Poll: Version Battle - Ever again

[Mike]

A short 7 day one this time around, though have a feeling that it may all be over a bit sooner than next Monday

Which version of Ever Again gets your vote?

Gene Woodbury - Ever Again 

 

Bernie Williams - Ever Again

Early we meet oh baby then we kiss
Then we find that lovely place
Before we met each other I was so alone
Yes I was, and so now I've got yes I have someone to call my home
and I know I won't be lonely Ever Again

Now love is sweet, allright If your girl got soul
Life complete yes it is with someone who hold
and so now I have someone to help me make my dreams come true
I've got someone who change my grey sky to blue
and I know I won't be lonely Ever Again (noooooo baby)

So now I know that two for one yes I do
Now some hot arrow now we've got someone
and so now we go together as to face my destiny
Now we know that love, allright, is the right can be

and I know I won't be lonely Ever Again

 

as always feel most free to talk about your choice, reasons, background and such via the comments below....

[Guest Spain pete]

Bernie for me tougher version  , but gene's sure ain't half bad 👍🎶🎶🎶

[Chris Turnbull]

Was Gene known / played first?

Always imagine it a Wigan tune but was it played earlier?

[Amsterdam Russ]

Third option for me - no preference over either. Both are great.

[Stubbsy]

Gene Woodbury all day long for me

[Rich B]

3 hours ago, Spain pete said:

Bernie for me tougher version  , but gene's sure ain't half bad 👍🎶🎶🎶

Very good Pete! Certainly, made me smile!

As for the tunes, Bernie every time. Gene W. a late70's early 80's discovery? I got mine off Soul Bowls front page, so they must have had a decent quantity at one time.

[Hooker1951]

Sitting on the fence with these two

ML

[Mike]

1 hour ago, Rich B said:

Very good Pete! Certainly, made me smile!

As for the tunes, Bernie every time. Gene W. a late70's early 80's discovery? I got mine off Soul Bowls front page, so they must have had a decent quantity at one time.

think gene w was around same time as bernie w... maybe just after,  77/78 ..?

[Citizen P]

gene woodbury for me can't stand the grunting in t'other... always thought Gene Woodbury was around '74/75...

[Chris Turnbull]

1 minute ago, Citizen P said:

gene woodbury for me can't stand the grunting in t'other.

Same here

[Rich B]

16 minutes ago, mike said:

think gene w was around same time as bernie w... maybe just after,  77/78 ..?

I think that's about right Mike, it was on the Grapevine lp around '78. Which, now I come to think about it, is where I first heard it.

[Tomangoes]

Bernie for me, and it was a very sought after tune.

However if there was no Bernie, I think Gene would have still done well.

Ed

[Peter99]

Bernie for me.

And I like the grunting!

Pete

[The Yank]

I like both versions but Bernie has a definite edge over Gene.

    Just out of curiosity - aren't the first two lines-   "First we meet and then we kiss, then we find love is bliss ..." ?

 

[Soul16]

Bernie for me too, I heard that version first and first heard the Gene version on the Grapevine LP. I do like that Del-Val label though.

Sorry to be picky, but the lyrics above aren't quite correct, I think they're:

'First we meet, oh baby, then we kiss

Then we find, oh yeah, that love is bliss

Before we met each other I was so alone

Yes I was and so now I've got someone to call my own'

 

'So now I know that you're the one, yes I do

Now two hearts aglow, alright, beat as one'

 

 

 

[Peter99]

16 minutes ago, Soul16 said:

Bernie for me too, I heard that version first and first heard the Gene version on the Grapevine LP. I do like that Del-Val label though.

Sorry to be picky, but the lyrics above aren't quite correct, I think they're:

'First we meet, oh baby, then we kiss

Then we find, oh yeah, that love is bliss

Before we met each other I was so alone

Yes I was and so now I've got someone to call my own'

 

'So now I know that you're the one, yes I do

Now two hearts aglow, alright, beat as one'

 

 

 

I'm sorry to be picky but you left the grunts out. 

[Bruv]

Their both brilliant versions, Bernie for me if I had to choose. Proper Northern Soul the music the lyrics, and what a great dancer...  

[Ian Stacey]

Gene woodbury for me one of the big tunes played at Leicester Oddfellows  reminds me of that venue

[Tlscapital]

Use to favor Gene Woodbury "hitting & slam" version but with time appreciate Bernie Williams "musicality" more and more. Have none but would keep both if I had them. So I'll skip my vote here.

[maslar]

Again, not much in it but if  I had to choose I'd go with GW. I think his vocal  - laid back and jazzy -   slightly suit the mood of the song better.

[Bbrich]

GW, but only just. (prepare to be shot down...) neither would make my top500

[Davenpete]

Gene Woodbury - cleaner sound. Dx

 

[Thfcliam]

both as good as each other  but probably have to go for Bernie only just though! has to be up there always loved it.

