| Author | Message | ||
  Rodmann (rodmann) 2-Debutant Username: rodmann Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Super soulful vocalist Jeannie Reynolds is listed as having released a single on Mainstream 718 in 1969, 'Down On Me'/'Don't Set Me Free'. In all of my years of collecting I've NEVER seen this record ANYWHERE! Does it even exist? Thanks. | ||
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 1-Arriviste Username: ron_murphy Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140 |
yes it does exist...I have a couple copies and like the "Please Don't Set Me Free" side a lot. | ||
Soul-Brother (soulbrother) 2-Debutant Username: soulbrother Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.234.179.50 |
Good to see her name appear. Sister of L.J. Reynolds of the Dramatics. She 'decided' to leave for Soul Heaven much too early. Another great record from her was 'Lay Some Lovin' On Me / Love Don't Come Easy For Me� on Casablanca 846. | ||
Soul-Brother (soulbrother) 2-Debutant Username: soulbrother Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.234.179.50 |
Wasn't the record Down On Me / Don't Set Me Free from 1969 recorded as Shirley Jean and the Relations - thought I read that in Soul Express. Barry | ||
Heikki (heikki) 1-Arriviste Username: heikki Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.199.27 |
Hi Barry! Nice to see you here. I've been a member, I guess, for a couple of years by now. I really like your playlists. You always pick up my kind of material - I guess it's because we both grew up with those songs. I hope nobody is against if I repeat Barry's website here, where you can also listen to his programs: http://www.soulcellar.co.uk/So ulCellarHomePage.html Please find the Jeannie Reynolds discography at http://www.kolumbus.fi/soulexp r/Jeannie.htm Best regards Heikki | ||
Heikki (heikki) 1-Arriviste Username: heikki Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.199.27 |
Hi! Sorry, this program for some reason doesn't allow to write at those addresses p and r together, so if you want to visit the Jeannie Reynolds discography, please type "soulexpr" together. Best regards Heikki | ||
Mark Speck (mark_speck) 2-Debutant Username: mark_speck Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 199.183.105.37 |
This record was also mentioned in the just-released Shades of Soul #31, albeit misprinted as "Down WITH Me". It's a cover of the Janis Joplin classic from two years earlier (also cut for Mainstream). Best, Mark | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 2-Debutant Username: rodmann Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Thank you, Thank you everyone! I guess I just haven't been looking hard enough because I've never seen a copy around! I'm thinking that I never see it because I've been looking for a Jeannie Reynolds single and it was actually recorded as Shirley Jean and the Relations. Maybe that's it? Her Chess single 'I Know He'll Be Back Someday'/'You Ain't The Only Man' is another one that never seems to show up. Mark, 'Down On Me' is a traditional Blues song that goes back to the Bessie Smith days of the 1920's (if not before). I've got Jeannie's first album "Cherries, Bananas & Other Fine Things" and a few copies of other songs by her. My favorites by Miss Reynolds are 'The Fruit Song' (Wow, talk about good production!), 'I Don't Want To Be Second Best', 'The Feelin' Ain't There', 'I Don't Mess Around' and 'People Make The World A Better Place' (the first song that I heard by her, thanks to the James Brown's Funky Divas collection that came out some years ago). The odd thing is that I've never heard Jeannie's biggest hit 'The Phone's Been Jumping All Day'! Why the hell wasn't this included on her first album?! Has anyone heard that song? How is it? Barry, you are so right about Jeannie leaving us for Soul Heaven much too early. And it's tragic how it all ended! She really was a great talent who deserved much better on the charts and in life!  (Message edited by Rodmann on April 17, 2004) | ||
Wonder B (wonder_b) 3-Pundit Username: wonder_b Post Number: 62 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 193.252.46.133 |
Yes tragic is the word when it comes to her ending because she took her children with her too... one of the saddest stories I have ever heard about... Wonder B | ||
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 1-Arriviste Username: ron_murphy Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140 |
  | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 2-Debutant Username: rodmann Post Number: 30 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Wow!, Thanks a lot for the scans Ron! I was beginning to think that the single didn't exist. I can't believe that Janis Joplin got a writers credit for 'Down On Me'! That's a traditional Blues song that was recorded several times prior to Janis' record. Odetta even had a version in 1959 long before anyone knew who the hell Janis Joplin was! Maybe this has to do with the fact that Janis recorded her version on Mainstream Records as well and since it's a traditional song with no writers credit Mainstream didn't know who the hell to credit. | ||
