Billy Butler, Jay Player [2022] - The Soulman Sessions, Vol. 1 [JettMusic] (Full EP)

This four tracker "The Soulman Sessions, Vol 1", credited to Billy Butler & Jay Player, was released on Saturday (19 Mar 2022) and is a bit of a mystery (the drawback of digital releases as there is no info!).  With it being titled Vol. 1 then watch out for future volumes.

Jay Player has only one listed release, which is well known and in-demand in rare soul circles, "Love Is The Answer" on Bevnick 1982. It was co-written by Billy Butler and Allan Harris. Harris recorded it and, from recollection, I believe that it was from an unissued album from which UK rare soul DJ Arthur Fenn cut a 7" acetate of it for playing out.  If you're interested in hearing it then it is in a video posted last year to commemorate Soul Sam's 80th birthday where there is a live DJ set in which Arthur gives it a spin.

This does shed some light on a couple of other tracks as these were also co-written by Butler/Harris and Harris recorded one of them "Just Let Me Know" in 1979 as Allan Harris & Perpetual Motion on Exact Change (again his only listed release). 

The other 'known' song is "No One But You" which was released by Crosswind on 12" so I would assume it was early/mid 80s (it is not dated on Discogs but they did release another recording on the same label (Harbor City) in 1987 with a much higher catalogue number).

Most, if not all, tracks were also arranged by Al Johnson (Alfred Johnson from Washington a former member of The Unicefs and who recorded many highly regarded solo tunes). 

Before I confuse you any further Billy Butler isn't the Northern Soul hero who released the legendary "Right Track" on Okeh, but a member of The Optimistics (Turbo) / The Inclinations (Janus) from Baltimore. Another member of The Optimistics / Inclinations was one James (Jay?) Player. The label for Allen Harris & Perpetual Motions was also Baltimore based.

The track that I can't trace is "Don't Let People Get You Down" so would 'assume' that it may be previously unreleased?

The mix of "Love Is The Answer" is a different mix which is shorter than even the original 7" mix i.e. 3:46 v 4:21 and obviously much shorter than the 12" mix which was 5:44.

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

Details

Rating:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	JettMusic
Cat No:	None
Date:	19/03/2022
Value:	£3.96

Jay Player [1982] - Love Is The Answer [ Bevnik #JP 556 / #JP 21556]

"Love Is The Answer" is the only recording (known) by Jay Player. It's a song written by W. Butler Jr. (Billy Butler), who also produced it, and Alan Harris and arranged by Al Johnson. I don't think it's 'the' Billy Butler of "Right Track" fame (incorrectly linked on Discogs) as his writing credits are attributed to William E (Earl) Butler and this one is William Butler Jr who was a guitarist from Philadelphia.

Allan Harris recorded it with Perpetual Motion which Arthur Fenn played recently on a live  stream but I can find absolutely no reference to it anywhere on the web, so his version must be hen's teeth rare! I've subsequently discovered (from the horse's mouth on Soul Source) that he plays it off an 7" acetate cut from an unissued album and slows it down a bit as the original is faster. It as published by Exact Change Music which appear to be owned by William Butler Jr based in Baltimore.

Jay Player's 1982 version was released on 7" and 12" on Baltimore label Bevnik who released about six records in the early 80s.

Details

Rating:	8.8
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"/12"
Label:	Bevnik
Cat No:	JP 556 / JP 21556
Date:	1982
Value:	£300 (approx.)