U.S. Soul/R&B/Jazz/Blues 45's For April

1. BEVERLY MCKAY-"No No, I Can't Help You" U.S. Sue 45-127 1965

This soulful ballad has some bite to it. The guitars have an edge to them and the bluesy/smoky vocal delivery is absolutely smoldering. I don't know anything about Beverely McKay but after hearing her voice on this I want to know and hear more!

https://youtu.be/pybHelV1vqk

2. THE LOVETTES-"Little Miss Soul" U.S. Carnival CAR-518 1966

This mid tempo number is monstrous with Northern soulies (the strings in the first 10 seconds should be a clue why). With prerequisite call and response vocals this four piece girl group from Jersey City, New Jersey is powerful and the back beat is extremely catchy!

https://youtu.be/4qpf6awhSFs

3. THE EXCITERS-"A Little Bit Of Soap" U.S Bang B-515 1966

By 1966 The Exciters visits to the hit parade had long since ceased but they rang in 1966 with a new label and this soulful, moody cover of The Jarmels Bert Berns penned (under the pseudonym of Bert Russell) hit. The tempo differs very little from the original but the production and arrangement are top notch.

https://youtu.be/ZDC5BnpoRgg

4. PERRY AND THE HARMONICS-"Do The Monkey With James" U.S. Mercury 72476 1965

This number about James Bond starts off with a laid back "vocalist" doing a hipster monologue not unlike Dr. Horse in the epic "Jack That Cat Was Clean" before it kicks into a thoroughly funky but enjoyable organ/sax mod jazz groove! Mega expensive if you're lucky enough to find a copy.

https://youtu.be/ayog5wxRsbY

5. THE VOLCANOS-"Gotta Be A False Alarm" U.S. Harthon VOL-138 1966

Philly soul legends The Volcanos are best known for their collectible sides on Arctic before jumping ship to cut equally collectible sides for the Harthon label in 1966  where they unleashed this tough number that's offset by the strange use of a clarinet giving it a strange Klezmer feel.

https://youtu.be/giBueaKseY0

6. JONAH JONES-"Work Song" U.S. Capitol 4944 1963

This jazzy instrumental take on "Work Song" features the vocals of The Jubilee Four creating a sound reminiscent of the Jordanaires, organ by Dick Hyman and Jonah Jones on trumpet. It's laid back and that's where it's impeccably understated cool comes in.

https://youtu.be/3hIGWwhpbX4

7. AL BROWN AND HIS TUNETOPPERS-"It's True About Love" U.S. Amy 806 1960

Al Brown's vocals right off the bat remind me a lot of Mel Torme but the musical delivery reminds me of something less jazz as they have an almost gritty feel to the horns at times, a perfectly melding of jazz and r&b which sat times also reminds me of Mark Murphy.

https://youtu.be/dRaNQKK8-3k

8. DEREK MARTIN-"If You Go" U.S. Sue 143 1966

Derek Martin, best know for his storming 1963 classic "Daddy Rolling Stone" on Crackerjack, had a string of 45's after on Mercury before this one off release on Sue. "If You Go" was the flip of the ballad "Count To Ten", and is far superior with it's cheezy organ led backing. 

https://youtu.be/cIpAvcvWdo8

9. MICKEY LEE LANE-"She Don't Want To" U.S. Swan 4252 1966

Everyone of course is familiar with Mickey's monster "Hey Sah-Lo-Ney" (as covered by The Action), this was his next single after that on Swan that's equally powerful in my book. It's always reminded me of a grittier Len Barry number but it builds in both the backing and the vocal intensity with this almost trippy crescendo. 

https://youtu.be/MW9t80zAGpI

10. BIG DADDY SIMPSON-"Give Me Back My Ring" U.S. M-Pac! 7226 1965

Delivered at a pace that's not dissimilar to  "Hi High Sneakers", "Give Me Back My Ring" also reminds me of something Inez and Charlie Foxx would have done but with a gravely male lead vocalist that's full on gut bucket blues creating an interesting mix!

https://youtu.be/w8dV7kSVTzs

All scans c/o 45cat.com

Scott Walker-Joanna

 

SCOTT WALKER-Joanna/Always Coming Back To You US Smash S-2168 1968

Scott Walker's post Walker Brothers solo career was, for a time fairly well represented in the U.S. (his first three albums were released here).  Today's post was his first solo single after leaving the Walkers that was issued here in the States (the label had previously pressed two Walker's tracks as a solo 45 which we discussed here). 

