Eugene Record [2023] - I Gotta Find A Way (Radio Edit) [Forty Five Records]

With all the fake releases, as reported last week, we took this one, "I Gotta Find A Way (Radio Edit)" credited to Eugene Record, with a very large pinch of salt, However, researching a bit further, it was announced on the artist's facebook page in April and also on an 'official' website. 

Record died on 22 Jul 2005 (exactly 18 years prior to the date of this release which may be significant) aged 64, and the sites seem to be hosted by his son Bryan. The website bills it as Recordplayers feat. Eugene Record from a forthcoming album "Eugene Record Tribute" by Recordplayers. Therefore, we would guess that it is Bryan Record who is behind this release as he, his wife Jerraine and father Eugene are on writing credits. How much of the vocal is Eugene's, or where it came from, is up for debate?

 

Let's be brutally honest, it's not particularly good, but 'hounds' of retro music seem to latch onto these sorts of things and we only post it out of interest and intrigue as musically it's not great, in our opinion, and if it was not associated with Eugene Record there would be little interest in it.

Record, of course, was the lead singer with The Chi-Lites and a prolific songwriter and we would rather remember him for the many great songs he wrote and recorded rather that this one!

We did a Eugene Record Profile on 23 Dec '21 on what would have been his 81st birthday and direct you there for his solo material. 

If you'd like the full lowdown on Record's career then his son Bryan wrote his biography "My Father In Lites" in 2015.

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

Details

Rating:	N/A
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Forty Five Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/07/2023
Key/BPM:	4B/88
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Eugene Record - A Profile

Eugene Booker Record (23 Dec.1940 - 22 Jul. 2005) would have been 82 today. He was the lead vocalist for The Chi-Lites between 1959-76 and then again between 1980-88. In the interim he recorded three solo albums for Warner Brothers, "The Eugene Record" (1977), "Trying To Get To You" (1978) and "Welcome To My Fantasy" (1979). When he re-joined The Chi-Lites in 1980 all releases on 20th Century were billed as The Ch-Lites featuring Eugene Record.

He was the main song-writer for the group who had released several singles in the mid 60s which failed to chart until they were signed to Brunswick in 1968 by Carl Davis where they had their first chart entry with "Give It Away" in 1969. They achieved eleven top 10 R&B hits between 1969-74 and two top 10 Hot 100 hits with "Have You Seen Her" (#3 1971) and "Oh Girl" (#1 1972) which was Brunswick's only #1 pop hit in the R&B era. 

Brunswick were in legal and financial trouble in 1976 and their records weren't being promoted so Eugene Record left in frustration and joined Warner Brothers and The Chi-Lites signed to Mercury where they released two albums in 1976-77 and had three minor hits with "Vanishing Love" (a song written by Sam Dees and previously recorded by John Edwards of The Spinners in 1974) and two Phil Hurtt penned songs "My First Mistake" and "If I Had A Girl".

Record released three albums and eight singles on Warner Brothers between 1977-79 with only the first single "Laying Beside You" making any impact on the R&B chart reaching #24. A lot of the material was disco oriented which, sadly, hasn't stood the test of time. 

His next single "Overdose Of Joy" though was a gem picked up on by the UK modern soul scene which now commands three figures. There are only two currently for sale on Discogs with $250 being asked for a  near mint copy.

There is no playlist as the only tracks available on Spotify are on his first album and a link to the album is provided below. I've found links to all of his singles, however, "Take Everything" and "I Don't Mind" is the medley on the flip to the 12" version of "Magnetism" (which doesn't appear on any of his albums) rather than the two individual sides released earlier.

Albums

1977 - The Eugene Record [Warner Bros. #BS 3018]

Full Album HERE

Laying Beside You (4:38)

Danger! Love Under Pressure (3:46)

Here Comes The Sun (4:11)

Overdose Of Joy (4:16)

Trying To Watch The Wind (5:54)

Mother Of Love (4:12)

Love Don't Live By Sex Alone (5:34)

Putting It Down (To The Way I Feel About You) (5:41)

When We Pull The Shades (6:22)

1978 - Trying To Get To You [Warner Bros. #BSK 3097]

Trying To Get To You (3:55)

Come To My Party (3:27)

Time (3:22)

We Belong Together (3:20)

