New Ace/Kent Imprint - Soul Harmony - 2 x NEW 45s - Out Now
87th OFF BROADWAY / LARRY SANDERS / THE EXCLUSIVE / THE D C BLOSSOMS
Two new 45s mark the (delayed) launch of a brand new Ace/Kent imprint... Soul Harmony
It's looking like this 'Soul Harmony' main thrust will be all things low-rider. The first two 45s are now out, with the third release due to follow at the end of this month (Nov).
Details and the release notes of the first new releases follow below...
87th OFF BROADWAY / LARRY SANDERS – INSTANT REPLAY / I’M IN LOVE - SOUL HARMONY SH 01 - Out Now
We launch our Soul Harmony label with a fabulous tape discovery from Golden State Recorders. At the time of recording, 87th Off Broadway lived in the small town of Seaside, California and were based in Monterey. They wrote their own songs, four of which were recorded at an April 1972 session, arranged by Los Angeles Rene Hall. The tape lay dormant for decades. ‘Instant Replay’ is the final of the four to belatedly be issued; the others being funk released on Ace’s BGP label. The group morphed into another outfit called Welfare who had ‘What About The Child’ released (with a name change to Gold) in 1977 on the MRC label. This song is of the highest quality as are the intricate harmony vocals. Advance plays on the Lowrider scene have been very well received.
Larry Sanders ‘I’m In Love’ is already revered by that California soul ballad crowd, which has caused the cost of an original Modern copy to rocket. It is another harmonious sweet soul ballad, redolent of a lovers’ tryst on a lazy summer’s afternoon.
THE EXCLUSIVE / THE D C BLOSSOMS – I STILL LOVE YOU / THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE - SOUL HARMONY SH 02 - Out Now
Eddie Singleton had a musical career in Los Angeles after his Shrine Records venture had bloomed then died. He cut this heart-felt soul ballad on an undocumented group called the Exclusive around 1969, but it was left on tape only until now.
Some three years earlier in 1966, Eddie and his production team of Keni St Lewis and Dale Warren recorded Washington’s DC Blossoms on ‘This Is Your Last Chance’, the third track from a Shrine session that didn’t make it to the single. Since it was released on the Kent CD “Shrine, The Rarest Soul Label Vol 2” it has picked up a strong following, particularly among Latin American soul fans on the West Coast: now at last a 45.
JIMMY CONWELL - LET IT ALL OUT / I'M AM SO GLAD - SOUL HARMONY SH 03 - Out 29 Nov 2024
Jimmy Conwell is a big name in Los Angeles soul music, either as a solo singer on 4J, Gemini and Mirwood or as lead singer of the Exits on Gemini and Kapp, the Tripps on Soundville or with Smoked Sugar on Teri De. ‘Let It All Out’ was written in conjunction with his two main producers Len Jewell Smith and Hank Graham, though Jimmy couldn’t remember Hank’s contribution. It is a stunning ballad that was originally overlooked by Northern Soul fans for the stomping 'Too Much' flip.
A similar situation has occurred with his Kapp 45, the mid-tempo ‘Another Sundown In Watts’ attracting much of the attention and the superb ‘I’m So Glad’ ballad only recently picking up deserved admirers.
Both sides of our 45 will go down well in the Lowrider stronghold of Conwell’s native city. No coincidence, I’m sure.
Availability
First 2 x 45s are now available via Ace Records website - (tap), and various record stores including our very own Source Store - (tap)
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