Larry Banks Soul Family Album

[Sean Hampsey]

Don't know if its been mentioned on here yet... but take a look at what's coming in late September!

LARRY BANKS' SOUL FAMILY ALBUM

In 1964 Dave Godin was captivated by Bessie Banks'original recording

of 'Go Now' and was incensed by the Moody Blues'usurping of the song

and what he considered an unduly hasty campaign by the British record

company to pass their version off as the original and best. To make

amends on behalf of the small but eager coterie of UK soul fans, he

took a special interest in Bessie and her husband Larry, the composer

of the song.

Further delvings into the pair's releases lead to more revelatory

record finds and soon Dave was to champion Larry's releases on

Select, Kapp and Spring and his composing and production work with

artists such as the Exciters, Kenny Carter and the Geminis. Dave

built up a strong friendship with the family and a bank of

information on their work. His discovery of Jaibi's (Larry's second

wife) 'You Got Me' on Kapp Records was a personal Deep Soul

revelation and he awarded the recording the prestigious last track

placing on his first Deep Soul Treasures CD.

The family were well represented throughout all the volumes of Dave

Godin's Deep Soul Treasures but their work wasn't restricted to deep

soul and he planned a CD project to showcase their other talents.

Sadly he became terminally ill but before he died he asked Ace/Kent

consultant Ady Croasdell to complete the project. Fortunately Ace has

bought many Banks family recordings from GWP Productions (for whom

Larry worked in the late 60s). Some prime previously unheard soul

songs have emerged from this source and feature here. Other vital and

important tracks have been licensed-in from RCA and other smaller

labels and Ady has built on Dave's research with extensive

interviews.

Apart from deep soul classics there are examples of Larry Banks'

northern soul genius in tracks such as 'What's One More Lie' by

Milton Bennett (co-composer of 'Go Now'), the Geminis' storming 'He

Moves Me', the Devonnes' 'Doing The Gittin' Up', and unknown group

the Shaladons' classy take on 'We Can Do It'.

Of the deep soul tracks the highlights include two previously

unissued Kenny Carter beat ballads and his excellent rendition

of 'Lights Out' plus Jaibi's original intense demo of 'You Got Me'.

This CD is part of the occasional Artistry In Soul series.

1. Go Now - BESSIE BANKS

2. You'd Better Get Hip Girl - KENNY CARTER

3. What Good Am I? - JAIBI

4. Don't Pull Away - LARRY BANKS

5. We Can Do It - THE SHALADONS

6. What's One More Lie - MILTON BENNETT

7. Doin' 'The Gittin' Up' - THE DEVONNES

8. Come On Act Right - THE GEMINIS

9. My Life Is No Better - THE DYNAMICS

10. Showdown - THE SHALADONS

11. I Can't Stop Laughing - KENNY CARTER

12. Living In The Land Of Heartache ÂETHE CAVALIERS

13. Will You Wait - LARRY BANKS

14. Don't You Know (I Love You) ÂETHE PLEASURES

15. You Should Have Been A Doctor - BESSIE BANKS

16. Ooh It Hurts Me - LARRY BANKS

17. He Moves Me - THE GEMINIS

18. I Couldn't Build A World (With You On The Outside) - THE DEVONNES

19. We Got A Problem - LARRY BANKS

20. No Brag Just Fact - THE HESITATIONS

21. You Don't Know What You're Missing - THE EXCITERS

22. Let's Roll Up Our Sleeves - LARRY BANKS

23. You Got Me (Alternate version) - JAIBI

24. Lights Out - KENNY CARTER

Over the years I received numerous tapes from Dave featuring various tracks from this compilation. These were certainly amongst his favourite all time records. When he passed away, a white label first cut of the CD was on his bed (alongside an empty fag packet).

I was tempted to sneak a listen then, but, somehow, resisted the temptation.

Now, I can hardly wait!

Well done to the guys at Kent for making this finally happen.

It ought to sell a million.

Sean Hampsey

[Sebastian]

I'm really looking forward to the Larry Banks Family one. I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again: the amount of musically high-quality CDs being released at the moment (and over the past year or so) is staggering. And they are just getting better and better and more interesting. Top stuff being released practically every month!

[Sean Hampsey]

I'm really looking forward to the Larry Banks Family one. I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again: the amount of musically high-quality CDs being released at the moment (and over the past year or so) is staggering. And they are just getting better and better and more interesting. Top stuff being released practically every month!

Dead right Sebastian.

The 'vinyl only' collectors don't know what they're missing!

Sean

[Mike Lofthouse]

Don't know if its been mentioned on here yet... but take a look at what's coming in late September!

LARRY BANKS' SOUL FAMILY ALBUM

Sean Hampsey

Fantastic news Sean - wonderful album - I would of included 'Showdown' and I'm not the One ' for completeness though - along with Jaibi two of the greatest soul 45's ever!

Mike

[Ady Croasdell]

Fantastic news Sean - wonderful album - I would of included 'Showdown' and I'm not the One ' for completeness though - along with Jaibi two of the greatest soul 45's ever!

Mike

As most people who will buy this will have already bought the Deep Soul Treasures CDs we didn't want to repeat too many tracks from there, so there's only 'Go Now' which is from a fantastic quality new tape, that's repeated. That way you get to hear more of Larry's work and the Shaladons version of 'Showdown' is something else!