The Late Rev. Roy Young

Just come across the above video on YouTube.

The post simply says this:
This is My cousin Roy, he died about 8 years ago. One of the baddest singers I know. Rest in Peace Roy, see you on the other side. The boy can preach to.

Vigon CD Out Soon

I've just heard from the Dark End Of The Street forum that the Moroccan artist Vigon will have a CD released on French Universal in September.

You can read an article on Vigon in the magazine JUKEBOX MAGAZINE N°203 April 2004.

Here he is in July 2008:

Esquires On Sitting In The Park

Esquires My Sweet Baby Action

Picked up this message from Bob over at Sitting In The Park:

Hi. Today on my radio show I intereviewed Sam Pace of the Esquires. Despite being from Milwaukee, the Esquires were one of the greatest Chicago soul groups, cutting a ton of fantastic records, including the national pop and R&B hit "Get on up" as well as one of the greatest Chicago soul cuts "Girls in the city." You can check out the interview on my webpage at:

http://www.sittinginthepark.com/interviews.html

thanks,
Bob

Len Barry Black Like Me

Len Barry's 1-2-3 was one of the major songs on the soundtrack of my youth. He currently has a book out on the streets published by Bankhouse Books. Here is the publicity blurb:

Black Like Me

by Len Barry & Spencer Barry

Len Barry has been a creative powerhouse for nigh on half a century - singer, songwriter, producer, comic-strip creator - he's made it all seem as easy as 1-2-3. Now he adds to his many accomplishments a first novel.

Being Len, of course, it is no ordinary novel - nor is it some kind of nostalgiafest. Informed as it is by Len's own experience, Black-Like-Me is as now as it gets. In a time of well-worn set-pieces, Len's book comes at you from a whole new direction and a unique viewpoint. What's more, he has turned his more familiar genius to producing a whole new set of songs to go with it!

Len Barry was a recording star when he was just 17 years old.

His group, The Dovells , were a bunch of wisecracking, doo wop singing white kids from Philadelphia who, behind a string of number one hits, (and the stark, raw, uniquely bluesy lead vocals of Len Barry), quickly became one of the top R & B acts in the United States. Virtually everyone who hadn't seen them thought they were a black group.

They worked the black theatre circuit, the Apollo in New York, the Howard in Washington, the Regal in Chicago and the Uptown in Philly. The Dovells also toured with James Brown. In 1965 Len Barry took his artistry solo and immediately crashed the charts with hits like "Somewhere", "Like A Baby" and his worldwide smash and international classic "1-2-3".

In 1969 Len, along with brilliant arranger-musician Tommy Sellers, created the Philadelphia disco sound with the first disco hit record, "Keem-O-Sabe," by a studio group Len named The Electric Indian . Most of the musicians who played on that session went on to become the Gamble-Huff studio players who eventually became known as MFSB , AKA, The Philadelphia Funk Brothers, (a play on the famous Motown studio players of an earlier era).

By the mid 1970's Len had tired of the road and turned his attention to writing and producing for others. Artists such as Lola Falana, Blue Magic, Major Harris, Bobby Rydell, Sylvester and Impact, (new group from Damon Harris), all benefited from the Len Barry touch.

Considered absolute classics in Europe, Slick's "Space Bass" and "Zoom" by Fat Larry's Band were both written and produced by Len Barry.

In the recent past Len has turned his attention to prose: novels, teleplays, screenplays and even comic book projects.

James Brown said it first. "Say it loud - I'm Black and I'm proud".

Check out this promo video for the book:

A few more songs:

Barbara Mason On The Right Track Show Tonight

Just had a message through from Harry and Diana abut tonight's Tight Track Show:

Hi everyone

Be sure to listen in to The Right Track on Sunday between 8 pm & 10 pm (GMT).

We'll be talking live to Barbara Mason and if you have any questions you would like us to ask please email asap.

You will also hear the best in Northern, Motown and Classic 60s soul music. If you have a dedication/request or gig you'd like us to mention please contact us with your details.

