G.C. Cameron [2023] - Hold You To Your Promise / A Night Like This In Georgia (Give Me Your Love LP) [Shotgun Records #SHOT 119] (Full Album)

Recently a four track EP of 80s recordings by G.C. Cameron ("Live For Love") was released by Soundway Records. Cameron released just one album in the 80s on Malaco ("Give Me Your Love") after leaving Motown and releasing a single for UK's Flamingo, which was the subject of the EP.

Shotgun Records is reissuing two tracks from the Malaco album ("Hold You To Your Promise" /  "A Night Like This In Georgia") on 7" vinyl scheduled for 27 Oct. It will be the first time on single for these tracks as only one single was released from the album consisting of the first two tracks from it.

"A Night Like This In Georgia" is a deep soul ballad written by Frank Johnson (aka Frank-O) who was a one-time member of Motown's song writing team with his songs recorded by many top artists such as Supremes, Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Womack, Thelma Houston and many others. The flip, "Hold You To Your Promise", was written by Paul Kelly.

As we did with Shotgun's forthcoming Sandra Wright release, we'll post the full album in lieu of the single release.

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

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Southern soul
Format:	Single / Album
Media:	7" Vinyl / Digital
Label:	Shotgun Records / Malaco
Cat No:	SHOT 119 / MAL 7413
Date:	27/10/2023 / 01/05/1983
Price:	£TBC / £7.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron [2023] - Live For Love [Soundway Records] (Full EP) OUT TODAY

Vietnam veteran George Curtis Cameron was, of course, the lead singer of The Spinners until they left Motown in 1971 when he, being married to Berry Gordy's sister Gwen, decided to remain at the label and released five solo albums before leaving the label in the late 70s. 

In mid May we notified you that Soundway Records was releasing a four track 12" by G.C. Cameron which includes both side of his 1981 in-demander "Live For Love" / "If I Love You" on Flamingo (which was a UK 7" & 12" single only which now fetches up to £200) along with two previously unreleased songs from the same session, an instrumental version of "If I Love You" and "Thank You Baby". It is released today (9 Jun '23) and is available digitally on the usual platforms and also on vinyl from Bandcamp.

These songs were recorded at a session at Fantasy Studios, San Francisco in 1977 with the intention of completing a full album. Cameron teamed up with Harvey Fuqua (also a previous husband to Gwen Gordy), Greg Crockett and Elgie Stover to produce the work. Only two tracks were released from the session, strangely, via the short-lived UK Flamingo label which released around 20, predominantly dance/disco singles between Apr 1979-Nov 1981.

"Thank You Baby" includes vocals from Martha Walsh. (who sang backup for Sylvester with Izora Armstead and formed Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls) and Jeanie Tracy (who also started out as a backing singer for Sylvester).

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	EP  / Reissue / Previously Unreleased
Media:	Digital / 12" Vinyl
Label:	Soundway Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Price:	£2.49 / £14.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron [2023] - Live For Love [Soundway Records] (Full EP)

Set for full release on 9 Jun '23, digitally and on 12" vinyl, by Soundway Records is a four track EP by G.C. Cameron. It includes both side of his 1981 in-demander "Live For Love" / "If I Love You" on Flamingo (which as a UK single only 7" & 12" which now fetch up to £200) along with two previously unreleased songs from the same session, an instrumental version of "If I Love You" and "Thank You Baby".

So far the instrumental version of "If I Love You" has been released, and today the vocal. The official A side of the Flamingo single was reissued on Expansion's Soul Togetherness 2014 (so is included below). It reminds us in sections of a mix of Beloyd's "Get Into My Life" and Eugene Record's "Overdose Of Joy" which will give you and idea of how it sounds i.e. late 70s/early 80s modern soul of the finest quality. 

Watch this space for "Thank You Baby" when it surfaces as it should be a killer as it includes vocals from Martha Walsh. (who sang backup for Sylvester with Izora Armstead and formed Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls) and Jeanie Tracy (who also started out as a backing singer for Sylvester).

Vietnam veteran George Curtis Cameron was, of course, the lead singer of The Spinners until they left Motown in 1971 when he, being married to Berry Gordy's sister Gwen, decided to remain at the label and released five solo albums before leaving the label in the late 70s. 

