lorchand

Guess I'll add my two cents. I'll say again, I was honored to be around such talent as Paul Riser. He was the arranger on many horn sessions for Pied Piper and Just Productions. To say he was brilliant is an understatement. You had to see him work with a musician to play the right notes and feel the rhythym and he did it in such a professional and soft spoken way as to not belittle them. There was always a smile and the 'let's get to work' attitude because he knew outside of Motown, time was money and independent producers had very little (money). This is a great article and I'm so glad to see the 'behind the hits' people getting some attention. Lorraine

Dave, your post says it all and Babbitt puts the finishing touches on it. Actually, Cool Jerk knocked me out of my #1 slot in Detroit (What Can I Do) and the Funks played on both of them. I'm so glad he interviewed. Believe it or not, this is the most I've heard Bob speak! When he came to the sessions, he came to work. Not a lot of talk, just fingering. Maybe the other guys didn't give him a chance to speak (they spoke constantly), but this was so refreshing. A true professional. Lorraine

Am I missing something or reading this wrong? As an artist, writer and producer, it breaks my heart when I see my work (or any other artists') being bootlegged. I have seen one of my songs being sold on four different labels without permission, at the same time! There is no legitimate bootlegging! I am not calling anyone a bootlegger, but some of the posts here implies the 'collectors' are upset on being robbed! While I totally agree with the title of this thread, the only thing being stolen are the royalties not being paid to the record company, artist, writers and publishers when bootlegging is done. Lorraine

Andy, I am not surprised. When the Northern Soul folks put their minds and hearts together, the world changes (or stays the same!). I'm glad she's well. If you all show her a quarter of the kindness you've shown me, you might get her to cross the pond. I'm sure you and Ady will work it out. What a beautiful voice. Dibs on writing her next song! Lorraine

Don't forget Eddie Willis (guitar). Lorraine

I guess my all time favorite from them will be SHOUT! That record got me in the first five seconds. The vocal and track was smoking with the old time gospel feel. I love it when you all put the records here, some of these I have never heard. Tis' nothing like this library! Lorraine

Hi Marc, While it has been a while and Jack and I have differed on scenarios regarding 'back in the day', if I was there we do get it straight. If I ask him a question, I do expect the truth even if he was in the wrong at the time. If you made a mistake or got the deals confused (that happens) it's time to get right. Even during this thread, folks are still trying to sell the illegitimates! I recorded and wrote so many songs during a period, I truly forgot some of them. Let them play once or twice and I will recall every word, see the musicians playing, etc. While material didn't sell here (USA), they were being copied and sold elsewhere. I'm just glad and blessed that I was right on how good the material and talent was that it still stands the test of time. So Marc, it might be forgotten, but it can be recollected. Lorraine

Dear Roburt, Don't think me rude, but I'm going to direct you to All About Soul Forum, New Member-Lorraine Chandler (Page 9) where everyone asked me everything. If you still don't feel your question has been addressed, contact me again. I am enjoying your threads here. Lorraine

Hey Rick, Without the internet, bootlegging would still go unnoticed. Yes, I do get sad, only because it's too easy to get authorization and do it right. The publishers/writers only get so much and to get nothing is a drag. Also, when you call them out on it, there usually is no response of their innocence or even an explanation. There is no excuse today to clear up the yesterdays. I call IL and Soussan my pimps because they have made more money off of me than anyone (that I know of). I'm trying to get my business straight for my heirs. Once I leave this earth, who are you gonna check with? I enjoy being your hero, thank you. Lorraine

Merci! Lorraine

Dylan, I was so shaken after listening to Just a Touch of your Hand, I couldn't hardly reply. I know I went crazy in the studio hearing this man sing the song (the same thing happen with Eddie Parker's, But If You Must Go), because it was such a good performance. What I know now is that Al could sing about 'love'. This song brings tears to my eyes now because I do know about love in every sense of the word. Not then. It was about the business. The talent. The songs. The deals. Folks like Al, Eddie, Sandra, and Sharon, knew about love and you could hear and sense it in their recordings. I could write about love, but they could feel and sing about it. Lorraine

Everytime Al Gardner sung (sang) the line, "just, just a touch of your hand...," I was reaching out to touch his in the studio (not really, but I wanted to!). When you have an artist like this that can express the words and gives the melody the passion it deserves, it makes your body shake. Truly a work of art vocally. I think this is why I write. Between him and Eddie Parker, they drove me crazy with their interpretations of music. Lorraine

Bonjour Romain! Please keep me informed when you speak to Monsieur Petard. I would like to know who did what. I would also like to know who paid whom. Lorraine

Hi Sebastian, Made the inquiry to Jack Ashford concerning the above and he said outside of the Eddie Parker release, he didn't authorize any of the above to Googa Mooga, nor did he know a Giles Petard. Lorraine

Andyk123, The label's name??? Writers, producers or even the singer, but the label? Lorraine

Wrong Crowd, We had this discussion on my thread (New Member-Lorraine Chandler) regarding that wonderful group. The group sold well locally, but as groups go... I know I gave a couple of boxes of the Sonics to John Anderson (Grapevine) on one of his visits here years ago. The 'plus one' is Johnny Dixon, not me, I swear. I referred to him earlier in this thread as a wonderful singer and you can hear his vocal talents (the second lead) on this recording. Lorraine

Richard, That particular picture came out with the release of Sweet Baby in the USA. I still have hundreds! It doesn't legitimize the record in France though. Al Gardner gave his picture out like candy. The 'sweet baby' picture was everywhere. Lorraine

Roburt, Fortunately, Jack Ashford is still around and I have no problems in asking him (you can too on Facebook). As far as our conversations in the past has revealed, again, only the Eddie Parker record was released during that time. Jack never spoke of any other releases then or in later years, but I will ask him.

Sorry, never heard of the gooda mooga label. I don't think the original label would misspell their name. Lorraine

As far as I know, the only authorized release was Eddie Parker's Love You Baby.

Roburt, Thank you for the kind words. It has truly been my pleasure to entertain you all. While I still have copies of these records (and tapes), I just don't play them. It truly is a shame because they are pretty good, if I must say so myself. Maybe some of you don't know that you are listening to the beginning of our careers. We were just getting started in singing, producing, writing, etc. Can you imagine what we could have accomplished with another five years under our belts? Again, thank you for the compliments. Lorraine

Steve, It's good to be acknowledged and appreciated. I'm just giving back to what I'm receiving. After all, you can't take it with you and I want the record (no pun intended) to be straight. I thank you all more than you could ever know. Lorraine

I would like to know also. Bootlegging is the illegal use of distribution of someone else's material. It's too bad the only person who gets paid is the seller. It's so difficult to track them down and sooo expensive. It's not worth money you put behind it. Lorraine

That Johnny Dixon could sing and write. Al Gardner could really, really sing. I put my turntable up a long time ago and hearing these songs again has given me a new appreciation of what we had then. It also makes me kind of sad. So much talent. Lorraine

Usually, 200-500 copies are initially pressed. That would be the minimum, especially on the SEPIA label. Lorraine