SAM DEES - SOUL SISTER

From Birmingham, AL, Sam Dees journeyed to Nashville as a young man to begin recording (of which this is one of his earliest sides) in the mid '60's. Sam later recorded for Atlantic in the 70's and appears to be somewhat active in music to this day.

 This is one of those records that isn't messing around; high octane, earthy, and pounding.

 from 1969...

SAM DEES - SOUL SISTER

JACKIE WILSON - THE WHO WHO SONG + SINCE YOU SHOWED ME HOW TO BE HAPPY

(originally posted some time in 2008)

My personal favorite records featuring the legendary Mr Wilson are those he recorded with Chicago soul production/ arrangement/ songwriting wizards Gerald Sims, Carl Davis, and Sonny Sanders. These records were capturing the cutting edge of a harder soul sound that was perfectly suited to Jackie's powerful vocals. This double sider is pure dynamite; both sides are performed at a blazing tempo and delivered with pure excitement.

from 1967...

JACKIE WILSON - THE WHO WHO SONG + SINCE YOU SHOWED ME HOW TO BE HAPPY

BETTY LAVETTE - I FEEL GOOD ALL OVER

(originally posted 7/27/09)

While it's a wonderful thing that Betty has had a career renaissance in recent years with excellent new recordings and extraordinary live performances, her mid to late 60's releases are simply unbeatable. This is the type of record that could easily be used to demonstrate what soul music is for someone who hasn't a clue. "I Feel Good" is an intense, pounding and swirling number; the kind of things that makes me go wild over 45's.

from 1965...

BETTY LAVETTE - I FEEL GOOD (ALL OVER)

LILLIAN DUPREE - HIDE & SEEK

(originally posted 7/13/09)

This seems to be the only record that this Detroit singer cut (at least under this name...) and what a favorite it is! I'm a complete sucker for any record that has a groove like this, and the first time I heard it I was hooked within the first five seconds.

from 1965...

LILLIAN DUPREE - HIDE & SEEK 

RONNIE MILSAP - A THOUSAND MILES FROM NOWHERE

Several years before he became one of the first of the country-pop crossover hitmaking acts, Ronnie Milsap began his career deeply rooted in rock and soul, releasing several singles in that bag. This, his own composition tucked away on a b-side, is my fave. His vocal performance is incredible, the band is raw, and there's some blistering, swampy guitar work.

from 1968...

 RONNIE MILSAP - A THOUSAND MILES FROM NOWHERE

THE AUTOGRAPHS - LOVE'S GONNA DO YOU IN

When I put this site to rest a few years back, it was mostly because I felt the records I was featuring weren't up to a high enough standard by that point. However, it sure is nice to come across an occasional gem that gets me fired up about 45's again. This is one of those kinda records.

I was familiar with (L.A soul group) The Autographs, as their uptempo stomper 'I Can Do It' was an early feature on this site, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear this sweet soul mini-masterpiece and welcome it into my collection.

Apparently, this group was working with (west coast Motown producer) Hal David, and they were likely the backing voices heard on several Brenda Holloway records. Hal hooked them up with the tiny Los Angeles label Joker, where they cut a few records of their own. Another Los Angeles R&B legend, Chester Pipkin, produced and co-wrote this gorgeous track.

It's dreamy, propulsive, and features some glorious male/ female vocals on top of an excellent song; the type that had serious hit potential if it would have fallen into the proper channels.

THE VEL-VETS - I GOT TO FIND ME SOMEBODY

(originally posted 11/10/09)

When I originally wrote about this record (nearly ten years ago? WOW. Can't believe how time slips away), there was little to no information out there about the group or the record, and the same rings true today (although we do know that this was a Los Angeles record). At the time, I had the UK reissue from the mid 70s and for years I've casually searched for an original copy, as this is truly one of my favorite soul singles. Thanks to a good friend and a great deal, this well loved (but still great sounding) OG copy is now in my stash.

Many of these mysterious records have seen information come to the surface in the internet age, and one of the coolest aspects of writing this blog was that many of the relatives of the artists would come forward, and in a few occasions the artists themselves did, more often than not touched that anyone still could be excited about records they made many years ago. Sadly, no more info has come to light on this amazing one-off record.

They don't come more exciting than this quick rush of energy! Kicking off with a guitar riff that could have stepped straight off of a psych record from the same year, a swirl of strings and then a POUNDING four on the floor drum beat, we're then graced with the glorious, powerful vocals of the Vel-Vets, with all of their infectious 'WOO's' and a lead vocal that captures the yearning of the lyrics. They don't come any finer.



from 1967...