Get on The Right Track

Soul
Oldies
U'll
Love

Has and Di

Harry & Diana
The Right Track Soul Show
Salford City Radio 94.4 fm
Sunday nights 8.00 pm - 10.00 pm
www.salfordcityradio.org
email: righttrack@salfordcityradio.org
http://www.therighttrack.org.uk
Skype: 0161 408 0757

Tyrone Davis Running In & Out Of My Life

I am moving towards 3000 posts and still so much to post about and still so many artists who I haven't featured on the blog including Tyrone Davis!!

One of my favourite videos which I have been meaning to post about is a wonderful full show by Tyrone Davis on the Chittlin' Circuit website from 1988. Here's an extract from YouTube:

Bettye LaVette Talking Old Soldiers

Breathtaking!!!

You must see this lady perform!!! She is currently touring here:-

8/31/2008 Big Muddy Blues Festival St. Louis MO
9/7/2008 Wachusett Mountain Blues Festival Wachusett MA
9/20/2008 Great Atlantic Blues and Beyond Festival Halifax NS CANADA
9/25/2008 Ho Chunk Casino and Convention Center Baraboo WI
9/28/2008 Bluebird Blues Festival Largo MD
10/4/2008 Roots, Blues and BBQ Festival Columbia MO
10/18/2008 Lake Eden Arts Festival - LEAF Black Mountain NC
11/14/2008 Lucerne Blues Festival Lucerne SWITZERLAND

Here's an interesting interview from back in 2006:

Ian Levine has several videos available on YouTube - this is the best:

Here are a couple of recent videos:

Sweet Divines @ MASSMoca 31/8/08

The girls have let me know the following:

Culture presenter extraordinaire MASSMoCA has asked the Sweet D's to play their end-of-summer dance party up in the beautiful Berkshires.

Please tell your friends in Western Massachusetts that the Sweet Divines are bringing them the soul this weekend.

And, hell, if you're an NYC fan, it's only a few hours drive to the mountains on what promises to be a sunny weekend. C'mon up and get down with us! We'll show 'em how it's done.

Sunday, August 31, 2008
MASSMoCA
(Courtyard C or Hunter Center)
87 Marshall St.
North Adams, MA
8:00 pm

$14 in advance/ $18 day of show / Members 10% discount

Tickets (while they last) and directions available at: massmoca.org

xoxo,

The Sweet Divines

Mambo Beat Club

HEY EVERYONE,so i'm back from my crate digging expedition to canada, armed with new records....hope everyone had fun last week....tomorrow night, DJ Wayne, will be joining us as guest for another rowdy installment of mambo beat club.its at zuzu, 10pm....see you on the dancefloor.xoxo.-beat train

Wax Poetics Rock Issue release party featuring Rodriguez

Come through to Joe's Pub, Wednesday, September 3, and celebrate the release of our first ever Rock Issue with a live performance by Rodgriguez. Doors open 9:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now so don't hesitate because they're most definitely selling out. Click the flyer for more details on where to purchase your tickets.
Free download from Wax Poetics Digital

Orgone Tour

08/29/08 ORGONE @ MOE'S ALLEY
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA
www. moesalley. com
Shows are 21 and over unless noted.

Call 831.479.
1854 for Advance Tickets
$10-$12

08/31/08 ORGONE @ BUMBERSHOOT SEATTLE
www. bumbershoot. org
seattle center

09/01/08 ORGONE @ LUCKY LOUNGE
Wild Buffalo House of Music
208 W.
Holly Bellingham, WA 98225
www. wildbuffalo. net
(360) 752-0848
$5 pre paid
$10 @ door

09/02/08 ORGONE @ THE GOODFOOT
2845 Se Stark St
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 239-9292
www. thegoodfoot. com

09/05/08 ORGONE @ THE INDEPENDENT
628 Divisadero Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
www. theindependentsf. com
Box Office - 415.771.
1422
$12

Liam Frisco's Northern & Club Soul Leeds 29/8/08

Mothergroove

Mothergroove is a Barcelona-based collaboration fronted by italian Gianni Sciannamé, accompanied by Abel Boquera-keyboards, Daniel Doctors-bass and Roger Serrahima-Drums. The brass section on "Sessions" is Josep Tutusaus on Trombone and David Carrasco on Alto Sax. The band line-up fluctuates between four and seven members at any one time, wich contributes to the "family" approach instilled in the group by Gianni. Mothergroove's sound is heavily influenced by the likes of James Brown, Deodato, Banda Black Rio, Stevie Wonder and Roy Ayers.

