DJ'ing in Chicago with my MAIN MAN Eric Colin this SATURDAY!

I have a way-too-quick trip to Chicago this weekend, but luckily there's just enough time to get behind the decks with my MAIN MAN, Sir Eric Colin (MOD Chicago).

We will serving up the finest soul, garage, freakbeat goodness from 10 til 2 @ THE WHISTLER (2421 N Milwaukee). C'mon by say hello and stay awhile, OK?

Event invite.

THE OZELLS - PLEASE DON'T GO b/w THE GOSSIPS

Apparently this group was from Washington D.C, and this was their only release. I'm afraid that I don't know any more details, but it's an adorable cute double sided girl group platter, oozing with innocence, charm and joy.

from 1963...

THE OZELLS - PLEASE DON'T GO

b/w THE GOSSIPS

BOBBY MCCLURE - I'M NOT ASHAMED

Bobby McClure was one of many great artists discovered by St Louis R&B raconteur Oliver Sain. Sain, a true renaissance man, worked as a band leader, songwriter, talent scout, producer and arranger; he also counts Little Milton and Fontella Bass among his discoveries.

Bobby McClure had the type of voice that should have made him a star; dripping with emotion, his records could evoke the type of emotion that Sam Cooke conveyed. Bobby basically left the music business in the early '70's, and worked as an Illiniois corrections officer until his death of an aneurysm in 1992 at the far-too-early age of 50.

from 1965...

BOBBY MCCLURE - I'M NOT ASHAMED

OTIS CLAY - SO TIRED OF FALLING IN (AND OUT) OF LOVE

Thankfully, I recently found a duplicate copy of this record which caused me to play check it and hear the condition; stopping cold in my tracks, I had forgotten completely how incredible this record is! I felt like I was discovering a gem that I'd never heard before (even though this was a record that I've had in my collection for years), and it was pretty damn exciting!

During his early (secular) period (Clay became a professional gospel singer as a teenager, and only began his secular career in '65), Otis Clay was well represented on record with his hard driving, bluesy soul cuts that showed his supremely powerful voice. On this exquisite track, we hear Otis deliver a ballad in a way that brings out the goosebumps in a big way.

Much in the same way as Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman", this absolutely perfect record evokes a mood that embodies the lyric and takes us to a place that is somewhat ethereal, somewhat earthy, but most importantly, purely the embodiment of soul music.

from 1966...

OTIS CLAY - SO TIRED OF FALLING IN (AND OUT) OF LOVE

TENNYSON STEPHENS - RAIN, RAIN, RAIN

I'm amazed that Tennyson Stephens is such a mystery figure; even though his career in music has spanned more than 50 years, little is known about the man. He has been a part of Honolulu's live jazz scene for many years, and also cut a highly regarded jazz LP with Phil Upchurch in the mid 70's in addition to releasing a small handful of soul 45's.

This great side certainly has a mysterious vibe, and I believe that it is his debut disc, and one that shows off his fantastic, rich voice to great effect. The song has a fantastic groove and a very sophisticated jazzy soul sound; in fact, it sounds several years ahead of its release date!

from 1961...

TENNYSON STEPHENS - RAIN, RAIN, RAIN

SHERMAN EVANS - THE CRAZE

This record (out of Ft Worth, TX) reminds me of a quote from Frank Zappa that was something along the lines of "writing about music is like dancing to architecture". I can't say I agree with that most of the time, but when it comes to a record such as this, which is a STONE GROOVE and all about losing ourselves in the sheer sound of the thing, I can't think of much else to say about it. Simply turn it up and let it take over.

from 1965...

SHERMAN EVANS - THE CRAZE

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE - YOU'RE MINE

This Chicago group released two 45's and are not the same band as the more famous (Philadelphia based) group of the same name.

While many Chi-town soul songs of the late 60's-early 70's used this particular groove and sound over and over again in both inspiration and downright copy-catting, personally, I can't get enough of this sound. It certainly helps to elevate the greatness of the groove when its capped off with the type of glorious, sublime harmonies that the group spins here.

from c1968...

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE - YOU'RE MINE

THE PERSUASIONS - SUMMER RIDE

Here we are in the waning days of summer. In my bay area/ northern California home, some of our most gorgeous and warm days occur in September, and this lovely song embodies the moment when we relish those sunsets that get earlier every day.

As for this group, I'm nearly certain that this is not the long running New York a capella Persuasions, but a group of the same name from Chicago (although both certainly have gorgeous harmonies in common). Beyond that, I'm afraid that I know no other information about the group.

from c1970...

THE PERSUASIONS - SUMMER RIDE

THE VAN DYKES - I WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU b/w NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

The Van Dykes were formed by lead singer Rondalis Tandy; after he was stationed in Fort Hood, TX during an army stint in the early 60's, he settled in nearby city Fort Worth. It was in Fort Wort where he met up with the group that became the Van Dykes (Wenzon Moseley and James Mays). Initially, the group had a fourth member (Eddie Nixon) who also sang in the high, Curtis Mayfield style (as did Rondalis) who left the group before this; their recording debut (initially released on a local label, and picked up for nation release by Mala, a subsidiary of Bell records that released all of their future discs).

"I Won't Hold It Against You" is a fantastic Impressions style groove, one which also shows off the songwriting abilities of Rondalis Tandy. The flip side ("No Man Is An Island") is a gorgeous, haunting ballad (also written by Rolandis) that was perfect for the civil rights movement, and was also technically the A side of the record upon its release. The single was a minor chart hit, but perhaps the group was just too derivative of the Impressions to stand alone; they kept releasing records up until 1967.

from 1965...

 THE VAN DYKES - I WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU



b/w NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

SUNDAY WILLIAMS - THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT

The amount of 45's that were cut during the '60's and '70's is downright staggering; many artists were given multiple shots for hits, and seemingly nearly as many had one release. Sweet voiced Sunday Williams is in the latter category, and this Chicago productions (unusually released on an L.A label that I've never seen any other releases from) is a very sweet track.

Sunday delivers her vocal with charm and confidence throughout a song that simply feels GOOD; an excellent track the last days of summertime.

from 1969...

SUNDAY WILLIAMS - THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT

current ebay auctions end tomorrow!

A FANTASTIC batch of records, I gotta say. I'm clearing out some more doubles and things HERE:

Current Ebay auctions

As usual, cheap starting prices, no reserve, and sound samples!