Mike

Latest news on the next upcoming Soul Direction 45... The Melvin Davis - "I'm The One That Loves You" - Soul Direction - SD022 Press release, which includes the full story about how this new release of a previously unreleased version of this northern soul classic, from the songs authors Melvin Davis came about. Plus details on the worthwhile thrust of this release towards helping Melvins ongoing medical expenses follows below... The Melvin Davis - "I'm The One That Loves You" - Soul Direction- SD022 Press Release Let's tell you a short story of how this came about and where we go from here. Some time ago, we acquired a master tape from the Don Davis Collection of tapes, which was something I wanted for my personal collection and was more than happy to listen and enjoy the tracks in the comfort of my own record room. One of those tracks was an un­ released version of ITOTLY, by Melvin Davis, who wrote the track, later released by Darrell Banks. Sometime later during a conversation with my good friend Jim O'Hara about the tracks' history, it's potential as a release, and the health issues that Melvin was going through, we both thought that if i could get the track released, it would be a great way to help Melvin with his mounting medical bills. Knowing Jim was good friends with Melvin, I asked him if he would speak to him and hook me up with a view to a possible release. Jim happily agreed and a few days later, despite Melvin going through many health issues, I got a message from the great man. I called him that evening and we talked a for a good couple of hours and Melvin was more than happy to let me work on mastering the tracks and that we could sort out any paperwork, licensing etc. at a later date. So, once the tracks were mastered and that was a mammoth task with the age and condition of the master tape, we were all happy with the results all things considered, Melvin and I sorted a licensing agreement that he was happy with, which for me was the of the upmost importance. So, after a couple of signatures and his licensing fees paid, we began to schedule the project. With these ongoing health issues, it was around this time that a close friend of his in Detroit also started a "Go Fund Me" page to help with Melvin's huge medical bills. We should remember that especially in the UK are very lucky that as part of our standard Tax and National Insurance contributions, medical treatment for pretty much every major illness is covered and you don't wake up from major surgery with a hefty bill on your bedside table, and medical insurance seems like a very expensive mine field in the USA. After another conversation with Jim and having now spoken within Melvin on a couple of occasions, I had made up my mind that I wanted to donate all profits from this upcoming Soul Direction release direct to Melvin. I subsequently spoke to him about my idea, and whilst he was blown away by my proposal, he was also very adamant that he would not accept any monies unless he knew for sure that i had covered all the costs involved, this is the kind of gentlemen he really is. I agreed and we worked together on that basis. After a few conflabs with Jim and Melvin I decided to put a retail price on this release (and this one only) of £20, which would give Melvin a sizeable contribution to his ongoing medical expenses. Let's face it, for this money, you are getting a limited press of a quality piece of unissued Detroit soul from the "Detroit Soul Ambassador" himself. In addition, with the kind help of Jordan Wilson who designed the wonderful promotional posters & record sleeves, we have a handful of autographed posters and white label TP's which Jim got signed during his recent trip to see Melvin. These posters and TP's will be given away free in a draw, where everyone who orders from the Soul Direction site in the first 7 days will be entered into This is not about Soul Direction, this is about a true Detroit Soul Legend, and Legend is not a word to be used lightly, Melvin Davis is that legend and along with it, one of the true gentlemen left in this world. So with the help of Jim, Jordan, and of course the DSA, Melvin Davis, I hope you like what Soul Direction have done for this special release, and I hope you get the warm feeling we are all getting from being a tiny part in helping a true giant who has graced our soul scene for most of the time we have been part of it. Melvin Davis - Detroit Soul Ambassador