A song written and recorded by Ed Robinson, "Hey Blackman", is digitally reissued today. It was released in 1970 in two parts, originally on GM and later
nationally distributed on Cotillion. It was also released the following year in the UK as Eddie Robinson on Ember. The song defies categorisation as Pt.1 one is a deep soul balled with a message whilst Pt. 2 is more upbeat funky soul.
Cherry Red
Records, who have reissued it, have used a facsimile of the original
Ember picture sleeve for the release. They also released Pt.1 on a 72 track compilation "Soul On Fire (The Detroit Story 1957-1977)" in 2017.
Other notable releases on the, relatively short-lived, GM label
include The Jones Girls debut single "My Own Special Way" (Robinson
wrote both sides), Mr Floods Party's Northern Soul monster version of
Gene McDaniels' "Compared To What" and Dee Edwards first release of
"Why Can't There Be Love" (it later came out on associated label Bump
Shop).
Robinson's next single was a absolute killer version of the Jimmy Diggs song "Temptation's 'Bout To Get Me" (Atco 1971) first recorded by The Knight Brothers (Checker 1965)
who Diggs was a member of. We did a
version excursion
of the song in 2020 and at that time listed (and linked to) 18
versions.
He released only one further secular single, an Ashford &
Simpson song "I Just Wanna Be There" (Atco 1971), before he turned to
gospel and released a couple of singles and an album,
"Reflections Of The Man Inside", on gospel label Myrrh as Eddie
Robinson in 1974 followed by another album "You In My Life" in
1979.
Edward Clay Robinson was from Detroit and played the role of Hud in a
Detroit stage production of the musical 'Hair'. He was also a
songwriter with songs recorded by The Jones Girls, Leah Roberts,
Marlena Shaw, Melba Moore, Jeannie Reynolds, The Dramatics and many
others including one of our deep soul favourites "I'll Hold The Key" by
Nelson Sanders as well as some rare soul favs Metros "What's Wrong
With Our Love" and Mildred Clark "Keep Trying".
Destiny's Child's 2004 hit "Girl" sampled a song, "Oceans Of Thoughts And Dreams", he co-wrote with Don Davis for The Dramatics in 1977.
Robinson continued to record into the new century with "Elephant Song(Ant & Elephant)" (2007 as Eddie GM) and "Back On Track" (2010 as Eddie Robinson GM) along with several singles, but died in Apr 2014, we would guess in his 60s/early 70s.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
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