All in Good Time: Eddie Kendricks Mix

This has been brewing for some time but now we’ve finally pulled together the best Eddie Kendricks tracks of all time.

Initially a member of The Temptations he made a move into a solo career in 1971

Just a couple of Temptations tracks on this one, both from his last album with the group and they couldn’t be further apart in style, an indication of the different directions that the group was pulling. Soulful house fans will recognise the ‘Smiling Face’ sample which was used to great effect on the Chilli Funk release, ‘True Spirits: Smile’

Included are two versions from the Motown Remixed series, all in all I felt most of the tracks were disappointing but the Temptations and Kendricks tracks were the best by quite a distance.

One of the sweetest falsettos in the business teamed up with the Philadelphia International team at Sigma Studios in a lot of these tracks some of these lead to the the proto disco and Warehouse classics such as ‘Thanks for the Memories’, ‘Going Up In Smoke’, He’s a Friend of Mine, ‘Date With The Rain’ and ‘Girl You Need a Change of Mind’.

Regular listeners will have heard ‘One Tear’ on the podcast before, underplayed and an unrecognised classic which deserves a repeat outing.

Comments welcomed if you think I’ve missed a classic track which deserved inclusion!

Intro
Eddie Kendricks: It Ain’t What You Got, It’s How You Use It (AIGT edit)
Eddie Kendricks: Thanks For The Memories (AIGT edit)
Eddie Kendricks: Going Up In Smoke
Eddie Kendricks: He’s A Friend Of Mine
Eddie Kendricks: Body Talk
Eddie Kendricks: I Don’t Need Nobody Else
The Temptations: Just My Imagination (Easy Mo Bee remix)
Eddie Kendricks: Date With The Rain (Extended Disco Remix)
Eddie Kendricks: Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need
Eddie Kendricks: Girl You Need A Change of Mind
Eddie Kendricks: One Tear
Eddie Kendricks: Keep On Trucking (DJ Spinna remix) (AIGT re-edit)
The Temptations: Smilin Faces Sometimes

Back again with a crate full of super soulful goodness for your ears.

If you haven’t already caught it check out the new film, ‘Am I Black Enough For You’, dealing with the life and times of the Philly legend, Mr Billy Paul. I was lucky enough to see him perform live and he’s still doing his thing now in his 70’s and looking as fit as a flea. He has a lot of misgivings about the way his career was handled especially the release of the song ‘Am I Black Enough’ as a single which he felt alienated part of his audience. A unique voice and a great talent we open up this mix with ‘East’ proving that there’s so much more to him than ‘Me & Mrs Jones’. Have a listen to some of our Philly mixes for further evidence.

Elsewhere we’ve got Southern soul and disco from the underplayed ‘Soul of a Man’ by Bobby Bland and tracks from OV Wright and Mighty Pope. This is the LP version of Sweet Blindness, the 12” version isn’t as good.

‘I’m in Love’ from Band of Thieves rare LP is a delicious slice of modern soul. The LP is worth checking not only for a handful of great tracks but also the front cover featuring the band (and a werewolf).

Ultra High Frequency’s ‘We’re on The Right Track’ is a Tom Moulton mix and uses the same backing as the South Shore Connection version. It was sampled to good effect by Deep Sensation a few years ago for ‘Somewhere Somehow (There’s a Soul Heaven) blending it with Syl Johnson’s ‘Is it Because I’m Black?’

Harry Ray’s ‘Ride Your Pony Girl’ song is nothing short of plain filth, just about disguised by his sweet vocals, it’s a shame all the copies I’ve come across have the same pressing noise. Frankie Lee’s backing vocalists could do with some singing lesions, they manage to stay consistently out of key, in fact Frankie’s not without blame, despite this the song retains a certain charm, I hope you agree.

Gloria Ann Taylor: Love is a Hurting Thing, what can I say, total genius, sell your car to buy this record.

Next month… Eddie Kendricks and nowt else.

