PAT LEWIS - CAN'T SHAKE IT LOOSE

Me oh my do I love the early GEORGE CLINTON productions outta Detroit. This one is a killer, by the sweet voiced Ms Lewis (later a member of Isaac Hayes backup singers). This one is a real doozie, and was later recut by Funkadelic (although not released at the time).

from 1966...

THE DONAYS - DEVIL IN HIS HEART

It's a real mystery about how the Beatles got ahold of such amazing rare records to cover in their early days (they probably bought them from sailors, but that whole situation just seems surreal). Perhaps Brian Epstein had a source for imports? It just seems too strange that they got ahold of this one, shortly after its release in the US (where it flopped) and covered it for their first album. Whatever the case, this girl group gem is unspeakably hard to find (took me a LONG time to track down a copy). Thanks again to the fab four for doing their part in spreading the word. When we were re-watching the "Anthology" series recently and the Beatles were performing "Some Other Guy" at the Cavern in '62, I said to my girlfriend "You know, the Beatles really were the original northern soulies".

from 1962...

THE RAELETS - ONE ROOM PARADISE

The only thing wrong with this soul scorcher is that its over WAY too soon...But I guess that just makes us want more, huh? This is my fave cut from Ray Charles' amazing backup singers.

from 1967...

THE RAELETS - ONE ROOM PARADISE

NEW COLONY SIX - AT THE RIVER'S EDGE

One of the best ever Yardbirds ripoffs, Chicago's kings of the garage really whip it into a frenzy on this cut.

from 1966...

SAM DEES - LONELY FOR YOU BABY

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

Can you believe the condition of my copy? It's a wonder that it plays at all but other than the intro crackles it sounds pretty damn good. I'm just glad to own it; I am not one to prize rarity over music but this is a TOUGH record to find, and it's sought after by soul collectors of all shapes and sizes.

Soul music does not get any better, or any more raw and deep. This is the real thing.

from 1968...

SAM DEES - LONELY FOR YOU BABY

THE ALL NIGHT WORKERS - WHY DON'T YOU SMILE / DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

At the same time that the nascent Velvet Underground was recording their early NYC demos in 1965, Lou Reed and John Cale collaborated (along with people with the names Phillips and Vance) on "Why Don't You Smile" at the tail end of Reed's tenure as a staff writer at Pickwick Records ( a label that specialized in cheap cash in records, aping whatever trend was hot at the time; surf, hot rod, etc). This is a superb record and both sides are really cool, but "Why Don't You Smile" truly achieves a Velvet Underground like drone (sounds a bit like the VU fronting the Righteous Brothers!). "Eggs" is a great soul stomper. The All Night Workers were a real band (not a studio concoction like the other Pickwick/ Reed tracks) from Syracuse, NY.

from 1965...

THE ALL NIGHT WORKERS - WHY DON'T YOU SMILE

b/w DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

45's of the day: the first year.

