Simtec & Wylie - Put An Extra Plus To Your Love ( W. Dixon - R Simons - H. Warner - J. Smith ) SHAMA RECORDS SH 18622 - Rare SINGLE Collection USA 1970. Simtec & Wylie Walter "Simtec" Simmons and Wylie Dixon, an explosive Sam & Dave-ish act, had a few soul hits in the late '60s and early '70s as Simtec & Wylie. Though exciting live, the duo never hit the charts as big as Gene Chandler's other duo discovery, Mel & Tim ("Backfield in Motion"), but it wasn't because of lack of effort. Simtec was born in Chicago (born December 23, 1944) but moved to Orrville, AL, when he was six (he attended Rocky Branch Elementary and Keith High), but returned to the South side of Chicago at 14 and completed his schooling at Bowen High. He also studied accounting and income tax law at Loop Junior College. A South side Chicago group, the Vermaharms, was Simtec's springboard into music. Besides him, the members were James Bingham, Mathews Whitfield, and Mel Tucker. After the group disbanded, guitarist Simtec , and his brother, bassist Ronald, who plays bass, caught the ears of Chicago DJ Herb "Kool Gent" Kent, who asked the siblings to put some music to a rhythm emanating from the rhythm machine Kent was playing at a record shop. The result was "T-Box," a local hit that prompted Simtec to whip up a band and name it after the record: Simtec Simmons & the T-Boxes. The T-Boxes became the backing band for Simtec & Wylie, who cut their first record "Socking Soul Power" (shades of James Brown) under that name in 1969 on Toddlin' Town Records. Two releases for Shama Records in 1970, "Do It Like Mama" and "Gimme Some of What You Got," followed. Wylie Dixon was a gospel-based singer who worked with Sonny Thompson at King Records with the Big Wheels, a secular group consisting of himself, James Carr, Bobby Pointer, and Robert Goley. Dixon has sadly passed and little is known about his upbringing. He often collaborated with the Simmons brothers on songs. Simtec & Wylie enjoyed their most popular recordings in 1971 on Mr. Chand: "Gotta Get Over the Hump" and "Bootleggin'." Those songs prompted the release of their only album, Gotta Get Over the Hump, which saw daylight on Mr. Chand. "Cross That Bridge" b/w "What's Good to You" (1973) doesn't appear on the album, nor do a couple of B-sides. They recut "Gimme Some of What You Got" b/w "Put an Extra Plus in Your Love," and Atlantic Records released it as a 12". Simtec produced other acts during this period, including the girl group Krystal Generation, who toured with the Simtec & Wylie Revue. He also contributed, along with Dixon and Ronald Simmons, to Gene Chandler and Jerry Butler's One and One album. An accomplished songwriter, Simtec has 50 titles cleared with B.M.I. In 1975, Simtec went solo with "Classified Crazy Man"/"Some Other Time" on Innovation 2. In 1977, he cut a self-titled album on AVI Records that's hard to find. Simtec later became involved in real estate and ran Supreme Realty in Chicago

Tags: Soul Funk

Everyone knows how hot James Brown's bands were, but not everyone's aware that he and his sidemen recorded lots of instrumental sides in the '60s. Originally scattered haphazardly over many out-of-print singles and albums, Soul Pride brings together the best of this work into one cohesive and chronological package. These cuts are nearly equal in power to J.B.'s vocal performances. Not only does the band cook on most of these insinuating vamps, but you can also hear the evolution of the man's sound from gritty R&B to tight-as-a-drum soul to free-form funk. Soul Brother number one himself plays organ and adds unpredictable shouts and screams on most of these tracks. But the chief stars are sidemen like Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and Pee Wee Ellis, who broke new ground with their compulsive counterpoint riffs. This fiery two-disc, 36-track box set contains over two hours of music, as well as a few non-LP B-sides and previously unreleased tracks

