What can I say about this record other than the fact it's one of my all time favorites?
This is the type of record where inspiration, talent and an unbelievably excellent performance from all result in a record that, no matter how many thousands of times I've listened to it, blows my mind with each successive listen.
Producer/ songwriter Ed Cobb discovered teenage Gloria Joneswhile she was a member of gospel group The Cogic Singers. Gloria was already crossing over into pop, and the meeting with Cobb proved to be fateful. Her first single, "Tainted Love" has gone on to become not only a northern soul anthem in its original version, but also took on a second life in 1981 when the Soft Cell cover became one of the most popular new wave club hits of all time.
While there's no denying the power and majesty of "Tainted Love", to this listener 'Heartbeat" is the greatest record that Gloria cut, and as I mentioned earlier, one of my all time favorites as well. Special props go to brilliant arranger Lincoln Mayorga (dig the hypnotic heartbeat rhythm section) and the organ (probably played, or better yet SLAYED by Billy Preston). Gloria's voice here is the epitome of power and soul, and luckily for us, it's spread out over two parts. I'm the type of person who finds a 2:40 single side to be musical perfection, but with a track like this, I'd be fine with it stretched out over an entire LP side.
from 1965...
GLORIA JONES - HEARTBEAT
HEARTBEAT PART TWO
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