Chalky

Press Release: The Delights “Listen To Me Girl b/w Tearra “Just Loving You “ SJ1008 Release Date: Monday March 6th 2017 The Delights “Listen To Me Girl” was a previously unissued Philadelphia recording. That has been licensed from the stable of veteran record producer Emanuel (Manny) Campbell Jr. Although the track has been featured on one of Manny’s Coastal records cd projects this is the first time that this track has received a release on a vinyl format. The Delights consisted of four male singers. With two of them being Manny’s cousins, brothers Keith “Toppie” (the eldest) and Ellis Hill, their cousin Jaime Hill plus a teenage friend of theirs. The lead singer was a girl by the name of Peaches. All aged between 16 to 17 years old and all from Chester, Pennsylvania. They had all gained valuable experience singing with other groups individually as backing singers on early recording sessions for the likes of the O‘Jay’s, Delfonic’s and Stylistics’. With a family connection to Manny Campbell it was inevitable that they would eventually feature on some of his production sessions, with the Nu-Ron’s “All Of My Life/I’m A Loser” (Nu-Ron 1060) being one of them. Manny gathered them together to form a vocal group of their own under the group name of ‘The Delights’ (not to be confused with the group who recorded the song ‘Lover’ on Cuppy). Entering the recording studio under Manny’s tutelage during the months of July and August of 1968 they recorded the delightful (pardon the pun) crossover soul dance track “Listen To Me Girl”. This is believed to be their only completed recording session. With them being so young and somewhat unruly they were never able to complete the project’s Manny had in mind for them. “Listen To Me Girl” was composed by Manny and Charles J. Bowen a fellow Philadelphian, musician and composer, Charles’s writing credits can be found on many of Manny’s other productions with The Rotations “If I Could Be Like Columbus Where Would We Be/Don’t Ever Hurt Me Girl” (Law-Ton 1550) being a very fine example. In 1975 The Delights, now more grown up and under the management of a guy called Bryant did go on to record two excellent 45’s for the Phil-L.A Of Soul label. Firstly “It’s As Simple As That/I’ve Got Enough Sense” (PH-374) both sides of which are two excellent sweet soul ballads. Followed a year later by the up tempo “Face The Music/Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” (PH-379). All of their Phil-L.A Of Soul sides were written by Morris Bailey Jr. Tearra’s “Just Loving You” through the importation of copies into the UK became popular with the exponents of the modern soul genre eventually crossing over to find favour with the more open minded members of the Northern Soul scene. Now regarded as one of the corner stone anthem’s of the modern soul genre this 45 is still a highly sought after item. Tearra had been born Teah Louise in Mobile Alabama. During the early to mid 1970’s Manny Campbell began spending more of his time in Atlanta GA. Finally making it his permanent home during 1979, the same year that he set up his Emandolynn Music studios, with Teah joining him very soon after. During 1980, Manny offered Teah the chance to record a prospective new album entitled ‘Great Love’ and subsequently released two lead 45 singles from the project on her. Firstly under her real name of Teah-Louise the disco influenced “You Happened To Me/Got To Keep You Mine’ (Coastal-1002) followed by the second 45 “Ooh Let This Feeling (Last A Long, Long Time) backed with the desirable “Just Loving You” (Midtown 1001) with Midtown, by then being Coastal’s main record distributor. This second release appeared under the artist name of Tearra, due to Teah Louise by now not wishing to use her real name. Both the Coastal and Midtown releases were only ever pressed in 500 promotional copies runs with the anticipated ‘Great Love’ album project unfortunately never being completed. The reason being due to Teah’s sudden marriage and shortly after leaving the recording business at her new husband’s request. A later 12” Coastal Records single issued on the group ‘Tomorrows Wish’ features the song “My Love For You” which too shares the same backing track as Tearra’s “Just Loving You”. Incidentally the co-writer with Manny Campbell on Tearra’s “Ooh Let This Feeling (Last A Long, Long Time)” song happens to be cousin and former Delight member Keith “Toppie” Hill. Words By: David Welding With acknowledgements to: Emanuel Campbell Jr & Yomi Belson Tearra photograph courtesy of: Emandolynn Music Archive Label scans courtesy of: Val Challoner, Neil Forbes, Dave Halsall, Andrew Whitmore & David Welding Listen to Preview... Your browser does not support the audio element. SJ1008 - The Delights & Tearra - Promo.mp3