Tags: Soul Funk

Donato - The Frog ( Joao donato ) - BLUE THUMB RECORDS - 2C 006-92.075M Collector Single Born in the State of Acre (North of Brazil), João Donato started playing the accordion when he was a child. Donato moved to Rio de Janeiro in the 40's and started performing by the beginning of the 50's. While playing with Johnny Alf at the Plaza nightclub in Rio de Janeiro, Donato became interested in jazz and bossa nova. In that same period he made friends with Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, Luiz Bonfá and others. Still in the 50's, Donato made a few albums, and in 1959, he moved to Mexico and then to the U.S., where he lived for a few years. Donato toured with João Gilberto around Europe and returned to Brazil in 1962, recording the album "Muito à Vontade". Before long he went back to the U.S., remaining for 10 more years. In the United States, Donato made solo albums and recorded with other artists. Some of his songs from that period include "Amazonas", "A Rã" and "Bananeira", which introduced an original rhythm for the piano part. Back to Brazil in 1975, Donato released "Lugar Comum" in collaboration with Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. His songs, which possess a strong instrumental nature, include lyrics written by several acclaimed artists, like "A Rã" (by João Donato and Caetano Veloso), "Amazonas" (by João Donato and Lysias Ênio), "A Paz" and "Lugar Comum" (by João Donato and Gilberto Gil), "Nasci para Bailar" (by João Donato and Paulo André Barata) and "Gaiolas Abertas" (by João Donato and Martinho da Vila). Donato's compositions have been recorded by singers like Gal Costa ("Flor de Maracujá"), Adriana Calcanhotto ("Naquela Estação"), Angela Rô Rô ("Simples Carinho") and Nana Caymmi ("Até Quem Sabe"). Donato's skills as arranger are very much sought after. Donato has orchestrated music pieces for Fagner, Gal Gosta and Martinho da Vila. In 1996, after a long period of oblivion, Donato recorded "Coisas Tão Simples", followed by "Café com Pão", with Eloir de Moraes (1997), "Só Danço Samba" (1999) and the three volumes of his songbook, published by Lumiar. These releases brought one of the most original songwriters back to the BPM scene. In that period, Donato performed and toured Brazil. In 2000, American label Elephant Records released the CD "Amazonas", including some of his greatest hits, like "Sambolero", "Vento no Canavial" and "Aquarius".

Tags: Latin Soul

Chico & Buddy - Can you Dig Tay - Ster Rec 1971 - USA Promo Copy Rare Collector Single

Tags: Soul Funk

L.A. Boppers - Is This The Best (Bop-Doo-Wah)1980 - Rare Album Collector Band Members: Vance "Mad Dog" Tenort, Ed Luna, Stan "Be Bop" Martin, Kenny Styles, Ed Riddick, Augie Johnson, Gerry Davis, Robert Griffin, Kenny Davis, Michael Stanton Genre: R & B Augie Johnson, a member of Side Effect, formed the Boppers in Los Angeles, CA, in the mid-'70s to back his stylish, knickers-wearing group who had inked with Fantasy Records. The Boppers, consisting of Robert Griffin, Kenny Davis, Ed Riddick, Ed Luna, and Vance Tenort cut their own Fantasy album entitled The Boppers in 1978. Unfortunately, neither it nor single releases "Everybody Wants to be a Star" and "Something Missing" were successful. They switched to Mercury Records in 1980 and became the L. A. Boppers. The lineup also went through some tinkering and now consisted of Tenort (lead), Gerry Davis, Riddick, Kenny Styles, Michael Stanton, Stan Martin, with Augie Johnson (on loan from Side Effect) also contributing to their sound. The L. A. Boppers (with input from Mikki Howard) dropped on Mercury in 1980; the first single "Is This the Beat (Bop-Doo-Wah)" made the R&B Top 30 and become their most popular single ever. Subsequent releases, the jazzy "Watching Life" and "Be-Bop Dancer," failed to capture the same audience. A final Mercury album Bop Time (1981) featured an update of the Delfonic's "La, La Means I Love You." A final album on MCA Records Make Mine Bop in 1982 spawned two poor selling singles: "Where Do the Bops Go" b/w "Well Deserved Rest," and "How Strong Love Can Be" b/w "Dog House." Disenchanted, they disbanded after MCA failure. Soul/funk/jazz fans worldwide now trumpet their unheralded album cuts including "Give Me Some" and "Funk It Out."

Tags: R&B Soul Funk

The San Sebastian Strings feat Rod Mc Kuen - The Tender Earth from Box Warner 3 lp original 1969 San Sebastian Box limited edition Collector (rare box lp)

Tags: Easy Listening Instr.

