The Invitations are perhaps best known for a couple of
Northern Soul monsters. They released their first three records on Bob
& Dan Crewe's New York based DynoVoice in 1965-66. Their last for the label,
"Skiing In The Snow", was arguably their biggest on the scene and was infamously covered
by Wigan's Ovation in 1975 when mass media attention was focused on NS
and Wigan Casino in particular, to much chagrin. However, the more
soulful "What's Wrong With Me Baby" (also written by Randell & Linzer and recorded on the label by The Toys on their only album in 1966
but not released as a single until 1973 on Virgo), is much better in our
opinion. Wigan's Ovation also had a bash at that song on their album "Northern Soul Dancer".
None of the three singles registered on the R&B chart yet they found
their way to a major label, MGM, for their next two singles followed
by just one on Diamond in 1968. Without any chart success from their first six singles up to 1968, they appear to have gone into hiatus
until 1973 when they re-emerged on Silver Blue with Lew Kirton as
their lead singer. Their, and the label's, first single was a cover of
Jerry Butler's "For Your Precious Love" (co-written with former Impressions The Brooks Brothers (Arthur and
Richard)) which gained them their first entry onto the R&B chart
peaking at #17 and just missing out on a Hot 100 position at
#110. However, the flip side, "They Say The Girl's Crazy", is what it's sought after for nowadays having been a firm favourite on
the modern soul scene for decades. If it's new to you then be prepared to be blown away as it's a superb example of mid 70s Philly soul and is still relatively cheap and easy
to pick up on original vinyl, proving that you don't have to take out a mortgage to buy
top quality soul records.
The group released three further singles for the label, all
produced by Philly producer Bobby Martin, the last being "Look On The Good Side" which has been paired with "They Say The Girl's Crazy" by Expansion
Records for release on 7" vinyl next month with the original Silver
Blue design.
The group recorded just one more single on Red Greg in 1977. Kirton,
of course, went on to have a solo career releasing four albums and had
a Northern/Modern Soul favourite in his own right with "Heaven In The
Afternoon" on Alston / T.K. in 1977. (posted HERE along with both sides on the reissue and a couple of others by Lew Kirton).
| Rating: | 8.8 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | Modern Soul / Philly Soul |
| Format: | Single / Reissue |
| Media: | 7" Vinyl |
| Label: | Expansion Records |
| Cat No: | None |
| Date: | TBC (Apr '24) |
| Key/BPM: | N/A |
| Price: | £12 |
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