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Everything posted by Rob Moss
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HAYLEY 10th ANNIVERSARY SINGLE RELEASED The long awaited release of the FINAL DECISIONS 'I don't feel no pain' (Short and Long versions) is now with us. The record has been gaining momentum on dance floors around the country due to pre release copies spun by top DJs Soul Sam, Cliff Steele and Karl Heard. Recorded in Detroit in the mid 1970s at Fast Track studios, it features the production skills of Leonard Jones and the sparkling vocal skills of the Final Decisions. Single comes with a full colour picture sleeve with biographical notes and group photo. To order a copy send £10 plus £1.50 P&P to Hayley Records 6 The Martyrs Close COVENTRY CV3 5FN note: cheques/po's payable to rob moss or can use paypalsales@hayleyrecords.co.uk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMgyWbe2VRA
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How about 'AAAH SOULS' Catchy and people would certainly remember it - and it's got SOUL in the title!
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A few MIKE TERRY tee shirts for sale. XL size only £10 each + £2 Post. PayPal OK (Gift) Front has photo and records he played on. Back has more titles.
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TWO Mint copies of White label one sided FUNK BROTHERS Ghost in my house INSTRUMENTAL £25 each. PAYPAL OK (Gift) P&P £1.
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Following are for sale.UK pounds. PayPal OK (gift) P&P £1 per. THE ESQUIRES Dancin' a hole in the world ROCKY ROAD Stick. VG+ Plays fine. 20 COMMODORES Don't you be worried BS White demo MOWEST NM 15 BETTY EVERETT Unlucky girl UNI NM Company sleeve. 15 BOBBY PARIS Per-so-nally TETRAGRAMMATON Ex 20 CLYDE McPHATTER Crying won't help you now MERCURY NM 25 JOE MATTHEWS We got a good thing going (Same backing as Billy Kennedy 'Sweet things') THELMA White promo. 25 SOLD
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Fantastic! The 1960s personified in one photo - a wig and a bleach.
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Selling this for a mate who is emigrating . Fantastic mobile disco set up. Hardly used. (Details below) I know it cost over 6k when he bought it. He only wants £2500. Obviously pick up only. PM me for more details and photos. JBL Speakers Pair of JRX 115's (15" + Horn units) Pair of JRX 1185 (18" Bass units) 2 x Stainless Steel support poles for the above Top of the Range Numark Power Amps Pair of Numark Dimension 4 Amplifiers Behringer Crossover controller Stanton C501 CD Player (Dual Deck) Stanton RM405 4 Channel Mixer The above items Amps, Crossover,CD Player and Mixer are mounted in a Flight Ready Flight Case with locking front wheels Pair of Numark turntables Sure SM48 Microphone Sound is of outstanding quality and very powerful The following lighting and effects are also included in the sale 3 metre steel gantry incorporating 12 (4 x 3 coloured pars) fitted with quick release lighting brackets 2 x 5 feet Ultra Violet Tubes(fixed to the gantry) 6 different lighting effects which attach via the quick fits Smoke machine and spare liquid Bubble Machine and spare liquid
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Sidney Barnes And The Funk Brothers 'chains'
Rob Moss replied to Suinoz's topic in All About the SOUL
Its 'True fine boy' from the 'In the snakepit' cd. Also came out as a 45 on Bari out of Detroit. -
https://cgi.ebay.co.u...=STRK:MESELX:IT
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TRUE REFLECTION 'Silent treatment' b/w 'Beer cans and empty hands' on ATCO Mint condition. £40 PayPal OK (gift) plus post.
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Darrell Banks 'Open the door to your heart' b/w 'Our love (is in the pocket)' on UK STATESIDE in company sleeve in Excellent condition. £75. PayPal OK (gift) plus post.
