VA [2024] - Atlanta Hotbed of 70s Soul [Kent #CDKEND 518] (Full Album)

A CD only compilation,  "Atlanta Hotbed of 70s Soul", was released at the end of March. It consists of many previously unreleased 70s Atlanta recordings from Michael Thevis' short-lived group of labels, GRC, Aware and Hotlanta. 

Much of the material was left unreleased when the labels folded after Thevis was arrested and imprisoned for eight years in 1974 for transportation of pornographic material and conspiracy to commit arson. He was later also charged for murder via information received from a prison informant who was released on parole. Thevis escaped from prison in 1978 and the informer was found shot dead for which Thevis was captured, charged and imprisoned for life for two murders, the informant's and the original murder committed in1970. He died in prison in 2013 aged 82. You can read about his sordid story HERE.

Thankfully the tapes have been preserved with many tracks already having been issued. This latest batch of tape discoveries contains many songs written by Sam Dees.

With 24 tracks we don't propose to discuss each in detail (as you can listen to sound samples below) but a few are worth highlighting.

The pièce de résistance is the opening track and the original recording of "Con Me" by Miss Louistine (Burnett) (who was married to Tee Fletcher) which was later recorded by The Paragons on Buddah in 1975 (we own the record but sadly only a single sided promo with the modern soul dancer "Oh Lovin' You" on both sides, needless to say the issue with "Con Me" is valued considerably more). Dees also recorded the song (presumably originally as a demo) on the Kent CD "The Heritage Of A Black Man" (1998). Another Miss Louistine recorded Sam Dees song is also included, "Extra Extra", which was released as the 100 Club anniversary single  last year.

Along with the two above, our highlighted tracks include: Alpaca Phase III "Paper Man" (released on a Deep Soul  45) & "Someone To Run To" (released on 45 by Sean Hampsey's Diggin Deep label in 2020), The Steppers "Keep On Walking", Joe Hinton "Depend On Me", Lorraine Johnson "Can I Hold You To It?" and a new version to us of a song recorded by Nancy Wilson on Capitol in 1974 "There'll Always Be Forever" by Lomita Johnson. Johnson was a founding member of Side Effect but was replaced by Helen Lowe (aka Helen Baylor). It is thought that perhaps she recorded the song as a demo for Nancy Wilson or possibly that it was withdrawn when Wilson decided to recorded it.

The CD is available (complete with a comprehensive 20 page booklet) direct from Ace Records or from record dealers. Vinyl copies also available from Ace Records.

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

01 - Miss Louistine - Con Me

02 - Alpaca Phase III - Paper Man

03 - Deep Velvet - Is There Someone Else

04 - Kenneth Wright - The Souls Of Black Folks

05 - Joe Hinton - Grant Me One More Day

06 - The Steppers - Keep On Walking

07 - Dorothy Norwood - Time Is Winding Up

08 - Jean Battle - Love Making

09 - Miss Louistine - Extra-Extra

10 - Deep Velvet - I'm Tired Of Dreaming

11 - Joe Hinton - Depend On Me

12 - Kenneth Wright - Me And Jen

13 - Joe Graham - What Am I To Do

14 - Shirlean Fant - Sure Could Do With Some You

15 - Alpaca Phase III - Someone To Run To

16 - Lorraine Johnson - Can I Hold You To It?

17 - Lorraine Johnson - When Will I Stop Loving You

18 - Dee Ervin - I Need Me Some More Of You

19 - Joe Hinton - Shouldn't I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong

20 - King Hannibal - Fight Fire With Fire

21 - The Surprise Sisters - Talk's Cheap

22 - Joe Graham - Loneliness Hurts Just A Little Bit

23 - Lomita Johnson - There'll Always Be Forever

24 - Dee Clark - My Peaceful Forest

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	CD
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CDKEND 518
Date:	29/03/2024
Price:	£11.70

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