Billy Paul: East (Going East, PIR LP)
Bobby Bland: Soul of a Man (ABC 12”)
Mighty Pope: Sweet Blindness (Sway, Quality LP)
OV Wright: I Don’t Know Why (The Bottom Line, Hi LP)
Sam Dees: Come Back Strong (Atlantic 7”)
Band of Thieves: I’m In Love (Band of Thieves, Ovation LP)
Ultra High Frequency: We’re On The Right Track (Wand 7”)
Dillard & Johnson: Here We Go, Loving Again (Epic 7”)
The Exportations: Fell In Love Too Late (Meet The Exportations, United Artists LP)
Universal Mind: For You Girl (Red Coach 7”)
Harry Ray: Ride Your Pony Girl (All Platinum 7”)
Frankie Lee: I Am Love (California Gold 12”)
Gloria Ann Taylor: Love Is A Hurting Thing (Selector Soul EP)
Dionne Warwick: You’re Gonna Need Me (Warner Brothers 7”)

More of an 80’s theme to this month’s podcast than usual.

We kick off with the Patrick Adam’s produced Evening of Love from a later Main Ingredient album, this has recently been reissued on a 7” in an edited form by Expansions but you really need the full LP version. The Rosslyn and Charles gospel track also sounds like it’s been touched by the hand of P+P records with it’s squelchy spacy synth sounds.
We’ve selected some 80’s boogie/ disco with the rare Ray Parker and Colors tracks and the Gemini LP track It’s Friday Night which breaks down into a bass driven monster towards the end.
You know that we love our Philly soul, well The Masters at Work Dub of Nu Colours borrows heavily from the Intruders: I Always Love My Mama. The Jovonn track is an underplayed gem from about 10 years ago which cites his influences all through the history of house music from the Paradise garage through to Zanzibar, deep, moody, jazzy house just how we like it.
Elsewher we’ve a slice of afro-disco from Malinga Five and a slice of Northern Soul from the Dynamics, a track I first heard on Sir Matthew Fox’s excellent podcast on podomatic.

Last but by far least is Love Has Come To Me; if this song was on an obscure independent label by a long forgotten group it would be worth a million dollars, luckily for us it’s on a major label by a group that hit the UK top 5, it’s so good it’ll make you cry

Main Ingredient: Evening of Love (I Only Have Eyes For You, RCA LP)
Ray Parker Jnr and Raydio: It’s Time to Party Now (Arista 12”)
Kenny Dixon Jr: Don’t You Want My Love (Pandamonium 12”)
The UBs: Too Much Love (Electrik Soul 12”)
Gemini: It’s Friday Night (Gemini Rising, M&M LP)
Colors: Am I Gonna Be The One (First Take 12” Promo)
Jovonn: Back in The Dark (Pitch Black, Next Moov Trax EP)
Nu Colours: Desire (MAW Dub 3) (Wildcard 12”)
Detroit Emeralds: Love Has Come to Me (Atlantic 12”)
Rosslyn and Charles: I’m Here To Tell You (LP)
Malinga Five: Kaloule Woman (Rock Africa, Barclay LP)
The Dynamics: Ain’t No Love At All (Cotillion 7”)

Another batch of super soulful sounds from the all in good time camp

Margie Joseph: Why’d You Lie (Hear The Words, Feel The Feeling, Cotillion LP)
Family Brown: Listen (Imaginary World, United Artist LP)
5000 Volts: Come Hear The Music (5000 Volts, Philips LP)
Scott Cunningham Band: Morning Madness (Black Horse 7”)
Alice Swobodo: I Think It‘s Time (You Were Mine) (Roulette 7”)
Creative Source: Can’t Hide Love (Sussex 7”)
Hot: Just Cause I’m Guilty (Big Tree 7”)
Sounds of Blackness: The Pressure (Frankie Knuckles Classic Mix) (AMM 12”)
Marcia Hines: You Gotta Let Go (Marcia Shines, Wizard LP)
Althea Forrest & Togetherness: Hey Mister (Instrumental) (Derricks One Stop 7”)
Sweet Clover: You’re What I Need (Michal 7”)
Shirley Brown: Mighty Good Feeling (Shirley Brown, Arista LP)
True Example: Love Is Finally Coming My Way (Walter Gibbons mix) (Gold Mine 12”)
Finished Touch feat Kenny Stover: Need To Know Better (Motown 12”)
Goldie Alexander: Go Back (Chaz Ro 12”)

