THE SEQUINS - IT MUST BE LOVE

Sultry Chicago soul (although recorded in Memphis)  from three young ladies (Veronica Gonzalez, Linda Jackson, and Dottie Hayes) who were still high school students when they were discovered (at a talent contest) by Denise La Salle (the excellent Chicago singer who gave us "A Love Reputation") and her husband Bill who briefly ran the Crajon label.

Three years after their debut ("Hey Romeo", a modest hit) this is the third and final release from the Sequins, and they certainly went out with style! The track is gorgeous with an excellent lead vocal and divine harmonies. Lead singer Linda Jackson is believed to still be performing in Phoenix as Lyn Jackson.

from 1973...

THE SEQUINS - IT MUST BE LOVE

THE MUSIC MACHINE - MASCULINE INTUITION

Greetings from Sopron, Hungary! I'm back on the road, so if posts become irregular, it's beyond my control. 

This follow-up to their big hit "Talk Talk" sounds just as fine to my ears- and that's mighty fine indeed! Techincally, the other side ("The People In Me") was the a-side, but I find this hard driver to be *THE* side.

Music Machine leader Sean Bonniwell got his start as guitarist in the collegiate pop-folk band the Wayfarers, but the call of beat music pulled him away; by 1965, the embryo of the Music Machine (first called The Ragamuffins) was formed. The group cut a menacing figure with all black clothing, one black glove each and a groundbreaking HEAVY sound achieved my tuning their guitars down a third lower than standard tuning, something which is typically attributed to Black Sabbath but the Music Machine did it first.

from 1966...

THE MUSIC MACHINE - MASCULINE INTUITION

THE FULLER BROTHERS - MOANIN' GROANIN' AND CRYIN' b/w (I WANT HER) BY MY SIDE

In a decade of great achievements, the invention of the male soul duo is one of the most exciting. I'm not one for testosterone fuelled competition for the most part, but something about two dudes duking it out on the microphone for alpha status created some of the most gut wrenching records of the decade.

While a good majority of the male duos were southern artists, The Fuller Brothers (yes they were real brothers named Erskin and Major Fuller) hailed from California. "Moanin'" is one of those jams that I just can't get enough of, and any time I hear a record with this kind of groove and excitement level it NEEDS to be part of my collection. If THAT wasn't great enough, the flip side is a heart wrenching ballad in the southern soul style.

DAMN this record is bloody great.

from 1967...

THE FULLER BROTHERS - MOANIN' GROANIN' AND CRYING
 
b/w (I WANT HER) BY MY SIDE

THE SPANIELS - MAYBE

The name The Spaniels elicits the image of late night smooches to the soundtrack of "Goodnight Sweetheart It's Time To Go"; there are few groups more legendary in 50's r&b/ doo wop, and the band was led by the incredible lead vocalist Pookie Hudson. Pookie has probably the sweetest singing voice I've ever heard, and the Spaniels records featured his voice to the greatest effect, cutting some of my favorite doo-wop cuts.

The group (formed in Gary, IN and signed to Gary based VJ records) was an active recording unit (with a few lineup changes) up thru 1961, after which a few brilliant Pookie Hudson solo 45's were released. Almost as if via premonition of the doo wop revival the group reformed around 1969, coming back with this single. The flip side (which was the "a" was a remake of "Goodnight Sweetheart" which, frankly, pales next to the original. However, on the flip side the group hits their stride; thos gorgeous vocals were matched with a fantastic late 60's soul sound for the glorious "Maybe"; a very fitting addition to their brilliant legacy.

from 1969...

THE SPANIELS - MAYBE

THE HARD TIMES - THEY SAID NO b/w SAD, SAD SUNSHINE

Of course I like every record that I post, but this record is downright exceptional and this virtually unknown group contained some very heavy talent. The songwriting and vocal harmonies are exceptional, and certain harmony notes on "Sad, Sad Sunshine" hold the essence of Byrds-era David Crosby.