THE VEL-VETS - I GOT TO FIND ME SOMEBODY

LOS SHAKERS - ADORABLE LOLA

(originally posted 1/25/10)

Los Shakers were from Uruguay, and brothers Hugo and Osvaldo abandoned a budding successful career in jazz when they heard the Beatles. These guys were YOUNG when they started (they were teens when they became professional jazz musicians) and the original lineup released three INCREDIBLE albums and a handful of singles (this is one of their non-LP tracks). Their 1968 album (which is essentially an answer to the Beatles Sgt Pepper LP) titled "La Conferencia Secreta Del Toto's Bar" is simply the best relatively unknown rock n roll (although it incorporates strong South American elements and even a few jazzy passages) album of the sixties. I would argue 'til I'm blue in the face about that! Los Shakers took a strong Beatles influence and didn't merely copy, but used their love for the Beatles to unlock their own creativity.

Beatle-esque harmonies over a tropicalia sound; it doesn't get any better than 'Adorable Lola".

from 1968...

BARBARA LYNN - MELLOW FEELING (part 1)

(originally posted 3/18/09)

Barbara Lynn is certainly no stranger to this blog!

Seems as though I have featured more of her singles on this blog than any other artist. No way for me to hide how much I love her.

I am very happy to say that after a long period of either being outbid on ebay for it (and also thinking GASP do I really want to pay THAT MUCH for this record????) I'm now the proud owner of this 45 that is said there are about 20 known copies of. It's NEVER been reissued or included on any comps (I'd like to fix that- if anyone who produces reissues is reading, please email me. I would love to see this get reissued somehow). (Update - I provided a dub of my copy that was used on the Jazzman compilation).

Of course, just because something is RARE doesn't mean I want to listen to it! This infectious record absolutely slays me!

This record was cut after Barbara Lynn moved to L.A and was comfortably settled into motherhood and only gigging locally, occasionally. There was a LONG period (about 5 years) where she didn't record anything, and there was a gap of another 4 years or so after this.

from 1979...

BARBARA LYNN - MELLOW FEELING (PART 1)

BETTY LLOYD - SNOWFLAKES

(originally posted 12/24/2011)

One of the prettiest, yet little known soul Christmas singles.

I'm not sure if this Betty Lloyd is the same singer who was a member of the east coast girl group The Percells; Thomas Records was a Chicago label (an offshoot of Curtis Mayfields' Curtom label), and this track certainly has an indelible Chicago stamp on it.

The lyrics brilliantly capture the feeling of being alone at Christmas, but without self pity. Oozing with quality, this song should truly be a holiday standard.

from 1969...

BETTY LLOYD - SNOWFLAKES

THE MONKEES - CHRISTMAS IS MY TIME OF YEAR b/w WHITE CHRISTMAS

(originally posted 12/24/2013)

Christmas arrived early this year, in that I found a copy of this record (that I've been chasing for many years) back last July.

Issued both in 1976 (to the fan club in limited numbers) and again in 1986 (this copy), this single hardly ever turns up for sale because both pressings were so limited, and most people tend to hang onto them. I have no idea where the '86 release was even SOLD, as I was both a Monkees fan and reading Goldmine magazine as a youngster during this era and I never remember seeing it for sale, and certainly have never seen it in any record stores. Perhaps producer Chip Douglas repressed it for the fan club only, I'm simply not sure. I've had both sides of this 45 on a lo-fi bootleg LP for over 20 years, but nothing beats having this copy with the uber-cool picture sleeve showing the fellas in the studio, reunited.

Chip Douglas and (Turtle) Howard Kaylan wrote the song back in 1968, and it was issued as a single by a group calling themselves The Christmas Spirit, which was made up of several Turtles and Linda Ronstadt. While the song was revisited for The Monkees version, it was completely re-arranged in a far superior way for their track, which is pure magic.

The group was unable to use the name Monkees due to legal restrictions, so the record was cleverly released as We Three Monkees. Michael Nesmith chose not to participate, but the rumor mill claims that it's none other than Nez playing pedal steel guitar on both sides. Micky and Davy take turns on the lead vocal, which is heartfelt and lovely, and the song itself is a wonderful thing. What's in the grooves makes it obvious that everyone involved was having a ball when they made the record. Davy takes the lead for a very moving, country flavored version of "White Christmas" on the flip side, which shows how this man could croon with the best of them and how missed he is.

The words written on the back of the picture sleeve, "An expression of friendship and togetherness to make the holidays a little brighter for all of us" couldn't be more spot on.

Whatever it is that you celebrate, I wish you peace, love, and happiness today, tomorrow and everyday.

from 1976...

THE MONKEES - CHRISTMAS IS MY TIME OF YEAR b/w WHITE CHRISTMAS