Al Kent (Al Hamilton interview) Lonely Teardrops

[G F]

I'm working on another interview and wonder if anyone can shed some light on Al's statements in this short segement, as I can't trace his recording of Lonely Teardrops.

 

Please take a listen...

[Aycliffe Pottsy]

I'm just reading Berry Gordy's autobiography and there's no mention of Al Kent in there. He just said he wrote Lonely Teardrops for Jackie Wilson as a follow up to Reet Petite 

[G F]

I think nearly all 'Motown' books fail to go into detail about the pre-Motown era and recordings.

[Aycliffe Pottsy]

Understandably they tend to focus on the Artists/Songs that were hits and not the obscurities that interest us!

[The Yank]

In the book "Berry Motown and Me", Raynoma Singleton mentions a demo had been cut on the song using Eddie Holland. It was originally almost a ballad. There is no mention of Al Kent though. 

[Mal C]

I love how Al spontaneously breaks into song...! when was this interview done Graham?

[G F]

6 hours ago, Mal C said:

...! when was this interview done Graham?

September, 2002. He'd starting writing a book, so wanted to keep certain things to himself at the time. Have you read his book - Custodians of the Hummingbird ?

[Mal C]

Nope, but I found one, looking forward to that

 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Mal C

[Robbk]

On 11/09/2023 at 02:49, Aycliffe Pottsy said:

I'm just reading Berry Gordy's autobiography and there's no mention of Al Kent in there. He just said he wrote Lonely Teardrops for Jackie Wilson as a follow up to Reet Petite 

Al wrote "Am I The Man" for Jackie Wilson, which is one of my favourite songs by both Wilson and Kent (who recorded it for New York's Wizard Records (not to be confused with L.A.'s Wizard, for whom Hal Davis recorded).  I thought I had ALL Kent's records, but don't remember him having a release of "Lonely Teardrops".  Although I have "Dat's Why I    Love You So" and "Am I The Man" on commercially issued records.  He DID write in his book that "Lonely Teardrops" was the 3rd of the 3 songs he recorded before Jackie.  So, apparently Billy Davis had Al sing the recorded demo for Jackie to use as a guide (unless somehow I've forgotten it is on the back of one of his records I have, or I somehow missed one of his releases).

[Tlscapital]

1 hour ago, Robbk said:

Al wrote "Am I The Man" for Jackie Wilson, which is one of my favourite songs by both Wilson and Kent (who recorded it for New York's Wizard Records (not to be confused with L.A.'s Wizard, for whom Hal Davis recorded).  I thought I had ALL Kent's records, but don't remember him having a release of "Lonely Teardrops".  Although I have "Dat's Why I    Love You So" and "Am I The Man" on commercially issued records.  He DID write in his book that "Lonely Teardrops" was the 3rd of the 3 songs he recorded before Jackie.  So, apparently Billy Davis had Al sing the recorded demo for Jackie to use as a guide (unless somehow I've forgotten it is on the back of one of his records I have, or I somehow missed one of his releases).

Like you all put together even with Al Kent's words in that interview leaves enough room for your theory to fit in. Which is my belief too as well. Since he might have recorded 'Lonely Teardrops' but it was never to be released.

Unlike 'Dat's Why I Love You' and 'Am I The Man' who got released by him prior Jackie's covers. Since there's no trace of Al's 'Lonely Teardrops' record we can conclude that it was never issued or even promoted only if ever.

It does make sense that he vividly remembers recording 'Lonely Teradroips' to soon after hear it on the radios by Jackie. Claiming 'I was first' to sing that. As you implied likely his recording just served as a 'maquette' for Jackie.

[G F]

It's a bit of a gap between Al Kent recording Lonely Teardrops and Jackie Wilson. I just think Gordy resurrected the song(s) once he'd got in with Jackie via Reet Petite in 1957. 

My assumption is Chess released the one 45 and as it didn't sell well, the two other recordings stayed in the can.

I don't think that's the same Wizard label - the Hal Davis 45.

The whole (edited) interview is now on YouTube...

 

[Soul Shrews]

On 12/09/2023 at 02:00, G F said:

- Custodians of the Hummingbird ?

Hi G.F,

Many  thanks for your posts on here.

Do you know where I can buy this book ?

Cheers Paul

[Aycliffe Pottsy]

There’s two used copies on Amazon 

[Robbk]

10 hours ago, G F said:

It's a bit of a gap between Al Kent recording Lonely Teardrops and Jackie Wilson. I just think Gordy resurrected the song(s) once he'd got in with Jackie via Reet Petite in 1957. 

My assumption is Chess released the one 45 and as it didn't sell well, the two other recordings stayed in the can.

I don't think that's the same Wizard label - the Hal Davis 45.

The whole (edited) interview is now on YouTube...

 

That's precisely why I stated that Kent's  Wizard was a New York label as opposed to L.A.'s Wizard for whom Hal Davis recorded.

[G F]

3 hours ago, Robbk said:

That's precisely why I stated that Kent's  Wizard was a New York label as opposed to L.A.'s Wizard for whom Hal Davis recorded.

Sorry, Robb... I typed that addendum late when tired and not fully focused. 

The other thing I was going to mention is that Al said he sang Lonely Teardrops in a slow, Ray Charles style, so it doesn't seem to be directly connected to Jackie's recording.

 

 

[Robbk]

On 16/09/2023 at 18:00, G F said:

Sorry, Robb... I typed that addendum late when tired and not fully focused. 

The other thing I was going to mention is that Al said he sang Lonely Teardrops in a slow, Ray Charles style, so it doesn't seem to be directly connected to Jackie's recording.

 

 

Thanks Graham,

Did Al mention for which record company and which producer he recorded it, and in which studio?  I assume it was recorded in New York.  I'd like to hear it, and match it against Jackie's 1965, later, slow ballad version.

 

[G F]

Al went to Chess in Chicago (hence the Checker release) and cut four songs, two of which were Berry's compositions (That's Why and Lonely Teardrops). I'm not sure if it'd have been Berry or Harry Balk who was the producer - he didn't say. Maybe it's still buried somewhere in Chess's vaults. I've never heard Al's version....  I should have asked him to sing a bit of it, as he did two songs.