Both sides of this record are equally fabulous, and show the band had a very distinct personality. "Sad, Sad Sunshine" (a song that would fit perfectly on the "Notorious Byrd Brothers" LP), written by the great Al Kooper, is moody and magnificent while "They Said No" is garage/beat/jangle at its finest.

T'he Hard Times were based in San Diego and relocated to L.A to be regulars on TV's "Where The Action Is"; they did cut an LP (wehich didn't contain these tracks) that is OK but ot up to the glorious level of this perfect record. One would think that with major TV exposure this group would have been huge, but it was not to be.

from 1967...

THE HARD TIMES - THEY SAID NO


SAD, SAD SUNSHINE

THE DEL-PHIS - I'LL LET YOU KNOW

Inexplicably, this GREAT record was a complete failure on the charts when it was released; my theory is that it was just too raw for mass consumption but in many ways (in retrospect) it's a crucial record in the development of the girl group sound.

First off, the lead singer here is none other than the legendary Martha Reeves, herself hired as a replacement for one of the original Del-phis who had left the group at this point. Also, as far as the sound of the vocal arrangement, it's basically the blueprint for the three-girl vocal lineup.

After the failure of this record, Martha became a secretary at Motown and by '62 was leading the Vandellas- aka the GREATEST of all Motown female groups.

from 1960...

THE DEL-PHIS - I'LL LET YOU KNOW

ALBERT KING - C.O.D

It's somewhat unbelievable to think that by the time Albert King signed to Stax records(and achieved his greatest success) in '66 he had been recording for a dozen years!

This single was from King's final small label phase, and honestly they didn't get much tinier than Coun-tree records out of East St Louis. It's surprising in a way that Albert was signed to Stax after all, as these releases didn't make a commercial dent. What they lacked in sales they made up for in sheer drive and talent, as this cookin' record attests to.

from 1965...

ALBERT KING - C.O.D

THE LOVELITES - THIS LOVE IS REAL

It simply wouldn't be right if I didn't post some Chicago soul to finish off my glorious weekend in Chicago.

Lovelites leader Patti Hamilton has one of the most expressive voices in soul music, and it's heard in excellent effect here on this lovely track.

Our love is indeed real for Chicago soul!

from 1970...

THE LOVELITES - THIS LOVE IS REAL

Mod Chicago. This will be the last time TONIGHT.

 

It's all happening for the LAST TIME @ The Late Bar tonight. My set is at 11:00. MY MAN Eric Colin is retiring Mod Chicago after 10 fabulous years, and if you are near the fine city of Chicago, attendance is mandatory. If you wanna party to the greatest music in history, that is...

ASTERIX - EVERYBODY

Not only was the short-lived German group Asterix considered one of the founders of heavy metal (members went on to form Lucifer's Friend), but the group also managed to cut a slamming late-period mod dance classic with this SLAMMING cover of Tommy Roe's "Everybody".

I can think of no better song that embodies the spirit of MOD CHICAGO...Happening for the last time at the Late Bar tonight from 10-4. My set is at 11:00.

from 1970...

ASTERIX - EVERYBODY

THE BLOSSOMS - DEEP INTO MY HEART b/w GOOD, GOOD LOVIN'

Pure California girl group nirvana right here, folks!

"Deep Into My Heart" is another gem written by Baker Knight, who I featured here a few weeks back, and the equally great flip side "Good, Good Lovin'" was penned by the great duo of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Darlene Love shows us once again why she is one of the most fabulous singers of all time here on both sides.

The history of this group is incredibly complex, and I prefer not to get too wordy on my posts so I'll leave it at this. While the Blossoms had a number of personnel changes since their 50's inception, the Blossoms who are most well known (appeared on the Shindig TV show) included Gloria Jones (who was out of the group by the time of this release) and (lead singer) Darlene Love (who also recorded with Phil Spector not only under her own name but as a backing singer and also a lead on cuts by The Crystals (who were actually the Blossoms under another name).


Of course The Blossoms also released "That's When The Tears Start"; perhaps the ultimate west coast girl group 45.

from 1967...


THE BLOSSOMS - DEEP INTO MY HEART

b/w GOOD, GOOD LOVIN'