J.R. Bailey [1974] - Just Me 'N You [MAM #9] (Full Album)

James Ralph Bailey's solo career may not be that well known but he wrote several hit songs, often with Ken Williams.

He co-wrote with Williams and Rudy Clark, The Main Ingredient's biggest hit 'Everybody Plays The Fool' and also with Williams and Mel Kent 'Let Me Prove My Love For You' which was sampled by Alicia Keys for 'You Don't Know My Name' in 2003.

It is now widely believed that he was also the elusive Chuck Wood who wrote (with Vernon Harrell who was a member of The Coasters in the 60s) and recorded another NS monster 'Seven Days Too Long' on Roulette which sadly gets neglected since it was released as the flip to the infamous 'Footsee' by Wigan's Chosen Few on Pye Disco Demand in 1974, but it is the archetypal 'proper' Northern Soul sound. The same year (1967) he also wrote a big Twisted Wheel tune with Harrell for The Platters 'Sweet, Sweet Lovin'.

Ken Williams had a popular NS tune  with his 1967 OKeh outing 'Come Back' and also as a member of The Superiors with 'What Would I Do' on Verve (which he wrote with another writer with many different credits i.e. as Wood/Ward/Dick Wood/Dick Ward so could this be a psedonym for Bailey?). This group shouldn't be confused with a group with the same name who released 'I'd Rather Die' on Sue who later became the Dynamic Superiors on Motown (as they have been on Discogs). 

Some other top songs written by Williams include The Spellbinder's 'Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again)' (Columbia 1966). Toni Lamarr 'It's Too Late' (Buddah 1967), Peaches & Herb 'Me And You' (Date 1967) with Francine 'Peaches' Hurd/Barker, Sandra Phillips classic 'Hoping You'll Come Back' (OKeh 1968) with an F.P. (Francis Peck) Sturm who I think may actually be Peaches using a pseodonym as nearly al her credits are for Peaches & Herb; Bobby Treetop 'Wait Till I Get To Know Ya' (Tuff 1967), The Fundamentals 'Let Me Show It To You' (OKeh 1967), Total Eclipes 'You Took Our Heart (That Was Torn To Pieces)' (Right On 1970).

Another song he wrote with Williams that he did record in 1972 was 'Love, Love, Love' later recorded by Donny Hathaway in 1973. I've also found an obscure version by Chuck Proffitt on Lar Ron (undated and no sound clip) which sold for £1,233 in Nov 2020.

The song featured here is Just Me 'N You which was album only from the 1974 album of the same name (full album below). It was covered by Eramus Hall in 1980 on their debut album 'Your Love Is My Desire'. The group were named after a building in Chicago by George Clinton. The album was recorded in 1978 but not released until 1980 but very few copies left Detroit making this a particulary rare album selling for up to £500. One of the group members was Joe Anderson who had a big modern soul tune played 'You And Me', (Buddah 1975) the backing of which was used by Ed Summers on 'I Can Tell'  (Soya 1980). (I posted both versions here). P-Funker Garry Shider featured on their second album.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Rare Groove
Format:	Album
Media:	LP
Label:	MAM
Cat No:	MAM 9
Year:	1974
Key:	6B
BPM:	88
Value:	£100-£200 (approx.)

Chuck Wood [1967] - Seven Days Too Long [Roulette #R-4754]

I haven't posted any 'proper Northern' for some time, to so let's correct this with an extremely well known track as it was released on flip side to Wigan's Chosen Few - Footsee on Pye Disco Demand in 1975 peaking at #9 in UK Chart and was in Kev Robert's (original) Northern Soul Top 500 book at #10.

Is this the same Chuck Wood?

Originally released on US Roulette in July 1967, it had already seen 2 previous UK releases on Big T in 1967 and Mojo 1971 prior to the 1975 release), but is there a better 'archetypal' Northern Soul record? If you had to explain to anyone what Northern Soul was then just tell them to listen to this. It has everything ... the beat, the vocals, the melody, the breaks, the hook, the horns, the angst, the energy, how was this never a commercial hit?

Seven Days Too Long

Soul Shing-A-Ling

The identity of Chuck Wood has always been a bit of a mystery and only a couple of releases were made by him, the 45 above and I've Got My Lovelight Shining / Baby You Win also on Roulette Feb. 1968. There is country singer with the same name, active at the same time, who is often confused as the same artist in discographies. It is generally considered by several highly respected UK soul connoisseurs (in a thread on Soul Source) to be J.R. Bailey, as he co-wrote the track with Vernon Harrell and also co-wrote and produced the follow up  I've Got My Lovelight Shining / Baby You Win. In fact 45Cat lists both Chuck Wood 45s under J.R. Bailey, which seem to slot right into his Discography seamlessly between 1966-1969. Perhaps he recorded as a pseudonym as he was still contracted to Columbia, but then he used his real name for writer/producer credits?

J.R. (James Ralph) Bailey was a member of The Cadillacs, he joined the group in 1956 aged 19, leaving around 1963 to join The Jive Five, but returned to The Cadillacs in 1970. He also wrote and recorded solo.  He co-wrote Main Ingredient's hit 'Everybody Plays The Fool' with Ken Williams and also wrote their 'Let Me Prove My Love To You' which I posted a few days ago which was sampled for Alicia Keys' - You Don't Know My Name.

He also had several tracks played on the Modern Soul scene, the best known probably being 'Love Won't Wear Off (As The Years Wear On)'  along with 'Love, Love, Love'  (also recorded by Donny Hathaway), 'Just You Me 'n' You'  (also recorded by Eramus Hall) and 'The Eyes Don't Know The Feeling' in 1976.  His final recording was 'I'm Still In Love With You' on Spring in 1984.  He passed in Sep. 1985 aged only 48.