Soul-Brother (soulbrother) 3-Pundit Username: soulbrother Post Number: 32 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.234.168.203 |
Hi Rodmann, If you don't have the Casablanca sides I mentioned..maybe I can send you the mp3's by email. Barry | ||
Heikki (heikki) 1-Arriviste Username: heikki Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.193.223 |
Hi Ron, and thanks for those scans. I'll check with Hitoshi about his single (and perhaps ask for a photo-copy). Best regards Heikki | ||
Heikki (heikki) 1-Arriviste Username: heikki Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.193.223 |
Hi! Now that I got into it I noticed that there are a couple of things mixed up (wrong credits in wrong places) in our Jeannie Reynolds discography. We'll correct them soon. Thank you Ron for bringing it to my attention. Hopefully also the People single scans appear here soon. Best regards Heikki | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 3-Pundit Username: rodmann Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Hey Barry, I've already a copy of 'Love Don't Come Easy For Me'. I like it but not as much as the favorites that I mentioned in my previous post. I'd be delighted to have a mp3 copy of 'Lay Some Lovin On Me' and any of the following that I haven't heard yet if anyone has them: DOWN ON ME PLEASE DON'T SET ME FREE IF I HAD A MAN LIKE YOU I KNOW HE'LL BE BACK SOMEDAY YOU AIN'T THE ONLY MAN THE PHONES BEEN JUMPING ALL DAY I'M HOOKED ON YOU I hope someone can help me out. My email address is rodmann2981@insightbb.com. Thanks a lot Barry!  | ||
Heikki (heikki) 1-Arriviste Username: heikki Post Number: 10 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.199.27 |
Hi! While on Mainstream, the preceding single (717)was cut by Jeannie's brother, Larry (L.J.) Reynolds: Call On Me/Intruder. L.J.: "We went as a package." Larry sings on Jeannie's single, an she on his single. Larry cut that single after his Tri-Spin sides a few years earlier. "We went to New York. We met these people at Mainstream Records through Janie Mack and a gentleman by the name of Ben Washington out of Saginaw." Larry's next single (We're In The Middle/Stop, Look Over Your Past, in'70) was recorded for Monique, and here he's backed by the Relations. "That's two brother-in-laws, my cousin and my brother. My sister Jeannie also had her own group and all my other sisters sang with her, but that's not the Relations." Best regards Heikki | ||
mike s (mike_s) 1-Arriviste Username: mike_s Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
That Cherries bananas album is a great Groovesville production. I'm lonely (produced by LJ) is just chilling (as in cold!) and Unyielding out and out wild. I also recently managed to get what must be her final album for Casablanca-One Wish (1977). I feel the material is nowhere near as good but there's a great gospel song on there where Jeanie really stretches out - Guide me well. Nice midtempo song, I don't wanna be second best is also worthwhile. I don't know if any made of the tracks made singles. I wonder if Don Davis has stuff of hers still in the can. | ||
David Meikle (david_meikle) 3-Pundit Username: david_meikle Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 62.252.128.10 |
From Hitoshi and Heikki  | ||
David Meikle (david_meikle) 3-Pundit Username: david_meikle Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 62.252.128.10 |
and again...  | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 3-Pundit Username: rodmann Post Number: 42 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Wow! Thanks for the scans David, Hitoshi and Heikki. I'm curious. Is the Washington label 'People Make The World' the exact same recording as the People label 'People Make The World A Better Place' or is it a different recording and/or song? I could have sworn that I saw the Washington single somewhere and James Brown was not listed as the producer. | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 2-Debutant Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 213.18.222.35 |
