THE DAYLIGHTERS - OH MOM (TEACH ME HOW TO UNCLE WILLIE)

(originally posted 2/17/11)

I've been on a serious hard driving r&b kick lately, as evidenced by yesterday and today's posts.

This is one WILD record, from a group known more for smooth vocal harmonies. The Uncle Willie dance was a massive sensation in Chicago during '63-'64, and spawned many records related to the craze. Out of all of them that I've heard (I have a handful of them) this is by far my favorite and it's so much more EXTREME than the other Uncle Willie records! The Uncle Willie itself is a cool, simple step that involves shuffling the feet heel to toe; dancing the Uncle Willie to this song is sure to be a great way to lose weight and have fun in the process.

from 1964...

THE DAYLIGHTERS - OH MOM (TEACH ME HOW TO UNCLE WILLIE)

MOSES & JOSHUA - GET OUT OF MY HEART b/w THEY DON'T WANT US TOGETHER

No, it's not a gospel record (although the duo name could easily leave that impression), and while there may not be any brimstone in the grooves, there's plenty of fire!

Moses is Moses Dillard, a very talented man who formed a touring r&b revue called The Dynamic Showmen in South Carolina while he was still a teenager c1963, and had a long career as both vocalist and hot shot session guitarist in Muscle Shoals.

By '66, he was paired up as a duo with James Moore ("Joshua") for a few singles released during '66-'68, of which this was their peak, in my opinion. "Get Out Of My Heart" is an uptempo stormer with some fabulous dual vocals, undoubtedly influenced by Sam & Dave; however, these two are not mere copyists as they perform with their own identities. The flip side, "They Don't Want Us Together" is a heart melting, gorgeous deep soul track that showcases the crooning ability of these fine singers.

from 1967...

MOSES & JOSHUA  - GET OUT OF MY HEART

b/w THEY DON'T WANT US TOGETHER

THE LOST WEEKEND - TROUBLE

The Lost Weekend were a group from Gary, IN (25min or so outside of Chicago) that are best known for their (minor hit) group harmony 45 "The Bridge Of Love". This side is something else entirely; a fuzz guitar leads a jazzy soul track (punctuated by driving congas), alongside the social commentary delivered by some top notch vocals.

from c1971...

THE LOST WEEKEND - TROUBLE

WILLIAM BELL - A TRIBUTE TO OTIS (A TRIBUTE TO A KING)

 Happy birthday, Otis Redding.

This record is one of the most heartfelt, soulful tributes ever cut to wax.

William Bell wrote this song days after Otis' tragic death in 1967 and sent it to Otis' widow Zelda more as a private message of sympathy. Legend has it that Zelda loved the track so much she insisted that Stax release it, immediately. Thankfully, they did.

The beautiful picture sleeve shown here is a French issue.

from 1968...

WILLIAM BELL - A TRIBUTE TO OTIS (A TRIBUTE TO A KING)

C.C. JONES - FIND YOURSELF A NEW THING

From what I can gather, this is the only release from the mysterious C.C. Jones, and what an amazing record it is. With a moody backging track, C.C's voice is so loaded down with echo and reverb it sounds as though he's floating in from another track entirely!

Definitely not hit record material, but it's a great example of how psychedelia had infiltrated soul by the end of the '60's. This song could easily fit on one of Lee Fields recent albums as well.

C.C, who are you?

from 1969...

C.C. JONES - FIND YOURSELF A NEW THING

THE IKETTES - I'M JUST NOT READY FOR LOVE b/w TWO TIMIN' DOUBLE DEALIN'

This is the final 45 from The Ikettes on their own, and they went out SWINGIN' with this funky little double sider groover showcasing some powerhouse vocals. The Ikettes lineup was in flux over the years, but I think that twin sisters Alesia and Tiresia Butler are part of the trio here (it sure sounds like sisterly harmony on the tracks) and either Lynda Shuford Jones or Stonye Figueroa rounding out the trio.

from 1972...