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Following are available at £5 each or 5 for £20. PayPal OK (gift) plus post £1 first record 25p others. Money back if not satisfied. RAMSEY LEWIS Wade in the water/Ain't that peculiar UK CHESS VG+ JIMMY CONWELL Cigarette ashes/Second hand happiness UK CONTEMPO RARIES Stick. Ex BROTHERLY LOVE Growing pains/ I don't see me in your eyes anymore MUSIC MERCHANT Promo VG- VARETTA DILLARD Johnny has gone/So many ways SAVOY VG+ TOMMY TATE If you ain't man enough / Revelations KOKO VG- SUPREMES Nathan Jones/ Happy is a bumpy road UK TAMLA MOTOWN VG FIRST CHOICE Armed and extremely dangerous/Gonna keep on loving him UK BELL Stick.WOL Ex HIGH INERGY Some kinda magic/ Love is all you need GORDY M- SMITH BROTHERS There can be a better way/ Payback's a drag UK GRAPEVINE Ex THREE DEGREES Year of decision / A woman needs a good man UK PHILLY INT. Ex FREDA PAYNE Band of gold/ You brought the joy UK HDH VG+ MARTHA & VANDELLAS Jimmy Mack/ Third finger left hand UK TAMLA MOTOWN VG+ NEW YORK CITY Quick fast in a hurry / Reach out UK POLYDOR Ex BILLY PAUL The whole town's laughing / I was married UK Philly INT Ex O'JAYS Put our heads together/ A letter to my friends UK TSOP Ex RHETTA YOUNG Sending out an SOS/ More SOS UK ALL PLATINUM Ex VIOLA WILLS Gonna get along without you now / Your love UK ARIOLA HANSA Ex GLADYS KNIGHT & PIPS Make yours a happy home / Tenderness is his way UK BUDDAH Ex ROBERT KNIGHT Love on a mountain top / Power of love UK MONUMENT Wol Ex. POPULAR FIVE Baby you've got it/ Best friend - worst enemy MISTER CHAND VG EDDIE FLOYD The beat song/ London UK I-SPY Ex DENISE LASALLE Trapped by a thing called love/ Keep it coming UK JANUS Ex IKE & TINA TURNER Nutbush city limits/Help him UK UA Ex HIGH INERGY Back in my arms again/So right GORDY M GENERAL JOHNSON Lies/Can't nobody love me like you do ARISTA Promo stick. M THE DAPPS feat. Alfred Ellis. There was a time (Inst.)/ The rabbit got the gun KING VG MARGIE JOSEPH & BLUE MAGIC You and me (got a good thing going) /What's come over me ATCO VG++ TRAMMPS Scrub board/Sixty minute man BUDDAH Ex ARTHUR ADAMS Stay with me tonight/You got the floor UK RCA Ex CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Everybody party all night/Morning glory (Inst) UK INVICTUS VG+ MARKUS ANTHONY One night of love/ Same Promo RR Ex WILLIAM BELL & JUDY CLAY My baby specializes/Left over love STAX Ex DEBORAH WASHINGTON Ready or not/ Same ARIOLA Ex HAROLD MELVIN & BLUE NOTES Bad luck Pts 1 and 2 Stick UK PHILLY INT Ex FIRST CHOICE Smarty pants/One step away UK BELL Stick Ex TRAMMPS Zing went the strings/ Penguin at the Big Apple UK BUDDAH Ex EARL WRIGHT Thumb a ride/Like a rolling stone UK CAPITOL Ex SPIRAL STAIRCASE More today than yesterday /Broken hearted man COLUMBIA VG+ JAMES BROWN I got you (I feel good)/I can't