Lonnie Smith Video

Lonnie Smith and friends

Someone just dropped me the above!

Sweet Vandels @ Golzheim Festival

Blowfly In Berlin Tonight!

Blowfly aka Clarence Reid, Pretty Dick, Dumbell & Marc Hype

Time: August 28, 2008 at 9pm
Location: White Trash Fast Food
Street: Schönhauser Allee 6/7
City/Town: Berlin - Prenzlauer Berg

Check out Blowfly's website for more tour dates:

http://www.blowflymusic.com/

Bad Girl

The Fabulous Denos Bad Girl King


Lee Moses Bad Girl Pts 1 & 2 Musicor


Hermon Hitson She's A Bad Girl Minit


Lee Moses She's A Bad Girl Gates

I have posted many features about Johnny Brantley's productions. I still get inquiries about his work and the artists he was involved with especially Lee Moses.

I was recently asked by someone to post up a version of the song Bad Girl. I thought I'd take the opportunity to post the 4 versions above that I know about for comparison.

Sadly Lee Moses and Bobby Lee Fears aka Bobby Dixon aka Bobby Brown died before I could speak to them however I have discussed the song with Hermon Hitson.

Here's what I wrote after about Hermon Hitson's version of Bad Girl after interviewing him:

By 1967, Hermon was going up to New York to work on tracks Brantley had already laid down. These include probably his most famous 45 on the Northern scene – “Yes You Did” This song and “Better To Have Loved” were written by the song-writing team of Lewis, Farmer and Lewis who had given a demo of the song to Johnny Brantley after being introduced by friends of Lee Moses. The backing tracks had already been laid down by the Ohio Players when Hermon entered the Bell Sound Studios on West 54th Street to record his tortured vocals on these classic tracks with both tracks being were licensed to Minit Records.

One of the most iconic songs of this period has to be “Bad Girl”. This was song was written by Lee Moses and Bobby Lee Fears aka Bobby Dixon who was originally lead singer of the Atlanta group The Fabulous Denos. The first recording of the song was by this group followed by the Lee Moses version for Musicor before Johnny decided to give Hermon a shot using the same backing track as Lee’s version. “Bad Girl” was issued on Minit with “Show Me Some Sign”.

When I recorded the tracks for this post, I realised that I was mistaken in saying that Johnny Brantley used the same backing tracks for the Lee Moses Musicor and Hermon Hitson version. You can clearly hear that they are different backing tacks. It is possible that Lee used his own band The Deciples and Johnny used the Ohio Players for the Hermon Hitson version.

You can get more information on the Fabulous Denos over on Georgia Soul blog.

I enjoyed listening to the 4 versions sided by side and taking in the different takes on the song especially Lee Moses's rap on Part 2 of his Musicor cut.

Thanks to Gabe Vaughan for inspiring this post!

Update

Great news from Eli Reed below in the comments concerning the song Bad Girl!

Thanks also to Eli for pointing out the mix up in the tracks - I've now fixed them!!

Eli also reminded me of Hermon Hitson's alternative version of Bad Girl which was released on the Soul-Tay-Shus CD You Are Too Much For The Human Heart back in 2005:

Hermon Hitson Bad Girl Alternative Version

Kane Triplets Mission Impossible

The above video was posted by Funkroll as part of hisHerstory Of Rock which is a wonderful series of videos packed with images, songs and insightful essays. This is one the best series of videos on the 60's that I have discovered on You Tube.

The Kane Triplets were Lucille, Jeanne, and Maureen who were showbiz pros from New York who toured the Vegas and Reno circuit and the Sullivan, Douglas, and Como shows. Drop by their My Space to find out more.

Also take a listen to this storming side by the girls:

Hook & Sling 13/9/08

Ronnie McNeir Interview 28/8/08

Ronnie just let me know about the above. Catch it here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blogbeatradio

Mind Yuh Business Presents Trio Valore 30/8/08

Soulside 13/9/08

Back To Soul Special

Just in time for fall, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound are ready to get up and get down with a true blue soul review extravaganza!

