Melvin Davis [2023] - I'm The One That Loves You / Instrumental [Soul Direction #SD022]

Soul Direction's Alan Kitchener acquired a master tape from the Don Davis Collection of tapes for his personal collection and was more than happy to listen and enjoy the tracks in the comfort of his own record room. 

One of the tracks was an unreleased version of the Melvin Davis written song "I'm The One That Loves You" recorded by the writer but best known for Darrell Banks' 1969 Groovesville recording released on Volt with a slightly different title "I'm The One Who Loves You". 

You may recall in Jan '23 we posted an article regarding Davis' health after reading about it on Rare Soul Talk facebook group who had raised a GoFundMe page to help with his medical bills (which currently stands at $15k). We, in the UK, may 'moan' about the NHS waiting times  but at least we're not then hit with a huge medical bill, which we take for granted. 

Prior to this, Alan, during a conversation with Jim O'Hara (a friend of Melvin's who wrote the release sleeve notes), came up with the idea of releasing the song to raise some funds to help with the medical bills. 

With Melvin's approval, Alan set about remastering the tracks which was no mean feat given the age and condition of the tapes. Once contracts were drawn up and licensing fees paid, Soul Direction scheduled the project.

Alan has subsequently decided to donate all profits from this upcoming release direct to Melvin. However, Melvin, the gent that he is, was insistent that he would not accept anything unless he knew for sure that Soul Direction's costs were covered.

To discover more about Melvin's contribution to soul music go to the Melvin Davis article posted in Jan '23 and if you feel inclined, please donate via the GoFundMe page.

The song featured on a 2010 compilation "Detroit Ambassador of Soul" released by Spanish label Vampi Soul which we posted in Jan. We are not entirely sure if it is the same version as on Alan's tape and neither does Alan, so where Vampi Soul got the masters from is a mystery!

The single will be available to pre-order from Soul Direction shortly for release on 30 Jun '23 and you know will that you are helping one of Detroit's rare soul legends who contributed so much to the rare/Northern Soul scene in particular.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Soul Direction
Cat No:	SD022
Date:	30/06/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/107
Price:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Melvin Davis - Help with medical bills

I came across a post on Rare Soul Talk facebook page yesterday highlighting a GoFundMe page for 60s Detroit soul artist Melvin Davis. Davis was diagnosed with Leukaemia before the pandemic and then got infected with two bouts of Covid along with pneumonia. The States being the states, there is no NHS so he needs $25k for pay his medical bills, which is not easy for anyone, never mind an 80 year old, so please help if you can.

Davis says "It’s been a very challenging past 18 or 19 months for me. I’ve lost about 60 or 70 pounds and am feeling very weak. Any assistance from my music family is more than appreciated. I just don’t have the words to tell you how appreciative I am of all my supporters." 

Melvin is a songwriter, singer, drummer, producer, and bandleader who worked with Motown in the  60s as a staff drummer performing with Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, Martha Reeves, The Supremes and others. He has become a bit of a 'legend' in Northern Soul circles over the years for his songs and recordings. He has written songs played on the scene by artists such as Ann Perry, Edward Hamilton, Johnnie Mae Matthews, Steve Mancha, J.J. Barnes, E.J. & The Echoes, The Turbines, Darrel Banks and Johnnie Taylor. 

In 2018 he recorded "Politicians in My Eyes" with Detroit proto-punk band Death and the crowdfunding campaign was started by fellow musician Drew Schultz, who worked with him on the recording.

Melvin Lincoln Davis was born on 29 Aug 1942 in Georgia but moved to Detroit with his family when he was 3. He was inspired by hearing Little Richard perform at a juke joint on one of his regular visits to his grandparent's farm in Georgia and also by gospel in his family’s Baptist church that brought in groups like the Soul Stirrers which featured Sam Cooke, and Nashville radio station WLAC radio which transmitted the latest R&B hits.

