Creative Funk - 70s Label Discography

On Friday we noticed that Essential Media Group digitally reissued a 'modern' Northern Soul gem "I Need You" (vocal and instrumental) by Diane Jenkins.  The version released is the 'standard' version as there is another, rarer, version which has a short spoken intro and also a different arrangement that many prefer, so we've included a YouTube clip posted by Ted Massey below. 

A little anecdote, the song was written by Sam Culley who was a member of The Diplomats who morphed into Skull Snaps whose self-titled GSF album is a collectors item (that's been reissued multiple times and we are proud owners of an original acquired from John Anderson's Soul Bowl back in the day still in it's shrink warp) and had several tracks played on the scene.

The flip side to her first single "Anniversary" was "Tow-A-Way Zone" which was popular enough in the mid 70s to gain a UK issue by President imprint Crystal in 1975.

A bit of further investigation on the artist uncovered this statement by Ian Levine who discovered "Tow-A-Way Zone" and gave it exposure at the Blackpool Mecca in the early 70s which was posted on Soul Source in 2012 from an older post on a forum ANS.

"I tracked down Creative Funk label owner Deke DeBerry. He's now living in Carolina. His brother Gary DeBerry still lives in New York, and was the bass player in Creative Funk.

Back in 1976, Sheila Hart and I went with them all to an open air concert upstate New York for radio station WLIB. Diane Jenkins performed with Creative Funk, and I got introduced to the audience. It was what was called a "Picnic In The Park". We'd made "Tow Away Zone" such an underground hit at Blackpool Mecca and the Northern Soul scene, that they'd asked me to explain what sound we were into, and so "I Need You" was born, as an attempt to create something that the Northern Soul Scene would also like. Anyway, forward to 1999. We were desperately trying to find Diane for the "Strange World Of Northern Soul".

Gary DeBerry tracked her down to a block of flats in Brooklyn and got her phone number. But she wouldn't return any messages. He said he'd heard she was a bit of a junkie, but didn't know if this was true or not. In the end, he went over to Brooklyn twice, but couldn't get her to even answer the door. I left many pleading messages on her answer phone, but to no avail. As I said...... The STRANGE world of Northern Soul."

Creative Funk was an Albany, NY, based label (distributed by Bell) owned by brothers Gary Lamont De Berry Sr. and Deek DeBerry who were also both members of the band Creative Funk and Jenkins was their lead singer. 

The label released 8 singles between 1973-75 before the band Creative Funk split in 1975. Bassist Gary went on to play with Bobbie Humphrey, Norman Connors, Jean Carne and Stanley Turrentine. Deek died in 2007. The label seems to have been reactivated in the mid 80s

We discovered that also on Friday (and some earlier) Essential Media Group has actually reissued all of the Creative Funk label's 70s output digitally so rather than just posting "I Need You" we thought it well worth posting all of them and have ordered them chronologically by original release in the playlist below.

In addition we've included a later recording by Creative Funk which we believe was released in the 80s  (not dated on Discogs and not listed on 45Cat) which is an in-demand deep funk recording which featured Veedette Williams on the vocal B side and is allegedly the hardest one to find in the label.

NB we've included Funk Machine "Soul Santa" for completeness as, if you overlook the festive title, then it's a tight funky number.

Creative Funk Discography 

Creative Funk

1972-09 - Ready Made Family / Funk Power [#12,000] (NB A side feat. Diane Jenkins)

1973-?? - Moving World / Breezie's [#12001]

Diane Jenkins

1973-?? - Anniversary /Tow-A-Way Zone [#12002]

1973-?? - Gee Baby, What About You / Recycle [#12003]

Funk Machine

1973-?? - Soul Santa - Part I / Soul Santa - Part II [#12004]

Diane Jenkins

1974-02 - I'm A Woman / Sweet Wine, Music, And My Imagination [#12005]

1975-?? - I Need You / I Need You [Instrumental] [#12005]

