AL HASKINS - YOU GOT ME

A mysterious stomper! One of my favorite types of records to feature.

No one seems to know ANYTHING about Al; so many of the releases on Sure Shot records are a mystery but once again, the real story is in the grooves.

from 1966...

AL HASKINS - YOU GOT ME

THE EQUALS - SOFTLY, SOFTLY

Formed in London in 1965, this mixed race group of course scored a massive hit with "Baby Come Back". This follow up (a few singles later) shoulda been just as huge; pity that it wasn't.

For folks in my generation, Eddy Grant was an early MTV hero with his still fresh "Electric Avenue" and here, 20 year old (listed as "Edmond") Grant does a fantastic job in relaying the tale of being true to one's love.

Very nice also that the name "The Equals" was a commentary on the fact that this mixed race band were all, in fact, "equal".

from 1969...

THE EQUALS - SOFTLY, SOFTLY

BARBARA LYNN - MONEY

As though of you who have been following this blog for a while will know, I have a major thing for Barbara Lynn (and have featured just about every 45 she's ever released!).

Sure, there's lots of great versions of this one, but Barbara does a great job stepping up to the standards of Barrett Strong and The Beatles. This version is unique in that the intro is so complex but funky. And that's a hard tightrope to balance upon! It's just too bad she doesn't have a guitar break in this one because she would have torn it up, alas.

from 1964...

BARBARA LYNN - MONEY

TIMMY THOMAS - HAVE SOME BOOGALOO

This is the killer debut single from Indiana born-relocated to Memphis (at the time of this record)- then eventually ending up in Florida (where he had a massive hit with the incredible "Why Can't we Live Together") Timmy.

I love how the rhythm box and the drummer go out of sync in a few spots. Think that would be allowed in a modern record?????

from 1967...

TIMMY THOMAS - HAVE SOME BOOGALOO

FONTELLA BASS - MY GOOD LOVING

Before her move to Chicago and subsequent signing with Chess records, St Louis native Fontella Bass worked with artists such as Little Milton, Ike & Tina Turner (the Ikettes back her on this track) as well as musician/produced Oliver Sain. This powerhouse of a song was recorded shortly before her move to Chicago. What a voice!

from 1963...

FONTELLA BASS - MY GOOD LOVING

MUDDY WATERS - CLOUDS IN MY HEART

While Muddy's 45 releases from the late 50's-early 60's era don't seem to get much respect by historians for some odd reason, this intense, sublime track is a favorite of mine. Especially when those drums kick in the way they day halfway through the song. Wow.

from 1959...

MUDDY WATERS - CLOUDS IN MY HEART

BONNIE ST. CLAIRE - I SURRENDER

While I tend to not be that interested in most of the 60's music I've heard from continental Europe, but this song from Dutch singer (and later TV celebrity in the Netherlands) definitely won me over when my girlfriend introduced it to me a few years back (she performed it in her former band, The Deccas).

It proved EXTREMELY difficult to find, but I'm glad it has a new home. Interestingly enough, this particular version of the 45 credits the group as 'Unit Gloria". From all I've read, Unit Gloria was founded a few years later. This pressing, is in fact, a later edition where "I Surrender" was used as the b-side of one of the most atrocious glam-rock style songs I've ever heard! Couldn't make it through even two minutes of it.

from 1969...

BONNIE ST. CLAIRE - I SURRENDER

THE WEBS - GIVE IN

Another incredible song from the Webs and (in the producer's roll) Lou Courtney. The b-side ("So Hard To Break A Habit") of this is great too; more of an intense deep soul track. Because of bandwidth limitations these days I have to be cautious with posting both sides, so if you wanna hear it, shoot me an email.

from 1967...

THE WEBS - GIVE IN

SUGARPIE DESANTO - GO GO POWER

There is really nothing I can say about this track other than GO GO GO GO GO GO GO!

from 1966...

SUGARPIE DESANTO - GO GO POWER

JOHNNY SAYLES - LILLY MAE

A stunning track from Texas born-relocated to Chicago singer Johnny Sayles. Very much in the vein of Otis Clay, this track is the epitome of the Chicago hard soul/ nascent funk sound.

from 1967...

JOHNNY SAYLES - LILLY MAE

THE VOLCANOS - HELP WANTED

Yet another great track from this criminally overlooked Philadelphia group (i featured "Storm Warning" from these guys previously).

This track, in addition to simply being ultra cool, is also an early collaboration between Philly legends Gamble & Huff.

from 1965...

THE VOLCANOS - HELP WANTED