Funky 4 Corners

Just noticed 46 Drums, 1 Guitar not showing but the 45 only states Malone & Buddy Lamp as writers. No production credits. I'll have a look through some old Shout and Soul Bag! mags as I think there might be some Back Beat session details in one of 'em. K

[a ttachment=65077:ss4.jpg] Hi Tony Here's three UK Action 45s of Carl Carlton's. I agree that Don Robey kept as much secret as possible in the US but the UK 45s and the Action Packed LP on Action are more forthcoming. This is the first time I've uploaded images on this site, they seem to be pread across the two messages. Keith Rylatt

Hi Dave Further to Carl's input, this is likely to be the Detroit R&B group, if it is they also recorded for Federal Records but they are a difficult group to keep track of because they started out as the Frenesis in'55, comprising - Carlis `Sonny` Monro, James Gibson, Alton Hallowell & Frank Holt. They then changed names to the Fabulous Playboys, managed by Detroit's Robert West. They then joined Federal as the Ramblers in '57. Holt left and Alton Hollowell joined, and they recorded for West's Contour label in '59 as the Fabulous Playboys with Chester Flemings standing in for Hallowell They then moved to Don Davis & Thelma Coleman's Da Co label in '61 and then changed to the Falcons in '63, taking over from the original Falcons who had literally stopped performing mid tour without notice (in NYC I think) and the Fab Playboys actually used their stage costumes and continued the tour without anyone spilling the beans. They went to Big Wheel in NYC in '66 but that was about the extent of their recording. I do understand that a permutation of this group toured on the oldies circuit in the 70s.

Steve I'm glad you got one. returning to Rod's guide and a major contributor, Bob Foster. Bob and I have known each other since 1967, Bob came from Hemsworth in south Yorks. He was one of the first collectors to go to Detroit, where he was guided around by Martin Koppel, another Yorkshire lad who came from Goole. By the end of the 70s Bob amassed one of the best Detroit collections out side of the USA; Ron Murphy in Michigan, Lars Nilsson in Sweden and a guy in Wimbledon, all had great collections. Those were the days when Martin Koppel sold Detroit records in 100 count boxes for £10 and so when the prices started going through the roof, Bob stopped buying and gradually sold his collection. He still remains however very knowlegeable about Detroit Soul but prefers 60s Ska, Blue Beat and Rock Steady now a days.

Hi Just before Christmas there was a batch for sale at a place called Music Book Are Us or something very near to that, they are based in Cornwall. They were £20@ but apparently sold out pretty quickly. They told someone they were trying to get more - so I'd check them out. Avoid Amazon as they are going for silly money on there. Cheers Keith

Hi As one of the contributors to this publication many years ago I thought that you might be interested to know that I am just about to have published an in-depth guide to black music from Detroit and south Michigan, called `GROOVESVILLE USA`. starting in the early 50s up until the 80s but with the main focus being on the 60s. It is about Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel & Funk but not main stream Motown. It will cover its early labels such as Tri Phi and Harvey etc that would eventually become part of Motown. Also, inevitably it will also include some none black music information for a couple of reasons - a/ Detroit's music scene was incredibly multi cultural and many acts were mixed race, black, white, arab etc and b/ most Detroit labels carried different styles of music, not just Soul and because there are so many Detroit label completists out there I have included all releases. Fortune Records for example is awash with different styles of music. (Obviously I haven't included labels that didn't issue Soul type music). At the last count I have listed about 750 labels. There will be three sections to the book - the labels with address and owner where known, plus all acts that recorded for it. Then the acts themselves, giving as much info as I can and then the story behind it all. Stuart Russell, who you will know from `The In Crowd` and a couple of years ago, Manifesto magazine is designing and producing it for me and he is working on it right now. I engaged Stuart because of the marvellous job he did on `CENtral 1179`. We are hoping to get it printed and on sale as soon as possible, Easter is my target! I will of course let folks know when it happens.

I need these 5 records if anyone has them or knows where there are any for sale please! Jerry O - Get A Line / The Funky Chicken Yoke - Boogaloo # 107 Jerry O - There Was A Time / Funky Charge - White Whale Jerry O - Funky Football / Wang Dang Do - Wand # 11222 Tom & Jerrio- Soul Lover / I'm Tired - Jerry O ? Green Grunchons All Stars - Guys & Gals Bounce / Ode To Wash Alley Girls - Boogaloo # 112 Thanks

Just as a fun one off, here's an A to Z of unusual Detroit area Soul labels from 50s to 80s- Astro Chemistry Big Six Clix D-Track El Torro Funco Grant Huncar International Hits John Phlegm Ke Ke La Chambre Motorpool Nitro On A Star Poo Pan QC Ruff Stuff Speedway Tru-Ba-Dor Uhuru Van Ca Wal-ly Xtra Ypsi Zap Zing

Thanks Al, I'll watch this item. Keith

Has anyone got these 45s please? O V Wright-I Want Everyone To Know- Action #4527 Brenda & Tabulations-That's in the Past- Action #4541 Jr Parker - Walk The Floor All Over - Vocalion #9275 Leon Haywood - Ain't No Use - Vocalion #9280 Bobby Bland - Cry Cry Cry - Vogue 9178 Jr Parker - I'll Forget About To You - #9179 Thanks Keith

Before I put my files away, here's info on Enterprise connected labels, Cindy & Ruby. I am guessing that Cindy came first, then Ruby, then Enterprise. I have yet to establish an owner for any of these. CINDY Wonderland Recording Inc. 104 West Flint Park, Flint. Mich. 48505 Connected to Enterprise / Ruby Fabulous Egyptians Main Attraction RUBY `65 (inter woven with Enterprise) Connected to Cindy Chuck Wallace Sam E Solo Sammy Soulo Wonderettes As far as I know, Fab Egyptians, Main Attraction & Chuck Wallace never recorded for anyone else. There was a group called the Egyptians on MAH's but there is no obvious connection.

Hi I have the following info on the Detroit Enterprise label, I hope it helps - ENTERPRISE 11719 Linwood Detroit then 13415 Lyndon. Detroit. 48227 Close link with Ruby, numbers interlock. Also connected to Cindy. (Not to be confused with the Stax subsidiary of the same name that also had a couple of Detroit Artists). Casual-Aires Catfish Hodge Doll Face Elzworth Brooks Gigolo's Jamie Coe & Gigalo's Joe Terry Lazy Eggs Lee Gates Sam E Solo Shirley Lawson Tom Troy Wonderettes Catfish Hodge also recorded on Adelphi, Eastbound & Westbound. Lead singer, Bob Hodge was mentor for Ronnie & Robyn and the Capreez. Bootsy Collins' brother Phelps, was in the group. Jamie Coe & Gigalo's were a Garage band, originally known as Georgie Cole & Marquees on ABC & Addison records. Bobby Darin signed them to their 1st label, Addison, when they split, Coe teamed up with the Gigalo's (who were on the Broadway label) and signed to Enterprise. Sam E Solo, real name Sammy Flourney was on Ruby, then nationally on Imperial. Aka Sammy Soulo on some Ruby 45s, aka Little Sammy & Wheelettes on Rip Cor. Shirley Lawson aka Shirley Walker of the famous Detroit girl group, the Fascinations on Mayfield. She was also on Back Beat. Tom Troy, again Garage also recorded for the Astra and Huncar labels. Wonderettes also recorded for Ruby & UA nationally also Art, backing Johnnie Mae Matthews, on Veep backing Rose St.John and UA backing simply Rose.