Mary Love “Hey Stoney Face” (Modern 1010-B, 1965) By 1965, the Motown influence reached its arms to both coasts. Not only were the sonic patterns of West Grand Boulevard influential on female soul records, as in the case of Ashford and Simpson in New York, certain songwriters vied for attention from the label. Notable on…
Tag: Soul song of the day
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…
The Temptations “Who You Gonna Run To?” (From the LP Gettin’ Ready, 1966)
The Temptations “Who You Gonna Run To?” (From the LP Gettin’ Ready, 1966) I guess I should be ashamed of myself that it’s been so many months I’ve been doing posts and I haven’t tempted y’all with some more Temptations yet. Also, I totally breezed by in a cold medicine stupor that it was the original…
Gladys Knight & The Pips “I’ll Be Here (When You Get Home)” (From the LP All I Need Is Time, 1973)
Gladys Knight & The Pips “I’ll Be Here (When You Get Home)” (From the LP All I Need Is Time, 1973) This particular Gemini Roll Call needs probably very little introduction. Since her debut on The Ted Mack Amateur Hour some 63 years ago, Gladys Knight has been dazzling audiences with her rich and full…
Irma Thomas “Live Again” (1965, unreleased. From “Time Is On My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas, 1992)
Irma Thomas “Live Again” (1965, unreleased. From “Time Is On My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas, 1992) Gemini Roll Call goes behind the glass this Monday Morning and honors a twin that was one of the most prolific wordsmiths of the 1960s. In his partnership with Burt Bacharach, Hal David turned out hundreds of…
Blinky “I Wouldn’t Change The Man He Is” (Motown 1134, 1968)
Blinky “I Wouldn’t Change The Man He Is” (Motown 1134, 1968) Perhaps the most overlooked, poorly treated woman in Motown’s later golden years was Sondra “Blinky” Williams Oakland born, L.A. raised and recording almost exclusively in gospel settings through 1966, Blinky brought a visceral fire to most every recording she laid down for the Motor…
Lorraine Ellison “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” (Mercury 72472-B, 1965)
Lorraine Ellison “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” (Mercury 72472-B, 1965) One of the more forgotten, if not prolific voices from the sweeter side of soul is Lorraine Ellison. Starting in Gospel as many do, she moved to R&B in 1964, and was picked up by Mercury. As a singer-songwriter, although she had some…
Betty Turner “Stand By And Cry” (Liberty 55861-B, 1966)
Betty Turner “Stand By And Cry” (Liberty 55861-B, 1966) Given the top flight production values all of her singles received, one would think that Betty Turner had a really big chance of breaking through to become an accomplished recording start of the West Coast recording scene. Of course, it’s another story of not exactly turning…
Mel Carter “When A Boy Falls In Love” (Derby 1003, R&B#30 Pop #44, 1963)
Mel Carter “When A Boy Falls In Love” (Derby 1003, R&B#30 Pop #44, 1963) The dewy eyed freshness of this Sam Cooke composition perhaps may have not been what Sam himself was after in the middle of 1963. Pushing towards more aggressive tones in his music as he pushed, unknowingly, towards the end of his…
Valerie and Nick “Somebody’s Lying On Love” (Glover 3003-B, 1964)
Valerie and Nick “Somebody’s Lying On Love” (Glover 3003-B, 1964) Long before they were the very earthy (Valerie the Virgo, Nick the Taurus) duo reeling off smashes like “Solid” they were newlyweds on the New York recording scene. They were Valerie Simpson and Nickolas Ashford, fresh faced, optimistic and full of harmony and songwriting ideas….
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