THE FUT - HAVE YOU HEARD THE WORD?

So yesterday was the sublime, today is the ridiculous!

This song appeared on many 1970's Beatles bootleg LP's as a "long lost track" and my oh my does it ever sound like "Magical Mystery Tour" era John Lennon (perhaps if he had completely forgotten how to write a song?). I really do dig it though, and it took me a long time to find the 45 (the Beatle boot LP's that I have it on all have a badly botched edited version). Hell, even Yoko Ono applied for a copyright for the song when she discovered it among Lennon's possesions!

The real story is as follows; in 1969 Bee Gee Barry Gibb signed a duo known as Tin Tin (Steve Kipner and Steve Groves) to his production company. Their first session together was for their original track 'Have You Heard The Word?" In celebration, Gibb brought in a bottle of Johnny Walker and the boys got too blitzed to be serious, resulting in the vocals we hear here that were added to the backing track recorded pre-inebriation. All intended to ape the fab four, down to the hilarious spoken tag. The track was not intended for release, but made it out on a single in the UK and the US. word traveled fast that this was a secret Beatle release and VOILA a legend is born!

from 1970...

THE FUT - HAVE YOU HEARD THE WORD?

THE VONTASTICS - NEVER LET YOUR LOVE GROW COLD

This is a real favorite of mine these days from this Chicago group who released far too few records. In this writer's humble opinion, this track is their best. Combining grungy garage rock guitar and those beautifully smooth Chicago group vocals, there is no way this song could lose. Add to the mix the excellent songwriter (and, unusually, a member of the group) Bobby Newsome, and this track is by far one of the best EVER featured in the 45 of the day club. Hope you love it as much as I do.

from 1967...

THE VONTASTICS - NEVER LET YOUR LOVE GROW COLD

BOB KUBAN & THE IN MEN- THE CHEATER

In an bit of sad ironic twist, the man who sang lead on this incredible song, Walter Scott, was murdered by his wife's lover in the early '80's. A very tragic example of life imitating art...This single is one of the best examples of blue eyed soul.

from 1966...

LOU COURTNEY - I'VE GOT JUST THE THING

The only problem with Lou Courtney's mid to late '60's output was that he simply didn't release enough records! However, the ones that he did release; especially Skate Now, Hey Joyce (featured here last month) and today's entry are absolute bangers!

from 1967...

BETTY LAVETT - MY MAN HE'S A LOVIN' MAN

Behold, one of the greatest debut singles in the history of the 45 RPM record...

This record was cut when Betty Lavett (later La Vette) was all of 15 years old, and began the glorious career of this remarkable singer. Co-writer of the track is Detroit's "Mother Funker' (in the words of George Clinton) Johnnie Mae Matthews; another incredible figure. Matthews was the first black woman to own a record label, and was also a mentor to Berry Gordy.

from 1962...

BETTY LAVETT - MY MAN HE'S A LOVIN' MAN

BARBARA ACKLIN - FOOL, FOOL, FOOL

I'll use this post as a boost to my favorite record store (Rooky Ricardo's in San Francisco- I can't imagine that there is a better store for 45's ANYWHERE, not to mention the friendliest and funniest owner). When he first saw my want list, the first thing he said was "You'll never find "Fool, Fool, Fool"...I've NEVER even SEEN it!" And Dick has been collecting girl group and soul 45's since 1965! But thru the saved search function on ebay, lo and behold, a copy turned up recently. And it is SO good! I visited Rooky's yesterday (and of course found some more killer 45's) and brought it in to show Dick and he was very happy to see it and played it right away and was dancing around the store. yet another example of why 45's are cooler than any of us. By the way, this is Barbara Acklin's first 45, recorded in Chicago by the amazing production team of Brunswick records who also brought us the amazing hits by Gene Chandler, Jackie Wilson, Young Holt Unlimited and so many others.

from 1967...

SYL JOHNSON - LITTLE SALLY WALKER

In a long and varied career in which he has recorded r&b, deep soul, funk, blues, and rock and roll, Syl Johnson sums it all up in his own words when he has stated "Look, I'm a SOUL man". If anyone argues THAT, just listen to the way the man sings this song. while it rocks along in that early 60s way (but MUCH rawer and funkier than most) Syl's vocals are the epitome of soul.

from 1962...

J.J BARNES - DAY TRIPPER

As if the original fab four version wasn't great enough, along came J.J with his incredible backing band to cut another equally stellar version of this cut. One can only hope that the Beatles, being massive soul/r&b fans themselves, got to hear this version and felt a sense of validation.

from 1966...

J.J BARNES - DAY TRIPPER

IVAN - REAL WILD CHILD

"Ivan" is actually Jerry I. Allison, the superb drummer from Buddy Holly & The Crickets, taking a turn as a frontman. Buddy Holly sings backup and plays some amazingly cool guitar as only Buddy could. Of course this song was covered 28 years later by Iggy Pop. No wonder, as its one of the coolest rockabilly cuts out there.

from 1958...

JAMO THOMAS & HIS PARTY BROTHER ORCHESTRA - I SPY (FOR THE FBI)

Me oh my, 1966-1968 must have seen the greatest number of records released than in ANY other period! Hits, obscurities, alike this was a golden time for sure (as is testified by the number of 45's I've featured from this period). Today finds Jamo Thomas (the first hit-making artist in the US from the Bahamas) waxing an incredible killer version of this song in its superior version.

from 1966...

JAMO THOMAS & HIS PARTY BROTHER ORCHESTRA - I SPY (FOR THE FBI)

ALICE & THE SOUL SENSATIONS - FUNKY JUDGE

A few things that ARE known about this one...The label was in Los Angeles, it was released in 1969, and it SMOKES the more familiar version by Bull & The Matadors- in fact, this is almost a completely different song!. There is no info whatsoever to be found out about the band and it looks like this was their only release. perhaps they operated under a different name???? If anyone knows more info about this amazing record, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write!


from 1969...

ALICE & THE SOUL SENSATIONS - FUNKY JUDGE