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Pied Piper - A New Concept In Detroit Soul

Pied Piper - A New Concept In Detroit Soul magazine cover

One Kent release many of us have been waiting for, The Pied Piper Masters. You will have to wait a little longer as it is scheduled for release on 28th January.

This CD heralds the biggest unearthing of Detroit and Northern Soul masters for decades. It is as important and thrilling as the Scepter, Wand and Musicor cache, the Dave Hamilton tapes or the unissued RCA treasure of the 80s and 90s.

On this volume alone there are previously unheard gems from the Cavaliers, September Jones, Lorraine Chandler, Nancy Wilcox and Willie Kendrick; not forgetting two great instrumentals from the Pied Piper musicians. There are also the original Giant label releases that were issued in 1966 on Tony Hester, The Sandpipers and Mike & Ray, while the first Pied Piper productions for indy labels like Mikki Farrow on Karate and Sam E Soul on Ruby are also included.

Working with the master tapes was a pleasure and to hear these wonderfully produced Detroit masterpieces as they were laid down has been a revelation.

The original, substantially faster version of Lorraine Chandler’s Northern Soul classic ‘I Can’t Hold On’ is a fresh and exciting take on a record that has been played solidly for nearly forty years. Her alternate vocal to ‘Mend The Torn Pieces’ is quite a shock. It is in a very different, deep soul style to the poppier, girly version that we issued on the Rare Collectible And Soulful CD in the mid 90s. Nancy Wilcox only had one 45 release but cut six tracks for the company and ‘Gambler’s Blues’ has been played to great acclaim at Northern dances over the past eight years from a very expensive publisher’s acetate.

The company’s own imprint was Giant, the earlier Detroit version as opposed to the slightly later Chicago label (which confusingly also had writer and saxophonist Mike Terry’s involvement). Tony Hestor’s first single before he teamed up with his writing partner Popcorn Wylie is a masterpiece of lilting, anguished soul that has grown in stature in recent years. The Sandpipers atmospheric ‘Lonely Too Long’ and Mike & Ray’s ‘If You Only Knew’ on the label also fetch big money, as does the Karate only release by Mikki Farrow ‘Could It Be’.

The reason Pied Piper has been so esteemed over the years is due to the number of Northern Soul classics played in the 70s heyday of the scene. The Hesitations ‘I’m Not Built That Way’ and Freddy Butler’s ‘That’s When I Need You’ were massive records back then and along with the previously mentioned tracks meant the words Pied Piper were spoken with reverence. What makes this CD so exciting are the new tracks by established Northern stars like the haunting ‘I Hear Music’ by Lorraine Chandler and Willie Kendrick’s unique vocal style applied to the Metros’ number ‘Time Changes Things’.

Mid 60s Detroit recordings rarely slowed below mid-tempo but Sam E Solo ‘Tears Keep Falling’ is a fabulous soul number with a lazy, catchy beat that bucked that trend. The Cavaliers ‘We Go Together’ is a very classy mid tempo take on a song that co-owner Shelley Haims co-wrote in the 50s for the Moonglows and was later cut by Jan & Dean. This 1966 soul version has excited the North’s top DJs and is certain to be a monster sound in 2013.

The most exciting discovery for a lot of people will be the original version of Rose Batiste’s ‘I Miss My Baby’ which Pied Piper recorded several months before the Revilot release. This recording is titled ‘This Heart Is Lonely’ as the song was originally written. Shelley remembered it as being by Telma Hopkins the Detroit backing singer who went on to fame with Dawn in the early 70s and recently as a top US actress. However the vocal style is so similar to that of Rose Batiste on Revilot, we are assuming it is her. How the tape ended up first with Revilot and secondly in an instrumental form as ‘Bari Track’ by Doni Burdick on Sound Impression another year later, is a mystery that is still unravelling.

