A Spoonful Of Soul - Bill Spoon - Soul Junction - LP Out Now!

Another release from those very active Soul Junction types, and as you may have read this one has already been causing a bit of a stir in the forums.

A Spoonful Of Soul - Bill Spoon - Soul Junction Catalogue # SJLP5003

After the very popular release of Bill Spoons "I Can't Wait (Until The Weekend)"" 45 last year, the Soul Junction team have gone for a vinyl lp of more of the same high quality soul output for the next Soul Junction release.

The format is a vinyl only lp release with the meat being a tasty grab of more of Mr Spoons previously unissued material.

Highlights to name just some of quite a few, include not only a re-visit of his previous Soul Junction 45 "I can't wait (weekend)" side but a alt version of it as well , the full studio version of the oh so great "Love Is On The Way" is a contender for the stand out , with the reworking of "Kick Back" putting up an argument for such a claim, and his earlier version of "Be Concerned" has a shout as well

The track listing is below, along with a sleeve notes grab and a quick mix of just a few of the tracks from this fine release

Sleeve Notes

A brief grab of just part of the very informative sleeve notes (some great bits of info in there), you can read the full wack at the Soul Junction website (link below)

I was born William Bell-Weatherspoon on November 6th 1942 in Bessemer, Alabama. My greatest childhood mentor was our next door neighbour, the renowned 50's gospel singer Alex Bradford. Mr Bradford would often bring his piano out onto his front porch during warm summer nights and invite all the kids in the neighbourhood to join him in song. During high school I continued to sing in several different groups with my friend Richard Fisher (a later member of the Jive Five).I lost contact with Richard albeit for just a short time when his family moved to Cleveland Ohio.

In early 1960 my own family followed the same path as The Fishers with us too moving to Cleveland. Once again reunited with Richard we formed a street corner group whose fellow members where David Peoples and Walter "Ricki" Dannison also known as Ricki Sonda. The group never had a formal name we just enjoyed singing on various street corners in the Kinsman area of Cleveland.

In 1962 I was drafted into the Army. During my time in the service I continued to sing firstly with the Soul Masters while stationed in Korea and later with the Uniques when stationed in Germany.

After my return from the Army in June 1965 I was reunited with Riki Sonda and he introduced me to Leroy Elie, with whom he had been singing with during my absence. The three of us soon realized that we the gist of a competent vocal outfit if only we could add a fourth voice. So in August 1965, John "Cornbread" Berry became the fourth member of our group. Because we all had day jobs our performances were limited to nightclubs at the weekend only. Riki was a quality control foreman at the Cleveland, Chrysler Automotive Plant, Leroy was a commercial electrical and mechanical architect. John was a manager at a metal photo processing plant and I was a criminal investigator for the state of Ohio.

In November 1965 with the help of Lou Ragland, the four of us now using the name of the "Soul Notes" signed for Lester Johnson's Way-Out label. Although several tracks were recorded only two 45's were released "How Long Will It Last/Don't Make Me Beg "(Way-Out 101) and "How Long Will It Last/I Got Everything You Need" (Way-Out 106). The intended flip to "I Got Everything you need" was a song entitled "I've Been Waiting For Love" which had been by written by myself, John Washington and "Riki" Dannison. We had even gone as far as recording it but for reasons which remained unknown to us the song was pulled and replaced with a re-release of "How Long Will It Last".

"I've Been Waiting For Love" was later released under the different title of "Your Not Loving A Beginner" being recorded by Richard Fishers younger brother Jesse, and with some of the song original Lyric's having been reworked by James Calloway.

In 1969, John Berry left the group and was briefly replaced by Avon Wells before he too left to join the "Imperial Wonders". Riki, Leroy and I continued as a trio until 1970, but by now Way-Out records had become embroiled in a internal power struggle and it was around this time that the "Soul Notes" disbanded.

As a solo artist I followed my dream to Stax records in Memphis this was to prove a very short lived and unproductive experience for me. I then returned to....

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/uploads-soul/sppon.mp3

Track Listing

Side 1

1 I Can't Wait (Until The Weekend). 3:34

(Riki Sonda, Bill Spoon) Bel Jac Music BMI Copyright Control

2 Be Concerned. 2:57 (Previously Unissued)

(Ugene Dozier, Herbert Santifer Jr) Tunesmith Music BMI.

3 Watcha Doin' With Your Time. 3:15 (Re-Mix)

(Herbert Santifer Jr, Bill Spoon) Bel Jac Music BMI. Copyright Control

4 Kick Back. 4:53 (Re-Mix)

(Louis Edward Ragland, Bill Spoon) Bel Jac Music BMI. Copyright Control

5 I'll Always Love You. 4:55 (Previously Unissued)

(Hense Powell, Bill Spoon) Bel Jac Music BMI, Henceforth Music Co ASCAP. Copyright Control

Side 2

1 Thank You Baby 3:14 (Previously Unissued)

(William Franklyn Bell, Ugene Dozier) Bel Jac Music BMI, Proud Tunes Music BMI. Copyright Control

2 Love Is On The Way 4:57

(Previously Unissued Full Length Studio Version) (Ugene Dozier) Proud Tunes Music BMI. Copyright Control

3 I Can't Wait (Until The Weekend). 3:28 (Alternative Take)

(Riki Sonda, Bill Spoon) Bel Jac Music BMI. Copyright Control

4 No Way To Live. 2:50 (Previously Unissued)

(Bill Spoon) Bel Jac Music BMI. Copyright Control

5 After All We've Been Through. 3:42 (Previously Unissued)

(William Franklyn Bell, Louis Edward Ragland, John Fredrick Wilson) Bel Jac Music BMI, Fredbett Music BMI, Ragland Publications BMI. Copyright Control

Available via the usual suspects

(Have seen it priced at £13.99)

More info including the tip top sleeve notes can be read at

http://www.souljunct...k/SJLP5003.html