This instalment of the chart also has a heavy emphasis on the female vocalists with only one of the singles sung by a male.
30. Gladys Knight - No One Can Love You More.
Another Motown gem unreleased in the USA and hidden on the b-side over here of a promo only single, that was brought to the attention of the scene in the last decade or so, which has you shaking your head and wondering "why was this not released" and not for the first time either. From the slow expectant intro you sort of know that you are in for a treat. Knight's vocal just seems so effortless even when she does on occasion let rip. The tune was produced by Johnny Bristol.
29. Scotty Williams - In The Same Old Way
Our only male vocal in this batch but what a vocal it is, with a real gritty delivery. All I know about Williams was that he was from New York and cut two singles this one on the Jubilee label in 1967. The flip side which is a big ballad is also very good.
28. The Elgins - Heaven Must Have Sent You.
Heaven Must Have Sent You is hardly the rarest piece of soul on the planet having reached both the R&B and Pop Charts on release in the US in 1966 and number 3 in the UK charts when re-issued in 1971. This joyous, Holland, Dozier, Holland penned song never fails to get my arse moving and after hearing it life always feels that little bit sunnier which probably has more than a little to do with the lovely vocal delivery from Saundra Mallet.
27. The Sweet Delights - Baby Be Mine
Another group I know very little about other than the Sweet Delights were four girls and one guy from Philadelphia who cut this track for ATCO in 1968. This was one of those records that I bought years ago which languished at the back of a box before being re-discovered a couple of years ago and which has been played every over week ever since. Love it!
26. Velvelettes - These Things Will Keep Me Loving You
Another Motown single, that's three out of this batch that are straight out of Hitsville USA. This track was the last single by the trio and was a minor hit in the USA on release and like the Elgins track broke the top forty in the UK on it's re-release in 1971. The song was co-produced by Johnny Bristol, again and Harvey Fuqua, Berry Gordy's brother in law. I used to prefer a far inferior version by another Detroit group called the Blue Sharks until a couple of years ago I realised the error of my ways.
5 comments:
Re your first sentence Drew - we would not expect anything less!
Especially like the Scotty Williams, Drew.
The Elgins track is the first one in the series that I have heard before.
Love that Sweet Delights track Drew, this series is making work almost bearable on a Monday..
I am really enjoying your northern soul top 50 as it develops by instalment Drew. I love hearing the songs I don't know. I love reading about the songs you do love so much. From Johnnie k in Auckland New Zealand.
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