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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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i

caught them down the Roxy, marquee and Vortex and was a big fan. 'New Rose' was probably the best of all the punk singles, amazing energy. The Members did the best punk/New Wave LP

Blimey thats opening up a can of worms. The Members lp being better than the Pistols, Damned and Clash first lp's? The Lurkers first LP was brilliant as well, Fulham Fallout.

Sorry, back to the topic in hand...

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i

caught them down the Roxy, marquee and Vortex and was a big fan. 'New Rose' was probably the best of all the punk singles, amazing energy. The Members did the best punk/New Wave LP

The old Sandpiper club in the Nottingham lace market for me was the Damned - plus loads at that place at the time - S & Banshees, Stiff Little Fingers, Dickies (US), and the Ruts were especially good live :thumbsup: Missed the pistols there under a pseudonym but hey! :lol:

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I've hijacked my own thread. I'm going to start a Members LP thread in Freebasing. Feel free to transfer any stray posts mods.

:ohmy: Thank you. I thought I was having a nightmare!!!! I was saying to myself..."self, it can't be over yet!"

Lorraine

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The old Sandpiper club in the Nottingham lace market for me was the Damned - plus loads at that place at the time - S & Banshees, Stiff Little Fingers, Dickies (US), and the Ruts were especially good live :thumbsup: Missed the pistols there under a pseudonym but hey! :lol:

Did the Sandpiper too mate ( was at the Dickies gig) but mainly the Jacksdale Topper. Used to do Palais alldayers up to 7ish then jump on the bus to Jacksdale to see the like of the members, subs, angelic upstarts etc

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:ohmy: Thank you. I thought I was having a nightmare!!!! I was saying to myself..."self, it can't be over yet!"

Lorraine

It's not over yet :) volume 2 is getting ready to set the world alight. I'm made up this has charted Lorraine

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The old Sandpiper club in the Nottingham lace market for me was the Damned - plus loads at that place at the time - S & Banshees, Stiff Little Fingers, Dickies (US), and the Ruts were especially good live :thumbsup: Missed the pistols there under a pseudonym but hey! :lol:

X-Ray Spex,Wayne County +Electric Chairs,Sham 69,,plus load more.Pistols there ? PM me Richard.

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This just in from Ray Monette, legendary Detroit guitarist and apart from being half of Mike & Ray co-wrote I Can't Hold On, Give Me All Of Your Love and Time Changes Things

JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE CD'S!

THE PIED PIPER CD IS GREAT. EXCELLENT HISTORY ON THE WHOLE STORY,AND THE SOUND QUALITY IS OUTSTANDING.

I WAS THERE,AND YOU TOLD ME SOME THINGS THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF AT THE TIME.LOL.

ONCE AGAIN......THANKS,AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROJECT!

CHEERS, RAY

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Just downloaded off of the US version of iTunes - impressively it's listed in their Jazz section, less impressively they haven't figured out how to link to a scanned copy of the sleevenotes when you purchase that way, bummer :(

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I'm glad to see iTunes and Amazon have the mp3 available. If you want to buy the CD on U.S. Amazon, the description of the CD says

"This item will be released on February 19, 2013".

Hope my copy gets here soon !

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I'm glad to see iTunes and Amazon have the mp3 available. If you want to buy the CD on U.S. Amazon, the description of the CD says

"This item will be released on February 19, 2013".

Hope my copy gets here soon !

The CD release date was the last Mon in Jan, I'll try and get it hurried along.

Michael, I'll try and get the sleevenotes sorted. Do they normally include them? It's a 28 page booklet so I'm not sure that they do.

Ady

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Fair to say we are loving this cd - but what I want to know is what is Stuttering Sam saying!

Think it might be taken from an Indian take away conversation and he's saying "I'l have the bhuna, I'll have the, I'll have the, I'll have the bhuna.... :D

Got the CD plus a copy of "Dave Hamilton's Detroit Dancers" from Beatin Rythm whilst in Manchester yesterday as part of my on-going education............very nice indeed.

Interesting read also.

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Hey Ady, some releases on iTunes include the artwork/etc as a "bonus track" for anyone who buys the whole cd/lp, always good as feel a bit left out missing on what's clearly some great background you've put together on all of these tracks

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Obviously just my opinion but you lot seem to be going way over the top about this one.

Track for track, Kent 30 beats this one hands down.

For me it's due to the quality, and number, of the unissued stuff. There is half a spot in there that would be one of the most exciting for a long time, the fact they were all quality uptempo Northern was for me the clincher.

