Remembering Tyrone Davis

Tyrone Davis (Tyrone D. Branch) was born on 4 May 1938, although some sources state 3 Oct 1937 (apparently from death records) but 4 May seems to be the general consensus. He died on this day (9 Feb) in 2005 aged 66/67. He had  a stroke in Sep 2004 and was in a coma from which he never recovered and died from pneumonia according to his manager of 36 years Leo Graham.

In a career spanning five decades he released over 30 albums and around 75 singles, 21 reaching R&B Top 20 with 14 of those Top 10, three being #1 hits ("Can I Change My Mind" (1968 #5 Hot 100), "Turn Back the Hands of Time" (1970 #3 Hot 100), and the last "Turning Point" (1975) which didn't cross over to the Hot 100).

Davis was born near Greenville, MS, raised in Saginaw, MI, moving to Chicago in 1959. He got a job as bluesman Freddie King's valet/chauffeur. At nights he began singing in clubs and was spotted by blues singer/pianist Harold Burrage. Burrage wrote and produced his first single ("Suffer" / "Try Me") which was released on 4 Brothers in 1965, as well as writing three of his next four sides for the label. Burrage died on heart failure at Davis' home in 1966. His early singles, three for 4 Brothers and one for Sack, were billed as a variation of Tyrone The Wonder Boy. His first using the name Tyrone Davis was for ABC in 1968, although the Sack single had Tyrone Davis (The Wonder Boy).

In 1968 he signed to Carl Davis' new Dakar label (Wiki states that he changed his name to Davis after Carl Davis which is stretching it given that he'd already released two singles on Sack and ABC with the name). He hit the ground running with his first single for the label "Can I Change My Mind" in June 1968 which was his first hit and went to #1 R&B and #5 Hot 100. It was an accidental hit as the intended official A side was "A Woman Needs To Be Loved" and it became a hit after a radio DJ flipped it over and started playing the B side and it spent three weeks on top of the chart. 

The follow-up, "Is It Something You've Got", reached #5 R&B / #34 Hot 100, but it would be another five singles before he charted again with the biggest hit of his career "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" which was his second R&B #1 and peaked at #3 on the Hot 100. He achieved a total of twenty three R&B Top 40 hits whilst at Dakar between 1968-76, including another R&B #1 with "Turning Point" in 1975. Most were produced by Willie Henderson.

When Dakar folded in 1976 he joined Columbia, again hitting gold dust with his first release for the label "Give It Up (Turn It Loose)" which reached #2 R&B / #38 Hot 100. He achieved a dozen R&B entries with Columbia, "In The Mood" and "This I Swear" being the biggest hits both reaching #6 R&B but neither crossed over into the Hot 100. By 1982 he had moved to Highrise where he released just two singles "Are You Serious" doing the business peaking at #2 R&B and #57 Hot 100. After two more R&B hits for Ocean Front and four for Future in the 80s, he moved to Ichiban in the 90s releasing eight singles but had no further chart success. A final single was released for Malaco in 1997.

Album Discography

Year	Title	Label #Cat.No
1969	Can I Change My Mind	Dakar #SD 9005
1970	Turn Back the Hands of Time	Dakar #SD 9027
1972	I Had It All the Time	Dakar #DK 76904
1973	Without You in My Life	Dakar #DK 76901
1973	It's All in the Game	Dakar #DK 76909
1974	Home Wrecker	Dakar #DK 76915
1976	Turning Point!	Dakar #DK 76918
1976	Love and Touch	Columbia #PC 34268
1977	Let's Be Closer Together	Columbia #PC 34654
1978	I Can't Go On This Way	Columbia #JC 35304
1979	In the Mood with Tyrone Davis	Columbia #JC 35723
1979	Can't You Tell It's Me	Columbia #JC 36230
1980	I Just Can't Keep on Going	Columbia #JC 36598
1981	Everything in Place	Columbia #FC 37366
1982	Tyrone Davis	Highrise #HR 103AE
1983	Something Good	Ocean Front #OF 101
1985	Sexy Thing	Future #FR 1001
1987	Man Of Stone (In Love Again)	Future #FR 1002
1988	Flashin' Back	Future #FR 1003
1990	Come on Over	Future #FR 1004
1991	I'll Always Love You	Ichiban #ICH 1103
1992	Something's Mighty Wrong	Ichiban #ICH 1135
1994	You Stay on My Mind	Life #LR 78002
1994	For the Good Times	Ichiban #ICH 1170-2
1996	Simply	Malaco #MCD 7483
1997	Pleasing You	Malaco #MCD 7487
1999	Call Tyrone	Malaco #MCD 7496
2000	Relaxin' with Tyrone	Malaco #MCD 7505
2002	Love Line	Malaco #MCD 7514
2003	Come to Daddy	Future #FRCD 1005
2004	The Legendary Hall Of Famer	Endzone #EZR 2066-2