When 17 he joined the Navy where, after having near drowning experience in swimming lessons opted out and instead, learned to play the piano. Upon discharge he set about writing and recoding his first song "I Don’t Want You" / "About Love" (which has a garage come R&B sound) and was released  by the Jack Pot label in 1961. He was assisted on the recording by Joe Peal, a guitar player he grew up with. Peal had connections in Detroit’s music scene and began introducing Davis to various names, including Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie of Popcorn and the Mohawks. Wylie was a well-connected piano player and producer who, in turn, shared his expertise and knowledge of the music industry.

After the single on Jack Pot his next single was "I Won’t Be Your Fool" / "Playboy" on Fortune where he was also a member of The Nite Sounds who released three singles for the label in 1962-63. He released another six singles in the 60s on Ke Ke, Wheel City, Groovesville, two on Mala and one on Golden State.

In the early 70s he was a member of 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) / The 8th Day (who's members included  Clyde Wilson aka Steve Mancha) who recorded for Holland, Dozier, Holland's new Invictus label were he also released two solo singles ("I'm Worried" / "Just As Long" and "You Made Me Over" / "I'm Worried"). 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) had a hit with "Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed" and radio stations began playing another song by them "She's Not Just Another Woman". HDH didn't want the new song hindering the success of the previous single so released it as The 8th Day, so they were in fact the same group. They hit with a follow up single "You've Got to Crawl (Before You Walk)" so HDH formed a new group using the name. 

Davis set up his own label Rock Mill Record in 1976 where he released further singles through the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s.  All but two were his own singles, but there was one by a group called Charisma which was formed out of former members of The Contours and one by Liz Taylor.

In 2010 Davis released a compilation of many of his 60s songs titled "The Detroit Soul Ambassador" which includes "I Must Love You", "Find A Quiet Place", "Chains Of Love" (recorded by J.J. Barnes on Groovesville), "Still In My Heart" and "I Need My Baby" amongst several others (included below).

Here's a clip of him from April 2018 after receiving a lifetime achievement award and performing his song "I Must Love You" released on Don Davis' Groovesville label in 1966.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Melvin Davis [2021] - Thinking Of You / Let Love In Your Life [Diggin' Deep #DD014]

The lastest release on Sean Hampsey's Diggin' Deep label are two sides from Detroit's Melvin Davis originally written in 1979. 

It will be the first appearance of Davis' 'Thinking Of You' on vinyl although co-writer Tim Murray released it in 1982 and it has appeared on two CD compilations. 

The flip side 'Let Love In your Life was released twice on vinyl, by Charisma in 1983 and by Davis himself in 1991.

Davis recorded around 8 45s in the 60s on various labels before joining Holland Dozier Holland at Invictus in the 70s where he recorded a couple of solo singles and was also a member of The 8th Day.  In 1975 he formed his own label, Rock Mill, which ran until 1984 releasing material on himself, Charisma and Liz Taylor which amounted to around 10 releases.

He wrote many songs which have been played on the Northern Soul scene recorded by Darrell Banks, J.J. Barnes, Edward Hamilton, Johnnie Mae Matthews, Steve Mancha and himself. In 2005 he recorded a version of Jackey Beavers' 'I Need My Baby' with Bryan Davis (his son?) on (reactivated) Rock Mill, which is credited to Davis and Clyde Wilson (aka Steve Mancha) although the original by Beavers is credited to Don Davis, so I'm not sure whether they actually wrote it but didn't get credit at the time?

Melvin Davis [2004] - Thinking Of You [Rock Mill/Hayley #RMR 1001]

First released on 'His Greatest Recordings' CD in 2004 and then on a 2012 compilation CD from Hayley 'More Soulful Serenades'.

Tim Murray [1982] - Thinking Of You [Detroit Traks #531825]

Murray released his version in 1982, his only record and the only release on the label.

Mel Davis [1991] - Let Love In Your Life [Rock Mill #RM5238]

Originally written in 1979 but released in 1991 on his own Rock Mill label. It was also released on the 2004 CD compilation 'His Greatest Recordings'.

Charisma [1983] - Let Love In Your Life [Rock Mill #RP 8267]

Charisma were a group formed by Jerry Green (a former member of The Contours between 1964-68) with his brother Ray. The song was was speeded up a bit for Charisma to record on Davis' Rock Mill label in 1983. It was their only releasee as the group split up after recording it.