FOR FANS OF SOUL, 60,s MOD,JAZZ, JAZZ FUSION,REGGAE AND BLUES MUSIC.....ONLY THE BEST QUALITY OF REVIEWS AVAILABLE! NOW A SUBSCRIBED BLOG AND REVIEWED FOR THE LOVE OF THE MUSIC - NO LINKS AVAILABLE ON THIS BLOG AND NO SHARING REVIEWS WHAT SO EVER PLEASE WITHOUT CONSENT..OR YOUR GONE.....HAVE RESPECT AND ENJOY YOUR VISITS ENQUIRIES OR REQUESTS TO allmusicman2@protonmail.com OR BACK UP EMAIL allmusicman22@yahoo.com
Friday, December 31, 2021
COURTESY OF USMAN47 “New year, new impetus”
That we finally see the end
of the tunnel with this Covid shit !!!
Delores Hall - Hall-Mark (1973) RCA - Rare Soul LP Only
Another great mainly unknown performer who came to my notice with her outings on the Mirwood & Keymen labels outta Los Angeles.She,s worked with people like Jackie Lee & Luther Vandross. She Starting in 1968 and through at least the summer of 1969 she was an original member of the Los Angeles production of Hair. Wearing signature pigtails she opened the show, singing "Age of Aquarius". She played Bread in the 1972 musical Dude and performed in the original musical revues Inner City, The Night That Made America Famous and Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. Her debut LP was released in 1973 by RCA Records titled Hall-Mark produced by Billy Jackson. She went on to star as Jewel in the original New York production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. On television she was a regular on the first two seasons of Diagnosis: Murder, & appeared on one of the lethal weapon movies. Having only released 2 very good and hard to obtain albums on RCA & Capitol,as well as a few 45,s still sought after by collectors.She was a member of all girl group the Blackberries who recorded a live album in japan in 1973 & released a handful of 45,s. Her sought after dancers are included but sadly no youtube clips of the classic " These Are The Things (A Poor Child Remembers)"
AMM
**********REQUEST**********
Review Courtesy Of Chocoreve
The Taster!
Tracks Below
Kent 226 - Various Artists - A Soldier's Sad Story - Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1966-73(2003) FLAC
The Vietnam war was especially well-documented in soul circles.Indeed,apart from
country music,no other genre of music can offer anywhere near as much social commentary
on the subject.It is no coincidence that the overwhelming majority of enlisted
personnel came from either poor white or poor black America,where Country and Soul
ruled their respective musical roosts.
James Maycock's frank sleevenotes tell their own terrible tale of the ignominies
suffered by many enlisted black men often at the hands of their white colleagues as
well as the enemy and would be recommended reading,whether or not there was a CD to
accompany them.But away from James' pointed,poignant commentary there's a wealth of
great music here that paints a vivid life portrait for anyone who served their
country,however reluctantly,starting with the Monitors' apprehensive young inductee
who's biggest worry is "I hope (my girl) doesn't find another man" and finishing
with Swamp Dogg's titular 'hero' if that's the right word whose war hell has left him
with "a hole in (my) arm where all the money goes".A familiar tale for many of
Vietnam's fighting men if,fortunately not the tale of all who served.
In between there are sides that deal with every aspect of war,from being apart from
family and friends via communications to and from home and avowed statements of
triumphancy from those eager to join the fray to vociferous comment from the home
front and finally,the stark realities of returning to a world of disability
benefit readjustment & unemployment and for far too many addiction and death.
AMM
The Taster
Tracks Below(FLAC)
Kent 245 - Various Artists - Does Anybody Know I'm Here (Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1962-1972)2005 FLAC
a selection of prime cuts that explore aspects of the vietnam war, as seen through
the eyes of black america.many of the biggest names in 60s and 70s soul offer personal
pertinent and pointed views,embracing everything from war's impact on human relationships
to the often devastating consequences for it's casualties and survivors alike.
consistently as good as the first volume in every department,and containing many
tracks that were either unavailable for license at the time of the first volume,and
many others that there just wasn't room to fit onto the award-nominated "a soldier's
sad story".Around half of these tracks have never appeared on cd before.most of
those have,in fact,never been reissued before.
AMM
**********REQUEST**********
The Taster!
Tracks Below(FLAC)
Live in the D: Uniquely Detroit Northern Soul
I thought some of you may find this interesting....I also love the place...MAGIC!
LURKERS AND TIMEWASTERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
sadly there,s a few guys on here who have never requested a thing which baffles me ? why be a part of a community if your not going to participate ? So from the New Year i,m having a clearout as there,s clearly nothing here to interest them or me for that fact..Nothing personal but taking up a slot for other genuine fans of the music i post to enjoy..
