Manfromsoul45s

Hot on the heels of the hugely successful Decisions "We're In Love/I Love You" Soul Direction release, come for me a track that should have made a 45 release before now and after a conversation with Numero they agreed so here we are. Release date end of September with TP's going out to the radio shows for pre release plays. The Summits - P's and Q's / Instrumental version These 2 tracks were part of the groups recordings with DC International and did not see the light until Numero released a EP of the groups best songs.Soul-Direction Records have secured the only 7" vinyl release of "P's and Q's and the instrumental version. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have bringing them to you. This quartet from Washington DC. formed While students at Francis Cardoza High they used to sing there sweet soul style around the school corridors, honing their craft until a faculty member spotted them. Baritone Willie “Sherman” Flannagan and alto Alvin “Lumberjack” Middleton supported tenors Sanders and Hawkins, with second tenor Sidney Smith replacing Sanders in 1971. The Summits founders Andre Sanders and Juan Hawkins spent a lot of time on the 16th Street bus, a route that begins at the D.C.’s center and runs due north for a few miles. Discussions of starting a band began during this long commute, which was most often taken to visit a pair of uptown girlfriends. The bus displayed the name of the last northbound stop, in this case, Summit Hill. A casual nod to their municipal transport, the Summits seemed a fitting title for the group. The group soon fell under the tutelage of Joe Tate, who maintained a stable of musicians, among them national recording artists the Fuzz, the Choice Four, and the Blendells. The Summits’ “I Can’t Get Over Losing You” would appear on Tate’s Dontee label in 1970, but limited distribution and radio play didn’t give the group much fame or fortune. The Summits would not get a second recording until Tate’s other recordings and business deals were completed, and it wasn’t until Tate paired the Summits with staff songwriter Joe Phillips that things began to take shape. Phillips would write half a dozen songs for the Summits, four of which were released as singles on Stan Bethel’s D.C. International label. While the records generated a respectable local buzz, it never translated into the wealth their fellow chart-toppers achieved. They never left their day jobs and, with girlfriends and soon growing young families, their tried-and-true tour routes became something they made the decision not to continue. While Joe Tate’s model worked out for a few lucky groups, the Summits decided that the musical journey had sadly come to an end. Band Members: Andre Sanders Juan Hawkins Willie “Sherman” Flannagan Alvin “Lumberjack” Middleton Sidney Smith replaced Andre Sanders in 1971. Alan Kitchener (Soul-Direction Records) Licensed courtesy of The Numero Group https://soul-direction.co.uk/

Latest 45 from Soul Direction The Decisions – “We’re In Love / I Love You” – Soul-Direction SD-005 We are pleased to present our next new release: The Decisions – “We’re In Love / I Love You” – Soul-Direction SD-005 Release date Late July/Early August 2021 The Decisions are a group from Atlanta, Georgia comprising of Hildred Thomason, Fred White, Henry Little and Howard Simpson and Harvey Poole. Harvey Poole went on to join the US Military. They formed at S.H. Archer High School and graduated in 1965. Over the years these 5 young men went on to start their own Record Label – York Records in the late 60s. They were one of Billboard’s hottest male singing groups to look out for in and around the Georgia area but were gaining success further afield. After two releases for the local self-owned “York” label in 1968, they then signed for “Sussex” records in the early 1970’s for the Los Angeles based label. Under the leadership of Clarence Avant and cut three more 45s. While with Sussex Records they continued with their unique Atlanta sound that shocked the recording industry and had some success with releases that included "I Can't Forget About You" & Stop Playing Around". Both these tracks are from an almost lost master tape that was sent to a LA music executive in 1968 by the group but was sadly never returned. The tracks recorded in 1968 and would have been a possible release for the bands own label "York Records". Group Members: Fred White, Harvey Pool, Hildred Thomason, Henry Little, Howard Simpson. Hildred Thomason is sadly no longer with us. Discography: Really Do Love You - York – 158 Written - By Fred White Do I Love Her Written - By Fred White Color Me Blue - York – 159 Written-By – Fred White Somebody Written-By – Fred White It's Love That Really Counts - Sussex – 214 Written-By – Fred White I Can't Forget About You Written-By – Burt Bacharach, Hal David I Can't Forget About You - Sussex – 218 Written By - Fred White You Look Like An Angel Written By - Fred White Stop Playing Around - Sussex – 238 Written By - Fred White, M Stokes Do You Love Me Written By - Fred White, M Stokes The Soul-Direction Team The Decisions – “We’re In Love / I Love You” – Soul-Direction SD-005 release date is Late June/Early August People can go to https://www.soul-direction.co.uk and sign up to the newsletter to get a notification of exactly when it is in stock.