Interesting to see that Janis Joplin got the writer credit on Jeannie's version of "Down On Me" - she didn't get the credit on her own (well, Big Brother and the Holding Co.'s) version on Mainstream. Looks to me as if this was one of Bob Shad's publishing scams - he was the owner of the Mainstream, Time and Brent labels and the associated Brent publishing firm. Janis was, I'm pretty sure, already dead by the time the Jeanie Reynolds version was issued so you can guess where the publishing royalties went. It's a long time since I heard the first Big Brother album but wasn't "Call On Me" on that album the same song that L J Reynolds recorded for Mainstream ? - it would make some sort of sense. Another thing about Mainstream is that they hardly ever credited producers. | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 2-Debutant Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 12 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 213.18.222.35 |
I should have mentioned that both Jeanie Reynolds and L J Reynolds' singles on MAinstream are later than '69 - more like '71. | ||
Heikki (heikki) 2-Debutant Username: heikki Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.193.223 |
Hi! Mainstream 662) Big Brother and the Holding Company: Down On Me - charted 8/31/68 (Billboard, pop) Mainstream 678) " (the same): Coo Coo - charted 23.11.68 Mainstream 720) The Preparations: That's When He Remembers - rel. 4/70. 717 and 718 must be either late '69 or early '70. L.J. remembered it was 1969, but that of course doesn't prove anything. Best regards Heikki | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 3-Pundit Username: rodmann Post Number: 50 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Yes Dave, it definitely seems like some sort of scam by Mainstream Records because Janis and/or Big Brother did not write 'Down On Me'. 'Down On Me' is a traditional blues. What's the story behind Mainstream's habit of not crediting producers and arrangers? | ||
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 1-Arriviste Username: ron_murphy Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140 |
Hi Rodmann: I was the engineer on the Washington single(Jeannie) and the Monique single on L.J. all these 4 sides were cut at one session and Jeannie's is not the same recording as the People label single. | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 3-Pundit Username: rodmann Post Number: 52 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Thanks Ron! Is the Washington label's 'People Make The World' even the same song as 'People Make The World A Better Place' on People? | ||
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 2-Debutant Username: ron_murphy Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140 |
yes Rodman it is the same song, just different recordings. the one I did was recorded at Gold Soul studio(formely Tera Shirma) in Detroit with the following musicians: John Glover-piano,Johnny Griffith-hammond organ,George McGregor-drums,Bob Babbitt-bass,Bill Smith-guitar and I forgot who the horns were but they were not Mike Terry's group. Chuck Overton was the producer for Ben Washington, and I sent them over to Danny Dallas at Sound Patterns for cutting the master record. | ||
SDF (handsome) 2-Debutant Username: handsome Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14 |
Hey Everyone! Rodmann, I have the single on Casablanca Records, "The Phone's Been Jumping All Day". She's actually belting the song out, unlike her relaxed vocal take on The Fruit Song. Handsome | ||
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 2-Debutant Username: kevgo Post Number: 30 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.115.136.66 |
Folks: I own quite a few recordings released by Mainstream Records, particularly in the vocal jazz area (Carmen McCrae, Morgana King). Bob Shad DID credit the arrangers on some of the recordings by the artists I've mentioned - Torrie Zito scored the charts for Morgana's "Taste Of Honey" album while both Peter Matz & Don Sebesky handled Carmen's "Alfie". But there is the rub - if the arranger has a big name then of course they will be mentioned on the jacket. If not, then it was up to the liner note writer. I have to double-check but I do believe Morgana's "Taste Of Honey" album did credit the session musicians as well. Kevin Goins - KevGo | ||
Heikki (heikki) 2-Debutant Username: heikki Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.193.223 |
Ron, perhaps strictly not a musical question, but how do you remember Jeannie? How was she in those sessions? Best regards Heikki | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 3-Pundit Username: rodmann Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Thanks a lot Ron. All these years I've been thinking that both 'People Make The World A Better Place' records were the same. I appreciate you setting the record straight. I can't wait to hear your original recording of it, If I can find it! Handsome, you've got all the records I want! First the Emotions "Sincerely" LP and now Jeannie's 'The Phone's Has Been Jumping All Day'! Miss Reynolds had a set of lungs on her so that must be one hell of a vocal performance if she's belting! She usually sang very laid back. Do you like 'The Phone's Been Jumping All Day'? Is it better than 'The Fruit Song'? Heikki, thanks for asking for Ron's memories of Jeannie on a personal level. I'd also like to learn more about the real woman. This topic has come up on this forum before but not much happened after that. How did it all go so wrong for such a beautiful and talented woman? Why didn't Casablanca Records stand behind her wonderful records? 'The Fruit Song' wasn't even promoted as the A side on a single! Big mistake Casablanca! What were the details surrounding the deaths of her and her kids? Was it drug related? I'm sorry everyone if I'm out of line for asking these questions but as a fan I'd like to know the facts instead of the rumors! | ||
