1. FRANCES FAYE-"Comin' Home Baby" Audio Fidelity 45-125 1966
I never tire of hearing version's of Mel Torme's "Comin' Home Baby". This up tempo version has punchy brass and a strong female vocal with some very heavy hitting in the musical backing (I particularly enjoy the piano trills and drummer who is absolutely bashing the shit out of their kit).
https://youtu.be/63ynDKiKX1w?si=UCov2o5Mq58IMpTg
2. AL GREENE & THE SOUL MATES-"Don't Leave Me" Hot Line Music Journal 15,000 1967
Yes this is THE Al Green years before stardom. This was the second pressing of what was his first single. It's incredible!! The violins and falsetto backing remind me of Dexy's Midnight Runners!! There's literally so much going on in this with vibes, strings, organ and powerful backing vocals. The riff being played by the violins is hypnotic! Oh and then there's Al's voice, which needs no review....
https://youtu.be/4vqWF_Y4Soo?si=RDh6QZndZpgc5sPg
3. THE WOODEN TRUMPET-"Theme From N.Y.P.D" Amy 11000 1967
I was first introduced to this number via the Johnny Hammond Smith version. It appears this preceded it by one month. Whereas the Johnny Hammond Smith version is led by the organ this is an amazing combination of horns that are positively astounding in a moody sort of way and the descending brass lines remind me a lot of the "Batman" theme.
https://youtu.be/iKxqTpeen78?si=TW6IM55Be8DBzLKi
4. LEE ANDREWS AND THE HEARTS-"Quiet As It's Kept" RCA Victor 47-8929 1966
Backed by a slight Latin beat and horns that play a "Louie Louie" style riff this number is a nice combination of a ballad with a danceable mid tempo beat that's quite infectious! Apparently it's in demand with pensioners on a certain soul scene across the pond.
https://youtu.be/8L95j8PjbhQ?si=2YIn5dyH6p2UTQDL
5. LOWELL FULSON-"Blues Rhumba" Checker 854 1957
This early side from the legendary Lowell Fulsom (titled Fulson here) is a funky little honky tonk instrumental that has a really eccelctic mix of stride blues piano and conga drums creating a really interesting mix that ends quite abruptly!
https://youtu.be/jCCA8BJtT5Q?si=NeCZ1rSNQwtRbcuB
6. MICKEY MURRAY-"Shout Bamalama" SSS International SSS 175 1967
This cover of an early Otis Redding recording is almost unrecognizable until the vocals start because it's delivered at literally five times the pace of the original! There's Memphis style horns, looping bass and a spiritual backing vocals chorus of "we shall be free" all creating an interesting groove.
https://youtu.be/cwRxJaIM4us?si=RpEkUpJM0cZ2duSB
7. J.J. BARNES-"Baby Please Come Back Home" Groovesville GV 1006 1967
Detroit's J.J. Barnes cut this 45 after a slew of amazing singles for the local Ric-Tic label. This track is a moody mix of strings, congas and falsetto backing vocals that give an absolute Temptations meets Four Tops '67 feel (the backing vocals weave a melody that is dangerously close to "Get Ready"). Smooth as silk this number would not have been remotely out of place on any of the Motown imprints!
https://youtu.be/6n82CFE7Fdc?si=T2kUj2mC6sycHf2C
8. THE PAC-KEYS-"Greasy Pumpkin" Hollywood 1118 1967
The Pac-Keys were a side project led by Packy Axton (a founding member of The Mar-Keys and other side projects like The Packers, L.H. & The Memphis Sounds and The Martinis). Curiously this number is one of his more restrained instrumentals despite a song title that would lead you to expect something funky, but it's not coming off like a cross between "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" meets "Soulful Strut"! Mind you it's not a bad thing, just far more restrained when compared with previous works.
https://youtu.be/RYI0NZd3v68?si=kQp0sGBGYcIPZKWW
9. JACKIE AND THE STARLITES-'I'm Coming Home" Fury 1057 1961
This interesting mish mash of The Coasters meets James Brown (the beat and tempo owe a bit to "Shout And Shimmy", which curiously it precedes by a year!) is a non stop 100 mph raw stormer by this New York vocal group (also known as The Starlites) that's far more funky than anything I have ever heard by them.
https://youtu.be/dUUso5TdT-Q?si=-qXMe3ZaycpevGLn
10. MARGRET ANN WILLIAMS-"Ten Commandments Of Soul" Sue 45-134 1965
Our final selection is a reading of The Moonglows "Ten Commandments Of Love" with a deep male bass voice speaking out the commandants while Williams, in an almost shrills voice ad libs over the top while lush strings and a basic bass/piano/drums lay down the groove.
https://youtu.be/zByHK5S_L4s?si=NVZfU3sAz0K4UeMv
All scans c/o 45cat.com
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