Erma Franklin “Change My Thoughts From You” (Brunswick 55403-B, 1969) Much more than the big sister to the Queen of Soul, Erma Franklin would have celebrated her 77th Birthday this Friday the 13th. Although not as prolific as her middle sister, the glamorous Big Sister of Soul managed a pretty healthy output of singles during the 1960’s,…
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 Honey Bees “She Don’t Deserve You” (Fontana 1939, 1964)
The Honey Bees “She Don’t Deserve You” (Fontana 1939, 1964) Of all Girl Groups that were quite thoroughly the same group of women, The Cookies had the most diverse set of names. One has to wonder what the reasoning was, given that they had 3 Top 40 hits under their most consistent name. But as…
The Gems “I Can’t Help Myself” (Chess 1908, 1964)
The Gems “I Can’t Help Myself” (Chess 1908, 1964) I mentioned yesterday that there was a plethora of girl groups that served behind your favorite regional hits of the 1960s. 20 Feet From Stardom went a long way to ignore those who worked in a primarily African American milieu, however. What you might have…
The Blossoms “My Love, Come Home” (Reprise 0475-B, 1966)
The Blossoms “My Love, Come Home” (Reprise 0475-B, 1966) I think so far, appropriately, 10 days into Women’s History Month (as much as I loathe segregating history off to one month of the year), that the month of March will be “Women Of Soul” themed around here. One group of Soul Survivors are The Blossoms. The group…
Laura Lee “Wedlock Is A Padlock” (Hot Wax 7007, R&B #37, 1970)
Laura Lee “Wedlock Is A Padlock” (Hot Wax 7007, R&B #37, 1970) Always a women’s rights activist on vinyl in my household, gospel protege turned soul siren Laura Lee celebrates her 70th Birthday today. Starting out with her adopted mother Ernestine Rundless in The Meditation Singers, she always brought a sanguine knowledge to her soulful…
Happy 5th Birthday Hard French!!!!!
It was a lovely sunny proto-Spring day for the 5th Birthday Bash of Hard French. If that monumentally long line was too much to deal with, you can catch and stream my set-list (and some of the delights I didn’t get to) from this handy YouTube playlist I’ve created below: Happy 5th Birthday Hard French…
Mable John “Bigger & Better” (Stax 215-B, 1967)
Mable John “Bigger & Better” (Stax 215-B, 1967) She was the first woman signed to Motown, who at her Saturn Return following her brother Little Willie John to secular music has made history for 60 years. She’s Mable John. At 84 years old she still gives you all of herself as a performer and more….
The Supremes “Come And Get These Memories” (From The LP The Supremes A-Go-Go, 1966)
The Supremes “Come And Get These Memories” (From The LP The Supremes A-Go-Go, 1966) The keeper of The Supremes flame, Mary Wilson, agelessly celebrates her 71st Birthday this Friday. Over 56 years of Performing and showing no signs of slowing down, she is pretty much a living icon. Given that icon status, it’s a bit…
The Toys “What’s Wrong With Me Baby?” (From the LP Sing A Lover’s Concerto and Attack, 1966)
The Toys “What’s Wrong With Me Baby?” (From the LP Sing A Lover’s Concerto and Attack, 1966) The Toys seemed the most perfect challenge to The Supremes supremacy as ruling Girl Group as 1965 turned into 1966. Their “Lover’s Concerto” took everything and everyone by surprise; mixing equal parts Supremes, Four Seasons and Bach overtones…
Barbara McNair “Here I Am, Baby” (Motown 1106, 1966)
Barbara McNair “Here I Am Baby” (Motown 1106, 1966) This is the absolute best single Motown released for Barbara McNair. I can even say it’s the best record she ever recorded with confidence. Because in a lot of ways it summed up what kind of woman Barbara McNair was: Independent, Powerful, Successful, Pioneering and (though…
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