AMM
Member Eltel having PC problems...A message
sends this message to you all that know him.."Happy New Year to all the visitors here " from ELtel
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Kent 474 - Stop The War - Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1965-1974 (2021) FLAC+++Artwork
The final instalment posted by me in the Kent Trilogy spotlighting black America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Presented in loosely chronological sequence, the set contains many important musical statements on various aspects of the conflict, from shipping out to coming home. Even though it has been over for almost half a century, it’s still possible, through these songs, to sense the frustration, anger and sadness that many Americans felt towards a war that lasted far too long and claimed far too many lives on both sides. Featured artists include major names such as Marvin Gaye, the Impressions, Dionne Warwick, William Bell, and the Staple Singers alongside lesser known but equally worthy artists including Michael Lizzmore, the Pace Setters, Charles Smith & Jeff Cooper and Artie Golden, all of whom have something important to add to the story. You’ll find recordings reflecting every emotion war can bring about, from initial optimism to creeping frustration and ultimately despair and desolation. Given the huge amount of young black Americans who were conscripted to a war from which so many would never return, it is not hard to understand the vitriolic attitude of so many of these songs,who wouldnt. The vast majority of these tracks have not previously appeared on Kent, and several make their CD debut here. Annotated and illustrated as copiously you would expect a prestige Kent project to be, “Stop The War” is a fitting and forthright finale to a trilogy. Across three CDs, i have now brought you 74 significant musical comments on what is probably the most remembered and reviled conflict outside of the two World Wars.
AMM
Review Courtesy Of Trinity
The Taster!
Tracks Below
McKinley Mitchell - McKinley Mitchell (1978) Chimneyville - Rare Soul
Born on December 25, 1934 in Jackson, Mississippi, a name known to most devout lovers of soul music. Blessed with an extraordinary set of soaring vocal chords, McKinley Mitchell waxed a series of superb Chicago soul platters during the 1960s, later veering stylistically closer to contemporary blues in his last years of performing. At age 16, Mitchell was already fronting a gospel group, the Hearts of Harmony, in Jackson. After spending time singing spirituals in Springfield, MS, and Philadelphia, Mitchell hit Chicago in 1958 and went secular. A rocking debut for the tiny Boxer label the next year preceded his signing with George Leaner's fledgling One-derful logo in 1961. His first single for the firm, the gorgeous soul ballad "The Town I Live In," proved a national R&B hit and launched the imprint in high style. Mitchell's One-derful follow-ups, including the imaginative "A Bit of Soul," failed to equal the heights of his first single, neither did 45s for Chess (produced by Willie Dixon) and a variety of Dixon-owned labels. Finally, in 1977, Mitchell returned to the R&B charts with "The End of the Rainbow," another beautiful R&B ballad, for Malaco's Chimneyville subsidiary. An eponymous LP for the label the next year stunningly showcased Mitchell's still-potent voice on a program that combined blues and soul material. A 1984 LP for Retta's, I Won't Be Back for More, was among the singer's last releases,by then, he was back living in Jackson until he returned to his beloved chicago where he sadly passed in 1986.When i can Locate the japanese CD with extra tracks i will rip to flac for you all that are interested.A stunning debut album from a great and very underated talent.
AMM
The Taster!
Tracks Below
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Various Artists - Finger Poppin' And Stompin' Feet- 20 Classic Allen Toussaint Productions For Minit Records 1960-1962 (2002) EMI - R&B/Soul
The title says it all..only a small part of the great man,s career....Featuring the cream of New Orleans Performers.
**********REQUEST**********
The So Soulful Taster!
Tracks Below
Various Artists - Funky Dance Grooves Vol. 1 (1995) Columbia - Soul/Disco (FLAC)
The Taster!
