Jamaican born singer and songwriter Jackie Edwards (born Wilfred Gerald Edwards 1938 died 1992) was discovered by Island records supremo Chris Blackwell who brought Edwards to the U.K. in 1962 after he had a brief musical career at home. Once in England Edwards continued to record for Island but his releases were not ska as one would expect but more akin to an early 60's crooner style.
One of Edwards most famous tunes was "Somebody Help Me" which gave the Spencer Davis group a U.K. #1 in 1966. The track was extremely popular and recorded by a bevvy of artists from all over the world. I chose ten, here they are, enjoy:
1. JACKIE EDWARDS- French E.P. Vogue INT.18076 1966
Curiously Jackie's version was only available on his first French outing, this E.P. Pay close attention to the backing track as it was utilized on releases #2, 4 and 5 again. I'd love to know who was playing on this session. Though not as powerful as some of the other examples here it's still an excellent version with it's mid tempo groove and high female backing vocals and fantastic production (courtesy of a young Jimmy Miller, later to work with Traffic and the Rolling Stones)!
https://youtu.be/gsXTcMStldc?si=PlaqaoTqlMLhS-Cs
2. THE JAYBIRDS- U.K. Sue WI-4013 1966
Little is known about this release on the legendary U.K. Sue label unfortunately. It utilizes the backing track of the Jackie Edwards version with some female vocalists singing the main chorus but the rest of the lyrics are missing instead replaced by some ad libbed female vocalists (sounding much like the backing vocalists on #1) scat singing with the melody. I'd swear I hear P.P. Arnold's voice in the chorus! It's also probably the most collectible of all of today's examples!
https://youtu.be/7JU-9zdaYnU?si=ZNOfpw2xP2oo9Uao
3. THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP-U.K. Fontana TF 679 1966
Hopefully when this record shot to #1 in the U.K. Jackie saw some serious green from it as he himself was rarely gifted with any commercial success. Based around Muff Winwood's murky bass and his Little Brother Stevie's fuzz guitar this number absolutely cooks, owing in no small part to Stevie's soulful lead vocals make it deservedly the massive hit it was. Curiously the American release featured a very cool/funky organ which was strangely missing from the original British 45 release!
Hear the British 45 version:
https://youtu.be/jv7unyYPG0I?si=i_RDms222a6w_PS2
Hear the U.S. 45 version:
https://youtu.be/iggzVjGRft4?si=-5RezeV6e59fK_Dq
4. BILLY PRINCE- U.S. Verve VK.10462 1966
Curiously this version employs the same backing track that we have been discussing! My Rhode Island DJ pal and record collector pal Ty Jesso hipped this to me back in the early 2000's at Mod Chicago 1 and I have been spinning it ever since. Production credits are shared by Jimmy Miller so I am assuming that is for the backing track. Prince's soulful vocals are top notch but unfortunately the number isn't on YouTube....
5. WYNDER K. FROG- LP track U.K. LP "Sunshine Super frog" Island ILP 944 1967
Once again it's that British backing track!! Led by organ player Mick Weaver, this instrumental British combo used many a backing track from records by Jimmy Cliff, Owen Grey and Jackie Edwards and jazzed them up by adding Weaver's wailing Hammond organ on top (like today's version in question). That said that was only a sliver of their musical output and their 6 singles and two LP's all stand on their own as a required immediate listening!
https://youtu.be/t8c-xuzg7JQ?si=iOEEwp9YJgrBqf6Z
6. THE EVERLY BROTHERS-U.S. Warner Brothers 5833 1966
Also included on the brothers classic 1966 album "Two Yanks In England" (recorded with help from The Hollies, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and as claimed by Graham Nash but not supported by anyone else...Elton John) this version is hands down my favorite of the bunch thanks to the searing fuzz guitar and total "mod Britain '66" musical backing, and of course Don and Phil handle the vocals magnificently!!
https://youtu.be/PVyIGoyAFkE?si=wCCxPgPony_RpA6Q
7. THE BRITISH MODBEATS- Canada Red Leaf TTM 632 1967
Best known for their absolutely ludicrous choice in clothing (check out their LP), Ontario Canada's British Modbeats cut a version in '67 that borrows the fuzz from the original and speeds up the delivery considerably, but to me it's not really bringing anything new to the table despite decent harmonies.
https://youtu.be/FdvWkBJo6mE?si=b7pnMSb_NogeO7WU
8. LOS SALVAJES- Spain E.P. track Regal SEDL 19.522 1967
Titled "Que Alguien Me Ayuide" this version by Barcelona, Spain's Los Salvajes adds a dash of freakbeat '66 with their distorted guitars and blistering bludgeoning behind lead singer Gaby Algret's crooning. Along with #6 this is one of my favorite versions!!
https://youtu.be/LLsgvqt9trI?si=8jWAh3rYCSY8pAxn
9. THE LITTER- U.S. LP track "Distortions" Warick 9445-671 1967
Minneapolis, MN's famed snotty garage act, The Litter included this version on their legendary long player "Disortions", it's pretty much a carbon copy of the SDG version with the fuzz jacked up just a bit but still worth a listen.
https://youtu.be/PL1fEC1S3O8?si=4Xl7b_2WxNAO0VSU
10. THE SMALL SOCIETY- U.S. Westchester W-277 1968
The Spencer Davis Group's reach was felt all the way out in Westchester, New York where this fairly obscure version was recorded. Mixing wigged out fuzz guitar with a Farfisa organ this version is a total encapsulation of the late 60's suburban strip mall American rock n' roll that can only be created by kids who live out in the middle of nowhere (like that genre? I just came up with it).
https://youtu.be/YyqfMFIZ7OU?si=yNwOD9bzBHn1knOz
HONORABLE MENTION:
Os Claves (Portugal)
The Beat Kings (Germany)
Jean Claudric And His Orchestra (France)
The Cavaliers (U.S.)
The Soul Tenders (U.S.)
The Shockers (Canada)
The Blue Things (U.S.)
Lee Grant And The Capitols (Spain)
The Tomcats (U.K. via Spain)
The Vibrants (Australia)
The 13th Hour Glass (U.S.)
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