I Want To Be With You (4:55)

Love And Fun (3:57)

You Are The Star Of My Show (4:03)

I'm So Glad (4:47)

Share My Life (5:27)

1979 - Welcome To My Fantasy [Warner Bros. #BSK 3284]

Where Are You (7:35)

Dreams Come In Colors (3:57)

Pain For Pleasure (3:39)

Welcome To My Fantasy (6:00)

Fan The Fire (6:58)

Sweet Insanity (3:53)

Help Yourself To Love (5:01)

Your Love (Ain't Nothing Like It) (4:52)

Singes

1977/02 - Laying Beside You / Love Don't Live By Sex Alone [Warner Bros. #WBS 8322]

1977/06 - Overdose Of Joy / Mother Of Love [Warner Bros. #WBS 8386]

1978/01 - *I Want To Be With You (Edit) / When We Pull The Shades [Warner Bros. #WBS 8517]

1978/04 - *Trying To Get To You / *You Are The Star Of My Show [Warner Bros. #WBS 8570]

1979/05 - *Take Everything / I Don't Mind [Warner Bros. #WBS 8836]

1979/09 - *Where Are You / *Sweet Insanity [Warner Bros. #WBS 49060]

1979/11 - *Fan The Fire / *Help Yourself To Love [Warner Bros. #WBS 49126]

1979 - *Magnetism // *I Don't Mind / Take Everything [Warner Bros. #WBSD 8774] 12"

1979/04 - *Magnetism / *I Don't Mind [Warner Bros. (UK) #K 17384]

The following video is a later live recording of their #1 hit "Oh Girl" with three of the original members Eugene Record, Robert 'Squirrel' Lester and Marshall Thompson who is still a performing member of the group.

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Version Excursion - Love Uprising (Otis Leaville v Jackie Wilson v Chi-Lites v Mister 'T" v Joyce Lawson)

As this song was mentioned in the last post (Ida Sands) I thought it worthwhile seeking out all the versions of it (that I know of at least, if you know of any others then do tell). It is also appropriate for the current world events!

Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites wrote "Love Uprising" which was first recorded by Otis Leaville on Dakar in 1970. It was covered by Jackie Wilson the same year and then by The Chi-Lites themselves in 1971. The best version, which chokes me to say it as I love Jackie Wilson, is by Mister "T" aka Alonzo Tucker in 1972 on Dakar. Joyce Lawson did two versions in 1981 on Mutt & Jeff, one being a 'Party Mix' on the flip which was apparently big on the Carolina Beach scene.

Tucker had been a member of The Royals who were also called The Midnighters (a la Hank Ballard & The Midnighters) in the 50s. He was quite a prolific songwriter, writing many early 60s hit for Jackie Wilson amongst other.

The annoying thing for me is that I have a white promo of it but it doesn't have this side on it as it has the deep soul flip "Saving My Love For You" on both sides! Stock copies now seem to sell between £60-£75.

Eugene Record - A Profile...

Eugene Booker Record (23 Dec.1940 - 22 Jul. 2005) would have been 81 today. He was the lead vocalist for The Chi-Lites between 1959-76 and then again between 1980-88. In the interim he recorded three solo albums for Warner Brothers, "The Eugene Record" (1977), "Trying To Get To You" (1978) and "Welcome To My Fantasy" (1979). When he re-joined The Chi-Lites in 1980 all releases on 20th Century were billed as The Ch-Lites featuring Eugene Record.

He was the main song-writer for the group who had released several singles in the mid 60s which failed to chart until they were signed to Brunswick in 1968 by Carl Davis where they had their first chart entry with "Give It Away" in 1969. They achieved eleven top 10 R&B hits between 1969-74 and two top 10 Hot 100 hits with "Have You Seen Her" (#3 1971) and "Oh Girl" (#1 1972) which was Brunswick's only #1 pop hit in the R&B era. 

Brunswick were in legal and financial trouble in 1976 and their records weren't being promoted so Eugene Record left in frustration and joined Warner Brothers and The Chi-Lites signed to Mercury where they released two albums in 1976-77 and had three minor hits with "Vanishing Love" (a song written by Sam Dees and previously recorded by John Edwards of The Spinners in 1974) and two Phil Hurtt penned songs "My First Mistake" and "If I Had A Girl".

