Soul Strutter's Rating: 9.75
Following on from the previous Jo Armstead post, musically this track is
completely different, however, it was actually written by her and is one of
the finest Northern Soul records you are ever likely to hear.
The Salvadors started singing together in 1957 whilst at High School in
St Louis. Originally there were 5 members: Gus (Augustus)
Winfield, Robert Vincent, Leroy McGhee, Carl Stark and Carl ?. In
1960 they became four when Carl ? left and Donald Lloyd replaced Carl
Stark. In 1960 Flint Lloyd (Donald's brother) replaced Leroy McGhee.
Donald Lloyd, Gus Winfield, Flint Lloyd, Robert Vincent
Their first 45 'Daddy Said' / 'A-E-I-O-U' on Nike 1010 was recorded in
1961. For their next (and last) release, E. Rodney Jones (radio DJ on
Chicago's WVON) took them to Chicago to record 'Stick By Me Baby' / I
'Wanna Dance' on Don Clay's Wise World label #301 (David Lloyd was
on lead vocals). Apparently it got virtually no plays in Chicago but
a few in St Louis until it was 'discovered' by the UK Northern Soul scene
in the mid 70s.
The group split up not long after this release but various members
continued to perform with other groups but didn't make any further
recordings.
Still revered on the UK rare soul scene owing to the obscurity of original
copies (it has been bootlegged many times, generally on blue labels (so easy
to detect) but also on green). Not only are original copies extremely
rare, but you very rarely see any for sale, quite simply because if you
owned one, why would you ever wish to part with it? ... Even though they
currently sell for several thousand pounds. It's hard to say what the
current value is as they don't come up for sale very often.
Here's a interesting discussion regarding the 45 on Soul Source from as far
back as
2006 and another from
2014
where one was being auctioned which reached at least £3,500, and another
more recently
2018
where it went for over £4,500.
There are only 6 'known' releases on Don Clay's Chicago 'Wise World' label
all by different artists. The catalogue numbering system is
random WW 1002 -1004 (1001 unknown), 62728 and 62769 and
finally the Salvadors 301.
Anyway, by way of a change from the recent posts of modern and deep soul,
here's an out and out classic Northern Soul stomper of the highest order
from the pen of Jo Armstead.
NB If you open the link in YouTube you can read John Manship's comments
regarding there being 2 original pressings a 1st and 2nd release.
The Salvadors [1967] - I Wanna Dance [Wise World 301]
The Salvadors [1961] - Daddy Said [Nike 1010]
The Salvadors [1961] - A-E-I-O-U [Nike 1010]
