Ketty Lester “Love Me Just A Little Bit” (Tower 208-B, 1966) Talented and Sultry, Ketty Lester is one of the ultimate Lady Leos of Soul. Despite having only one major hit record, she was able to purvey her talents on multiple mediums normally closed off to African American women in the 1960s. Recording and hit…
Author: Laurence Jones
Time Capsule or actual human being, who knows. Laurence Jones has been sifting through ephemera of the past seemingly forever, spinning vinyl for you, taking film photography and entertaining you with instagram posts of the decrepit old cars they own. You can find previous writing by them at djlarsupreme.com and medium.com
The Impacts “Just Because” (DCP 1150-B, 1965)
The Impacts “Just Because” (DCP 1150-B, 1965) It’s Fair to say that Teddy Randazzo was on fire as a producer in 1965. Not only had he boosted Little Anthony & The Imperials back to the public consciousness in the past year, but he had launched a number of other careers. The Royalettes finally broke through…
The Ronettes “You Came, You Saw, You Conquered” (A&M 1040, Pop #100, 1969)
The Ronettes “You Came, You Saw, You Conquered” (A&M 1040, Pop #100, 1969) She sometimes talks to rainbows, and the applause of the crowd gives her orgasms. She might be the most definitive Leo of the Girl Group era; so we celebrate Ronnie Spector on her 72nd Birthday. The fierce feline from Spanish Harlem whose…
The Marvelettes “Now Is The Time For Love” (From the LP In Full Bloom, 1969)
The Marvelettes “Now Is The Time For Love” (From the LP In Full Bloom, 1969) Our next leading Lady Leo is one of the Motown pioneers. As the eldest member of The Marvelettes when they arrived at Motown in 1961, Wanda Young stood alongside Gladys Horton as the other lead singer in The Marvelettes. Over…
The Velvelettes “Something’s Happening” (1966, Unreleased. From The Velvelettes: Motown Anthology, 2004)
The Velvelettes “Something’s Happening” (1966, Unreleased. From The Velvelettes: Motown Anthology, 2004) We all know that 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit had an overflow of talent. Here this Sunday we come up with the next date where two legendary leading ladies of Motown share the same Birthday. First off we sing in salutation to…
The Chiffons “Easy To Love (So Hard To Get)” (Laurie 3224, 1964)
The Chiffons “Easy To Love (So Hard To Get)” (Laurie 3224, 1964) Our next Leading Lady Leo is one of the many that was gracious enough to share the spotlight with fellow group members. Although her voice dominates the biggest hits The Chiffons had, Judy Craig shared lead duties with Sylvia Peterson on the slew of classics,…
Timi Yuro “Get Out Of My Life” (Mercury 72431, 1965)
Timi Yuro “Get Out Of My Life” (Mercury 72431, 1965) One of the fiercest blue eyed soul singers would be of course a Lady Leo. The pint sized powerhouse born Rosemary Timothea Yuro 75 years ago today blurred many an expectation of what it meant to be a female pop singer in the early 1960’s….
For The Venus Retrograde: A Lover’s Concerto of Love Songs For Your Ears To Endear & Endure The Days Ahead.
If you’ve been following this blog for any extended period of time, you’ll know that I tend to weave what’s going on in the Sky and the Stars. In writing, in lectures, in remembering our R&B legends with us and gone to the Apollo in the sky, I feel Astrology can weave the narratives a…
Bobbie Gentry “I Saw An Angel Die” (Capitol 5992, 1967)
Bobbie Gentry “I Saw An Angel Die” (Capitol 5992, 1967) It isn’t that rare that someone has a break-out #1 hit and then the next single goes absolutely nowhere. It may have been crushing to Bobbie Gentry though. After the storybook #1 Smash “Ode To Billy Joe” hung around AM Top 40 at the peak…
Darlene Love “He’s a Quiet Guy” (Philles 123-B, 1964)
Darlene Love “He’s a Quiet Guy” (Philles 123-B, 1964) There’s a few things to consider over the next few weeks. 1) The Sun is in Leo. 2) There’s a Venus Retrograde, soon to retreat back into the flames of Leo and 3) There’s a bevy of Soul Legends born under the sign of Leo as…
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