Sean Hampsey

DD 017A Bobby Barnes "Super High On Your Love" / DD 017B Chuck Womack & The Sweet Souls "Losing Your Good Thing" THE NEWEST ‘DIGGIN’ DEEP’ LIMITED EDITION 45 RELEASE DATE FRIDAY 4th MARCH 2022 OUT IN TWO WEEKS AND AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW! Can You Dig It? DD017A BOBBY BARNES – SUPER HIGH ON YOUR LOVE DD017B CHUCK WOMACK & THE SWEET SOULS – LOSING YOUR GOOD THING It is with great pleasure that we announce the upcoming Diggin’ Deep 45. A late 70’s midtempo floater backed with an early 70’s raw soul deepie. These tracks are from the Raina and Ramco labels respectively, out of Phoenix, Arizona, USA. This UK release has been somewhat delayed due to pressing plant problems throughout Europe and the appearance of the A side on a European label, where it seemed sensible to postpone DD017, giving both labels a chance to circulate. Video Promo Bobby Barnes / Chuck Womack & The Sweet Souls BOBBY BARNES – SUPER HIGH ON YOUR LOVE (1977) Enigmatic 70s and 80s Soul artist Bobby Barnes knew how to throw it down with his soulful, no-nonsense vocals and bluesy guitar work. Bobby’s deep grasp of Blues, Soul and R&B helped form his strong, sophisticated approach. That versatility is evident across Bobby’s heartfelt ballads, smooth slow-jams and early 70s anthems. Bobby Barnes scored releases on the Discovery, Poor Man’s, Marvel International, Cross-Tone, and The Scam Sound record labels. Ultimately, the distinguished Mr. Barnes found his way to Fervor Records via Motown staff drummer, producer, and label exec Lawrence Carroll. The two met while performing at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater. Immediately captivated by Barnes’ charismatic stage prowess, Carroll kept tabs on the singer and signed him to his newly formed Raina label, releasing several singles. Produced and arranged by Lawrence Carroll, this is the first release on a UK label of this great side and an essential addition to your Diggin’ Deep collection. CHUCK WOMACK & THE SWEET SOULS – LOSING YOUR GOOD THING (1970) Chuck Womack is best known for the funky “Ham Hocks And Beans,” a song penned by Womack himself. The band gigged regularly at the Myles Lounge on 13th Street and Washington in Phoenix, AZ. They soon caught the attention of local music entrepreneur Floyd Ramsey. Ramsey signed Womack to his Ramco Records label on February 10, 1970. He paired the band with engineer Tim Hunnicutt at his flagship recording studio, Audio Recorders Of Arizona. The group laid down four sides for the label with “Ham Hocks And Beans – Part 1 and Part 2“ released on Ramco later that year. The band featured Chuck Womack on Vocals, Carl Gholson on sax, Delmar Stewart on drums, Bubba Cita on bass, and Raymond George on guitar. Two additional songs from those sessions were found in the Ramco archives. “Sweet Soul Special” and the raw deep soul track “Losing Your Good Thing” in 2019. Chuck Womack met his beautiful wife Vivian at the Myles Lounge and they were married February 6th, 1972, just two years after he signed with Ramco. Mr. Womack passed away February 3, 2018 leaving his lasting legacy on the Phoenix Soul scene and this, his first release on a UK label, or anywhere else in the world, another essential addition to your Diggin’ Deep collection. Diggin’ Deep are honoured to be able to bring you these superb recordings from Phoenix, Arizona, USA. We hope you’ll agree, this is a 45 that every Soul fan will want to have in their collection. Both sides will be available on a beautifully mastered vinyl 45. DD017 collector’s release is available at just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order ON THE WEBSITE ONLY now, while stocks last. https://diggin-deep.com

THE NEWEST ‘DIGGIN’ DEEP’ LIMITED EDITION 45 RELEASE DATE FRIDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2021 AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER FROM 20th AUGUST 2021! Can You Dig It? DD016A LEE HURST – WHOLE LOTTA YOUR LOVE DD016B TERRY & THE PYRATES – SOMEONE It is with great pleasure that we announce the upcoming Diggin’ Deep 45. A much-anticipated issue of an iconic and sought after early 70’s Soul 45, backed with a legendary, underground, deep ballad; two beautiful sides, to lift your spirits and feed your soul! Both these tracks are from the vast repertoire of Trend Records in Calgary, Canada. LEE HURST – WHOLE LOTTA YOUR LOVE (1973) London Ontario’s Frank “Lee” Hurst cut his teeth playing in such Canadian bands as Pepper Tree, which developed a following on the Ontario dance circuit