Singles Discography

Year	Title	Label #Cat.No
	Tyrone (The Wonder Boy)
1965	Suffer / Try Me	4 Brothers #447
	Tyrone 'Wonder Boy'
1966	If You Don't Need Me / Good Company	4 Brothers #450
	Tyrone (The Wonder Boy)
1967	Please Consider Me / You Made Me Suffer	Four Brothers 4#53
	Tyrone Davis (The Wonder Boy)
1967	I Tried It Over (And Over Again) / I'm Running A Losing Race	Sack #4359
	Tyrone Davis
	ABC
1967	What If A Man / Bet You I Win	ABC #11030
	Dakar
1968	A Woman Needs To Be Loved / Can I Change My Mind	Dakar #1452
1968	A Woman Needs To Be Loved / Can I Change My Mind	Dakar #602
1969	Is It Something You've Got / Undying Love	Dakar #605
1969	All The Waiting Is Not In Vain / Need Your Lovin' Every Day	Dakar #609
1969	I'm Confessin' / I Wanna Be Good Company	Hit Sound #888
1969	If It's Love That You're After / While I'm Not Around	Dakar #611
1969	You Can't Keep A Good Man Down / If I Didn't Love You	Dakar #615
1970	Turn Back The Hands Of Time / I Keep Coming Back 1970	Dakar #616
1970	I'll Be Right Here / Just Because Of You	Dakar #618
1970	Let Me Back In / Love Bones	Dakar #621
1971	Could I Forget You / Just My Way Of Loving You	Dakar #623
1971	One Way Ticket / We Got A Love No One Can Deny	Dakar #624
1971	You Keep Me Holding On / We Got A Love No One Can Deny	Dakar #626
1972	I Had It All The Time / You Wouldn't Believe	Dakar #4501
1972	Was I Just A Fool / After All This Time	Dakar #4507
1972	Come And Get This Ring / After All This Time	Dakar #4510
1972	Was It Just A Feeling / If You Had A Change Of Mind	Dakar #4513
1973	Without You In My Life / How Could I Forget You	Dakar #4519
1973	There It Is / You Wouldn't Believe	Dakar #4523
1973	Wrapped Up In Your Warm And Tender          Love / True Love Is Hard To Find	Dakar #4526
1974	I Wish It Was Me / You Don't Have To Beg Me To Stay	Dakar #4529
1974	What Goes Up (Must Come Down) / There's Got To Be An Answer	Dakar #4532
1974	Happiness Is Being With You / Where Lovers Meet	Dakar 4#536
1974	I Can't Make It Without You / You Wouldn't Believe	Dakar #4538
1975	Homewreckers / This Time	Dakar #4541
1975	A Woman Needs To Be Loved / Just Because Of You	Dakar #4545
1975	Turning Point / Don't Let It Be Too Late	Dakar #4550
1976	It's So Good (To Be Home With You) / I Can't Bump	Dakar #4553
1976	Saving My Love For You / I Cant Bump (Part 2)	Dakar #4558
1976	Ever Lovin' Girl / Forever	Dakar #4561