THE IKETTES - I'M JUST NOT READY FOR LOVE


b/w TWO TIMIN' DOUBLE DEALIN'

THE NATURAL FOUR - I THOUGHT YOU WERE MINE

The Natural Four were one of the finest harmony groups of the late '60's, and they hailed from Oakland, CA. The groups' debut single was "I Thought You Were Mine" on the local label Boola-Boola, which became a massive bay area smash and saw the group signed to ABC Records. ABC released two singles from the group in an attempt to break out nationally; while the records were excellent, they didn't catch on for whatever reason.

In line of the old saying "third time's a charmer", ABC went back to the beginning, and had the group re-cut "I Thought You Were Mine", no doubt in an attempt to recapture the song that caught on so strongly in the groups' home base. While the debut recording is fantastic, the remake is a notch stronger, in my opinion. The tempo is upped slightly, and the urgency of the vocals results in a magical recording. While this record has HIT written all over it, chart success was not forthcoming. A pity, as this record is ultra rare; it's known and loved by collectors, instead of being one that's heard everywhere and remembered as one of THE great soul hits of the late '60's.

from 1969...

 THE NATURAL FOUR - I THOUGHT YOU WERE MINE
 

BETTY EVERETT - I'LL BE THERE

By the time of Betty Everett's first hit in 1963 ("You're No Good"), Mississippi born Betty had been recording since 1957 (in Chicago, where she moved to pursue a singing career).

Gifted with a voice that possessed amazing pitch control (just MARVEL at how she slides in and around notes here) and power, Betty SHOULD have seen far more hit singles throughout her career. Perhaps this side was a bit too raw (even the slick string arrangement can't cover up the urgency and fire of the backing band), but it's a fantastic showcase for her fantastic voice. It was released twice; once on the tiny Renee label, then picked up for national distribution by One-Der-Ful.

from 1963...

BETTY EVERETT - I'LL BE THERE

THE COMMOTIONS - SOMEBODY'S GOT TO GO

These Commotions (the name has been used by several groups through the years) released two singles, one of which was on the Blue Rock label; this leads me to believe that they may have been a Chicago group. I can't find any other info about them, although producer/ co-writer Clarence Lawton was quite active on the soul/ disco scene in the '70's.

Whoever they were, they hit it HARD on this side, with some OUTTA SITE female vocals, and a groove that's so deep I guarantee you're gonna fall in. Bongos? Yes, please! A great record.

from 1969...

THE COMMOTIONS - SOMEBODY'S GOT TO GO

THE OPPORTUNITY PLEASE KNOCK CHORUS - ALL THIS TALK ABOUT FREEDOM

I've had this record sitting in my stack of potential 45's of the day for years, and I had forgotten how AMAZING it is; thankfully, it popped up on shuffle play on the ipod during a long road trip I took last week. Until this morning, I had no idea the story behind it and how HEAVY it actually is (a BIG thank you to Ayana @ darkjive.com and her research on the group).

I strongly recommend reading the whole story at the above link, but, in a nutshell, songwriter/ musician/ civil rights activist Oscar Brown Jr (composer of "Work Song" among other classics) contacted the notorious Chicago gang The Blackstone Rangers in 1967 about the possibilities of life beyond gangs. It turns out that the gang was full of talent, and Brown created a show call Opportunity, Please Knock that showcased the talents of these young people that didn't really have much of a chance in life. The show was a success and there was even a performance from the troupe on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

As for the record, it's extremely powerful stuff even without knowing the back story. Learning what I did this morning makes it even more extraordinary.

from 1968...

THE OPPORTUNITY PLEASE KNOCK CHORUS - ALL THIS TALK ABOUT FREEDOM

THE QUADROPHONICS - PROVE MY LOVE TO YOU

A gorgeous record from the waning days of the vocal group revival that happened in the late '60's. This seems to be the only release from this group, and I'm afraid that I don't have any biographical info on who they were or where they were from.

Whatever the story, these dudes could SING, and with a glorious harmony blend. Too bad they didn't have more chances to do their thing.

from 1974...

THE QUADROPHONICS - PROVE MY LOVE TO YOU