Don Gardner [1969] - Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy / There Ain't Gonna Be No Loving [Mr. G Records #G 824]

We're not sure when, but this gem from Don Gardner has been reissued digitally. It was originally released in 1969, the same year that his hyper rarity "Cheatin Kind" was issued on Sedgrick. We've read that Gardner sent the tape to Sedgrick owner James Vanleer and heard no more about it, so even he was unaware that it had been released.

Only one original of the Sedgrick record is listed on Popsike (sold for £7,626 in Apr 2014) and legend has it that rare soul dealer John Manship sold a copy for  around £8k to an Australian buyer which was run over by a truck when being delivered and smashed. He had it sent back and framed it, presumably, he was covered by insurance to take it so lightly?

This one is peanuts in comparison and can be found on original vinyl for £30-£40 unless you want a minter.

We did a feature on Don Gardner in 2020 if you want more info on him. This track was included then.

The B side "There Ain't Gonna Be No Loving" is a funky affair. The killer A side "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" was written by Morris Bailey who was a member of Crystal Clear who we posted a few weeks ago as their "Stay With Me" has been reissued by Soul Brother.

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Mr. G Records
Cat No:	G 824
Date:	1969
Key/BPM:	2A/80 / 4A/95
Price:	£1

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Northern Soul Rarities

In the Frank Wilson post the other day I mentioned a few other rare records so thought it worthwhile posting these for anyone not familiar with them.

Don Gardner [1969] - Cheatin' Kind [Sedgrick #3001]

Only a handful of known copies exist. John Manship sold one back around 2007/8 to a buyer in Australia (for something in the region of £8k) and 'tragically' it was run over by a Fed-ex truck.  Manship refunded the buyer and I believe he framed the smashed 45!

Here's a clip of Manship's framed, broken copy 37 secs in. Some other interesting memorabilia in video.

The Inspirations [1967] - No One Else Can Take Your Place [Breakthrough #1001]

The B side on it is blank with a white label, I believe, but never seen one!

Note, it was re-recorded on Breakthrough in 1977 and re-credited as Charles Diamond & The Inspirations. 

Joseph Webster [1968] - My Love Is So Strong [Crow #C 21]

Not many dates are available for the Crow releases except C37 1969 & C43 1970. It looks like the numbering system was shared with Flaming Arrow and C19 released in 1968 so this  would suggest that this was probably released around 1968.

The Andantes [1964] - (Like A) Nightmare [V.I.P. #25006]

Along with The Funk Brothers, The Andantes were Motown's key backing musicians who never saw the limelight. This is their second and last release in 1964. Their first was on MAH's in 1960 with Billy Kent. It was their only release on Motown, believed by many, released by Berry Gordy only to 'placate' them.

Don Gardner - The Best Of ...

Don Gardner is best known on UK soul scene for his super rare 1969 recording on Sedgrick 'Cheatin' Kind' which was a big sound on the Northern Soul Scene.

Gardner hailed from Philadelphia and was born 1931 and died 2018 aged 87. He started recording in 1949.  He formed the Sonotones which included Richard 'Groove' Holme who was replaced by Dee Dee Ford when he left in 1960. 

He had his biggest hit with in 1962 with Dee Dee Ford - I Need Your Lovin' which reached #20 Billboard Hot 100 and #4 R&B.  They had 2 further moderate hits together the same year with Glory Of Love #75 (which had previously recorded solo in 1960) and Don't You Worry #66.  

It was 11 years later in 1973 before he troubled the charts again with another duet, this time with Baby (Jeanette) Washington, Forever which reached #30 in R&B but didn't make Hot 100.

Their partnership ended in 1964 and Gardner continued releasing solo 45s for the remainder of the 60s on various labels.  In 1972 he teamed up with Baby Washington and released a 45 followed by an album the following year which spawned another 2 45s and as far as I can tell that was the end of his recording career although he continued working as a jazz musician (he was a drummer).   According to Wiki he was a guest artist on Patrick Stanfield Jones' A Heart Is An Open Road album in 2010 which I have confirmed from LastFM:

"For the past 5 years, Patrick has been working on his latest project with veteran jazz percussionist/drummer Don Gardner, honing and developing his writing and arranging skills even more."

Don Gardner [1966] - My Baby Likes To Boogaloo [Tru-Glo-Town 501]

Flip side is deep soul ballad I Wanta Know Where Did Our Love Go

Don Gardner [1967] - Ain't Gonna Let You Get Me Down [Tru-Glo-Town 505]

Storming 100mph Northern Soul

Flip side is a deep soul ballad  Somebody's Gonna Get Hurt

Don Gardner [1967] - Prove It [Sack 4362]

Northern Soul 'Stroller'

Flip side is Ain't Gonna Let You Get Me Down (above)

Also recorded by Mary Wheeler on Calla 111

Don Gardner [1967] - Tighten Up Your Love Bone [Cedric 3002/3003]

This tracks was released twice on Cedic 3002 in 1967 and 3003 Iin1971

Don Gardner [1967] - Is It Really Love [Cedric 3002/3003]

 Northern Soul / Crossover.

I actually prefer this side as more soulful.

Don Gardner [1969] - Cheatin' Kind [Sedrick 3001]

Mega rare 4/5 figure sum Northern Soul classic on Sedgrick.

Only 2 listed on Popsike 2011 £6,394 and 2014 £7,087

Written and produced by James Vanleer who owned Sedgrick, Cedric, Sac and Golden Ears labels in Chicago.  He also wrote a lot of material for Jackie Ross and Southside Movement in particular.

This is considered a classic by many on the scene probably owing more to it's rarity that quality as it's not over-exposed like many of the classics due to it's scarcity.

Don Gardner [1969] - Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy [Mr. G 824]

Now this is right up my street - mellow, soulful crossover.  I much prefer this track to Cheatin' Kind and would still have £9,950 of my ten grand to buy another 199 quality £50 tunes with like Is This Really Love (above)!

Written by Morris Bailey a highly regarded musician from Philadelphia who was a member of Crystal Clear (Stay With Me)

Flip side is late 60s funky soul There Ain't Gonna Be No Loving

Baby Washington & Don Gardner [1972] - Baby Let Me Get Close To You [Master Five M.F. 901]

Crossover

Flip side ballad I Just Want To Be Near To You

It was also reissued in 1973 on same label 9103 with MOR ballad Forever on flip.

Don Gardner [1972] - We're Gonna Make It Big [Master Five 9108]

Modern Soul / Crossover

Flip side ballad/stepper Just Stand By Me