Rob Jones reviews soul records from his vinyl collection.
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.
Del-Rays - Fortune Teller (1965)
Originally written by Allen Toussaint under the pen name Naomi Neville and first recorded by Benny Spellman in 1962, the Del-Rays later recorded this version giving it a tougher soul feel, but like many regional groups of the era, the Del-Rays recorded strong material which never achieved national success. When ATCO picked up regional releases they often remastered them for national promotion, which is why I have always used the ATCO demo featured in the video for DJing, as the production sounds much punchier than the old R and H label release (in its pre-bootlegged days). It's perhaps worth mentioning that the Del-Rays also recorded 'Night Prowl' (R&H 1002), a record frequently overlooked by collectors.
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. 😄
E G Taylor & the Sounds of Soul - You Made Me Mad (1968)
Eugene (E G) Wayne Taylor, son of Otis Edward Taylor and Marie (Allen) Taylor was born on September 28, 1945 in Piedmont, West Virginia. While still in his early 20s, he enlisted in the US Army to become a ground forces combat soldier who served his country during the height of the Vietnam War. A little known story about Eugene's army experiences was that he was constantly in altercations with another soldier in his platoon who once threw boiling water on him, resulting in a painful blister injury on his foot which began to affect his mobility shortly afterwards. That night when the platoon Sergeant saw him limping towards his post, he ordered Eugene to take his boot off to inspect the problem. On seeing the extent and severity of the injury, the Sergeant then ordered him (despite his protests) to report to the sickbay immediately while the platoon moved out and continued without him. Eugene later received the news that his entire platoon had been ambushed and wiped out.
Having completed his tour of duty, Eugene returned home from the combat zone of Southeast Asia to the regional soul circuits of Maryland and Pennsylvania (a path shared by many young musicians at the time) and went on to record this brilliant storming dancer for the somewhat enigmatic VAL label with the Sounds of Soul who were also notable for being an integrated band during the racially tense period in the late 1960s. While the powerful and charismatic frontman and co-songwriter Eugene Taylor was black, the instrumental backing band behind him was predominantly white, who together formed a highly respected unit which was famous across regional college campuses, weekend hangouts and clubs like the local Swordfish. See the band here.
There is a variant of this one on a plainer VAL Records label design with the label's telephone number at the top just below the logo, but from my personal perspective, the 45 I've featured in the video below has always been the more desirable of the two. Although the single can be expensive, it's well worth the investment and collectors who may be worried about the bootlegs minefield in general can rest assured that this record has never been counterfeited. If it ever is, always look for the matrix numbers stamped in the deadwax; VAL-1025A on the 'You Made Me Mad' side and VAL-1025B on the 'Pick Yourself Up' side, to identify the original.
Eugene Taylor passed away peacefully in Cumberland, Maryland on November 22nd 2019 at the age of 74 and was laid to rest at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery with full military honours.