We only found four versions, the 1973 Brenda & the Tabulations original, a 1975 album track only by the
UK's Polly Brown, Pure Silk feat. Winsome 12" (mentioned the other day on the
Wendy Walker
post) and finally Gina Foster's Dutch only 7" promo (from a "Massive 5" CD compilation) both from
around 1992 and both reggae tinged versions.
If you know of any others then let is know.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Here we go again with yet another Philadelphia Re-edit Session from Paul
Simpson. His subject this time out consists of four tracks by
Brenda & The Tabulations from their 1977 album "I Keep Coming Back For More".
The album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studio and produced by a
combination of John Davis, Norman Harris, Bobby Eli along with Gilda C.
Woods who originally signed the group to her Dionn set up. In fact it was
after seeing the group appear at the Uptown Theatre (Philly's version of
The Apollo where her DJ husband hosted the shows) that she decided to set
up the Dionn label in 1966 to showcase their talent.
The group was formed in 1966 with a line-up of Brenda Payton, Eddie
Jackson, Jerry Jones and Maurice Coates and stayed at Dionn and
subsidiary label Top and Bottom until being singed to Epic when the line
up changed with the three male backing singers departing and replaced by
Pat Mercer and Deborah Martin.
Their last few singles for Top And Bottom involved Van McCoy who they
continued to work with when they singed to Epic in 1972 with limited
success. Only one of their four singles for the label between 1972-75
charted, that being "One Girl Too Late" which was popular in the UK although didn't chart but made it to #46
US R&B.
In 1977 they signed to Chocolate City but in reality it was Brenda with
no Tabulations as she was essentially solo by this time. A third album
was released "I Keep Coming Back For More" which produced two minor R&B hits "Home To Myself" (#61) and "(I'm A) superstar" (#31).
Brenda died in from breast cancer 1992 aged 46.
Track Listing:
01 - Let's go all the way (Down)... Paul Simpson Climax2 8:16
02 - I keep coming back for more (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:15
03 - Everybody's fool (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 9:07
04 - I'm a superstar (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 5:25
Full tracks are available to listen to on Paul's dedicated website available for a two weeks only.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
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!
