LILLIAN DUPREE - HIDE & SEEK

This seems to be the only record that this Detroit singer cut (at least under this name...) and what a doozy it is! I'm a complete sucker for any record that has a groove like this (what an intro!)

Wish I knew more about this one, but I guess the real story is in the grooves of the record.

from 1965...

LILLIAN DUPREE - HIDE & SEEK

FRANKIE KARL & THE DREAMS - DON'T BE AFRAID (DO AS I SAY)

Interestingly enough, this record is on the "DC" label (as in "the sound of Washington DC") but I have read that this record was cut in Los Angeles, after Frankie was released from the military. Hmmmm.

Frankie had an interesting story that included being part of a gospel vocal group (The Cogic Singers) which included not only Billy Preston but Gloria Jones as well.

This track is the epitome of a type of smooth sound that I just love. This one was under my radar until my friend Jeff Jagged found a copy a few months ago and hipped me to it. Luckily, it proved to be easy to find as it was a minor hit.

from 1968...

FRANKIE KARL & THE DREAMS - DON'T BE AFRAID (DO AS I SAY)

WANDA JACKSON - FUNNEL OF LOVE

Yesterday I had a very friendly request for something by Wanda Jackson, and who am I to say no to a request like THAT?

In a very brief nutshell, Wanda is from the sticks in Oklahoma, and when she was young her family moved to California (her father was a musician) but shortly afterwords they ended up back in Oklahoma (City). Country star Hank Thompson discovered her around 1954, and she cut was signed to Decca and cut some lovely western numbers and found herself on the road (and dating) Elvis Presley in 1955 who encouraged her to cut some rockabilly. Not only did she cut some sides, but she became the queen.

THIS track, however, is unlike anything else really. Although it was relegated to a b-side, this song has taken on a life of its' own and is hugely popular on the r&b oldies club scene (especially popular in Belgium where songs with the so-called "popcorn" beat are huge. I find this song to have much more in the way of CHUTZPAH than most of the popular popcorn tracks, though).

Allow me to brag and say that we got to see her do this one live in new Orleans a few months ago, with stellar backing by Deke Dickerson and The Ecco-Fonics. Hot stuff indeed.

from 1961...

WANDA JACKSON - FUNNEL OF LOVE

THE HUEYS - YOU AIN'T NO HIPPIE

Right from the opening riff of this song you just KNOW it's gonna be a heater!

I know nothing about this group other than it's a New Orleans cut and that I have a few more by them but this one is by far the best.

The sneering putdown lyrics are a gas, too.

Perhaps the "H.Smith" listed as co-writer is Huey "Piano' Smith? Hmmmmm.....

As always, if you have any additional info, please write!

from 1968...

THE HUEYS - YOU AIN'T NO HIPPIE

BELITA WOODS - THAT'S WHEN I'LL STOP LOVING YOU

One of my favorite 45's that I've ever featured on this blog is Belita Woods debut (Magic Corner/ Grounded) which was featured quite a while ago. This was the follow up single, and while it is not quite up to the status of the earlier record, it is still a phenomenal spin (and VERY hard to find, to boot. Not that a record is great simply because it's rare. Don't get me started on that!)

Belita has been a part of the P Funk gang for the last 15 years or so, and her voice is truly a thing of wonder.

from 1970...

BELITA WOODS - THAT'S WHEN I'LL STOP LOVING YOU

POOKIE HUDSON - THIS GETS TO ME

Could ever a song title be more true?

This song certainly gets to ME; it's records like this that make me devote so much of my time to collecting records.

Pookie was the lead singer of legendary doo wop group the Spaniels, and after the Spaniels disintegrated after doo wop waned in popularity he disappeared for a while but came back with this record. Sadly, it went nowhere but the doo wop revival was right around the corner and Pookie's new Spaniels performed until his passing two years ago.

A real gem of a record.

from 1966...

POOKIE HUDSON - THIS GETS TO ME

SAM AND BILL - FOR YOUR LOVE

This is an absolutely gorgeous duo ballad from these New Jersey fellas. They have a few more releases that I understand are also great that I need to find.

from 1964...

SAM AND BILL - FOR YOUR LOVE

HOLIDAYS - ALL THAT IS REQUIRED (IS YOU)

The story of "The Holidays" is incredibly complex and I won't even begin to get into it here. A very detailed (and multi-page) article about the different groups, lineups and cash-ins from Detroit that have used the name can be found here: http://soulfuldetroit.com/web15-Holidays/index.html

As for this record, it was cut when the mighty Revilot label was on its last legs, shortly before it went under (after releasing an astonishing amount of top notch soul records)

from 1969...

HOLIDAYS - ALL THAT IS REQUIRED (IS YOU)

THE VALENTINOS - SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE

While they were a family band, their last name wasn't Valentino; these guys were actually the Womack brothers (including future solo star Bobby Womack along with brothers Cecil, Harry, Friendly and Curtis).

The group began recording in the late 50's in Cleveland and were discovered by Sam Cooke who took him under his wing and signed them to his SAR label. After Cooke died tragically, the group was signed to Chess records and this track was one of the first they cut for Chess. Cecil was briefly married to Mary Wells, and the two of them co-wrote this track.

While the phenomenon of "northern soul" is an enigma, if anyone were to ask me to name a song that epitomizes northern soul this would be the track I would demonstrate. Of course, being a 34 year old American who wasn't in the north of England in the early seventies it may be presumptuous for me to do so, but for all I have read about the whole scene this track just seems to have it all.

from 1965...

THE VALENTINOS - SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE

THE SHOCKING BLUE - SEND ME A POSTCARD

Of course this Dutch group struck a huge national hit with "Venus", but today's featured tracks is one of the greatest fuzzed out freakbeat numbers ever.

Notice how today's scan is not of the label; this pic sleeve is too nice to not feature! I'm typically not that hyped up about picture sleeves, but this one from Japan is an exception.

from 1968...

THE SHOCKING BLUE - SEND ME A POSTCARD

DARROW FLETCHER - NOW IS THE TIME FOR LOVE pt1

It's no secret how much I dig Darrow, if you've been hangin' around this blog for a while. This was one of those notoriously tough to get 45's but hell yeah it was worth the wait. Psychedelic soul at its' best. Part two is really cool (just keeps the jam going) as well; if you wanna hear it I'll email it to you.

from 1971...