IGGY & THE STOOGES - SEARCH AND DESTROY

Whoa baby did I search high and low for this one for a LONG TIME.

Quite possibly my all time favorite rock n roll song.

To be brief, in the new issue of "Fretboard Journal" magazine, I have a story/ interview with Stooges guitarist James Williamson which I'm completely stoked to have written/ published.

On Christmas Eve, the magazines came in, along with this 45.

Now THAT is a Christmas miracle, and its' perfect to blast off your new years eve celebrations.

And it sounds incredible in mono!

from 1973...

IGGY & THE STOOGES - SEARCH AND DESTROY

DARROW FLETCHER - I THINK I'M GONNA WRITE A SONG

This performer, criminally underrated (I don't think there's any type of CD compilation that's ever been released) was a child prodigy who seemingly was born to perform.

Cutting early sides for Groovy Records before his voice changed ("The Pain gets A Little Deeper" has been a featured 45 of the day in the past), and touring with major artists, Darrow never seemed to be able to break nationally, which is an absolute crime. For such a youngster, he completely owns "The Pain' as well as its' flip side, "My Judgment Day" (email me for MP3's if you need them. They are essential listening).

This cut was recorded after his voice changed and the way Darrow could tackle a lyric is, to this listener, the epitome of soul music.

from 1970...

DARROW FLETCHER - I THINK I'M GONNA WRITE A SONG

EDDIE BO - DINKY DOO

Alright; it's an Eddie Bo doubleheader! Yesterday we featured an Eddie Bo production, and here today is one of his earlier sides. And what a cool tune it is! Eddie's so cool, he handles confronting his cheating lady with humor (I ain't no dinky do!). Just lock me up in a room with New Orleans 45's and that sounds like heaven to me.

from 1961...

THE RAINBOWS - KEY TO MY HEART

This beautiful deep soul cut was produced by legendary (and prolific!) New Orleans genius Eddie Bo. Although it's a girl group style record, Eddie's voice is very clear in the mix along with the ladies. This has a great, 3 AM kinda murky, slightly drunken sound.

from 1967...

CHRIS CLARK - LOVE'S GONE BAD

One of the greatest of all Motown records, and one that should have been a massive hit.

At six feet tall, blue eyed/ blonde haired Chris Clark was a native Californian from Santa Cruz. She was the first white woman who recorded for Motown, and worked behind the scenes at Motown for several years. WHAT a voice!

from 1966...

CHRIS CLARK - LOVE'S GONE BAD

While I'm at it, I can't resist adding this video of my band (The Bang Girl Group Revue) performing 'Love's Gone Bad". That's my lovely wife Angeline taking the lead vocals, and I'm on guitar.

WILD MAGNOLIAS - SMOKE MY PEACE PIPE (SMOKE IT RIGHT)

It's been a while since I've featured any of the funkier sounds, and to these are it doesn't get my funkier than this amazing track from this New Orleans congregation. There's a lot of good info at wildmagnolias.net, but they don't seem to mention much about the involvement of NOLA legend Willie Tee (a real favorite at this blog, for sure). Willie wrote this track, and played a big part in many Magnolias recordings.

from 1974...

STEVE MANCHA - DON'T MAKE ME A STORY TELLER

Who am I to deny a request? The other day I received a request for some Steve Mancha, so here you go! This is a superb Detroit deep soul cut, and the only one of his singles that hit the national r&b charts (only to #34). I don't yet have Steve's incredible "Friday Night" 45 (it sells for BIG money; one of these days...)

from 1967...

THE SAPPHIRES - HEARTS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN

This Philadelphia group (2 guys and one woman) made a run of singles that never quite broke through the charts in a big way between '63-'66. This is an especially lovely ballad, just the type that you know I love to feature on Sundays.
Allegedly, the backing vocals on this track were provided by soul legends by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson And Melba Moore.

from 1964...

