LEE CHARLES - IF THAT AIN'T LOVIN' YOU

Even though he released a handful of 45's and worked with one of Chicago's heaviest hitters and a name that pops up around here quite often (Gerald Sims), little is known about Lee Charles.

Lee's vocals strike me as having a strong southern grit; perhaps he was a southerner transplanted to Chicago, or perhaps it was another case of the ubiquitous gospel background?

Whatever the back story, this is such a solid mover! Special points added for the fantastic, sassy backing vocals and the powerful breakdown section.

from 1967...

LEE CHARLES - IF THAT AIN'T LOVIN' YOU

JIMMY HOLIDAY - SHIELD ALL AROUND

This is one of those records that I'll put on and wonder how and why it wasn't a massive hit. Everything about this record is perfect, from the catchy song to the excellent vocals and generally uplifting feeling.

Produced and arranged by Ed Townsend (well known for his work on Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" among hundreds of other records), I am unsure about where this record was recorded. Townsend (I believe) was working in Memphis around this time, but something about this record says Los Angeles to me. If you know for sure, please write!

from 1963...


JIMMY HOLIDAY - SHIELD ALL AROUND

RAY BROWN AND THE WHISPERS - IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

While I would make no claims that this cover in any way, shape or form stacks up to the wicked Wilson Pickett's version, this Australian version packs a particular wallop nonetheless (mostly in the hot brass and fuzzed out guitar). Hailing from Sydney, The Whispers (not to be confused with the great US vocal group) began life as a surf/ instrumental group until those pesky Beatles changed everything, at which point they recruited the good looking / OK singing Ray Brown as lead singer. I actually like the fact that Ray doesn't attempt to sing this song in any kind of blue eyed soul style; he basically sings it straight and it's kinda charming; the BAND on the other hand, is hot stuff indeed and I can just imagine them whipping a wild Aussie crowd into a frenzy (especially as this country was, sadly, true r&b deprived!)

Almost overnight, the group became a big success in Australia; even though OZ radio did not play American r&b, they loved it and covered many classics of the genre. There was no national chart at the time, but this record came close to #1 in both Sydney and Melbourne. And, like so much of this great Aussie beat music, was not released elsewhere.

from 1966...

JACKIE ROSS - DYNAMITE LOVIN'

Jackie Ross' story is so similar to so many other soul heroes. Born in St Louis, she began singing in church at a young age and became a local radio star (her parents had a radio show). After her father passed away in 1954, the family moved to Chicago where young Jackie (born in 1946) began her recording career in 1962 and also became part of Syl Johnson's soul revue.

This infectious record is probably my favorite side of hers; one of those tracks that will just hook you immediately and make you wanna move. More Chicago soul genius from Chess records!

from 1965...

SAM AND BILL - I'LL TRY

Known more for their beautiful, deep soul ballads, New Jersey's Sam And Bill hit a peak with this direct mover. Everything from the cool piano intro hook to the amazing harmonies/ call and response vocals, steady drumming and chunky horns add up to more soul perfection.

from 1967...

EDDIE BO - S.G.B

One of the more obscure 'Bo records, it also has one of the strongest New Orleans spook factor of any of his releases, in its cautionary tales and talk of stone graveyard business.

Musically, this record is incredibly sophisticated with many twists turns and unexpected changes. whoever is on sax deserves a medal of some sorts for some incendiary playing.

from 1967...

HOLLY MAXWELL - HAPPINESS WILL COST YOU ONE THIN DIME

While Holly Maxwell sang in groups starting in junior high school, this was her debut record, at age 20, that began a career that continues to this day (she entertains in clubs, mostly in Europe).

Part of the glorious Chicago soul scene, Holly went on to work with such legends as Curtis Mayfield and Barbara Acklin (who worked as her manager), and also as a fill in for Tina in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue(!)

This record has that fantastic Chicago-meets-Motown swaying groove.

from 1965...

HOLLY MAXWELL - HAPPINESS WILL COST YOU ONE THIN DIME

RAY COLUMBUS & THE ART COLLECTION - KICK ME (I THINK I'M DREAMING)

I have been fortunate for the last three weeks to be on tour in Australia/ New Zealand and have had plenty of time for some epic record digging, arming myself with a bevy of OZ beat 45's. The similarities between Australia and my California home are striking, and I felt very much at home in the cities of Melbourne, Auckland and Perth, especially. As I was thinking about going home the day after tomorrow, it only made sense to feature this record with its New Zealand/ Australia/ California connection.

Ray Columbus was the first rocker to have a hit outside of New Zealand with his crack band the Invaders (his "She's A Mod" cracked the top of the Australian charts in 1964). A number of hits followed, and Ray & The Invaders were at the top of their game down under. Ray wished more than anything to get the band to the US, but was never able to get a work permit.

However, around 1966 he married a California woman and ended up in San Francisco and local mods the Art Collection (featuring none other than Richard Frost, heard a few weeks ago with "She's Got Love") became his backing group. I was fortunate enough to talk to Richard at the end of 2010, and he explained that the bay area had no idea what to do with this outlandish, extroverted New Zealand mod wildman! Ray self-released this record (with a re-recording of "She's A Mod" as the flip) and there is a very rare clip of the band performing this song in an SF teen club and they were incredibly powerful as a live act.

The song itself is an incredible, fuzzed out stomper of the highest order.

from 1966...


RAY COLUMBUS & THE ART COLLECTION - KICK ME (I THINK I'M DREAMING)

LOU JOHNSON - UNSATISFIED

What an anthem!

This is another one of those records that just helps life to be good...Amazing that I've been doing this blog for three years and just now getting around to posting it.

Just another testimonial piece to the depth of incredible releases cut in the 60's.

from 1965...

BEVERLEY - WHERE THE GOOD TIMES ARE

The "Beverley" here in question at the time was Beverley Kutner. A few short years later, she married legendary (and superb) British folkie John Martyn where the two recorded some lovely music together.

HOWEVER, just a few short years earlier, we find 19 year old Beverley backed in the studio by Jimmy Page (laying down some of his finest ever guitar workings, with a chunking riff that's virtually the blueprint for "Communication Breakdown") as well as John Paul Jones (making this one of the earliest sessions that these two played on which is heavily proto-Zeppelin-esque). This was also the debut release from Deram records, the highly influential London beat/psychedelic/ progressive label.

This record is hypnotic; the lulling piano (played by Nicky Hopkins) juxtaposed with the heavy guitar, Beverley's confident, swaggering vocal and the always fantastic British drumming.

Even though this is the "b" side, I find it so superior to the "a" (which is the enjoyable but rather lightweight "Happy New Year") that I simply cannot believe the misjudgment in that designation by a&r!

As I sit here and write, I have listened to this jam 5 times in a row!

from 1966...

BEVERLEY - WHERE THE GOOD TIMES ARE

THE EMPERORS - KARATE BOOGALOO

I present today one of the most ODD dance records of the late '60's (and there were some VERY odd dance records during this period!).

I am not one to like odd/ kitschy records just for their weird factor; there has to be SOMETHING worthy of my attention in the grooves and this record has plenty to get excited about (other than the mental image I have of folks doing the boogaloo and incorporating karate moves!), from the weird tacked on tacky crowd noise to the (Emperors staple) funky bongos.

A sure hit for your next shindig.

from 1967...