The Limelites / Creative Funk Orchestra

1975 - Before The Next Teardrop Falls / Theme: Before The Next Teardrop Falls [#12008]

Creative Funk

198?-?? - The Whole Groove / The Whole Thing [#CF-1201]

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Odds And Ends Discography

What a great, underrated, Philly group the Odds And Ends were! I have a few of of their singles but came across this digital compilation, which is unlisted on Discogs, titled "The Funk Of". The title is a bit of a misnomer as there's no 'real' funk to be heard, apart from the lead song "Foot Track", as the rest is a mix of straight up Northern Soul or Crossover. The compilation includes all sides of their five singles as Odd And Ends ("Foot Track" and "Who Could Doubt Me Love" were released as A and B sides on different singles, so there are only eight songs). 

There's a couple of covers, Jay & The Techniques' "Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie" and Deon Jackson's "Love Makes The World Go Around".

The quality of the material comes as no surprise when most of the material was arranged and produced by Philly giants Thom Bell and Bobby Martin with, the very recently departed, Patrick Adams producing "Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie" with David Jordan.

The lush "Let Me Try" has been a long time favourite and a superb example of what is termed in the UK as 'crossover soul' (i.e. mid-tempo soul released at the 'crossover' between the 60s and 70s, generally between 67/68 to 73/74)

The only album listed on Discogs for them is a 1997 CD compilation with another Today act, Black Ivory, "Black Ivory Vs Odds And Ends - Battle Of The Bands Round One", which contains the same eight tracks, so perhaps that's the origin of this digital album?

Odds And Ends were siblings Wanda Butler (aka Doll) (12/12/1952) and her older brother Larry Butler (31/02/1951) and Jim Grant (26/08/1955) who was their half brother (same mother, different father). They were from Dorchester, GA where they sang at church and school before moving to Philadelphia in 1965. They formed a group called Doll and later became Odds & Ends and were managed by Robert Hawes who got them an audition with Thom Bell and Bobby Martin and were signed to Jimmy Curtiss' Perception Records, NYC based, subsidiary Today Records.

.

Their first, and most successful, single was "Let Me Try" which reached #6 R&B 1970. The only other single to chart was their cover of Deon Jackson which got to #8 R&B and #83 Hot 100. In 1974 Today went bust and folded so they were out on a limb.

They recorded with United Artists in 1980 as Unity (Today owned the Odds & Ends name so they had to change it) with James Grant being replaced by Mark King (who went on to form Level42 ...joke!) and released a self-titled album in 1980 and a single with two tracks from it the same year. They changed their name again to Three Million when they later joined Cotillion in 1983 as United Artists owned the Unity name. Two singles materialised in 1983 and 1984.

Coming across the album prompted doing their Discography.

Discography

Odds And Ends

1970 - Let Me Try / Foot Track [Today #T-1001]

1971 - Love Makes The World Go Round / Yesterday My Love [Today #T-1003]

1972 - Who Could Doubt My Love / Foot Track [Today #T-1502]

1972 - Give Me Something / Who Could Doubt My Love [Today #T-1506]

1972 - Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie / Talk That Talk [Today #T-1513]

Compilation

1997 - Black Ivory Vs Odds And Ends "Battle Of The Bands Round One"

Unity

1980 - Unity [United Artists #LT-1043] LP

1980 - I Don't Think I Can Make It (Without You) / (Heartache's) The Price [United Artists #UA-X1370Y]

Three Million

1983 - I've Been Robbed (Vocal) / I've Been Robbed (Instrumental) [Cotillion #7-99812]

1984 - I've Got The Hots (For You) (Vocal / Long Version) / I've Got The Hots (For You) (Instrumental) [Cotillion #7-99726]

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul / Crossover
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Off!
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/01/2007
Price:	£7.12

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Steve Aggasild (SoulAndJazzFlavas) In Conversation with Michon Young 7 Jun 2022

Steve Aggasild held a Zoom interview with Michon Young earlier this week discussing her latest album "Love, Life Experiences Vol. 3: Conversation Piece" (released 27 May) and playing tracks from her whole catalogue. (Her full Discography below).

