Tommy McGee [2024] Come On / To Make You Happy [Soul Direction Origins #SDO1009]

Soul Direction is releasing Tommy McGee's first two singles, "Come On" (Tosted Corp 1971) and "To Make You Happy" (Golden Voice #GV 1631 1973). Both tracks were also featured on his only album, "Positive-Negative", originally released on his own label MTMG Records in 1976 and reissued by Numero Group in 2016.

In 2021 Soul4Real also reissued two songs from his album, "We Ought To Be Together" / "Make Sure", on it's Jai Alai imprint

Tosted corp was owned by Palmer James and Curtis Rogers who were friends of Al Green and were members of Al Greene & The Creations, a group formed whilst they were at high school together. James and Curtis set up Tosted Corp and convinced McGee to go solo and released "Come On" flipped with a song called "Guilty" (written by Robert Williams) which was also recorded by Al Green(e) on his debut album "Back Up Train" (at a faster pace) which was initially released on Hot Line Music also founded by Palmer and Curtis, later distributed by Bell.

Greene's album didn't sell well but attracted the attention of Willie Mitchell and, having received little royalties from the album, Greene left to sign for Hi Records and we all know what happened next.

McGee was born in Grand Rapids, MI, in 1951. He formed a group called The TMGs who appear to have released just two singles, "What Can I Do" / "The Hatch", on Soul Shake (1967) and "Agravation" / "Takes A Little Time" on TMGF Production (1972). Jazzman Records took a track from each single ("The Hatch" and "Agravation") and reissued them on their Funk45 imprint in 2004.

As well as the two singles being reissued by Soul Direction, McGee released around another five solo singles between 1975-82 and a 12" single in 1991 which contained a reissue of "Come On". His 1981 single "Now That I Found You" / "Stay With Me" (we have coincidentally featured previously) was also reissued by Numero Group in 2016. McGee was paid by Jeff Lane (founder of  B.T. Express and member of Brass Construction) to do a remix of the A side but it also didn't sell well owing to poor promotion.

McGee found funds to release his album which he had been working on since 1971, in 1976 on his own label. Apparently only 500 were pressed and, although it didn't sell in quantity, has now become a collectors piece.

Released today and available from Soul Direction website.

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

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Rare Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Soul Direction Origins
Cat No:	SDO1009
Date:	29/03/2024
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

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