Joey Jefferson is a well known producer and label owner that released many excellent 60s soul sides. Breakthrough & Mutt & Jeff are two of Joey’s labels that are of the most interest to Rare & Northern Soul collectors. The most highly sought after 45 on Breakthrough is of course by “No One Else Can Take Your Place” by the Inspirations. Over the years myths and misinformation has surrounded the recording. Johnny Hendley who recorded solo on Mutt & Jeff and later on TIE as John & The Weirdest is just one. He was reputedly the lead singer with the Inspirations. However, during a recent trip Stateside by Kev Roberts who met once more with Joey this myth was dispelled once and for all. The line up of the Inspirations, an LA vocal group, consisted of John Gibson who sang lead. Other members include brothers Huey and Lou Bell plus Charles Perry who was on MGM/Magnum, Charles Diamond (real name Charles Pennywell) was also in the studio doing backing and as we will find out he was soon to cut his own take. This line up was confirmed to Kev by Joey in a recent conversation. The group went into the studio and recorded the track sometime in 1966. The group however were courted by Motown’s West Coast office and they refused to sign a contract with Joey. With just a few 45s escaping and the group in dispute with Joey over a contact the recording was pulled and consigned to the vaults. The Fairlanes Charles “Diamond” Pennywell was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the third largest city in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The city has a rich musical history from soul to gospel, R&B to country and much more and was the home for many of music’s major acts. Charles was also a childhood friend of Joey Jefferson who would have a part to play in the future musical career of Charles. Charles began singing at the age of ten. It would be high school where he began to take it seriously. Along with fellow school friends, Eddie Lejay, Thomas Odom, Steve Ross they formed the The Fairlanes, named after the Ford Fairlane and keeping with the doo-wop tradition of naming the group after cars, The Cadilacs etc. The group’s first release in 1959 was to be Seventeen Steps” b/w “Johnny Rhythm” came out on Dee Marais’ Lucky Seven label and in the same year for Pappy Dailey’s Dart label out of Houston, TX (Just For Me). They would also record for Eddie Shuler's Tic-Toc label (You’re Lonesome Now) in 1961. Charles would record solo for Smash with “Web Of Love” b/w “It’s So Funny I Could Cry”. Charles as mentioned was doing backing vocals in the studio whilst the Inspirations cut their take or takes of “No One Else Can Take Your Place”. It is highly likely Charles Diamond cut his take during the same session, if not the same session it would be very soon after. Alas, Joey Jefferson would lose interest in the recording and it would be shelved. Charles Diamond, soon after laying down his vocals to “No One Else Can Take Your Place” would become a member and sing lead vocals for the vocal group The Sunlovers and whose members would be Eddie LaJay who was a member of the Failanes alongside Charles and childhood friend and Robert Tisby. I have read a conflicting biography that the groups members were also those that recorded as The Inspirations. If this is true then I guess Joey didn’t bear a grudge, not when money was to be made through music. I find this unlikely due to the dispute over a recording contract the Inspirations had with Joey. The line up of Charles, Eddie and Robert came from an interview conducted with Charles a few years ago. The Sunlovers It would be the Sunlovers and his other label interests that would be the focus of Joey’s productions and “The Inspirations and “No One Else Can Take Your Place” was for the foreseeable future history. The Sunlovers would record for amongst others Joey’s Mutt & Jeff label. “My Poor Heart”. was the first release in June 1967 “You’ll Never Make The Grade” came next and “I’ll Treat You Right” being the third and final release on Mutt & Jeff. None did anything nationally despite selling regionally. The first two would however become popular on the UK Northern Soul scene in later years alongside the Breakthrough release by the Inspirations and other releases by Joey Jefferson. When asked most collectors and dancers remember first hearing the record via Colin Curtis at the legendary Blackpool Mecca. This copy however belonged to Neil Rushton. Neil purchased it for £32, two weeks wages, blind from Bob Cattaneo of San Francisco. This was the first copy to arrive in the UK and Neil as well as playing it himself at venues such as The Ritz in Manchester would take it to the Mecca for Colin to play, this would be late 1973 or 1974 according to various memories. Some years later, whilst the disc was still a one known copy 45, Neil would sell the record to Ritchie Andrew of Wales for £120, something Neil regretted. Meanwhile, Bob Cattaneo had been in contact with Joey and during the conversations it transpired Joey still had the masters for “No One Else Can Take Your Place”. Bob relayed this to Neil and a deal was struck through Bob to get 1000 pressed up, this was 1977. However, when the records arrived in the UK Neil was bemused that it was not the same as the record he had bought from Bob and played around the UK but a totally different take. It transpired that Joey had used the vocal recorded by Charles Diamond and not the original Inspirations take. It was though an excellent recording in its own right and all copies have now disappeared into collections and when one does come up for sale it is now commanding a three figure sum. The Inspirations though has never turned up with just a few known copies and commanding a figure of several thousand pounds. As for Johnny Hendley, his whereabouts are unknown although Joey is actively attempting to locate him. Charles Pennywell would continue to record into the 70s and is still touring to this day with his band. Special thanks to Kev Roberts, Charles Pennywell and Joey Jefferson. Thanks also to Classic Urban Harmony. Photos courtesy of Charles Pennywell. Charles “Diamond” Pennywell has his own website… http://www.charlesdiamond.indiegroup.com/index.html