Love Unlimited - I'll Be Yours Forever More Album Collector - UNI Label

Tags: Soul Pop

Lyn Collins - Things Got To Get Better (PROMO RARE REC.)

Tags: Soul Funk

Morning Noon And Night (United Artists 1977) - Rare Record Tracks List A1 - The thought of love A2 - Bite your granny A3 - Feeling strong A4 - Movin' on down the line B1 - Time B2 - Free B3 - Song for you B4 - Le joint Morning Noon and Night were a six piece group who released one album for the United Artists subsiduary Roadshow Record label in 1977. The group were introduced to legendary producer Michael Stokes by Sam Taylor in 1977. The resulting album became popular, initially, for the club anthem 'Bite Your Granny', which proved highly popular in the U.K. nightclubs at the time. The track 'Time' has become the track that many soul punters go for today Musicians involved with the project included Eddie Willis, Rodrick 'Peanut' Chandler, Rudy Robinson and George Roundtree. The group disappeared from the soul scene after this release.

Tags: Disco Funk

Produced By Eddie Thomas ABC - PARAMOUNT REC 45-10638 USA JERRY O Here's a little story 'bout a man named Jerry-O, aka Jerrio, aka Jerry Murray. Through the years, as I dig deeper and deeper into the soul and funk vaults, I occasionally come across an artist that tickles my fancy, in such a way that I am thus compelled to seek out his or her story. Jerry-O was just such an artist. I figure the first time I came across Mr. Murray was probably a routine acquisition of 'Karate Boogaloo' on Shout, by far his most popular (and thus common, i.e. cheap) 45. As time wore on, I found some of his other 45s, and my interest suitably piqued, I started to do a little research. I had no idea. Jerry-O is a great example of a cat that discovered his niche early, dug in like a tick and refused to let go, even when it was probably clear that the old career train had long ago run out of steam and been relegated to an abandoned siding, south of Soulville. Between 1965 and the early 70's, he wrote and recorded (for himself and others) a string of "dance craze" records that for all intents and purposes can be viewed as building blocks of funk (and later on, out and out funk). He started his career writing and producing 45s for other artists, most notable the Dukays. In 1965, he teamed up with Robert "Tommy Dark" Tharp in the duo Tom &Jerrio. They recorded a series of 45's for the JerryO, Boogaloo and Paramount labels, that would lay the groundwork for the rest of Jerry-O's career

Tags: Soul

Bobby Vinton has been called "the most successful love singer of the 'Rock-Era'" . (BILLBOARD MAGAZINE) Starting with his first hit release " Roses Are Red" in 1962 through 1972 (10 years) he had more #1 records than any other solo male artist. (BILLBOARD MAGAZINE) Vinton's name has been synonymous with superstardom, a true survivor and today he continues to enjoy success as a top-rated performer. Today, Bobby is one of the few stars who is capable of headlining in Atlantic City and Las Vegas in addition to playing dates around the world. He has established himself as one of America's top concert performers and versatile entertainers. The hit songs Bobby has given us over the years have become classics. His impressive list of hits includes renowned love songs such as: ROSES ARE RED, BLUE VELVET, MR. LONELY and many more. His songs are recognized as standards throughout the world and his music has retained its vitality and relevance through our changing times. Bobby's hit-making capability was again evidenced with the release of MY MELODY OF LOVE, when it became the #1 song in the nation and was embraced by Polish Americans around the country as their new national anthem. Not long after, his best selling autobiography THE POLISH PRINCE was published. The phenomenal success Bobby experienced in the recording industry carried over to other areas of the entertainment world. For three years, The Bobby Vinton Varity Show was syndicated and aired in over 140 cities throughout the United States and Canada. He also hosted a highly rated network variety special for CBS Television (it triumphed over Monday Night Football!!) and starred in two John Wayne movies: "Big Jake" and "The Train Robbers". Bobby, never satisfied resting on the laurels of his accomplishment, received the idea to create his own theater while he was performing in Branson, Missouri. The culmination of Bobby's idea and efforts was the BOBBY VINTON BLUE VELVET THEATRE. A 1600 seat European style theatre complete with ceiling murals, Italian tile and blue velvet accents. His vision also included arranging his hits to blend with that of the Big Band sound. A multi-talented musician as well as a singer and actor, Bobby was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Pittsburgh), the son of a locally popular band leader, Stan Vinton. When he was a young boy, his parents encouraged him to study music, and at the age of sixteen formed his first band. The band played clubs around the Pittsburgh area and with the money he earned, Bobby helped finance his college education at Duquesne University. There he studied music and graduated with a degree in Musical Composition. While at Duquesne, he became proficient on all of the instruments in the band (piano, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, drums and the oboe) -- a talent which he displays in his shows today. He recently received an honorary doctoral degree in music from his alma mater. After a short stint in the army, (which served as the inspiration for one of his biggest hits, MR. LONELY), Bobby and his band appeared on Guy Lombardo's "TV Talent Scouts". A subsequent four-week contract on that show landed him a contract with Epic Records, the label that released Bobby's first single, ROSES ARE RED, which began his extraordinary career as a vocalist. The record climbed to the #1 spot on the charts and eventually sold over four million copies. It included such songs as ROSES ARE RED, THERE I'VE SAID IT AGAIN, PLEASE LOVE ME FOREVER, I LOVE HOW YOU LOVE ME, and of course MY MELODY OF LOVE. As a result of these and many more hits, Bobby was awarded over a dozen gold records and albums during his career and has sold over 75 million records. Over the past several years, Bobby has been honored by over one hundred national organizations and more than a dozen mayors across the United States for his unique contributions to the ethnic communities. He was invited to Poland as a guest of the government. As a tribute to his talents and community services the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce bestowed the ultimate honor upon Vinton--a bronze star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.