Hello friends- Here's a list (although not in any kind of order) of the complete list of the past year's 45's of the day. 
Al Greene- Back Up Train
The Smoke- My Friend Jack
Sly, Slick & Wicked- Confessin' A Feeling
 Gloria Jones- Heartbeat part 1.mp3
Sugarpie DeSanto- A Little Taste Of Soul.mp3
Bob Kuban and The In Men- The Cheater.mp3
13th Floor elevators- Tried To Hide_45.mp3
Jamo Thomas- I Spy For The FBI.mp3
Balloon Farm- A Question Of Temperature.mp3
J.J Barnes- Day Tripper.mp3
Lou Courtney- I've Got Just The Thing.mp3
 Jackie Wilson- Since You Showed Me How To Be Happy.mp3
Jackie Wilson- The Who Who Song.mp3
James Brown- Talkin Loud and Sayin Nothin.mp3
James Carr- A Losing Game.mp3
 James Carr- Dark End Of The Street.mp3
Parliaments- Time.mp3
Paul Kelly- Soul Flow.mp3
Betty Everett- Better Tomorrow Than Today.mp3
J.J Barnes- Our Love Is In The Pocket.mp3
Jackie Lee- Your Personality.mp3
Belita Woods- Magic Corner.mp3
Nu Sound Express LTD- One More Time You All.mp3
Ollie and The Nightingales- I Got A Sure Thing.mp3
Otis Clay- Show Place.mp3
Parliaments- Good Old Music.mp3
Hank Ballard- Broadway.mp3
Harold Burrage- One More Dance.mp3
Harvey and The Moonglows- Ten Commandments Of Love.mp3
Hendrix Band Of Gypsies- Izabella.mp3
Hendrix Band Of Gypsies- Steppin Stone.mp3
Danish Lost And Found- No No No.mp3
Darrow Fletcher- My Judgment Day.mp3
Darrow Fletcher- The Pain Gets A Little Deeper.mp3
Dave Berry- Dontcha Give Me No Lip Child.mp3
Deacons- Sock It To Me pt 1.mp3
Barbara Mason- Sad Sad Girl.mp3
Lavell Hardy- Dont Lose Your Groove.mp3
Lee Dorsey- People Gonna Talk.mp3
Lee Dorsey- Ride Your Pony.mp3 Lee Dorsey- Vista Vista.mp3
Lee Rogers- Just You and I.mp3
Lee Washington- Little Girl.mp3
Lee Washington- The UT.mp3
Left banke- Lazy Day.mp3
Lilys- Babys A Dealer.mp3
Linda Jones- Cant Stop Loving My Baby.mp3
Little Esther Phillips- Mo Jo Hannah.mp3
Aaron neville- Tell It Like It Is.mp3
Belita Woods- Grounded.mp3
Ike and Tina Turner- Contact High.mp3
Ike and Tina Turner- Its Gonna Work Out Fine.mp3
Ikettes- I'm Blue.mp3
Ikettes- If You Take A Close Look.mp3
Inez and Charlie Foxx- Tightrope.mp3
Irma Thomas- Break Away.mp3
Cryan Shames- The Sailing Ship.mp3
Danish Lost And Found- First Cut Is The Deepest.mp3
Barbara Mason- You Better Stop It.mp3
Barbara And The Browns- I Dont Want Trouble.mp3
 Syl Johnson- Little Sally Walker.mp3
Andre Williams- Cadillac Jack.mp3
Barbara Lynn- Oh Baby We Got A Good Thing Goin.mp3
Barbara Lynn- Im A Good Woman.mp3
Aaron Neville- Space Man.mp3
Afro Soul Review- Soft Soul.mp3
Barbara Lewis- Dont Forget About Me.mp3
Barbara Lynn- You Make Me So Hot.mp3
Beatles- Shes A Woman- mono.mp3
 Al Reed- 99 44 100 Pure Love.mp3
Barbara Acklin- I Cant Do My Thing.mp3
Arthur Alexander- A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues.mp3
Bettye Swann- Lonely Love.mp3
Bill Withers- Use Me.mp3
Al Reed- Sorry About That.mp3
Barbara Mason- You Got What It Takes.mp3
The Emperors- Karate.mp3
The Exciters - Blowing Up My Mind!.mp3
Ivan- Real Wild Child.mp3
Little Willie John- Im Shakin.mp3 Little
Willie John- Leave My Kitten Alone.mp3
Little Willie John- Uh Uh Baby No No Baby.mp3
Barbara Lynn- I Dont Want A Playboy.mp3
Bee Gees- Jumbo.mp3
Billy Preston- All That Ive Got.mp3
Blues Magoos- Theres A Chance We Can Make It.mp3
Bob and Earl- Harlem Shuffle.mp3
Bob Brady and The Con Chords- Everybodys Goin To The Love In.mp3
 Bob Brady And The Con Chords- Illusion.mp3
Bobby McClure- The Peak Of Love.mp3
Bobby Parker- Watch Your Step.mp3
Boyce and Hart- Sometimes Shes A Little Girl.mp3
Brenda and The Tabulations- The Wash.mp3
Brenda Holloway- Every Little Bit Hurts.mp3
Brenda Holloway- Land Of A Thousand Boys.mp3
Brenda Holloway- More Echo.mp3
Brenda Holloway- When Im Gone.mp3
Brenton Wood- Some Got It Some Dont.mp3 Brenton Wood- You Got It.mp3
Brian Jonestown Massacre- Hide and Seek.mp3
Buddy Holly- Blue Days, Black Nights.mp3
Buddy Holly- Love Me.mp3
Candi Staton- Do It In The Name Of Love.mp3 Chris Clark- Loves Gone Bad.mp3
Chris Kenner- Something You Got.mp3
Cilla Black- Step Inside Love.mp3
Clarence Carter- Back Door Santa.mp3
Cliff Nobles- This Love Will Last.mp3
Crickets- Looking For Someone To Love.mp3
Benny Poole- Sorry 'Bout That.mp3
Gino Washington- Gino Is A Coward.mp3
Gino Washington- Puppet On A String.mp3
GL Crockett- Theres A Man Down There.mp3
Gladys Knight and The Pips- You Need Love Like I Do.mp3