THE SAPPHIRES - HEARTS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN

JACKIE LOMAX - SOUR MILK SEA b/w THE EAGLE LAUGHS AT YOU

As part of the Mersey Beat scene, it's no surprise that Jackie Lomax and George Harrison rubbed shoulders early on in their careers (Jackie was in the Undertakers at the time). Jackie was one of the first artists signed to Apple Records, and his brilliant Apple album "Is This What You Want" (the CD of which is out of print and selling for silly money) was produced by George Harrison. The first single from that LP, "Sour Milk Sea" is stellar, but the b side is a CRACKING piece of psychedelic English soul (I recommend listening to 'The Eagle Laughs At You" first). Sounds like Eric Clapton blazing away on guitar, too (caught at a precious time before he became a big bore.)

from 1968...

 JACKIE LOMAX - SOUR MILK SEA

b/w THE EAGLE LAUGHS AT YOU

Business matters...

If any copyright holder objects to the music being presented here, PLEASE email me directly and the song will be removed immediately. My intention of this site is educational and encouraging for people to BUY music from the artists, and in the cases of them still performing, GO SEE THEM LIVE! Oh yeah; and HAVE FUN!!!! This is all positive stuff.

To the "anonymous" poster who keeps leaving mean spirited messages here. No, I will not publish them; call me whatever you want it doesn't kill my buzz. This is a FUN blog all about spreading FREE music that is not heard everyday; not a place to go and call names and send hate mail. No one else has complained about rapid share, and we are still averaging 100+ listens per day. In order to keep publishing this blog, it is the only choice. My previous file host continuously exceeded bandwidth restrictions due to so many downloads. So its either rapid share or perhaps Derek's MONTHLY 45. It is a great pleasure to get all of the positive comments about the blog, so thanks to all!

THE AUTOGRAPHS - I CAN DO IT

The Autographs are one of those groups that have a bit of a mysterious history, but a very interesting one. Apparently from Los Angeles, this 3 female/ 2 male group started life as The Impersonators. By the time their first record was released, their name was changed to the Autographs.

Enter Larry Williams; record producer and gangster. While cutting brilliant record after brilliant record at the OKeh label in the mid 60's, he employed the Autographs to sing backups on the northern soul classic "A Quitter Never Wins" (which also features Johnny Guitar Watson). Around the same time, the Autographs cut this remarkable scorcher for OKeh. The group disapperaed, then reappeared around 1970 as the Visitors 9I have not heard this record) then again around 1972 again as the Autographs (haven't heard any from that period either).

from 1967...

THE POETS - NOW WE'RE THRU

Today's entry is a phenomenal piece if moody British beat, and in fact the only 45 issued in the US by this group that was managed and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham (most famous as the manager/producer of the Rolling Stones). With its' chiming 12 string guitar, huge reverb drone, and punky vocals, its almost a precursor to the Velvet Underground. The Poets were from Glasgow, Scotland, released a few more singles that sank without a trace and sadly broke up before recording an album.

from 1965...

SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET - MICHOACAN

Ahhhh my beloved Sir Douglas Quintet; originally "designed" by producer Huey P. Meaux to be a Cajun flavored answer' to the British Invasion, the group went on to be pioneers in mixing beat, blues, soul, cajun, psychedelia and Tejano music in a way that shouldn't work but practically ALWAYS did, thanks to the brilliance and genuine soul of Doug Sahm.

This incredible track was cut for the excellent Kris Kristofferson film "Cisco Pike", and was only released as a 45 (itself a record that took me MANY years to find).

from 1971...

SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET - MICHOACAN

JUNIOR WELLS - SHAKE IT BABY! b/w (I GOT A) STOMACH ACHE

Here's another one of those mid-60s Chicago blues numbers that cooks so hard it FRIES! Both sides of this one are perfect after midinght jams...Shake It Baby! is great for right around 12:30 when everybody is nice and buzzed and ready to dance relentlessly, and Stomach Ache is perfect for about 1 AM when it's starting to chill out a bit but nobody's ready to quit. Junior's intro 'OOH Ouch" chant is so bad ass I can't even put it in to words.