help it White promo KING VG MARVELETTES My baby must be a magician/I need someone CAN. TAMLA MOTOWN VG+ FANTASTIC JOHNNY C Boogaloo down broadway/Look what you can make me do PHIL LA of SOUL VG+ CLIFF NOBLES The horse/Love is alright PHIL LA of SOUL VG LUTHER INGRAM My honey and me /Same White promo WOL KOKO VG JOHNNY WILLIAMS Put it in motion /Same White promo PHILLY INT. One side VG other G MARVIN GAYE Little darling/ Hey diddle diddle TAMLA VG+ JOHN FREEMAN (with ALMETA LATIMORE) I need you /Same VR VG++ TEMPTATIONS Who are you/Same GORDY White demo M- DARROW FLETCHER Gonna keep loving you/We can't go on this way REVUE Ex PERCY SLEDGE Heart of a child/It tears me up ATLANTIC VG JUDY CLAY You busted my mind /He's the kind of guy SCEPTER VG ERIC & VIKINGS I'm truly yours/Where do you go GORDY VG- PERCY SLEDGE Baby help me You've got that something wonderful ATLANTIC VG JAMES BROWN There was a time /I can't stand myself (Red) KING VG CLIFF NOBLES Our love will last/The more I do for you baby PHIL LA of SOUL VG+ KETTY LESTER Show me/Since I fell for you PETE VG ARCHIE BELL & DRELLS Do the hand jive/Girl you're too young PROMO ATLANTIC VG BOBBY WILLIAMS You need love like I do/ Everybody needs love sometime R&R Ex FREDDIE WATERS I'm afraid to let you into my life/I'm gonna walk OCTOBER Ex TYRONE DAVIS You keep me holding on/We got a love no one can deny DAKAR Ex MARY WELLS Sweet love/It must be JUBILEE Ex ECTASY PASSION and PAIN Passion/Same ROULETTE Promo M- EDDIE FLOYD Girl I love you / I've got to have your love STAX Ex BAND OF OZ Goodtime music/Southern belles SURFSIDE Ex DON COVAY See saw/I never get enough of your love ATLANTIC Ex EARL COSBY Ooh honey baby/I'll be there MIRA VG+ GASLIGHT I'm only a man/I'm gonna get you GRAND JUNCTION VG+
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The new Hayley release - FINAL DECISIONS 'I don't feel no pain', a previously unreleased Fast Track recording from Detroit, will be out in the next couple of weeks to celebrate the label's 10 year Anniversary. There will be 250 issues and 30 - 40 promos. This is the first Hayley 7" release to ever have a picture sleeve. It is up on You Tube too. Hope this is helpful John.
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The following are for sale in condition stated plus post. PERFECTIONS 'I love you, my love' b/w DURETTES 'Sweet, sweet love' SVR Ex. Couples of scuffs on Perfections side that do not affect play. 400 OBO TRUE REFLECTION 'Silent treatment' b/w 'Beer cans and empty hands' ATCO MINT. 40 PERCY AND THEM 'Look in the mirror of my eyes' b/w 'Trying to find a new love' ROULETTE Ex. 250 ALDER RAY MATHIS 'Take me baby' b/w 'I want to get married' JETSTAR D.J. Copy. Mint. 125 PERFECTIONS 'I just can't leave you' (Same as Tony Hestor - same backing) WHITE LABEL one sided. UNRELEASED limited issue. 75.
