Jerry Butler - A Profile of The Mercury Years

Jerry 'The Iceman' Butler is celebrating his 83rd birthday today. Born on 8 Dec 1939 in Sunflower, MS, he was famously one of the original members of The Impressions before leaving for a solo career in 1960 achieving a total of 55 combined R&B and Hot 100 hits.

His family moved into the Cabrini-Green project in Chicago when he was 3 years old. He grew up singing in church with Curtis Mayfield eventually forming a group with him named The Roosters which would evolve into The Impressions with Sam Gooden, Fred Cash along with the Brooks Brothers Arthur and Richard. Their first recording was the Butler penned "For Your Precious Love" in 1958 which was released initially on Falcon and then picked up by Vee-Jay Records and reached #3 R&B and #11 Hot 100.

Butler's first solo record was "He Will Break Your Heart" in 1960 which was a #1 R&B hit (#7 hot 100). I guess a lot of his early material may be regarded as a bit MOR. 

He's released around 35 albums mainly for Vee-Jay, Mercury, Motown and Philadelphia International. His Vee-Jay period in the early 60s and his Mercury period from 1967-73 were his most productive. After Mercury, Butler joined Motown in 1974 releasing five albums, two being duet albums with Thelma Houston. In 1979 he switched to Philadelphia International for two albums and since then has released a handful of sporadic albums on a variety of different labels starting with his own label Fountain in 1982. For all intents and purposes his recording career ended around 1982 when he was still a relatively young man aged 43. 

This is possibly because he became a politician serving as the Commissioner for Cook County, IL, from 1985 right up until 2018. He chaired the Health and Hospitals Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee.

Butler is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer being inducted in 1991 as a member of the original Impressions line-up.

He first came to my attention with his 1969 outing "Moody Woman" on Mercury which was big at one time (mid 70s) on the Northern Soul scene. Many of his albums are not available on Spotify but three of his Mercury albums and a Mercury compilation are so I've cherry picked some of the best tracks. However, the compilation, surprisingly, doesn't include one of my personal favourites which is "Stop Steppin' On My Dreams" from his 1972 double album "Spice Of Life" (which was an album only track until released on 7" by Outta Sight in 2020 coupled with "Moody Woman") so a YouTube clip is included, as if you haven't heard it then I think you need to! It contain this poignant lyric: 

"You know most folks are scared of dying, so the fear brings it near". 

"I see 'em buying books to get to heaven, but they fight real hard to stay right here."

The playlist includes his version of his brother's, Billy Butler, Northern Soul classic "The Right Track".

Album Discography

1959 - Jerry Butler, Esq. [Abner]

1960 - He Will Break Your Heart [Vee-Jay]

1961 - Aware of Love [Vee-Jay]

1962 - Moon River [Vee-Jay]

1963 - Folk Songs [Vee-Jay]

1963 - Need to Belong  [Vee-Jay]

1964 - Delicious Together with Betty Everette [Vee-Jay]

1967 - Mr. Dream Merchant [Mercury]

1967 - The Soul Artistry of Jerry Butler [Mercury]

1968 - The Iceman Cometh [Mercury]

1968 - Gift of Love [Sunset]

1968 - The Soul Goes On [Mercury]

1968 - Souled Out  [Upfront]

1969 - Ice on Ice [Mercury]

1970 - You & Me [Mercury]

1971 - Gene & Jerry: One & One [Mercury]

1971 - The Sagittarius Movement [Mercury]

1971 - Jerry Butler Sings Assorted Sounds... [Mercury]

1972 - Melinda (Original Music From the Motion Picture) [Pride]

1972 - Spice of Life [Mercury]

1973 - The Love We Have... with Brenda Lee Eager [Mercury]

1973 - Power of Love [Mercury]

1974 - Sweet Sixteen [Mercury]

1976 - Love's on the Menu [Motown]

1977 - Suite for the Single Girl [Motown]

