Derek's Daily 45 as featured guest on the Watt From Pedro Show!

Folks, I am truly honored to have been a featured guest on last night's WATT FROM PEDRO SHOW! Check it out here! He interviewed me and I spun over 40 of my favorite soul 45's while we imbibed some delicious red wine. Good times indeed!

THE DENNISONS - WALKIN' THE DOG b/w YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS

Hailing from Liverpool and with all bets on them that would be the "next Beatles", The Dennisons seemingly had it all, except for the massive success which they seemingly deserved. They looked great and were fantastic musicians and singers (shades of the fab four!). Perhaps still smarting from the wounds of missing the Beatle boat, Decca records hurriedly signed the Dennisons in 1963.

Releasing only a scant three singles, this was the second and finds an incredible version of the Rufus Thomas standard, backed with a number that was (allegedly) written for the lads specifically by Ben E King while they were touring together.

Easily the best double sided Merseybeat record other than those released by the group whose name starts with B and ends with S.

from 1964...

THE DENNISONS - WALKIN' THE DOG

THE CORDELLS - YOU DO A THING TO MY MIND

While the lyrics may be very simplistic (to say the least), this funky track makes up for it in hot playing and excellent dynamics. I chose this one today with the shuffle play method; I have an itunes playlist setup with all my "45's in reserve" for the blog. This one came on and I literally started dancing around my hotel room so that was the deciding factor. So yes, there IS a science in what I choose to post every day!

The Cordells were one of Philadelphia's earliest recording r&b groups; this seems to be one of their final singles and I am, once again, guessing the year.

from c1967...

THE CORDELLS - YOU DO A THING TO MY MIND

JAMES SHORTER - READY FOR THE HEARTBREAK b/w MODERN DAY WOMAN

Hello from Oslo, Norway!

While this is a Detroit record through and through, the sound to my ears is much more Chicago-like in nature, in that it is much rawer with a more laid back groove than the Detroit sounds. "Ready For The Heartbreak" is a cool dancer with a most excellent guitar break (if this were Motown or any of the mini-Motown's, the break almost surely would have been baritone sax!). B side "Modern Day Woman" is a very very unique track with lyrics and subject matter that are quite different from just about anything else I can think of in the genre.

Excellent stuff that was released on the very obscure and highly collectible La Beat records (beautiful label, isn't it?)

from 1966...

JAMES SHORTER - READY FOR THE HEARTBREAK

JEAN WELLS - IF YOU'VE EVER LOVED SOMEBODY

In the past, I've featured some real stompers featuring the brassy and sassy vocals of Jean Wells. Here we find her in a different context completely OWNING a ballad with vocals soaring over a very Otis Redding-like arrangement chock full of superb playing.

I was not aware of this record until I recently found this Yugoslavian(!) EP at a record faire in Italy (!) containing two singles (the other of which I have and featured here in the past). There was also a single release in the US for this one.

from 1966...

JEAN WELLS - IF YOU'VE EVER LOVED SOMEBODY

THE EASYBEATS - SORRY

Recorded and released shortly before this Australian group moved to the UK (and found much deserved international success with the amazing "Friday On My Mind") this record finds the group at the peak of their powers amidst "Easy-mania" in their native land.

from 1966...


THE EASYBEATS - SORRY

THE DEBONAIRS - PLEASE COME BACK BABY

Of course I like/love every record I post, but some of them are VERY special; this is one of those. I know nothing about this Dallas TX group (certainly no connection to the Detroit girl group). From the low fidelity recording to the heartfelt performance, this is the type of record that makes us collector types weak in the knees. I am guessing at the year; please write if you know any more.

from c1967...

THE DEBONAIRS - PLEASE COME BACK BABY

JUNE CONQUEST - WHAT'S THIS I SEE?

Hello from MOSCOW!

One of the joys in writing this blog is when researching the artists I find that they may no longer be recording, but still sing locally, either in clubs or their church. It's very sad to say that today's featured singer gave up singing around 1972 after the lack of success of her half a dozen singles. This release was also the first issue from Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label (Mayfield was a strong believer in the vocal prowess of Ms Conquest).

This record features a typically brilliant Johnny Pate arrangement (full of excellent drive and dynamics) as well as the always sublime production of Curtis Mayfield.

from 1968...

JUNE CONQUEST - WHAT'S THIS I SEE?

POPCORN WYLIE - FUNKY RUBBER BAND

Just take a look at the label of this gem; unsung heroes of Detroit music Mike Terry, Ollie McLaughlin and of course the star of the show, Richard "Popcorn" Wylie.

Popcorn was an early member of the Motown family not only was he a session musician (he appeared on "Please Mr Postman", "Money" and "Shop Around"; three of the defining early Motown hits) but he was also head of A&R. His career at Motown was over in 1962, but he was a mainstay on the Detroit scene, working with the likes of JJ Barnes, The Platters (he wrote the incredible "With This Ring") and Jamo Thomas (Popcorn wrote one of my all time favorites- "I Spy For The FBI") along with single on his own.

Here we find Popcorn back in the Motown family 9 years later for a final one-off single for the Soul subsidiary, and what a monster JAM it is!

from 1971...

POPCORN WYLIE - FUNKY RUBBER BAND

THE SWEET DELIGHTS - BABY BE MINE

Yet another great track that, seemingly, with better exposure could have been a major hit.

Surprisingly, no members of this Philadelphia-based 4 woman, 1 man group ever went on to any other groups that made any records (from what I gather, but I can't say that with 100% certainty).

Whatever the pedigree, this is a lovely record that can be had for surprisingly little money, too. Proving once again that not all rare 45's are expensive, and that a 45 doesn't HAVE to be expensive to be great!

from 1968...

THE SWEET DELIGHTS - BABY BE MINE

ISLEY BROTHERS - GOT TO HAVE YOU BACK

Honestly, I'm too tired to write a whole lot right now so let's let this record speak for itself! Not quite sure what my web connection will be like in the next few days, so I wanted to be safe and post something (great) while I'm able.

For as high of quality as this record is, it never did much of anything on the charts, sadly.

from 1967...

ISLEY BROTHERS - GOT TO HAVE YOU BACK