Friday September 5th, 2008
BACK TO SOUL SPECIAL
Abbey Pub, 3420 W.
Grace, Chicago
doors @ 8, show @ 9

featuring the Diplomats of Solid Sound, the Stacks, and the East of Edens Soul Express DJ’s! You don't want to miss this!

http://www. myspace. com/theuptownsound
http://www. myspace. com/thediplomatsofsolidsound
http://www. myspace. com/thestacks
http://www. myspace. com/eastofedenssoulexpress

The Big Throwback 28/8/08

Joe Bataan Under The Streetlamps

A sparkling collection of work from one of our favorite artists ever -- the amazing Joe Bataan, easily one of the most soulful cats to come out of the Spanish Harlem scene! This killer set brings together the best of Joe's early work for the Fania labels -- cuts that offer an amazing blend of soul and Latin styles, and a tremendous evolution on Joe's part as an artist. There's a depth here that goes way beyond simple boogaloo grooves -- as Bataan's heartfelt vocals grace every track with a sense of presence and person that cannot be denied -- and the grooves from his group are great too -- ranging from upbeat and grooving to laidback and dreamy on some of the key harmony soul tracks. At 20 tracks in all, the package is a tremendous introduction to Joe's rich work of the time -- filled with gems that include "Too Much Lovin", "My Opera", "If I Were A King", "Ordinary Guy", "Subway Joe", "I'm Satisfied", "Young Gifted & Brown", "It's A Good Feeling (Riot)", "Coco E", "Latin Soul Square Dance", "Uptown", "So Young Too Young", "Special Girl", and a previously unreleased demo version of "Gypsy Woman". Dusty Groove

Blues Art Journal

New one to me - check it out here

Pigsnoots Hootanny Brixton 13/9/08

Della Reese I Got The Blues

Della Reese I Got The Blues

Always loved this track - just fell on this on YouTube:

Delia Gartrell Starting A Movement

Delia Gartrell Snippets

The Mighty Hannibal has been in touch to let me know about a CD compilation of tracks by Delia Gartrell that he has produced called Starting A Movement

The CD is currently available on CD Baby:


Delia also has MySpace - so drop by.

I interviewed Hannibal a few years ago and this is what he told me about his recordings with Delia:

Hannibal moved back to L.A. in 1968 and produced a number of releases on Venture and Maverick for Clarence Paul, Mickey Stevenson and Larry Williams. Hannibal released his own 45 “I’m Your Man” backed by “I’m Getting Ready” as well as 2 45’s on Maverick by Dee Dee Gartrell and several sides by his friend Calvin Arnold on Venture. Delia Gartrell (Dee Dee) eventually became Hannibal’s wife. “I first met Delia through her boyfriend who was my friend. He was a beautician and he had spent a lot of money on her wardrobe! I was going to a breakfast club at the Bird Cage which was an after hours joint playing jazz where she was singing. I got interested in her as a singer – damn she could sing! I told her boyfriend; “Why don’t we put a company together and invest in her and put an album out?” He said; “Man I got all my money tied up in her wardrobe!” I kept going back and she kept appealing to me. So I said to him; Man do you mind if I put some money into recording her?

The upshot of Hannibal’s belief in Delia Gartrell was the beautiful ballad “Would It Break Your Heart” released on Maverick and the equally good beater “I Must Be Doing Something Right”. The inevitable closeness of them working together led to Delia moving in with Hannibal after 5 months and led to them getting married. Hannibal told me that Delia always aspired to be a jazz singer even after the success of her memorable anti-war anthem “See What You’ve Done Done (Hymn #9). The irony of this success was that the master lay gathering dust in AVI’s recording studios after owner Ray Harris didn’t believe the track had potential. Hannibal ended up buying back the master from Ray Harris for $1800 and pressed up 5000 copies on the Demin-Kalo label before selling the master to Right On Records for $10,000.

The full interview with Hannibal was published by in the UK In The Basement magazine last year.

You can hear the Venture recordings and "See What You Have done" on the new compilation CD.

