The Fascinations “Mama Didn’t Lie” (ABC Paramount 10387, Pop #108, 1962) We’re just about halfway through our Women’s History Month tour through soul music, so it’s perhaps time to score one of the best advice songs that made it to the airwaves during the 1960’s. But not the best known version. The Fascinations were actually another…
Category: Streamed Song
The Sweet Inspirations “Always David” (From the LP Sweets For My Sweet, 1969)
The Sweet Inspirations “Always David” (From the LP Sweets For My Sweet, 1969) After the momentary detour for Erma Franklin’s birthday, I wanted to finalize our visit to the East Coast and spend a little bit of time with my favorite women to toil in the background: The dynasty of women of clan Drinkard and…
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…
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…
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…
Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford “Son My Son” (Ludix 104, 1963)
Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford “Son My Son” (Ludix 104, 1963) I sit here on a foggy Sunday Morning, and this song echoes in my mind, as it has for the past few weeks. My mother said yesterday that in my life I never asked for much of anything, a source of pride for…
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