Another hour of super soulful treats for your listening pleasure (along with the obligatory Michael Jackson track)

Jessie James: Love Vibes (Midtown Records 7”)
Mary Mundy: Love Is Gone (Laurie 12”)
Candy Bowman: I Wanna Feel Your Love (RCA 12”)
Numonics: Forever and a Day (Hodisk 7”)
The Duncans: Let Me Be (Gonna Stay In Love, Malaco LP)
Ronn Matlock: You Got The Best of Me (Love City, Cotillion LP)
Love, Peace and Happiness: Unborn Child (RCA 7”)
J-Walk: Soul Vibration (Pleasure 7”)
The Phenomenal Handclap Band: 15 to 20 (Pure Groove 7”)
Fonda Rae: Over Like A Fat Rat (Vanguard 12”)
Yvonne Gage: Garden of Eve (Atlantic 12”)
Michael Jackson: Rock With You (Frankie’s Favorite Club remix) (Epic 12”)
Luther: Follow Me Love (This Close To You, Cotillion LP)

Back once again, bringing you the best in soulful sounds. This months treats include Gloria Taylor and Walter Whisenhunt’s version of What’s Your World, if any one has spare copy of How Can You Say It or spots one for sale PLEASE let me know. We’ve also dug out the ‘strings version of Carol Jones: Don’t Destroy Me and my new favourite tune ( for this week at least ) Total Eclipse: A Love Like Yours. We’ve re-edited the Philly Devotions especially for you, once again why wasn’t there a 12” of this, or was there?

Flame n King & The Bold Ones: Ho Happy Day (Grapevine 7”)
Philly Devotions: I Just Can’t Say Goodbye (AIGT 12” Disco re-edit)
Patti Austin: Are We Ready For Love (CBS 7”)
Jackie Wilson: The Who Who Song (Brunswick 7”)
Carol Jones: Don’t Destroy Me (Mutt 7”)
Gloria Taylor: What’s Your World (Selector Sound 7”)
Arthur Prysock: In The Rain (Old Town 7”)
The Phenomenal Handclap Band: Baby (Truth & Soul 7”)
Four Tops: Love Makes You Human (Keeper of The Castle, Probe LP)
TTF: Got to Keep Movin’ On (Gold Coast 7”)
Leprechaun: Loc-it-up (Citation 12”)
The Sons of Truth: Give It Up (A Message From The Ghetto, The Gospel Truth LP)
Jeffree: Love’s Gonna Last (Jeffree , MCA LP)
Ron Shaull: Makin’ You Feel Good (Pointblank 7”)
Joi Cardwell: Let It Go (Deep Soul 12”)
Lou Courtney: I Don’t Need Nobody Else (I’m In Need Of Love, Epic LP)
Total Eclipse: A Love Like Yours (Right-on 7”)

Ok it's the second installment of the versions mix, some good stuff (some a little tongue in cheek) get it while it's hot. Props to anyone who can name all the original artists.

Chailo: Heard It Through The Grapevine
Nancy Holloway: Hurt So Bad
Baby Charles: Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Humming Bird: You Can’t Hide Love
Ahmad Jamal: Misdemeanour
Pucho: Got Myself a Good Man
Charles Drain: Workin
Otis Clay: The Only Way Is Up
Paul Weller: Thinking of You
Honey Cone: Son of a Preacher Man
Tammi Terrell: All I do
Crispin Glover: It’s Music
The Dynamics: Seven Nation Army (Patchworks Holiday Inn remix)
Fairchange:Let Me Be Good To You
Lloyd Charmer: Darker Than Blue
The Temptations and Slimmy Taylor:Get Ready
Dion: Loving You Has Made My Life Sweeter Than Ever
Johnny Bristol: You Came Into My Life

And we’re back again with another soulful selection.