Melvyn Price Rhythm & Blues Release Party 24/8/08

On Sunday, August 24th, the Wax Poetics family will celebrate the release of Melvyn Price’s Rhythm and Blues at Rose Live (345 Grand St.) in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn. Hosted by Monk-one in conjunction with his Sunday Social series, the afternoon and evening will feature BBQ on the spacious patio, drink specials, plus DJ sets by Hamish, Monk-one, Amir Abdullah, plus several impromptu faculty routines on the ones and twos. For more information go to sundaysocialnyc.com.

The Fantastics! New album, new tunes..

Just got a message from The Fantastics:

After several months of organ shifting, guitar re-stringing, drum rolling, amplifier polishing, fader pushing, microphone positioning, pasta munching, and Rizla modelling, THE FANTASTICS have completed their new album for Freestyle Records - Mighty Righteous.

It won't be out just yet - but you lucky people can get a sneak preview of the sounds, sights and smells it contains - a broad musical spectrum of soul jazz, hard funk, twisted piano blues, jazzish stomping Northern soul, punk funk and shouting!

The Fantastics are particularly proud of 'Soul Child' - their first collaboration with UK soul singing legend Noel McKoy - but you don't have to take our word for it - just follow the link to The Fantastics! and hear three of the new tunes yourself..........

Klubb Magnue Pigalle Tonite

Northern Social @ Longton Sports & Social Club 20/9/08

NORTHERN SOCIAL
New Soul event for Lancashire at a great little venue, Longton Sports & Social club
www. longtonssc. co. uk

We hope to have a bus from Manchester arranged for this one so please drop me a line or give me a call if you are interested in a seat
07748325490

SATURDAY 20th SEPT 2008

LONGTON SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB
SCHOOL LANE, LONGON, PRESTON
PR4 5ZA

DOORS 8PM SHARP TILL 1AM

Tickets online now at ticketwebs site, gonna be an ace day out!

http://www. ticketweb. co. uk/user/?region=gb... mp;event=280701

DJs on our first night will be Andy Walker (Greatstone Soul Club), Martin the Mod (Canaby Street & long time soul aficianado) Paul Jnr Walker (Beat Boutique & Face in the Duffy "Mercy" video), Kath Chambers (Ad lib club), Garry Campbell & Lee Speed (Vertigo)

Shirelles Interview

Shirelles Sampler

Nice to see a piece on the Shirelles by Joel Selvin in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Evie Sands Interview

Evie Sands Samples

I've had a message from Evie Sands:

Michael McCartney/The Time Machine, interviews Evie Sands

Saturday, August 23rd - on Maui, Hawaii's KEAO Mana'o RADIO (91.
5 FM)

-- The interview will air:
• 3:30PM to 5:00PM in Hawaii
• 6:30PM to 8PM West Coast Time (USA)
• 9:30PM to 11PM East Coast Time (USA)

-- KEAO streams online --
•• Go to: "www. manaoradio. com" and click on "Listen LIVE."

-- There's also a radio chatroom available (for the entire 3-hour show) -- that has a button to listen to the stream.


• The link for the chatroom is: http://tmc. ipalaces. com

Note: The show starts at 2:00PM (Hawaii time), 5PM West Coast Time (USA), 8PM East Coast Time (USA).

Once again, the interview with Evie begins half-way through the show: at 3:30PM (Hawaii), 6:30PM West Coast (US) and 9:30 PM East Coast (US).

Also: IF you're in Hawaii.... the interview will air (Hawaii time):
• TODAY - Friday, August 22nd - on WILD 105.
5 FM KPMW - 3PM to 4:30PM

(*KPMW does NOT stream online)

Lastly, if you miss it... the interview will be archived and (at some point) will be available to download as a podcast or to listen to from the official website.

Wikipedia says:

Evie Sands is a Brooklyn-born singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose career began as a young teenager in the mid-1960s. After several near-misses throughout the rest of the decade, and a thoroughly hard time at the hands of the record industry, she eventually saw chart action in 1969, before mostly forgoing live performance in 1979 to concentrate on writing and production. She experienced a fashionable, Brit-led surge in cult popularity beginning in the 1990s and returned to live performance in mid-1998. Sands is still actively recording and performing today. Read more....