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Among the acetates, rarities and unknowns are the following for sale. Condition as described. PayPal fine as 'gift' P&P £1 for first single 50p additional. £2 and £1 for albums. UK only. Money back if not satisfied. LPs THE PLATTERS 'I get the sweetest feeing' MUSICOR ( Inc. Devri,Hard to get a thing called love, Fear of losing you) Ex/Ex 20 THE DETROIT SOUND (Inc. Jumpin at the gogo, Give love another chance) WYNCOTE Ex/Ex 30 ARTHUR PRYSOCK 'All my life' OLD TOWN (Inc All I need is you tonight) OLD TOWN Ex/Ex 15 RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS Souled out VERVE (Inc. It's up to you , I don't believe in losing) Ex/Ex 25 Singles JOE McLEAN Let's talk about love EGO VG+ 30 ESQUIRES Dancing a hole in the world ROCKY RIDGE Stick.Ex- 40 VOICE MASTERS Dance right into my heart/If a woman catches a fool BAMBOO White Promo VG+ 40 BEN E KING I can't break the news to myself ATCO M-80 LEE ROGERS Cracked up over you (correct spelling!) WHEELSVILLE VG (Plays fine) 65 HAL HARDY House of broken hearts HOLLYWOOD White demo VG (Plays with slight surface noise) 20 ART & HONEY Shake well before you use me DUNHILL White Demo Ex (Company sleeve) 50 TW BANKSTON Couldn't put the bottle down STRAIGHT UP Green vinyl VG++ 100 JAMES BROWN There was a time KING (Blue) VG+ 10 EDWIN STARR My weakness is you GORDY M 15 AL GREEN Let me help you BELL Ex 15 RUBY WINTERS Sweetheart things DIAMOND Promo VG++ 15 BOBBY BLAND Getting used to the blues DUKE Ex 20 DON COVAY See saw ATLANTIC Ex 10 OTIS REDDING Look at the girl ATCO Ex 10 (GREAT!) MARTHA & VANDELLAS Love guess who GORDY M-15 THE NEW PERSPECTIVE Stone outta my head MAXWELL VG++ 20 ORIGINALS I'm someone who cares SOUL White Demo BS Ex 10 VOICES OF EAST HARLEM Giving up JUST SUNSHINE Ex 10 CLIFF NOBLES The horse PHIL LA of SOUL The horse M 15 DARROW FLETCHER Gonna keep loving you REVUE PromoEx 10 BOBBY SHEEN Something new to do WB M- 125 CLYDE McPHATTER Crying won't help you now MERCURY Ex 25 COMMODORES Don't you be worried MOWEST Whit Demo BS Ex 25 BOBBY PATTERSON I'm in love with you JETSTAR PROMO Yellow vinyl Ex 150 MAR-VELS Go on and have yourself a ball BUTANE Ex 40 LEAH DAWSON/ CHOKER CAMPBELL My mechanical man MAGIC CITY (Green) Ex 25 TONY CHAMBERS Stay calm,be cool and think collectively MOPRES M- 35 LEE FIELDS She's a love maker LONDON Promo Ex 25 FOUR SONICS If it wasn't for my baby JMC Ex 35 BOBBY PARIS Per-so-nal-ly TETRAGRAMMATON VG+ 25 RUEBEN BELL Baby love DELUXE M- 10 ANN PEEBLES Slipped tripped fell in love HI M 15 SOLD BETTY EVERETT Unlucky girl UNI Ex 20 JEFF PERRY Love don't come no stronger ARISTA VG+ 25
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Came across a yellow Kapp sleeve with the following hand written on it "Ernie,Here's Freddy Butler's new release. The 'A' side is 'There was a time' Thanx Lorraine." I assume the 'Ernie' is local Detroit radio DJ Ernie Durham and, having checked her autograph, the signatory is definitely Lorraine Chandler.
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I think the latest one has more early tracks and not his Mala, Invictus or Rock Mill material
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I thought his name DAVIS? Or has his taken up Welsh citizenship? MELVIN DAVIS. His Greatest Recordings came out in 2004 on his own ROCK MILL label.
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News: The Holidays and Debonaires by Rob Moss
Rob Moss replied to Rob Moss's topic in Front Page News & Articles
Thanks everyone. It means a lot to me that people I respect enjoyed the piece. Currently working on an article about the Hamilton brothers based on an interview I did with Ronnie Savoy several years ago! Really struggling to find photos of any of them, from the time, if anyone can help. Desperately need shots of Ronnie, Al Kent and Bob Hamilton. -
How sad ...and so young too. One of the truly distinctive voices on the soul scene and an incredible talent behind the board. His early work at Swan in Philly still ranks as high as any. RIP.