Finally, almost in the Little Ann category for having her light hidden under a bush, September Jones gives us four of her eight Pied Piper sides that resulted in just one solitary 45 release licensed to Kapp. This expensive single ‘I’m Coming Home’ is as fine an example of Detroit’s soul craft as was ever committed to wax; tortured and moody, superbly produced and delivered with a hypnotic beat. The unissued sides are equally fine and with another four gems to be featured on the second volume, her time in the spotlight is assured.

Ady Croasdell

Compilation and comprehensive sleeve notes by Ady Croasdell.

Pre order from Ace Free delivery in the UK

1. I Can t Hold On (Original Version) - Lorraine Chandler

2. Stuttering Sam - September Jones

3. Gamblers Blues - Nancy Wilcox

4. This Heart Is Lonely - Rose Batiste

5. She Won t Come Back - The Hesitations

6. Just Can t Leave You - Tony Hester

7. We Go Together - The Cavaliers

8. That's When I Need You - Freddy Butler

9. Give Me All Of Your Love - September Jones

10. That s What Love Is - The Pied Piper Players

11. Time Changes Things - Willie Kendrick

12. I Fell In Love (Can t Help It) - Freddy Butler

13. Could It Be - Mikki Farrow

14. I Hear Music - Lorraine Chandler

15. I m Coming Home - September Jones

16. Mend The Torn Pieces Of My Heart (Original Version) - Lorraine Chandler

17. He ll Be Leaving You - The Pied Piper Players

18. Chink A Chank Baby - September Jones

19. I m Not Built That Way - The Hesitations

20. In The End - Nancy Wilcox

21. If Only You Knew - Mike & Ray

22. Lonely Too Long - The Sandpipers

23. Tears Keep Falling - Sam E Solo

24. Tell Me Your Mine - Lorraine Chandler

http://acerecords.co.uk



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Not bought a CD for yonks but I'll be having this one. Was expecting the other Cavaliers to be on it "Without Someone To Tell Me"?

Pete

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This CD heralds the biggest unearthing of Detroit and Northern Soul masters for decades. It is as important and thrilling as the Scepter, Wand and Musicor cache, the Dave Hamilton tapes or the unissued RCA treasure of the 80s and 90s.

That's what I'm talking about! :thumbup:

Just give Ady the trophy for 'Winner of CD release of 2013' already :thumbup:

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Not bought a CD for yonks but I'll be having this one. Was expecting the other Cavaliers to be on it "Without Someone To Tell Me"?

Pete

Could be on volume two Pete?

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Hope Lorraine has been interviewed & the resulting info is included in the CD booklet notes (as Ady is thorough ... if not totally organised ... I guess he will have this all sorted).

If not, perhaps Lorraine can contribute to this thread & let us know what she remembers about those times in the studio & the artists involved.

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Hope Lorraine has been interviewed & the resulting info is included in the CD booklet notes (as Ady is thorough ... if not totally organised ... I guess he will have this all sorted).

If not, perhaps Lorraine can contribute to this thread & let us know what she remembers about those times in the studio & the artists involved.

But of course, and I'm sure she will share aher thoughts with us once it's arrived on her doorstep.

As Chalky says there will be a volume 2 too.

Thanks for the encouraging comments.

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Pre-ordered......:-)) Ady is this ACE project being put down on vinyl?

There will be some singles out at the end of March and an LP is eventually planned but maybe not until the second volume early next year

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I started a thread some months ago on tunes I'd missed, no longer being a regular at the 100 club, so these are it!!!!

Wondered whether the 3. Gamblers Blues - Nancy Wilcox is the same as that acetate Tim brown auctioned some months ago, his comment on that disc was something along the lines of its unlikely to ever be issued or licenced, for one reason or another...

Mal

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well done ady,

another milestone in northern soul history!

better late than never!

no city on earth for me has the charm and mystique

that detroit has regaring 60,s soul!

i cant wait to by this gem!

the kent teams contribution to the scene is priceless!

