Jesse Davis: Never Could Have Made It/Is This Love (Essence)

I felt in love with Jesse's music since the very first time I heard his Northern Soul anthem "Gonna Hang On In There Girl". This album was recorded in the beautiful city of San Diego and shows his marvellous voice on top form.
Never Could Have Made It
Is This Love

Beres Hammond: Don't Wait Too Long/Somebody Lied (Water Lily)

This is Beres Hammond's debut LP and is influenced by the music he grew up with. He is still in the business and has just issued a new double album.
Don't Wait Too Long
Somebody Lied

Sssence: What Love Has Joined Together/If You Want Me (Lance)

Obscure double sider from the Windy City, taken form an album that apparently was never released.
What Love Has Joined Together
If You Want Me

The Florida Spiritualaires: I Remember When (Ernie's Record Parade)

Great mid-seventies black gospel on a subsidiary of Nashboro Records. The group was organized by Reverend Fleming in the 60s.
I Remember When

Darrow Fletcher: It's No Mistake (Crossover)

A tasty midpace number issued by Ray Charles' famed label. If you like this do not miss the recent Kent CD "Crossover Records 1975-79 LA Soul Sessions" telling the whole story behind Darrow's Los Angeles years.
http://acerecords.co.uk/crossover-soul-1975-1979-los-angeles-sessions
It's No Mistake

Pioneers: My Good Friend James (Mercury)

Written and produced by Eddy Grant, this is another great discovery of Pioneers' soul period at Mercury.
My Good Friend James

Lee Brackett: Save A Foolish Man/Ruby (Excello)

Super double sider on Excello, Nashboro Records R&B subsidiary. This single received a lot of interest in recent years. "Save A Foolish Man" is also available on the highly recommended Kent CD "Uptown Down South".
Save A Foolish Man
Ruby

Will Hatcher: You Haven't Seen Nothin' Yet (Wheelsville)

Soul music is a family affair for Will Hatcher, being cousin of Edwin Starr and Roger Hatcher's brother. This single was issued in the late 70s on his own label (light blue copies are the original).
You Haven't Seen Nothin' Yet

Marvell Love: Gotta Have Love (New World)

The actual A side of this single is a very fast dancer and it was played at Wigan by Richard Searling. On the contrary "Gotta Have Love" is a jazzy midpacer that fits my taste. For anoraks, the song came out first on Sheri, with a different flipside.
Gotta Have Love

Frank Lynch: Young Girl (My Record)

You can read the very sad story behind this record thanks to Sir Hambling's Deep Soul Heaven.
Young Girl

Tony Moore: When Will I (Golden Record)

Tony Moore was based in Italy and had a career during the 70s and the early days of Italo disco. He started singing in the fifties as Nat Wright in Broadway musicals then moved to Germany until about '72. The German version of the song was issued by Rca and is slightly different.
When Will I

Wess: Good Time (Durium)

Wess (real name Wesley Johnson) was an American singer naturalized Italian (in the 60s he played bass with Rocky Roberts & The Airedales). "Good Time" was released in 1977 and is pretty nice soulful disco.
Good Time

Patrick Gammon: When Can I See You? (Durium)

Patrick Gammon (real name Philip Greenway Gammon) is a German singer. The 45 was issued in 1978 also in Italy with a different picture cover (to tell the truth the marijuana leaves chosen as decoration could have fit better for a reggae record!).
When Can I See You?

Brief Encounter: Get A Good Feeling/In A Very Special Way (Capitol)

The Brief Encounter super rare album on Seventy Seven is one of the best collection of 70s soul committed to vinyl. This is the second single the North Carolina's group had on Capitol Records. "Get A Good Feeling" is a catchy uptempo number while "In A Very Special Way" is suitable for sweeter moments.
Get A Good Feeling
In A Very Special Way

The Performers: Little Angel/Nightmares (Sir Graham)

The Performers consisted of three brothers, Larry, James and Bobby Scarborough, and were based in San Francisco. Besides this release on Hank Graham's own label, they had also a couple of interesting 45s on Mirwood.
ps "Nightmares" could appeal also to garage rockers and this is not strange considering the other single on the label by a band called The Aldermen.
Little Angel
Nightmares

Specialties Of The House #3

1. The Rance Allen Group - Reason To Survive (Capitol)
2. Jean Terrell - Rising Cost Of Love (A&M)
3. Sarah Dash - To Tell You The Truth (Manhattan)
4. The Impressions - I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love (Chi-Sound)
5. Howard Johnson - Keepin' Love New (A&M)
6. David Simmons - Holdin' Back (Fantasy WMOT)
7. Khemistry - Can You Feel My Love (Columbia)
8. Michael Wycoff - Looking Up To You (RCA)
9. Leroy Hutson - Paradise (Elektra)
10. Ian Foster - Oooh We Baby (MCA)
11. The Duncans - Let Me Be (Malaco)
12. Windy City - Win Or Lose (Chi-Sound)
13. Cleveland Eaton featuring Sam Dees - Pure Love (Ovation)
14. Nina Simone - Touching And Caring (VPi)
15. Jimmy Cobb - So Nobody Else Can Hear (Contempo Vibrato)
In memory of Claudio. Rest in peace
specialties#3

Specialties Of The House #2

1. Ashford & Simpson - Have You Ever Tried It (Warner Bros.)
2. Aretha Franklin - Oh No Not My Baby (Atlantic)
3. Paul Kelly - You Made Me Tremble (Warner Bros.)
4. Revelation - When It's Warm (RSO)
5. Debra Laws - Meant For You (Elektra)
6. Allspice - Hungry For Your Love (At-Home)
7. The Dramatics - Treat Me Right (Capitol)
8. Sadane - One-Way Love Affair (Warner Bros.)
9. The Latinos - It Must Be Love (Word)
10. Virginia Smith & Company - Sprinkle Your Love (Morada)
11. Sandra Feva - Leaving This Time (Venture)
12. Lanier & Co. - I Just Got To Have You (Larc)
13. Midnight Star - Don't Give You Up (Solar)
14. Nature's Divine - Success (Infinity)
15. Candi Staton - Halfway To Heaven (Warner Bros.)
specialties#2

Dayton: Promise Me/Caught In The Middle (Capitol)

Both tracks of the group's most acclaimed album are fine examples of 80s black music not killed by electronic effects and synthesizers that sound so dated today. Of course the band was from Dayton, Ohio.
promise me
caught in the middle

Bobby Glenn: Hey Love!/Sounds Like A Love Song (Koala)

"Hey Love!" is the best song of Bobby Glenn's debut and only album. It was written by Earth, Wind & Fire members Ralph Johnson (drums, percussion) and Philip Bailey (vocals, conga, percussion) and by Douglas Gibbs, another talented singer and songwriter. The emotional ballad "Sounds Like A Love Song" is the other noteworthy track of the LP. Koala Records was based in Los Angeles and is well known between funk and soul collectors.
hey love!
sounds like a love song

H. Andrews And Company: Steppin' Out (Balance)

Harold Andrews is highly respected between the crossover brigade for his other two singles on Bay Area based Balance Records "I'm So Tired Of Being Lonely" and "It Took You", a super rare 45 played by Soul Sam. He also wrote the 1985 modern soul favourite "Ain't Gonna Be No Fool (For You)", credited to Hank Gray and performed by the Fabulous Play Mates. "Steppin' Out" is a terrific stepper that shines bright in his discography.
steppin' out