Arthur Prysock recent If i was a boy release

[Rick Scott]

A 7"  single which has been recently released On a USA Audio Disc called If i was a boy by Arthur Prysock and flew out within hours. 

But the thing is to my ears this is The Allan Scott album track "You were a girl when i needed a Woman" from the 'I needed a Woman' LP (Tower USA) '69

which i used to play out back in the day. So was this just a Cover Up played here in the UK as Arthur Prysock that some one had done in the States?

It has been quoted  as a very rare acetate on the nett, Thoughts anyone? can't be Arthur Prysock surely.

 

[Reforee]

I think Dave Thorley, covered up Allan Scott as Arthur Prysock back in the day or he had an acetate of this by Arthur???

[Chalky]

Dave’s was an uncredited Bell Sound acetate. No one knew who it actually was at the time. Dave played it as AP.  
 

I played it out off the Lp. 
 

Have you a link to the release?

[Happy Feet]

Is this the right one ? I have questioned who's behind the pressing nobody seems to know , but plenty on eBay with the acetate label lookalike , one sided etc , I'd say definitely Allan Scott too 

 

Edited March 27 by Happy Feet

[Chalky]

33 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

Is this the right one ? I have questioned who's behind the pressing nobody seems to know , but plenty on eBay with the acetate label lookalike , one sided etc , I'd say definitely Allan Scott too 

 

That’s the one, Allan Scott. 

[Chalky]

one of the sellers is one of those done for bootlegging not so long ago.  The other seller looks to be making them for order, brand new carvers. Their names are on the item page. 

Edited March 27 by Chalky

[Rick Scott]

mmmmm very interesting and thank you for your input so far Guys And Gals  Pretty much as i thought.

Always thought was a great song and was covered by numerous other Artists 

with different variations of Lyrics and title.

Gordon Waller - I was boy (when you needed a man) (Bell USA & UK) '69

Billie Shields - I was a boy (when you needed a man) (Harbour USA) '69

Bobby Hebb Cadet - I was a boy (when you needed a man) (Checker USA) '72

Maybe more out there but these are ones i am aware of.

 

[John Benson]

10 hours ago, Rick Scott said:

Always thought was a great song and was covered by numerous other Artists 

with different variations of Lyrics and title.

Gordon Waller - I was boy (when you needed a man) (Bell USA & UK) '69

Billie Shields - I was a boy (when you needed a man) (Harbour USA) '69

Bobby Hebb Cadet - I was a boy (when you needed a man) (Checker USA) '72

Maybe more out there but these are ones i am aware of.

 

Here's a few more Rick, can't speak for all of them, but the one I heard wasn't anything special:

John Rowles - I was a boy (CBS Australia & NZ, Philips Australia) 1970

Michael Allen - I Was A Boy When You Needed A Man (USA 1970)

Marakis - Mais Pou Qui, Mais Pourquoi = I Was A Boy When You Needed A Man (CBS France 1970)

[Rick Scott]

12 hours ago, John Benson said:

Here's a few more Rick,

Thanks John, nice to hear from you 

Always great to be able to share with others on things like this and i will certainly have a listen to them as sure they will be up there on youtube etc, everyone has different tastes and may take a liking to at least one of the alternative versions we have mentioned which would be good to know  

[rob5airborne]

I heard this track played by Dave Thorely at an allnighter at the Ritz in the 90s. He covered it up and wouldn't tell me what it was at the time. Many years later, I was heading up security at Yogi Haughton's Scottish Soul Weekend. I asked Dave the story behind the track. This time Dave told me the story. He said he was in a record shop in the States going through the boxes and he found a stack of white labels. They were all Arthur Prysock tracks. In amongst them was a white label which had no artist name on it but it had "If I were a boy" written on the label. Dave bought it, spun it, and found it was this track. Nowhere in the lyrics does it have "If I were a boy." Dave said it sounded like Arthur Prysock and was in a stack of Arthur Prysock white labels so he assumed it must be an Arthur Prysock track.  Dave tracked down some of the band members who played for Arthur and some of the producers and sound engineers who produced his records. None of them knew the track, so it's a bit of a mystery. At a guess, I reckon Arthur Prysock probably heard the Allan Scott album track "When I needed a woman," liked it, recorded it, but the record company decided it wasn't going to be a hit so binned it before it even got pressed as a demo which is why we think Dave's copy is a one of a kind. It's a few years since Dave told me this so there might be some more information about it now but this is as much as I know. No matter who sings it or what it's called, it's an absolutely blinding track!