STEVE MARRIOTT'S MOMENTS

Press release :

STEVE MARRIOTT'S MOMENTS

Limited edition 7 inch vinyl and download

ACID JAZZ RECORDS AJX 210s – released 22nd September 2008

Side a – Money Money & Good Morning Blues

Side b – You Really Got Me & You'll Never Get Away from Me

UNHEARD STEVE MARRIOTT MASTERS UNCOVERED

Legend is an oft abused word. There are few stars in the British pop pantheon who could legitimately be described as such. Steve Marriott is one. With an army of dedicated devotees numbering Weller and Gallagher in their ranks, the Marriott legend continues to grow.

From his first role as the original Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart's first run of Oliver, to the electrifying bundle of energy that fronted the Small Faces, through his Humble Pie 'super-group' with Peter Frampton, and his eventual return to his Essex blues roots. Steve Marriott crammed a lot into a short time.

Following his tragic death at 44 in a house fire in 1991, the Small Faces catalogue has been reissued in a hundred different ways. Box sets, CDs in tins – virtually every track they recorded is available. For a band together for only three years, their impact still looms large as the genuine mod icons.

But what of Marriott's time before the Small Faces? A chance discovery in an east London attic has cast new light on those less well documented days.

At 16, Steve Marriott formed The Moments, an east London r and b band with a loyal mod following through their residencies at the Flamingo Club.

They gigged hard through 1964 but commercial success eluded them and in October of that year Marriott was dumped by the rest of the band after they decided that 'he didn't have it in him to be a singer…'

Then, according to David Bowie, he and Marriott were planning a blues band called David and Goliath when Marriott jumped ship and formed the Small Faces with Ronnie Lane.

Last year, Barry Hewitt, the bass player in The Moments chanced upon an un-played acetate recorded back in 1964. A conversation with Whapping Wharf's John Hellier led the unheard recordings to Acid Jazz, where they have been coupled with The Moments only release, the impossibly rare 'You Really Got Me'/'Money' (US World Artists 1964) for a special limited edition 7 inch vinyl EP.

Here's the first video of 4 telling the story of the Small Faces

Tera Shirma Studios

Tera Shirma Special

I haven't given David Meikle's Sixties Detroit a shout for awhile. This AM, I popped over and re-read the feature on the legendary studio Tera Shirma by Ralph Terrana.

The re-read prompted me to put together a Tera Shirma Special featuring 4 of my favourite cuts recorded in the studios back in the 60's:

1. Patti Young Head And Shoulders Ernstrat
2. Johnny Rogers Make A Change Amon
3. Dynamics - Yes I Love You Baby Top Ten
4. Milton Wright I Belong To You Carla

OTIS REDDING LIVE IN LONDON AND PARIS

Picked up the press release for a historical CD issue by Stax/Concord featuring Otis Redding Live in London and Paris in 1967:

Otis Redding was at the peak of his stardom in March, 1967 when he crossed the Atlantic to perform for his growing European fan base. As part of the traveling Stax/Volt Revue that is credited with spreading the sound of Memphis across the world, Redding played two exemplary shows in London and Paris. These performances have been combined to form the 19-song Otis Redding - Live in London and Paris, set for release September 23, 2008 on the reactivated Stax Records through Concord Music Group.
Backing Redding was Stax's own in-house all-star band: Booker T. & the MGs (Booker T. Jones, keyboards; Steve Cropper, guitar; Duck Dunn, bass; and Al Jackson, drums) plus the Mar-Keys (Wayne Jackson, trumpet; Andrew Love, tenor saxophone; and Joe Arnold, tenor saxophone). Legendary producer Tom Dowd supervised the recording both at Finsbury Park Astoria in London on March 17, 1967 and at the Olympia Theatre in Paris on March 21, 1967. Bill Belmont produced the reissue.

Although some of the songs have appeared as part of the Ace Records 1,000 Volts series and the long out of print Stax Volt in Europe, Vol. 3, the new Stax collection is the first to present the songs in the order they were played onstage in 1967. The set was mixed from the original multi-track tapes by Stephen A. Hart at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.

'At the end of Otis Redding's performance at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, I will always remember the audience chanting ‘une autre, une autre' (one more). They just couldn't get enough,' recalls guitarist Cropper in the liner notes. He calls the shows 'the experience of a lifetime.'

