"Water" -- cut by Geno

[Roburt]

 The song "Water" was written by the top New York teaming of Helen Miller and Roger Atkins. They wrote many top soul songs, together and with others. They mostly worked out of 1650 Broadway & the Brill Building. Miller co-write with the likes of Freddie Scott & Howard Greenfield. Atkins wrote with Teddy Vann, Dee Irwin & others. Artists who cut their songs included the Animals, Jerry Butler, 5th Dimension, Patti Drew, the Shirelles, Barbara Lewis, Chuck Jackson, Maxine Brown, Dionne Warwick, the Reflections, Deon Jackson, Little Anthony & Imperials, Nancy Ames, Pat Powdrill, Ben E King, the Toys, Lenny Welch, the Platters and many more + of course, Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band.

I've looked but I can't find a US recorded version of "Water", so it seems Geno's management must have sourced the song direct from Miller & Atkins in New York, most likely via the pair's UK music publishers and Geno's take is the original (& only) version of the song out there (apart from no doubt, the writer's own demo version).

Am I wrong and there is (are) other versions of this song ?  BTW, it seems Geno recorded a version of the song with Italian lyrics, but no idea who did the translation. Though the UK music press reported this fact, I don't think the Italian version gained a release (unless you know different). 

Edited February 25 by Roburt

[Roburt]

It seems the song is registered with BMI today as being the creation of a different writing team (?)

 

 

Edited February 25 by Roburt

[Louise]

Geno's version did get a USA release on the Congress label along with Bach Beach.

Edited February 25 by Louise

[Roburt]

No doubt, this was what the US demo acetate looked like ....

[Chris Turnbull]

  On 25/02/2025 at 09:17, Roburt said:

It seems the song is registered with BMI today as being the creation of a different writing team (?)

 

 

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Kind of off thread but that's a great crowd shot photo above - any idea where and when?

[Ady Croasdell]

I've always hoped for a US version but never found one

[Roburt]

  On 25/02/2025 at 13:05, Chris Turnbull said:

Kind of off thread but that's a great crowd shot photo above - any idea where and when?

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In Spain at present (on a winter break). Will check up & reply when back home. Seem to recall it was one of the London clubs they played on a regular basis.

A piece about their live album below, cut @ Bolton Casino (this club had an associate club down the road but can't remember which Lancy town it was in) ...

Edited February 26 by Roburt