The late
Freddie Hughes
takes lead vocals on the a Paul Tillman Smith song "Listen". It was first recorded for Norman Connors & Starship Orchestra
"This Is Your Life" album in 1977 with James Robinson on lead
vocals.
This version is from Bridge's unreleased "Crying For Love" album recorded around 1981 but not released until 1999 thanks to Mark
Coddington's First Experience Records (F.E.R.).
It was first issued on CD and then vinyl. The vinyl copies now fetch as
much as £250, when they are for sale, as there are no vinyl copies
currently for sale on Discogs.
A desert island disc for sure and if ever the phrase 'masterpiece'
applied then surely it is fitting here?
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
I'm
extremely saddened to learn that Freddie Hughes died last Tuesday from leukaemia and
complications from Covid-19 aged 79. This year already is an 'annus
horribilis' as far as veteran soul artists has been concerned.
He has been mentioned and featured many times on this blog and has been one
of my favourite male soul singers since I can remember. His work should be
far more widely known and appreciated and as the headline of
this obituary
reads "He should have been a superstar"!
I will not go into any great detail as his work has been extensively covered
in this
Discography from a couple of years ago and several other posts over the years
HERE.
I think the best tribute is to link to respects paid on his
facebook
page and to post some of his best recordings and a live performance at The Catfish Blues Festival with his son Derrick in 2013 singing, 'criminally', his only solo chart success "Send My Baby Back" from 1968. Rest in peace Freddie and
thank you for your music.
The Sounds Of Oakland are musicians from the San Francisco
Bay Area produced by Paul Tillman Smith which includes one of a my
favourite male singers Freddie Hughes (who I did a
full discography
on last year and is now 78), along with his son Derrick. Each track has at
least one featured vocalist.
A few of the 'bright lights' (personal taste) on the album include "Bright Lights" (feat. Derrick Hughes) which is essentially the same song as Lonnie Hewitt's "Is It Me" (Wee 1969), "Before You Know" (feat. Niecey "Living Single" Robinson), "Country Flower" (feat. Martin Luther) and "No Place" (feat. Derrick Hughes) which sounds quite a bit like Donny Hathaway's
"The Ghetto" to these ears!
Derrick Hughes' reworking of his fathers 1968
hit "Send My Baby Back" is almost unrecognisable to the original.
As is more often than not the case with Tillman Smith's productions, they
include songs that have featured on Park Place albums and this one is no
exception with ex Tower of Power front man Lennie Williams (another male
vocalist's voice I've loved over the years) guesting on "Invisible Man".
A good portion of the album's 18 tracks is blues or bluesy southern soul,
so if that's you're bag then this album may be for you. An interesting
point is the appearance of Bobby Reed on two tracks. It's not the same
Bobby Reed who recorded the double-sider modern soul classic on Bell in
1970.
Once again Spotify doesn't give the featured artists so click on album
cover image to view complete track list.
A song written by Lonnie Hewitt but recorded first by Freddie Hughes on Wand. Hewitt later released it on his Wee label in 1977 with a short (3:05) and long (4:20) version. It's the long (album) version featured below which was on his 1977 album 'Keepin' It Together'.
Freddie Hughes [1968/69] - I Got To Keep My Bluff In [Wand #WND
1192/1197]
This track was released twice by Hughes, first in 1968 as the B side to
'Natural Man' (his version of Aretha's classic). and then as an A side in
1969. It was written, arranged and produced by Lonnie Hewitt.
Lonnie Hewitt [1977] - I Gotta' Keep My Bluff In [Wee #484]
One of my avourite albums from one of my favourites singers,
Freddie Hughes. It was reissued in 2010 by those good people at Kent with
an
extended edition
with an additional 14 tracks.
I did a full discography on his singles last year
here. This guy is so under appreciated, and as is
still active in the Bay Area.
There is a recent interview with Freddie on
KALW in Jan 2020 when he was 76. He was still performing regulartly at
the
Royal Cuckoo Organ Lounge
in San Francisco before Covid set in.
Modern soul classic (well it is in my book!). Anthemic tune that was hammered on the modern soul scene back in 2000. An album recorded for Bang in Boulder, Colorado in 1981 that lay dormant and unreleased since then, was finally issued in the UK on Mark Coddington's First Experience Records (FER).
A marvellous album which features Freddie Hughes and his son Derick Hughes and former members of Vitamin E (Paul Tillman Smith) who released the fabulous 'Sharing' album on Buddah in 1977 produced by Norman Connors. All tracks were written by Paul Tillman Smith.
Debravon Lewis (who also recorded under alias Fizzy Quick on Motown mid 80s) leads on this title track with Freddie Hughes on background vocals.