Plus, Buddy Guy's guitar work on Shake It Baby is simply out of this world.

THE FASHIONETTES - LOSIN' CONTROL

This track languished in the tape vaults of Hollywood producer Gary S Paxton until the release of the compilation 'Girl Trouble" a few years back. To me, this song screams HIT and I can't believe it was unreleased! Producer Paxton notes that he couldn't get anyone to release it and didn't have the money to release it himself.

There's very little info about the group in the notes to the CD, other than that one of the original Fashionettes was a runaway whose mother found her and took her away from the group before Losin' Control was recorded.

Thanks to kent records in the UK, this incredible track has been released as a very limited 45 which I am proud to present here.

from 1966...

UNITED NATIONS - IN MY DREAMS

I first heard this one on my buddy Stuart Shea's brilliant blog (Baseball, Music & Real Life) in his series of Beatle sound-alikes and set about finding a copy of my own. This song "adopts" the melody of "You Won't See Me' (they MUST have known!) and there is a real haunting quality to this recording. Maybe it's the earnest vocals that are bathed in reverb and have a ghostly quality, or maybe its all in my mind since there's no information whatsoever about these guys (although the record has been dated to 1966) and it just has this somewhat haunting vibe. I really like this song, and the chorus is super catchy.

Stranger yet, this single was cut in stereo (almost ALL 45's up until 1971 or so are in glorious mono) and while the label lists the track as being a shorter time, the song is almost 4 minutes long. Strange stuff indeed.

from 1966...



UPDATE- Since there was difficulty uploading this track, i have switched the file hosting to rapidshare...Hopefully this works out well!

THE DIPLOMATS - HONEST TO GOODNESS

This absolute BANGER comes from a Washington DC group that cut a handful of records for three different labels. This, however, is THE ONE!

from 1966...

PRETTY THINGS - MIDNIGHT TO SIX MAN

Playing the hardest rocking rhythm in blues in the UK during the mid-60's, the Pretties have really been resonating strongly with me these days. What a great band! Can't say enough good stuff about them, and this one is a real favorite in its descriptions of the speed gobbling mod lifestyle.

from 1966...

BETTY LAVETTE - WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION IS IN

Betty completely OWNS this song after her version. A great example of a song that is forgettable at best in its original version completely getting blown out of the water by a new performer tackling it. All hail Betty!

from 1968...

JOHN FRED & HIS PLAYBOY BAND - NO LETTER TODAY

This one cracks me up, but it really has stuck in my head so you know I just had to feature it! It's one of those "mini-Sgt Pepper" kinda records that happened so frequently in 67-69. Dated, yes but lots of fun. John Fred, a Louisiana artist who had a huge hit pretending to be English with "Judy In Disguise" captured a very cool, trippy vibe with this record which was the b-side to his follow up to "Judy".

from 1967...

THE DE VONS - SOMEONE TO TREAT ME (THE WAY YOU USE TO)

It looks like this glorious group only cut one other 45 (which I haven't heard) which is a shame because they are a glorious last gasp of the classic girl group sound, coming in at a time when funk was the dominant force on the horizon. Perhaps an example of too much too late? Regardless, this is an absolutely amazing song with stellar vocals. Produced by the Godfather himself, james Brown!

from 1969...


And if you live in the bay area, SHAGG is among us TONIGHT!!!

THE VAN DYKES - YOU'RE SHAKIN' ME UP

This Texas vocal group was known more for deep soul ballads, but this rhythm track has become a real favorite of mine lately, for its' tight drumming and snaky guitar lines.

from 1966..

