This four tracker "The Soulman Sessions, Vol 1", credited to Billy Butler
& Jay Player, was released on Saturday (19 Mar 2022) and is a bit of a
mystery (the drawback of digital releases as there is no info!). With it
being titled Vol. 1 then watch out for future volumes.
Jay Player has only one listed release, which is well known and in-demand in rare soul
circles, "Love Is The Answer" on Bevnick 1982. It was co-written by Billy Butler and Allan Harris.
Harris recorded it and, from recollection, I believe that it was from an unissued album from which UK rare soul DJ Arthur Fenn cut a 7" acetate of it for playing out. If you're interested in hearing it then it is in a video posted last year to commemorate Soul Sam's 80th birthday where there is a live DJ set in which Arthur gives it a spin.
This does shed some light on a couple of other tracks as these
were also co-written by Butler/Harris and Harris recorded one of them "Just Let Me Know" in 1979 as Allan Harris & Perpetual Motion on Exact Change (again
his only listed release).
The other 'known' song is "No One But You" which was released by Crosswind on 12" so I would assume it was early/mid 80s (it is not dated on Discogs but they did release another recording on the
same label (Harbor City) in 1987 with a much higher catalogue
number).
Most, if not all, tracks were also arranged by Al Johnson (Alfred Johnson
from Washington a former member of The Unicefs and who recorded many highly
regarded solo tunes).
Before I confuse you any further Billy Butler isn't the Northern Soul hero
who released the legendary "Right Track" on Okeh, but a member of The
Optimistics (Turbo) / The Inclinations (Janus) from Baltimore. Another
member of The Optimistics / Inclinations was one James (Jay?) Player. The
label for Allen Harris & Perpetual Motions was also Baltimore
based.
The track that I can't trace is "Don't Let People Get You Down" so would 'assume' that it may be previously unreleased?
The mix of "Love Is The Answer" is a different mix which is shorter than
even the original 7" mix i.e. 3:46 v 4:21 and obviously much shorter than
the 12" mix which was 5:44.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the
artist.
| Rating: | 8.8 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | Classic Soul |
| Format: | EP |
| Media: | Digital |
| Label: | JettMusic |
| Cat No: | None |
| Date: | 19/03/2022 |
| Value: | £3.96 |