Tags: Easy Listening

YOU'RE THE ONE - Part.1&2 Little Sister - 1970 Collection Single Little Sister's Biography The short-lived female R&B trio Little Sister was best known for its associations with Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart. Not only did Stone organize the trio, its principal member was his sister, Vaetta "Vet" Stewart (hence the group's name). Stewart, Mary Rand, and Elva Melton began singing together as touring backup for Sly & the Family Stone in the late '60s and providing backing vocals on several of their albums. In 1970, Stone produced a series of church-inflected soul tracks for them on his Stone Flower imprint. Two of them became Top Ten R&B hits: "You're the One, Pt. 1" and "Somebody's Watching You," the latter of which the Family Stone had previously recorded on their Stand! album. "You're the One" was the bigger hit, but the funky "Somebody's Watching You" had greater sonic impact: charting in early 1971, it was said to be the first significant pop hit to use programmed drums, and its percolating rhythm-bed presaged that of the Family Stone's own massive hit "Family Affair" later that year. Lacking both management and Sly Stone's continued attention and involvement, the group disbanded shortly thereafter with no fanfare. History Formation While still in high school, Vaetta Stewart and her friends Mary McCreary and Elva Mouton had a gospel group called The Heavenly Tones and performed at various venues around the Oakland/San Francisco area. When Vaetta's older brother Sylvester took on the name Sly Stone and formed Sly & the Family Stone with their brother Freddie, and friends Larry Graham, Cynthia Robinson, Jerry Martini, and Greg Errico, The Heavenly Tones were recruited directly out of high school to become Little Sister, Sly & the Family Stone's background vocalists. The group performed background vocals on a number of the Family Stone's biggest early hits, including "Everyday People" and "Stand!" Besides Little Sister's background vocals, Sly, Freddie, Larry Graham, and middle sister Rose Stone were heard singing backgrounds on the tracks as well. Hit singles During the interim period between the releases of the Family Stone albums Stand! and There's a Riot Goin' On, Sly Stone negotiated a production deal with Atlantic Records, resulting in his own imprint, Stone Flower. Stone Flower released four singles, including one by R&B artist Joe Hicks, one by 6IX, and two by Little Sister: "You're The One" and "Somebody's Watching You", a cover of a song from Stand!. The Little Sister version of "Somebody's Watching You" was the first major record to have a rhythm track created with a drum machine. Both Little Sister 45s reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 and the Billboard R&B Top 10 ("You're the One" made it to #4, and "Somebody's Watching You" made it to #8), but for unclear reasons Sly ceased production of further Little Sister recordings, and Little Sister were relegated to background vocal work for the rest of its existence. Later period During the post-1971 period of Sly & the Family Stone, Little Sister began singing nearly all of the background vocals itself, as Sly began singing nearly all of the lead vocals himself. Little Sister was dissolved when the Family Stone did, in 1975, after the band's fortunes slowly fell due to Sly Stone's drug abuse problems. After the group's dissolution, Mary McCreary married singer/songwriter Leon Russell. Members • Vet Stone • Mary McCreary • Elva Mouton Vet Stone (born Vaetta Stewart on May 2, 1950 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American soul singer, the lead singer in Sly & the Family Stone's background group Little Sister (the group name derives from the fact that she is the "little sister" of frontman Sly Stone. Little Sister had a #8 R&B hit of its own in 1970 entitled "You're the One". Today, Vet Stone is the lead figure in a band called Family Stone (formerly called Phunk Phamily Affair), which serves to carry on the legacy of Sly & the Family Stone. The band includes Cynthia Robinson and Rose Stone's daughter Lisa Stone among its members, and is being produced by Sly Stone. Discography Singles •1970:You're The One [Part.2]" (US #22, R&B #4) •1970: "Somebody's Watching You" b/w "Stanga" (US #32, R&B #8) •1971: "Stanga" b/w "Stanga" (radio promo release only) (US #44 R&B) Similar Artists: Honey Cone, Brenda & the Tabulations, Ike & Tina Turner, Freda Payne, Jean Knight, The Chi-Lites, Chairmen of the Board