THE SOUL SISTERS - I WON'T BE YOUR FOOL ANYMORE

While not being biological sisters, these two sure had the "connected" duo thang happening well! The Soul Sisters were Theresa Cleveland and Ann Gissendanner. This track almost reminds me of a female Sam & Dave; BUT, it was recorded two years before Sam & Dave started really slammin' like this.

from 1964...

THE MELLOW MOODS - TELL LOVE HELLO

Seems that no matter how many different types of searches on Google that I try, very little useful info pops up about this lovely record. It seems as though North Bay records was not in the SF Bay Area as one would assume ("North bay" is a large area that's, well, north of the bay!) but a Philadelphia label. This record was a minor r&b hit, too. I know the Mellow Moods released others, but I've never seen or heard them. Besides all this, the track is a classic deep soul harmony cut.

As always, if you know more, please write/ comment.

from (I think) 1970...

ROY HEAD - GET BACK

Hell yes, Roy Head is by far one of the most energetic performers I've ever seen (and he's up there in the years, too but man can he work it onstage). I can only imagine what his energy level was back in the 60's; it definitely helped push his band to be HOT and cut some great dancers. Here's a recent discovery that I'm stoked to have heard. Made even cooler by the sassy female parts. Here's one that I assure you will zap any Monday blues!

from 1965...

ROY HEAD - GET BACK

BLUES BUSTERS - BEHOLD

There's very little info out there about this amazing Jamaican track that I've been able to find (as always, feel free to write/ comment with any info). This duo's harmonies are out of this world, and the song and performance are top notch.

from 1964...

LEE DORSEY - A LOVER WAS BORN

Am I featuring too many New Orleans records? Personally, I don't think that's possible so here's another! Lee is backed by the inimitable Meters on this track.

from 1969...

PERCY MAYFIELD - STRANGER IN MY OWN HOMETOWN

On this Thanksgiving day, among many other things, I am thankful for music and the fact that so many brilliant artists have bared their souls and performed music from their heart. Music is the greatest healing force...

This Percy Mayfield track combines an ultra-swinging background with Percy's deep confessional lyrics and massively soulful voice. You better believe that I'm thankful for it.

from 1964...

EDDIE BO & INEZ CHEATHAM - A LOVER AND A FRIEND

Best drum intro of all time? It just might be this track! If you've been hanging around here for a while its' no secret how much I love New Orleans records. I bet that even if I continue my voracious record buying for the rest of my life it would STILL be impossible to unearth all of the 45 RPM treasures from the big easy. I must say, however, that I feel very very lucky to own records like this and this is what drives me to share this stuff with friends around the world; it's just TOO GOOD to sit on my shelves without being shared. This record was a huge local NOLA hit on the legendary SEVEN B label, and it was picked up for national action by Capitol, however it didn't go anywhere on the charts.

from 1968...

OTIS RUSH - I'M SATISFIED

Today's entry takes us back to Chicago in the days when blues, soul, gospel influenced testifying meet up in a south side stew that completely blows my mind to pieces.

from 1960...

BARBARA LEWIS - SPEND A LITTLE TIME

Certain artists sound SO GOOD on a Sunday morning, and Ms Lewis is certainly a Sunday favorite around here. Not only do we get Barbara's lovely vocals, but that's the mighty DELLS on backing vocals. Now THAT is a match made in soul heaven.

from 1964...

R. DEAN TAYLOR - THERE'S A GHOST IN MY HOUSE

Having one of the most massive intros EVER, this song was discovered by British DJ Ian Levine in the golden days of Northern soul in the early 70's. Taylor was a white artist who recorded for Motown subsidiary VIP records, and this one completely flopped until the UK DJ's started spinning. While (in my opinion) the verses are kinda awkward (but cool) that intro and those choruses make up for an absolutely killing record. (Note; my copy on "Tamla Motown" as seen in the scan is a 70s British press; the record became so massive it was reissued in the UK to meet demands)

from 1966...