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The Holidays and Debonaires - A Marriage Made in Detroit by Rob Moss Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full
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The Holidays and Debonaires - A Marriage Made in Detroit by Rob Moss Motown's purchase of Golden World Records Inc. in September 1966 created considerable turbulence among the artists, musicians, producers and technicians associated with the sequested company. Speculation persists as to owner Ed Wingate's actual willingness to sell, having refused on several occasions, and the possible involvement of 'outside' organisations in applying pressure on him to bring about the move, as well as providing the capital to finance it. The success of the Golden World and Ric Tic labels with a stable of talented artists providing local, national and international hits, the profitability of the Golden World studio as a recording facility for 'outside' projects and Wingate's association with related businesses that enhanced his profile in the community, all point to the implausibility of such a decision at that juncture. His failure to be associated with any and all public announcements of the takeover, choosing instead to let (business partner) Joanne Bratton represent the company, may portray the real story. The immediate effect of the change saw the dissolution of two of the company's most prolific groups - The Debonaires and The Holidays. Both had worked extensively around the city providing background accompaniment for a host of artists, including, ironically, many sessions at Motown, and had recorded under their own identities for Golden World and others. Despite several more records and more background work in the months following the sale, it was the relationship between[b] Elsie Baker and Tony Gray[/b] that ultimately signalled the end of both groups, when they were married in the autumn of 1967. The events leading up to the union provide a compelling and engrossing chronicle of life at 3246 West Davison during the mid 1960s. Joyce Vincent, Dorothy Garland and Elsie Baker began life as The Debonaires by auditioning for Bob Hamilton in the Spring of 1963 at Pershing High School in Detroit. They were 15 and 16 years of age. Hamilton's friendship with Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton led to a second audition at Bratton's house, where they were signed to a contract. Elsie Baker recalled that "…we actually wrote a song 'Please don't say we're through' for the audition and they liked that a lot. It turned out to be our first recording for the company too. Our parents signed the contract 'cause we didn't know anything about that. Golden World wasn't built at that time so 'Uncle' Ed flew us down to New York to CBS studios to record our song and 'A little too long' and they put that out. We were soooh excited 'cause we were having so much fun. We had no idea how the record did – we didn't care" The good times only got better for the group when the Golden World studio was completed several months later and they began to provide backing vocals for other artists and record themselves. Dorothy Garland remembered how their honour was protected "My mother came in with us one afternoon and put Mr. Wingate in the corner and gave him a hard time. Reminded him how we were trying to go to school and gave him all these other orders! We found out later that he had gathered all the guys together and warned them that we were strictly OFF LIMITS!" Most heeded the warning. The Debonaires The second Debonaires release on Golden World featured collaboration between singer Pat Lewis, Ronnie Savoy and 'Popcorn' Wylie on something of a novelty, 'Eenie Meenie Gypsaleenie'. Elsie reminisced "Mr. Wingate called us in one day and said 'I want y'all to try something…' Then we recorded it pretty quickly. We hit it so easy. The local kids and teenagers around town loved that record but Motown didn't want the Debonaires to compete with the Supremes so Berry Gordy put pressure on local radio stations not to play our records. When he finally bought the company out we were the first to go." Undeterred by these minor set backs, the group continued to flourish, particularly doing background work. "It was at this time (mid '65) that we started to work with the Holidays doing back ups. I guess producers liked our harmonies together. We had done Golden World Revue shows with them so we knew them quite well. That's when I first got with Tony (Gray). We were on the Detroit O'Jays sessions (I'll never forget you' 'It won't hurt') most of Edwin's songs, The Prophets, The Dramatics, Melvin Davis, The Parliaments, JJ Barnes, The Platters, Steve Mancha, almost all the Fantastic Four songs with Sweet James … they were so many…and we did sessions