Aki Aleong [2023] - Giving Up On Love b/w Love Is Funny [Numero Group #NUM5710]

Another foray into the archives for Numero Group with this 1963 Vee Jay outing from, now 88 year old, Aki Aleong (Assing Leonard Gonsalves Aleong).

It appears to be his last of only a handful of singles between 1959-63 and has been a long time favourite on the Northern Soul scene gaining a reissue on Stardust in the mid 90s.

The song "Giving Up On Love" was recorded at Hollywood's Gold Star studios in May 1963 with The Wrecking Crew and The Blossoms, who included Darlene Love, on backing vocals.

It has been covered by others including Jerry Butler, also on Vee Jay in 1964 who had a #56 R&B hit with it, the UK's Sonny Childe and L.A.'s Thee Midniters in 1965. The Heptones also did a reggae version in the 80s.

I'm not sure why Numero Group have gone with a facsimile Pan World label as I can't find it listed for that label although Aleong did record a singe for the label in 1960 and the flip "Love Is Funny" was published by Pan World and was recorded by Hannibal on the label also in 1960.

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

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul Beat Ballad
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM5710
Date:	28/03/2023 / 1963
Key/BPM:	6A/92 / 11A/131
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jimmy Radcliffe [2023] - Big City Blues / You Can't Lose Something You Never Had [Big Man Records #BMR 1012]

Mark Bicknell's Big Man Records is releasing a 7" single consisting of two previously unreleased songs by Jimmy Radcliffe "Big City Blues" / "You Can't Lose Something You Never Had", both 'big city' style beat ballads. The single is packaged with a look-a-like Musicor label and picture sleeve with sleeve notes written by Radcliffe's son Chris and is available now from vinyl dealers.

Jimmy Radcliffe is a legend on the Northern Soul scene mainly for his, Bacharach & David penned, Wigan Casino '3 before 8' all-nighter ender "Long After Tonight Is All Over" but also for his original version of "My Ship Is Coming In" (later covered by The Walker Brothers and also recorded by Walter Jackson). A vocal he did initially for a Pontiac car commercial made its way to a full single release by Steve Karmen's Big Band with "Breakaway". To a lesser extent, "Lucky Old Sun" and "(There Goes) The Forgotten Man" have also received spins, although the latter was more popular via Gene McDaniels cover.

Radcliffe had a minor UK pop hit with "Long After Tonight Is All Over" which spent two weeks on the chart in Feb 1965 peaking at #40. This was more than likely as a result of him visiting the UK in Jan 1965 and appearing on a number of popular TV shows such as Ready Steady Go (appearing with The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Righteous Brothers), Lucky Stars Special Presents Cilla Black, and The Eamonn Andrews Show.

He was born in New York City on 18 Nov 1936 and sadly died on 27 Jul 1973 aged only 36 (due to complications after having a kidney removed) two months before the doors opened at Wigan Casino on 23 Sep 1973 where his record became iconic within the venue and across the country.

He released less than ten solo singles in his career, and no albums (although a 16 track compilation appeared in 2007 "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire" with many previously unreleased tracks on it), but was a fixture in the Brill Building and Tin Pan Alley as a session singer singing demos of songs by the likes of Bacharach & David, Leiber & Stoller, Ellie Greenwich et al to sell to labels and artists. He also providing backing vocals for artists such as Doris Troy, Dee Dee Warwick, Cissy Houston, Melba Moore, Barbara Jean English and The Drifters and is claimed to be the first African-American to record commercial jingles.

He was also a songwriter, often partnering with Buddy Scott, with 185 credits on Discogs with songs recorded by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, Gene Pitney, Tommy Hunt, Esther Phillips, Nancy Wilson, Etta James, Tammy Montgomery (Tammi Terrell), Jackie Wilson, Lou Rawls, Garnet Mimms, Walter Jackson, Johnny Mathis, Ruby Winters, Jimmy Helms, Johnny Nash and many others.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Beat Ballad
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Big Man Records
Cat No:	BMR 1012
Date:	01/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£20

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Joe Buckner & Major IV / Hal Frazier [2022] - I Wish I Knew / I Stand Blue [Kent Select #CITY 077]

Joe Buckner was lead singer of Chicago group Major IV who recorded in L.A. in the late 60s and released three singles on Venture a soul subsidiary of MGM run by William 'Mickey' Stevenson which ran from 1967-69 which released around 50 singles. They released a few others as The Majors and The Major Three.