Tags: Soul Funk

A North American Indian band formed in 1968, Redbone included brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas (both Fresno, California, USA), who had already pursued minor performing careers. Lolly had recorded as early as 1961, while together the brothers completed At The Haunted House, as well as several singles. The duo were also successful songwriters, and a compulsive dance-based composition, "Niki Hoeky", was interpreted by such diverse acts as P.J. Proby and Bobbie Gentry. Redbone, an Anglicized cajun epithet for half-breed, was completed by Tony Bellamy (b. Los Angeles, California, USA; rhythm guitar/vocals) and Peter DePoe (b. Neah Bay Reservation, Washington, USA; drums). DePoe, whose native name was "Last Walking Bear", had been for some time a ceremonial drummer on his reservation. With Pat on bass and Lolly on guitar and vocals, the group initially backed several different artists, including Odetta and John Lee Hooker, before embarking on an independent direction. The quartet scored an international hit with "Witch Queen Of New Orleans", which owed much to the then-popular southern, or Cajun "swamp-rock" style. In 1974 they enjoyed their sole million-seller, "Come And Get Your Love", but the group was unable to transform their taut, but rhythmic, style into a consistent success.

Tags: Swamp-Rock

Marvin Holmes & the Uptights with "Ooh Ooh the Dragon" on Uni Records. marvin holmes (guitar,vocal) john parrish (trumpet) gaylord birch (drums,vocals) anthony davis (bass) everett walker (tenor sax, vocals) elza davis (trombone) patrick hodges (baritone sax) godfrey a. smith (bongos,vocals) clarence brown (producer) john parrish (arrangements) LABEL UNI - Stereo 73046 - 1969 Oakland and San Francisco Bay Area guitarist Marvin Holmes was a busy man in the late 60's and early 70's. This side comes from his much sought after first release on Uni Records. Assembling a band which included himself on guitar and vocals, John Parrish on trumpet, Gaylord Birch on drums, Anthony Davis on bass, Everett Walker on tenor sax, Elza Davis on trombone, Patrick Hodges on baritone sax, and Godfrey A. Smith on bongos, to say this particular collaboration has put out a fun-kay side is an understatement. Holmes would put out records on Boola-Boola with "The Funky Mule Parts 1 & 2″ ( later covered by Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm), Spotlight with "Oomph / Double Dose Of Soul", and this side we have right here. Rubbing elbows with such Bay Area notables as Rodger Collins (I still need a copy of Foxy Girls in Oakland on Galaxy), Onyx, and Johnny Talbot, being a regular on the club scene in TBA would keep his sound in the words of Big Daddy Kane: raw like sushi. This side is definitely a burner and includes some great guitar work, JB's style horns, and of course drums for days. You can't deny these drums people. I can not recommend this side enough and why not ring in 2008 with an almost 40 year old piece of Funk that still holds it's weight after all these years. Get yourself a copy of this monster, and if you can dig up an original Lp, you're one up on me. A reissue is available as well, and no matter what form you get it in, I'm sure you'll be happy. Let's start 2008 off right, with some left coast Deep Funk. Keep Diggin'!