Tracks Below (FLAC)
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Richard Marks - Never Satisfied - The Complete Works 1968-1976 (2015)2 x LP Now-Again Records - Rare Soul
Richard Marks, possibly the greatest unsung Atlanta soul singer. Richard’s music was never officially reissued in his lifetime, and he never allowed the few record collectors savvy enough to suss out his whereabouts entry into his home ,or gave interviews to the music press. Richard and his music are unknown to the majority, but to an obsessive minority, he is a lightning rod, that singular point at which numerous Southern soul and funk musicians converged and exploded, spreading wondrous music in all directions. Richard’s impeccable run of 7-inch singles, released largely on tiny, local labels, are the stuff of legend, and are hen’s teeth rare. Richard’s music was never officially reissued in his lifetime and no studio albums were ever released. Given the caliber of his recordings and the near complete lack of information available about him, Richard stands out as the most mysterious talent to originate from Atlanta, a city that birthed no shortage of genius, from acclaimed worldwide (the Mighty Hannibal), obscure yet celebrated (Lee Moses) and local, but well-documented (Tommy Stewart).I’d heard Richard’s music over the years. Richard’s Tuska Records 45 “I’m The Man For You/Crackerjack.” It’s one of the best funk two-siders ever issued, it’s never turned up in quantity, and, even in the ’90s, was a 1000 Dollar single. seven years in the making, 'never satisfied' is now-again's collection of legendary soul and funk singles by atlanta guitarist / singer / songwriter richard marks. this 21 track anthology follows marks' stylistic development, from his earliest work for the legendary tuska label, from 1968 until approximately 1972, through his more mature releases on the shout label and smaller regional labels like note, free spirit and rsc. it also includes two tracks never released in any form, found on reels marks had maintained in his atlanta home. Marks' story is that on an unsung soul and funk hero, whose number was in al green's, barry white's and eddie kendricks' phones, but whose talents have only been heard in sporadic bursts since his 45s were released and disappeared into atlanta's urban expanse. this is the story of a father and husband who managed to keep his family together with uttermost privacy as he gigged six nights a week. the story of a man who wished for more and whose talent is overdue for reassessment. Marks died of cancer in may of 2006, no record of his birth year. Given the calibre of his recordings and the near complete lack of information available about him before the issue of this anthology. Its a Brilliant album that has it all,rew edged funk,deep soul,northern dancers!
AMM
The Taster!
Tracks Below
Various Artists - The Soulful Side Of GME & Musette Records (2017) Tramp - Rare Soul
There,s been Much interest in the UK and abroad over the years about an indie soul label in San Diego, CA called Musette Records, whose short life span (1965-1968) only produced less than 20 singles, and no full albums. More than 40 years later, Musette would achieve the collectible status among record buyers of northern soul, who recognize and appreciate the R&B grooves that pulsated on these now extremely rare singles. Musette Records was not started as a true record label, but as a sideline project and reported tax write-off for then prominent Black doctors in San Diego. After jointly putting up the startup costs, each doctor would additionally put up the money to sponsor a Musette artist. In turn, the doctor would be given the production credit, even though he had absolutely nothing to do with the resulting sessions! One of the earliest singles on Musette was by Lani Groves, which later achieved fame as part of Stevie Wonder's background singing group, Wonderlove in the 70s. Ervin Rucker, whose actual name was Ervin Groves, was the Hawaiian father of Lani Groves. He started out as a pianist and composer in the 1950s. After he released his sole single on Musette he changed his name to Big Daddy Rucker in the late 60s. At the same time he founded his own GME label on which Little Mary Staten and Dede Copeland released those songs which you find here. With literally no sales, airplay or distribution, the doctors collectively tossed in the towel and closed the label in the late 1960s. Despite its short existence, Musette Records in San Diego was one of the most important soul labels of the day. The label's artists all had promise and a vision but they could not fulfill their dream. This collection helps to preserve the history of the San Diego soul sound.Essential for all collectors of fine Soul Music!
AMM
The Taster!
Tracks Below
Kent 506 - The Curtis Mayfield Songbook - people Get Ready (2021) - Soul (FLAC)
Curtis Mayfield (3 June 1942–26 December 1999) rightfully belongs at the top of any list of the truly great singer-songwriters that black America has ever shared with the global population. Curtis’ compositions raised the bar for soul songwriting from 1960 onwards and maintained an astonishingly high level for two decades. What makes that all the more remarkable is the fact that Curtis wrote virtually all of the songs that put him in this category on his own, without a writing partner something others in his peer group (Hayes-Porter, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Smokey Robinson and a host of collaborators, etc) seldom did. All while maintaining a career as a performer with the Impressions for around 13 years, and then as a solo act for a further two decades. The “Gentle Genius” from Chicago’s Cabrini Green housing projects wrote for the romantic, and also for the revolutionary. His songs spoke to his people, and for his people. Many of his biggest successes as writer carry important social messages, others simply say “you are beautiful and I love you”. All of them are finely crafted masterpieces that confirm Curtis’ standing as one of the great creators of 20th century popular song. Even after he was no longer able to perform after the terrible events of August 1990, when his active performing career was ended after a lighting rig fell on him at an outdoor show in New York, Curtis continued to write songs after he regained the power of speech. His final solo album, 1996’s “New World Order”, consisted of 11 new songs and two remakes, all of which Curtis had a hand in writing. It was correctly hailed by many as his best album since the mid-70s. If you didn’t know, you would never have guessed that the man who made it was paralysed from the neck down and had to record his vocals a line at a time in order to breathe properly. In the 20-year period covered by this compilation, Curtis wrote well over 100 songs that between them have accrued at least 1000 covers, and definitely more when foreign translations of several of them are added. Many of those will continue to be revisited and recorded again, for decades to come. What you hear on this CD is but a small sampling of his vast catalogue. He joines AMM,s LEGEND & GENIUS CLUB.