Many people picked up on the Restless Soul remix of ‘I Think of You’, but I always preferred the Redtop mix on the flip side, even though it’s slighty ‘poppy’ it’s a beautiful tune with uplifting lyrics, it would probably be in the running for one of my top ten records. Another contender would be Spend the Day Without You, I’m playing the rare 12” but you can pick this up on one of the Soul Togetherness compilations; watch out for the breakdown half way after which the tune takes a new direction. ‘Heaven in the Afternoon’ and After All This Time were two tunes I didn’t realise had had a 12” release, but they did, I picked them up recently, and here they are. You’ve probably heard Stay Free before but if you haven’t hang in there you’re in for a treat.

Blaze Feat Amira: I Think Of You (Redtop remix) (Slip and Slide 12”)
Fat Larry’s Band: Act Like You Know (WMOT 12”)
Double Exposure: After All This Time (Gold Coast 12”)
Lena Horne: Feels So Good (Buddah 7”)
Columbus Mann: We’ve Got To Help (Columbus Mann, ABC LP)0
Crue-l Grand Orchestra feat Philip Ramirez: Spend The Day Without You (Crue-l 12”)
Lew Kirton: Heaven In The Afternoon (TK 12”)
Art and Honey: Let’s Make Love Love Now (Motown 7”)
Lyn Roman: Stop, I Don’t Need No Sympathy (Brunswick 7”)
Joshie Jo Armstead: I Got The Vibes (The Gospel Truth 7”)
The Quickest Way Out: Tick Tock Baby (It’s a Quarter to Love) (Karen 7”)
Mary Wells: If You Can’t Give Her Love (Give Her Up) ((Reprise 7”)
Ashford and Simpson: Stay Free (Warner Bros)

Willie Hutch: Easy Does It (In Tune, Whitfield LP)
Truth: Coming Home (Devaki 12”)
Don Convay: Travelling In Heavy Traffic (PIR 12”)
Main Ingredient: Evening of Love (edit)
Eddie Kendricks: Tell Her Love Has Felt the Need (Motown 7”)
Thelma Jones: How Long (Thelma Jones, Columbia LP)
Aquarian Dream: You’re a Star (Elektra 12”)
Scarbrough: Make Love To You (E J Scarbrough 7”)
Nolan Chance: I’ll Forget You (Thomas 7”)
Michael Watford: Holdin’ On (Underground Solution Mix) (East West 12”)
Frances Nero vs K Klass: Footsteps (Pharmacy Allstars Mix) (SuSu)
Soul Generation: Sweet Thing (Beyond Body and Soul, Ebony Sounds LP)

Podcast 23
Ron Matlock: I Can’t Forget About You (Love City, Cotillion LP)
Jerry Carr: I Keep On Comin’ Back (Cherie 7”)
The Chants: I’ve Been Trying (Chipping Norton 7”)
Soul Children: Can’t Give Up A Good Thing (Chronicle, Stax LP)
Main Ingredient: Everything Man (Power Exchange 12”)
Clyde Brown: You Call Me Back (Tom Moulton Mix) (Disco-Trek LP, Atlantic)
Ronnie McNeir: My Love is Comin’ Down (Love’s Comin Down, Motown LP)
Chee Chee & Peppy: Super You (Branding Iron 12”)
Hodges, James, Smith & Crawford: Nobody (Mpingo 7”)
Diana and King Storm: Love Hangover (Motown flies Jamaica, Jamaica Airlines LP)
Dazzle: You Dazzle Me (De-lite 12”)
Bobby Bland: Dreamer (Dreamer, ABC LP)
Shazz: Back In Manhattan (Old School Mix) (F Communications 12”)
DJ Shadow: This Time (I’m Gonna Try It My Way) (Universal Island 7”)

Running a little late this month due to a broken arm and new baby, good enough excuses in my book, all the same here's another slice of soulful goodness for your ears