Bridge [2000] - Stella [FER LP1]
Another killer cut from the album is Stella, recorded originally on Norman Connors 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 with vocals from Jean Carn and James Robinson. Debravon Lewis and Derick Hughes lead on this track.
Bridge [2000] - Listen [FER LP1]
Listen was written by Paul Tillman Smith and was originally recorded originally on Norman Connors 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 with vocals from James Robinson. The great Freddie Hughes leads on this track.
Bridge [2000] - Reach Out [FER LP1]
Derick Hughes is on lead vocals on this one.
If, like me, you only own the original issue, the 2014 Japaneses reissue includes 2 extra tracks 'Magic' and 'Back Here Again' that weren't included on the first issue, so I've included them here. (But I have to say neither track makes me want to rush out and replace the original!)
The mention of Freddie Hughes in the last post prompted me to post some of
his material. One of my favourite singers who has been greatly
overlooked. Hopefully some of the material here will turn you on to
him if you are not familiar with him.
Discogs states that he was a member of the following groups: Cymbals,
Markeets, The Four Rivers, The Ballads, The Music City Soul Brothers.
I can find no evidence that he was a member of The Ballads even though a
bootleg CD
Fred(die) Hughes & His Groups
was released listing 4 tracks with The Ballads. Perhaps he stood in for some
recording sessions?
In any case I do not intend to cover his work with these groups as a lot of
the material is 50s and early 60s.
Vitamin E [1977] - Sharing [Buddah BDA 574]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.9
Let's kick-off with one that may easily pass you buy as he does NOT seem to
be credited on the album or 45 produced by Norman Connors and James
Mtume. The only way to listen to it is the full length album version
which is 90 seconds longer than the 45. This tune is absolutely
faultless getting the top rating on this blog so far.
Right with that off my chest and out of the way, let's work through Freddies
discography.
The Casanova Two [1966] - I Was A Fool [Early Bird 49658]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8
Northern Soul on San Francisco's Early Bird label from 1966 with his
unmistakable vocals. Early Bird released around 11 45s between
1966-67, two of which were from The Casanova Two (II). The Casanova Two were
Freddie Hughes and Wylie Trass (an ex-Holiday [Music City]).
The Casanova Two [1966] - We Gotta Keep On [Early Bird 49658]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75
Northern Soul favourite.
Freddie Hughes [1968] - We Got To Keep On [Wand WDS 664]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 9
He did a different (more jazzy) version of the song on his only album Send
My Baby Back on Wand in 1968. I love both versions but if pushed
would choose this one.
The Casanova II [1967] - Maybe They're Right [Early Bird 49661]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.6
The Casanova II [1967] - Love's Philosophy [Early Bird 49661]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.5
Freddie Hughes [1967] - Take Me As I Am [Hip Star H-1013]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8
Out and out Northern Soul from 1967 with an instrumental version on the flip
side.
Freddie Hughes [1968] - Send My Baby Back [Wee 1006]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6
Crossover from 1968 which saw a national release on Wand.
The flip side is 'Where Is My Baby' which to my mind isn't as good as many other releases so I haven't
posted it in order to limit posting to the best ones.
Freddie Hughes [1968] - My Baby Came Back [Wee 1011]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.8
Skip-a-long Northern Soul from 1968.
Freddie Hughes [1968] - Natural Man [Wand WND 1192]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.0
Freddie's rendition of Aretha's classic. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural
Woman.
Freddie Hughes [1968] - I Gotta Keep My Bluff In [Wand WND 1192/1197]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.5
Released initially as the flip side to Natural Man and then as A side to
He's no Good.
Freddie Hughes [1968] - He's No Good [Wand WND 1197]
Freddie Hughes & The Chevelles [1972] - I've Got My Own Mind [Janus J
196]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75
Great toe-tapping crossover from 1972.
Freddie Hughes & The Chevelles [1972] - I Just Found Out [Janus J
196]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 9.6
Superb deep soul / crossover from 1972.
Freddie Hughes & The Chevelles [1973] - Will You Be There [Happy Fox
504]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4
Promo only (?) sweet / deep soul / crossover from 1973 that also got a promo
release on Janus J 208.
Freddie Hughes [1977] - Sarah Mae [Greg-U-Rudy 002]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.4
Deep soul on label owned by Greg Crockett (writer/arranger) and Rudy
Henderson (producer). As far as I know they only released one other
45 on the label Tap Dance by Yowza (which I've never heard).
The sound clip here is a later re-recording not the original. I'll
have to get my own copy out an try and post it on YouTube.
Freddie Hughes [1977] - Don't You Leave [Greg-U-Rudy 002]
SoulStrutter's Rating: 7.6
Modern Soul from 1977 which got a few spins on release.
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