Leo's Sunshipp - We Need Each Other - LP (1978) Lyons - CD (1996) Expansion - Rare Soul + Booklet & Scans (FLAC)

"Give Me The Sunshine" by Leo's Sunshipp is an all time soul classic, while the album brought to you here has been one of the most sought after over the years. Leo's Sunship were Kenny Stover(Ex Finished Touch-POSTED) Johnny Simone and Alvin Few who worked together on this one project during 1977. They were all bom under the star sign of Leo hence the name. Kenny was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but relocated to Los Angeles in the mid 70s to work as a writer for Jobete Music, the publishing arm of Motown records. During this spell at the company he collaborated on songs for Marvin Gave and Diana Ross before meeting Johnny Simone, a singer from Atlanta, Georgia who moved to Los Angeles to tour with Stevie Wonder. When the two met. Kenny was writing for Marvin Gaye, while Johnny had begun singing backgrounds with Marvin on the road. Kenny and his brother Elgie Stover, in fact, were living with Marvin in the house where the concept of the "What's Going On" album was created. As the project developed. Elgie co-wrote "God Is Love" for that album, while Kenny co wrote Inner City Blues though was only later rewarded by Marvin as his name did not appear on the album credits. Soon Kenny and Johnny were working on some songs which they played to Johnny's friend Alvin Few a concert promoter back in Atlanta. Alvin raised the funds to record the album with a plan to sell it to a major label when it was finished Tragically four songs into the project Johnny died of cancer, so the idea of being signed to a major label became unrealistic. Rather than waste the album, alternative mixes were done on the four existing tracks, and the project was released on their own label Lyon's Record Co in 1978. As the import album picked up momentum in the UK, a 12" single was released on Richard Searling, and John Anderson's first label Grapevine in 1980. The track chosen for the B-side became Kenny Stover's most prolific composition "I'm Back For More which was a Stateside hit (and UK soul classic) for Al Johnson featuring Jean Carn, as well as being an essential version in the original featured here. In 1986 the same 12" was re-released by Expansion Records, but it was only in 1996 that the label have been able to bring out the complete CD for the very first time. Kenny Stover himself has not been active in the record business since this album, and in particular the death of Marvin Gaye which killed off his enthusiasm as a songwriter. More recently he has been involved in real estate back in Cleveland, Ohio where he is also actively involved in the community organising his sell help group for those with drug problems.This is one of the tightest vocal groups you will ever here, Beautiful Soul!...Superb!..The LP still goes for £200+ mine is now badly worn,god bless CD,s!

AMM

 

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