A song written by
Joe Evans
(a jazz saxophonist who owned Carnival) and Edward 'Sonny' Bivins who was a
member of The Manhattans who also recorded for Carnival in the 60s. Both,
coincidentally, died in 2014, Evans aged 97 and Bivins was 78.
Carnival was based in New York originally in 1962 but moved to Newark, NJ
in 1963. The company ran between 1962-74, however sporadic releases started appearing
again in 1980 (from The Pretenders release here) to 1985.
The label was doomed when The Manhattans left for Deluxe in 1969 as
the company was running on a shoe string and relied on the Manhattans
selling records. It has been said that Joe Evans was unhappy that they left
as he had groomed them from nothing and they left when the company needed
them.
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1968] - It's Everything About You (That I
Love) [Carnival #CAR-537]
The Pretenders [1980] - It's Everything About You (That I Love) [Carnival
#CAR-560]
This is a 'modernised' take of the song by The Pretenders originally
released in 1980. It was reissued on Family Groove, both as 7" and extended
12" in 2016/17 respectively and has also been reissued by Kent on TOWN
172 in 2019.
The original currently sells for between £200-£300.
The flip side I Call It Love is claimed to have been released three
times on the label, 2 slow versions and the fast version, in 1970 slow version (CAR-550), 1974 slow version? (CAR-560) and on this fast version in 1980. However there is some confusion over
the dates as 560 is listed at 1980 on Discogs but 1974 on 45Cat, so unless
there were 2 releases on 560, both slow and fast versions I don't know if
this is correct.
This post covers the 70s releases from Lee Williams & The Cymbals who later were named The New Cymbals. I'm not certain of the exact chronology as Discogs lists the Black Circle 45s as 1974 and 45Cat as 1971. All other Black Circle 45s are from 1971 so I would tend to err on side of 45Cat, also by the fact that by 1972 they were calling themselves The New Cymbals on De-Lite. Prior to their 70s released they released 6 45s on Joe Evan's Newark, NJ Carnival label which I may cover in another post.
The 70s line-up was the same 60s group with the addition of Al Miller (William's cousin) and Fred Daughtery who in 1984 became members of The Intruders.
Lee Williams, King McCrorey, Amos Simmons, James Panamar, Sandy Brown, Al Miller, and Fred Daugherty.
The post got a bit longer than expected as I discovered a few alternative versions along the way and also 4 solo 45s from Lee Williams.
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1971] - Save It All For You [Black Circle BC 6000]
Another couple of 45s on Pittsburgh's Back Circle label (George Wilson posted a few days ago).
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1971] - I Can Make Mistakes Too [Black Circle BC 6000]
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1971] - Get It Together [Black Circle BC 6001]
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1971] - I Can Make Mistakes Too [Black Circle BC 6001]
See above as also released as flip to Save It All For You.
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1971] - What Am I Guilty Of [Rapda RP 1002]
One of 4 45s released on New York's Rapda - 2 of them by Lee Williams & The Cymbals, the other 2 by Tommy Dent & The Soul Cammandos and Nate Williams.
Lee Williams & The Cymbals [1971] - L.C. Funk [Rapda RP 1002] Probably not of great interest to visitors of this blog as it's funk but added for completeness.
Lee Williams & The Cymbal's [1972] - I'm Just A Teenager (But Now I'm Ready) [Rapda 002]
There are 2 pressings of this, one with bag logo and another plain label, The plain label version appears to sell for higher value as 'probably' the 1st issue? ... but I've read that the bag design is rarer (but that was from someone selling it!).
Lee Williams & The Cymbal's [1972] - A Girl From A Country Town [Rapda 003]
Apparently this side is now more 'in-demand' than I'm Just A Teenager.
The New Cymbals [1972] - What Kind Of Groove [DeLite DJ 551]
No sound clip available
The New Cymbals [1972] - How Do You Feel [DeLite DJ 551]
No sound clip available
The New Cymbals [1972] - Please Baby Please [DeLite DEP 554]
Originally recorde don Way Out by The Sensations and later coverd by Realistic's on De-Lite before The New Cymbals version.
Realistic's [1970] - Please Baby Please [De-Lite DE 528-0]
Another version and only release for Realistic's.
The Sensations [1966] - Please Baby Please [Way Out 920W-5945]
The original version from 1966.
The New Cymbals [1972] - I Will Always Love You [DeLite DEP 554]
Same song as Sam Moulrie's NS classic version written by Dan Brantley which was originally recorded by Felton Burks on De-Lite in 1970.
Sam Moultrie [1971] - I'll Always Love You [Warren WAA-108]
The New Cymbals was a cover version of Sam Moultrie which was a huge Northern Soul tune mid 70s.
Sam Moultrie [1972] - I'll Always Love You [Southbound SB-102]
A 1972 re-recording which differs from oringinal on Warren. Same label as the wonderful Betty Fikes - I Can't Lie To My Heart / Prove It To Me from 1974.
Felton Burks [1970] - I'll Always Love You [De-Lie DE 532-0]
The original version of the Dan Brantley song.
Lee Williams Soul 45s
To complete this post I've included links to 4 solo 45s Lee Williams released in 1974/75 on Black Soul Record Company label. No info on label except it was distributed by Jamie/Guyden so perhaps Philly based but not necessarily. Appear to have released on 3 45s all by Williams however there is a gap in Catalogue No.s 742 - was it released? and were there more after 743?
Lee Williams [1974] - Half Steppin [Black Soul BS 740]
Lee Williams [1976] - The Choking Kind / Since I Don't Have You [Teardrop TD-3348]
There's a couple of other 45s listed for him on 45Cat on Fraternity from 1976 which I don't believe are the same artist - Old Tyme Country Music is the title of one produced by Shad O'Shea who produced country music! There is also a bootleg as L.W. - I'm Tore Up which sounds very early 60s R&B which I've since discovered is Lee 'Shot' Williams on Federal from 1963 an entirely different artist, perhaps the Fraternity tracks are his but doubt it as Shot Williams was more a blues/soul artist. There is also a gospel artist Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs and a couple of 80s? rap recordings listed for him on Discogs featuring Lee Williams but again I think it's a different artist.
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