Blood Hollins: How Have You Been ( AIGT Philly Disco Mix) Lenny Williams: When I’m Dancing (MCA LP)
Doug Parkinson: I’ll Be Around (Northern Star 7”)
Wilson Williams: I Like Being In Love With You (ABC 12”) Sir John Roberts And The Sophisticated Funk Orchestra: Ain´t Nothing Like Making Love (Venture LP)
BCG: Street Talk ( AIGT edit)
Al Hudson & The Soul Partners: Trying To Prove My Love (ABC LP)
Essence: Third Rock (WEBN Album Project #2 LP)
5 Miles Out: Super Sweet Girl of Mine (Hotline 7”)
Thelma Houston: And I Thought You Loved Me (Mowest LP)
Roberta Flack: Sunday and Sister Jones (Atlantic LP)
CC Rides Again: CC Rider ( Weed LP)
Honey Cone: Son Of A Preacher Man (Hot Wax LP) Pat Lundy: Work Song (Pyramid)
J Jocko: I’m Gettin’ Over (Kama Sutra LP)
Universe City: Can You Get Down (Midland)
The Whispers: Creation Of Love (Janus LP)
Theo Parrish: The Rink (Sound Signature LP)
The Jones Girls: You Made Me Love You (PIR LP)

part 5 of 6

Dexter Wansel: Life On Mars (PIR)
BSO: Philadelphia #2 (Afro Art Test)
Gloria Gaynor: Honey Bee (AIGT Queen Bee re-edit)(Columbia)
Bobby Taylor: Can’t Quit Your Love (CBS)
The Trammps: Love Per Hour (Atlantic)
Lou Rawls: Let Me Be Good To You (PIR)
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: Reaching For The World (ABC)
McFadden & Whitehead: Always Room For One More at The Top (TSOP)
Archie Bell: Strategy (PIR)
Harold Melvin and Sharon Paige: You Know How To Make Me Feel Good (PIR)
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: The Love I Lost (PIR)
The Jones Girls: You Made Me Love You (PIR)
The O’Jays: I Love Music (PIR)
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: Wake Up Everybody (PIR)

Have a soulful and happy Christmas

James Brown: Hey America, It’s Christmas Time (King 7”)
C Henry Troupe: The Stranger (ENYX 7”)
OC Smith: Got To Know (Love Changes, Motown LP)
Alan Parker: Unlimited Love (The Black Science Re-edit) (Strut 12”)
Jimmy Jones: Ain’t Nothing Wrong With Makin’ Love The First Night (Conchillo 7”)
Jon Lucien: Search For The Inner Self (Ampex 7”)
Linda Lewis: Sideways Shuffle (Reprise 7”)
Jimmy Jones: Live and Let Live (Deke 7”)
Little Roy: Hard Fighter (Bigshot 7”)
Hardrive 2000: Never Forget (When You Touch Me) (Strictly 12”)
Leroy Hutson: All Because of You (Curtom 12”)
Velvet Hammer: Happy (Soozi 7”)

All in Good Time: Podcast 18

Plenty good and soulful, fill your boots.

Fathers Children: Hollywood Dreaming, (Fathers Children, Mercury LP
Toulouse: What Would My Mama Say (Image Magique 12”)
The Lighthouse Family: Question Of Faith (Idjut Boys Remix) (Polygram 12”)
Wah Wah Watson: Good Friends (Elementary, Columbia LP)
Sandra Richardson: Stay Here With Me (Inter/Soul Records 7”)
Carla Whitney, Choker Campbell & The Super Sounds: Lovin’ At Midnight (Attic 7”)
Bonnie Pointer: I Wanna Make It (In Your World) (Motown 12”)
Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder and CJ Hilton: Never Give You Up (The Way I See It, Columbia LP)
Donnie: Do You Know (Giant Step 7”)
The Prime Cut: Hey Pearl (Shady Brook 7”)
Zulema: Giving Up (Ms Z, Sussex LP)
Leroy Hutson: Never Know What You Can Do (Give It A Try) (Feel The Spirit, Curtom LP)
Chuck Jackson: I Only Get This Feeling (Through All Times, Probe LP)
The New Birth: Pretty Music (Comin’ From All Ends, RCA LP)
Wah Wah Watson: Together (Whatever) (Elementary, Columbia LP)