"Joanna" was Scott's second post Walker's 45 in Britain issued as Phillips BF 1662 in April 1968. The U.S. release came in June, his American outlet probably balked at the idea of his solo debut "Jackie" with it's use of the word "ass" . "Joanna"is a curious track as Scott had not recorded anything by the hit writing machine of Tony Hatch/Jackie Trent before. I almost wish he hadn't as it is, without a doubt, my least favorite song of all of his 60's output. It's lush orchestration does nothing to save it from being one big stinking heap of M.O.R adult contemporary feces.  Mediocre is almost too good of a way of describing it. Clearly they ate it up across the pond because it wound up being his highest charting solo single (#7).

The flip, "Always Coming Back To You", is a Scott original. It's baroque harpsichord plays along with some moody organ before giving way to some lush orchestration that reminds me of something from The Moody Blues "Days Of Future Passed" (of some coincidence the A side was orchestrated by Peter Knight who was responsible for said Moody's album but this was conducted by Reg Guest). Lyrically AND musically it would not at all be out of place on either of Scott's first two solo albums and would have made a far stronger A side, to my ears anyway. 

Hear "Joanna":

https://youtu.be/wUSmO1ttMvY

Hear "Always Coming Back To You":

https://youtu.be/cmnxtBAVLF8

U.S. Soul/R&B/Jazz/Blues 45's For March

1. JIMMY McCRACKLIN-"Set Six" U.S. Imperial 66067 1964

Here's an interesting one, a funky little organ instrumental that's reminiscent of Dave "Baby" Cortez. I'm not terribly familiar with a lot of Jimmy McCracklin's material so it struck me as odd that he did an organ instrumental!

https://youtu.be/BdVdbipQaeU

2. FRANKIE BEVERLY AND THE BUTLERS-"Because of My Heart" U.S. Fairmont F-1017 1967

I LOVE this one! It's uptempo and backed by an incredible mix of sax/call and response vocals that create an incredibly danceable groove that sticks in your brain.

https://youtu.be/wlM2cmaBBS0

3. JACKIE BRENSTEN-"Trouble Up The Road" U.S. Sue 736 1961

Much like The Dual's "Stick Shift" this number features some raunchy gut bucket guitar, it's not a rock n' roll number but a catchy r&b number written and arranged by Ike Turner. Curiously the artist, Jackie Brenston, has his name misspelled on the labels on this one. 

https://youtu.be/1M7pDqkZ9_E

4. THE FIESTAS-"The Party's Over" U.S. Old Town 1140 1963

This r&b belter features a high octane groove that comes off like Fats Domino on a handful of purple hearts! A rip roaring party record if ever there was one!

https://youtu.be/VbV40tjkGSc

5. WILLIAM BELL-"Monkeying Around" U.S. Stax S-141 1963

File under "songs that Georgie Fame taught us". Though I will have to say that Georgie's cover far surpasses the original it's still an incredible record thanks to the Memphis horns and boilerplate Stax production. Oddly it was consigned to the flip of the mediorce "I'll Show You", Bell's sixth single for the label.

https://youtu.be/-3z6X9F4nbI

6. RAFUL NEAL-"Blues On The Moon" U.S. Whit 6901 1969

Don't let the 1969 date scare you like it did me, this number is a standard uptempo blues instrumental workout centered on some harp blowing and a funky backing. 

https://youtu.be/IdR7LYX2rIY

7. THE HEADLINERS-"Voodoo Plan" U.S. V.I.P. 25026 1965

This number is obviously from a blue eyed soul combo, with a Bo Diddley style beat and it's squeaky clean Ivy League frat rock vocals it proves to be an interesting combination. There's a bizarre soprano saxophone solo that sounds like it was thrown on as an afterthought. Truly odd!

https://youtu.be/lMPIzOmtdRE

8. THE YOUNG FOLK-"Lonely Girl" U.S. Mar-V-Lus 6017 1967

This Motown-ish groover has some sophomoric lead vocals that are on occasion a bit grating but has an interesting tempo that's worth a listen.