1977	Where Lovers Meet (At The Dark End Of The Street) / It's All In The Game	Dakar #4563
	Columbia
1976	Give It Up (Turn It Loose) / You're Too Much	Columbia #10388
1976	Close To You / Wrong Doers	Columbia #10457
1977	This I Swear / Givin' Myself To You	Columbia #10528
1977	All You Got / This I Swear	Columbia #10540
1977	All You Got / I Got Carried Away	Columbia #10604
1978	Get On Up (Disco) / It's You, It's You	Columbia #10684
1978	Can't Help But Say / Bunky	Columbia #10773
1979	In The Mood / I Can't Wait	Columbia #10904
1979	Ain't Nothing I Can Do / All The Love I Need	Columbia #11035
1979	Be With Me / Love You Forever	Columbia #11128
1980	Can't You Tell It's Me / I Don't Think You Heard Me	Columbia #11199
1980	Heart Failure / Keep On Dancin'	Columbia #11246
1980	How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) / I Can't Wait	Columbia #11344
1980	I Just Can't Keep On Goin' / We Don't Need No Music	Columbia #11415
1981	Just My Luck / Let's Be Close Together	Columbia #02269
1981	Leave Well Enough Alone / I Won't Let Go	Columbia #02634
	Highrise
1982	Are You Serious / Overdue	Highrise #2005 / Hi C-Lo #2005
1983	A Little Bit Of Loving (Goes A Long Way) /  Where Did We Lose	Highrise #2009 / Hi C-Lo #2009
	Ocean Front
1983	I Found Myself When I Lost You / (Instrumental)	Ocean Front #2001
1984	Let Me Be Your Pacifier / Turning Point	Ocean Front #2004
	Prelude
1985	Sexy Thing / Save Me	Prelude #8090
1985	Forever / Satisfy You Before I Satisfy Me	Prelude #8092
	Future
1987	Sexy Thing / Save Me	Future #101
1987	I'm In Love Again / Serious Love	Future #102
1988	Do You Feel It / (Instrumental)	Future #103
1988	It's A Miracle / Wrong Doers	Future #104
1988	Flashin' Back (Dance Mix) / Flashin' Back (LP Version)	Future #204
1990	Come On Over Here / One In A Million	Future #107
	Ichiban
1991	I'll Always Love You / Can I Change My Mind	Ichiban #226
1991	Mom's Apple Pie / Do You Still Love Me	Ichiban #237
1991	Talk To You / Prove My Love	Ichiban #243
1992	Somethings Mighty Wrong / Let Me Love You	Ichiban #255
1992	Running In And Out Of My Life / I've Gotta Get Over You	Ichiban #261
1992	Don't Make Me Choose / Ain't Gonna Get It	Ichiban #273
1993	It's A Miracle / Do You Feel It	Ichiban #285
1993	I Found Myself When I Found You / Something About You	Ichiban #292
	Dance Mania
1996	Here It Cums / Bring It On // Get Smokey / Animator	Dance Mania #Dm-146
	Malaco
1997	Delicious / Temporary Lovin	Malaco #MAL 2330