Tee Scott: Invite to Better Days (Promo 7”)
Sins of Satan: Dance and Free Your Mind (Buddah Promo 12”)
Exportations: Party Down (Birdie 12”)
Alias: Shake (Nia 12”)
Blaze: Can’t Win For Losing (AIGT edit) (Quark 12”)
Rockin Horse: Love Do Me Right (RCA LP)
Carly Simon: Tranquillo (Melt My Heart) (Elektra Promo 12”)
Zulu Gang: I Got A Magic Feeling Making Love (AB Productions 12”)
First Love: Don’t Say Goodnight (Dakar 12”)
Glen Dorsey & The Big J: Movin On (AIGT re-edit) (GooD 7”)
Laj & Quakerman: Former Glory (Fiasco 12”)
Kenny Dixon Junior: Yesterdays (Soul City 12”)
Master Jay & Michael Dee: TSOB (TSOB)
Jack Michaelson: Ever and Ever (AIGT re-edit)
JP Rodgers: All My Loving (Inculcation 7”)

Keeping it super soulful, the all in good time selectors pull out another batch of soulful gems.

As previously promised the disco mix will be up very soon, it’s currently doing battle on http://chat.southportweekender.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=10 in this years mix off, check out some of the mixes in this years competition, number 8 is my favourite, but I would say that!

Quiet Storm: Only You (Long Version) (Motown promo 12”)
Brick: Living From Your Mind (Brick, Bang LP)
Pockets: Come and Go With Me (CBS 7”)
Blood Hollins: How Have You Been (AIGT Philly Disco re-edit)
The Temptations: Aiming At Your Heart (The Temptations, Gordy LP)
The Mayberry Movement: Think I’m In Love With You (Event 7”)
The Chi-Lites: You Got To Be The One (Brunswick 7”)
Ambelique: Talk Like That (Rag Town 7”)
The Mystic Moods: Midnight Snack (Mint 7”)
Ernie Bush: Breakaway (Tom Moulton disco mix) (Contempo 12”)
Geater Davis: My Love Is So Strong For You (House of Orange 7”)
The Soulvation Army Band: Dancing on a Daydream (Soulvation Army)
Leroy Hutson: Love Oh Love (Love Oh Love, Curtom LP)
Barabas: Mellow Blow (Heart of the City, ATCO LP)
Captain Sky: Moon Child (AVI 7”)
Gail Eason: I Can See The Hurt (Epic 7”)

Part 4 of this 6 part series

Billy Paul: It’s Critical
Peoples Choice: Do It Anyway You Wanna (Re-edit)
Brenda & the Tabulations: Let’s Go All The Way
Billy Paul: Let the Dollar Circulate
Dee Dee Sharp Gamble: Easy Money
The Harris Machine: In Good Faith
Jean Carne: My Love Don’t Come Easy
Deniece Williams: It’s Your Conscience
Teddy Pendergrass: Set Me Free
Mighty Clouds of Joy: Mighty High (edit)
Frankie Knuckles: Only The Strong Survive (instrumental)
O’Jays: Put Our Heads Together
Jean Carne: Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
Philly Devotions: Hurt So Bad
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: Bad Luck

Podcast 12

A little southern soul, a little philly soul and a little more make up this weeks podcast. The Jezebel LP by Mary McCreary features contributions from Merry Clayton and Jose Feliciano, apart from the title track the rest of the LP is a little weak, the cover is terrible but somehow it comes together on Jezebel. Likewise the Norma Jenkins LP is a one-tracker for me. Some more Philly flavour firstly from PIR favourites the Jones Girls this time on a Curtom promo 45, then a quick AIGT reshuffle of Ace Spectrum’s Keep On Holdin On. Smoke’s Have I Really Lost You sounds like vintage 70’s philly but is actually from the Mid West.

Geraldine Hunt (mother of Freddie James) is better known for her hit Can’t Fake The Feeling on Prism records, here we have the London 2-step underground classic Undercover Lover, tucked away on the B-side of It Doesn’t Only Happen At Night. More 2-step from Shirley Brown’s Love Starved, it’s also worth seeking out her eponymous LP from 1977 on Arista ( recently re-issued by Soul Brother Records) which contains the All In Good Time favorite, A Mighty Good Feeling

We‘ve also got the Lamont Dozier produced Zingara LP from1981, I Surrender features vocals from James Ingram as well as the beautifully soulful Look At the Boy from Jean Plum (more from her to come in later podcasts).

No disco, no house this week, well you can’t have it all, see you next time…

Mary McCreary: Jezebel (ST, Shelter LP )
Norma Jenkins: I Fooled You (Didn’t I) (Patience Is A Virtue, Desert Moon LP)
Jones Girls: Hey Lucinda (Curtom 7”)
Ace Spectrum: Keep On Holdin’ On (AIGT quick-fix edit) (Atlantic 12”)
Smoke: Have I Really Lost You (J.Bridge 7”)
Zingara: I Surrender (Zingara, Wheel Records LP
Geraldine Hunt: Under Cover Lover (Redrock 12”)
Shirley Brown: Love Starved (The Real Feeling, Stax LP)
Dells: All About the Paper (20th Century 12”)
Moments: Rain In My Backyard (Stang 7”)
Jean Plum: Look At The Boy (Hi 7”)
Tyrone Edwards: Can’t Get Enough Of You (Invictus 7”)
Family of Eve: Having It So Bad For You (Full Sail 7”)

Buddah Mix Part 1

1) Curtis Mayfield: Right On For The Darkness
2) Melba Moore: Ain’t No Love Lost
3) Norman Connors feat Phillip Mitchell: Once I’ve Been There (12” mix)
4) Black Ivory: Mainline
5) Gladys Knight & The Pips: Better Than Good Time
6) Ben Vereen: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
7) Phyllis Hyman: Living Inside Your Love
8) Modulations: Hopelessly In Love
9) Fresh Flavour: Without You Baby I’m Loser
10) MVPs: Turning My Heartbeat Up
11) Jimmy Jackson: Footsteps In The Shadows (LP version)
12) Aquarian Dream: Phoenix
13) Andrea True Connection: Fill Me Up (Heart to Heart) (AIGT re-edit)

Founded in 1967 and originally putting out ‘bubble gum’ pop records, the label came into it’s own in the mid to late 70’s and was fuelled onwards by the input of Norman Connors who joined the company in 1976. Buddah was at the forefront of the fledgling disco scene and was one of the early labels to produce 12”s, it also released some seminal Blaxplotation LPs

This mix and the subsequent instalments mainly concentrates on the era of the ‘brown’ Buddah label 1972-1978, however a few tunes creep in from the following incarnation when the label featured the capitol letter B.

Over the years Buddah featured legendary artists of the disco era such as The Trammps, Phyllis Hyman, Melba Moore, Van McCoy, Leroy Burgess (Black Ivory) and Gladys Knight and The Pips as well as many artists like Jae Mason, who have since criminally faded into obscurity but still produced some beautiful soul music. Other artists also appeared briefly on Buddah at some point in their recording career for example, Chic originally released Dance, Dance, Dance on Buddah before moving to Atlantic and Cubie and the Stairsteps introduced a fresh faced Keni Burke to the world, no bad thing in my opinion.

Curtis Mayfield’s early association with Buddah is evident throughout the story, not only did he release music on the label but Curtom was also distributed by Buddah, as was Sussex Records (we’ll hear more from both of these labels in the future). Artists on Buddah covered many of Mayfield’s songs and he also wrote specifically for them, the first mix features Melba Moore’s version of his Ain’t No Love Lost’ which was also released by Patti Jo to great acclaim on the underground scene both then and today.

