Shirley J. Scott (Goose Pimples) v The Inspirations (Touch Me, Hold Me, Kiss Me)

The same song with different titles written by Gene Redd, Rose Marie McCoy and Jimmy Crosby gets a credit on The Inspirations version. 

It came out first in 1996 by Shirley J. Scott as 'Goose Pimples' on Gene Redd's short-lived Detroit label Stephanye label named after his daughter.  It is believed to be the Funk Brothers moonlighting on the backing track.  

The label only had three official releases although one record (Roy Handy) got bootlegged on a counterfeit label and three other bootlegs, totally unreleated to the label, appeared with the Stephanye imprint (i.e. Golden World Strings bootleg of Checkerboard Squares 'Double Cookin' (twice) and Richard Temple bootleg of Willie Hutch 'The Duck'.  

It was then released in 1967 by The Inspirations as 'Touch Me, Kiss Me, Hold Me' on Shelby Singleton's Black Pearl label based in New York which he set up after leaving Mercury.  It was released twice on cat. no. 100 with different B sides and then as 102 and then again on 711 which I suspect is a 70s repress.

Shirley J. Scott [1966] - Goose Pimples [Stephanye #STP 333]

The Inspirations [1967] - Touch Me, Hold Me, Kiss Me [Black Pearl #711]

Northern Soul Rarities

In the Frank Wilson post the other day I mentioned a few other rare records so thought it worthwhile posting these for anyone not familiar with them.

Don Gardner [1969] - Cheatin' Kind [Sedgrick #3001]

Only a handful of known copies exist. John Manship sold one back around 2007/8 to a buyer in Australia (for something in the region of £8k) and 'tragically' it was run over by a Fed-ex truck.  Manship refunded the buyer and I believe he framed the smashed 45!

Here's a clip of Manship's framed, broken copy 37 secs in. Some other interesting memorabilia in video.

The Inspirations [1967] - No One Else Can Take Your Place [Breakthrough #1001]

The B side on it is blank with a white label, I believe, but never seen one!

Note, it was re-recorded on Breakthrough in 1977 and re-credited as Charles Diamond & The Inspirations. 

Joseph Webster [1968] - My Love Is So Strong [Crow #C 21]

Not many dates are available for the Crow releases except C37 1969 & C43 1970. It looks like the numbering system was shared with Flaming Arrow and C19 released in 1968 so this  would suggest that this was probably released around 1968.

The Andantes [1964] - (Like A) Nightmare [V.I.P. #25006]

Along with The Funk Brothers, The Andantes were Motown's key backing musicians who never saw the limelight. This is their second and last release in 1964. Their first was on MAH's in 1960 with Billy Kent. It was their only release on Motown, believed by many, released by Berry Gordy only to 'placate' them.

NS595 The Inspirations - Your Wish Is My Command [Midas 9003]

595 The Inspirations [1966] - Your Wish Is My Command [Midas 9003]
b/w I'll Take A Chance On You

Format:   45

Label:     Midas
CatNo:   9003
Year:      1966
Value:     $1230

I can find very little info about The Inspirations or Midas records, any contributions would be helpful. The Inspirations on Midas was led by Billy Miller who wrote and sang lead on the track.  He also recorded as Billy & Betty (Miller wife/sister?) who later called themselves The Soulful Twins .

Billy & Betty (aka The Soulful Twins)

There are numerous groups calling themselves The Inspirations, from Gospel, Doo Wop and Reggae bands and at least two other groups who had a Northern Soul following.

Two other recordings which were big sounds on the Northern Soul scene are:

The Inspirations [1967] - No One Else Can Take Your Place [Breakthrough] (Northern Soul).  
This issue is a one-sided original and is extremely rare.  One sold in 2019 for $9,000.

Charles Diamond & The Inspiration [1977] - No One Else Can Take Your Place [Breakthrough] 

A 1977 reworking of their earlier Northern Soul track.

The Inspirations [196?] - Touch Me, Kiss Me, Hold Me [UK Polydor 56730 / US Black Pearl 100] (Northern Soul).

This is a mid sixties girly group sound and almost certainly not the same group as above, but still a big sound in its day.