Whilst we've highlighted his biggest hits, we soul lovers aren't concerned with chart positions and his catalogue of music is outstanding and most of it available on Spotify. So trying to narrow it down to a digestible playlist was difficult. We initially had a playlist of almost 80 tracks so we've stripped out all the hits into a separate Hits Playlist to leave the non-hit singles, best B sides and album tracks below. He had 43 R&B hits and the playlist has 40 of them as "A Little Bit of Loving (Goes a Long Way)", "I Found Myself When I Lost You" and "Let Me Be Your Pacifier" are not available on Spotify, so we've linked to them on YouTube in Discography above (as well as to his early singles before he was with Dakar).. 

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Dirty Dozen - The Best Of 2023... Part 01 (Jan 2023 Wk 01-04) Spotify Playlist

Jan 2023

The first Dirty Dozen on 2023 as the end and the start of the year is always a lean time for new releases. So far this year we haven't been selecting weekly ones as there simply hasn't been enough outstanding new music to make up a dozen each week. Therefore, here's our selection of what we consider the best twelve releases for Jan 2023.

Our SoulStrutter Selections of the Week have been:

Wk 01 - Crutchfield Jones - The Crutchfield Jones Project EP [6 Jan]

Wk 02 - Ledisi - I Need To Know [11 Jan]

Wk 03 - Gene Moore Feat. India.Arie - Beautiful [20 Jan]

Wk 04 - Kyle Jason - The Right Place LP [6 Jan]

Wk 02 was a close run thing between Ledisi and Billy Valentine but Ledisi prevailed simply because Valentine's single is a cover version.

Playlist:

Ledisi - I Need To Know [11 Jan]

Kevin Ross - Look My Way [27 Jan]

Gene Moore Feat. India.Arie - Beautiful [20 Jan]

Massnada Feat. Enrica Capilli - Remind (Glamour LP) [10 Jan /24 Jan]

Kyle Jason - Lay Back (And Love) (The Right Place LP) [6 Jan]

Ché Sampson -  Walk With Me (Break The Day LP) [13 Jan]

Gene Noble - This Groove (Feel A Way LP ) [16 Jan]

Susy K Feat. Dave Browning - Workin' [17 Jan]

Celina Graves - I Still Need Your Love (Truth LP) [5 Jan]

JoDavi Feat. Jackie Gage - So Called Friends [15 Jan]

Crutchfield Jones - Toast To Jones [6 Jan]

Castella Feat. Marqueal Jordan - I Saw You [6 Jan]

The selections are for more traditional soul and original material and excludes Neo Soul and  derivative material such as cover versions, remixes, samples etc. as they will have their own playlists.

In the running, but just missed out were:

Sed Marsh - You [10 Jan]

The WRLDFMS Tony Williams - UBUBU [20 Jan]

Jane Handcock &  Snoop Dogg - Best Friend (World Of Women LP) [20 Jan]

Billy Valentine - Home Is Where The Hatred Is [9 Jan]

Maysa - I Don't Mind [1 Jan]

Carmen Jones - Love Crime (Naked LP) [19 Jan]

Audi Yo - Baby Love [17 Jan]

Sufiano - Ridin High [1 Dec /11 Jan]

Object Heavy - Reflection (Love & Gravity LP)) [27 Jan]

Shaila Prospere - Faith (Rickstar Mix) [13 Jan]

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

DJ Kool Keith [2022-01-31] - Soulful Vibes [Soul Groove Radio]

The Soul Emperor's selections of the latest releases broadcast on Tue 31s Jan 2023 on Soul Groove Radio. 

His Soulful Vibes show, in which he showcases new releases whether that be brand new music or reissues, has now moved from its previous Sunday slot to Tuesdays between 16:00-18:00 GMT.

DJ Kool Keith has two shows per week, his Soulful Vibes show Tue 16:00-18:00 (GMT/UK Time) on Soul Groove Radio and his Soulful Slow Jams show on Soul Radio Coast 2 Coast Sat 23:00 PST (Sun 07:00 GMT in UK).

All DJ Kool Keith podcast are available to listen/download from Podomatic.

Playlist:

Joey & Omar - Starlight (Grant Nelson Remix)

Funkmaster, John Khan, Paul Lyons, Leighton Jones - Start A Fire (Original Mix)

Birdee feat. Kelli Sae - Best There Ever Was 

Avant - Nothing Without You (Terry Hunter Remix)

Sharon Redd - Never Give You Up (Michael Gray Remix)

Beat Soul, Brian Moshesh - My Love

Steven Russell Harts - Bring It Back

Steven Russell Harts - Dance All Night

Soul Collective - The Love Of My Life

Soul Collective - The Real Thing

Sir Spencer - Maybe (Radio Edit)

Demetrius - If You Want To Fool Around (Remix)

Lee McDonald - Let's Play Luck (Extended Version)

Kloud 9 - When We're Together

Claire Davis - Intuition

Carlos Budd Ford - You Wanted Out

Centric - Treat It Right (feat. Yona Marie)