The album contains seven songs (plus an introduction) taped in London, and another ten (plus an intro) from Paris. The Paris show was longer because, unlike London, there was no 11 p.m. curfew. Featured are live staples like 'Respect,' 'My Girl,' 'Shake,' 'Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song),' and 'Try a Little Tenderness.' Redding even brought a pair of songs with British origins back across the Atlantic - rousing, finger-popping renditions of the Beatles' 'Day Tripper' and the Rolling Stones' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.'

Sam Baker Alive & Well!!

Sam Baker I Can't Break Away


Sam Baker Comin' To Bring You Some Soul

Again I am catching up on news from last month.!

It has been rumoured for years that Sam Baker had passed away. I am pleased to say that a discussion of his music on Southern Soul revealed that he was still with us!!!!!

Scott Barretta told us:

I just spoke today to veteran Jackson, MS blues and soul drummer Willie Silas, and he said he spoke to Sam the day before yesterday and that he was fine. I know Sam, and it is definitely the recording artist to whom Willie is referring. The reports gave this documentarian a scare, and I´ll be heading down to Jackson with a tape recorder ASAP! Scott

Later Scott got to talk to Sam directly I confirmed he was the same guy who recorded for SS7 etc.

So I've dug out a French pic sleeve to celebrate!!!

The Lattimore Brown Story

I have been very remiss not to have posted about one of the best things currently in soul blog land - Red Kelly's Lattimore Brown Story which has now reached part 7. Red has also posted a podcast to accompany the story. Get over and read while you listen!!!!

Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger's Trinity Season Of The Witch

Extra long version of the song!!

As regular readers of IDR will know - I have a soft spot for Julie - check out a previous post to explain all:

Julie Driscoll & Steampacket

Dusty Springfield Breakfast In Bed

Dusty Springfield Breakfast In Bed

This is the first of several songs I will be posting as a tribute to the late Jerry Wexler who died last week.

You can read all about the Dusty's collaboration with Jerry Wexler in Memphis over on Wikipedia.

Souled Out Movie

Another catch up mail!! Received the following:

Just a little message to let you know we're about to begin shooting SOULED OUT in Stoke-on-Trent, an independent feature film set in 1974. It tells the story of a young man who discovers Wigan Casino in its heyday, and finds himself in the Northern Soul club scene. The film stars Martin Compston, Alfie Allen, Nichola Burley, Felicity Jones, Pat Shortt and Craig Parkinson. SOULED OUT is directed by Shimmy Marcus, with the soundtrack to be recorded by The Dap Kings (band of Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) with appearances on the album by Duffy and Paul Weller.

There will be a bit of buzz about SOULED OUT online very soon (and in the mean time you can become a fan of SOULED OUT on facebook, and make friends with us at:

www.moli.co.uk/souled-out

We need extras! If you think you've got the moves, and are able to travel to Stoke over the next 3-4 weeks, go to www.ipsofactofilms.com/souledout. We're shooting enormous club scenes at the Kings Hall in Stoke, which is doubling up as Wigan Casino. On one of the days we'll need 1000 extras and dancers! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-live 1974 in all its glory. More info on the film to follow soon...

Patti Drew Interview On Sitting In The Park

The Drew-Vels I've Known Capitol

While I was checking Sitting In The Park, I realised that I had not mentioned the above interview with Patti Drew.

Patti talks to Bob about her career including her first recordings with the Drew-Vels.

Oscar Toney Jr At Capricorn

Oscar Toney Jr @ Capricorn

Following on from my previous post on photos taken at the Capricorn Studios - I thought I'd dig out four Capricorn 45s featuring Oscar Toney Jr.

Oscar Toney Jr with Tom Dowd

Tracklisting:

1. Down On My Knees Capricorn 8005

2. Seven Days Tomorrow Capricorn 8005

3. Person To Person Capricorn 8010

4. I Wouldn't Be A Poor Boy Capricorn 8010

5. Workin' Together Capricorn 8018

6. The Baby Is Mine Capricorn 8018

7. Thank You, Honey Chile Capricorn 0005

8. I Do What You Wish (But I Wish What You Do Wouldn't Hurt Me So) Capricorn 0005

Please note that Capricorn 8018 was recorded at Malaco Studios in Jackson and that Capricorn 0005 was recorded at the Broadway Studios in Sheffield Alabama.