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There will be some singles out at the end of March and an LP is eventually planned but maybe not until the second volume early next year

Great news Ady, and furthermore much gratitude for your continuous efforts in un-earthing these gems. TBH the longevity in my personal interest in this great musical adventure will continue unabated, whilst such superb material gets its just recognition in whichever format! I excitedly look forward to this and furthermore future releases of similar ilk....

Kind Regards Mike Wilks

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The heavy fuzz guitars, the over the top backing singers and jack ashford's hammering tambourine right up front in the mix...... Pied Piper productions are everything a great northern soul record should be. Shivers down the spine. Can't wait to hear this CD. Well done Ady and co for putting this out. I'm sure it will sell VERY well!!!

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Cmon Hadrian, forget volume 2 and get licking those envelopes and address labels for vol 1. My Postie has already been threatened with a kicking (from the other half as I am a pacifist/coward) if it doesn't arrive by Friday. And thats only because I ask her 3 times nightly is it here yet and she is fed up of giving me a kicking over it.

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Cmon Hadrian, forget volume 2 and get licking those envelopes and address labels for vol 1. My Postie has already been threatened with a kicking (from the other half as I am a pacifist/coward) if it doesn't arrive by Friday. And thats only because I ask her 3 times nightly is it here yet and she is fed up of giving me a kicking over it.

I was just thinking the same Jock that we haven't had volume one yet never mind volume 2.

And what about that task you had to do after footie? :lol:

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I was just thinking the same Jock that we haven't had volume one yet never mind volume 2.

And what about that task you had to do after footie? :lol:

Did I not email you last night?

Couldn't find the damned record so suspect its in one of the unsorted boxes, its an orange label isnt it?

Also my buzzing speakers sound like an exhaust falling off rather than previous cat like purring so not sure if it will come off good.

Remind me, via email, tonight and I will have a dig around.

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Hi Ady

Has it been pointed out to you, that if its taken 40 years to find this stuff, maybe you should have looked a bit harder! Its unlikely that you are going to win a hide and seek competition at this rate.

Great work by the way, I have ordered my copy

Cheers

Col.

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This CD heralds the biggest unearthing of Detroit and Northern Soul masters for decades. It is as important and thrilling as the Scepter, Wand and Musicor cache, the Dave Hamilton tapes or the unissued RCA treasure of the 80s and 90s.

Puer Oh Puer Oh Puer :thumbup:

For the classically trained among us :yes:

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YES :thumbup: ...Postie has just slid down the driveway with precious cargo and I'm currently having a 3rd attempt at trying to get through the plastic covering. Deep breath and kettle on, kids pushed out to play and hi-fi fired up. :thumbsup:

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YES :thumbup: ...Postie has just slid down the driveway with precious cargo and I'm currently having a 3rd attempt at trying to get through the plastic covering. Deep breath and kettle on, kids pushed out to play and hi-fi fired up. :thumbsup:

I don't think they want you to listen to the damn cd really :lol: it's on its second play here, great stuff!! Now Ady stop messing about and get Volume two out :rofl:

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Whoops I've only just played mine and I've done exactly what Benji warned me about and used the underdub version of the Sandpipers! It actually sounds pretty good to me but its a total mistake which I'll put right for Vol 2. Many apologies to Sandpipers fans. The rest of it sounds rather good! Jack Ashford gave us some terrific photos to include

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Put a nasty cut on my finger trying to open it. But what a great c.d. (When I'd stemmed the bleeding!!)

Alright kid. Hows it going. Deffo up for Chestefiled mate. Let me know nearer the time.

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Whoops I've only just played mine and I've done exactly what Benji warned me about and used the underdub version of the Sandpipers! It actually sounds pretty good to me but its a total mistake which I'll put right for Vol 2. Many apologies to Sandpipers fans. The rest of it sounds rather good! Jack Ashford gave us some terrific photos to include

Personally not a Sandpipers fan as such Per sae (LOL), however I must say the CD is a superb compilation, and I eagerly await further output in due course!

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