These songs were recorded at a session at Fantasy Studios, San Francisco in 1977 with the intention of completing a full album. Cameron teamed up with Harvey Fuqua (also a previous husband to Gwen Gordy), Greg Crockett and Elgie Stover to produce the work. Only two tracks were released from the session, strangely, via the short-lived UK Flamingo label which released around 20, predominantly dance/disco singles between Apr 1979-Nov 1981.

Available to pre-order via Bandcamp.

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

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	EP  / Reissue / Previously Unreleased
Media:	Digital / 12" Vinyl
Label:	Soundway Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/06/2023
Price:	£2.49 / £14.99

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron / The Green Brothers [2023] - Give Me Your Love / Your Love Lifted Me [Jai Alai #JAR10]

The second new release from Jai Alai is a pairing of the title track of G.C. Cameron's 1983 "Give Me Your Love" Malaco album (available on 45 for the first time) along with The Green Brothers "Your Love Lifted Me" taken from their 2009 CD "Soulsville".

We are all aware that George Curtis Cameron was the lead singer with The Spinners who were acquired by Motown via Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label in 1963. However, when the group left Motown in 1971 Cameron decided to stay with the label, not least because he married Berry Gordy's sister Gwendolyn. He release five albums whilst at Motown between 1974-77 and then recorded "Give Me Your Love" for Malaco in 1983.

The Green Brothers were Robert L. (Bobby) and his younger brother Aaron (Al) Alexander Green from Fort Pierce, FL, who relocated to Royal Oak, MI in the mid 60s and joined the gospel group The Violinaires and later The Soul Superiors (Of Detroit Mich.) who released three singles in the late 60s/early 70s.

The brothers signed to Stax in 1974 and recorded several songs with the intention of a full album being released but only one single materialised on the Truth imprint as The Green Brothers. Stax, as we know, was in financial difficulty during this period and cheques received bounced signalling the end and the label folded in 1975.

 

They released just one more single with ex-Stax producer Don Davis on his Tortoise International label with a Ronnie McNeir penned song on the flip in 1977.

After that single, Al moved back to Florida whilst Bobby remained in Detroit. In 2009 their unreleased Stax recordings were enhanced with live strings and horns and released on CD as "Soulsville" by Loco Bop Records. Sadly by this time Al had passed away and Bobby also passed a few months ago. Jai Alai has selected the deep  "Your Love Lifted Me" from the set for release on 45 for the first time.

Available to pre-order now from Jai Alai for release on 14 May '23, but be quick as their recent releases sold out on pre-order within 24 hours!

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

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Jai Alai
Cat No:	JAR10
Date:	14/05/2023
Key/BPM:	11B/105 / 10B/64
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

G.C. Cameron [2021/1976] - G.C. Cameron [Motown #M6-855S1] (Full Album)

I've just noticed that G.C. Cameron's self-titled, sophomore, solo Motown album from 1976 was re-issued digitally on Friday (10 Sep 2021).

The standout tracks are "Me And My Life", his version of the Leon Ware & Pam Sawyer penned "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" (first recorded by Quincy Jones in 1974 on his album "Body Heat" which featured Leon Ware and Minnie Riperton with Al Jarreau chipping in with some vocal effects) "Include Me In Your Life" and "Strong Love".

Up until 1971 G.C. Cameron was lead singer of The (Detroit) Spinners but decided to stay with Motown when the group switched to Atlantic. He later re-joined the group temporarily in the noughties replacing John Edwards who suffered a stroke.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown
Cat No:	M6-855S1
Date:	10/09/2021 /1976
Value:	£9.90

G.C. Cameron [2021] - Straight In The Eye / No Need To Explain [Izipho Soul #ZP63]

Ian Levine 'haters' look away now as two of his Motorcity tracks, written with G.C. Cameron in the 90s, have been officially reissued today (21 Jul 2021) by Izipho Soul (on a Streetwalk imprint), "Straight In The Eye", being treated to a Nigel Lowis remix.

"No Need To Explain" was released on "Right Or Wrong" in 1991 and on 12" in 1992, and I think "Straight In The Eye" was an album only track but appeared on several albums as was the case with much of Levine's material. It cropped up on a number of different compilations e.g. it appears on  Stars Of Motorcity, The Sound of Motorcity, The Soul Sensations Collection, Summer Beach Party, The Best of G.C. Cameron but seems to have appeared first on Motorcity Beach Party in 1991!

