If It's All The Same To You Babe/exus Trek - Hib Multi Coloured Vinyl

[Neil Rushton]

By arrangement with the great Robert Bateman, I have arranged with him for me to re-issue

IF IT'S ALL THE SAME TO YOU BABE - LUTHER INGRAM

EXUS TREK - LUTHER INGRAM ORCHESTRA

on a lookalike of his H.I.B label

(B was for Bateman, I for Ingram and H for Robert's girlfriend at the time!)

As well as regular black vinyl, am doing a limited edition run on multi-coloured vinyl. These will be individually numbered from 001 to 150.

These will be £20 each plus postage. I can see them being snapped up, so if anyone wants to reserve a copy please PM me to do so. I am keeping Numbers 1, 45, and 100 for myself, but the rest up for grabs! Am happy to allocate numbers starting with No 2 on first come, first served basis and send PM reply confirming numbers that have been allocated.

Robert remembers the recording sessions well. The main one was done at Golden World Studio with the Funk Brothers playing. Richard Wylie came up with the lyrics and worked on the track with Robert. They had a history together with Luther Ingram via "I Spy For The FBI".

Robert, without Popcorn, then took the tapes to New York where he pulled a favour of Shelby Singleton and got use of the Mercury Studio where he added on the manic strings we all love so much. The Orchestra was in fact just two violinists, who Robert overdubbed and overdubbed until he got the sound he wanted ("I learnt to do that when I was at Motown").

We all think of Northern Soul classcis as being flops, but Robert tells a different story. Luther was popular in St. Louis and "If It's All The Same To You Babe" got regular radio plays there, and Robert's first pressing sold out and he had to supply more to deal with the demand. He sold about 5,000, his distributor in St. Louis wanted more and at that point Robert got concerned about the costs he was running up. He told the distributor his dilema and they said they would get someone to contact him who could help. Shortly afterwards Jerry Wexler from Atlantic rang him and arranged a distrtibution deal, hence the Atco credits on later copies.

So Robert sold around 5,000 copies himself, and got an advance from Atlantic that covered all his costs/made him a profit, so he certainly does not see it as a flop.

I explaind to him how the fast beat and whole feel of the record makes it ideal for the Northern scene, but asked who on earth he was aiming such an uptempo dancer at in the USA. His answer says it all: "I just wanted to make a record that sounded like something The Four Tops were doing!".

All The Best,

Neil

[Ric-tic]

sorry meant to p.m

Edited August 4, 2011 by ric-tic

[Rob Moss]

Fascinating story Neil. I remember Don Mancha telling me that the 'H' in HIB was Joe Hunter - he must have been mistaken!

[Neil Rushton]

Fascinating story Neil. I remember Don Mancha telling me that the 'H' in HIB was Joe Hunter - he must have been mistaken!

No, definitely the initial in christian name of Robert's girlfriend at the time of release.

[Guest miff]

Did he tell you, What, Is, where, why its Called EXUS TREK ???????

[Neil Rushton]

Did he tell you, What, Is, where, why its Called EXUS TREK ???????

Yes, they were jumping on the Star Trek craze.

[Neil Rushton]

One of my favourite Robert Bateman productions is Lou Courtney "Me & You (Doin' The Boogaloo)".

It is an LP only track on the Lou Courtney "Skate Now Shiingaling" LP on Riverside, or it was until Simon Soussan booted it on a seven inch.

Seems that Simon was not the first to come up with the idea of it being a 45, as Robert sold me an acetate of what was intended to be a single.

[arnie j]

Did he tell you, What, Is, where, why its Called EXUS TREK ???????

that is a great question and one id like to know the answer to too

jason

ignore that,ive just seen the post !thanks

jason

Edited August 4, 2011 by arnie j

[Guest JIM BARRY]

just love these stories about the background of the tunes we love neil, thats why your book is a winner.

[Neil Rushton]

just love these stories about the background of the tunes we love neil, thats why your book is a winner.

If I had know about it in time for NORTHERN SOUL STORIES I would have included it for sure..

John Rhys also talks about what he called "Motown thugs" marching into Golden World Studio and grabbing the multi-track of what had just been recorded there, would you believe "Ain't It Baby" - Kenny Gamble .and wheeling the tape along Davision Avenue with the precious multi-track spilling everywhere. Luckily John (who is from England) had done a safety copy! Again if I had this in time for NORTHERN SOUL STORIES would have included it.

The new Al Abrams book "Hype & Sou! - Behind The Scenes At Motown" is full of great stuff. There's a whole chapter on the March On Hitsville for Tommy Good which was orchestrated by Al. And after reading the book you will look at that famous quote from Bob Dylan about Smokey Robinson being America's greatest living poet in a different way.

[Wilxy]

Quality info Neil.....Respect wilxy

[Guest miff]

Yes, they were jumping on the Star Trek craze.

I have heared that before only Star Trek Didnt take off till it 1969, The Pilot was made in 1964 and was rejected, the first run of the serires was'nt run till September 1966 Although a sucess at first only 52 of the 94 shows were aired and the show was droped, so i guess it depends when in 66 it was recorded but he would of only had 3 months to spot the band wagon to jump on to if you get what I mean. Intresting to read it was a local hit to, so there should be loads of copys out there then

[Neil Rushton]

I have heared that before only Star Trek Didnt take off till it 1969, The Pilot was made in 1964 and was rejected, the first run of the serires was'nt run till September 1966 Although a sucess at first only 52 of the 94 shows were aired and the show was droped, so i guess it depends when in 66 it was recorded but he would of only had 3 months to spot the band wagon to jump on to if you get what I mean. Intresting to read it was a local hit to, so there should be loads of copys out there then

[Neil Rushton]

Robert and Richard Wylie also showed they liked following fashion trends with "I Spy For The FBI" by Luther Ingram. And Richard did the same of course with "Rosemary (What Happened)".

Talking to Robert he was surprised that The Poets "She Blew A Good Thing" had a following in the UK. He and Richard were bought in to do post production work on it ,and came up with the finished version we all love, but got no label credits.

[Neil Rushton]

I just love the idea of Jerry Wexler signing the record for Atlantic to distribute.

[Premium Stuff]

Yes, they were jumping on the Star Trek craze.

And Exus means?

[Neil Rushton]

And Exus means?

I dunno. Sounds a bit biblical like "Exodus" to tie in with space travel? Goes good with Trek I would think. Will ask the question..

[Pete S]

I dunno. Sounds a bit biblical like "Exodus" to tie in with space travel? Goes good with Trek I would think. Will ask the question..

That question was asked a few months ago and someone did find out the answer, sure it was something to do with mystical religion or similar

[Neil Rushton]

That question was asked a few months ago and someone did find out the answer, sure it was something to do with mystical religion or similar

[Neil Rushton]

Thanks to everyone who has ordered copies. Am looking forward to seeing the muli-coloured vinyl. The production process means that every copy comes out differently.

Edited August 6, 2011 by NeilRushton1