Darrow Fletcher: CrossOver Soul

Darrow Fletcher: CrossOver Soul: 1975-1979 Los Angeles Sessions

One of the most anticipated releases from Kent for some time has hit the selves. There are 17 tracks of some great 70's soul from his time at the Crossover Label in Los Angeles including the tracks from the unissued LP from his spell with the label make this a must have CD.

Here is what Ady Croasdell has to say about Darrow and the CD release.

There was a dilemma with compiling a CD of Darrow Fletcher’s recorded output in that he had two very distinctive periods to his career. The first part was the records he made in Chicago between 1965 and 1970, and then the handful of singles cut in Los Angeles in the second half of the 70s. As he was only 14 when he started recording, the two eras had quite a different feel.

In researching the 70s recordings Darrow made for Ray Charles’ Crossover label in Los Angeles, we turned up a cache of fully produced, previously unissued tracks. These included the complete tape of the unissued “Why Don’t We Try Something Brand New” album. Apart from longer versions of the four titles that came out on Crossover singles, there were five brand new songs. These were mainly from the pens of the Zane Grey and Len Ron Hanks team or Joel Webster; who had also provided the released songs. They were of a similar superb quality to the singles, the best dance track being ‘Secret Weapon’, written by Grey and Hanks with Jerry Butler. ‘(What Are We Gonna Do About) This Mess’ is another high quality groove, while ‘(And A) Love Song’ is a tender melodic ballad. ‘Together’ is a bluesier down-tempo tune and ‘(People Are Not) Wind-Up Toys’ is a pretty mid-paced number with a message, so prevalent in the mid-70s.

I am sure Crossover saw Darrow as a similar artist to Stevie Wonder during his mid 70s pomp; the funkier Joel Webster numbers in particular were in this vein. Although his two career stages were clearly defined geographically and historically, there were similarities. Zane Grey had grown up with Darrow inChicagowhich was where he and his writing partner Len Ron Hanks hailed from. Their first composition was Darrow’s penultimate 45 cut in Chicago, ‘Changing By The Minute’. Several of the Grey and Hanks Crossover tracks were written in Chicago prior to the duo following Darrow out to LA where the songs were cut. Darrow’s 60s fans will find plenty to admire in his later output as the songs are well crafted and produced with no expense spared. Despite the five year hiatus they can be seen as a progression of his maturity since the 60s.

Ray Charles seemed to take young Darrow under his wing and the notes describe a particularly poignant moment when the two appeared on stage together in Chicago. It is a mystery why the album never appeared as the label was quite adept at issuing music in this format, often on relatively little known acts such as Joel Webster himself. Darrow specifically mentioned versions of ‘Sunny’ and ‘Fever’ in recalling his time at Crossover. These tracks were actually cut after the LP and raise the possibility of a second album featuring them, the two Atlantic/Atco singles and other numbers such as the social commentary song ‘Election Day’ and the funky dancer ‘How Can You Live Without Love’.

All of the cherished 70s singles are here. Together with the unissued gems they give more than an hour of top quality modern soul from an artist whose excellent body of work is at last being recognised.

By Ady Croasdell

Buy the Cd from Kent at http://acerecords.co...ngeles-sessions

Listen to samples of tracks 1,3 and 7:

http://soundcloud.com/chalkster/darrow-fletcher-samples

Don't forget Darrow hits these shores in November with three dates.

Darrow at Cleethorpes in 2006

Thurs Nov 1st, 8pm - 2am @ The 100 Club - Darrow Fletcher is playing live with backing band for the celebration of 30 years of Kent Records. DJs Ady Croasdell, Tony Rounce and more. Tickets £18.00 will go on sale at the 33rd Anniversary allnighter on September 29th, and by post from Oct 1st (details will be announced in September). www.6ts.info

Nov 2nd. — 4th at the Scottish Soulful Weekender at the superb 3 star Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries. Darrow Fletcher is playing live on Saturday Night with backing band. Full details are available at www.scottishsoulfulweekender.com

Darrow will be supported at both these concerts by a great backing band — Push.

After that hectic weekend, Darrow will take a few days off before taking the stage again in good old West Yorkshire. Before returning home to Chicago

Saturday Nov 10th 9pm - 3am at the Wilton - Wheatsheaf Conference & Banqueting Complex in Castleford, home for almost 20 years of the famed Wilton Allnighters.

The Wilton guys Mouse & Boxy are staging their second Soulful Sessions Night, and are so proud to have Darrow performing to specially made backing tracks, some made from the original master tapes: a selection of his ‘70s songs from the CD and a few ‘60s classics at the venue.

DJ support from Arthur Fenn — Mike Charlton and residents Boxy & Mouse, should make a cracking night. So come on guys, if you can’t travel to London or Scotland, then here’s your chance to see Darrow for the very first time in Yorkshire.

Advance tickets £12.00 will be on sale at our next allnighter on the 21st September and are now available online by Paypal & Credit Card at the Wheatsheaf website http://www.wheatsheaf.com/allnighter or £15.00 otd.

Read a full interview of dave Box with Darrow:

Darrow Fletcher - The Interview - The Full Story

01 Honey Can I"¨

02 (What Are We Gonna Do About) This Mess

"¨03 (Love Is My) Secret Weapon"¨

04 Try Something New

"¨05 This Time (I'll Be The Fool)"¨

06 The Rising Cost Of Love"¨

07 (And A) Love Song

"¨08 Sunny

"¨09 We've Got To Get An Understanding"¨

10 How Can You Live Without Love"¨

11 Let's Get Together"¨

12 It's No Mistake"¨

13 Election Day"¨

14 Fever"¨

15 Together

"¨16 Improve"¨

17 (People Are Not) Wind Up Toys