Andy Rix

Like many I've always strived to reach out to those who created the music we hold so dear. The incentive has not just been about the search for elusive 45s but also to try and gather information about those individuals and their story. I've just come off the phone to a very bemused Margaret Little, in Detroit, who for the first time has been told that her recordings of 'Love finds a way' & 'I need some loving' escaped beyond the Detroit city limits to be appreciated by others. It was sad to hear that Margaret has never owned a copy of the 45, barely remembered the former and had no memory of the latter. She was lost for words when I played her poor quality recordings of them. She said her memory is not the best having suffered a small stroke a few years ago but recalls being taken by Gene, surname forgotten, to Motown for an audition. She was rejected as not being what they were looking for compounded by the fact that she was "a little plain" in the looks department. Gene wanted to record her so went over to see Popcorn and a deal was done. The 45 was cut, Gene kept the stock, she never received a copy, never heard it played so decided it wasn't her time and moved on. I wasn't really prepared for my conversation so need to call her back to get a better story. She is going to talk to her sister to try and add some more bits to the jigsaw. I'll share what I discover. I'd at least like to be able to send her a top quality recording of the tracks and maybe scans of the labels. She'd like to be able to share the dream she once had with her family. So ... if any of the current owners want to help out then please drop me a line .. AndyRix@aol.com Thanks Andy

Thanks Dave I had a look on Soulful Detroit but could only find the odd reference. Trawled through my mags last night but nothing to find. I'm quite surprised that nothing of substance has ever been written on his career given the groups he was involved with. I'm happy for somebody to prove me wrong on that point. The offer of connecting to his family is appreciated but not needed just now. Regards Andy

Hi Does anybody know if there's ever been a comprehensive article written on Joe Stubbs that chronicles his recording career. I have a vague memory that one was done many years ago, possibly in a fanzine like Shades of Soul, but I'm struggling to remember any further details Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated Thanks in advance Andy

Chris Savory did have a white demo ... a photocopy was featured, as I recall, on the front of one of his mags but I can't find it to say exactly which one When I spoke to Chris about it he told me he'd done a VIP listing in a previous edition with VIP 25006 listed as unreleased/unknown .... a copy of the 45 then arrived in the post from Tom De Pierro with a note that here was the missing number .. or something like that anyway Wonder what happened to that copy ? Andy

The simple answer is no he didn't "At some point in 1965 the decision was taken to launch Frank Wilson as a Motown artist in his own right. At the latter end of the year, almost certainly during October, he went into Armin Steiner's 8 track Sound Recorders studio, in Los Angeles, to cut some songs...... The session musicians for the day were pulled from the studio regulars that included Billy Strange, Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine, Al De Lory, Carol Kaye and Tommy Tedesco. Frank seems to think that he played keyboard but clearly recalls that he sang backing vocals with the help of Brenda and Patrice Holloway. Both tracks were produced by Hal Davis and Marc Gordon." This is taken from the piece I wrote for John when the 45 was auctioned. The full article was on his site for a while and was reproduced in the catalogue that was on sale at the time Hope that helps Andy

As Kev said owned by James Chavis. His publishing company was named after the street on which he lived, Vandever, until a few years ago. My last contact, with his son, about 2 years ago revealed that James was still around and living in a retirement home aged 92. When I'd spoken to James previously he wasn't that interested in discussing the old days Andy

Here's the Sound sleeve ... I hope Andy

I've listened to the track ... i'm 99.999999% sure it isn't Mike Terry. Just isn't tight enough Andy

this might be a reference to the Edgewood 10" acetate, which had probably 6 tracks on, that were all unreleased Enjoyables tracks. They were probably cut during their Capitol Records period. The acetate was in pretty poor shape and sound quality was pretty bad. It belonged to Maxx Kidd. andy

I recall that Steve Jackson, from Lincolnshire, played Purple Mundi - Stop Hurting Me Baby .. about 1977, when he c/u it up as The Ideals ... I seem to think he got it from Soul Bowl Steve was way ahead of the times when it came to 70s sounds and predicted the birth of Modern Soul before many of us even entertained it as a possibility. I personally thought his claims that the records he played me back then would become monsters was aspirational to say the least .... given I was very 60s driven... but his vision was true and I have to say one that was based on good taste ..... he pioneered tracks like the Vee Gees, Four Tracks, Dolly Gilmore and so many more. So ... credit where it's due. There are many inspirational DJ's and collectors and Steve was certainly one of them He taught me a lot Andy

This is very sad news. Alan was a true gent. A caring and considerate man who always had a smile. His love of music was infectious and his dedication honorable. My thoughts go out to Judy. I'll think of him often Andy