https://youtu.be/2YS3Bc0jrN8

9. TYREE GLENN JR. AND THE FABULOUS IMPERIALS-"Hold My Hand" U.S. Sue 109 1964

With some strong brass and a swampy groove this r&b belter is tough, raunchy and full on powerful! Lyrically it gets a bit repetitive (the only words seem to be "hold my hand just a little bit longer" over and over again) but it's infectious thanks to it's solid backing.

https://youtu.be/OShkHC1ixQE

10. BILLY ABBOTT & THE JEWELS-"Groovy Baby" U.S. Parkway P-874 1963

This slow tempo doo-wop-ish number seems lost between the street corner and sophisticated r&b, but to me it somehow works, just barely though....

https://youtu.be/ze0NG5P-1jo

All scans c/o 45cat.com

U.S. Soul/R&B/Jazz/Blues 45's For February

 

1. LITTLE GENIE BROOKS-"The James Brown Bougeloo" U.S. Carol 105 1966

No that's how "boogaloo" is really spelled on the label. This 100mph horns backed work out is a TOTAL James Brown pastiche from the horns, the breaks and of course the lead vocals with lots of quotes from various J.B. songs. Any idea who Little Genie Brooks was?

https://youtu.be/eufzcFMujTY

2. THE PIPS-"Room In Your Heart" U.S. Vee Jay VJ 386 1961

This call and response r&b screamer is Gladys Knight and the boys but credited to "The Pips". It has elements of doo-wop mixed in with frantic r&b that works thanks to the tight delivery and energy. Originally issued on the HunTom label, this was reissued on Vee Jay just months later. 

https://youtu.be/BdGHd7ja49c

3. MARJORIE BLACK-"One More Hurt" U.S. Sue 45-132 1965

This obscure release on the legendary Sue label could easily pass as an obscure Motown side in it's up tempo delivery and the key changes. It's totally danceable and merits immediate investigation to those not familiar with it!

https://youtu.be/Dkg8UVLDFK0

4. BARBRA MERCER-"Hey!" U.S. Golden World GW-21 1965

The vibes and call and response/up tempo backing vocals on this pretty much guarantee it's a huge dance floor classic but copies are surprisingly affordable. 

https://youtu.be/S2As29AfL1I

5. ADOLPH JACOBS-"Move Around Easy" U.S. Class 253 1959 

This twangy little proto rock n' roll meets r&b number is where the sock hop meets gritty bluesy gut bucket r&b. It's poppy but off set by the greasy saxophone solo and busy bass lines.

https://youtu.be/SAAJoJ9MHCw

6. CHRISTINE COOPER-"Heartaches Away My Boy" U.S. Parkway P-983 1966

Sweets strings, Motown punctuation on the vibes/scronking sax (the number has multiple similarities to a few Supremes numbers) and beautiful lead/backing vocals make this, understandably one of the most sought after soul 45's on the Cameo Parkway label. Pure magic!!

https://youtu.be/iXNcckwxspE

7. THE PUSSYCATS-"Come On And Ska" US Keetch 45-6003 1964

I'm always keen on cash in U.S. 60's ska records, most are absolutely dreadful but this girl group track sounds like The Shangri-La's performing over a Millie Small backing track (with some more soul than Mary Weiss and the girls ever had) !

https://youtu.be/iX0TLYm7gwU

8. SOLOMON BURKE-"Be Bop Grandma" U.S. Atlantic 45-2114 1961

This one is all over the place. It's r&b, doo-wop, rock n' roll etc. Solomon Burke is clearly emulating Elvis on the lead vocals and the honky/wonky sax and blistering guitar licks make the number. The lyrics are a corny story of a hip shakin' grandma who likes to get down with the rocking hits when she's alone. Creepy.

https://youtu.be/T5a9RNmpV6k

9.  THE ORLONS-"Heartbreak Hotel" U.S. Cameo C-319 1964

Big props to the HBO Elvis documentary for hipping me to this incredibly soulful/call and response storming cover of the King's 1956 hit. It has an almost sophisticated "uptown soul"/Motown feel to both it's delivery and production!

https://youtu.be/1eQ7iABZv0A

10. GARNET MIMMS-"Looking For You" U.S. United Artists UA 951 1965

One of Garnet's most sought after singles after "As Long As I Have you" is this vibes/female backing vocals/Northern soul strings propelled ditty full of interesting tempo changes and over the top production.

https://youtu.be/GX1lYmU4dFo

All scans c/o 45cat.com