Ashlee White - The Deal

T Marvin & DJ Fuji - Swing Dance

Rina Chanel - Je Ne Sais Quoi

Centaura feat. Jewel Bass - I Need Love

Gene Moore feat. India.Arie - Beautiful

Get To Know & Andre Espeut - Nowhere Plans 

RnB Pooh feat. TK Soul - Wanna Dance With You

Norman Hutchins - I Really Love You (Extended Version)

Jane Handcock - I Wanna Thank Me 2.0 (with Snoop Dogg)

Danielle Glisper - Picking Up The Pieces

Kyle Jason - Your Smile (feat. Jahzara)

Kyle Jason - Lay Back (And Love)

Magic One - Hen Pecked

Adi Oasis - Multiply

Lotus De' - Eyez (Come Around)

Bahja Rodriguez - Down

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

R.I.P. - John E. Davis (31 Aug 1947 - 27 Jan 2023)

We are belatedly hearing news that Philly disco producer, arranger, conductor, bandleader, songwriter, TV score composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist John Edward Davis died on 27 Jan 2023 aged 75. 

To the mainstream he may be best known for the 1977 disco hit "Up Jumped The Devil" by The John Davis Monster Orchestra who also had a minor UK  pop hit (#70) with "Ain't That Enough For You" in 1979. He should not be confused with another artist of the same name who was also active in Philadelphia and a member of MFSB around the same time.

Davis graduated from Frankfort High School in PA then enlisted in the US Naval Academy with the Naval Academy Band. After leaving the Navy he went on to graduate with honours from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts in 1973.

He was a member of Philadelphia International's session group MFSB during its hey-day in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s, appearing on many Philadelphia International recordings.

In 1975 he formed The John Davis Monster Orchestra which was predominantly a studio band which included Bobby Eli, The Sweethearts (Barbara Ingram & Carla Benson & Yvette Benton) and Don Renaldo Strings & Horns amongst others. They released four albums between 1976-79. The first album is mainly disco versions of many standards. They were awarded Billboard Magazine Award as best disco orchestra in 1979 and 1980.

In 1981, John relocated with his family to Los Angeles, CA, where he met producer Aaron Spelling and began a long career of scoring many well-known television shows. John won an ASCAP award for seven seasons of having written the most music for a television series. He won an ASCAP award and gold album award for his Beverly Hills 90210 theme song. 

He has performed as a musician on albums by The Stylistics, William DeVaughn, Carol Douglas, Arthur Prysock, Touch Of Class, Grace Jones, Silver Convention, Ashford & Simpson, First Choice, Teddy Pendergrass, Shanice, Diana Ross, George Clinton

In addition he has also been involved in many hit records in a production/ arrangement capacity such as William DeVaughn "Be Thankful For What You Got" album, Three Degrees "Get Your Love Back" / "I Like Being A Woman". He has worked with Teddy Penergrass (TP / This One's For You album), Diana Ross (It's My House / The Boss), Phyllis Hyman, Ashford & Simpson (Is It Still Good To You / Stay Free albums), Collins & Collins (self titled album), Kool & The Gang, Scherrie Payne, Arthur Prysock, Touch Of Class, Carol Douglas, Benny Troy, Barbara & The Tabulations, Doris Troy, Grace Jones, Silver Convention and so many others.

Some of the recordings he has been involved with in some capacity either writing, arranging, producing or performing which have had exposure on the UK rare soul scene include:

 

Billy Harner - "What About The Children"

Rosey Jones - "Have Love Will Travel"

Charen Cotton - "A Little Bit Of Love"

Philly Devotions - "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" / "Hurt So Bad"

High & Mighty - "You Gave Me A Brand New Start"

Spice - "Sweet Norma Jones"

The Philadelphia Society - "100 South Of Broadway"

William DeVaughn - "Give The Little Man A Great Big Hand" / "Blood Is Thicker Than Water"

Ann Byers / Prince Johnny Robinson - "This/That Man/Girl Is Rated X"

Tapestry - "Life Is What You Make It"

Touch Of Class - "I'm In Heaven" / "I Just Can't Say Goodbye"

Arthur Prysock - "When Love Is New" / "All My Life"

Vaneese & Carolyn - "Let Me In" / "I'm Losing You"

Ray Dahrouge - "I Can See Him Makin' Love To You, Baby"

Collins & Collins - "Top Of The Stairs" / "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" 

... and many more.