AMM
Review Courtesy Of Oldsoulrebel
The Taster!
Tracks Below (FLAC)
Monday, December 27, 2021
Allen Toussaint - Allen Toussaint (1972) LP Scepter (2006) CD Varèse Sarabande - Rare Soul (FLAC)
This guy is a legend from new Orleans to those who have never heard of him (What!?) The citys main Songwriter,Producer,& Performer..his name pops up all over the place on 45,s and Lp,s over the years. I did a full bio of him when i reviewed the Kent LP 036 "From a whisper to a scream" (1985) now long deleted...This is the same album plus an extra track & the album was his debut back in 1970 called simply "Toussaint" with 10 tracks only...so this is a kinda upgrade in Flac.
The Taster!
Tracks Below (FLAC)
Line Up
RARE NORTHERN SOUL VOL 102
The Taster!
Tracks
| Edwin Starr - Scotts On Swingers - Ric-Tic |
| Esko Affair - Salt And Pepper - Mercury |
| Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - My Baby Loves Me - Gordy |
| Phil Flowers - The Dances - Sway |
| Roy Docker - Mellow Moonlight - Domain |
| Roy Hamilton - You Shook Me Up - RCA |
| Roy Smith - Very Strong On You - Delphi |
| Samiel - You Baby You - Spellbinder |
| Sari and the Shalimars - You Walked Out On Me Before - United Artists |
| Scientists Of Soul - Be's That A Way Sometime - Kashe |
| Scotty Williams - Fear - Mona-Lee |
| Sebastian Williams - Get Your Point Over - Ovide |
| Sergio Mendes & Brazil 77 - Love Music - Bell |
| Shalimars - Baby - Verve |
| Sharon McMahan - Here Comes That Boy I Love - Karen |
| Sharon Tandy - Now That You've Gone - Pye |
| Solicitors - Music For The Brothers - Excello |
| Sonny Charles & The Checkmates - Mastered The Art Of Love - Ember |
| Soul Aggregation - I've Had Enough Heartaches - Capitol |
| Soul Majestics - Missing You - Al-Tog |
| Steve Flannigan - I've Arrived - Era |
| Stevie Wonder - Kiss Me Baby - Tamla |
| Strings 'N Things - Charge! - Jet Set |
| Sunset Strings - Oh, Pretty Woman - Liberty |
| The Appointments - I Saw You There - De-Lite |
| The Aubrey Twins - Poor Boy - Epic |
| The Bonnets - Ya Gotta Take a Chance - Unical |
| The C.O.D.'s - I'm Looking Out For Me - Kellmac |
| The Capitols - Cool Pearl - Karen |
| The Cashmeres - Don't Let The Door Hit Your Back - Hem |
| The Clovers - Try My Lovin' On You - Josie |
| The Contenders - (You Gotta) Do What You Gotta Do - Edge |
| The Sisters Three - You Can Forget It - Early Bird |
| The Spinners - She's Gonna Love Me] At Sundown - VIP |
| The Staple Singers - Are You Sure - Columbia |
| Willie Small - How High Can You Fly - Jessica |
| Willie Tee - Teasin' You - Atlantic |
| Yvonne Baker - You Didn't Say A Word - Parkway |
| Yvonne Vernee - My first love - Brute |
Dynasty - Your Piece of the Rock + Adventures in the Land of Music + The Second Adventure + Right Back At Cha! (2021) Cherryred
New Release from Cherryred here in uk Of Dynastys first 4 Albums on Solar Records (1979-1782)..They released 6 studio albums before going their seperate ways.The Albums ‘Your Piece Of The Rock’, ‘Adventures In The Land Of
Music’, ‘The Second Adventure’ and ‘Right Back At Cha’ cover a period
from 1979 through to 1988 when the Los Angeles-created band were key to
the success of SOLAR Records. Put together by producer and label head
Dick Griffey, and record producer Leon Sylvers III , the band was
completed by keyboardist Kevin Spencer and vocalists Nidra Beard and
Linda Carriere,Wardell Ptts & William Shelby.The ‘Your Piece Of The Rock’ album features the full length 7:20
version of ‘I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)’ a club
classic from 1979, while ‘Adventures In The Land Of Music’ includes
their Top 10 R&B smash ‘I’ve Just Begun To Love You’ as well as the
super cool album title track.Dynasty followed that in 1981 with ‘The Second Adventure’ album and
the single ‘Here I Am’, a real banger that kicks the package off. The
album also featured the RnB charting ‘Love In The Fast Lane’. ‘Right
Back At Cha!’ followed in 1982 featuring a host of great dance tracks
including ‘Check It Out’ and ‘Strokin’.
