Gobsmacked When I Heard This

[Pete S]

Mal C put me onto this. We both like a record called "Down By The Ocean" by George & Sonny Sands, from 1967 or 68 (New Voice label).  It's a cracking beat ballad.  Now Mal put me onto a 1975 release which uses the same backing track.  Seven years later!  Amazing stuff.  The A side was a Mecca spin but has this B side just been totally overlooked?

Sad to see the singer's daughter asking about it, saying her dad passed away several years ago and she doesn't have a copy of the record though.

 

[Simsy]

Just the right tempo for nighters: whistling giff ...

[Pete S]

Just the right tempo for nighters: whistling giff ...

 

For ENDING nighters you  mean 

[Prophonics 2029]

I have been trying to remember the title of this for 10 years lol and it dosn't show up on my phone. Arrrrrrh

Edited August 23, 2013 by Prophonics 2029

[KevH]

Used to play this early doors at the Attic a few years ago.Nice tune.

[Pete S]

Used to play this early doors at the Attic a few years ago.Nice tune.

 

It's just that this scene never fails to amaze me.  I never knew this existed before this week.

[Peter99]

 

Sad to see the singer's daughter asking about it, saying her dad passed away several years ago and she doesn't have a copy of the record though.

 

Was that the thread Mike posted recently Pete?

 

Peter

[Peter99]

Mal C put me onto this. We both like a record called "Down By The Ocean" by George & Sonny Sands, from 1967 or 68 (New Voice label).  It's a cracking beat ballad.  Now Mal put me onto a 1975 release which uses the same backing track.  Seven years later!  Amazing stuff.  The A side was a Mecca spin but has this B side just been totally overlooked?

Sad to see the singer's daughter asking about it, saying her dad passed away several years ago and she doesn't have a copy of the record though.

 

Written by Gladys Knight?

[Paul McKay]

Bought this as a new release from Black Wax in Streatham, but probably for the other side. Must admit I didn't cotton on to the backing track. The producer isn't Gladys from memory it's Garry, but could be wrong. He (DB) had a Motown cover which was popular at the time too. Ah "This old heart of mine"!

[Pete S]

Was that the thread Mike posted recently Pete?

 

Peter

 

I don't know mate it was just sent to me on a PM

[Steve G]

George & Sonny Sands....now there's a group.....This was Sonny Sands  with Nate Adams who had earlier recorded as The Soul Brothers.....back in the early 60's like. And after the New Voice 45, Nate Adams went onto Atlantic......just adding a bit of colour!

[Mick Sway]

Bought this as a new release from Black Wax in Streatham, but probably for the other side. Must admit I didn't cotton on to the backing track. The producer isn't Gladys from memory it's Garry, but could be wrong. He (DB) had a Motown cover which was popular at the time too. Ah "This old heart of mine"!

correct, Gary Knight:.

I think that he co wrote a number of Mitch Ryder hits with Bob Guadio, including "you get your kicks" and "breakout"

Same fellow as in Dey (Tracey)  and Knight(Gary)signed to Columbia.

I think that he also wrote with Bob Crewe:

There's another tune by them that I can't remember at the mo.

Ahh here it is:

"Sayin' Something'" / "Ooh Da La Da Lay" (1966) Columbia #43693

Also see here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tracy-Dey-and-Gary-Knight-1965-Ad-Im-Gonna-Love-You-Tomorrow-Young-Love-/200913408984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec75f53d8

Edited August 23, 2013 by Mick Sway

[purist]

I tried playing this for a while at the Lea Manor Albrighton, when would that be, about fifteen years back? (were you back living up here then Pete?)

It did okay and always drew dance floor action, but for records to break out in that era you needed another DJ to be playing it as well, and can't remember any of the other Albrighton Boys playing it? Not saying it was rare, but when so many other underplayed/forgotten & not known/new tunes were vying for attention, it's easy to give them the " 3 spin wonder " treatment ( think this lasted longer than that tho)

 

For clubs which championed Soul & the original explanation of " Across The Board", this type of sound fitted in perfectly, nestled in as it was amongst the 60's R'n'B stompers,the Y2K modden movers, the Detroit dancers and the ol' Mecca Magic 70's :-)

 

but having said all that I didn't know there'd been a previous 45 on New Voice

[Pete S]

I tried playing this for a while at the Lea Manor Albrighton, when would that be, about fifteen years back? (were you back living up here then Pete?)

It did okay and always drew dance floor action, but for records to break out in that era you needed another DJ to be playing it as well, and can't remember any of the other Albrighton Boys playing it? Not saying it was rare, but when so many other underplayed/forgotten & not known/new tunes were vying for attention, it's easy to give them the " 3 spin wonder " treatment ( think this lasted longer than that tho)

 

For clubs which championed Soul & the original explanation of " Across The Board", this type of sound fitted in perfectly, nestled in as it was amongst the 60's R'n'B stompers,the Y2K modden movers, the Detroit dancers and the ol' Mecca Magic 70's :-)

 

but having said all that I didn't know there'd been a previous 45 on New Voice

 

No I was still in St Leonards On Sea John, I never went to the Lea Manor, apart from a chaotic stag night in 1982 

I admire the pioneering spirit if not a lot of the music played there (am no fan of crossover) I think you'd enjoy the New Voice record, I think it's better than this Mercury one, but I do really like both of them.

[Mick Holdsworth]

Here's the George 'N Sonny Sands - Down By The Ocean.

 

 

Cheers

Mick

 

[Mark B]

I played both at some time or other at the Greatstone but hey never really took off,