So whilst, his disco output many not be to many soul lovers' taste, he has contributed to much music emanating from the city of brotherly love and beyond.

Here's just a selection:

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Chris Clark - A Profile

Chris Clark (Christine Elizabeth Clark) was born in Santa Cruz, CA, on 1 Feb 1946. She is a six-foot platinum blonde, blue-eyed soul singer often referred to as 'The White Negress' and was one of the first white artists to sign for Motown.

She started her career as a professional singer aged only 13 and at 16 left home, acquired a manager and was on the road singing in clubs. Some record companies were showing interest but after hearing the burgeoning Motown Sound she told her manager that she wouldn't audition for anyone else until Berry Gordy had heard her and there she spent the next eighteen years. 

Before we go on let's put one myth to bed as 45Cat lists her first single as "My Sugar Baby" under the name Connie Clark. It has been claimed for years that a Frank Wilson song "My Sugar Baby", rejected by Jobete/Motown that was recorded on Herman Griffith's South L.A. Joker label in Sep 1965, is Chris Clark. Chris herself has refuted this when asked stating that she only ever recorded for Motown. Some then say it was an opera singer Connie Haines possibly because, when asked, Chris said it was a band singer from the 40s. Connie Haines recorded one single for Motown in March 1966, a cover of Mary Wells' "What's Easy For Two Is Hard For One", and her voice sounds nothing like Connie Clark (whoever she may be) nor Chris Clark. When Frank Wilson was asked all he could recall was it was a session singer which would sound more plausible to cut a demo for Wilson to shop around labels. Incidentally, the song was recorded, but unreleased, by Frank Wilson until Goldmine Soul Supply issued it on a look-a-like Joker single in 2001. It then featured on the first "Cellarful of Motown!" compilation in 2002, so I'm not sure how GSS got their hands on it first.

Her first four singles were on the V.I.P. imprint, where many of Motown's white singers were consigned to (e.g. R. Dean Taylor, Debbie Dean, The Underdogs, The Dalton Boys, Rick, Robin & Him, The Headliners, Richard Anthony to name a few). Her second single was slated as V.I.P. 25034, her version of Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" which suffered the same fate and was never released. There has been much discussion about this single. It is alleged to have been pressed only as a single-sided test pressing and it is claimed that only one has been found, but the test pressing has been bootlegged and was offered up for auction by Pat Brady  after John Manship had refused to auction it. So her second, actual, single was "Love Gone Bad" (mistitled on one of two promos as "Love Gone Mad") which became her only charting single, released in Jul, charting for two weeks in Oct reaching #41 R&B and #105 Hot 100. The final single on V.I.P. was "I Want To Go Back There Again" in Feb 1966. Clark them switched to the main Motown label in Sep 1967 where she released two singles, "From Head To Toe" followed by "Whisper You Love Me Boy" in Feb 1968.

She recorded two albums for Motown, "Soul Sounds" in 1967 and "CC Rides Again on an imprint set up especially for her, Weed, which is the only release on that imprint. "Soul Sounds" has been reissued twice on CD, by Universal in 2009 with one additional track "Do Right Baby Do Right (Alternate Stereo Mix)" and prior to that in 1997 by Belgian label Marginal with an additional 8 tracks (4 from "CC Rides Again", 3 B sides and "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)". Only one compilation seems to be available which looks like it is her complete Motown catalogue of 50 tracks including both albums, three non album singles and 25 previously unreleased tracks but curiously it doesn't include "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)".

During the early 1970s, she was an executive with Motown's Film and Television Production Division in L.A. She co-wrote the screenplay for the 1972 movie "Lady Sings the Blues", based on the life of Billie Holiday who was played by Diana Ross, for which she earned an Academy Award (Oscar) nomination. In 1975 she was the Creative Assistant on the movie "Mahogany" and served as Head of Creative Affairs for Motown from 1981 to 1989.