1977 - Thelma & Jerry with Thelma Houston [Motown]

1978 - It All Comes Out In My Song [Motown]

1978 - Two to One with Thelma Huston [Motown]

1978 - Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You [PIR]

1980 - The Best Of Love [PIR]

1982 - Ice 'N Hot [Fountain]

1992 - Time & Faith [Ichiban]

1993 - Hey Western Union Man [Polygram]

1994 - Simply Beautiful [Valley Vue]

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Jerry Butler [1968] - Respect [Mercury #SR 61171]

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Jerry Butler, The Ice Man, covered "Respect" given that he co-wrote Otis Redding's hit "I've Been Loving You A Long (To Stop Now)" in 1965 immediately prior to releasing "Respect" and it was actually a bigger hit for Redding than "Respect". Both sides were released on the same single in the UK.

It took him a couple of years though as Butler didn't releases it until it appeared on his 1968 album "The Soul Goes On" on which "I've Been Loving You A Long (To Stop Now)" also featured.

Butler's version also appeared on a 1970 French compilation "Rhythm'N' Blues Story Vol.2" which is what it is recorded from in the YouTube clip below.

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

Jerry Butler [1972] - Stop Steppin' On My Dreams [Mercury #SRM 2 7502]

I hadn't realised until recently that this slipped out on a 7" for the first time last year by Outta Sight [SEV004] with his NS favourite 'Moody Woman' on the main side. They also put it on a modern soul compilation 'The Only Way Is Up'.

The original version is on his 1972 album 'The Spice Of Life' and, until last year, that was the only release. Apparently it is the first time it has been licensed out.

I remember first hearing this played by Neil Rushton at the Manchester Ritz many moons ago and being blown away by it.

NS534 Terry Callier [1972] - Ordinary Joe [Cadet CA 5692]

534 Terry Callier [1972] - Ordinary Joe [Cadet CA 5692]

b/w:	Golden Circle Of Your Love
Format:	45
Label:	Cadet
Cat No:	CA 5692
Year:	1972
Value:	£0

Taken from his 1972 album 'Occasional Rain'.  This was a huge tune which still gets plays today.  Jerry Butler also did a version on his 1970 album 'You And Me' (see below).

Callier hailed from Chicago and was friends with some of Chicago's greats Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler and Major Lance.  He debuted with 'Look At Me Now'.

He released 3 critically acclaimed albums 'Occasional Rain' 1972, 'What Color Is Love ' and 'I Just Can't Help Myself' 1974 for Cadet but were not successful commercially and he was released from Cadet.  He released another 2 albums on Elektra 'Fire On Ice' 1977 and 'Turn You To Love' 1978.

He continued to perform until 1983 when he retired from music.  In the late 80s his music was 'discovered' by DJ's in the UK.

He returned to music and started recording again in the late 90s and has released 5 albums since 1998.

Biography

Cadet 45 Discography @ soulfulkindamusic

Callier only release 3 45s on Cadet, all of them have been played and in demand on the Northern scene.

5623 - Terry Callier - Look At Me Now / / You Goin ' Miss Your Candy Man – 1968

5692 - Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe / Golden Circle Of Your Love – 1972

5697 - Terry Callier - I Just Can't Help Myself / Get Closer To You – 1973

Some of the 'heavy weights' who also recorded for Cadet included Ramsey Lewis, Etta James, The Dells and Marlena Shaw.

Jerry Butler [1970] - Ordinary Joe [Mercury 61269

Terry Callier wrote the song specifically for Jerry Butler who released it on his 1970 You And Me album.  Terry Callier released it as a 45 2 years later.

Nujabes [2010] - Ordinary Joe [Libyus LMCD 009]

Remixed and released by Japanese hip-hop producer Nujabes (Jun Seba) on his 2005 album (CD only) Modal Soul.

It has very recently (26th Feb 2020) been released on Vinyl LP Hydeout HOLP 004