AMM
Review Courtesy Of Rebjukebox
The Taster!
Tracks
DISC ONE:
Your Piece Of The Rock
1 Your Piece Of The Rock
2 I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)
3 Satisfied
4 When You Feel Like Giving Love (Dial My Number)
5 It’s Still A Thrill
Adventures In The Land Of Music
6 I’ve Just Begun To Love You
7 Groove Control
8 Take Another Look At Love
9 Day And Night
10 Do Me Right
11 Something To Remember
12 Adventures In The Land Of Music
13 Ice Breaker
DISC TWO:
The Second Adventure
1 Here I Am
2 Pain, Got A Hold On Me
3 A Man In Love
4 Give Your Love To Me
5 You’re My Angel
6 Love In The Fast Lane
7 Revenge
8 Give It Up For Love
9 High Time (I Left You Baby)
10 That Lovin’ Feelin’
Right Back At Cha!
11 Check It Out 12 Strokin’
13 The Only One
14 Questions
15 Does That Ring A Bell
16 Straight Out
17 Right Back At Cha!
DISC THREE:
Right Back At Cha!
(Continued)
1 That’s The Way I Feel About You
2 I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
3 All’s Fair In Love And War
Bonus Tracks
4 Your Piece Of The Rock (7″ Version)
5 I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself) (7″ Version)
6 Satisfied (7″ Version)
7 When You Feel Like Giving Love (Dial My Number) (7″ Version)
8 I’ve Just Begun To Love You (7″ Version)
9 Do Me Right (7″ Version)
10 Something To Remember (7″ Version)
11 Love In The Fast Lane (7″ Version)
Friday, December 24, 2021
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL GUYS!
Many thanks for the comments and emails from you all. I hope you have a great christmas and that next year this virus madness will come to an end and the truth shall out. I,ll be offline for a few days so have a good one guys!
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Tied up Today by she who must be obeyed!
the wife,s dragged me all over the place shopping against my will and tonight we have visitors so cant see me getting on for some real fun!
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
RARE NORTHERN SOUL VOL 100
Well this is a milestone for me indeed!..i think i,ve only duplicated 2 tracks out of this lot,
The Taster!
Tracks
| A C Reed & His Band - My Baby's Been Cheating (I Know) - Cool |
| Al Wilson - Help Me - Wand |
| Barbara Banks - River Of Tears - Veep |
| Barbara Mason - Keep Him - London |
| Beverly Ann - You've Got Your Mind On Other Things - RCA |
| Bill Blacks Combo - Little Queenie - London |
| Bill Withers - Harlem - A&M |
| Bobby Bell - Don't Come Back To Me - RCA Victor |
| Bobby Sheen - I May Not Be What You Want - WB |
| Buckner Brothers - A Change Is Gonna Come - Sanla |
| Jeanette White - No Sunshine - A&M |
| Jerry Tiffe - Hey Watcha' Doin' - Scepter |
| Jess And James - Move - MGM |
| Jimmy Radcliffe - Long After Tonight Is All Over - Stateside |
| Jo Ann Garrett - A Whole New Plan - Chess |
| Kenny Shepard - What Difference Does It Make - Maxx |
| Lada Edmund Jr - Soul A Go-Go - Decca |
| Lowell Fulson - The Thing - Kent |
| Major Lance - Investigate - Columbia |
| Marlene & The Debanettes - Play Something Slow - Sunburst |
| Marsha & the Delwands - No Hope, No Faith - Zudan |
| Mitty Collier - Pain - Chess |
| Nite People - Nobody But You - Fontana |
| Patti Drew - Stop And Listen - Capitol |
| Precisions - Don't Double With Trouble - Atco |
| Ray Charles - I Chose To Sing The Blues - HMV |
| Roy Dawson - Over The Top - Coemands |
| Roy Handy - Baby That's A Groove - Stephanye |
| Sam Ward - Sister Lee - Groove City |
| Satin - Say You Will - Shell |
| The Jokers - Soul Sound - Sko-Field |
| The Magic Tones - It's Better To Love - MAHS |
| The Mayberry Movement - I Think I'm In Love - Event |
| The Monitors - Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Do Today - VIP |
| The Prophets - My Kind Of Girl - Stephanye |
| The Remarkables - Easily Mislead - Audio Arts |
| The Sapphires - The Slow Fizz - Probe |
| The Sheppards - Stubborn Heart - Jay Boy |
| The Soul Brothers Six - Some Kind of Wonderful - Atlantic |
| The Spindles - Ten Shades Of Blue - ABC |
RARE NORTHERN SOUL VOL 101
The Taster!
