Ruby Winters [2024] - I Can't Help But Let You [Charly]

The first releases on Cliff Steele and Andy 'Tats 'Taylor's Creative Soul label in 2002 consisted of two sides from Ruby Winters languishing on a 1999 UK only CD compilation of her work ("The Best Of Ruby Winters"). It contained two previously unreleased, George Kerr written,  songs "I Can't Help But Love You" and a cover of Linda Jones' If Only (We Had Met Sooner)" 

Two versions of "I Can't Help But Let You" were released on vinyl in Oct last year by Charly and are now available digitally, curiously, with the title changed from 'love you' to 'let you" which is actually what was sung so perhaps the compilation title was originally  mistake?

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Charlyelf Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/05/2024
Key/BPM:	6A/107 / 6A/108
Price:	£1.98

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ruby Winters [2022] - I Can't Help But Love You / If We Had Only Met Sooner [Creative Soul #CS-1001]

You may recall back at the end of May (25 May) that two previously unissued tracks from Ruby Winters were highlighted.

Behind the forthcoming release are UK rare soul DJs Cliff Steele in a joint venture with Andy 'Tats' Taylor, under the banner of Creative Soul Records, 

They are putting out a double-sided 7" vinyl single of a pairing of Ruby Winters tracks which featured on a 1999 compilation "The Best Of Ruby Winters".  Cliff  told us then that they are due for release in July direct from the Creative Soul website which at the time was still under development.

The website is now complete and today from Creative Soul you can pre-order the vinyl 7" which is now set for release on 10 Aug 2022. This release will be the first time on vinyl for both tracks and I think will be heavily in-demand, so grab a copy when it is released as these will almost certainly soar in price once they're sold.

The two sides are  "I Can't Help But Love You" and "If Only (We Had Met Sooner)" (a cover of Linda Jones). The first side is a George Kerr composition on which he and the Poindexter brothers (Richard and Robert who have written so many great songs) performed background vocals. It may have been written for Linda Jones but she never recorded it.

So how did these recordings come about? George Kerr, as you may know, worked with Linda Jones and The O'Jays around 1967 which brought him to the attention of Phil Kahl, the owner of Diamond Records, by friend and producer Teddy Van (Vann) (who Northern Soulies will know for his "Theme from Coloredman", a mid 70s Wigan Casino instrumental monster). Kerr was drafted in to record sessions with Ruby Winters but only one track saw released, "We Only Have One Life (Let's Live It Together)" with Johnny Thunder in 1968. 

George had Ruby listen to some Linda Jones recordings to demonstrate the sound he was trying to achieve and three of them were recorded, the two on this single and "A Last Minute Miracle" a song also recorded by The Shirelles in 1967 (another Northern Soul spin).

For some background information about the album from which the two tracks have been taken visit the original post.

I understand that the next release will combine Don Bryant's single "A World Like That" released in Mar 2021 with his own version of "It Was Jealousy" (from a 2017 album "Don't Give Up On Love") which is a song he wrote that was recorded by Otis Clay in 1974 and then by his wife Ann Peebles in 1976 (both versions and another posted in Mar 2022).

Creative Soul · Ruby Winters - I Can't Help But Love You

Creative Soul · Ruby Winters - If Only (We Had Met Sooner)

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Northern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Creative Soul
Cat No:	CS-1001
Date:	10/08/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£15

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ruby Winters [2010] - Just A Dream [One Media Publishing] (Full Album)

Posted yesterday was a forthcoming 7" single of two previously unreleased tracks by Ruby Winters which have only previously appeared on a UK CD "The Best Of Ruby Winters" which didn't include one of her most in-demand singes "I Want Action" / "Better". 

Thinking about posting "Better" (which has been a long time favorite since acquired on UK Stateside many moons ago), I came across a 2010 compilation "Just A Dream" which seems to include all of her solo Diamond singles (A & B sides) from the 60s.

Many may only know Ruby Winters for the ballads she recorded in the late 70s which entered the UK pop chart i.e. "I Will" and "Come To Me" but she recorded a dozen or more singles before this with five of her 60s Diamond singles entering the R&B top 10.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	60s Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital
Label:	One Media Publishing
Cat No:	None
Date:	23/12/2010
Price:	£7.99

Ruby Winters [2022] - I Can't Help But Love You / If We Had Only Met Sooner [Creative Soul #CS-1001]

UK rare soul DJs Cliff Steele in a joint venture with Andy 'Tats' Taylor, under the banner of Creative Soul Records, are putting out a double-sided 7" vinyl single of a pairing of Ruby Winters tracks which featured on a 1999 compilation "The Best Of Ruby Winters".  Cliff  tells us that they are due for release in July direct from the Creative Soul website which is still under development. Coincidentally it was Cliff who first introduced me to Minnie Riperton's "Memory Lane" about 20 plus years ago that has just been covered by Raheem Devaughn on his new album.

The two sides are  "I Can't Help But Love You" and "If Only (We Had Met Sooner)" (a cover of Linda Jones). The first side is a George Kerr composition on which he and the Poindexter brothers (Richard and Robert who have written so many great songs) performed background vocals. It may have been written for Linda Jones but she never recorded it.

This release will be the first time on vinyl for both tracks and I think will be heavily in-demand, so grab a copy when it is released as these will almost certainly soar in price once they're sold.

The album appears to be on a UK CD only "The Best Of Ruby Winters" (issued by Pegasus) and is well worth seeking out as it contains many previously unreleased tracks, but beware as there is another K-Tel album of the same name released in 2007 which is not the one you want. However, it looks like they're scarce as only one has ever sold on Discogs and there are none currently available for sale. Cliff believes that it is quite rare and may have been withdrawn and George Kerr had no idea of it's existence and hence wasn't paid for it so perhaps that's why it was withdrawn?

It contains about five of her Diamond singles (A & B sides), but not one of her best "I Want Action" / "Better", and I believe that the nine remaining tracks are all previously unreleased.

01 - A Last Minute Miracle

02 - Just A Dream [Diamond 1969]

03 - Just Like A Yoyo [Diamond 1969]

04 - Try Me [Diamond 1967]

05 - I Can't Help But Love You

06 - Guess Who [Diamond 1969]

07 - Sweetheart Things [Diamond 1969]

08 - Someone Out There For Me

09 - I Don't Wanna Cry [Diamond 1969]

10 - There Goes My Everything

11 - The Bells Of St Mary's  [Diamond 1967]

12 - Pledging My Love

13 - We're Living To Give (To Give To Each Other) [Diamond 1967]

14 - It's Not Easy

15 - If Only We Had Met Sooner

16 - Is It Love

17 - I Was Born To Love You

18 - Always David [Diamond 1969]

19 - I Don't Want To Hurt Nobody [Diamond 1967]

So how did these recordings come about? George Kerr, as you may know, worked with Linda Jones and The O'Jays around 1967 which brought him to the attention of Phil Kahl, the owner of Diamond Records, by friend and producer Teddy Van (Vann) (who Northern Soulies will know for his "Theme from Coloredman", a mid 70s Wigan Casino instrumental monster). Kerr was drafted in to record sessions with Ruby Winters but only one track saw release, "We Only Have One Life (Let's Live It Together)" with Johnny Thunder in 1968. 

George had Ruby listen to some Linda Jones recordings to demonstrate the sound he was trying to achieve and three of them were recorded, the two on this single and "A Last Minute Miracle" a song also recorded by The Shirelles in 1967 (another Northern Soul spin).

Details

Rating:	8.7
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Creative Soul
Cat No:	CS-1001
Date:	07/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£?