The song "I Wish I Knew" was written by Leon Ware and, future Supreme, Susaye Greene (she replaced Cindy Birdsong in 1976) who at the time (or soon after) were married. It was released by The Ballads on the label in 1969 and they re-recorded it in 1975 and re-titled it "Butterfly" on Music City and it also came out on Baija as "Butterfli" on the flip to "Confessing A Feeling". Interestingly on the Baija label it states that both sides were from an album "Ballads From The Ground Up" which isn't listed anywhere so presumably never materialised. It would also appear that Baija was their own label as only their recording were released on it.

The B side of this reissue is a beat ballad by Hal Frazier "I Stand Blue" which was also written by Leon Ware. It's only previous release was on the Kent 100 Club Anniversary single of 2019 credited to Mickey Stevenson. Big-voiced Hal Frazier had  another big beat ballad played on the scene "After Closing Time" (a Reprise B side from 1967).

Available to pre-order from Ace/Kent for release on 28 Oct 2022.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Beat Ballad
Format:	Single / Reissue
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Kent Select
Cat No:	CITY 077
Date:	28/10/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£9.86

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The High Keys [1966] - Let's Take A Chance [Verve #VK 10423]

Here's yet another flip side to a Northern Soul classic which is now the 'preferred' side.  The played side back in the day was 'Living A Lie', 'broken' at The Torch, but was still being played at Wigan in the mid/late 70s. This side, I suppose, you would describe as a beat ballad and what a superb soulful tune, far superior musically to 'Living A Lie'.

The High Keys had a hit with their first single in 1963 (#47 Hot 100) which was a latin/R&B version of Doris Day's 1962 hit (not for this blog!). As far as I can tell they only released four singles, the first three on Atco in 1963-64 and then this one on Verve in 1966.

There appear to be several variants, two promos light blue and yellow, and two stock copies black and dark blue. They all seem to sell for similar amounts, currently around £600 mark.

This side was written by Richard Pitts (who, if it's the same person, was a member of The Velours ('I'm Gonna Change') who later became The Realistics and then The Fantastics) and  Winston Willis who was a member of the 50s group The Solitaires. Willis also co-wrote 'Living A Lie' with Gerald Harris and George Kerr, the latter produced both sides.

Troy Keyes, who the group took its name from, was also a member of The Velours briefly between 1958-60, and went on to record around 4 solo singles in the late 60s/early 70s and also a duet with Norma Jenkins. Several of his records have also been played on NS scene, but I won't clutter this post with them and may feature them in a separate post.

Details

Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Verve
Cat No:	VK 10423
Year:	1966
Key:	N/A
BPM:	88
Value:	£600+ (approx.)

Ed Robinson [1971] - Temptation's Bout To Get Me [Atco #45-6812]

There are several versions of this Jimmy Diggs song, originally recorded by The Knight Brothers in 1965, who Diggs was a member of. Billy Stewart also recorded it and it was released on a posthumous album 'Remembered' in 1970 (he died in a car crash on 17 Jan 1970).  

Both great versions (and there are others (Aesops Fables (1968), The Rascals (1969), The Age of Reason (1969), The Rationals (1969), Paris Pilot (1969), Susan Carter (1970)), but it is Ed Robinson's smoother and mellower 70s version that appeals most to me. 

It defies 'categorisation', it could be deep, beat ballad, modern, does it really matter as it's just a damn fine piece of music!

Bill Lucas [1967] - Cause I Know Your Mine / I Don't Wanna Ever Love Again [Dionn #502]

For lovers of 'vintage' soul it doesn't get much better than this, a superb double-sider from Bill Lucas (both also written by him). The third release on Gilda Woods' Dionn label out of Philly that also brought us Brenda & The Tabluations and Moses Smith. The only other two artists who recorded for Dionn were The Vareeations and The Ordells.

I also note that both sides were arranged by Philly producer Richard 'Richie' Rome who founded The Ritchie Family in 1975.

There is only one another Bill Lucas record listed, on Surprise #711 'Pledging My Love / Your Good Thing' (a Joe Cobb & Van McCoy song). It appears to be the only release on this label which is a Jamie/Guyden subsidary.  It is almost certainly the same Bill Lucas as Gilda Woods was the producer. Unfortunately there are no clips on YT. I would love to hear it based on the quality of the two sides on Dionn.