Tracks
| A C Reed - I Got Money To Burn - USA |
| Al Wilson - Help Me (Instrumental) - Pye |
| Ann Sexton - It's All Over But The Shouting - Seventy Seven |
| Barbara Banks - Living In The Past - Veep |
| Bobby Bell - Drop Me A Line - RCA Victor |
| Buckner Brothers - Love You From The Bottom Of My Heart - Sanla |
| Carolyn Crawford - When Someone's Good To You - Motown |
| Chuck Carter - I Can't Help Myself - Brunswick |
| Chuck Jackson - What Am I Gonna Do Without You - Tamla MotownTamla Motown |
| Difosco - Sunshine Love - Earthquake |
| Eddie Holman - I Surrender - Action |
| Ernie Andrews - Fine Young Girl - Capitol |
| Harold Andrews - Since I Talk To My Baby - HLS |
| Inez & Charlie Foxx - Come By Here - Stateside |
| Jackie Lee - Your P-e-r-s-o-n-a-l-i-t-y - Mirwood |
| James Carr - Talk Talk - Goldwax |
| Jo Armstead - I Feel An Urge Coming On - Giant |
| Lada Edmund Jr. - The Larue - Decca |
| Lou Bond - You Shake Me Up - Brainstorm |
| Marlene & The Debanettes - Bad Love - Sunburst |
| Precisions - Into My Life - Atco |
| Ronnie Savoy - Loving You - Wingate |
| Rosco Gordon - You Got My Bait - Jomada |
| Satin - Your Loves Got Me - Shell |
| Steve Mancha - Just Keep On Loving Me - Groovesville |
| The Artistics - Lonely Old World - Brunswick |
| The Astors - Candy - Atlantic |
| The Belles - Words Can't Explain - President |
| The Creation - I Got The Fever - Stateside |
| The Holidays - I Keep Holding On - Revilot |
| The Impressions - Meeting Over Yonder - HMV |
| The Impressions - You Always Hurt Me - HMV |
| The Jersey Maestros & Sarah Dash - Something Inside - Quantize |
| The Mighty Marvelows - I'm So Confused - abc |
| The Monitors - Since I Lost You Girl - VIP |
| The Sheppards... How do you like it - Jay Boy |
| The Show Stoppers - Shake Your Mini - Beacon |
| The Soul Brothers Six - I'll Be Loving You - Atlantic |
| The Spellbinders - A Little On the Blue Side - Columbia |
| The Stimulation - Can You Dig Where I`m Commin From - Hi-Stepping |
Wade Flemons - The Complete Singles - (2014) 45,s Are Alive - Rare R&B/Soul
Obviously a boot that collects all this great mans singles in one package. Best remembered for the series of singles he recorded for the legendary R&B label Vee-Jay. Wade Flemons was born 1940, in Coffeyville, Kansas, and raised in nearby Wichita. After the Flemons family moved to Battle Creek, MI, in 1940, he formed a vocal group dubbed the Newcomers. Although he signed to Vee-Jay in 1958 as a solo act, his self-penned debut single, "Here I Stand," was nevertheless attributed to Wade Flemons & the Newcomers, cracking the Top 20 on the national R&B charts. The Newcomers were no more by the time of the follow-up, 1959's "Hold Me Close"; two more singles appeared that year - "Slow Motion" and "Goodnight, It's Time to Go" neither of them hits. However, in 1960 Flemons returned to the charts with his biggest hit, "Easy Lovin'," which reached the R&B Top Ten; its B-side, "Woops Now," was also a significant hit in scattered regions of the country. A self-titled LP preceded his next single, "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby," and in 1961 Flemons returned to the charts one final time with a reading of the Percy Mayfield hit "Please Send Me Someone to Love," which squeaked into the R&B Top 20. Two 1962 efforts, "Half a Love" and "Ain't These Tears," failed to ignite, and the year following he issued just one new single, "That Time of Year." Fellow Vee-Jay act the Four Seasons contributed backing vocals to 1964's "Watch Over Her," but not even their Midas touch could launch the record into the charts, and after one final single, 1965's "Where Did You Go Last Night," the label terminated Flemons' contract. Flemons resurfaced two years later on the tiny Ramsel label with "Jeanette," quickly followed by "Two of a Kind." He went on to co-write the Dells' 1968 hit "Stay in My Corner," around that same time joining Vee-Jay session vocalist Maurice White in the Salty Peppers for their debut single, "La, La, La". In 1969 the group signed to Capitol for "La La Time," and after one subsequent effort, "Your Love Is Life," evolved into Earth, Wind & Fire. Flemons contributed vocals, vibes, and electric piano to the group until 1973, when he and several bandmates were dismissed by White. Flemons' subsequent musical pursuits, if any, remain unknown. Sadly he died of cancer in Battle Creek on October 13, 1993. I spotted half a dozen tracks played in northern soul venues over here throughout the years.
