George Jackson [2023] - One More Hurt // Back In Your Arms / Hold That Feeling [Hit And Run #HR 1550]

The first of two new releases from Hit And Run out today (23 May '23) contain three songwriter demos recorded by George Jackson. 

Hit And Run maestro Garry J. Cape tells us that he stumbled across a tape some 20 years ago which were marked 'For Dorothy' (i.e. Dorothy Moore) but at that time was not able to license the songs. He took a backup and stored it. Over time it became possible to license the tracks but the the tape could not be found. 

One of the songs, "One More Hurt", was recorded at Fame in 1973 by Candi Station  but unreleased. It was later discovered and Kent released it on a Candi Station compilation "Evidence: The Complete Fame Records Masters" (Kent CDKEN2 353) and then on 45 along with another unreleased George Jackson song, "Do Right Woman".

Garry felt that it was the right time to unleash the original writer's demo along with two other demos of deep soul cuts which have previously escaped: "Back In Your Arms" on "The Soul Of George Jackson" and "Hold That Feeling" on "Soul Lovin'" both released by Fame in 2020.

It is the first time on 45 for all tracks.

To order send £15 + £3 p&p (good for 3 copies) via paypal (friends & family) to hitandrunsoul45@gmail.com.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover, Deep Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Hit And Run
Cat No:	HR 1550
Date:	23/05/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

George Jackson [2022] - Till I Find Some Way / Slippin' On Your Love [Hit and Run #HR 1543]

The second Hit and Run single released today is from George Jackson with two tracks appearing on vinyl for the first time.

The A side "Till I Find Some Way" is from "What Would Your Mama Say?" released on CD by Grapevine in 2005 licensed from Malaco. The song was recorded by The Ovations featuring Louis Williams on XL in 1978 as the flip side to "Sweet Thing".

The B side "Slippin' On Your Love" is also from a Grapevine CD licensed from Malaco in 2002 "In Muscle Shoals".

Hit And Run label owner, Garry Cape, who was also a partner of Grapevine, states that both songs were recorded around 1978 at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Memphis.

George Jackson was a prolific songwriter with over 800 credits listed on Discogs, for many well established, predominantly Southern Soul, artists such as Wilson Pickett,  Eddie Floyd, Candi Staton, Millie Jackson, Arthur Conley, Clarence Carter, Bettye Swann, Otis Clay, O.V. Wright, James Carr, Spencer Wiggins and many others. 

A few well know songs, that you may or may not realise, that he wrote include Bobby Patterson's Northern Soul classic "I'm In Love With You", Otis Clay "The Only Way Is Up" (which was a mainstream UK pop #1 hit for Yazz in 1988) and The Osmond's only remotely soulful song "One Bad Apple" which Jackson wrote with The Jackson 5 in mind to record it.

He also recorded around twenty singles himself in the 60s/70s but only two entered the R&B chart ("That's What You Mean To Me" (#48 1970) and "Aretha, Sing One For Me" (#38 1972) which was an answer song to Aretha's "Don't Play That Song"). One of his best, using the alias Bart Jackson on Decca, was "Wonderful Dream" (1968) which included Dan Greer and Willie Mitchell on writing credits. It was later recorded by Art Gentry in 1972 as a B side which even got a UK issue on Mojo. 

To order send £15 each + £3 postage (good for 1-3 records) via PayPal to hitandrunsoul45@gmail.com

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Crossover
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Hit And Run
Cat No:	HR 1543
Date:	20/08/2022
Key/BPM:	6B/87 / 4B/107
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

George Jackson's - If I Could Open Up My Heart - Versions

A few versions of the deep soul track written by George Jackson.

A tenuous link back to Big Mel on this post as he was a member of Public Announcement who provided the inspiration for this post with their version of this track on an obscure album 'Chicago Soul The "Truth" In R&B Collection' released in 2004.

Public Announcement! [2004] - If I Could Open Up My Heart [1time management OTM 0237]

George Jackson [2002] - If I Could Open Up My Heart [Grapevine GVCD 3003]

The composer's version which lay in the can until released on Grapevine album 'In Muscle Shoals' in 2002.

Otis Clay [1982] - If I Could Open Up My Heart [Waylo]

From the album The Only Way Is Up. This is a bit confusing as the album titled 'The Only Way Is Up' appears to have been first issued in Japan on RCA Victor in 1982.  The first US release was 1985 on Blues R&B, the sleeve names album 'The Only Way Is Up' but the label states 'Check It Out'.  It then came out on Willie Mitchell's Waylo label in 1989 on CD as 'The Only Way Is Up' with different artwork.

Lynn White [1990] - If I Could Open Up My Heart [S.O.H. SOH 703/705]

From the 1990 album 'The New Me'.  As mentioned previously on this blog, Lynn White was  the sister of Larry Saunders/Sanders.  The song was also released on 45 in 1991 as flip to My Sex Machine on SOH 705.