Clark currently lives in Santa Rosa, CA and continues to work as a screenwriter, fine art photographer and singer.

In 2011 she released a single "Dream Or Cry" and in 2016 she recorded a song "The Ghosts of San Francisco" for a movie "When the World Came to San Francisco". The video for the song (below) won the Mixed Genre Jazz Film Award at the New York Jazz Film Festival in Nov 2016.

In Oct 2021 Chris Clark performed in the UK at Detroit A-Go-Go in Cleethorpes. Here's her account of her experience.

Sources: Soulful Detroit, Soul Source, 45Cat, Wikipedia, Chris Clark website

Album Discography

1967 - Soul Sounds [Motown #MS 664]

1969 - CC Rides Again [Weed #WS-801]

Compilations

2005 - The Motown collection [Motown #981 956-4]

Singles Discography

1965-12 - Do Right Baby Do Right / Don't Be Too Long [V.I.P #25031] 

1966-04 - Do I Love You [V.I.P #25034] 

1966-07 - Love's Gone Bad / Put Yourself In My Place [V.I.P #25038] 

1967-02 - I Want To Go Back There Again / I Love You [V.I.P. #25041]

1967-09 - From Head To Toe / The Beginning Of The End [Motown #M1114]

1968-02 - Whisper You Love Me Boy / The Beginning Of The End [Motown #M1121]

2011 - Dream Or Cry [Reel Music #PCS 72014]

2016 - The Ghosts of San Francisco

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Marvin Junior (The Dells) - A Profile

Marvin Junior was the baritone lead vocalist of one of the longest serving groups in history, The Dells. He was born on this day in 1936 and died of heart and kidney problems on 29 May 2013 aged 77 so would have been 87 today. His voice is one of the greatest in soul music which has has inspired many such as Teddy Pendergrass.

He was born Marvin Curtis Junior on 31 Jan 1936 in Harrell, AK, moving to Chicago at a very young age. 

The Dells were formed in 1952 as The El-Rays consisting of Junior, Verne Allison, Johnny Funches, Chuck Barksdale and brothers Michael and Lucius McGill. They met whilst at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, IL. Luscius McGill left soon afterwards leaving them a quintet and in 1955 renamed themselves as The Dells. They disbanded temporarily in 1958 after a near fatal car crash which left Michael (Mickey) McGill in hospital for six months, but reformed in 1960 with The Flamingos founding member Johnny Carter replacing Funches in 1961. As stated recently in the Remembering Billy Stewart feature, Barksdale joined Harvey Fuqua's Moonglows (along with a young Marvin Gaye) during this period, returning to The Dells when they reformed in 1960. The same line-up stayed together until Carter's death in 2009 but continued performing right up until 2012 when Junior and Barkdsdale retired owing to ill health. Barksdale died in May 2019.

Allison, McGill and Barksdale were the harmony backbone of the group with Junior and Carter taking lead.

Their first single was released as The El Rays on Checker in 1954 after which the changed their name to The Dells and signed with Vee-Jay in 1955 and hit with their third single for the label, "Oh What A Nite", (written by Junior and Funches) which reached #4 R&B in 1956. Despite around another fifteen singles on Vee-Jay they failed to capitalise on that hit and had to wait until the sublime deep soul ballad, "Stay In My Corner", in 1965, which had a cover of Tom Jones' hit, "It's Not Unusual", on the flip, for their next hit (#23 R&B). It was another two years before their next in 1967, after which they had a run of consecutive hits, including two R&B #1 with re-recordings of both "Stay In My Corner" and "Oh, What A Night" and another eight R&B Top 10 hits.

They re-joined the Chess fold in 1966 on the Cadet imprint and this was their golden age up to 1975 registering twenty six R&B hits in this period which was steered by producer/arranger Charles Stepney. They achieved sixteen R&B Top 20 hits, ten of those Top 10 with two number one hits. Eight of the singles crossed over to the Hot 100 Top 40. Stepney died of a heart attack in 1976 and the group switched to Mercury in 1975 and the big hits became fewer and farther between.