Edited September 15, 2017 by thfcliam

[Davetay]

Bernie for me, Mecca Classic. 

Below my old copy l had in the 70's.

[Wheelsville1]

For me,it has to be Gene Woodbury,the stupid unnessery grunts in Bernie Williams version spoil it. 

[manus]

 

Bernie for me the vocal a little bit more mature and the one I heard first and memories associated.

An old non Soul friend who I hadn't seen for about 35 years friended me on Facebook a year or so back. He was living in Los Angeles and remembering that I was into Soul asked me if I knew of the records of his next door neighbour - Gene Woodbury.

[Kegsy]

On 12/09/2017 at 09:54, Chris Turnbull said:

Was Gene known / played first?

Always imagine it a Wigan tune but was it played earlier?

 

On 12/09/2017 at 14:38, mike said:

think gene w was around same time as bernie w... maybe just after,  77/78 ..?

Bernie Williams was played yonks before Gene Woodbury. 73/74 

[Wheelsville1]

I'm sure I read somewhere,that Gene Woodbury had a local hit in Philadelphia,with his version of ever again,as his version was the first. 

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

1 hour ago, Kegsy said:

 

Bernie Williams was played yonks before Gene Woodbury. 73/74 

Awesome post Kegs...you feelin' ok ? Guess you forgot about Blackpool Mecca and IAN LEVINE...?

[Davetay]

3 hours ago, Kegsy said:

 

Bernie Williams was played yonks before Gene Woodbury. 73/74 

74 Blackpool Mecca.

 

[Tomangoes]

Back in the day before t'internet!

Bernie was a massive tune. Sought after and at least a weeks wages.

Not long after though, Gene was appearing on lists for about the same money, but not played out much.

We all realise they sound very different, hence the poll..

It is a revelation Gene got played before Bernie...

TSWONS !!

Ed

[Davetay]

11 minutes ago, tomangoes said:

Back in the day before t'internet!

Bernie was a massive tune. Sought after and at least a weeks wages.

Not long after though, Gene was appearing on lists for about the same money, but not played out much.

We all realise they sound very different, hence the poll..

It is a revelation Gene got played before Bernie...

TSWONS !!

Ed

Who said Gene got played 1st? 

See mine and Kegsy posts 

Bernie 74, Gene a few years later!

 

[Rich B]

Thanks to the wonder of technology I have had the opportunity to listen to them both again and Gene's outing is certainly better than I recall. 

But to get things straight; Bernie, Mecca '74 - Gene, Wigan (?) late 70's.

I bought Gene to be completist, and it was inexpensive, I bought Bernie because I just couldn't believe I would ever have the opportunity to own a real Bernie Williams - knackered as it was. For the record, it was one of the original five from John Anderson (ex Soul Sam), cracked and worn maybe, but £15 - who's going to say no?

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

12 hours ago, Rich B said:

Thanks to the wonder of technology I have had the opportunity to listen to them both again and Gene's outing is certainly better than I recall. 

But to get things straight; Bernie, Mecca '74 - Gene, Wigan (?) late 70's.

I bought Gene to be completist, and it was inexpensive, I bought Bernie because I just couldn't believe I would ever have the opportunity to own a real Bernie Williams - knackered as it was. For the record, it was one of the original five from John Anderson (ex Soul Sam), cracked and worn maybe, but £15 - who's going to say no?

I would agree with the period you mention,BW was a very big play for Ian.GW was a Wigan play most like jumping on the back-of BW,due to the rivalry stirred up by a certain well known magazine circa 1975.Many comments over where/when records were first played are all over the place,especially from certain dealer(who often misquotes badly),is irritating because it sort of "reinvents" a part of our scene,giving credits where not due.

 

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

12 hours ago, davetay said:

Who said Gene got played 1st? 

See mine and Kegsy posts 

Bernie 74, Gene a few years later!

 

Agree.

[Guest chartertime]

Mecca yes but played by Colin first - initially found in Telford ?

[Tomangoes]

My mistake perhaps from reading the posts.

Gene 67 release and bernie 69 release.

I never heard of Gene until about 79, and even then only as record listing as opposed to a regular play out.

Probably one of the most obscure records to have two versions.

 

Ed

[Soul-slider]

I actually have a Bernie Williams but I prefer Gene (which I don't have!).

[Mike]

into the last 24hrs now

and its looking like Bernies version is gonna be the peoples choice, unless...?

closes at 7:20 pm tomorrow, numbers still tight enough for your choice to make a difference

 

 

[Mike]

now all over

the results go like this

1. Which 'Ever Again' does it for you?

Gene Woodbury

41%

Bernie Williams

59%

Not a great surprise for me but have to say that the result was a lot closer than I originally thought it would be.

Thanks to all who took part in both the comments and/or the voting, yet again the poll comments made interesting and enjoyable reading!

 

over to you Bernie...