Discography

Albums

2022

Love, Life Experiences Vol. 3: Conversation Piece (27 May)

2018

Love, Life Experiences Vol. 2 Driving To Purpose (29 Jun)

2017

Love, Life Experiences Vol. 1 (24 Apr)

2011 

Possessing A Promise (22 Aug)

Singles

2021

You're That One (15 Oct)

Happy (20 Apr)

You're Number 1 In My Book (22 Jan)

2020

Colorless Tears (6 Jul)

Honey Dew (2 Jul)

Honeydew, Hurry Home, Artist Message (24 Apr)

2019

His Good Thing (5 Jun)

2018

Let's Go To Work (Mystique Remixes) (3 Oct)

2016

Love On Me Tonight (8 Dec)

Something About You (27 Sep)

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Loleatta Holloway Discography 1971-1984

According to The Independent, Loleatta Holloway is "undoubtedly the most sampled female voice in popular music" and in 2016 Billboard named her the 95th most successful dance artist of all time!

It's a bit of a shame really as she was much more than just a dance/disco/house artist and I feel is grossly underrated for her earlier material. I intend to correct that by presenting some of the real soul gems that she recorded before she moved into the world of dance music.

In her career she had eleven R&B chart entries, only three of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 "Cry To Me" #68, Only You" #87 and "Good Vibrations" on which she featured for Marky Mark (actor Mark Wahlberg) & Funky Boys #1 hit, her last hit in 1991. 

She did, of course, also feature (uncredited) on Italian outfit Black Box's UK #1 hit "Ride On Time" in 1989. It was a track on the B side to "Worn Out Broken Heart", "Dreamin'", in 1976 that launched her disco career which got to #72 on the pop chart.

It may not be common knowledge that she featured on Dan Hartman's disco hit "Relight My Fire" in 1979, who then wrote one of her biggest dance hits "Love Sensation".

This post is a belated birthday celebration of her music. She was born in Chicago on 5 Nov 1946 and therefore would have been 75 a few days ago but sadly died owing to heart failure in March 2011 aged 64. It covers her career from 1971 to 1980.

As you would expect from her powerful voice, she started by singing gospel with her mother in the Holloway Community Singers in Chicago and recorded with Albertina Walker in the Caravans gospel group between 1967 and 1971.

She was also a member of a troupe of 'Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope' where she met her future husband, jazz guitarist Floyd Smith who became her manager and produced her first recording which was a cover of a Curtis Mayfield song originally recorded in 1963 by Gene Chandler "Rainbow" which she updated as "Rainbow '71". It was one of only four releases (Feb 1971) on the tiny Apache label which included the wonderful James Phelps' original version of "The Look On Your Face" which was co-written by Smith. The single was picked up by Galaxy for national distribution (Jun 1971) with a different A side but failed to chart.

Coincidentally, The Sweethearts of Sigma which included Evette Benton, whose death was announced yesterday, featured on her first three Gold Mind albums, with Barbara Ingram being on her fourth and last on the label.

Here's a playlist of twenty of her best, mainly deeper, sides, in no particular order other than chronological.

Discography 1971-1984

Apache

1971 AM 2004 - For Sentimental Reasons / Rainbow "71"

Galaxy

1971 780 - Bring It On Up / Rainbow '71

Aware

In 1973 she was signed to Michael Thevis' Atlanta based Aware label where she released six singles between 1973-75 and two albums "Loleatta" in 1973 and "Cry To Me" 1975.

Many of the tracks released on Aware are included on the excellent Kent compilation "The Hotlanta Soul of Loleatta Holloway" (link to album on Spotify)

Albums

1973 AA 2003 - Loleatta

The Man I Love

We Did It

Our Love

Can I Change My Mind

Part Time Lover, Full Time Fool

So Can I

Only A Fool

Love Woke Me Up

Mother Of Shame

Remember Me

1975 AA 2008 - Cry To Me Listen HERE

Cry To Me

I Know Where You're Coming From

The Show Must Go On

The World Don't Owe You Nothing

Just Be True To Me

Something About The Way I Feel

I'll Be Gone

I Can't Help Myself

Casanova

H.E.L.P. M.E. M.Y. L.O.R.D.

