Devotions which is another gem ("Same Old Sweet Lovin'") written by Bobby Eaton and Richard Knight (of Bridges, Knight & Eaton fame who wrote so may great Chicago sides and were of course Brothers Of Soul) that Numero Group has reissued.

Carl Henderson [1966] - That Girl [Renfro #115] £50-£80

Another 1966 Renfro recording from Carl Henderson who released five singles on the label between 1965-68, one of which was also released on A&M offshoot Omen along with another on Omen only. 

Bob & Fred [1966] - I'll Be On My Way [Big Mack #823M-6101] £2,500-£3,000

Yet another one-off recording from Bob & Fred and probably the jewel in the crown of Detroit's Big Mack label with a valuation circa £3k or more. A self-written, string-laden, song by Bob Thomas and Fred Brown and produced by Big Mack owner Ed McCoy.

Elvin Spencer [1971] - Lift This Hurt [Twinight #150] £50-£150 (prices all over the place)

The 'cream of crossover' by Elvin Spencer which we have posted previously and there are several versions of the song. This is the later Twinight cut after the 1970 Winner release which is a different, faster, take. He was a member of The Chosen Few who also released the Twinight version of the song on Bandit in 1974. The group then recorded their own version and released it on their own Chosen Few label. That is not the end as Spencer private pressed it on E.S. Cozy in the late 80s dubbed from vinyl as he didn't have the master tapes. Spencer was born in Memphis moving to Chicago in 1969 after military service.

Syl Johnson [1970] - One Way Ticket to Nowhere [Twinight #134] £5-£10

A song co-written by John Moore (aka Johnny Moore who has had several recordings played on the scene e.g. Walk Like A Man [Date] which has the superb "It's Just My Way Of Loving You" on the flip also recorded by Garland Green) with, everyone's favourite, good old Jack Daniels (!) who founded 4 Brothers and was head of A&R at Blue Rock. Therefore, it's no great surprise that the song was also recorded (as "One-Way Ticket") by Tyrone Davis a month later on Dakar as he was initially signed to 4 Brothers.

Eula Cooper [1972] - Standing By Love [Note #7100] £70-£150

Best known for her "Let Our Love Grow Higher" (Super Sound 1969) and several other recordings (e.g. "Try" and  "Beggars Can't Be Choosy") on Jesse Jones' Atlanta based Tragar group of labels, Eula Cooper released this on the Note subsidiary in 1972. Her first release on Tragar consisted of two self-written songs when she was only 14 and it got national release on Atlantic. Much of Coopers material is admirably showcased on "Eccentric Soul: The Tragar & Note Labels" .

Barbara Stant [1972] - My Mind Holds On To Yesterday [Shiptown #70822] £200

In May Numero Group released a Barbara Stant compilation which included most, if not all, of her material and included this track and used it as the title for the compilation. Released in 1972 on Noah Biggs Norfolk, VA, based Shiptown label.

Ty Karim [1967] - Lighten Up Baby [Car-A-Mel #K-1677] £1,200 +

A Ty Karin rarity that has never sold on Discogs that we have posted previously. The backing has been used on multiple recordings: Ike & Tina Turner "Somebody Needs You" (Loma 1965) Larry Laster "Go For Yourself" (Loma 1966), Darrell Banks "Somebody, Somewhere Needs You" (1966) and Larry Atkins "Lighten Up Baby" (1968), Herb & Doris "Somebody Somewhere Needs You" (Hip 1968) and The Mid Knights "Somebody Somewhere Needs You" (Warner Bros 1968). Only one original (it was reissued) is listed on Popsike which sold for £1,207 in Jun 2011, so will be worth much more now.

Stormy [1967] - I Won't Stop to Cry [Twilight #104] £300-£450

If my recollection is correct this was initially played for the other side "The Devastator" which starts off sounding like The Beatles "Day Tripper"  (covered by J.J. Barnes on Ric-Tic). This was released on the Twilight label (later renamed Twinight) in 1967. The only two to sell on Discogs went for almost £300 and only one is now listed for £450. Stormy is actually John Colley from Chicago who was also a producer and produced Saxie Russell's "Psychedelic Soul" (Thomas 1968). He released another single as a member of The Lost Family in 1974. 

Royal Jesters [1966] - Use Your Head [Jester #JR-103] £40-£130

A 1966 recording by The Royal Jesters from San Antonio, TX, on their own Jester label. The song was written by Barrett Strong, Chuck Barksdale (The Dells) and Richard Parker and originally recorded by Mary Wells on 20th Century Fox in 1965 at a slightly slower pace.

Otis Brown [1965] - I'm Ready For Love [Lujuna #10655-4] £20-£35

It's funny how you read a bio on Discogs which is clearly inaccurate as it states that his first recording was "South Side Chicago" on Ole in 1966 when in fact he released a handful of singles on his own Lujuna label (named after his daughter) in 1965, this being the second one of them.  One of the singles on the label that was not recorded by him is a new take, using the same backing, on Jimmy Burns "I Really Love You" (Erica 1965) by the Brand New Faces titled "Brand New Faces". Other versions exist by Bobby James (Karol 1966) and The Mystics (Teako 1970) all of which we posted in Apr 2020. This is a relative cheapie which can be picked up for around £20.

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / Vinyl
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/07/2023
Price:	£9.99 /£22

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