James Carr- Thats What I Want To Know.mp3
Jimmy Dobbins- Little Miss Perfect.mp3
Paul McCartney- Oh Woman Oh Why.mp3
Pearlettes- Can I Get Him.mp3
 Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson- Soulshake.mp3
Percy Mayfield- Baby Please.mp3
Percy Mayfield- Rivers Invitation.mp3
Pinnochio James- Everybodys Somebodys Fool.mp3
Pinnochio James- Mama Dont Love Me No More.mp3
Bob Brady and The Con Chords- Savin All My Love For You.mp3
Bobby Allen and The Exceptions- Lonely Christmas Tears.mp3
Bobby Bland- Good Time Charlie.mp3
Bobby Bland- Im In The Same Old Bag Again.mp3
Bobby Byrd- I Need Help I Cant Do It Alone pt 1.mp3   
Bobby Charles- Everyone Knows.mp3
Marvelows- I Do.mp3
 Mary Wells- Beat Me To The Punch.mp3
 Maxine Brown- You Upset My Soul.mp3
Mel Torme- Comin Home Baby.mp3
Merry Go Round- Listen Listen.mp3 Mighty Hannibal- Jerkin The Dog.mp3
Moby Grape- Omaha.mp3
Mongo Santamaria- Watermelon Man.mp3
Music Machine- Talk Talk.mp3
 Little Milton- Satisfied.mp3
Little Milton- Someone To Love.mp3
Little Willie John- Fever.mp3
Dwight Twilley- Im On Fire.mp3
Dyke and The Blazers- Funky Walk.mp3
Dyke and The Blazers- Shotgun Slim.mp3
Dyke And The Blazers- We Got More Soul.mp3
Bob Seger & The Last Heard- East Side Story.mp3
Eddie Bo- Hook and Sling pt 1and2.mp3
Eddie Floyd- Big Bird.mp3
Eddie Holman- A Free Country.mp3
Eddie Holman- I Surrender.mp3
Edwin Starr- SOS_Stop her On Sight.mp3
Etta James- I'd Rather Go Blind.mp3
Etta James- Mellow Fellow.mp3
Barbara Lynn- You'll Lose A Good Thing.mp3
Henry Lumpkin- Mo Jo Hannah.mp3
Henry Lumpkin- Soul Is Takin Over.mp3
Hermans Hermits- My Reservations Confirmed.mp3
Etta James- Seven Day Fool.mp3
Eugene Church- Good News.mp3
Fantastic Four- The Whole World Is A Stage.mp3
Fantastic Johnny C- Hitch It To The Horse.mp3
Flaming Embers- Hey Mama (What You Got Good For Daddy).mp3
Flaming Embers- Let's Have A Love-In (Cause everybody Needs Love).mp3
Four Mints- You're My Desire.mp3
Fred Hughes- Oo Wee Baby I Love You.mp3
Fred Towles and the Jacksonians- Hook It To The Mule.mp3
Funkadelic- Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On.mp3
G.L Crockett- Watch My 32.mp3
Garland Green- Mr Misery.mp3
Garnet Mimms- My Baby.mp3
Gene Chandler- Buddy Aint It A Shame.mp3
Gene Chandler- I Can Take Care Of Myself.mp3
Gene Chandler- I Can't Save It.mp3
Gene Chandler- I Fooled You This Time.mp3
Gene Chandler- No Peace No Satisfaction.mp3
Gene Chandler- Rainbow.mp3
Gene Chandler- Such A Pretty Thing.mp3
Gene Chandler- There Was A Time.mp3
General Crook- Do It For Me.mp3
Kasnat Katz Fighter Squadron- Pickin Up Sticks.mp3
Kim Weston- Helpless.mp3
Kim Weston- Take Me In Your Arms, Rock Me A Little While.mp3
King Curtis- Instant Groove.mp3 Kinks- Father Christmas.mp3
Lloyd Price- Bad Conditions.mp3
Lonnie Lester- Aint That A Shame.mp3
Lou Courtney- Hey Joyce.mp3
Lou Courtney- Skate Now.mp3
Lyn Collins- Think.mp3 Mable John- Its Catching.mp3
Mable John- Left Over Love.mp3
Mable John- Your Good Thing Is About To End.mp3
Jimmy Hanna- Leavin Here.mp3
JJ Barnes- Baby Please Come Back Home.mp3 JJ Barnes- Chains Of Love.mp3
Joe Tex- One Monkey Dont Stop No Show.mp3
Joe Tex- Show Me.mp3
 Johnny Watson and Larry Williams- A Quitter Never Wins.mp3
Junior Parker- You Can Make It If You Try.mp3
Betty Lavette- Let Me Down Easy.mp3
Betty Lavette- What I Dont Know Wont Hurt Me.mp3
Beatles- The Inner Light- mono.mp3
Buffalo Springfield- Mr Soul.mp3
Doris Troy- Whatcha Gonna Do About It.mp3
Dramatics- Whatcha See Is What You Get.mp3
DuEttes- Please Forgive Me.mp3
Don and Juan- Whats Your Name.mp3
Don Gardner- My Baby Likes To Boogaloo.mp3
Doris Troy- Just One Look.mp3
Honey And The Bees- Baby Do That Thing.mp3 Honey And The Bees- Sunday Kind Of Love.mp3
Howard Tate- Stop.mp3
Nazz- Open My eyes.mp3 Neil MacArthur- She's Not There.mp3
Neil Young- Cinammon Girl _45mix.mp3
Nella Dodds- You Dont Love Me Anymore.mp3
New Colony Six- I Confess.mp3
New Colony Six- Let Me Love You.mp3
Nilsson- Jump Into The Fire.mp3
Nino Tempo And April Stevens- Deep Purple.mp3 Atmospheres- Kabalo.mp3
Deacons- Sock It To Me pt2.mp3
Delfonics- Without You.mp3
Derek Martin- Soul Power.mp3
Dion- Daddy Rollin.mp3
Barbara Lynn- Club A Go Go.mp3
Barbara Lewis- Hello Stranger.mp3
Atmospheres- Fickle Chicken.mp3
Benny Poole- Pearl, Baby Pearl (Latin Boo-Ga-Loo).mp3
Betty Everett- Ive Got A Claim On You.mp3
