TSU Toronados - The Toronado
I could almost let these guys introduce themselves, but they get a fine introduction at the start of the track. Most famously heard as the band backing Archie Bell & the Drells on"Tighten Up",
this is the Toronados at their best and under their own name for a fine slice of instrumental soul.The Ambers - I Love You Baby
A great favourite of mine that I still manage not to know a great deal about. It was released on Verve in 1966 and is their only single for the label as far as I know. This song must have one of the best intros ever - an amazing swirl of horns launching into some really classy vocal harmonies with great energy right the way through.
Major Lance - Investigate
...and onto one of the giants of Chicago soul! This is my favourite of the Major's many, many great tracks - and I suspect I'm not alone in that. A tremendous vocal performance - of course - and that great Okeh brass sound underpinning it.
Sugar Pie DeSanto - Jump In My Chest
Sugar Pie DeSanto was a childhood friend of the great Etta James (and recorded a couple of great duets with her) and was one of the many R&B artists who got a start in recording through the famed bandleader Johnny Otis. This track comes from quite a few years later in 1965 when she was recording for Checker - it's the flip to "Mama Didn't Raise No Fools" and yet another reason to always listen to both sides of a 45! This one has fantastic atmosphere, and is led throughout by a great horn riff - and of course, being a Sugar Pie DeSanto track there's more than a little attitude, too!
JJ Barnes - Sweet Sherry
Another really well known tune, this one from the Detroit master JJ Barnes. Those are the Originals singing harmonies behind him, by the way. Lovely.
Norma Jenkins - Me, Myself & I
A very nice piece of soulful, melodic pop on Joe Evans' Carnival label. The lyric is sweet and
clever, and the song is just so catchy it hooks you right from the word go.Bluesbusters - I've Gotta Get There
This single is a tremendous double-sider on Capitol. The Bluesbusters are an odd combination, a successful vocal duo from Jamaica comprising Lloyd Campbell and Philip James who
although mostly famous for their Rocksteady recordings also put out a number of soul sides. This is quite a nice example of one, I think.Chuck Jackson - Beg Me
And once again onto someone who needs no introduction! This is Chuck Jackson at his grav
elly best for me, really pouring his all into it.Bobby James & Vicki Adams - Love Is Such A Sweet Thing
A really storming tune on the Stop label from Nashville. Vicki Adams also has a nice solo release on Stop ("I'm Drowning"), but beyond that I really don't know all that much about them. Not
that it matters - sit back and enjoy!Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure - You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)
Fontella Bass, of course, you already know - "Rescue Me" must be one of the most famous songs in all of soul music - her first single for Chess. Before that, though she recorded a couple of duets with Bobby McClure - one of which, "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing" was a hit. This is the flip side to the other one "Don't Jump" and is further proof - as if we needed it - that you can't judge a record by its sales!
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3 comments:
Greetings. Looks like there's another soul lesson for me to learn today. I'm especially looking forward to hearing the Bluesbusters and Sugarpie tracks. As always, thanks for the music...
Peace and blessings.
Wow. Just stumbled across your site for the 1st time today. What a good day. Beautiful sounds, wonderfully arranged by you. Much thanks, and I will be back.
Tom W.
Thanks very much for the kind words! Hope you 've all been enjoying the podcasts to date. Roger and I have both been really busy the past few weeks, but worry not! Roger's just got hold of a splendid batch of tunes and there should be another one of his top-notch podcasts up on the site in the next few days.
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