Patrick (Biggerstaff the Izipho Soul supremo) tells me that he was approached by Ian Levine to release some tracks, hence the different label designs, but you'll note the Izipho Soul cat. no. 'distributed by' and website address. Patrick got to choose the B side, one of Levine's best productions, which gets a 45 release for the first time.

Note these are limited to 300 copies only. To order click on label image to go to Izipho Soul store. A donation from sales will be contributed to PSDS a charity providing support for children with downs syndrome and their families.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Original Version

Original Version - 30 seconds longer!

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP63
Year:	21/07/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£12

G.C. Cameron [2021] - Out Of The Shadows [Nationrizn] (Full Album)

New album from Motown veteran G.C. (George Curtis) Cameron (released 1 Jan 2021), who's probably best known as the lead singer with The (Detroit) Spinners.  He was lead on their first big hit 'It's A Shame' in 1970.  When The Spinners left Motown in 1971 for Atlantic, Cameron decided to stay at Motown where he released four albums beween 1974-77 ('Love Songs & Other Tragedies' 1974, 'G.C. Cameron' 1976,  'You're What's Missing In My Life' 1977 and a duet album with Syreeta 'Rich Love Poor Love' 1977), although he rejoined them in 2000 for a few years replacing John Edwards who suffered a stroke. 

He recorded the album 'Give Me Your Love' for Malaco in 1984 and then another with Ian Levine's MotorCity in the 90s 'Right Or Wrong'.  He continued his solo career with at least 5 albums released since 2000. 'Shadows' (Wiki states released 2001, Discogs 2005/07 and playlist on his YT channel 2009 - so take your pick), 'No Need To Explain' 2007, 'Jokers Are Wild' 2007, 'Enticed Ecstacy' 2009 and his latest 'Out Of The Shadows' 2021.

This album contains 3 tracks released on Shadows ('I Choose Your Love', 'Foolish', 'Truly Wonderful') hence, presumably, the title 'Out Of The Shadows'.  It also contains re-recordings of Spinners' hits 'It's A Shame', 'I'll Be Around' and his biggest solo recording 'It's Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday' and a couple of covers of classics such as  'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone' (who many think was originally recorded by The Temptations but Undisputed Truth's was the original in 1972) and 'People Get Ready' (The Impressions). 

As an aside, for the Northern Soulies, Joe Harris was the lead singer for Undisputed Truth. He was previously a member of The Fabulous Peps (who had a few records spun on NS scene e.g. 'With These Eyes', 'My Love Looks Good On You' and several others), The Monticellos ('I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face' on Red Cap) and was a member of The Ohio Untouchables/Players before joining Undisputed Truth in 1970, so was, presumably, on their Compass recordings such as 'You Don't Mean It'.  Tyrone Barkley ('Man Of Value') later joined the group along with other members of The Magic Tones. Chaka Khan's sister, known as Taka Boom, joined the group in 1976 for the album 'Method To The Madness' which spawned the minor UK hit 'You + Me = Love' which reached #43 in 1977. They also released the Norman Whitfield song 'Save My Love For A Rainy Day' in 1971 which was not as 'urgent' as the monster version played on NS scene by The Van Dykes on Mala from 1967.  They were a vastly underrated group, probably in the shadows of The Temptations, which gives me an idea for featuring some of their recording in a future post.

There is a '50th Anniversary Edition' banner on the sleeve which I presume must be in reference to his 50 years in the business since 1970 when he joined The Spinners after serving in Vietnam as a marine.

Here's my favourite tracks from the album, but you can hear the full album here.

People Get Ready

I'm going to kick-off the highlighted tracks with People Get Ready as it's a pleasant surprise as he goes deep on his version of the Curtis Mayfield song originally recorded in 1965 by The Impressions.

Running Back For More

Foolish

I Choose Your Love

G.C. Cameron [1976] - Strong Love [Motown M6-855S1]

Superb Modern Soul from 1976 taken from G.C. (George Curtis) Cameron's eponymous second Motown album that never saw a 45 release.

G.C. Cameron of course was lead singer with The Detroit Spinners until they left Motown in 1971, G.C. choosing to stay at Motown.  He rejoining them between 2000-03.