The story is a simple one .. Rob & I were given a number of unissued things from a contact in the States. As I recall included in this batch was the Avons alternate version of 'When the boy that you love is loving you' .... we did the thing that Ady did with some of his early unissued finds to protect the source and covered it up. Kae Williams was therefore known as 'Herman Lewis - Our Love is dying' for the first 12 month, or so, of it's life. My vague memory is this might have made it's debut when I played it at a Cleethorpes weekender but the passage of time tends to fog things. I guess this must have been about 7 years ago or maybe even a little longer. I certainly recalling playing it at Scenesville which would make it a good 7 years ago. Rob always rated the tune highly, at the time I wasn't quite as enthusiastic as he was but over a period of time it did sound better and better. Given my exit from DJing and Rob's gradual reduction in that area the track did get given to a few people to continue playing. This isn't the only thing that has been passed on for similar reasons.... 'Switch Around' springs to mind Personally i'm really pleased that it has continued to grow in popularity and it's a credit to DJs like Andy Dyson and Marco et al who are committed to pushing quality tunes which are a perfect reflection of their good taste. Regards Andy

As I recall Kent issued an LP with the track credited to Big Maybelle but subsequently discovered that the track was actually by the Charmers It's been a long time so my memory has faded but I think the Kent LP version is an alternate take, and better cut, of the take that was released as a 45 I'm sure somebody else can confirm and supply more detail Andy

Without hearing it to be absolutely sure I'll stick my neck out and say that this is probably the track that John Vincent used to play in the late 70s as The Sequins - You'd better get away .... I certainly recall it got some further airtime during the Keb era but I seem to recall Guy being the one who pushed it the most ... my memory might be letting me down here Anyway .. it's a track I've always loved and one I actually missed hearing for many years as it seemed to have disappeared for a second time .. first JV then Keb/Guy ..... imagine my delight when Ady Croasdell called me one day to ask me if i knew anything about an unreleased Swan recording called 'Run run run' .. he played it to me and it was the very same 'Sequins' tune ... what a good day that was So .. it's the Persianettes and you can find it on the Kent CD that features the Swan recordings Regards Andy

""Do you have an exact address for the Prophonics label in Mt Morris?"" 666 Beach St Mount Morris Michigan 48458-1908 I think this is it Andy

Welcome Cecil It's a pleasure to have you here Bill Tuthill told me about the session for IDLTL and that he did the original lead vocal for the track. It was felt it wasn't quite what was wanted and you were drafted in to deliver the masterpiece we now all revere. He also recalled Paul Potts wasn't happy with the arrangement for the song and wanted it changed but the band resisted. He also recalled how he structured the end of the song to reflect the sound the Beatles got on 'Penny Lane' with their brass work. A fascinating story I attached the lyrics he sent me in a previous post Regards Andy

Brenda Holloway recorded this at Motown but would need to hear it to confirm if it's her. A version was issued by Patty Michaels on Epic .. I think it was her, I have a copy on the shelf so need to 'find' it Andy

thanks Marc That's fascinating. My info about the Freddie Gorman attribution came from the session logs .. apparently no mention of a recording by the Valadiers but that doesn't really mean anything. Do you recall the source of your info ? I think the 10" I had came from Ady to Steve Chadwick to Rob .. I seem to think it maybe went to Lew Stanley but it was a few years ago. What's on your NYC acetate ? Cheers Andy

As you'll see it was unreleased at the time of recording and finally appeared on the 'Motown Sings Motown Treasures' CD .. so no vinyl release Andy Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life) (Pamela Sawyer-Laverne Ware) publ. Jobete David Ruffin & Bobby Taylor; rec 30-Apr-70 ; produced by Bobby Taylor 12-Jan-05; CD: Hip O Select B0003619-02 Motown Sings Motown Treasures Four Tops; rec 30-Jul-70 ; produced by Frank Wilson ; arranged by Dave Van DePitte, Jerry Long Aug-70; LP (S): Motown MS721 Changing Times 28-Dec-70; 45 (M): Motown M 1175 A

Oh dear .... i'm obviously not paying attention this morning !!

Well we were both wrong ! 'Tell all your friends' is actually Freddie Gorman .. no surprise really considering he co-wrote it .. 'You never met a guy' probably isn't Herman Griffin. I based my view on who was signed at the time and who it was likely to be. Unless there were 2 Jobete songs at the same time with the same title it would seem this one came out of New York and was written by George Kerr & Sidney Barnes. The only problem here is that the recording pre-dates the opening of the NY office. Still we can't discount it. Also of interest the first version of 'Day dreamer' was by Lamont Dozier ... Eddie dubbed his vocal on the track and Lamont was erased. Marc - are you able to put a scan up ? I don't think I scanned ther copy I had before it got sold which was a bit silly Andy

Archie Powell went on to be a member of The Presidents who hit in 1970 with "5-10-15-20 (25-30 Years of Love)" on Sussex Records Andy

You could easily be right about the Valadiers .. they are very similar in style I'll do some proper research and try to clarify Andy

I remember seeing the acetates in the shop. Ady I think you sold one that Rob ended up with that then lived with me for a few years. I can't remember where it went !! The other tracks are, or are believed to be based on aural opinion Mike & Modifiers - Tell all your friends .. a song also recorded by Barret Strong Kim Weston - Perfect love -- with a male back-up believed to be Mickey Stevenson Herman Griffin - You never met a guy All were recorded in October 1962 Andy