at Motown too. That's us on 'This old heart of mine' (Isley Brothers) together with the Holidays and we all did 'What becomes of the broken hearted' (Jimmy Ruffin) too. We did a lot of sessions at Motown though the Holidays did many more. In those days it was quite normal for people like us to be brought in for recording sessions. All the labels did it …Motown more than most. The lead singer would deliver the lyric and we would sing the rest. It made it much easier that way, especially if the acts were on the road. And most of the time we sounded better than what they'd got!" Pat Lewis knew the girls well and recalled what a pleasure they were to work with "I was asked by Mr. Wingate to help them out and show them the ropes when we first started at Golden World. Those girls just lit the place up laughing and giggling all the time. They were hyper …they were the original brats. Everyone loved them. But when it was time to sing – watch out! They picked things up really quickly too. Never needed over dubs and they would nail most things in one take. My sister Diane and me sang with them quite a bit. We would always get them to turn the lights down real low to create an atmosphere in the studio when we recorded. It made it much easier and much more fun. I remember one session where they got the giggles and the producer had to stop it. It was either 'Down in the dumps' or 'I just can't leave you' with Tony Hestor – it was his session anyway. They would always sing 'live' with any artist they were backing, where they could. Anyway, I guess Tony tended to sing with his neck at an angle and the girls found this funny. No matter how many times they tried to sing it straight one of them would crack up. Tony took it with good grace though – he didn't know what they were laughing at I don't think. That was a session where their vocals were added later without any distractions." Despite their success as backing singers, it was decided that an accomplished lead singer should be added to the line up. Dorothy recalls how the audition process took place "We were told that Mr. Wingate wanted someone with a stronger voice especially on our recordings so we went along with that. First they brought in Lonette McKee but she was much taller than us so that wouldn't have worked. Then Diane (Logan) came in and we liked her. It all happened pretty quickly really." Diane Logan's first project was the beautiful 'How's your new love treating you' which, despite being the group's best release to date, suffered from a lack of promotion, possibly caused by the Motown buy out, that severely restricted its success. Another project that failed to materialise was a tour to Europe, as Elsie explained, "Yes, Joanne had OK'd it. It was us, the Holidays and Edwin. Some dates had been arranged but three months later the company was sold so it never came off." Diane Logan In late 1966 erstwhile local DJ/Promoter LeBaron Taylor took the group to his own Solid Hit label and paired them with the Parliaments' George Clinton for what many consider to be their best record – 'Loving you takes all of my time' b/w 'Headache in my heart', both written and produced by Clinton. Interestingly, both were recorded at United Sound. Sadly, the record buying public didn't respond and so writing duties switched to Mike Terry and Leon Ware for their final release at Terra Shirma. 'Headache in my heart' was again used as the B-side but 'I'm in love again' led the way. The record achieved reasonable local success but couldn't break through to regional and national recognition. Despite the disappointments, Elsie recalled those times with sincere fondness "We really had fun performing our songs at places like Phelps Lounge and the 20 Grand – that was the best place …I don't think we ever made much money but we didn't care. It was just great fun. The people we worked with were some of the most talented people I ever met and, as a group, we still all keep in touch. A lot of groups say negative things about other members years later but not us. In the summer of 1967 Tony and I decided to settle down and start a family. We got married in September…" …thus fulfilling a prophesy he had made to the other members of the group on first seeing a photo of the Debonaires pinned up on the studio wall at Golden World back in 1965. "Yes that is true. I told people who my wife was going to be before I'd even met her. I told her too when I met her. I guess I was right because we are still married!" Tony Gray announced triumphantly in 2010. Tony and Elsie The Holidays first visited Detroit in 1964 when they were known as the Caprees. Charles Guy, Robert Johnson, Willie 'Butch' Johnson and Tony Gray lived in Jackson, Mississippi but came up to audition for Motown as Gray explained "They liked us and wanted to sign us but