This is one of my very fave singers who never made a bad album,only 4 solo efforts and a collaboration live album. The tasters say it all!....here is his debut Album...Although Major Harris is widely associated with the sweet sound of Philly Soul, he was born into a musical family in Richmond, Virginia in 1947. His grandparents were in vaudeville, his father played guitar, and his mother was the leader of the church choir. It didn’t end there however. Harris’ brother, Joe Jefferson, was a highly successful songwriter who penned hits like “Mighty Love,” “Love Don’t Love Nobody,” and “One of a Kind Love Affair” for the Spinners. As if all of that wasn’t enough, his cousin Norman Harris was a key figure in the Philly Soul scene, writing, producing, and playing guitar. With that bloodline, it would have been hard for Major Harris to miss. Fortunately, he didn’t. It wasn’t automatic though. Harris had to pay his dues, and he paid more than most. Early on he sang with the Charmers, and then latched on to the Jarmels, but it was after they had their big hit with “A Little Bit of Soap.” He was even a member of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers for a little while, and later joined the Nat Turner Rebellion(POSTED HERE AWHILE BACK), a group that recorded for Philly Groove Records. Harris didn’t see much success with any of these groups, and the solo singles that he recorded for Laurie Records, and Okeh Records didn’t go anywhere either till they were picked up in the UK by northern jocks eg "call Me Tomorrow". He finally got a break when he joined the Delfonics in the early ’70s. The group had seen great success by the time Randy Cain left and Harris stepped in, but Harris stuck around long enough to be part of several Delfonics hits, including “Think It Over Baby,” “Lying to Myself,” and “I Told You So.” That’s Harris’ warm tenor acting as a perfect counterpoint to William Hart’s magnificent falsetto. In 1974 Harris left the Delfonics to once again try his hand at a solo career. He auditioned for a production group called W.M.O.T. (We Men of Talent) and was signed to a deal. The W.M.O.T. produced album was released on Atlantic Records, and the first single was “Each Morning I Wake Up,” which was credited to the Major Harris Boogie Blues Band. The single barely cracked the Top 100 on the R&B chart, and did nothing at all on the Pop chart, but it did on the northern scene with its addictive hook. It was Harris’ second single release that he is most remembered for. “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” was written by Vinnie Barrett (Gwendolyn Woolfolk’s pen name) and Bobby Eli. It was recorded in Philadelphia’s legendary Sigma Sound Studio with only a small light on Harris’ music stand in order to set the seductive mood of the song. MFSB created the track, and Barbara Ingram, Carla Benton, and Yvette Benson sang the background vocals. The distinctive guitar part was played by Eli, who produced the session with Woolfolk. The record shot up to #1 on the R&B chart, and #5 on the Pop chart. In June, 1975, “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. for achieving a million sales. The record remains a staple on many classic soul playlists, and has had cover versions by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, Luther Vandross, Nancy Wilson, and others. “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” was the high point of Harris’ career, but not the end. He had success with several more ballads over the next couple of years including “I Got Over Love,” “It’s Got To Be Magic,” and “Jealousy.” When the hits stopped coming, Harris rejoined the Delfonics, and toured with one of the two groups that were claiming that name (Harris was in the one that included William Hart and Randy Cain) into the new century.On November 12, 2012, Major Harris Passed. The guy again like so many others should have been huge with a voice to die for!..I forgot what a stunning album this is, dancers and sweet Gems!
AMM
The Tasters!
LP Back
18 comments:
Great looking album, thanks for the review!
Uuh, of Delfonics' fame, nice. Thanks a lot AMM 🌞☮️✌🏻
Great review thanks AMM my favorite track Just a thing I do, I can listen to it over and over gain
its a great album
Drooling over soul in FLAC is just a thing I do. Thanks, AMM!
Thanks AMM. Nice details in the story
Great story on this review thanks
You've said it all in the Info. His Also my favorite act. Great guy, great voice. I liked him both as solo artist and his time with The Delfonics. Great stuff AMM!!
Thanks for Major Harris lp AMM
Yes please, AMM. Thank you.
Looks good, thanks for the review.
my fave too and had only old vinyl so very glad to have this also thanks for nice review as usual AMM
Thank you AMM Much Appreciated
Not only the cover is great, I presume ... Thanks for review, P.
Very nice, many thanks AMM for the review
BigD
Great looking album AMM many thanks Reb
Thanks for the write up & review MM.
cheers,ELtel
Love each morning I wake up i remember Richard Searling playing that one. Wonderful review great singer thanks AMM
Cheers Pedro
Great soul artist and vocalist. The Delfonics. Thanks AMM.
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