While known as a bassist, Lee’s soulful vocals eventually caught the ear of record exec Merv Buchanan, who laid down two of Lee’s originals - “Whole Lotta Your Love” & “Saturday’s Wild.” Gerry Lacoursiere, Toronto-based president of A&M Canada released “Whole Lotta Your Love” as a single in 1973. The song received strong airplay throughout Canada but went no further. Many years later, recognised as a high calibre ‘Sweet and Low’ Soul tune, the record captured the imagination of the UK collector’s scene. Over the past few years, it has been deemed perfect for such enlightened Soul venues as Carib Soul, Majestic Soul and our own Diggin’ Deep events, aired by the likes of Mark Houghton, Tommo and Blake Helliwell. The recording itself is so alluring it was picked up by Sony Pictures and featured in the soundtrack of the award-winning movie ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ in 2018. This has only added to the disc’s growing appeal and subsequent demand, leading to this timely and welcome vinyl issue. Following the release in 1973 of his seminal Canadian single, Mr. Hurst more or less disappeared - leaving this soul masterpiece shrouded in mystery and intrigue. We can now reveal that in 2010, Lee Hurst quietly passed away in his hometown of London, Ontario, unaware that his recording would grow to become so cherished and appreciated in later years. The limited edition, Diggin’ Deep collectors 45, aims to satisfy some of the newfound demand for this very special, vintage, Soul recording. TERRY & THE PYRATES – SOMEONE (1968) Terry & The Pyrates, were a hot R&B band with roots at The Modern Age Lounge, in east end Toronto. Originally known as “The Dana” they made waves throughout the greater Toronto area in the late 1960s - playing high school dances throughout the city. The original line-up of Glen Daigle (vocals), Val Ruffo (guitar), Mike Levine (bass), Lance Wright (drums) and Aldur Kunder (organ) shifted when Daigle left the band and was replaced by the more experienced vocal powerhouse Terry Walker, who had worked as MC and back-up singer for The Associates. John Tarsey, Peter Misfud and John Rudder were quickly added to the horn section and the band’s sound exploded in new and exciting Soul and Funk directions. “Someone” was a standout feature of their shows as this live recording, from one of their concerts in Calgary, superbly demonstrates. The track received extensive regional airplay, as they gigged heavily throughout Ontario, but went no further. After a number of years the members went their separate ways with members forming R&B band Aurora Borealis. Diggin’ Deep are honoured to be able to bring you these superb recordings. We hope you’ll agree, this is a 45 that every Soul fan will want to have in their collection. Both sides will be available on a beautifully mastered vinyl 45. DD016 collector’s release is a limited pressing @ just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order ON THE WEBSITE ONLY now, while stocks last: ABOUT DIGGIN’ DEEP – THE HOME OF REAL SOUL MUSIC ON 7” VINYL Diggin’ Deep Records - Here at Diggin' Deep we are making available a series of excellent Soul recordings from the 60’s and 70’s. Many are released as limited edition 45’s for the very first time, along with the occasional, carefully selected, re-issue. With 17 titles already in our catalogue and dozens lined up for the future, make sure you don’t miss out. Collect the vinyl and keep informed by joining the mailing list and visiting the website / Facebook regularly. Ensure you’re among the first to know what’s coming up next! https://www.Diggin-Deep.com

THE NEWEST ‘DIGGIN’ DEEP’ LIMITED EDITION 45 RELEASE DATE FRIDAY 14th MAY 2021 DD015A James Carr ‘I Don’t Want To Be Hurt Anymore' DD015B James Carr ‘There Goes My Used To Be' For our latest 45 release we return to Memphis, Tennessee, for a double-sider that Diggin’ Deep are extremely proud to bring to you. This being the first time on a 7” single for either of these superb Southern Soul tracks. The name James Carr will need no introduction, with any release from this legendary singer guaranteed to set the pulses racing among his legion of dedicated fans worldwide. Both tracks on offer are from the ‘Golden Age’, not only of Memphis soul, but sixties soul music in general. I Don’t Want To Be Hurt Anymore, penned by Dan Greer, made its first appearance on Carr’s seminal album “You Got My Mind Messed Up’ for the legendary Goldwax label in March 1967. It’s no exaggeration to say that this remains one of the greatest soul albums of all time. And this is regarded by many to be the finest track in this remarkable singer’s canon never to be issued on 45, until now by Diggin Deep Records some 35 year later! Although never possessing their own studio Goldwax quickly established their own ‘sound’ using the finest Memphis musicians around, usually ‘The Memphis Boys’. Recording at such illustrious studios as: American, Royal, Fame, Sound of Memphis, Lyn Lou with the majority at Sam Phillips’ Sun studio. That trademark sound is evident here: Reggie Young’s guitar intro’, Bobbie Emmons organ ‘fills’ and those wonderfully understated horns. All allowing Carr’s impassioned baritone the perfect amount of space to deliver as only he could. It’s reproduced here in its original monaural version as featured on the Kent CD “You’ve Got My Mind Messed Up” (CDKEND 211) Carr’s 14 singles released on Goldwax usually followed the same pattern: a slow ‘Deepie’ coupled with a more up-tempo track, and here at Diggin’ Deep we saw no reason to change that winning formula! There Goes My Used To Be will be familiar to all discerning Soul lovers due to O.V. Wrights original version released on the same imprint, as the ‘B’ side to the magnificent ‘That’s How Strong My Love Is” (Goldwax 106). It’s incredible to think that both tracks, written by Roosevelt Jamison, were turned down, along with O.V. Wright, when first offered to Stax Records!! Whereas Wright’s version takes the song as a mid-pacer, Carr raises the tempo significantly. Although considered by many to be the greatest Deep Soul singer of them all, Carr was no slouch on the more uptempo sides. He could ‘tear it up’ with any of his peers as this track ably demonstrates. Carr is in full blown ‘Otis Mode’ and the record storms along. He may be missing his lost love, but he ain’t taking it sitting down! Here at Diggin’ Deep we’re convinced that had this track surfaced as a 45 back in the sixties it would have found favour at such illustrious venues as The Scene in London or Manchester’s Twisted Wheel. It has already caused quite a stir when previewed by Richard Searling, Jordan Wilson and other Northern Soul DJ’s. We feel it could follow, in terms of popularity, Otis Redding’s colossal ‘Loving By The Pound’. Please take a few minutes to listen to the promotional video and see what you think, but be warned, you won’t be able to sit still! Both sides are soon to be available on a beautifully mastered vinyl 45. DD015 collector’s release is a limited pressing @ just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order ON WEBSITE ONLY now, while stocks last. https://www.diggin-deep.com/

Pre-Pay Three Incredible Titles from Diggin' Deep! - JAMES CARR - LEE HURST - BOBBY BARNES - Available to Pre-Order Now! From the vaults of Goldwax, Raina and A&M records:- James Carr, the ultimate Memphis Deep Soul track backed with a great 60’s stomper, Lee Hurst, the massively in demand 70’s gem, as featured in the movie ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and Bobby Barnes superb groove from Raina records, these three 45’s are exclusively licensed to Diggin’ Deep in the UK and are essential additions to your Diggin’ Deep collection LISTEN HERE: BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND – THE PRE-PAY THREE PACK Following many requests to revive the Pre-Pay Three ‘Triple Pack’ of 45’s, Diggin’ Deep are pleased to announce our next three limited edition releases for Spring 2021, available to pre-order now until 23rd April 2021 on Diggin-Deep.com You will have the opportunity to pay in advance for the next three releases and secure your next three Diggin' Deep 45's to be released over the next couple of months. DD015 – James Carr – I Don’t Want To Be Hurt Anymore / There Goes My Used To Be DD016 – Lee Hurst – Whole Lotta Your Love / Terry & The Pyrates - Someone DD017 – Bobby Barnes – Super High On Your Love / Chuck Womack – Losing Your Good Thing The Pre-Pay Pack is available for the UK only at £33.00 plus postage & packing. Guarantee your copy and pay less in the process! From the vaults of Goldwax, Raina and A&M records:- James Carr, the ultimate Memphis Deep Soul track backed with a great 60’s stomper, Lee Hurst, the massively in demand 70’s gem, as featured in the movie ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and Bobby Barnes superb groove from Raina records, these three 45’s are exclusively licensed to Diggin’ Deep in the UK and are essential additions to your Diggin’ Deep collection! Take a listen to the sound file below and order now!

THE NEWEST ‘DIGGIN’ DEEP’ LIMITED EDITION 45 RELEASE DATE FRIDAY 12th MARCH 2021 TWO GREAT SIDES FROM DETROIT USA. SHOWCASING THE TALENTS OF MELVIN DAVIS. Can You Dig It? DD014A Melvin Davis ‘Thinking Of You DD014B Melvin Davis ‘Let Love In Your Life The latest 45 is an astounding double-sider, from the legendary Melvin Davis, that Diggin’ Deep have been looking forward to releasing on vinyl for quite some time. Previously only available on CD ‘Thinking Of You’ is a great take of the song popularised by co-writer Tim Murray. It’s a seriously soulful groove, so perfect for the dancefloor. The flipside ‘Let Love In Your Life’ is the original version of the song interpreted by Charisma. This is Melvin’s original recording and it’s an absolute beauty. In collaborating directly with Melvin to release this great 45, he felt that the time was right and had a very important message to convey. Here is what he had to say: I wanted to send a message to all Detroit Soul Music fans and Music lovers around the world, that I am Thinking Of You more than ever before. After everything the world has been through, this past 12 months, we chose to back up the 45 with another song of mine with a powerful message for the times in which we are living; Let Love In Your Life and you will see that love is the key. I hope that you will cherish this disc and take it as a message of encouragement, love and optimism in these troubled times. Let love in your life, meaning: Give some, receive some, take some, leave some. With love, Melvin Davis Two tremendous Detroit Soul sides, each with a different flavour, both sides written or co-written by the Detroit Soul Ambassador, Melvin Davis, and are a testament to this artist’s undoubted and wide-ranging talent. This exclusive Diggin’ Deep issue of ‘Thinking Of You’ is its first ever release on vinyl and is out now for a very limited time on one of our special edition 45’s. Please take a few minutes to listen to the promotional video. We hope you will agree, this is a 45 that every Soul fan will want to have in their collection. DD014 collector’s release is a limited pressing @ just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order ON WEBSITE ONLY now, while stocks last. Note: No reservations - First come, first served. https://www.Diggin-Deep.com Diggin’ Deep Records – Sheffield, England. Making available a series of excellent Soul recordings from the 60’s and 70’s, most of which will be released as a limited edition 45 for the very first time, and the occasional, carefully selected, re-issue. Dozens more titles are already lined up for limited future release. Keep informed by collecting the vinyl, joining the mailing list, visiting the website and social media pages regularly and ensure you’re among the first to know!

Alpaca Phase III - ‘Someone To Run To’ - Frederick Knight - ‘It Ain’t No Fun’ Sam Dees & Frederick Knight Productions - Birmingham, Alabama, Soul. The newest ‘Diggin’ Deep’ limited edition 45 Release date Friday 11th December 2020 Available to pre-order now! DD 013A - Alpaca Phase III - ‘Someone To Run To’ DD 013B - Frederick Knight - ‘It Ain’t No Fun’ Our latest 45 release is another Birmingham, Alabama, double-decker that Diggin’ Deep are extremely proud to be able to bring to you. This being the first time on vinyl for either of these superb Southern Soul tracks. Of course, any release coming from the pen of Sam Dees is bound to cause a bit of a stir and here we have a real gem with a bonus flipside courtesy of his song-writing partner, on so many occasions, the great Frederick Knight. Alpaca Phase III were a song writing and musical team headed up by Sam Dees, Wes Lewis and Collins Berry and this track might well be their finest hour as a group. But we’ll let you be the judge of that. In the can, from the same session, was a take of this song with Sam Dees on lead vocal (which Ady Croasdell and I included in the final part of the Sam Dees previously unreleased CD’s ‘Its Over - 70’s Songwriter Demos and Masters’ CDKEND 426) but it is the Alpaca Phase III ‘group take’ which the fans have been drooling over for many years. This version, we understand, features Wes Lewis taking his turn on lead. Lewis was a terrific vocalist and an artist with a much loved and in-demand Soul 45 on Black Kat Records ‘It’s Gonna Be Hard’ / ‘Best Of My Years’ from 1977. He recorded a subsequent string of Inspirational Music with the Gospel group ‘Faith’ on Malaco Records. His lead vocal recording of ‘Someone To Run To’ is a blistering, seventies soul, dancer, which only ever appeared on the Hotlanta Soul Volume Two set CDKEND 183, over 20 years ago. Wes Lewis passed away, sadly, in September 2005. The third most valuable player is Collins "Bo" Berry, a Birmingham based horn player and session musician. Berry headlined the house band for Birmingham's 401 Club in the 1960s and was an original member of the Commodores back-up band in the 1970s. In 1975 he joined Alpaca Phase III, which had recorded the Northern Soul hit "I Like to Party" for Atlantic Records the year earlier. He toured with the group before returning to Birmingham where he recorded and produced Cleveland Eaton’s Garden of Eaton amongst others. Sam Dees should need no introduction to fans of Diggin’ Deep Records. His work is revered in soul circles and with legions of music fans around the world. We are very proud, once again, to bring you another vinyl 45 from the pen and genius of the maestro, Sam Dees. It’s absolutely wonderful. Promo Video Frederick Knight is a singer, songwriter and producer, born 15 August 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, best known for his 1972 hit "I've Been Lonely For So Long" which he recorded at Neal Hemphill’s Sound of Birmingham studio, where he worked as an engineer, and for writing and producing Anita Bell's 1979 #1 hit "Ring My Bell". Here we revive Knight’s original take of ‘It Ain’t No Fun’ which received huge acclaim when recorded and included in the million selling, southern soul album ‘Woman To Woman’ for Shirley Brown. Beginning with the customary rap intro, Knight takes this sad ballad at a mournful pace which draws the listener into the song’s sorry tale. If you like your Soul on the deep side, unhurried and intimate, you’ll be floored by this. So with the topside ‘Someone To Run To’ a highly regarded Crossover Soul midpacer and the flipside ‘It Ain’t No Fun’ having been an acknowledged Southern Soul classic song for over 45 years, we hope you will agree, this wonderful double-header is a slice of vinyl that every Soul fan will want in their collection. The DD013 collector’s release is a limited pressing @ just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order now, while stocks last. Note: Only one copy per person. First come, first served. Diggin’ Deep Records - Making available a series of excellent Soul recordings from the 60’s and 70’s, most of which will be released as a limited edition 45 for the very first time, and the occasional, carefully selected, re-issue. Dozens more titles are lined up for limited future release. Keep informed by collecting the vinyl, joining the mailing list, visiting the website and social media pages regularly and ensure you’re among the first to know! Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order now, while stocks last. https://www.diggin-deep.com/

New Diggin' Deep 45 - Bobby Burn I’m A Lonely Man / I'm a dreamer NEW RELEASE FROM DIGGIN’ DEEP! THE NEWEST ‘DIGGIN’ DEEP’ LIMITED EDITION 45 RELEASE DATE FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2020 AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER 4th SEPTEMBER 2020 DD 012A Bobby Burn ‘I’m A Lonely Man’ DD 012B Bobby Burn ‘I’m A Dreamer’ The latest 45 is another superb double-sider that Diggin’ Deep are extremely proud to be able to bring to you. This is its first time on vinyl in almost 50 years. The Bobby Burn release comprises two tremendous, self-penned, sides, each with a slightly different flavour. Both are classic ‘Southern Soul’ tracks, emanating from the legendary Chant Records, Atlanta, Georgia, USA and seen by collectors worldwide as a double-sided masterpiece! The tracks were produced and issued on artist Bobby Wilburn, by label owner and producer Bill Haney at Chant Records (under the moniker Bobby Burn - Chant 522) and later reissued by Gamble Records (Gamble 4015) located in New York and Philadelphia, under the name Bobby Wilburn (the artist’s real name). On this occasion we’ve opted to go with the name on the original Chant issue. There is no doubt, both releases are extremely in demand, making upwards of £1,000 on the very rare occasions they appear on the leading auction sites. It may be because it is really too good for mass consumption that this is the first ‘accessible’ vinyl issue, since the surge in demand beyond Atlanta, and it’s first release on this side of the Atlantic. Yet again we have a situation where Diggin’ Deep are bringing to the fore a 45 by an artist who is little known beyond collectors’ circles. The whereabouts of Bobby Wilburn are a mystery. After he had recorded these two sides, at the end of the sixties, he would drop out of sight never to collect royalties or gain fame or recognition for his magnificent recordings. In a ‘Voices From The Shadows’ magazine interview with Rod Dearlove, Bill Haney said ‘Bobby was just a typical guy that came off the street. He was easy to work with, well-educated and worked for Morgan at the Railroads in Atlanta. He loved to sing and wrote these two songs, he came to me and asked what I thought of them so I cut the tracks. Then Gamble became interested in the 45 as it was getting some plays. After that I hadn’t heard from him for a very long time’. It seems that Bobby was a private man and did not care for the fame & fortune that came with being a Musician. He was ambitious in business and more interested in a career that was stable rather than as a singer. This is why the one 45 was his only release. Gamble had planned on finding and signing Bobby to the label but could not locate him. In the end they had to settle on a deal with Haney on ‘I'm A Lonely Man’ / ‘I’m A Dreamer’. When you consider the quality on both sides, one can only dream about what might have been. The topside ‘I'm A Lonely Man’ is highly regarded in Southern Soul and Lowrider Soul circles, with the flipside ‘I’m A Dreamer’ having been a dancefloor smash on the ‘Crossover’ scene for over 30 years. We hope you will agree, this great double-header is a 45 that every Soul fan will want to have in their collection. DD012 collector’s release is a limited pressing @ just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order ON WEBSITE ONLY now, while stocks last: www.Diggin-Deep.com First come, first served. Diggin’ Deep Records – Sheffield, England. Making available a series of excellent Soul recordings from the 60’s and 70’s, most of which will be released as a limited edition 45 for the very first time, and the occasional, carefully selected, re-issue. Dozens more titles are already lined up for limited future release. Keep informed by collecting the vinyl, joining the mailing list, visiting the website and social media pages regularly and ensure you’re among the first to know! Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order now, while stocks last. https://www.diggin-deep.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSb6-jqDQkw

New Diggin' Deep 45 - Joe Johnson out 24th April. Available for pre-order now, release date 24th April 2020. Read and listen... Joe Johnson "I’ve Done No Wrong" / "Trust In Me" NEW FROM DIGGIN’ DEEP RECORDS THE ONE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THE NEWEST ‘DIGGIN’ DEEP’ LIMITED EDITION 45 RELEASE DATE FRIDAY 24th APRIL 2020 TWO RARE AND PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE SIDES FROM NEW YORK CITY USA. SHOWCASING THE TALENTS OF JOE JOHNSON & WARREN SCHATZ. AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW! Can You Dig It? DD011A Joe Johnson ‘I’ve Done No Wrong’ DD011B Joe Johnson ‘Trust In Me’ It is with great pleasure that we announce the latest Diggin’ Deep 45. A new release and two beautiful sides, to lift your spirits and feed your soul! Both these tracks are from the vast repertoire of Warren Schatz in New York City. The maestro who brought us The Brothers ‘Are You Ready For This’, The Voice Box ‘I Want It Back Your Love’, The Third Time Around ‘Soon Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’, The American Youth Choir ‘Keep Your Fine Self Near Me’, Evelyn Champagne King ‘Shame’ and many more! JOE JOHNSON – I’VE DONE NO WRONG / TRUST IN ME (Written by Robert G Maxwell) Joe Johnson was born May 18th 1950 in Dixie Georgia, just about as far south as a person can get before hitting the Gulf of Mexico. As a young child he attended Georgia Baptist Church, where he watched his mother and grandmother singing. He knew in his earliest years that he wanted to sing more than anything else. Aged seven his family moved to New York where he was exposed to popular music for the first time, a very different style of music to what he had been used to. Away from the south, Joe lost interest in singing until in December 1959 when he visited Georgia to see family for Christmas. Finally, he felt back home, listening to good southern music once again, in the environment he had grown up in. It would be 1963 before he returned to New York, aged just thirteen years old. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life…. sing southern soul music. In the early 70s, a friend who heard him sing said that he should try to get a recording deal and suggested he should go to Associated Recording on Broadway where many artists went to record demos. It was there that he met Warren Schatz, who at the time was a young engineer working at the studio. Warren had a track of a song he had just finished called “Keep Your Fine Self Near Me”, which he asked the young Joe Johnson to sing. Schatz and his writing partner Stephen Schlaks had just finished a demo of a song of Steve’s called “Together We Can Make It”, which the publisher, George Pincus of Gil Music had placed with Polydor for release under the name of the American Youth Choir. They decided to use Joe’s recording of “Keep Your Fine Self Near Me” as the “B” side. The record gained a 45 release in the UK, as well as the USA and fans of Northern Soul will remember it getting occasional spins in the mid 70’s. Around that time Warren Schatz was publishing songs by The Main Ingredient (formerly the Insiders) who were with RCA and one of their writers, Robert Maxwell had written two new songs: “Trust In Me” and “I’ve Done No Wrong”. Warren and Robert had previously worked together and a couple of years earlier had recorded a demo of “Baby, Don’t You Know That I Love You” backed with “I Want It Back (Your Love)” by the Voice Box for Loma Records. Warren finished recording the background tracks for the two new sides and decided to try Joe on those as well as ‘Keep Your Fine Self Near Me’. The result was two further fabulous soul sides combining the sublime blend of a big city arrangement, instrumentation and production with the rich southern timbre and raw emotion of Joe Johnson. Warren knew he had something, but having nowhere to place the tracks at the time, decided to private press just a handful of discs to get around to DJ’s, aiming to create some interest in Joe. He said “I think I just enjoyed seeing my name on a record. But nothing happened. I got busy. They never got to the DJ’s and the project ended” Right after that Schatz and Johnson somehow lost contact and their gem of a record was shelved and put away. Until now. Diggin’ Deep are proud to bring you the first official label release of this absolutely wonderful Warren Schatz hidden gem; Joe Johnson ‘I’ve Done No wrong’ c/w ‘Trust In Me’. Please take a few minutes to listen to the promotional video. Both sides are now available on a beautifully mastered 45. DD011 collector’s release is a limited pressing @ just £12 each plus postage and packing. Avoid Disappointment. Pre-order ON WEBSITE ONLY now, while stocks last: www.Diggin-Deep.com First come, first served. Diggin’ Deep Records – Sheffield, England. Making available a series of excellent Soul recordings from the 60’s and 70’s, most of which will be released as a limited edition 45 for the very first time, and the occasional, carefully selected, re-issue. Many more titles are already lined up for limited future release. Keep informed by collecting the vinyl, joining the mailing list, visiting the website and social media pages regularly and ensure you’re among the first to know! https://www.Diggin-Deep.com