Tags: Soul Funk

Trini Lopez recorded a series of upbeat tunes for Reprise during the mid-'60s, including a smash rendering of the folk standard "If I Had a Hammer" in 1963. The Dallas native cut some Ritchie Valens-influenced rockers for the King label prior to his discovery by producer Don Costa. Lopez's hits capture the excitement of his live performances, and his driving renditions of "Kansas City" (1963), "Lemon Tree" (1965), and "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966) were substantial sellers. Reportedly one of Dean Martin's favorite performers, Lopez hosted his own network TV variety program and co-starred as one of The Dirty Dozen in the popular 1967 movie.

Tags: Pop Rock

Time/ Cover Me by Jackie Moore Label: Atlantic 2830 Year: 1972 Rare promo release of the B side of the 'Time' single. Of course, 'Cover Me' is by far the superior tune of the two, a terrific cover of the 1967 Percy Sledge hit. Written by: M. Green-E. Hinton Produced by: D. Crawford-B. Shapiro Jackie Moore (born 1946) is an American R&B singer. She is most well-known for her gold single 1970 song "Precious, Precious," which reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1971, and her 1979 disco hit "This Time Baby," which hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The latter would inspire the 2005 Dance radio and club hit "Love On My Mind" by the Freemasons featuring Amanda Wilson. She also had a pop chart hit (#42) with Bunny Sigler and Phil Hurtt's upbeat "Sweet Charlie Babe" in the fall of 1973, which she recorded with the Philadelphia Strings and Horns One of the relatively few artists who emerged in the early '70s to enjoy a run of success with a Southern soul-based sound, this Florida singer recorded her best material for Atlantic in Miami with noted session players like the Memphis Horns and the Dixie Flyers. Putting her earthy pop-soul to ballads and mid-tempo material, much of it written and crafted by producer Dave Crawford, Moore had a half-dozen RB hits for the label; the biggest, "Precious, Precious" (1970) and "Sweet Charlie Babe" (1973), were also small pop hits. In 1972 and 1973, she cut some tunes in Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios with a slicker feel, with generally successful results. There was nothing especially earth-shaking about Moore's style or material, but it was solid stuff with a grittier feel than much of the soul music in vogue at the time. After leaving Atlantic, she had one more sizable RB hit, "Make Me Feel Like a Woman" (1975).