THE TRADE WINDS - NEW YORK'S A LONELY TOWN

While it is very easy to feature soul/ r&b singles exclusively (since there's SO many good ones it's staggering) often I feel that it's necessary to give some space for somethin' different...

Today's entry is a beautiful east coast answer to the Beach Boys from this Providence, RI group made up of Peter Andreoli and Vincent Poncia, Jr., and had previously had a hit single together (with a third member, Norman Marzano) under the name The Videls with a song called "Mr. Lonely" which was basically a late period doo wop record.

This song didn't place very high on the charts (only #31) but it sure sounds great, in its aping of the Brian Wilson sound.

from 1965...

THE TRADE WINDS - NEW YORK'S A LONELY TOWN

THE WEBS - THIS THING CALLED LOVE

I can't seem to find ANY info about this group! Just from the label we can gather that they were produced by the mighty Lou Courtney (he of the MONSTER tracks "Hey Joyce" and "I've Got Just The Thing") and this track is in that vein (hard pounding r&b). If anyone has any more info on who the Webs were, PLEASE write and let me know. I know they cut a few other 45's (one of which tends to be quite expensive).

from 1967...

THE MAGICTONES - HAPPY DAYS

This Detroit group released quite a few singles between 1966-1972, but they all flopped miserably. Luckily, the climate of the music business was a polar opposite of what it is today and a non-hitmaking group was actually allowed more chances. Lucky for us, this resulted in gems like todays entry. In fact, that climate is responsible for most of the records featured here. Ahh, those were the days...

from 1969...

THE WHISPERS - AS I SIT HERE

This beautiful deep soul harmony song is from LA based (and LONG running) band the Whispers. Vocal harmony perfection and oh so sweet for a Sunday.

from 1965...

THE WHISPERS - AS I SIT HERE

GARNET MIMMS - PROVE IT TO ME

As one of the finest purveyors of deep soul, Garnet Mimms also snuck out a few uptempo tracks that will knock you off of your feet. Here's one of them and this is one of those records that just keeps reaching higher and higher until the drummer hits this sideways fill 3 quarters of the way through and nobody has a chance to not surrender to its' majesty.

from 1966...

GARNET MIMMS - PROVE IT TO ME

THE BUCHANAN BROTHERS - MEDICINE MAN (pt 1)

This strangely addictive record is one that I discovered recently, and turns out it was a minor hit. It reminds me of some of the Super K/ Buddah records productions that lean towards bubblegum rock with a hint of r&b rhythm. I like this one the more I hear it and hope you do too.

from 1969...

THE SHOWMEN - OUR LOVE WILL GROW / YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING

The LEAST thing I can do since I missed yesterday's entry would be to feature two sides of this amazing rarity, right? This Virginia based group (which included Mr General Johnson who went on to fame with Chairmen Of The Board and their amazing hit 'Give Me Just A Little More Time") released quite a few records, and their tune "It Will Stand", which is an anthem of the staying power of rock n roll, was a minor hit (and a major hit in the south) twice; in 1961 then again upon re-release in '64.

This record, which unfortunately hit nowhere, was recorded towards the end of their career for tiny Swan Records. Who knows; if this one had better distribution...Both sides are stellar.

from 1965...

THE SHOWMEN - OUR LOVE WILL GROW

b/w YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING

TED TAYLOR - LOVE IS LIKE A RAMBLIN' ROSE

Today's artist had a long recording career in which he transferred from doo wop into soul music in the 60s with his soaring falsetto voice. Ted was born in the south and relocated to LA in the doo wop days, but I THINK he was based in Detroit in the mid 60s when this song was recorded (if anyone knows differently, please let me know). This b-side was also made (in)famous by the MC5.

from 1965...

