Ike Noble & The Uptights - Look A Little Higher (2022) AOTN - Rare Soul/Funk (FLAC) Digital Download

The Up Tights were formed by Henry Bradley in Forrest City, Arkansas in March of 1967 while most of the band members were attending Lincoln High School.They took their name from the Stevie Wonder song "Uptight - Everything’s Alright.” Playing at school functions, they quickly branched out to playing bigger shows and headlined the 1968 St. Francis County Fair in Forrest City. The Up Tights first recorded for Action Records in Memphis as Noble and the Up Tights. The 45 featured an original song by singer, Izear “Ike” Noble Jr. titled “Don't Worry About It.” Henry Bradley was drafted into Vietnam in 1968.While he was away, the Up Tights continued with Henry’s brother, Arthur, taking over all the guitar duties. The band also hired a manager named John Mitchell. In 1968 the band met Joe Lee, who owned Variety recording studio in Jonesboro, Arkansas. For the band’s first recordings at Variety, Lee chose two originals by Noble titled “Look a Little Higher” and an updated version of “Just a Dream” which Lee released on his Alley Records label in 1968. Lee continued to record the band over the next several months. He liked to experiment in the studio and produced many versions of the group’s original songs, adjusting the mix and adding elements to each unique take. For the group’s second Alley release, they appeared simply as Ike Noble on the record label. Lee brought in a local songwriter named Charles “Jamie” Holmes, who had previously written for Alley records and Joe Keene’s studio in Kennett, Missouri. The resulting 45 from this collaboration was “It’s Bad” backed with “That’s What I Get,” two Holmes originals. Another Holmes original was unreleased at the time, but available here titled “There’s Gonna Be a Better Day Coming.”... Stax Records was interested in signing the group and wanted to re-cut "It's Bad" at their studio, but ultimately the label passed since they generally had a policy of working with Memphis based groups. As the band grew in popularity, they began appearing with and competing with Memphis legends, the Bar-Kays. The group’s biggest show in Arkansas was an opening slot at Barton Coliseum, one of the largest venues in the state, in Little Rock in mid-1969. As a result, the band was offered a spot on George Klein’s “Talent Party” television show on WHBQ in Memphis in July of 1969. Ike released 3 solo efforts on connowil & timeless record labels.The uptights 4 45,s are featured here less 1 side. a great album for all northern,Deep,& funk lovers. 

Moxysoulandjazz

 

Review Courtesy Of Moxysoulandjazz

 

 

Tracks

01 Money Wont Change You

02 It's Bad

03 Good Thing

04 Best of Luck to You

05 That's What I Get

06 That's the Sound of My Heart

07 How Long Must I Wait for You

08 Foxy Mama

09 Look a Little Higher

10 I Take What I Want

11 She's Got to Be Loved

12 Just a Dream

13 I've Never Found  Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)

14 There's Gonna Be a Better Day Coming

15 Good Thing (Alternate Take)

16 That's What I Get (Alternate Take)

17 Just a Dream (Alternate Take 1)

18 Just a Dream (Alternate Take 2)

19 Foxy Mama (Alternate Take)

20 She's Got to Be Loved (Alternate Take)

21 Look a Little Higher (Alternate Take 1)

22 Look a Little Higher (Alternate Take 2)

23 Look A Little Higher (Alternate Take 3)