Monday, August 19, 2024

Various Artists – Zell's Girls J&S, Zell's, Baton And Dice Recordings 1955-1970 (2007 + Booklet) Ace - Rare Doo-Wop/R&B/Soul/Northern (MP3 165MB)

"Zell’s Girls" (now deleted from stock) was the fourth Ace CD to be drawn from the catalogue of Zelma “Zell” Sanders, the Harlem based songwriter/producer/manager who for two decades ran the very collectable J&S, Zell’s, Dice and other labels in New York. The collection comprises 28 all female doo wop, R&B, soul and girl group sides spanning the years 1955 to 1970, all but one of which makes its legit CD debut here. Zell Sanders got her start in the music biz with the Hearts. Contained here are their second and fourth singles, "All My Love Belongs To You and Going Home To Stay", both released on Baton in 1955. The latter song marks the recording debut of future soul star Justine “Baby” Washington. (The group’s remaining six Baton sides can be found on “The Baton Label: Sol’s Story”, CDCHD 505.) The Hearts’ career spanned over a decade and a half, during which time some two dozen ladies passed through the group’s ranks. "No Turning Back For Me and Your Little Toy" are plucked from their very rare “I Feel So Good” LP of 1970. Meanwhile, the group released the $1,000 rated "Where Are You Tonite" as the Jay Netts (two words) and "Suffering With My Heart" as the Endeavors, the latter featuring lead vocals by Lezli Valentine. Zell Sanders launched the J&S label in 1956. Among the initial batch of releases was "What Makes Me Love You Like I Do" by the Pre-Teens, an acme of “kiddie doo wop” today valued at a whopping $1,500. One of the most revered female doo wop groups, the Clickettes recorded five singles for Dice, of which "To Be A Part Of You" was the last. The Kadak’s were basically the same outfit as the Kodaks/Kodoks, who recorded for Fury Records in 1957. By 1960 the group was down to just one original member, but sounded as Frankie Lymon-esque ever on their J&S single, "Don’t Want No Teasing". Rita Zell and Neice DeZell are one and the same person separated by a decade. She released two singles on J&S: "I Don’t Understand You No More" as Rita in 1960 and the Aretha-style "Last Night" as Neice ten years later. In 1962 Sanders launched Zell’s, her fourth label. Among the first releases were "Give Our Love A Chance and Oh Come Back Baby" by Ada Ray and "Stay Away From My Baby" by Taffie Lee. Johnnie Louise Richardson’s (Zell’s daughter), most important role at J&S was as the singing partner of Joe Rivers in the duo Johnnie & Joe, of "Over The Mountain, Across The Sea2 fame. Included here is Johnnie’s solo update of the song, released in 1970 as Miss Johnnie, along with 2Every Night The Same Time", a previously unissued recording of similar vintage. The story of the Jaynetts (one word) is almost as tangled as that of the Hearts and involves many of the same vocalists. To cut a long story short: In 1963 Zell Sanders began a working relationship with songwriter-producer Abner Spector. The first fruit of the merger was "Sally, Go ’Round The Roses", released on Spector’s Tuff label as by the Jaynetts, a name not seen on a record label since 1958. "Sally"… topped the charts, but Sanders, dissatisfied with her share of the proceeds, soon withdrew from the deal and tried in vain to cash in with a string of Jaynetts singles on J&S. The best of these are contained here. I,ve been diggin my crates for this all day after a request. The thing with a lot of older music is it sounds no better in flac than mp3 so ive chosen the latter as less disc space is used up..great album with some top rare NORTHERN dancers included. Once i dig out the other 3 albums mentioned above they will be reviewed also.

AMM 


 

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                                                                                              The Northern Tasters!








26 comments:

andr3 nalin said...

(And one more) Sweet Thang ! :D ;) Thx m8 ✌🏻☮️🏝️🌞

USMAN47 said...

This CD seems very interesting to me and what's more, I don't have any!!!

Thanks AMM for sharing

Yves

Renald Heyns said...

Thanks, AMM, for Zell's Girls. New to me, too. Thanks for the review!!

oldsoulrebel said...

I wouldn't mind a listen of this, thanks for the review AMM

Anton said...

Great Series Of Harlem Sounds..
Bigger Thanks!

PeterH said...

Interesting girls, for sure! Thanks for review, P.

gmortars said...

Over the mountian, across the sea, I got the feeling!
Thanks, AMM!

Bill said...

Focussing on labels that are unknown tome......Tracks 3 & 24 by Ada(?) Ray or (Alder)...who cares,I`d like it anyway PLEASE...Cheers! Bill

Ray said...

Thanks AMM for the compilation review

Little Bill said...

Great post AMM thanks for the review!

trinity said...

Thanks mate = great review

tsi&hrjs said...

Thank you AMM for more obscure R&B to review.

AMM said...

@Bill
ada ray was from New York and alder ray was from L.A. bill

bigcravings said...

Love these comps

Big Dave said...

Wonderful collection of songs, many thanks AMM for this review.

BigD

BillyMac said...

Great preface, Professor AMM.

RMstorm said...

Thanks AMM for sharing the girls today

pedro B said...

Great review to this early days of soul set cant say I have heard of all the labels Thanks AMM Cheers Pedro

PhilN said...

Thanks AMM for the comprehensive review.

Carlos Uria said...

Thank you AMM for the review

ELtel said...

Upgrade for me MM, thank you.
cheers, ELtel

reb.jukebox said...

Nice review AMM thanks

richsoul said...

Music is good regardless. I love to explore different types and you are giving me this opportunity. Thank you AMM.

clash said...

Please and thanks!

Lordchester said...

seems like an interesting compilation, thanks for reviewing AMM

soultime said...

Nice bit of R&B .