[Michael Ashmore]

2 hours ago, rob5airborne said:

I heard this track played by Dave Thorely at an allnighter at the Ritz in the 90s. He covered it up and wouldn't tell me what it was at the time. Many years later, I was heading up security at Yogi Haughton's Scottish Soul Weekend. I asked Dave the story behind the track. This time Dave told me the story. He said he was in a record shop in the States going through the boxes and he found a stack of white labels. They were all Arthur Prysock tracks. In amongst them was a white label which had no artist name on it but it had "If I were a boy" written on the label. Dave bought it, spun it, and found it was this track. Nowhere in the lyrics does it have "If I were a boy." Dave said it sounded like Arthur Prysock and was in a stack of Arthur Prysock white labels so he assumed it must be an Arthur Prysock track.  Dave tracked down some of the band members who played for Arthur and some of the producers and sound engineers who produced his records. None of them knew the track, so it's a bit of a mystery. At a guess, I reckon Arthur Prysock probably heard the Allan Scott album track "When I needed a woman," liked it, recorded it, but the record company decided it wasn't going to be a hit so binned it before it even got pressed as a demo which is why we think Dave's copy is a one of a kind. It's a few years since Dave told me this so there might be some more information about it now but this is as much as I know. No matter who sings it or what it's called, it's an absolutely blinding track!

It is Allen Scott not Arthur 

[Chalky]

6 hours ago, Michael Ashmore said:

It is Allen Scott not Arthur 

It's also a Bell Sound Acetate that Dave has not a white label

[rob5airborne]

That's interesting because he told me he found it in a pile of Arthur Prysock white labels. He said that disc was also a white label but had no artist written on it, but it did have a hand written title which was, "If I were a boy." I'd love to get to the bottom of this story because its been bugging me for over 30 years. I'll have to get the thumb screws out and water board him next time I see him!

[Michael Ashmore]

It's on utube Allen Scott have a listen and compare

 

[Chalky]

29 minutes ago, rob5airborne said:

That's interesting because he told me he found it in a pile of Arthur Prysock white labels. He said that disc was also a white label but had no artist written on it, but it did have a hand written title which was, "If I were a boy." I'd love to get to the bottom of this story because its been bugging me for over 30 years. I'll have to get the thumb screws out and water board him next time I see him!

He probably did find it amongst some Arthur Prysock records Burt it is an uncredited Bell Sound acetate that turned out to be Allan Scott on a Capitol Lp.  How much info do you need?  It certainly isn't Arthur Prysock.  It took me some time to find out what it was and I got an Lp and played it covered up still at places like Lifeline.

[Rick Scott]

Spot on Chalky Came out in the USA & Canada.

Allan Scott I Needed A Woman LP TOWER - ST- 5164 US 1969.

Allan Scott I Needed A Woman LP Capitol - ST - 6338 CANADA.

If you are checking out YOUTUBE Video Make Sure you spell his first name as Allan  NOT Allen as that is another Artist.

Checked on Discogs & a few copies up there for those that may well be wanting this now, 

Though Only Sellers in US & Canada at the Moment. 

[Peter99]

This is why I find SS such an interesting place.

Great discussion, and some great insight from Rick and Karl; and everyone else. Topic of the week!

Thanks.

Peter

[Blackpoolsoul]

On 08/12/2024 at 13:35, Rick Scott said:

Spot on Chalky Came out in the USA & Canada.

Allan Scott I Needed A Woman LP TOWER - ST- 5164 US 1969.

