The Royalettes “When Summer’s Gone” (MGM 13588, 1966) Here we find ourselves at the “end” of Summer in the United States. Technically on the calendar we have about 2 weeks to go before Summer Solstice gives way to the Autumnal Equinox, but as we busy ourselves with year end closings, shouldn’t it be high time…
Tag: Uptown Soul
Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles “Try To Remember (The Kind Of September)” (From the LP Over The Rainbow, 1966)
Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles “Try To Remember (The Kind Of September)” (From the LP Over The Rainbow, 1966) It should come as no surprise that Atlantic Records believed, not so foolishly, to keep Patti, Nona, Sarah and Cindy in the vein of updating standards and chestnuts with their soaring harmonies and Patti’s powerful leads. This formula…
Valerie & Nick “Lonely Town” (Grover 3000-B, 1964)
Valerie & Nick “Lonely Town” (Grover 3000-B, 1964) A Virgo’s work is never done. Valerie Simpson should know, as we celebrate her 69th Birthday, we also celebrate her 52+ years as one of the premiere Singer/Songwriters of the Post War Era. Though we haven’t started looking at the compositions she did with late husband Nick…
Ray Pollard “The Drifter” (United Artists 916, 1965)
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…
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…
Maxine Brown “Seems You’ve Forsaken My Love” (Epic 5-10334, 1968)
Maxine Brown “Seems You’ve Forsaken My Love” (Epic 5-10334, 1968) We’re starting to wind down on the number of Lionesses of Sixties Soul with our Lady Leos. Today we sit down with my absolute favorite under the radiant sign, Maxine Brown. For nearly 60 years, Maxine Brown has blazed an under-appreciated path through soul music…
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 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…
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…
DJ Larsupreme 