In 1978 the joined ABC, then 20th Century Fox in 1980 and Private I in 1984. An album appeared on their own label Veteran in 1988 followed by one on Philadelphia International in 1992.

The Dells were the inspiration, and consultants, for the Robert Townsend 1991 movie "The Five Heartbeats" which was about a fictitious singing group loosely based on The Dells. They recorded "A Heart Is a House for Love" for the soundtrack which was a #13 R&B hit for them in 1991.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

I thoroughly enjoyed putting the playlist below together even though many of their albums are not available as it forced the exploration of some that may otherwise have been skipped. There are just so many gems, especially many of the ballads and deep cuts, as well as many well know songs. I did consider streamlining it but left it as is as there may well be some new to you. 

Album Discography

1959 - Oh, What a Nite [Vee-Jay]

1965 - It's Not Unusual [Vee-Jay]

1968 - There Is [Cadet]

1969 - The Dell Musical Menu / Always Together [Cadet]

1969 - Love Is Blue [Cadet]

1970 - Like It Is Like It Was [Cadet]

1971 - Freedom Means.... [Cadet]

1972 - The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits [Cadet]

1972 - Sweet as Funk Can Be [Cadet]

1973 - Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation [Cadet]

1974 - The Dells [Cadet]

1974 - The Dells vs. The Dramatics [Cadet]

1974 - The Mighty Mighty Dell [Cadet]

1975 - We Got to Get Our Thing Together [Mercury]

1976 - No Way Back [Mercury]

1977 - They Said It Couldn't Be Done, But We Did It! [Mercury]

1978 - Love Connection [Mercury]

1978 - New Beginnings [ABC]

1979 - Face to Face [ABC]

1980 - I Touched a Dream [20th Century Fox]

1981 - Whatever Turns You On [20th Century Fox]

1984 - One Step Closer [Private I]

1988 - The Second Time [Veteran]

1992 - I Salute You [Philadelphia International]

2000 - Reminiscing [Volt]

2002 - Open Up My Heart: The 9/11 Album [Devine]

2003 - Hott [Devine]

2008 - Then & Now [Devine]

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Roger Williams [2023-01-29] - The Soulsorts Sunday Soul Collection #3 [Starpoint Radio]

The latest from the connoisseur's DJ Roger Soulsorts Williams whose Soulsorts Sunday Soul Collection 2023 #3 was broadcast live last night, Sun 29 Jan 2023, on Starpoint Radio 22:00-00:00 GMT.

Maintaining quality across the board with the best new music with some not quite so new.

Roger's show is broadcast every Sunday between 22:00-24:00 (GMT) on Starpoint Radio playing his selection of the best new soul and jazz releases.

Roger Williams Profile

All podcasts are available from Podomatic, Mixcloud and Amazon

Current show Podomatic, Mixcloud, Amazon

Playlist

Sufiano – Ridin High

Jarrod Lawson – I Would Die 4U

Susy K feat. Dave Browning – Workin' 

Tristan – Tell Me

Gene Moore & India.Arie – Beautiful

Lexi feat. Gene Moore – I Choose You

Gene Moore – Coming Home

Audi Yo – Baby Love

Danny Boy – This Song

Keisha Martin & Maurice Gregory – Best Part

Ché Sampson – Walk With Me

Gene Noble – This Groove

Kyle Jason – Lay Back (And Love)

Lindsay Lucas & Jonny Tobin – Your Side of the Bed

AlphaMama – Hate You Love

Bee-B – Damn Good Reason

Webster Lewis – Reach Out

Webster Lewis – Boston

Jarvis Greene – Got Me Thinking

Langston Lyric – Never Get Enough Of

Jeffrey Dennis feat. Frank McComb – Missing You

Joe Leavy – Let It Go

Marcy Brown – Never Give You Up

Royalty Duo – Forever

Penny Wells – I Wanna Be More (You Are)

Lori Williams – Too Late (It's My Time)

Val B. King – I Adore You

Tiffany Bynoe – Never Say Never

Rebecca Jade – Show Me

Cree Turner feat. Teri Tobin – Wanna Be Loved

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved