Steve Plumb

I have one here www.soulmusic.co.uk/Northern_Originals_List.htm Cheers Steve

At the risk of being shot down Chris, I'd say there's nowt for you on either, although I ain't played the OS LP for yonks.............there may be a funky 70's Northern monster on there now SA LP looks good but doesn't deliver imho! Cheers Steve

Keep up the good work fella and keep riding those radio waves! Bet the Levi & Mike Terry specials will be up to your usual high standard mate! Loving that unreleased version of 'Keep on doing whatcha doing' from the Ty Karim CD too Cheers Steve

OK Marky Mark, do your worst (by PM please to spare my blushes ) Cheers Steve

A little 45 on the Prodigal label please! Shirley Alston - Can't stop singin' (bout the boy I love) Please send the price you want for it & condition by PM With all due respect, please do not ask me what i want to offer you for it, please just send a price & condition Cheers Steve

Cheers Paul See you in Bilbao Cheers Steve

Hi Bob Any scans that anyone sends up i'll try to insert them all into the main post..............i even have the wierd Thunderfunk 45's & the Patti Drew 45 which i'll scan in and post up. The UK releases would be good too! Cheers Steve

Been trying to add the scans that folks have posted into the original post but have only managed a couple as I don't understand how some of the attachments work? I can see the path on some but not on others? Have done a couple and will try and add more plus i will post up some scans of my own to get a full picture of the label listing, descriptions & scans of the label all in the one article. Bit busy at the moment and not getting much SS time, so will get round to it when i can. Rod at Voices doesn't have a problem with me publishing these articles so might do some of the other labels i did for Voices back in the day when time allows! (IX Chains etc) Cheers Steve

Agree - Much harder on USA A&M than the 'common' UK copies that are around

Hi Robin Has it got 'Lace' on the other side as that's the track that's been getting attention over the top side over the last few years (they are back to back on the 45 but haven't seen the 12") Cheers Steve

Aah instrumental version - yes, it's all coming back to me now! Cheers Steve

Found an Ex copy Bri Will PM you the details Cheers Steve

Hi Taffy Thanks for the Wales Wallace issue .....BUT what the heck are those acetates??????? VIP wasn't issued in the UK to my knowledge and I've never heard of the instrumental? As for t'other one - you got me mate - what's it like? Have you any other info on them? If they are they EMI acetates maybe they were intended for release after the EMI issue of 'You brought it on yourself/Drop my heart off????? So many questions............ Cheers Steve

Hi All Thanks for all the feedback - been a tad busy this week but will pull it all together real soon so all the scans match the label listing! Some good stuff so far Velvet - yeah that needs to be mentioned as it is an earlier version of Quadrophonics isn't it! Something else struck me today - 'Blow my mind' by The Lost Family, I'm sure is included on an LP by someone else? I'm sure i didn't dream it but can't for the life of me think of the LP? Think it was slightly different to the 45's too? Anyone? Cheers Steve

I did you're right and i 'still' think i have one left somewhere? Having another delve at dinner time! Cheers Steve

Hi Bri Think i have one lurking in the boxes - let me have a delve and get back to you Cheers Steve

Nice one Sebastian - you don't see the all green one as much as the one with a logo imho? Let's be having some more scans and we can start putting them all together! Cheers Steve

Hi Adrain I think Simtec Simmons is both designs too? Cheers Steve

The article below originally appeared in 'Voices From The Shadows' Issue #14 (Mid 1990) and was spread over two pages with a scan of the logo plus White Demo scans of Barbara Hall 'Drop my heart off at the door' & Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign 'How's your wife' Everything is exactly as it was in the article including the description of each track that I made at the time! Where I have added new bits of info for this thread in Oct'08 I have marked it as *** 70'S SOUL - THE INNOVATION II RECORD LABEL With the interest in 70's Soul now at an all time high, I thought it would be the right time to reflect on one of the most in-demand and influential labels of that genre - out of Chicago - INNOVATION II My personal interest in the label came about some years ago through conversations with Mecca stalwarts Pete Haigh and Pete Mason who both recommended anything on the label. As I had one or two singles already, I set about trying to locate the rest. Although there are three duffers on the label, the rest are all generally excellent examples of 70's Chicago soul, most being midtempo dancers backed with great ballads. The original numbering system makes it difficult to know whether there are more Innovation II singles out there - the label was affiliated with WARNER BROS so the first singles have Warner Bros numbers pre-fixed firstly with 'WB' going on to 'INS' then eventually getting their own distribution leading to sequential numbers prefixed with 'IV' Probably due to lack of chart success, the label ceased trading in 1975. It is generally accepted that the remains of Innovation II merged into the Chi-Sound label which saw much more success with Chicago artists like Gene Chandler, The Chi-Lites, Walter Jackson, Windy City, Carl Davis and Margie Alexander. LABEL LISTING WB 7804 WINDY CITY "If By Chance"/"Hey it's Over" (SIL0042/43) 1974 Two fine Chicago group sounds. 'If' is a nice falsetto ballad which also appeared on their 'CHI SOUND' album, while 'Hey' is a midtempo mover. (Also released on the actual Warner Bros logo with the same number) ***As spotted by eagle eyed Mr Hampsey ALL copies seem to have INNERVISION II in the logo rather than INNOVATION II. As this is the first release on the label we can only assume the Warner Bros designers made a cock up on the logo and the proof readers didn't spot it! Are there any more releases like this? Are there any issues or demos of the above with the correct spelling? WB 7826 QUADRAPHONICS "Betcha If You Check It Out"/"Prove My Love To You" (SIL0046/47) 1974 Reached No. 51 in the US R&B/Soul Top 100. 'Betcha' is a classic 70's dancer b/w a tidy ballad on the flipside. (Also obtained a UK release on CONTEMPO in 1975) ***(Also released on the actual Warner Bros logo with the same number) INS 8002 THE LOST GENERATION "Your Mission (If You Decide To Accept It) Pts 1&2" (SM10026/27) 1974 Reached No. 65 in the US R&B/Soul Top 100. In-demand midtempo tune from a group who rarely put a foot wrong. Another goodie from the pens of Simon and Brownlee. Multi Coloured Issue Pt1 Multi Coloured Issue Pt2 INS 8019 QUADRAPHONICS "Betcha If You Check it Out"/"Prove My Love To You" (SIL0046/47) 1974 (See WB 7826) INS 8035 BARBARA HALL "Can I Count On You"/"V.I.P," (SIL0053/54) 1974 Two tremendous soul sides. 'Can' is a soulful swayer while Barbara's version of 'V.I.P.' has a nice 60's feel. Both tracks could well be played at most of today's soul venues - possibly the best release on the label? INS 8045 SIR WALES (WALLACE) "Whatever You Want"/"l Wish I Could Say What I Want" (SIL0055/56) 1975 Original release of IV 9157 ***(I missed this off the original article but put it right in Issue #15!) ***I've been told there are issues of this but I haven't seen one personally? I have seen double sided demos of 'Whatever' credited as both 'Sir Wales' AND 'Sir Wales Wallace' though! INS 8047 SIMTEC SIMMONS "Some Other Time"/"Classified Crazy Man" (SIL0058/59) 1974 Reached No. 66 in the US R&B/Soul Top 100. 'Some' is another classic midtempo dancer while the flip is a funky dancer. (Also obtained a UK release on CONTEMPO in 1975) IV 9157 WALES WALLACE 'Whatever You Want"/"l Wish I Could Say What I Want" 1975 'Whatever' must be the best 'in-vogue' dancer on the label; dubbed 'Son Of...Overdose Of Joy'. Another excellent ballad on the flip. IV 9158 SIMTEC SIMMONS "Some Other Time"/"Classified Crazy Man" 1975 (See INS 8047) IV 9159 EBONY RHYTHM FUNK CAMPAIGN "How's Your Wife (And My Child)"/"Oh Baby" 1975 Reached No. 68 in the R&B/Soul Top 100. 'How's' was so in-demand a year or so back. Midtempo guitar-led soulful builder with great lyrics. Flip is an OK funky dancer. (Also obtained a UK release on EMI in 1975) IV 9160 LOST FAMILY "Pretty Face"/"Blow My Mind" 1974 Released originally on the tiny INT MUSIC BAG label, 'Pretty' is a nice ballad b/w 'Blow' the popular bustling dancer which saw Mecca dance floor action. IV 9161 WINDY CITY "Good Guys Don't Always Win"/"We Party Heavy Up In Heah" 1975 'Good' is a great version of the Sam Dees classic song (which can also be found on their CHI SOUND album). Flip is a reasonable soul/funk dancer. IV 9162 BARBARA HALL "Drop My Heart Off At The Door"/"You Brought It On Yourself" 1975 'Drop' is another Sam Dees original, a gem of a ballad b/w a great 70's dancer sounding similar to 5 Special 'The More I Get To Know You'. (Also obtained a UK release on EMI in 1975) Multi Coloured Issue Plain Green Issue IV 9163 THUNDERFUNK SYMPHONY "40 Days And 40 Nights"/"Time To Discover" 1975 IV 9164 THUNDERFUNK SYMPHONY "Sky Blue"/"Hard Times" 1975 ***Also obtained a UK release on EMI in 1975 IV 9165 PATTI DREW "The Mighty OJ (Vocal & Inst)" 1975 ***Also obtained a UK release on CONTEMPO in 1975 The three duffers all appear one after another at the end of the label's releases, the Thunderfunk's being throwaway disco efforts while the Patti Drew is a funky chant about the American football giant O J Simpson. ***It was only recently that I realized that the 'UK only' 45 from 1975 on Contempo by Howeefeel "The devil's on the run"/"I just can't do without love (A thousand faces)" are actually INNOVATION II productions! Quite how it sneaked out over here is a mystery? 'Devil' is a funky groover that was quite popular in the London clubs at the time whereas 'I just' is a lovely soulful midtempo groover that has found favor with the Modern Soul collectors over the last few years! This concludes my description of one of the most consistent 70's soul labels. Every one is available at prices that won't require a second mortgage and all (except the last three) are great examples of 70's Chicago soul, many of which have that 'in vogue' feel that echoes around many top clubs at the moment. Steve Plumb May 1990 ***It would be good if folks could add any missing info to the article (or add to the descriptions) or post up scans of the labels (Issues, demos, logos, Warner Bros issues, UK issues etc) so we can build up a complete list of releases, descriptions & label scans. Cheers Steve Plumb Oct 2008