Betty Lavett- My Mans Hes A Lovin Man.mp3
Aesops Fables- Ive Got Troubles.mp3
 The Flirtations- Nothing But A Heartache.mp3
The Fortunes- You've Got Your Troubles.mp3
 The Four Deuces- WPLJ.mp3
The Id- Stop and Look.mp3 The Kinks- Shes Got Everything.mp3
The Marvelettes- Ill Keep Holding On.mp3
The Midnighters- Sexy Ways.mp3
The Moving Sidewalks- 99th Floor.mp3
The New Young Hearts- Why Did You Have To Go.mp3
The Nightcrawlers- Little Black Egg.mp3
The Olympics- The Bounce.mp3
The Other Brothers- Its Been A Long Time Baby.mp3
The Parliaments- Heart Trouble.mp3
Balloon Farm- Hurtin' for Your Love.mp3
The Countdown Five- Shaka Shaka Na Na.mp3
The Creation- How Does It Feel To Feel.mp3
The Creation- Making Time.mp3
The Dapps- There Was A Time.mp3
The DC Playboys- You Were All I Needed.mp3
The Dells- Always Together.mp3
The Dells- Hallways Of My Mind.mp3
The Dells- Inspiration.mp3
The Dells- There Is.mp3
The Dells- Wear It On Our Face.mp3
The Dynamics- Aint No Sun Since Youve Been Gone.mp3
Barbara Lynn- Ring Telephone Ring.mp3
The Saturday Nights- System Of Control.mp3
The Sensations- Two Can Make It.mp3
The Sunrays- I Live For The Sun.mp3
The Topics- All Good Things Must End.mp3
The Exciters- You Don' Know What Youre Missing Til Its Gone.mp3
The Festivals- Music.mp3
The Five Strings- Drinking Wine Spoli Oli.mp3
The Flirtations- How Can You Tell Me.mp3
Ray Charles- I Dont Need No Doctor.mp3
Ray Charles- The Train.mp3
Ray Price- Much Too Young To Die.mp3
Revels- Talking To My heart.mp3
Richie Barrett- Some Other Guy.mp3
Ricky Nelson- Stood Up.mp3
Robbie Montgomery- Crazy In Love.mp3
Robins- Wrap It Up.mp3
Roy Orbison- Candy Man.mp3
Shadows Of Knight- Shake.mp3
Shangri Las- Sophisticated Boom Boom.mp3
Shirley And Company- Shame Shame Shame.mp3
Shirley Ellis- The Clapping Song.mp3
Shocking Blue- Hot Sand.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet- Bacon Fat.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet- Michoacan.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet- Roll With The Punches.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet- The Rains Came.mp3
Slim Harpo- Im Gonna Miss You Like The Devil.mp3
Sly & The Family Stone- I Aint Got Nobody.mp3
Small Faces- Whatcha Gonna Do About It.mp3
Solomon Burke- Cry To Me.mp3
Soul Sisters- I Cant Stand It.mp3
Soul Survivors- Hey Gyp.mp3
Sugar Pie DeSanto- Here You Come Running.mp3
Sugar Pie Desanto- Love Me Tonight.mp3
Sunny And The Sunliners- Every Week Every Month Every Year.mp3
Sunny and The Sunliners- Sufriendo Y Penando.mp3
Syl Johnson- Come On Sock It To Me.mp3
Syl Johnson- Different Strokes.mp3
Syl Johnson- Sorry Bout Dat.mp3
The Artistics- Hope We Have.mp3
The Chiffons- Nobody Knows Whats Goin On In My Mind But Me.mp3
The Choir- It's Cold Outside.mp3
The Contrasts- Mississippi Woman.mp3
The Topics- Try A Little Love.mp3
The Turtles- Almost There.mp3
The Vibrations- Cause Youre Mine.mp3
The Vibrations- I Took An Overdose.mp3
The Vibrations- Soul A Go Go.mp3
The Whispers- The Dip.mp3
The Yardbirds- Think About It.mp3
The Zombies- Just Out Of Reach.mp3
Them- Mystic Eyes.mp3
Theresa Lindsay- I'll Bet You.mp3
Theresa Lindsey- Gotta Find A Way.mp3
Three Degrees- Collage.mp3 Timmy Thomas- Funky Me.mp3
Toni Basil- Breakaway.mp3
Tony Joe White- Scratch My Back.mp3 Tony Joe White- Whoompt Out On You.mp3
Toots And The Maytals- 54 46 Was My Number.mp3 Travis Wammack- Fire Fly.mp3
TV Slim- Juvenile Delinquent.mp3
Vejtables- I Still Love You.mp3 Velmas- Annie Anagram.mp3
Velvelettes- Needle In A Haystack.mp3
Velvelettes- Really Sayin Something.mp3
Wanda Jackson- Let's Have A Party.mp3
Wendy Rene- After Laughter.mp3
Wendy Rene- BBQ.mp3
Wendy Rene- What Will Tomorrow Bring.mp3
Whispers- Needle In A Haystack.mp3
William Bell- You Dont Miss Your Water.mp3
Willie Tee- First Taste Of Hurt.mp3 Willie Tee- I Want Somebody To Show Me The Way back Home.mp3
Willie Tee- Teasin You.mp3 Willie Tee- Thank You John.mp3
Willie Tee- Walking Up A One Way Street.mp3
Wilson Pickett- Baby Call On Me.mp3
Winstons- Amen Brother.mp3
Young Holt Unlimited- Soulful Strut.mp3
ZZ Hill- Think People.mp3
Aaron Neville- She Took You For A Ride.mp3
Barbara Acklin- Fool Fool Fool.mp3
The Herd- Beauty Queen.mp3
Alice & The Soul Sensations- Funky Judge
Evie Sands- Picture Me Gone
The Vontastics- Never Let Your Love Grow Cold
Gene Chandler- Mr. Big Shot
The Fut- Have You Heard The Word