Tags: Soul R&B

Whispers -- Headlights -- Original Solar Album BXL 1 2774 USA 1978 Collector Arranged By [Horn & String] - Tom Tom 84 Arranged By [Rhythm] - Gene Page Album Design] - Tim Bryant Engineer - Steve Hodge Mastered By - Wally Traugott Producer - Dick Griffey Recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles Funk / Soul The Whispers had scored a couple Top Ten hits prior to his album, but most of their songs, in spite of their quality, floundered in the latter half of the Top 100. However, Headlights houses two singles that graced the Billboard R&B Top Ten and Top 20. "(Let's Go) All the Way" was the first release. With a modest mid-tempo groove paced by an uncanny bass rhythm and a sprightly horn section, Walter Scott and Wallace "Scotty" Scott inflict their wholesome vocal appeal which is enhanced by the group's harmonious background vocals. The beat was too funky for disco, and not funky enough for funk. Notwithstanding, it is a solid number. It sealed the Billboard R&B Top Ten. On a slower yet moderate note, "(Olivia) "Lost and Turned Out" illuminates with sensuality in spite of the song's message, which laments a young lady's life on the streets. It tipped in at number 13 on the charts after 22 weeks. "(You're A) Very Special Part of My Life" was never a release but a beautiful number it is. From Walt and Scotty's unwavering delivery to the song's soulful flow, it is reminiscent of the Natural Four's "Can This Be Real." It has become a standard on the quiet storm format. The title track is a funky selection, as is "The Planets of Life." Sounds of Los Angeles Records (S.O.L.A.R. Records) was founded in 1977 by Dick Griffey a few years after creating (in 1975) and then shutting down (in 1977) the Soul Train Recording Co. label with "Soul Train" television show host and creator Don Cornelius. After the success of a few singles on the Soul Train imprint, Griffey & Cornelius decided (amicably) to shut down the Soul Train label as Cornelius wanted to focus his energies on the TV show, which was a monster hit and required his attention to keep it so. Legalities taken care of, Soul Train Records closed and Griffey reorganized the company and founded the S.O.L.A.R. label in late 1977, which quickly became one of the most important Disco/Soul/Dance imprints of the late seventies to mid-eighties, and even spawned a subsidiary label Constellation Records, which had some success spinning off its parent's successes. Griffey and Cornelius remained good friends, and as a result, S.O.L.A.R. maintained close ties to the "Soul Train" show. Not surprisingly, "Soul Train" favourite Shalamar had one of their first (and one of the label's first) hits, "Uptown Festival", as a result of appearing on "Soul Train" and thus being introduced to Griffey. Shalamar were, in fact, S.O.L.A.R.'s best selling and most influential act - scoring nearly 20 hit singles and classics such as: "Right in the Socket", "Make that Move", "A Night to Remember" and "Dead Giveaway". The S.O.L.A.R. success story was by no means confined to one act, several other artists enjoyed success, including: Dynasty, Klymaxx, Whispers, The, Lakeside, Midnight Star, Carrie Lucas, and Deele, The, the last of which gave L.A. Reid & Babyface (LaFace Records) their start. Griffey has always believed in giving new talents the opportunity to create and develop their craft. He was the first to recognize songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Time, The, Flyte Tyme Productions), Reggie Calloway and Vincent Calloway, Leon Sylvers and the aforementioned Antonio 'L.A.' Reid, and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, to name a few. The S.O.L.A.R. sound was a collective effort, with artists working on each other's sessions and artists encouraged to be creative. Leon Sylvers was the producer behind the trademark S.O.L.A.R. sound: funky, progressive dance music infused with soul and disco. The late eighties saw the label's fortunes decline: the reasons for which are many but include A & R problems with Shalamar (primarily maintaining the group's identity while members Howard Hewett and Jody Watley were having successful solo careers of their own, on other labels) and the shifting musical directions of R&B, dance and popular music in general in the late eighties and early nineties.

Tags: Soul Funk

Luther Ingram - I'll Just Call You Honey From (ALBUM - I've Been Here All The Tiime) hit Billboard's R&B charts between May of 1971 and February of 1972, it was his anguished and emotionally torrid performance of a tale of classic infidelity that took Luther Ingram's career to a new level. Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" topped the R&B charts and climbed to No. 3 on the Hot 100 and went on to sell several millin copies. Over the years, it has been recorded by artists from many different musical genres including country legend Barbara Mandrell, British superstar Rod Stewart, R&B's own Millie Jackson, and bluesman Bobby 'Blue' Bland. The record's immediate success resulted in extensive touring with Isaac hayes and together, the two broke house records at the Apollo Theatre in New York during a sold-out stint at the famed Harlem venue. Luther's touring activities took him across the country, performing at auditoriums, theatres and night clubs, sharing bills with a slew of artists including The Temptations, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Millie Jackson, and Al Green Born Luther Thomas Ingram, 30 November 1944, Jackson, Tennessee, USA. This singer/songwriter's professional career began in New York with work for producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Several unsuccessful singles followed, including I Spy For The FBI, which failed in the wake of Jamo Thomas's 1966 hit version. Luther then moved to Koko Records, a tiny independent label later marketed by Stax. Ingram's career flourished in the wake of this arrangement. With Mack Rice he helped compose Respect Yourself for the Staple Singers, while several of his own releases were R&B hits. The singer's finest moment came when his 1972 recording of the classic Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson and Carl Hampton song, (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right. This tale of infidelity was later recorded by Rod Stewart, Millie Jackson and Barbara Mandrell, but neither matched the heartbreaking intimacy Luther brought to his superb original version. It went on to sell over a million copies and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. The haunting I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm) then followed as the artist proceeded to fashion a substantial body of work. His undoubted potential was undermined by Koko's financial problems, but after eight years in the commercial wilderness, Ingram returned to the R&B chart in 1986 with Baby Don't Go Too Far. He died on monday 19, march 2007

