Juanita Williams - Discography

A record I've always been fond of was released in 1964 by Juanita Williams 'Baby Boy' / 'You Knew What You Were Gettin'' which I always thought was one of only two records she had released, until a few years ago when I discovered that she relased an album in 1994.  

I was even more pleasantly surprised when I discovered another album, 'It's Who I Am', by her released in 1999 which is mainly covers of jazz standards but there are two good soul tracks, a cover of Aretha's 'Until You Come Back To Me' and a superb deep soul/jazz tune called 'So Good' (which may well be a well known jazz song as all the other songs are covers, but I don't recognise it). Even All Music doesn't state who the writers are for 'So Good' or 'Please Don't Say You're Sorry Again' so it will be difficult to track down. If anyone knows please leave a comment.

It is also interesting how things intertwine as I wasn't aware, until researching her further, that she was a member of The Honey Bees (with her sister Barbara Ann Williams and  Mary 'Stegall' Lucas), mentioned in the Jack Montgomery post, who recorded the vocal version of 'Never In A Million Years' on Garrison.  This is a rare 4 figure valued record. It's the only known release for them and other that the release on Golden World she has only one other listed single which was on Wingate in 1965 with 'Some Things You Never Get Used To' / 'You Knew What You Were Gettin' on the flip again.

Discography

NB clicking on title link will open track(s) in YT on a new page, clicking on labe/cat no will open Discogs or Amazon pages for the release.

Singles

1964 - Baby Boy / You Knew What You Were Gettin' [Golden World #GW-18]

1965 - Some Things You Never Get Used To / You Knew What You Were Gettin' [Wingate #WG-08]

1976 - The Honey Bees - Let's Get Back Together / Never In A Million Years [Garrison #GAR 3005]

All of the above records are good and recommended listening.

Albums

UPDATE 22 Jul 2021 - I have been informed by a reader that the son of Juanita Williams states that these two albums are by a different singer.

1994 - Introducing Juanita Williams [Big Mo #10242]

1999 - It's Who Am I [Hq]

Here's a couple of reviews on 'It's Whom I Am' I came across whilt digging around:

Washington Post review

All About Jazz review

So Good

Until You Come Back To Me

Juanita Williams - Discography

Juanita Williams (aka  La Wanda William) released three solo 45s on Ke Ke 1964, Golden World 1964 and Wingate 1965.  She formed The Honey Bees with sister Barbara Ann Williams and Mary 'Stegall' Lewis in 1967 and recorded a promo (very rare and in-demand) 45 on Garrison which is a great double-sider. Not to be confused with another group called The Honey Bees / Honeybees who were also known as The Cookies (as well as The Cinderellas and The Palisades).

Presumably she must have stayed active or returned to the music business as she next appeared in 1994 with a blues album 'Introducing Juanita Williams' released on Big Mo.

Discography

45s

La Wanda William
1964 - That Handsome Guy / Come Back To Me [Ke Ke 924G-1004]
Juanita Williams
1964 - Baby Boy /You Knew What You Were Gettin'  [Golden World GW 18]
1965 - Some Things You Never Get Used To / You Knew What You Were Gettin' [Wingate WG-008]
The Honey Bees 
1967 - Let's Get Together / Never In A Million Years [Garrison GAR 3005]

Albums
1994 - Introducing Juanita Williams [Big Mo 10242]

La Wanda William [1964] - That Handsome Guy [Ke Ke 924G-1004]

Early 60s Detroit girl sound written by Lee Rodgers.

The only other 'known/listed' 45 on Ke Ke was Melvin Davis - Wedding Bells / It's No News but Cat No is 1007 ... so perhaps there are unknown releases still to be found?  A gospel album was released on the label by The Mighty Voices Of Thunder recorded at United Sound Studios.

La Wanda William [1964] - Come Back To Me [Ke Ke 924G-1004]

Popcorn

Juanita Williams [1964] - Baby Boy [Golden World GW 18]

Northern Soul

Thumping 60s Detroit Northern Soul from Ed Wingate stables before bought out by Motown.

Golden World is a much loved label on the Northern Soul scene as it produced some classic Detroit Northern Soul dance tunes.

Juanita Williams [1964] - You Knew What You Were Gettin' [Golden World GW 18]

Northern Soul Mid-Tempo floater

Whilst I like to A side, I've personally always preferred this side. A lovely mid 60s floater.

Juanita Williams [1965] - Some Things You Never Get Used To [Wingate WG-008]

Northern Soul Beat Ballad

A song written by Van McCoy originally recorded as a B side to Half A Heart by Little) Esther Phillips in 1964 and also recorded by Irma Thomas in 1965 and in UK by Calvin James (a pseudonym for George Underwood) on Columbia who formed The King Bees and The Mannish Boys with David Bowie.

Juanita Williams [1965] - You Knew What You Were Gettin' [Wingate WG-008]

Northern Soul Mid-Tempo floater
This is a re-release of the Golden Wordl side above.

The Honey Bees [1967] - Let's Get Together [Garrison GAR 3005]

Northern Soul

Written by Don Mancha & Edwin Starr.  Never officially released - promo only?

We've had a discussion re Garrison label on the blog previously (on Jimmey Raye post if I recall correctly).  I think I picked up from Discogs that it was a Pasadena, Texas label to which Winsford (aka Johnny) Terry had connections which I questioned as Johnny Terry was married to Eddie & Brian Holland's sister, Carol,  and lived in Detroit.  Here's yet another Detroit connection. 

Further info culled from comments on 45Cat states that Garrison was owned by Pete Garris (not Garrison as previously stated) who was head of Scepter/Wand promotions at the time. He then moved to Dot, Kapp, Uni and then Brunswick for most of the 70s.  He was named in the payola law suit against Brunswick in 1977. He died of heart attack in 1986.

It's believed that Travier Music (publisher) was owned by Don Mancha and a local motel owner Don Montgomery who had a moted called Traveler.

Both sides were produced by Don Mancha, Jack Montgomery & Johnny Terry and arranged by Mike Terry, all stalwart Detroit musician so contradicts the Texas theory!

There's a story on Soul Source from Rob Moss (Hayley records) of the find of Johnny Terry acetate collection near Detroit in 2012 which further compounds the Texas claim.

The Honey Bees [1967] - Never In A Million Years [Garrison GAR 3005]

Northern Soul

Written by Fred Bridges and Richard Beasley. The backing track was recorded earlier and put out as the flip to Jack Montgomery's - Don't Turn Your Back On Me on Barracuda  (owned by Don Mancha & Don Montgomery).BRC-101 in 1967. The vocals were added and the track was recorded and released by The Honey Bees on Garrison.