I know if really want an original you need to buy that MFP album (be the £3.00 you'll ever spend on records)   It came out as a pukker TMG single in 1974, I've had lots pass through my hands. But I came across this copy and it looks different than any I've ever seen. Did it get a later release ? a sort of re-re-lease ? The text looks different and larger but it does say TMG886, always thought that they issued a number number, usually higher when re-releasing a TMG single.

This is how "original" 1974 release looks like. Any help, comments, advice, etc welcome..........

This one doesn't feel "right"

Edited February 11, 201510 yr by Chris L

Later issue is RCA rather than EMI.

How far apart are they in terms of release date ?

  On 11/02/2015 at 12:08, Chris L said:

How far apart are they in terms of release date ?

 

RCA re-released loads about 84/85 (I think it was about then but I might be +/- a year either way). I don't know how many they did re issue, but it must be close to 100 titles. Amongst them was F Wilson, F Valli 3024, loads of commercial classics / hits, all on black labels.

 

Having said that., I don't remember the Contours being amongst them, but it clearly must have been.

 

Cheers

Mick

  On 11/02/2015 at 11:43, Chris L said:

I know if really want an original you need to buy that MFP album (be the £3.00 you'll ever spend on records)   It came out as a pukker TMG single in 1974, I've had lots pass through my hands. But I came across this copy and it looks different than any I've ever seen. Did it get a later release ? a sort of re-re-lease ? The text looks different and larger but it does say TMG886, always thought that they issued a number number, usually higher when re-releasing a TMG single.

This is how "original" 1974 release looks like. Any help, comments, advice, etc welcome..........

Contours2.jpeg

This one doesn't feel "right"

Contours1.JPG

The original issue of "Baby Hit And Run" is the TMG single released in Feb 1974 - the MFP LP wasn't released until the summer of 1974

I would put that RCA distributed Contours slightly earlier than Mick stated[84] and put it at about 1982. I have no proof for this but can clearly remember my mate buying a copy of F.Wilson[RCA Distibuted] around that time…..[wasnt as late as 84].

  This copy[F.Wilson] came into my possession years after and it was only then that I noticed the label differences between that and my EMI distributed copy. So, my assumption is that the Contours 45 would have been done at the same time as the Frank Wilson[RCA]…..Anyone know for sure ?

Wasn't this in box set ?

  On 11/02/2015 at 22:22, TOAD said:

Wasn't this in box set ?

Toad, that's what I thought, the font definitely looks similar if not the same as the boxed set ones.

  On 11/02/2015 at 20:33, Ringleader said:

The original issue of "Baby Hit And Run" is the TMG single released in Feb 1974 - the MFP LP wasn't released until the summer of 1974

 

I'm sure you've got your facts right but I don't remember it being like that.

Doesn't sound right to me either.

I remember it being played from the LP before it came out on a single.

So why would anyone do that if you could get the 45?

Or maybe just a few demos were out when it first got played and the actual release was a few months later?

But in the meantime the LP was released?

I forget the details but can certainly recall it getting played from the LP before the 45 was in the shops...

  On 12/02/2015 at 09:17, John Benson said:

Doesn't sound right to me either.

I remember it being played from the LP before it came out on a single.

So why would anyone do that if you could get the 45?

Or maybe just a few demos were out when it first got played and the actual release was a few months later?

But in the meantime the LP was released?

I forget the details but can certainly recall it getting played from the LP before the 45 was in the shops...

 

Thank heavens for that John !! I though I was losing my marbles or at the time, some sort chemical imbalance

At 1974 people just didn't play 12" Albums, unless it was a very special "can't get anywhere else" thing.

Edited February 12, 201510 yr by Chris L

  On 12/02/2015 at 13:06, Chris L said:

Thank heavens for that John !! I though I was losing my marbles or at the time, some sort chemical imbalance

At 1974 people just didn't play 12" Albums, unless it was a very special "can't get anywhere else" thing.

I think you are both wrong - the 45 was released on 8th Feb 1974 - the album in the summer 1974 - i remember the album release because a friend sent me a postcard from his holiday in Blackpool saying he had just bought it as it had just been released and I went out and bought it in Newcastle that week  - the only track on the LP new to me at the time was "It's Growing"

Edited February 12, 201510 yr by Ringleader

I thought the LP came first but then why would MFP title an Lp after a track that had not been released if that was the case ? 

The plot thickens..... 

Just dug out the LP and the sleeve notes refer to "Baby Hit And Run" having been "issued in Britain as a Tamla Motown single early in 1974" 

yeah I def' remember buying the album for this track and playing it. I am sure if I could have got the 7" I would have bought that instead, and the shop I used to buy my stuff from that was very upfront with the stock they carried, 'Jumbo Records' in Leeds. I used to go in 2 or 3 times a week for the latest Motown tracks.