Joe Adam’s – “That’s Not Half Bad / Stop Before You Lose Me” – Soul-Direction 004 From the Philadelphia Del-Val stable comes two unreleased tracks from Joe Adams A stunning version of the Gene Woodbury Classic backed with an equally sublime mid-tempo heart wrenching flip. Both tracks on 7" vinyl for the first time ever. It was around 1999 and a stack of Del-Val and related studio reels lay in Joe Stevenson’s basement gathering dust and at the same time slowly deteriorating with the possibility of being lost forever. Looking back now I am so glad someone had the foresight to transfer them onto DAT tapes before they were damaged beyond all hope. Some of the tracks were then used for a “Best of Del-Val” CD release around 2000 by the guys at Philly Archives. This was a blessing in disguise as a few years later all the masters were lost to a huge flood in Joe’s basement destroying them beyond any repair. I was lucky enough to receive a cut of “That’s Not Half Bad” just before or around the time of the impending release of the CD and has remained in my play box ever since. For me, the track has always been a far superior version of the Gene Woodbury release and after shaking hands on the previous Eddie Holman release, I jumped at the chance to bring this track to its first and only 45 release. After being handed a few options for a flip side I was keen to use “Stop Before You Lose Me" and after a session of playing records with Dean Anderson (well-known collector, DJ and Radio Host) and he confirmed I made a good choice. Philly Soul has always been close to my heart and the sound that has always been my favourite. For me, these tracks showcase the best of 60s Philly Northern Soul. This may feel like a vanity project for me and maybe it is, but sometimes your heart over rules your head and in this particular instance, I am happy with that. Alan Kitchener (Soul Direction Records) Promo Video Release Postcard Initially not much was really known about Joe Adams and his connection with the small but productive Del-Val label. What we do know is that Joe found out about Del Val records from Joe "Butterball" Tamburro, who was a DJ on WDAS in Philadelphia. Adams wrote a lot of his own material, and released two singles: "Calling Your Name"/"Greasy Pickins" on Pentagon in 1970, and "Mender Of Broken Hearts"/l've Been Kissed Before" on Del Val in 1971. Prior to these singles in 1969, Joe Adams had recorded these demos, "That's Not Half Bad" and "Stop Before You­Lose'Me." Around this time, Joe Adams, Joe Stevenson and Gene Glass formed a songwriting/production company called The G. A. S. Works and wrote a lot of songs together. Gene Glass had been a member of the group The Majors (of "A Wonderful Dream" fame) which had a release on Imperial records, and had written some songs for The ESP's as well. Scans Site note Been told should be available for sales later this week via https://soul-direction.co.uk/

Mind & Matter - "My Love Is Like A Fire / Would Be Mine - Soul Direction - SD003 This journey began when I first slapped my ears around these two sublime soul tracks back in 2013. The group from Minneapolis, Minnesota that gave you "I'm Under Your Spell" on M&M Records, a former Monster hit on the soul scene played under the guise of “Merlin & The Magicians” which remains pretty elusive to this day and still a dance floor winner. I had the feeling that with these 2 tracks from the previously unissued catalogue that they needed to be on the format that would give them the greatest platform. Now the journey is nearly complete!! PRE-ORDER COMING VERY SOON FOR RELEASE ON W/C 19TH APRIL 2021 Soul-direction has handpicked what we believe are the two stand out tracks from the 2013 Numero “1514 Oliver Avenue Basement” Album and unleashed them onto the DJ’s favourite format 7" Vinyl. We wanted to treat this release as a double A sided release due to the absolute perfection of both tracks, because when it comes to crossover/modern soul music this is just a prefect double sider and we hope you agree. Promo Video Boasting a perfectly calibrated vocal quartet, an aggressive rhythm section, and stacks of Rhodes, Rolands, and Hammonds, the danceable act failed to win favor with frigid Midwest audiences. Recorded in 1977, a bundle of never-before-released basement demos throw Harris’ beloved Philadelphia Sound into an unfinished root cellar, pelting it with Clavinet attacks, disco skats, and infectious hooks. Named for the street address of its underground uptown building, 1514 Oliver Avenue (Basement) is James “Jimmy Jam” Harris’ first foray into songcraft has produced a unique and somewhat organic style of dynamic soul music. Alto Vocals – Glenny "Ittiim" Hardge Baritone Vocals – Lawrence "Sabu" Brown Bass – Joe Ray Drums – Don Turner Electric Piano,Electric Piano,Synthesizer– James Harris III Electric Piano, Organ, Gary McCray Guitar – Rodney Clark Percussion – Barry Dillard Saxophone, Electric Piano - Troy Williams Tenor Vocals, Vocals [Falsetto] – Turhan Bey Tenor Vocals – Everett "Jawanza" Pettiford* These tracks were licensed under and with the kind help and guidance of The Numero Group.