Sorry Sue I checked at dinner time and realised I sold it at the last Orwell and had forgotten to amend me files. It was in me boxes for months too! Sorry once again - hope someone comes to your rescue? Cheers Steve

Think Warner brothers should have sacked their proof reader for the first release methinks Anyone found any other releases other than the first one (Windy City) with Innervision on the logo or have we agreed that it's just on this release? Anyone got an Inn II test pressing of Howeefeel...........now that would be something!!!! Cheers Steve

Yep, just pulled my copy out........and guess what.............'the clever Dick proof reading pedantic poser man' is fookin right (again!) Hats off fella Now all this talk of Inn II made me dig out the Voices article i did in 1990 i.e. Label listing with description of each track. There's a couple of small omissions (like 'Innervision' on above, Howeefeel on Contempo etc) that 'could' have been added originally BUT in the main it still stands up (imho ) and R & B indies concurs too I think it'll be worth scanning it in, making the small additions and starting a new thread on the whole label? Anyone up for that? Please let me know and i'll get it sorted in the next few days and we can discuss it until our anoraks fall off Cheers Steve

Anyone got a copy of 'I gotta be free' for sale? Please PM if you does! Steve

Hi Sue I think i have one lurking in a box somewhere..............let me check and get back to you? Cheers Steve ps Brill tune by the way

Hi John Oops forgot about this thread and just returned - still haven't checked Innervision or Innovation yet! We did discuss it earlier but we spoke of the dual releases on WB & Inn II plus the releases that came out with two release #s on Inn II........then some clever Dick came along with this optical illusion Innervision/Innovation thing on the Windy City release......think i said i'd check then too! Still haven't done it yet!!!!! My head hurts Steve