Singles

1973 AW-30 - Part Time Lover... Full Time Fool / Only A Fool

1973 AW-33 - Mother Of Shame/ Our Love (#63 (R&B) / #43 (R&B))

1974 AW-39 - Help Me My Lord / The World Don't Owe You Nothin'

1974 AW-47 - Cry To Me / So Can I (#10 R&B / #68 Hot 100)

1975 AW-50 - I Know Where You're Coming From / The Show Must Go On (#69 R&B)

1975 AW-53 - Casanova / Only A Fool

Gold Mind / Salsoul

In 1976 she joined Norman Harris' Gold Mind Records where she released eight single plus another on the parent label Salsoul between 1976-80. she also released four albums.

Many of the tracks released on Gold Mind / Salsoul are included in a compilation A Tribute To Loleattta Holloway: The Salsoul Years (link to album on Spotify)

Albums

1976 GZS 7500 - Loleatta Listen HERE

Hit And Run

Is It Just A Man's Way?

We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together)

Dreamin'

Ripped Off

Worn Out Broken Heart

That's How Heartaches Are Made

What Now

1978 GA 9501 - Queen Of The Night

Catch Me On The Rebound

Only You

Good, Good Feeling

Mama Don't, Papa Won't

I May Not Be There When You Want Me (But I'm Right On Time)

You Light Up My Life

Two Sides To Every Story

I'm In Love

1979 GA 9504 - Loleatta Holloway Listen HERE

The Greatest Performance Of My Life

All About The Paper

There Must Be A Reason

That's What You Said

Baby It's You

There'll Come A Time

Sweet Mother Of Mine

1980 GA 9506 - Love Sensation Listen HERE

Love Sensation

Long Hard Climb To Love

Short End Of The Stick

I've Been Loving You Too Long

Two Became A Crowd

Dance What 'Cha Wanna

My Way

I'll Be Standing There

Singles

1976 GM-4000 - Worn Out Broken Heart / Dreamin'

1977 GM-4001 - Hit And Run / Is It Just A Man's Way

1977 GM-4007 - We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together) / That's How Heartaches Are Made

1978 GM-4012 - Only You (with Bunny Sigler) / Good Good Feeling

1978 GG-4015 - I May Not Be There When You Want Me (But I'm Right On Time) / Mama Don't, Papa Won't

1978 GM-4016 - Catch Me On The Rebound / Mama Don't, Papa Won't

1979 GM-4021 - That's What You Said / There'll Come A Time

1979 GG 503 - The Greatest Performance Of My Life / That's What You Said (12")

1980 GM-4024 - Love Sensation / Short End Of The Stick

1980 GM-4021 - I've Been Loving You Too Long / Two Became A Crowd

Salsoul

1977 SZ-2045 - Run Away / Run Away (Album Version) (The Salsoul Orchestra Featuring Loleatta Holloway) (12")

80s

1982 SG 376 - Seconds / Seconds (Special Club Version)

Streetwise

1984 SWRL 1130 - Crash Goes Love / Sweet Thing

Phyllis Hyman [2021] - Old Friend [Soul Music] (Full Album Discography)

Christmas has come early for fans of Phyllis Hyman as David Nathan's Soul Music label (only mentioned yesterday with the compilation release, although it's not currently listed on SoulMusic.com), are releasing all of Phyllis Hyman's studio albums as a 9 CD boxset, most of them are the expanded edition. 

The price is a mere £39.99 (less than £4.50 per album or 35p a track (113 tracks) - you couldn't even buy the digital versions for that!) and is due 30 Jul 2021. 

Full details, including tracklist, via link on image below where you can also pre-order.