AMM
AMM
Review Courtesy Of Moxysoulandjazz
The Taster!
Tracks Below
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Various Artists - Detroit Gold - 70s Soul Grooves From The Motor-City (2013) Backbeats (FLAC)+++ Artwork
After becoming embroiled in a dispute with Motown Records during 1967, the songwriting and production team of Lamont Dozier and brothers Eddie and Brian Brian Holland left the label in 1968. Motown sued Holland, Dozier, Holland, who countersued Motown. Like all litigation, things were getting messy and expensive. Motown played hardball. This is no wonder, after all, they were losing one of their most successful songwriting and production teams, who provided hits for The Four Tops and Supremes etc. However, during this dispute, Holland, Dozier, Holland were unable to write their own material for the best part of a year. With one eye to the future, HDH decided to set up two new labels, Invictus and Hot Wax. While Holland, Dozier, Holland set up Invictus and Hot Wax, there was one problem looming on the horizon. Due to the legal dispute with Motown, they were unable to write their own material for the best part of a year. Despite being legally unable to write new songs, they found a way around this. They used pseudonyms. Nowadays, this wouldn’t wash. They’d have found themselves back in court on a charge of contempt of court. Things, however, were very different back then. So legally, all HDH could do was production. Now given they were one of the best production teams of that time, this wasn’t exactly a hardship. Despite their indisputable track record of critical acclaim and commercial success, the naysayers wondered whether Holland, Dozier, Holland could replicate their earlier success at Motown. Critics wondered whether HDH could make it on their own? Their doubters and critics wondered whether they could only prosper within the rarified confines of Motown. Soon, HDH had defied their critics, and were producing and later, writing scores of hits for artists. Freda Payne, Chairman of The Board, Eloise Laws, The 8th Day and 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) all gave HDH the critical acclaim and commercial success they’d enjoyed at Motown. They’d proved their critics wrong and were back, where they’d been before the bitter litigation began, at the top.And the rest as they say is history! Backbeats dod make a mistake on the time of track 1,its actually 3:03 mins.
AMM
The Taster!
Tracks Below (FLAC)
Various Artists - Detroit's Golden Soul. The Ron Murphy Masters (2010) Outta Sight +++ Artwork
Outta Sight pays tribute to the Northern Soul legacy of the Detroit master Ron Murphy.
“The Music Man”, Ron Murphy (aka “Motown Murphy”), was one of the few professionals of the Detroit music scene who’s career spanned, and indeed, pioneered two distinct black music genres – Soul and Techno. Ron’s passion for Soul music began as a boy when he started collecting records. He would study the grooves, the manufacturers, the labels and would go on to cut his first 45, Forest Hairston’s “We Go To Pieces” in 1966, aged just 18, and featured here on this compilation. His skills as an engineer and cutter would take him to the control rooms at Motown and United Sound Studios and eventually his own National Sound Corporation where he worked alongside House and Techno pioneers Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Mike Banks. This CD Includes classic Northern Soul plus rare masters unreleased at the time of recording. If you look closely at many of the great records that came (and are coming) out of Detroit, you may notice a tiny NSC with a circle around it right near the label. That is the mark of Detroit’s greatest cutter, Ron Murphy and his company Sound Enterprises (formerly known as National Sound Corporation or NSC.) He’s a craftsman with a cutting lathe, carving with pride the master discs from which countless copies follow (mastering). He was there from the very start, making Detroit techno legends sound like the legends they are on their albums heard in bedrooms, basements and parties everywhere! He continues to work with several prominent artists from around the world, still many from Detroit. It’s safe to say Ron is a vinyl fanatic. His fascination began at a young age when his mother pulled the crank Victrola (with the giant horn) out of the closet and dropped the needle on George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” “My mother loved music and always had it on. I didn’t realize they were playing records. I used to think, man they had a lot of people at that radio station! Here comes so and so, they’d sing. I thought it was live! When she took that record off, I held it in my hand for about an hour trying to figure out how it worked. From that day on it stuck in my mind.” In January of 1959, Ron bought Motown’s first release Marv Johnson’s “Come to Me” (Tamla 101) and others that year. “At age 12, I was analyzing records thinking this one is louder than that one. I looked at margins at the end, run in grooves, the spacing of the record, the label placement and more. This is kind of strange, but in my mind one record was better than the other. I got a perception in my mind which was good and which was bad.”
