Ray Pollard “The Drifter” (United Artists 916, 1965) Welcome Virgo Season. We keep the Soul Birthday parties going in the harvest season with an R&B Giant you may not know. Ray Pollard would have turned 85 years old this August 25th. Getting his start more than 60 years ago, he was one of the most…
Tag: New York Soul
Barbara English “Tell Me Like It Is” (Reprise 349-B, 1965)
Barbara English “Tell Me Like It Is” (Reprise 349-B, 1965) We bring Leo Ladies to a close with perhaps the most obscure that we’ve featured. From influential Girl Group Member, to Brill Building Demo Queen to One-Off Soul LP of the 70’s, Barbara Jean English did a little bit of everything in the realm of…
The Toys “My Love Sonata” (Philips 40456, 1967)
The Toys “My Love Sonata” (Philips 40456, 1967) It’s one more day of double the Leo Lady, as the main lead singer of The Toys, Barbara Harris, celebrates her 70th Birthday this August 18th. Their “A Lover’s Concerto” caught the ears of the pop buying world by storm (and The Supremes off guard, totally recognizing…
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 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,…
The Broadways “Are You Telling Me Goodbye” (MGM 13486-B, 1966)
The Broadways “Are You Telling Me Goodbye” (MGM 13486-B, 1966) I‘m a sucker for an elegant break-up ballad. Better yet if the singer has a pensive tone to their voice that heightens the melodrama. It seems that Billy Brown, later of The Moments and Ray, Goodman & Brown decidedly had that voice that lifted him…
Tina Britt “You’re Absolutely Right” (Eastern 605, 1965)
Tina Britt “You’re Absolutely Right” (Eastern 605, 1965) Speaking of Josephine Armstead’s partnership with Ashford & Simpson, one of the direct benefactors of their efforts was 26 year old Tina Britt. The Florida native found herself in New York recording a version of “The Real Thing.” That effervescent example of how Ashford, Simpson and Armstead…
Deena Johnson (Josephine Armstead) “The Breaking Point” (Wild Deuce 1004, 1965)
Deena Johnson (Josephine Armstead) “The Breaking Point” (Wild Deuce 1004, 1965) I‘ll have you know, I think the pinnacle of 1960’s soul happened in 1965. Following this assertion, I think some of the finest female soul records were released that year too. So as we get to the heart of the Half Century Past that…
Lou Johnson “Park Avenue” (Big Hill 554-B, 1965)
Lou Johnson “Park Avenue” (Big Hill 554-B, 1965) Lou Johnson was perhaps the perfect African American vocalist to hand this chugging and charming aspiring capitalist dream to. Given that he had the vocal capabilities, but not necessarily the chart successes to back up his talents, this soaring ode to unlocking the key to Mainstream American…
Lena Horne “Sand and the Sea” (United Artists 911, 1966)
Lena Horne “Sand and the Sea” (United Artists 911, 1966) It wouldn’t be smart of me to ignore that it’s also Lena Horne’s Birthday as well. The Goddess of Screen, Stage and Song was born 98 years ago in Bed-Stuy, and from there became a pacesetter in the world of entertainment, going places few women of…
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