  On 11/02/2015 at 11:43, Chris L said:

I know if really want an original you need to buy that MFP album (be the £3.00 you'll ever spend on records)   It came out as a pukker TMG single in 1974, I've had lots pass through my hands. But I came across this copy and it looks different than any I've ever seen. Did it get a later release ? a sort of re-re-lease ? The text looks different and larger but it does say TMG886, always thought that they issued a number number, usually higher when re-releasing a TMG single.

This is how "original" 1974 release looks like. Any help, comments, advice, etc welcome..........

Contours2.jpeg

This one doesn't feel "right"

Contours1.JPG

  On 12/02/2015 at 18:04, Northern Soul UK said:

yeah I def' remember buying the album for this track and playing it. I am sure if I could have got the 7" I would have bought that instead, and the shop I used to buy my stuff from that was very upfront with the stock they carried, 'Jumbo Records' in Leeds. I used to go in 2 or 3 times a week for the latest Motown tracks.

The provable facts are the 45 was released 8th Feb 1974

the LP sometime in 1974

and the sleeve notes refer to the 45 having already been released EARLIER in 1974

My all time fave motown track "Baby Hit and run "was recorded in 1965,penciled in for an aborted album "Contours Sing its So hard Being a Loser" . Only then issued in the UK as asingle Tmg 886 8th Feb 1974, no month is stated on Lp except  year 1974,but as Ringleader says Clive Richardson in his sleeve notes points  the single being issued early in 1974! [he also alludes to the fact that "its Growing" was issued on a single which it never was .From memory i was sure LP Primero single  2nd ,now im not so sure? The second issue is an RCA issue they took over distribution from EMI in 1981.The type Font is different [resembling a dutch or german issue,it is not as they had different TM matrixs] RCA issues also can be identified at aglance by the text which runs round the edge of the label in continuous circle,  Ididnt realise the RCA version existed so a scarce  Item?

According to the ''Don't Forget The Motor City'' website The single was released Feb 74 and the Lp May  74.

I concur with Conchita regarding release date of single & the RCA font details after they took over from EMI in distributing Tamla Motown in the UK in the 80's. They would have repressed the current on catalogue sellers at the time, with existing TMG numbers. All new product then became subject to the new ZB number system.  I am pretty sure that the MFP album was released after the single around May 1974.

Although my memory is not what it was I seem to recall Baby Hit & Run being played at the Torch after Tell Me Just A Rumour had also been big. Which would seem to point to EMI sending demo's to the Torch DJ's etc. & releasing the single once demand had been generated.

This has got me completely puzzled. I absolutely, clearly remember buying the MfP album because there was no other way to get the track. Very odd!

So... Maybe the advance promo copy getting plays prior to the 45 and LP theory is the answer?

 

We just need someone who can confirm this 

Had the album before the 45, (the 45 would have been the cheaper option for a poor apprentice fitter)

 

Some good tracks on those MFP/Contour albums

  On 12/02/2015 at 18:48, billbaker said:

I concur with Conchita regarding release date of single & the RCA font details after they took over from EMI in distributing Tamla Motown in the UK in the 80's. They would have repressed the current on catalogue sellers at the time, with existing TMG numbers. All new product then became subject to the new ZB number system.  I am pretty sure that the MFP album was released after the single around May 1974. Although my memory is not what it was I seem to recall Baby Hit & Run being played at the Torch after Tell Me Just A Rumour had also been big. Which would seem to point to EMI sending demo's to the Torch DJ's etc. & releasing the single once demand had been generated.

 

Torch closed in 1973.

  On 12/02/2015 at 18:51, Soulfinger said:

This has got me completely puzzled. I absolutely, clearly remember buying the MfP album because there was no other way to get the track. Very odd!

 

Me too.............

It really is a good album, you can get one for less than a fiver, great for someone just getting into the scene.

1. Just A Little Misunderstanding                  
2. First I Look At The Purse                              
3. Can You Jerk Like Me                    
4. It's Growing                       
5. Baby Hit And Run                            
6. It's So Hard Being A Loser                            
7. Can You Do It?                  
8. Determination                
9. It Must Be Love                               
10. Don't Let Her Be Your Baby                         
11. Shake Sherrie                   
12. Do You Love Me?

Rca took over Tamla motown in early 1982... so that repress is around then or later

This appears in "45Cat" for the single :

 

Notes

A release date of 15 Feb 1974 is given in booklet 'The New Singles' No. 512

B-side previously issued on Stateside SS 381.
A-side was a previously unissued recording from the same era.

 

Not familiar with "The New Singles" wonder if they got it wrong. The Isley Brothers - Tell me it's a rumour was released on a single after interest from Soul on Rocks album. Can't see why this would be different. Ah well, I guess anything's possible.