Allan Scott I Needed A Woman LP Capitol - ST - 6338 CANADA.

If you are checking out YOUTUBE Video Make Sure you spell his first name as Allan  NOT Allen as that is another Artist.

Checked on Discogs & a few copies up there for those that may well be wanting this now, 

Though Only Sellers in US & Canada at the Moment. 

I have been trying to find out more about Allan but no real clues as to what happened to him Rick or who he was. Some people just stop it seems and never record again

[Rick Scott]

2 hours ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

I have been trying to find out more about Allan but no real clues as to what happened to him Rick or who he was. Some people just stop it seems and never record again

Too True, great shame as it would have made a welcome official 7" release  but hey! was not to be, but loads of other singers felt differently and did their version/take on it. But for me Allans is the best version for me.

[Chalky]

2 hours ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

I have been trying to find out more about Allan but no real clues as to what happened to him Rick or who he was. Some people just stop it seems and never record again

Well he is not Al Scott (Genuine) as some lazily assumed.
Oh Al and Allan, must be the same guy

[Benji]

and after all, it's pure pop in my opinion. Be it by Arthur Prysock or Allan Scott or whoever.

[Rick Scott]

4 hours ago, Benji said:

and after all, it's pure pop in my opinion. Be it by Arthur Prysock or Allan Scott or whoever.

Yep Benji that is true, Its what ever rocks our boats as it is with all forms of music,

Thanks for all the input , been fun  Rick

[Rick Scott]

Just for the Record (yes i will take that as a pun Ha Ha) 

It was far better than lot of Pop Drivel that was played on the Scene over the years and judging by that from comments on the thread so far, Dave Thorley Played it on the Dodgy Acetate,Chalky and myself were playing it off the LP and like me must have had many people up to the Turntables to see what was being played,

Rob5airborne was Chasing it to find out it's identity and been Bugging him for over 30 years Rated it as a 'Absolutely Blinding Track'

Blackpoolsoul has been trying  to gleam some information on Allan Scott and seems there is just nothing out there about him, but thanks for all your efforts   **So yes, for a 'Quality Pop Record' it certainly got the Juices Flowing Back Then & Now It Would Seem**   

[Soul16]

4 hours ago, Rick Scott said:

Just for the Record (yes i will take that as a pun Ha Ha) 

It was far better than lot of Pop Drivel that was played on the Scene over the years and judging by that from comments on the thread so far, Dave Thorley Played it on the Dodgy Acetate,Chalky and myself were playing it off the LP and like me must have had many people up to the Turntables to see what was being played,

Rob5airborne was Chasing it to find out it's identity and been Bugging him for over 30 years Rated it as a 'Absolutely Blinding Track'

Blackpoolsoul has been trying  to gleam some information on Allan Scott and seems there is just nothing out there about him, but thanks for all your efforts   **So yes, for a 'Quality Pop Record' it certainly got the Juices Flowing Back Then & Now It Would Seem**   

Funnily enough, I was playing it off the LP at a Sunday afternoon session a few years ago, a guy came over, looked at the decks and walked away again. Until I saw this topic, I had no idea why he did it, because I was not aware of Arthur Prysock 7" press.

[Blackpoolsoul]

13 hours ago, Rick Scott said:

Just for the Record (yes i will take that as a pun Ha Ha) 

It was far better than lot of Pop Drivel that was played on the Scene over the years and judging by that from comments on the thread so far, Dave Thorley Played it on the Dodgy Acetate,Chalky and myself were playing it off the LP and like me must have had many people up to the Turntables to see what was being played,

Rob5airborne was Chasing it to find out it's identity and been Bugging him for over 30 years Rated it as a 'Absolutely Blinding Track'

Blackpoolsoul has been trying  to gleam some information on Allan Scott and seems there is just nothing out there about him, but thanks for all your efforts   **So yes, for a 'Quality Pop Record' it certainly got the Juices Flowing Back Then & Now It Would Seem**   

This is all I have and ever will, me thinks Rick, the sleeve reverse tells us very little, but some stuff at least