TED TAYLOR - LOVE IS LIKE A RAMBLIN' ROSE

BIG SAMBO & THE HOUSEWRECKERS - THE RAINS CAME

As part of the Texas gulf coast scene that also spawned greats like Barbara Lynn, Dale & Grace, and Joe Barry, this early Huey P. Meaux production perfectly captures the kind of up-close slow dancing vibe that makes this "swamp pop" era so intriguing. Taking the emotions of doo wop and mating it with N'awlins rhythm is a mighty fine thing indeed. This track was later covered by Sir Douglas Quintet with Meaux once again behind the controls.

from 1961...

BIG SAMBO & THE HOUSEWRECKERS - THE RAINS CAME

CHUCK JACKSON & MAXINE BROWN - HOLD ON, I'M COMING

WOW...These two take the Sam & Dave classic (which was practically brand new when they cut this one) and they turn into into something even sexier, as the innuendo between a man and woman is downright SCANDALOUS singing these lyrics. VERY cool how they slowed the tempo down a bit, but lost none of the intensity of Sam & Dave's original.

from 1967...

CHUCK JACKSON & MAXINE BROWN - HOLD ON, I'M COMING

MAMIE GALORE - IT AIN'T NECESSARY

After being brought to Chicago from the Mississippi Delta by Little Milton, Mamie was signed to St Lawrence records (an offshoot of Chicago giant Chess) and cut some really great sides. This was the one track that found some chart action for her, and its' a real gem.

from 1965...

MAMIE GALORE - IT AIN'T NECESSARY

HIM - IT'S A MAN DOWN THERE

In honor of the great Sir Doug Sahm's birthday, I am proud to present this ultra rare single he cut in disguise as HIM...In typically great Doug fashion, he records a ripping version of this traditional blues via Rice Miller via GL Crockett...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOUG!!!! We miss you and your outta site Tex mex soulful rock n roll groove thang.

from 1966...

THE IMPRESSIONS - WE'RE A WINNER

I'm posting Wednesday's entry a few hours early because lord have mercy, we're movin on up! The most exciting day of my lifetime; I am so proud to be able to say that I not only helped elect a black man to be president, but elected a GREAT MAN who i support and believe in with 100% of my soul. If only Toot were alive to see this...It took 40 years, but FINALLY King's dream is a reality. The revolution of the sixties was not in vain.

from 1967...

LITTLE MILTON - WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT

Felt like doing something different today; Instead of posting the 45 version of this song, here is a great live performance of Little Milton in 1966 performing a song of hope, in light of today's events. It truly feels like the most important day of my lifetime. We ARE GONNA MAKE IT!!!!

VIDEO:
LITTLE MILTON - WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT

YOUNG RASCALS - SUENO

Just had a request for some psychedelic pop and I've been WAITING for the right opportunity to unleash this gem. Right on the flip side of the massive hit "Groovin" is this song which is basically a commercial for LSD and free love. Kinda funny that this was released on the same label that upon signing the Velvet Underground in 1969 stated "you must tone down the drug references". This song also tends to get overlooked when great psych classics get mentioned. Too bad, as it outlasts any novelty factor as it's a great song with unique and interesting instrumentation arrangement and harmonies.

from 1967...

THE SPINNERS - IT'S A SHAME

Talk about a forgotten oldie (well, at least in terms of what American "oldies" radio has spun since I started tuning in when I was a kid). This song, the first hit from this veritable group, charted high on both the r&b as well as pop charts. Released on the Motown subsidiary VIP, this record takes a little bit of the Detroit sound (especially in James Jamerson's incredible bassline), the Philly vocal harmonies, and rhythmically reminds me of the great late 60's Chicago soul sound. Plus, the song was co-written by Stevie Wonder. What a beautiful song, and absolutely perfect Sunday listening music.

from 1970...

LITTLE BOB - I GOT LOADED

I can think of nothing more appropriate for a Saturday than this New Orleans classic! If this one doesn't put a smile on your face, I'm afraid that you have come to the wrong place (but hey, you're welcome anyhow).

from 1966...

LITTLE BOB - I GOT LOADED