A one-off private press single in 1975 on Olive Grove by
Wilton Crump is the focus of the latest digital reissue from
Numero Group.
They lead with the official B side, a falsetto led sweet soul ballad, "Give Your Love To Me". The other song, "Think It Through" is another ballad but without the falsetto vocals. Both songs were
recorded at Chess and Curtom in Chicago.
Both songs have featured on CD compilations, "Give Your Love To Me" on Soul
Junction's "We Got A Sweet Thing Going On (Volume Two)" in 2016 and again on
"Sweet Soul Rolas Vol. 3" and "Think It Through" featured on "Sweet Soul Rolas Vol. 3" both from around 2010, but we're not sure how
legit the last two comps are as they contain many rare songs, 'probably'
ripped from vinyl?
Wilton Emanuel Crump was born in in 1949 in Gary, IN, he was in the Roosevelt High School band from the 7th
grade and formed a trio the Mellowtones (which included his cousin John
Hilson and future jazz sideman Ervin Bates) a year after acquiring a
guitar when he was 11 years old. They were a teen hit in their native
town until a certain Jackson 5 arrived on the scene!
The Mellowtones recorded one single which was to include a cover of The
Impressions "For Your Precious Love" on the flip, which they got
clearance for, but unfortunately let the clearance lapse so the
recording went unreleased.
He left Gary in 1967 to study music at Lincoln University in Jefferson
City, MO. Upon returning to Gary he wrote songs and hawked them around
with little success. He also supported recording projects and played in
covers bands and word got around that he was a good arranger.
Steeltown's Gordon Keith got wind of it and having released just one
single by The Jackson Five before they went to Motown, he had another
song in the can "We Don't Have To Be Over 21 (To Fall In Love)"
and Crump was commissioned to arrange it which released in 1970,
although he was only credited on one of the label variants.
His sole single on Olive Branch in 1975 did nothing at the time but was
discovered years later by the lowrider scene in L.A. In 1979 he
formed a covers band called The Ravens who performed up to the 90s. By
1997 he became music director of another Gary, IN, legendary group The
Spaniels led by Pookie Hudson who were still doing the nostalgia
circuit. After Hudson's death in Jan 2007 he took over as lead vocalist. As
of 2014 (when the article we have referenced from
Belt magazine
was written) he was still performing, and as far as we are aware may
still be doing so as he would be 73/74 now.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
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