Elvin Spencer [2022] - Lift This Hurt (1971) b/w You're Being Unfair [Numero Group #5704]

It's great to see this classic crossover tune from Elvin Spencer get a digital reissue today by Numero Group.

A detailed article on "Lift This Hurt" was posted in April 2020 as there are various different versions and issues of the song. The original version on Winner from 1970, a subsequent re-recorded slower version on Twinight the following year, then on Bandit (1974) and as The Chosen Few (1975) (who he was then a member of) and later still on Spencer's own label E.S. Cosy in the late 80s.

Numero Group have reissued two versions, the original faster and shorter one on Winner 1970 one and the Twinight 1971 issue. They will be posted separately as they have different B sides. I think I prefer the Twinight version although many prefer the faster Winner release.

The flip side on the Twinight issue, "You're Being Unfair", is a southern style, bluesy ballad written by Antoine Domino (aka Fats Domino) and Gerald Alexander who was a member of The Enticers which included Hank Sample as a member who also recorded it first in Jul 1970 on Jay-Walking. Curiously though on the Jay-Walking release the writers credits are to A. Domino and K. Antwine (a pseudonym?).

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover // Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	5704
Date:	21/07/2022
Key/BPM:	4A/92 // 9B/91
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Elvin Spencer [2022] - Lift This Hurt (1970) b/w Don't Make This Dream Come True [Numero Group #5703]

It's great to see this classic crossover tune from Elvin Spencer get a digital reissue today by Numero Group.

A detailed article on "Lift This Hurt" was posted in April 2020 as there are various different versions and issues of the song. The original version on Winner from 1970, a subsequent re-recorded slower version on Twinight the following year, then on Bandit (1974) and as The Chosen Few (1975) (who he was then a member of) and later still on Spencer's own label E.S. Cosy in the late 80s.

Numero Group have reissued two versions, the original faster and shorter one on Winner 1970 one and the Twinight 1971 issue. They will be posted separately as they have different B sides.

The flip side on the Winner issue, also a Spencer written, is a fine deep soul song "Don't Make This Dream Come True". 

This is the only listed release for the label which was a subsidiary of Chicago's short-lived Alteen label run by Bill Meeks (1968-70) which itself only had a handful of releases, the most sought after probably being Sunday (Williams) "Ain't Got No Problems" .

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover // Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	5703
Date:	21/07/2022
Key/BPM:	5A/107 // 5B/89
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Elvin Spencer - Lift This Hurt

Lift his Hurt, a great example of Chicago crossover, has seen 5 different releases.  Originally on Winner in 1970 which is a shorter and faster version, then in 1971 on Twinight, the same version then came out on Bandit in 1974 and again on The Chosen Few in 1975 by The Chosen Few, and finally it was reissued as Elvin Spencer on E.S.Cosy. A comment on Discogs (by respected soul aficionado Rod Dearlove - Voices From The Shadows) states that it was pressed from vinyl by Elvin Spencer (E.S.) in late 80s as master tapes were not available. 

Elvin Spencer was originally from Memphis and moved to Chicago when he came out of the army in 1969.  He joined The Chosen Few around 1974. Discogs lists a 12 track album 'Picking Up The Pieces' by him released in 1996, but other than that and the 3 tracks here on 5 different releases and 2 other 45s by The Chosen Few I can find no other material.

Elvin Spencer [1970] - Lift This Hurt [Winner W-0472]

This was the only release on Bill Meeks' Alteen subsidiary label.

Original version is shorter and faster than the later issue on Twinight.

Elvin Spencer [1970] - Don't Make This Dream Come True [Winner W-0472]

Superb deep soul / crossover track which makes the Winner version a 'winner' as you get this as well as the faster version of Life This Hurt.

Elvin Spencer [1971] - Lift This Hurt [Twinight 159]

Elvin Spencer [1971] - You've Been Unfair [Twinight 159]

Deep soul

Chosen Few [1974] - Lift This Hurt [Bandit RS 2521]

Although credited to Chosen Few this is in fact is exactly the same as the Twinight release by Elvin Spencer (who was now a member of Chosen Few) pressed from the master which Arrow Brown (Bandit's owner) obtained from Twinight. Chosen Few then left Bandit and reissued the tracks on their own The Chosen Few label in 1975.  They also released another 45 on The Chosen Few label Rico Collins & The Chosen Few Since You've Been Gone/What's Gonna Happen To Me which was also issued on Soul Beat.

Chosen Few [1974] - You've Been Unfair [Bandit RS 2521]