Eddie Parker [1966] - I'm Gone [Awake 502] plus....

Probably one of the finest stompers ever to grace the turntables on the Northern Soul scene is Eddie Parker's "I'm Gone".  Still an extremely rare record on original vinyl on Awake.  

Written by Jack Ashford (Funk Brothers drummer) and Ermastine Lewis (Lorraine Chandler) and released on Jack Ashford's Detroit Awake label (which only released 3 45s). This is a holy grail Northern Soul 45, selling for 4 figures. Only a handful have been listed on Popsike and the one on the Manship clip below (which was owned by Eddie Parker himself) had a latest bid of £6,224 in 2013.

Inevitably, due to its popularity, it was bootlegged on a green Awake label (probably around 1977) which does not include the 'Best In Soul Sounds' banner of the original and is very easy to spot as the font used is different as well. Also, the original is vinyl with moulded label and boot is styrene with stick on label.  Another interesting fact pointed out on SoulSource is that apparently the intro on the bootleg is truncated by a second (as are The Hesitations Soul Superman CD reissues - see below).

As good as all the other versions are, for me Eddie Parker's cannot be topped.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.5

Here's a 1999 re-recording and video clip done by Ian Levine for his 'The Strange World Of Northern Soul' videos.  Ian claims that this was championed by Tony Jebb at the Blackpool Mecca in 1971/72.  It was played heavily at Wigan Casino around 1977 ... so I don't know whether it took off or not at the Mecca originally, but recall it being huge in 1977/78 when it was eventually bootlegged.

A few other versions have since surfaced, The Hesitations "That's The Way Love Is" which uses same backing but completely different lyrics from their 1967 "Soul Superman" album on Kapp (there is also an instrumental version) and BillySha-rae's 1971 version on Spectrum which it is claimed was played at Bletsoe all-nighters early 70s in Bedfordshire long before Eddie Parker's version was discovered at Wigan Casino mid 70s. A cover (vocal and Instrumental) was done by Eldridge Gravy in 2011 released by Emerald City Soul Club.

The Hesitations [1967] - That's The Way Love Is [Kapp KS-3525]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9

Available on album only until reissued by Xclusive UK on a lookalike Stateside promo 45 in 90s / early noughties. Xclusive also reissued the "Soul Superman" album on CD in 1997 (which Goldmine Soul Supply had already issued i.e.  a reissue of a reissue!!!).

Here's a clip of The Hesitations performing it live at Prestatyn Soul Weekeder 20th March 2010.

Billy Sha-rae [1971] - I'm Gone [Spectrum 120]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

A more funky-edged version. As stated above, Derek Smiley (DJ) claims that this was played at one of the earliest all-nighters at Bletsoe in Bedfordshire before the original Eddie Parker was discovered.

Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme [2011] - I'm Gone (Vocal & Instrumental) [Emerald City Soul Club ECSC 001]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4

Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme is a 14 piece band from Seattle.  Emerald City Soul Club is also based in Seattle which will be celebrating their 15th anniversary in Nov this year (2020). I guess they had connections the band and arranged for them to record this cover?  If anyone knows more then please leave a comment.

Official Website

Eddie Parker [1976] - But If You Must Go / I Need A True Love [MAM 803]

OK, we're now more or less up to date with new releases from the last few months, so time to look at some quality oldies - in this instance a few deep soul offerings.  This track was only previously available via the original 1976 pressing on MAM/Miko with 'I Need A True Love' on the flip and would set you back around £2,000 ... if you could even find one!

Eddie Parker [1976] - But If You Must Go [MAM 803]

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.5

Eddie Parker [1976] - I Need A True Love [MAM 803]

This side was previously released on Triple 'B' (and also Googa-Mooga in France) with 'Crying Clown' on the flip in 1968.  It is thought that the 1976 release is a slightly different version ... but personally I can't tell much difference.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.2

Those lovely people at Ace/Kent in the UK included 'But If I Must Go'  in their Jack Ashford: Just Productions 24 track compilation CD in 2016.

They then issued it on their Deep Soul imprint on vinyl 45, flipped with the wonderful Debbie Taylor & The Hesitations - 'All That I Have'.

(Note: There is already a post of Debbie Taylor singing this live in 2017).

Debbie Taylor & The Hesitations - [2016] - All That I Have  [Deep Soul 03]

This track lay unissued until 2005 when it first appeared on Kent compilation 'GWP-NYC-TBC' compilation'. I note that it was co-written by Larry Saunders, an underrated artist who released some quality sides of his own which I am sure to feature at some point.

SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.4