Rob Jones reviews soul records from his vinyl collection.
Chairmen of the Board - Let Me Down Easy (1972)
A record I've often referred to as "the missing link" as far as the UK is concerned, as I've never understood what the company could have been thinking when they decided not to release it as a single over here.
The band had a huge UK audience which has since developed into a cult following and this record was certainly one of their best, so perhaps it was a marketing oversight which left fans turning to the US Invictus label to complete their COTB collections - sometimes after only discovering the song's existence in later years.
Concept Nine - When (1971)
Released on Ray Charles' Tangerine label, 'When' features the distinctive voice of Gladys Horton of the Marvelettes and it's a song which certainly has the feel of an old Motown dancer. Concept Nine was essentially an experimental studio project which included other vocalists/musicians J J Barnes and members of the Flaming Emeralds. This record really should be dug out of obscurity and given a well- deserved new lease of life.
Damon Shawn - Feel the Need (1971)
Damon Shawn's Westbound 193 cut was actually the first recording of this song to make it to vinyl before the Detroit Emeralds' 1972 Westbound 209 version. Although the backing track is identical, this one has extra backing vocals which I assume were purposely removed for the Emeralds' version when it was retitled 'Feel the Need in Me'.
A great old classic either way though, which judging by its ongoing popularity, will probably go on forever.
Don Ray Sampson - Baby Come Back (1965)
A record I've always considered to be one of the greatest sounds in the soul music genre which saw two releases on the E label (the George Clements Productions record in the video and a later yellow E label release). Unfortunately, it wasn't until decades later that this tune came to be appreciated by a much wider audience. Don Ray Sampson hailed from San Bernadino, California. He was a member of the Jewels and in 1968 went on to replace Carl Gilbert in the Incredibles.
Donnie Elbert - I Can't Help Myself (1972)
I've included this for a couple of reasons - not only was it one of the most incredible floor packers ever when it first came out and throughout the ensuing years, but here is the only white demo I've ever seen, which originated in Spain.
Along with the flip side 'Love is Here and Now You're Gone' (titled 'Love is Here and You're Gone' on this copy), the record has always been a sure-fire winner in radio shows and live gig situations alike. In fact, I'd go as far to say if I had a penny for every time I've played this one, I'd have seventeen pounds four shillings and sixpence now. 😄
Freddie North - The Hurt (1964)
Freddie North (Freddie Carpenter Jr) was born in Nashville, Tennessee on May 28th 1939 into a musical family, his dad being a well known Gospel singer of the era. He began his singing career as a teenager with a band called the Rookies who recorded 'Money, Money, Money' on the Nashville Athens label which was in turn distributed nationally by Atlantic's East West label. When the band split, he changed his name to Freddie North and went on to pursue a solo career in the early 1960s while also working as a demo singer and performing on the Nashville club circuit along with making occasional TV appearances where he had the opportunity to promote his records.
From a collector's angle, the gold RIC stock copy has always been the prize, but interestingly it often goes unnoticed that there were two different RIC white demos. Furthermore, the label itself is sometimes mistakenly identified as RIK due to the logo design.
Although relatively short in duration, I believe 'The Hurt' to be the finest example of Freddie's phenomenal voice. Written by the legendary Joy Byers, the song was recorded at a time when Freddie was was struggling to find commercial success and it's a tune I've spun many times at live gigs and on the radio. The soul music genre certainly lost one of its finest voices when Freddie passed away on October 15th 2025.
George Goodman and his Headliners - I'm So Tired (1965)
A hauntingly atmospheric mid-sixties sound which is definitely a record to look out for if you're not familiar with it. Originating in Pittsburgh, the band comprised of Rodney Williams (Lead), George Goodman (Baritone) and Melvin Peters (Tenor), backed on this release by the Electrons. George Goodman who was credited with helping to break Inez and Charlie Foxx's 'Mockingbird', was involved in many aspects of the recording industry including producing, promoting and distributing records. Melvin Peters became a member of the Originals for a while. If this one takes your fancy from the sound clip below and you do decide to track one down for your collection, be sure to look out for the original 1965 Val #3 release as opposed to Val #1000 which came out in 1966. The song was also re-released in 1968 on A&M 1620 and credited simply as the Headliners on both later releases.