THE SMOKE - MY FRIEND JACK

Featuring a feedback intro that rivals "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" by the electric Prunes, as well as some of the most blatant LSD related lyrics of 1967, there's no way this song could lose. Not much is known about this English band, but there mark in history is forever eternal because of this song. This song was a big hit in Germany, which is where my copy came from.

from 1967...

GENE CHANDLER - MR. BIG SHOT

Yes, yes I know...I've featured ALOT of Gene Chandler on this here blog. I absolutely love the guy. I am very fascinated by his career (as well as all the folks he worked with, such as Curtis Mayfield, Carl Davis, etc) and always dig his choice of songs, writing, arrangements, and his vocalizations in this writers humble opinion are the epitome of soul. So I am happy to present, today, what is perhaps the ULTIMATE Gene Chandler 45 (took me a long time to get this one but it was well worth the wait). Maybe I'm just a bit partial to this one being a guitarist (the guitar is WAY up front on this one with great riffage following the vocals.) This was the final single Gene cut for Chicago's Constellation label, and what a brilliant run of records it was!

from 1966...

AL GREENE - BACK UP TRAIN

In keeping with the tradition of smooth sounds for Sundays, here we present the debut single from 21 year old Mr Al Green (still spelled "Greene" on this early release) and what a lovely song it is, taking a cue from the sounds of The Impressions, but with Al's unique (but still developing) voice making it unique.

from 1967...

EVIE SANDS - PICTURE ME GONE

...and now back to the sublime!

Evie Sands has had a career in which there were far too many near misses due to competing versions of the same songs at the same time. However, her records have grown legendary throughout the years, and for good reason!

Transcendent is the only way to describe this one. A masterpiece in production (reminds me of what a Brian Wilson/ Phil Spector/ Motown collaboration would sound like), this song is infectious and jaw dropping.

from 1965...