More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Soul Agents

 

THE SOUL AGENTS-I Just Want To Make Love To You/Mean Woman Blues U.S. Interphon IN-77022 1964

British r&b band "The Soul Agents cut just three singles in Britain on the Pye label, only one of which, their debut, was released here.

Their cover of Muddy Waters " I Just Want To Make Love To You" was launched in the U.K. as Pye 7N 15660 in June of 1964 and was released here the following month (The Rolling Stone's version appeared on their debut U.K. album in April). Their interpretation is almost poppy and not the gritty r&b that you would expect musically, reminding me a bit of The Sorrows who melded beat with r&b. 

The flip side, "Mean Woman Blues" was originally cut by Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison. The Soul Agents add a Bo Diddley beat to it (much like The Stones did with Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away") and transform it into a hip shaking R&b raver. It works but only just because like the A-side, what strikes me most is the incredible thin production which makes both sides sound weak and lacking power!

"I Just Want To Make Love To You" appeared eons ago on Sequel's "The R'N'B Era Volume 2:Preaching the Blues" and "Mean Woman Blues" was comped on Castle Music's "Doin' The Mod 3;Maximum R&B". Neither side is available on streaming as of yet. 

Hear "I Just Want to Make Love To You":

https://youtu.be/hEzbhQ7JUdI?si=zi92DF8ezKFViZM6

Hear "Mean Woman Blues":

https://youtu.be/vfPeA6dEXHU?si=HQTGjIf4yoNp1RXs

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Geno Washington Part Two

 

GENO WASHINGTON AND THE RAM JAM BAND-Hi Hi Hazel/Beach Bash US Congress CG-273 1966

U.K. based American born singer Geno Washington burst onto the British music scene in 1965 with a rare as hell Columbia records cover of "Shake Shake Senora" before switching to Pye records in 1966 under the guidance of John Schroeder. Today's subject was his third UK 45 issued as Pye 7N 35329 in July 1966, a U.S. release arrived at the same time where it was his second American release. 

"Hi! Hi! Hazel" came from the pen of songwriter's Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. All of my research indicates that Geno and Co. were the first artists to record this number. Regardless of who did it first it's a god awful tune. It's mundane and tepid and ranks among one of the most unlistenable tracks by the band.

Fortunately there is redemption in the form of the B-side, a cover of a 1964 instrumental single by The Mar-Key's called "Beach Bash".  The Ram Jam Band's arrangement sticks fairly close to the original, though the horns carry less power. Of interest however is the fact that this version adds a ska back beat and a blistering bit of guitar (the reminds me of The Remo Four's amazing 1966 version of "Peter Gunn"). There's also an organ higher up in the mix, which the original lacks.

Geno and the boys tearing it up onstage somewhere in the U.K. 1966

Both sides are available on the highly recommended double Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band CD retrospective "My Bombers My Dexys My Highs: The 60's Studio Sessions" on Castle Music.

Hear "Hi! Hi! Hazel" (or don't):

https://youtu.be/dWMVnDdUUT4

Hear "Beach Bash":

https://youtu.be/wzr69zT1jlc