However I agree its no where near their greatest overall CD, which just shows Ady and Tony are actually much smarter in real life. :-)))

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For me it's due to the quality, and number, of the unissued stuff. There is half a spot in there that would be one of the most exciting for a long time, the fact they were all quality uptempo Northern was for me the clincher.

However I agree its no where near their greatest overall CD, which just shows Ady and Tony are actually much smarter in real life. :-)))

I'm obviously not getting it then, I got half way through most of the unissued tracks and skipped the rest of the track. When I get cd's I put them into itunes and rate each track (5 stars max) and none got 5 stars, only three got 4 stars and they were all previously released tracks. Most got 3 stars, the rest got 2's and 1's.

LIke I say - just my opinion...

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Ady, what happened to the RCA Cd that was due out a couple of years ago and had all the tunes on that JT got off you? Has it been cancelled? I notice that some of those tracks are on this release.

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It's probably the whole package that is getting some of us excited, not just the tracks but right down to the booklet telling the story etc, the photos and the history some of the tracks have on the scene.

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It's probably the whole package that is getting some of us excited, not just the tracks but right down to the booklet telling the story etc, the photos and the history some of the tracks have on the scene.

Right on Chalky - it's fabulous - ignore the naysayers :D

Cheers

Richard

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It's probably the whole package that is getting some of us excited, not just the tracks but right down to the booklet telling the story etc, the photos and the history some of the tracks have on the scene.

I agree 100% there, as ever the booklet is brilliant, the photos etc.

But I'm not going to apologise for not hailing this as the greatest cd ever.

I enjoy most of Kent and Ace's output.

p.s.

The unissued version of I Can't Hold On, I thought that was tape error it's way too fast.

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Its good that you enjoyed Kent 30 Pete it did get a little lost in the end of year rush. It's a stunning comp that aurally and in the notes tells the story of Kent and with 30 great tracks inc 2 Pied Pipers not on here is compulsory for anyone who enjoyed this

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Finally got my CD today and am listening it for the second time. Really liked the Rose Battiste - 1000% better than "I Miss My Baby",

"I Hear Music" by Lorraine, the original version of "I Can't Hold On", and the Willie Kendricks. It's nice to have all the released tracks

all on the same CD. The liner notes and all of the pictures were incredible too. Can't wait for volume 2.

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Its a few weeks now since the cd's been issued and for what its worth here's my two-penneth!

To these ears accessing the back files of the Pied Piper material is akin to a chocoholic opening a big fat chocolate bar and revealing a GOLDEN TICKET to appear at the gates of Willy Wonker's chocolate factory. I am a fan and this cd delivers for me and more.

It's good to see some of the lesser played out tracks like Miki Farrow's 'Could It Be' and Tony Hester's 'I Just Can't Leave You'on here. And as my good friend Mark commented, 'It's about time the Mike and Ray and The Sandpiper tracks got a broader airing and a little time in the limelight.' Both Detroit soul aka mid 60's through and through.

The cd is not without its pleasant suprises. The photos of very young Jack Ashford and Lorraine Chandler and Mike Terry playing 2nd trombone in The Joe Hunter Band are priceless and as usual the sleeve notes from Ady documenting the highs and lows of the Pied Piper production team are as illuminating and thorough as you'd expect.

My favourite track at the moment is The Cavaliers 'We Go Together' which I find sublime in its sophisticated simplicity. But like I say I am a fan. Willie Kendrick's version of 'Time Changes Things', though not as heavy as The Metros' version, could become some Pied Piper fans' favourite take. Also if anyone doubted the country 'twang' of Nancy Wilcox's vocals listen again to 'In The End'. I could go on.

I love this cd and hope there's still more to come. 1966 Pied Piper a new dimension in Detroit Soul.

'Rock on Tommy'

Best

Kev

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One of the great things about taking the chance to listen to different music as one gets older is that wonderful moment when you hear something for the first time that is 50 years old and marvel how it can be possible you are only hearing this magnificent stuff for the first time.

Ordered and received the three Pied Piper and Just Production Vol. 2 Comps direct from Ace this week and am having a ball listening to so many new tracks (to these ears). Why Lorraine Chandler and September Jones were not huge stars is criminal.

The sleeve notes are worth the purchase price alone.

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Sandpipers acetates

Picked these up many years ago and I believe these came from Ed Hillert.

Original 7” demo acetate of Lonely Too Long sung by Ed Hillert?

United Sounds 10” acetate of the Sandpipers - Lonely Too Long, alternate take, same take as on the Kent Pied Piper a new concept in Detroit Soul cd.

Always loved the song.

Mark

Sandpipers - Lonely Too Long Acetates.jpg

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