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…
Tag: Uptown Soul
The Shirelles “Don’t Go Home (My Little Darlin’)” (Scepter 12185, Pop #110, 1967)
The Shirelles “Don’t Go Home (My Little Darlin’)” (Scepter 12185, Pop #110, 1967) Gemini Roll Call is back off the road from my own Gemini Roaming DJ and Sojourn to the PNW and is feeling all the weird that I didn’t line up a post to go out to celebrate one of the most unheralded…
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…
Patti Labelle And The Bluebelles “All Or Nothing” (Atlantic 2311, Pop #68, 1965)
Patti Labelle And The Bluebelles “All Or Nothing” (Atlantic 2311, Pop #68, 1965) Gemini Roll Call continues today with one of the most versatile singers from the sign of the twins. For 55 years, Patti LaBelle has morphed from mere Girl Group lead singer to legend. Not only a singer, she’s an author, advocate and…
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….
Brenda Holloway “Don’t Stay Away” (1964 Unreleased)
Brenda Holloway “Don’t Stay Away” (1964, Unreleased) Brenda Holloway continues to reign supreme in her title as”Queen of The Basement.” The latest excavation of the Motown vaults find her swimming in a surplus of unreleased goodies either intended for singles or for her next album. Indeed, fewer artists at Motown saw so much promising material…
DJ Larsupreme 