Alan Kitchener - Soul Direction Jim O'Hara - Sleeve notes and additional contributions Jordan Wilson - Sleeve and label design Video Sleeve Notes SD022A - Melvin Davis - I'm The One That Loves You - (Soul Direction} SD022B - Instrumental version Release Date - 30° June 2023 When it comes to Detroit soul music, there are few names come close to the achievements of Melvin Davis. A writer of over 150 songs, a musician on over SO albums, producer, drummer, vocalist, label owner, performer, and much more, it is no wonder Melvin is known as the DSA, Detroit Soul Ambassador. Born Melvin Lincoln Davis, Melvin's family moved north to Detroit when he was very young, but it was in the south where he first heard the soulful tones of artists like Little Richard and Sam Cooke, who influenced him greatly. After his time in the US Navy, where he taught himself to play several instruments and began song writing, Melvin returned to pursue a career as a musician in the thriving music scene of his home town, Detroit. During his early R & B influenced releases on Jack Pot, Fortune & Ke-Ke records, he was relentless in pursuing his music career, even finding time to form a local band called The Jaywalkers, with himself on drums, and a certain Mr David Ruffin on lead vocals, whom at the time was house sharing with Melvin. With the Detroit music scene thriving, Melvin was constantly writing, and following his Wheel City release, 'Find A Quiet Place', his talent as a singer, song writer, and musician was becoming recognised by many of the record labels in the Motor City, including Motown. The period from 1965 to 1970 was prolific for Melvin and saw many of his songs recorded by artists including Johnnie Taylor, Steve Mancha, Lanette Mckee, JJ Barnes, Jackey Beavers, Darrell Banks, and the list goes on. His collaboration with Don Davis's Groovesville Productions saw him pen over 35 songs, with his credits appearing on every one of the famous red & white labels releases, including his own release Groovesville 1003 the brilliant mid-tempo tracks "I Must Love You" & "Still in My Heart". As is well known, there were frequently alternative takes on many songs from that era, and Groovesville Productions was no different. Through the years, several alternative takes have surfaced from the label, both in acetate and tape format, some with the original artists and a number with an alternative vocalist. Having acquired an original Groovesville tape, Soul Direction Records are delighted to be able to bring to vinyl for the very first time, an exclusive vocal by Melvin Davis at United Sounds Studios in Detroit. Any Detroit soul fan will know that 'I'm The One Who Loves You' by Darrell Banks, released on Volt records in 1969, but it was Melvin, the writer, that first recorded the song in 1965. With the inspiration for the song being his own emotional response to a past relationship, Melvin's original recording is much more laid back than Banks's , and with a "who's who" of Detroit session legends, George McGregor {drums), Bob Babbitt (bass), Eddie Willis {lead guitar), Jack Ashford {vibes), and Melvin on drums, it's of no surprise that the recording has all the hallmarks of a Detroit classic. Whilst Darrell was given the lyrics personally by Melvin, it should be noted that what you hear on this release is Melvin's original lyrics as written. Having discussed with him, he confirmed that in fact the song was originally titled "I'm The One That Loves You' as opposed to 'Who Loves You'. It's always intriguing to collectors as to why certain recording were never released, but at least now, almost 60 years later, we can now hear Melvin pleading with his girl to believe him when he tells her "cause the truth is that I need you baby and nobody else, don't let true love slip right through your hands, what can I do or say baby, to make you understand, I'm The One That Loves You' Melvin's contribution to the Detroit soul music scene is remarkable with very few coming close to his achievements. Whether it's his 60's recordings, his time at Invictus Records as a solo artist, writer & producer, lead singer of The 8"" Day, session drummer for Motown records, tour drummer for Smokey Robinson, or his releases on his own label Rockmill Records, the Detroit Soul Ambassador, Melvin Davis is without doubt a true Detroit legend. Sleeve Notes compiled by Jim O'Hara. Sleeve and Label design by Jordan Wilson Tracks mastered by Swift Mastering Ltd.

Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos A 7 CD box set Release date June 23, 2023 Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos brings together 146 demos from the Stax Records vaults highlighting the strength of songwriting talent at the legendary label. Including 140 tracks that have never been heard before, this collection combines both songwriter demos and in some cases, full blown arrangement into a 7-CD set. The first three discs contain demos by the Stax songwriters that were recorded and released by Stax artists on one of the Stax family of labels (Stax, Volt, Enterprise, We Produce, Koko, Respect, etc.). The fourth disc contains demos by the Stax songwriters that were recorded and released on record labels OTHER than the Stax family of labels (Atlantic, Decca, Hi, Chimneyville, etc.). The final three discs contain demos by the Stax songwriters that were never released anywhere. Including songs from legendary songwriters such as William Bell, Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Bettye Crutcher and many more this collection includes unheard versions of some of Soul, and music’s, most well-known songs. The collection is packaged in a 7x7 boxset which includes a new essay written by Stax's original Director of Publicity Deanie Parker and GRAMMY-winning writer Robert Gordon, archival photos and an intro by multi-GRAMMY award winning compilation producer Cheryl Pawelski. Written In Their Soul: THE STAX SONGWRITER DEMOS (Official Trailer) Tracklist CD1: Stax Writers, Stax Releases (Part One) 1. Comfort Me – Carla Thomas 2. You Make A Strong Girl Weak – Jeanne & The Darlings 3. What Did I Do Wrong – William Bell Another Night Without My Man – Carla Thomas 4. I Got Everything I Need – Eddie Floyd 5. Mister Fix It – Eddie Floyd 6. I’ll Always Have Faith In You – Eddie Floyd 7. Got To Make A Comeback – Eddie Floyd 8. I’ve Seen What Loneliness Can Do – Homer Banks 9. Slow Train – William Bell 10. Hear My Call, Here – The Staple Singers 11. Top Of The Mountain – The Staple Singers 12. I See It – The Staple Singers 13. The Ghetto – The Staple Singers 14. You Can’t Win With A Losing Hand – Eddie Floyd 15. Sweet Sensation – Carla Thomas 16. Spare Me The Hurt Of Losing You – The Newcomers 17. Third Child – Bettye Crutcher 18. Respect Yourself – Mack Rice & Luther Ingram 19. People Come Out Of Your Shell – Bettye Crutcher 20. I’ll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm) – Homer Banks CD2: Stax Writers, Stax Releases (Part Two) 1. Get Up About Yourself – Homer Banks 2. All Day Preachin’ – Bettye Crutcher 3. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right – Homer Banks 4. We The People – Carl Smith 5. Do The Sweetback – March Wind 6. What Would I Do – Leon Moore 7. Heaven Knows – Homer Banks 8. I May Not Be All You Want (But I’m All You Got) – Homer Banks 9. True Love Don’t Grow On Trees – Veda Brown 10. (I Didn’t Know What Losing Was)‘Til I Lost You – Eddie Floyd 11. Until I Lost You – March Wind 12. Drown Yourself – Bettye Crutcher 13. If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me) – Homer Banks 14. I Got To Be Myself – Carl Smith 15. You’re Spreading Yourself A Little Too Thin – Bettye Crutcher 16. Take A Walk Down My Street – Bettye Crutcher 17. Before The Honeymoon – Homer Banks 18. Nobody But You – Mack Rice 19. Hot line To Jesus – Mack Rice 20. I Hear Footsteps (Coming Closer) – William Brown CD3: Stax Writers, Stax Releases (Part Three) 1. I’ll Be The Other Woman – Shelbra Bennett 2. We’ve Got Love On Our Side – Bettye Crutcher 3. It’s So Wonderful – Frederick Knight 4. That’s What Friends Are For – Mack Rice 5. Sugar Daddy – Bettye Crutcher 6. Woman To Woman – Henderson Thigpen 7. So Glad To Have You – Bettye Crutcher 8. Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’ – Mack Rice 9. Dy-No-Mite (Did You Saw My Love) – Mack Rice 10. Your Love Is Amazin’ – Eddie Floyd 11. Walk On To your New Love – Bettye Crutcher 12. Something Ain’t Right – Mack Rice 13. There Is A God – Bettye Crutcher 14. Packed Up And Took My Mind – Denise LaSalle 15. Don’t You Know That It’s All Right – Joe Shamwell & Eddie Floyd 16. Who Made The Man – Mack Rice 17. It Don’t Pay To Get Up In The Morning – Mack Rice CD4: Stax Writers, Non-Stax Releases 1. Don’t Let The Love light Leave – Carla Thomas 2. I’ve Got No Time To Lose – Deanie Parker 3. A Woman’s Love – Carla Thomas 4. 634-5789 (Soulsville, USA) – Eddie Floyd 5. Linda Sue Dixon – Mack Rice 6. Told You For The Last Time – Delaney Bramlett 7. Let Me Know – Mack Rice 8. Let Me Be Yours – Joe Shamwell 9. We Can Love – Eddie Floyd 10. Without You – Mack Rice 11. Shouting Out Love – Veda Brown 12. Take My Body – Bettye Crutcher 13. I’ve Got A Feeling (We’ll Be Seeing Each Other Again) – Homer Banks 14. I Could Never Be Satisfied – Mack Rice 15. Everybody’s Hustling – Mack Rice 16. Either You Love Me Or Leave Me – Homer Banks 17. I’ve Never Been This Close To Jesus – Mack Rice 18. Pussy Footing Around – Mack Rice 19. This Time Yesterday – Mack Rice 20. Are We Slipping Away – Mack Rice 21. I Wanna Slow Dance Wit’cha – Frederick Knight 22. What You Did To Me Last Night – Bettye Crutcher CD5: Uncut Songs (Part One) 1. Got To Make You Mine – Eddie Floyd 2. Come On Dance With Me – Rufus Thomas 3. I Got To Go For That – Rufus Thomas 4. Spin It – Deanie Parker 5. Nobody Wants To Get Old – Deanie Parker & Mack Rice 6. Such A Feeling – Eddie Floyd 7. Never Say No To The One You Love – Eddie Floyd 8. Looks Like Another Hot Summer – Steve Cropper & Eddie Floyd 9. Give You All The Love I Got – Eddie Floyd 10. It’s Up To You – Carla Thomas 11. Let’s Be Sure – Carla Thomas 12. Oo-we Baby What You Do To Me – Booker T. Jones 13. Coming Together – Homer Banks 14. It’s Over – Homer Banks 15. Break Out (aka Bust Out) - Wendy Rene 16. Walk On Back – Unknown 17. Come On Down – Mack Rice 18. Can’t Make Enough – William Bell 19. Love Is You – Eddie Floyd 20. Let’s Get Down To Business – Bettye Crutcher 21. Stone For Stone – Henderson Thigpen 22. I Won’t Do You No Dirt – William Bell 23. Just too right To Be Wrong – Mack Rice 24. Song #2 – The MG’s CD6: Uncut Songs (Part Two) 1. Too Much Sugar For A Dime – Homer Banks 2. Too Much Sugar For A Dime – Bettye Crutcher 3. You Knock Me Out – Homer Banks 4. I Should Have Changed My Ways – Jimmy Hughes Til You Been Loved By Me – Eddie Floyd 5. Deaf And Dumb – Mack Rice 6. It’s No Secret – William Bell 7. Somebody’s Got You Baby – Marshall Jones 8. Something Keeps Holding Me Back – Mack Rice 9. Take It All Off – Bettye Crutcher 10. Don’t You Know I’m All Alone – Eddie Floyd 11. Sweet Dreams (I Had Of You) – Eddie Floyd 12. Ain’t No Love Like My Baby’s Love – Bettye Crutcher 13. Just The Way You Loved Me – Bettye Crutcher 14. Glory Glory I Love Him – Eddie Floyd 15. Stay With Me – Eddie Floyd 16. Three Meals A Day – Mack Rice 17. Everybody Is Talking Love – Bettye Crutcher 18. Didn’t Love Straighten It Out – Homer Banks 19. We Don’t Need Stone Walls – John KaSandra 20. You’re Funny Boy – Carl Smith CD7: Uncut Songs (Part Three) 1. Shadows On The Wall – Eddie Floyd 2. Grandpa’s Will – Homer Banks 3. Whatcha Gonna Do (When You Find The One) – Bettye Crutcher 4. I Got To Keep On Taking Chances – Jimmy Hughes 5. Thank You For Loving Me – William Bell 6. Do Me Wrong – Eddie Floyd 7. Put It To A Vote – Carl Smith & Marshall Jones 8. Dammit – Eddie Floyd & Mack Rice 9. The Yard Man – Bettye Crutcher 10. Don’t Stay Gone Too Long – Bettye Crutcher 11. How Can I Win Your Love – Eddie Floyd 12. Every Now And Then – Mack Rice 13. Somewhere In Somebody’s Heart – Willie Singleton 14. Love Treaty – Willie Singleton 15. Staying With My Man – Eddie Floyd 16. Bread Winner – Mack Rice 17. Got To Be Somebody For Me – Eddie Floyd 18. Hometown Lover – Eddie Floyd 19. Do You Want Me To Lie To You – Bettye Crutcher 20. I Don’t Care Anymore – Shirley Brown 21. I Like The Way You Groove Me – Frederick Knight Listen / Order https://found.ee/writtenintheirsoul