A Review of Mind Over Matter: The Myths and Mysteries of Detroit's Fortune Records

  I was pleased to note that my Goldmine interview with Devora Brown was quoted five times in Mind Over Matter.  As I wrote in the article intro, “stories of sessions being cut in dirt-floored backrooms with sax players stepping over frying burgers to blow their solos into the studio’s one microphone have only added to Fortune Records’ allure.”  Although Devora told me that in fact she “very rarely cooked over there”, she did recall often bringing Nolan Strong sandwiches.  By most reports the studio floor actually was carpeted, but conditions were undeniably primitive.  Funny story here:  in the course of our interview I mentioned that I had worked on reissue projects for various labels.  Devora told me she had been talking with Ace Records, Charly and Bear Family about a possible licensing deal, and asked if they were reputable.  I told her that my opinion was that Ace and Bear Family were quite reputable; but Charly less so.  Turned out they didn’t go ahead with any of them.  Would have been a fantastic series…I can only imagine the condition their tapes must be in by now.   A little tickler for Motown / Temptations fans – in their pre-hit days, the group put out a rush cover version of “Mind Over Matter” under the name “The Pirates” on Gordy’s obscure Mel-O-Dy imprint, when the Diablos’ release was delayed at the pressing plant.   

   Here is the link:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJRuRbUTus&ab_channel=BobSeger1981

Daniel, great stories and glad to find you here at Soul Source. Ace seems like it would have been a good home for a Fortune series. The Pirates version is nice - smoother (of course) than the original. Thanks for sharing that.

Thanks for reading and I'll try to dig up your Goldmine interview.

Joel, thank you for your very kind comments.  F Y I - I read your earlier post about the Motor City Memories LP's.  These three LP's were, as noted, blatant bootlegs which were originally released in the early 90's.  I wrote about them as part of my Detroit chapter in Blackwell's Guide to Soul Recordings.  Early Detroit R&B history in a heavy dose...  

Another book for me to find.....thx for the info. I spend my summers in Michigan, went to UM, and my son lives in Detroit (and is a record collector/ex-DJ) so I've really enjoyed getting into the music history.

Let me know where I can find you/your work on social media, if you can.

On 20/01/2024 at 17:03, Joel E Turner said:

Source News/Article/Feature Highlight:

Details of a review from Joel E Turner of Mind Over Matter: The Myths and Mysteries of Detroit's Fortune Records by Billy Miller and Michael Hurtt.
 

Are The Utopias who are La Salle?

According to Discogs, yes.

this made me chuckle

Obscene:

offensive, rude, or disgusting according to accepted moral standards

I wonder what they were and how many are in the Northern Soul Top 500(0)?

On a serious note,  why and who deemed them offensive and what happened to them; straight to a dumpster?

Little Hank, Billy Watkins, the Shirelles.....

Any UK stockists