Rob Jones reviews soul records from his vinyl collection.
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.
Johnny Thunder - Just Me and You (1966)
Johnny Thunder (Leroy Hamilton) came from the small community of Okahumpka in Florida and began his singing career as a teenager in his local church and on street corners, later becoming a singer with the Drifters and the Ink Spots, also working as a backing singer for Dionne Warwick. Back in 1962 he recorded 'Tell Her' which was the original version of the more widely known 'Tell Him' by the Exciters. Out of all the tunes he recorded, I think 'Just Me and You' was his best and it has always stood out to me as a brilliant if perhaps underrated soul classic.
Known as a superb entertainer and highly regarded by many artists in the industry, Johnny died in 2024 of natural causes at the ripe old age of 93.
Kenny Williams - You're Fabulous Babe (1977)
I think it would be fair to say this is a record which somehow lost its true stature when it was hammered to death as the soundtrack of a seemingly endless TV advertising campaign for Fabergé Babe perfume back in the late 1970s.
Take all that away though and you have a very classy, high-quality soul tune which has often been championed by UK broadcaster Pete Schofield in numerous radio shows. Click here to visit Pete's radio station.
Kurtis Scott - No, No Baby (1966)
A brilliant old 100mph (161km/h) dancer which had an instrumental counterpart called 'I'm Doing My Thing' by Soft Summer Soul Strings released on Columbia circa 1969.
Kurtis Scott was actually Kurt Harris, probably best remembered for his 1964 tune, 'Emperor of My Baby's Heart' on Diamond - another song well worth a listen.