Ron’s first equipment purchase came from an ad in the back of a comic book in that year as well. “The ad said you could record your voice at home. Everything you need for only $6.98. I saved my money and got that thing. It had a plastic horn, steel needle, cardboard records, and little plastic tracking disc that hooked up to a turntable. You’d scream into the horn and next to nothing would come out on playback! I knew then it was going to cost me more than $6.98!” He laughs, “I thought I was getting away cheap!” He persisted, worked as a sound engineer in studios around Detroit (started in 1966), acquired his own gear and by 1967 came up with a great cutting system that could master records, but it was mono. “I was a day late and a dollar short on that one. Stereo was coming in about 1968-69 on rock-n-roll 45s somewhat, but engineers really didn’t know how to use the equipment and blew their amplifiers… I learned!” Ron continued working as a sound engineer in studios until 1972. “When Motown moved out to L.A., it seemed like everything went down. It had been tapering off for a couple of years…everything seemed to end with that. I figured I’d have to build my own studio to give myself a job, but what would that mean? Would I get any business anyway? I decided to get into insurance. I went to college, worked for and started my own insurance agency until almost 1988.” Therein he met his partner Steve Martel, an eccentric, wealthy man from Chicago who actively collected vinyl, cutting equipment, jukeboxes, and more. When he came to Detroit to buy records, someone recommended he call Ron at his agency. Ron sold his 2 cutting systems to Steve over time when the financial outlook for cutting vinyl wasn’t all that great. Steve would still need help with records for his jukeboxes though. “My partner was a juke box nut, he had one in every room of his house! Everything but the bathroom! He gave three restaurants that he ate at regularly jukeboxes for free if he could put six of the records he liked on them. He would bring me his LP’s to put certain tracks on seven-inch records to play in the boxes. So I’d start off cutting. He laughed and said ‘don’t you see you have the touch? I’m too clumsy to do that.’ I never realized it before. There is a touch to doing this, the way you handle the equipment. Liking music has nothing to do with it. The question is, do you like physically making records?” Ron and Steve later started National Sound, an oldies music store in Detroit (on Warren and Southfield Roads.) “I found out a (vinyl cutting) lathe was available. We thought we’d buy it just to cut records for people’s jukeboxes. There was no business for cutting masters… particularly in Detroit at that time. We bought it and eventually put it into the back window of the store.” Then Ron looked up and delivered the goods. “As the story has been told many times, in about 1989 Juan Atkins and Derrick May came in looking for old records. Most people in the store didn’t know what ‘that contraption’ was, but Derrick and Juan did. Derrick asked if I could cut a dub.” He came back the next day to listen to it. “I remember Derrick jumping up and down afterwards saying ‘now that’s the way a damn record should sound!’ Being in Detroit, working as an engineer, listening to Motown in the mid ‘60’s, I knew that the bass was important on a record. If it didn’t have that bottom end it wasn’t good to me. The bottom is a substantial part of Motown records. I did bring his bottom up where the other guy probably cut it the way it was, which is the way you usually do things but I take chances sometimes to make it sound better.” That interest paid off big dividends for Ron. “Juan Atkins came back the following day. We tried to cut him one but the amp blew up. It wouldn’t take all that bottom. A tech and I worked on it morning and night. Finally we got it right and the guys came in.” Yes, indeed they did and still do. Ritchie Hawtin came in with Derrick May. Jeff Mills and Mike Banks came in bit later ready to start Underground Resistance. Many followed. Ron eventually closed the record store, but the good word about NSC’s capabilities spread like wildfire. In 1994 he was dubbed the “hottest cutter in the country.” He wanted the artists’ records to be unique as possible. He encouraged Ritchie Hawtin to write “words of wisdom”, as Ron called it, on the early vinyl. He installed continuous loop grooves for Jeff Mills’ “Rings of Saturn” (the vinyl actually had giant spaces on it to make it resemble the planet.) He figured out how to groove two tracks into one side of a record for Underground Resistance. He even sold Basic Channel one of his old Ampex recorders to make they could get more source noise. Talk about going above and beyond! “My job is to make the master record to be plated”, said Ron. Plating is the process where a mold is created from the master vinyl to stamp out each record at the pressing plant. He continued, “It is not to master the sound, per se. I may touch it up. Some engineers will only cut it just the way you gave it to them. It does start with a good mix though.” Ron continued his business of cutting master records at his studio in Westland, Detroit. He’s did more hip hop and booty back then , but still worked with a majority of house and techno producers. He was an inspiration, showing us that care, creativity, knowledge, and timing can help provide work for life, especially when the love is there!..Ron died of a heart attack on 13th January 2008 but his work will remain forever on the dancefloors across the world..A LEGEND!
AMM
The Taster!
Tracks Below
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