Bill Lucas [1967] - Cause I Know Your Mine [Dionn #502]

This side is difficult to categorise as it's not traditional Northern Soul but did get spins in the 80s at 'Top Of The World', Stafford by Keb Darge. Northern Soul, Beat Ballad, Crossover, Lowrider, categorise it how you will as it could fit in all of these 'pigeon holes', but one thing is for certain, it is sheer quality 60s soul music which starts slow and just builds and builds and leaves you wanting more as 2:30 just isn't long enough.

Bill Lucas [1967] - I Don't Wanna Ever Love Again [Dionn #502]

As if the A side wasn't enough to convince you to seek this out, the flip is equally as good. This time it sits firmly on the 'Beat Ballad' shelf. 'Beat Ballad Heaven'!

Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells [1965] - All Or Nothing [Atlantic #45-2311]

In a similar vein to the previous post on Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles (note slight name variation). This is an earlier release from 1965 which is around the 'beat ballad' pace, but nevertheless is a wonderful deep soul ballad that just builds and builds. To me this has an anthemic quality about it and don't understand why this has never become a classic ... except for the 'obvious' fact that it is too readily and cheaply available!

Gene Chandler [1965] - Here Comes The Tears [Constellation #C-164]

A class slab of Chicago soul, I guess you'd label this as a beat ballad. Released in 1965 on Constellation but did absolutely nothing, it didn't even enter the US R&B chart!

I found this whilst going through my albums as it appears on ' The Girl Don't Care' LP from 1967 on Brunswick, so checked to see if it ever got a 45 release.  Written by Gerald Sims.

Gene Chandler [1966] - Bet You Never Thought [Constellation #C-166]

Whilst we're here, another track I've always liked from the album is 'Bet You Never Thought'. This got a 45 release on the flip to 'Baby That's Love' in 1966 on Constellation, another one that didn't bother the US R&B chart.

Gene Chandler [1966] - (I'm Just A) Fool For You [Constellation #C-167]

And yet another great track, co-written by Gerald Sims and Carl Davis, from the album which got a release as a flip side, this time to 'Buddy Ain't It A Shame' on the next Constellation release and didn't see any chart action.

Gene Chandler [1967] - To Choose [Brunswick #BL 54124]

To round this off here's a great deep soul ballad which is album only.

Freddie North [1968] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Abet #9436]

Freddy North's finest hour?  Beat ballad heaven from 1968, a cover of Big Maybelle's 1964 release on Scepter. Penned by Luther Dixon and Burt Keyes.

I know of 5 other versions, one previously unreleased until this year (2020) by Jerry Williams (believed to have been recorded in 1967), Big Maybelle (the original? from 1964), Dionne Warwick (also 1964 album only), Brenda & The Tabulations (1967 album only) an Leslie Uggams (1972 album only)

Jerry Williams [2020] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Soul 4 Real #S4R12]

A previously unreleased  version (on vinyl - I believe it did come out on Telling It Like It Is compilation CD) by Jerry (Swamp Dogg) Williams Jr was issued by Soul 4 Real in Sep 2020.  According to Soul 4 Real notes by Tony Rounce it was originally recorded in 1967 as a follow up to Baby You're My Everything but never released.  However, 'Baby' was released in 1965 - so I wonder if it was actually recorded in 1965?

Big Maybelle [1964] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Scepter #1779]

Dionne Warwick [1964] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Scepter #SRM-517]

So, who did it first Big Maybelle or Dionne Warwick?  Both released on Scepter in 1964.  Given that Dionne's is album only (Anyone Who Had A Heart), I'd plump for Big Maybelle being first.

Brenda & The Tabulations [1967] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Dionn #LPM 2000]

Released on Dry Your Eyes album (only) in 1967.

Leslie Uggams [1972] - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me [Sonday #SL 8000]

A slightly MOR version by Leslie Uggams (who was essentially a show type singer) from her  1972 album 'Try To See It My Way' on Sonday - the same label that she had her Northern Soul biggie Love Is A Good Foundation which is also on the album (side 1 track 1). 

NOTE: The link to 'Love Is' has some great rare live footage of her singing this track on a US TV show (Is has 'Reeling' In The Years' emblazoned across the screen, so I guess that must be the name of the show?) ... and an added bonus I found a clip of Dionne Warwick singing it live which i never knew existed!