Record released three albums and eight singles on Warner Brothers between 1977-79 with only the first single "Laying Beside You" making any impact on the R&B chart reaching #24. A lot of the material was disco oriented which, sadly, hasn't stood the test of time. 

His next single "Overdose Of Joy" though was a gem picked up on by the UK modern soul scene which now commands three figures. There are only two currently for sale on Discogs with $250 being asked for a  near mint copy.

There is no playlist as the only tracks available on Spotify are on his first album and a link to the album is provided below. I've found links to all of his singles, however, "Take Everything" and "I Don't Mind" is the medley on the flip to the 12" version of "Magnetism" (which doesn't appear on any of his albums) rather than the two individual sides released earlier.

Albums

1977 - The Eugene Record [Warner Bros. #BS 3018]

Full Album HERE

Laying Beside You (4:38)

Danger! Love Under Pressure (3:46)

Here Comes The Sun (4:11)

Overdose Of Joy (4:16)

Trying To Watch The Wind (5:54)

Mother Of Love (4:12)

Love Don't Live By Sex Alone (5:34)

Putting It Down (To The Way I Feel About You) (5:41)

When We Pull The Shades (6:22)

1978 - Trying To Get To You [Warner Bros. #BSK 3097]

Trying To Get To You (3:55)

Come To My Party (3:27)

Time (3:22)

We Belong Together (3:20)

I Want To Be With You (4:55)

Love And Fun (3:57)

You Are The Star Of My Show (4:03)

I'm So Glad (4:47)

Share My Life (5:27)

1979 - Welcome To My Fantasy [Warner Bros. #BSK 3284]

Where Are You (7:35)

Dreams Come In Colors (3:57)

Pain For Pleasure (3:39)

Welcome To My Fantasy (6:00)

Fan The Fire (6:58)

Sweet Insanity (3:53)

Help Yourself To Love (5:01)

Your Love (Ain't Nothing Like It) (4:52)

Singes

1977/02 - Laying Beside You / Love Don't Live By Sex Alone [Warner Bros. #WBS 8322]

1977/06 - Overdose Of Joy / Mother Of Love [Warner Bros. #WBS 8386]

1978/01 - *I Want To Be With You (Edit) / When We Pull The Shades [Warner Bros. #WBS 8517]

1978/04 - *Trying To Get To You / *You Are The Star Of My Show [Warner Bros. #WBS 8570]

1979/05 - *Take Everything / I Don't Mind [Warner Bros. #WBS 8836]

1979/09 - *Where Are You / *Sweet Insanity [Warner Bros. #WBS 49060]

1979/11 - *Fan The Fire / *Help Yourself To Love [Warner Bros. #WBS 49126]

1979 - *Magnetism // *I Don't Mind / Take Everything [Warner Bros. #WBSD 8774] 12"

1979/04 - *Magnetism / *I Don't Mind [Warner Bros. (UK) #K 17384]

The following video is a later live recording of their #1 hit "Oh Girl" with three of the original members Eugene Record, Robert 'Squirrel' Lester and Marshall Thompson who is still a performing member of the group.

Eugene Record [1977] - Overdose Of Joy / Mother Of Love [Warner Bros. WBS 8386]

The second solo release by ex-Chi-Lite Eugene Record was this Modern Soul classic floorfiller. It was also featured on his debut solo album The Eugene Record (as was the flip) with a slightly longer version 4:16 v 3:56 on 45.  I've chosen to post the album version as you can't get enough joy!

What may be a liitle known anecdote is that he received his first (and only) Grammy for Beyonce's - Crazy In Love (a #1 hit both US & UK) as it sampled Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) released on Brunswick in 1970, which he wrote and was given co-writer credits on Crazy In Love.  The original song reached #72 Billboard Hot 100 and #8 US R&B in 1970 before The Chi-Lites broke through with Have You Seen Her and Oh Girl! in 1971/72.

Eugene Record died in 2005 after a long battle with lung cancer aged 64.  His son Brian Anthony Record Sr. published a biographical book 'My Father In Lites' on the 10th anniversary of his death in 2015.

Eugene Record [1977] - Mother Of Love [Warner Bros. WBS 8386]

A failry 'average' ballad on the flip IMHO!