New Soul Direction 45 - Split Decision Band - Out Today

Soul-Direction are pleased to announce our next release.

Split Decision Band - 'You're The One / My Love Just For You' - Soul-Direction

Release notes

After hearing this album on it's initial release this recently became a real "No Brainer" and to bring this as a 7" vinyl release is a real honour.

For us, although designated A & B sides, there is no denying that each track is an "A Side" in itself and that's how we see them.

An obscure R&B group from Des Moines, Iowa, Split Decision Band released one single during their existence - Issued on the local Network label in 1978.The band centred around Lead vocalist and songwriter Gordon Starr Flipping, whose collaborations with Prince made him something of a legend in the Mid-West area.

Core member Gordon Starr Flipping was tracked down by Now and Again Records and his material was released in a self-titled full-length album released in 2017.These tracks were unreleased sessions recorded at an unknown studio or Gordon Flipping’s house in Des Moines, IA, between 1979-1984 by The Split Decision Band. The two tracks featured here were licensed courtesy of Now and Again and with the blessing of The Split Decision Band.

Gordon Starr Flipping was born in 1957 as one child of five in Des Moines, Lowa, with white and Native American parents (Sioux People). At the age of nine he used to imitate James Brown and styled his hair in an “Afro” and despite being called numerous derogatory names his love of this type of music began to form. He started entering talent competitions and by the age of 14 he had teamed with cousins Larry & Lacey Fowlers to start a group called the Relations.

They were inspired by James Brown and Angela Davis and liked the message they were spreading. He later joined Del Jones, James Watkins and his Brother Butch and formed the group New Establishment In Soul. Flipping wrote and recorded some demos whilst in the “music wilderness” trying to get enough money together to make a record which was proving hard to do. He also played in a few pick up bands to keep the money coming in. Later he met a guy called Leonard Shaw who advertised himself as a sort of “Go To” record guy. He met up with him to present his demos and was told his old friend Del Jones had already beaten him to it. In the meantime he had reformed the band and named them The Split Decision Band.

Jones asked Flipping to join the band. Jones then turned Flipping’s “Watching Out” track into what sounded like a sure fire hit and “Go To” man Shaw brought in some additional members and promised an assembly line of hits through his network of contacts. Shaw proved to be a character of “Ill Repute” and after signing what can only be described as a dubious contract things were left very unsure in Flipping’s mind. Flipping along with the band members and others that Leonard had brought in managed to record enough songs for an album which they were to call “A Thing Of Your Own” between 1978 and 1983.

By then Leonard Shaw’s “dealings” had caught up with him and even though the album had been finished his seemingly large network of connections never materialised. The album of course never saw a release until Now and Again released it in 2017.

Gordon Starr Flipping now leads a non-profit group called “Young Heroes” that aims to help the kids of Des Moines off the streets through musical education and he still likes to impersonate any artist that inspires him.

Some of the information has been drawn from the Now and Again Sleeve notes and other sources.

Tracks Licensed to Soul Direction courtesy of Now and Again Records.

Listen

Split Decision Band - 'You're The One'

Split Decision Band - 'My Love Just For You'

Availability

RELEASED AND ON SALE FROM 6pm FRIDAY 18th FEBRUARY 2022

https://www.soul-direction.co.uk

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