The UK demo of the Contours 45 does state Feb 1974 as the release date - but even they have been known to be wrong.

So it could have been held back a few months, until after the LP was released?

I can only echo previous posts and I have always been a 45 collector if available on that format.

I first bought this on the MFP LP as it was the only way as far as I knew at the time to obtain Baby Hit And Run.

 

Not saying that it's impossible, but I find it amazing to discover that the 45 may have been on the shelves at the time.

  On 13/02/2015 at 23:18, 45cellar said:

I can only echo previous posts and I have always been a 45 collector if available on that format. I first bought this on the MFP LP as it was the only way as far as I knew at the time to obtain Baby Hit And Run. Not saying that it's impossible, but I find it amazing to discover that the 45 may have been on the shelves at the time.

 

Guess we'll never really know, some 40+ years ago

Russ Winstanley was playing it at the Casino in early 1974 when Motown released it. See below from my copy of Blues & Soul , 132, April 1974.

On the 45 or LP first discussion, I certainly think the 45 came out a few months before the LP.

 

I bought the LP as I did most of that series, but I already knew 'Baby Hit & Run' before doing so.

 

Tamla Motown were still very much about 'new' release product at that time (73 / 74) and tended to bundle old stuff into the MFP compilations. I think the 'Baby Hit And Run' 45 release was as a result of a bit of digging at Motown, after the surprise success of JJ Barnes 'Real Humdinger, Isley Bros 'Tell Me It's Just A Rumour' etc. but the first venture was to put it out as a 45 and they packaged the LP a few months on, on the strength of it.

 

You'll recall they put out 'R Dean Taylor 'Theres A Ghost In My House' on 45 a couple of months later (after it being used heavily on the LP - which is maybe what's confusing some of us?) and that's the way I remember it.

 

 

Sean

Edited February 14, 201510 yr by Sean Hampsey

Thank you Sean & Jim G 

  On 14/02/2015 at 10:48, jim g said:

Russ Winstanley was playing it at the Casino in early 1974 when Motown released it. See below from my copy of Blues & Soul , 132, April 1974.

 

If it was in Aptil B & S then the article would have been written well before that date.

I couldn't find any dates on the MFP album, maybe it was released before '74 ?

Chris, why are you trying to make the facts fit your memory of how it was?

 

it says on the label "Baby Hit And Run & it's Growing (P) 1974"  

 

I along with others on here remember things differently and it's no coincidence the facts support this 

Picture of the demo below taken from Popsike

 

8th February 1974 was the release date. Up until then, it had not been released on a 45. It was never released in USA. And, I bought in Feb 1974 from Williams's in Darlo.

Edited February 14, 201510 yr by jim g

I don't think Chris is trying to make the facts fit his memory of how it was - he's not exactly on his own on this. Others have also commented similarly.

Yes, the demo 45 does state February 1974 as it's release date and the LP does show 1974 as it's (P) date.

 

It is odd that we have similar thoughts on the period, but it was 41 years back so things can get a little hazy 

 

But I can relate to Sean's comment regarding the R. Dean Taylor song getting plays from the MFP LP and maybe it is that that's confusing some of us a bit?

My MFP doesn't have any dates on it.

  On 14/02/2015 at 16:30, John Benson said:

I don't think Chris is trying to make the facts fit his memory of how it was - he's not exactly on his own on this. Others have also commented similarly.

Yes, the demo 45 does state February 1974 as it's release date and the LP does show 1974 as it's (P) date.

 

It is odd that we have similar thoughts on the period, but it was 41 years back so things can get a little hazy 

 

But I can relate to Sean's comment regarding the R. Dean Taylor song getting plays from the MFP LP and maybe it is that that's confusing some of us a bit?

 

Hazy is right John.

 

It's a long time ago.

 

I just don't have 'Baby Hit And Run' in my mind or memory as a one time 'LP only' record.

 

I think the 45 snook out in early '74 without much of a fanfare and then Russ (and I also seem to recall the Mecca ) started playing it.

 

It was big that Summer and the LP then made an appearance and because of it's budget price a lot of us bought.

 

Fascinating discussion.

 

 

Sean

  On 14/02/2015 at 16:42, Chris L said:

My MFP doesn't have any dates on it.

Chris, it's at the side of the title on the label:

 

 

Same on the back cover:

 

 

Is your copy different from these?

  On 14/02/2015 at 17:00, John Benson said:

Chris, it's at the side of the title on the label:

 

Contours Baby hit and run LP label.jpg

 

Same on the back cover:

 

Contours Baby hit and run LP back cover.jpg

 

Is your copy different from these?

 

OK got it, ah well