Imperial Wonders are a quintet from Cleveland, OH, formed in the 60s consisting of Lester 'Jelly' McKenzie, Avaughn Wells, Leo Green, ex-Rotation Al Boyd and Walter Channey. They released their first single "Just A Dream" 1969 and followed it in 1971 with "Trying To Get To You". They only released six singles in total between 1969-75, "That's Alright", "You Live Only Once", "Love Coming Down" and finally "Mean Ol' Miss Treater".
They are still performing today and have self-released several albums over the years which is where these two tracks released on 7" vinyl by Cordial Recordings come from.
It's the first time on vinyl for "Lord What Is Happening to the World?" and "I'll Never Go Looking for Love" which were previously only being available on "Ice Cold Energy" CD album in 2005. It was a compilation of two recording sessions in Hollywood, CA, the first in 1980 at The Total Experience Recording Studio and the second in 1987 at Fast Forward Recording Studio.
The label is an imitation of the Solid Foundation label on which they hade a huge Northern Soul tune "You Only Life Once" (also recorded by Rock 'N Co in 1976, their only recording which I was fortunate to obtain via one of those now incredible bargain Soul Bowl soul packs) which has a superb ballad flip "Turned Around Over You". Both songs were written by two of their fellow Cleveland natives Walter Williams and Eddie Levert of The O'Jays along with Bobby Dukes and were produced by all three O'Jays (Walter Williams, Eddie Levert and Bobby Massey).
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