Tags: Soul R&B

Far Beyond............ From The ALBUM Locksmith - Unlock The Funk - Collector (RARE RECORD) Arista record -- AB 4274 USA - 1980 ELECTRONIC- FUNK -- SOUL Co-producer - Kenny Mason Producer - Harvey Mason NB -- SAMPLING SONG ( Basement Jaxx - Red Alert ) ORIGINAL SOURCE ( Lockmith - Far Beyond )

Tags: ELECTRONIC- FUNK -- SOUL

Soul Cargo - Leon Haywood - Label: Fat Fish - Released: janvier 1, 1966 Genre: Soul R&B Jazz -- VERY RARE RECORD ORIGINAL ALBUM USA recorded way back in the mid 60s, when he was knocking around the LA indie scene with a very soulful groove! Back in those years, Leon wasn't singing as much, just playing piano and organ in a mixture of soul and jazz instrumental modes -- all hard-stepping with a very strong northern soul groove, and some of the heaviest production ever to come out of the west coast in the 60s! The whole album's a killer -- extremely grooving, and with a blend of styles that keeps things fresh all the way through. Titles include "Ray's Theme", "Soul Cargo", "Fat Fish", "The Sidewinder", "Spice Of The Blues", "River's Invitation", and "The Preacher". Leon Haywood (born 11 February 1942, Houston, Texas) is an American funk and soul singer, best known for his song "I Want a Do Something Freaky To You". The song was sampled on two of Dr. Dre's singles, "Nuthin' But a "G" Thang" and "The Wash". The song was also sampled on the Redman track "Rockafella", on Redman's Dare Iz a Darkside album. Haywood, despite a second Top 40 hit with "Don't Push It, Don't Force It" in 1980, remains considered a one-hit wonder in the UK. This Los Angeles-based soul vocalist and keyboard player launched his career as a conventional entertainer with great successes in the 60s, having over 20 singles on the US R&B charts from 1965. He listened to blues as a child and started playing piano at the age of three. In his teens, he performed with a local Houston group and accompanied blues artist Guitar Slim for some time. He relocated to Los Angeles in the early 60s and worked with saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, who arranged for him to record his first single, "Without A Love', an instrumental on the small Swingin" label. After that, he joined Sam Cooke's band as keyboard player until the singer's untimely death. Haywood next recorded two singles for Fantasy Records, and subsequently moved to Imperial Records, where he recorded the single "She's With Her Other Love", which made the R&B charts in 1965. He was part of two session bands organized by Los Angeles disc jockey Magnificent Montegue which issued the instrumental hits "Hole In The Wall" (R&B number 5/pop Top 50, 1965) under the name of the Packers, and "Precious Memories" (R&B number 31, 1967) as the Romeos. In 1967, Haywood secured his first big solo hit with the marvellous "It's Got To Be Mellow" (R&B number 21) on Decca. He played on further recording sessions with the Packers and Dyke And The Blazers, then returned to recording under his own name. He found only sporadic success, most notably with "It's Got To Be Mellow" and "Keep It In The Family". After recording for Columbia Records, he moved over to MCA Records. He emerged as a star in the 70s by adeptly modifying his style to incorporate the emerging funk and disco idioms. He joined 20th Century Records in 1974 and was immediately successful, notably with the psychedelicized "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You" (R&B number 7/pop number 15, 1975), "Strokin' (Pt. II)" (R&B number 13, 1976) and "Party" (R&B number 24, 1978). In 1980, Haywood revived the shuffle beat of 50s rock 'n' roll with the compelling "Don't Push It Don't Force It" (R&B number 2 and US Top 50). His last R&B chart record was "Tenderoni" (number 22 R&B) in 1984. In the UK, "Don't Push It Don't Force It" was Haywood's only chart record, going to number 12 in 1980. After a few more chart singles, for Casablanca Records and Modern Records, Haywood disappeared from the charts, but in the late 80s became associated in an executive/production capacity with the Los Angeles-based Edge label.

Tags: Soul R&B Jazz