two of the guys needed to go back to Jackson to graduate from High School first. We were all between 17 and 19 years old. Charles left the group around this time and moved to California. The three of us came back a few months later, 'cause they still wanted us, but we met Richard Morris on the way in and he warned us about drug use there … we didn't even drink …and also about the number of groups they had. So we didn't go in. We heard about Golden World and went over there to give it a shot. We met Don Davis who asked us if we'd got any original material. We had 10 of our own songs but he liked 'I'll love you forever' best. They used us as background singers on different artists and we got a good reputation. We worked with Tony Hestor a lot." The fate of 'I'll love you forever' still rankles Tony Gray to this day and shows, once again, how Don Davis' penchant for misrepresenting his contribution to song writing became infamous. BMI music publishing company lists the writers as Tony Gray, Robert Johnson and Don Davis yet, on the record label, only Davis is credited. The fact that Gray has not a received a penny in royalties pales in comparison to the manner in which the song was initially allotted by Ed Wingate. "Tony Hestor and Don were working on the track which wasn't coming out right so I went in and worked with the musicians directly to show them what I wanted. Joe Hunter did the lead sheets and Dennis Coffey arranged the strings and when we were finished I was happy with it. Then we put the background vocals on it. Then Ed Wingate comes in and says he is going to give the song to Edwin Starr. We were shocked. It was nothing personal against Edwin, 'cause we had worked with him and knew him well. Then I went kinda crazy I guess – I asked Wingate what right he had to decide what would happen to our song and told him he wasn't going to take anything from us and who did he think he was. I guess he wasn't used to being spoken to like this or being challenged 'cause he got mad and told us to leave the building." The impasse lasted four days in which time both Jack Ashford and George Clinton acted as both confidantes and intermediaries for the group. Wingate finally apologised and promised to make it up to them. The compromise reached was that the record came out by The Holidays but the lead vocal, by Edwin Starr, was retained. This makes a total nonsense of the statement Starr made in an interview to explain the duplicity, especially his claim not to know who The Holidays were " …I got tricked into doing that song. I went by the studio one night and producer Don Davis said 'Edwin …show these guys how to sing this song. A couple of weeks later I hear 'I'll love you forever' on the radio and I thought they must have got some other guys to sing it until I realized the voice was mine. The DJ announced the group's name as The Holidays. I thought The Holidays! Who the hell are they?" Yeah right. The record became a national hit and prompted a tour that included appearances at the Apollo theatre. " Ed Wingate was good to his word after our dispute and booked us on the best tours. It was at that time that Eddie Anderson joined us. We performed with Tammi Terrell for a while. She was a wonderful person. We opened for The Impressions and they were very kind to us. James Brown told us that we would be big stars. Then there was Jackie Wilson, Junior Walker and his band, Bettye Swann and so many others …we had a ball. Ed or Joanne never took a dime from our 'live' appearances and Joanne always gave us $2500 when we went out, to cover our room and board. They were good people and they were good to us." As negotiations to buy the company dragged on, Motown made further overtures to the group " Joanne was speaking to Berry Gordy one day and she passed the phone to me. He said he wanted us to come over there. He promised that 'I'll love you forever' would get to number one and that he would look after us. I told him that I'd speak to the other guys about it. Robert and Eddie wanted to go but me and Butch didn't, so it didn't happen. It split us up really I guess 'cause we went our separate ways after that." The follow up to 'I'll love you forever' was 'No greater love' b/w 'Watch out girl' but sales were poor as Gray explained " We thought 'Watch out girl' was a stronger song and should have been the A side but they went with 'No greater love'. That release was around the time when Berry Gordy was buying the company and so it didn't get proper promotion. We'd split by then anyway." The Holidays did record several more records for LeBaron Taylor's Revilot label throughout 1967, but with vastly different personnel. Robert Johnson and Eddie Anderson, fresh from the split, stayed with Don Davis, who teamed them with Leon Ware to record 'Love's creeping up on