Andrea True started her career in the Adult film industry, she co-penned and initially finaced her disco pop hit More More More with Greg Diamond in 1976 which was then remixed by Tom Moulton and proved a big hit in discos world wide (the drum break towards the end was also sampled by Len: Steal My Sunshine). The original promo 12” release is collectable and sought after however the tune has never been a favourite of mine, instead I’ve included Fill Me Up (Heart to Heart) which is at least if not more cheesy but I’ve always has a soft spot for it. Fill Me Up was also faithfully covered by Caress on Roulette Records.

Norman Connors should need little introduction, he was responsible for signing Melba Moore and Aquarian Dream . He also recorded in his own right for Buddah perhaps most notably on his album You Are My Starship which featured the title track and also The Creator Has A Master Plan ( featuring Pharoah Sanders). His LP Romantic Journey contains the all time classic Once I’ve Been There, sung by Phillip Michell, also released as a 12”, like a lot of the early Buddah 12” its hard to come by and very collectable. Once I’ve Been There was successfully covered by Dr Bob Jones’ East West Connection on Chilli Funk, another piece of vinyl worth seeking out.

Buddah’s releases also made waves on the Northern soul as well as the Disco scene with tracks like The MVPs: Turning My Heartbeat Up. I don’t know if Jimmy Jackson’s Footsteps in The Shadows ever got any Northern plays but it sounds like it could have, the LP version knocks spots of the 45 release with the extended drum sections and effects, shame about the slightly dodgy edit at the end.

Over the next few months I’ll be posting up at least another two episodes featuring Buddah records…’for your disco pleasure’

Welcome along to the latest update, once again lots of great music.

I've recently been tidying up the record room and clearing out some records destined for ebay or the charity shop, during this I came across the Phyllis Hyman tune which opens this podcast which had slipped my mind and almost made it into the discard pile, I'm pleased to say that it fell onto the turntable instead and is well worth a few minutes of your time

I've had a rare pleasure of hitting a record shop or two this week, two fruits of my digging are the Silver Platinum and Gold and Barbara Blake tracks.

Paulette Reaves: It's In Me released on PIP records but affilated to TK Disco has been stuck in my head for weeks, she's also released music on Blue Candle and is reasonably well respected on the Modern Soul scene. This track is out and out disco boogie and I love it.

Charles Earland provides a jazz funk cover version of the Eddie Kendricks classic Girl You Need A Change of Mind. You can expect a Eddie Kendricks themed podcast soon.

The very collectable Disco International label is sought after by disco fans worldwide, Delicious by the Dupress has been comped recently and still sounds superb with it's stomping pace and soaring strings. Hard to find on a 12" these days, but worth tracking down as well as a few others on the same label like LTG Exchange's Corazon.

Freddie North provides a version of My Whole World's Ended, perhaps better known by David Ruffin, personally I think if you don;t feel this you should give up now.

I've finished this week with Segment of Time's: Song to The System on Sussex Records, a label distributed by the mighty mighty Buddah Records soon to be featured in an AIGT podast coming soon, keeping it soulful ...the only way we know how

Phyllis Hyman: Kiss You All Over (7” Arista)
Four Sonics: If It Wasn’t For My Baby (7” JMC)
Silver, Platinum & Gold: La La Love Chains (7” Warner Bros)
Paulette Reaves It’s In Me (12” PIP)
Curtis Mayfield: What Is My Woman For? (Heartbeat. LP RCA)
Sting: Pleasure (12” ABC)
Barbara Blake And The Uniques: Everlasting Thrill (ST. LP 20th Century)
Charles Earland: Girl You Need A Change Of Mind (Charles III. LP Prestige)
The Duprees: Delicious (12” Disco International)
Danny Hunt: What’s Happening To Our Love Affair? (7” Dynamite)
Freddie North: My Whole World’s Ended (Cuss The Wind. LP Nasboro)
Rance Allen Group: Reasons To Survive (The Way It Is. LP Capitol)
Segments Of Time: Song To The System (ST. LP Sussex)