Hyman actually released ten albums but her second, 'Sing A Song' was a non US album, with all but three tracks appearing on 'Somewhere In My Lifetime'. These three tracks are included in the expanded edition of  'Somewhere In My Lifetime'.

I thought I'd previously posted a Discography on Phyllis Hyman but it looks like I never got around to posting it so where better than here and now with links to those available on Spotify to warm you up for purchase.

Album Discography

1977 - Phyllis Hyman 

1978 - Sing A Song 

1978 - Somewhere In My Lifetime 

1979 - You Know How To Love Me 

1981 - Can't We Fall In Love Again 

1983 - Goddess Of Love 

1986 - Living All Alone 

1991 - Prime Of My Life 

1995 - I Refuse To Be Lonely 

1998 - Forever With You

Despite being well known and respected, it may surprise you to learn that she never had a Billboard Hot 100 entry in her entire career, she had three bubbling under at 101 ('You Know How To Love Me' 1979), 102 ('Betcha By Golly Wow' 1977 with Norman Connors) and 103 ('Loving You, Losing You' 1977). Only four of her singles were Top 10 R&B and were none of the above.

She tragically took her own life on 30 Jun 1995 aged only 45 and only hours before she was due to perform at the famous Apollo theatre in New York.

Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	CD Boxset
Label:	Soul Music
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/07/2021
Value:	£39.99

BrownSugar Feat. Stefan Mahendra [2021] - Leave The Door Open [Live]

Here's a rundown of the releases from Stefan Mahandra, both solo and with his group BrownSugar.  Stefan has also featured as guest vocalist on several other releases.

BrownSugar was formed in 2014 by Stefan (singer/songwriter) and Iain McFarlane (drummer), and were later joined by Myles Peters (guitar) and Keshav Kansabar (bass).

Stefan is of Sri-Lankan/German heritage and was a quarter-finalist on The Voice series 8 in 2019 (he was eliminated in the 2nd round of the knockouts). He released his debut single 'Loving You Is Easy' in Nov 2020 and followed it up in Jan 2021 with 'It's Alright' (a track featured in the first 'The Dirty Dozen' in Feb). I think he's got a tremendous voice.

I came across the video of 'Leave The Door Open' by chance, and after Stefan's release in Jan 2021 I thought I'd dig further into releases by his group BrownSugar.  

I don't think it has been released (yet), as I went digging for it on Spotify and was amazed to find that already there are at least seven cover versions of the Silk Sonic hit! Jason Chen, Leroy Sanchez, William Singe, Jessica Mars, Sam Tsui and RoadsArt, and there's also a hideous piano instrumental version! Do they really think they will have a hit with it so soon after Silk Sonic? 

I can't find BrownSugar's music for sale anywhere.

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Whittington Still - Discography

I came across Whittington Still's latest single on Friday and was impressed by what I heard. I posted the new single on Friday with links to two of her previous releases and mentioned another to check out. 

I thought it opportune to post them all, as this lady's velvet vocals needs to be heard on a wider scale.  Ms Still's voice has been likened to Phyllis Hyman, especially on 'Missing You'.

UPDATE: as of today (28 Apr 2021) ALL five single are now available directly from Whitting Still's website for ONLY $5 (£3.59)!

Discography

18/03/2019 - The Chase [2B/73] 

(Written specifically for Amazon Prime TV series 'Chase Street' S02)

19/03/2019 - You Better Know What To Do [3A/106]

05/05/2019 - Missing You [6A/85]

07/02/2020 - Don't Be Afraid [11B/84]

06/04/2021 - Why Are You Here [3A/65]

A curious note, all five are 6:17 long! It can't be a coincidence as her facebook handle is whittingtonstil617, and if you watch the video clip for her latest single, it has a caption 'Project 617' and also features a door with a number 617. I 'sleuthed' it and in Numerology 617 is the Angel number.

I have also discovered that she presents on London's LN Soul Radio's 'Girls On Top Show' and also has her own Jewellery line.

All her available music is posted below with links on images to purchase.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.