me' b/w 'Never alone' and ' I keep holding on' b/w 'I know she cares' but with little success. Davis then changed matters dramatically for their final release on Revilot by bringing in a completely different group. The 'Four (4) Hollidays' (sic) had recorded for several labels including Markie, Master and Holliday Records in Detroit prior to the Golden World group and included only one survivor from their original line up, Jimmy Holland. He and George Clinton combined to write 'All that is required is you' for the new version of the (old) group, which was coupled with 'I'll keep running back', but with no significant success. This would have been the last Holidays release of the era were it not for a release on Groove City Records by The Hollidays (sic) in 1968 'Easy living' b/w 'I lost you'. As may be expected, Don Davis was again involved. He had produced both songs on Steve Mancha, who wasn't happy with the idea of 'Easy living' being his next single and flatly refused to sanction it's release under his name. The ever-creative Davis went ahead and released it anyway but with a slightly different spelling. Tony Gray Although Tony Gray has fond memories of his time at Golden World, he continues the battle to receive his share of the royalties as co writer of 'I'll love you forever'. "When Motown bought the company Don, Robert and I signed for a three way split. I later discovered that Don hadn't submitted ownership to BMI but had taken a 45% share for himself and given Robert the other 55%. I wrote to them both but didn't get a reply so now I've taken it up with BMI." Gray joined the Detroit Fire Department in 1967 and remained with them until his retirement. He continued to sing background vocals at various studios around the city, including many for Holland/Dozier/Holland's Invictus/Hot Wax/Music Merchant labels, on a part time basis, well into the 1970s. Elsie Gray (nee Baker) never sang professionally again but did become qualified as a high school teacher and enjoyed a successful career until her retirement. They live in a palatial estate on the outskirts of Detroit. Rob Moss http://www.hayleyrecords.co.uk
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I was fortunate to see him perform at Willie Mitchell's memorial service in Memphis and meet him afterwards. He had driven from Los Angeles to make the event, and after performing, drove straight back - literally thousands of miles. He appeared last ( after J. Blackfoot, Hi Rhythm, Don Bryant, Otis Clay and several others) and only performed a couple of songs but his singing was incredible and the audience went wild! In conversation, he was polite, helpful, thoroughly absorbing and gracious. He loved coming to England and was looking forward to the European tour. He was a truly special individual who will be greatly missed by all that were touched by his talent. Respect.
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The 10th Anniversary of HAYLEY RECORDS approaches with the release of the sublime and previously unreleased FINAL DECISIONS single 'I don't feel no pain'. To commemorate the occasion the single will feature a picture sleeve with previously unseen photos. Release date set for November 1st. I need an up to date list of soul record retailers and soul radio shows, with contact people and addresses so that promos can be mailed out, if anyone can oblige. Many thanks
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Records for sale in condition stated. PayPal OK (Gift) Post £1 first then 50p per. THE GLORIES Give me my freedom DATE VG. 5 (Both labels missing -black ) LITTLE EVA Something about you boy SPRING VG+ 7 LADY NICOLE I can see everybody's baby but mine JEMKL NM 6 TYRONE DAVIS We got a love no one can deny / You keep me holding on DAKAR EX. Brilliant Double sider 5 FREDDIE WATERS I'm afraid to let you into my life OCTOBER Ex 5 Oh so soulful! JOHNNY WILLIAMS Put it in motion PHILLY INT BS WD Mono side VG+ 6 HIGH INERGY Back in my arms again GORDY Mint 5 Well worth a punt. THE DAPS Feat. ALFRED ELLIS There was a time/The rabbit got the gun KING VG 5 POPULAR FIVE Baby I've got it MISTER CHAND VG+ 7 WILLIAM BELL & JUDY CLAY My baby specializes STAX Ex 5 THE 21ST I just can't forget your name JOY VG++ 5 (Mike Tery & Mikki Farrow) SOLD SPIRAL STAIRCASE More today than yesterday COLUMBIA. EX 6 MARGIE JOSEPH & BLUE MAGIC You and me got a good thing going ATCO EX 10 JEANIE REYNOLDS You ain't the only man CHESS Ex 5 BOBBY THURSTON This can't be happening to me AVCO Ex 6 BOBBY WILLIAMS Everybody needs love love sometime R&R Ex 7 FREDA PAYNE Bring back the joy CAPITOL Ex 8 ECSTASY PASSION & PAIN Passion ROULETTE BS M- 5 TIP WATKINS People gonna talk H&L 6 MARY WELLS Can't you see you're losing me ATCO VG (Plays fine) 5 SOLD DRIFTERS Baby what I mean ATLANTIC EX 10