Heikki (heikki) 2-Debutant Username: heikki Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.199.27 |
Hi Rodmann! This is what Larry (L.J.) said about it: "She decided that she didn't want to be around any more. She did have some medical problems, which might have contributed to her decision to commit suicide. She killed herself and the kids. It was a terrible thing. It was a terrible tragedy in my life, because I had to go back and reassemble myself, and to see what I wanted to do in this business. I think in a way I just kinda got grips of myself, put one day after the other and accepted what she did and asked God to forgive us. As far as I was concerned, she had everything in the world to live for." Heikki | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 3-Pundit Username: rodmann Post Number: 69 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Thanks Heikki. I read that quote from L.J. in the archives a while ago. Now I wish that I hadn't even asked about it. Sad stuff! | ||
SDF (handsome) 2-Debutant Username: handsome Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14 |
Hey Rod! I like the Jeannie's song, "The Phone's Been Jumping All Day" in comparison to "The Fruit Song". The Fruit song had to grow on me for a long time, and as I grew older I discovered it's meaning, ha ha! Handsome | ||
Heikki (heikki) 2-Debutant Username: heikki Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.193.223 |
Hi Mr. Ron Murphy, I still wish you would give us your impression of Jeannie Reynolds at those early 70s sessions. Best regards Heikki | ||
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 2-Debutant Username: ron_murphy Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140 |
Hello Heikki: I remember Ben Washington setting up an office on Livernois up the street from the studio,and one of our producers named Fiery Bursey somehow found out about it and took some songs over there, one of his songs was cut on L.J. Reynolds(We're In The Middle), the band tracks on the 4 sides were recorded at one session and then about a week later Jeannie and L.J. came in from Saginaw with the background groups to overdub the vocals. I remember someone saying that Jeannie was 16 years old and L.J. was 18. his back-up singers may have been a bit older while I remember Jeannie's group had 2 real young girls in there, one was 10 and another 12 and when they started singing I said my god that's the sound I'd been looking for on records that I was producing myself. Jeannie and L.J. were both power singers that were ready to record and perform at a young age, Jeannie was great already at 16 who overdubed her vocals with ease..... the young back-up singers took at a few takes and some punching in, but yeah I was totally impressed with Jeannie and then I found out that she had wrote those songs herself(People Make The World and I don't Mess Around. I feel sad when I play those recordings now, her brother did go on to have success singing with the Dramatics, but poor Jeannie had even more talent,something just went wrong...but I would say she was the best female voice I ever recorded. I'm sorry I never had the chance to work with her again after that one day about 33 years ago, but I still remember that power-soulful voice and how professional she was at such a young age and think about how great she should have become. | ||
Rodmann (rodmann) 4-Laureate Username: rodmann Post Number: 71 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.221.46.129 |
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Jeannie with us Ron. Despite how horrible it all ended she really was a talented lady. One of the best singers I've ever heard. Her vocals were soooooooo unapologetically soulful but they were sexy at the same time. I'm so glad that she recorded a handful of excellent gems for us to remember he by! Thanks for your review of 'The Phone's Been Jumping All Day' Handsome. I've always found it odd that 'The Phone's Been Jumping All Day' was Jeannie biggest hit but you never hear anything about it. Most people know her only for 'The Fruit Song'. 'The Fruit Song' is a flawless recording IMO with an elaborate production, outstanding vocal performance by Jeannie and wonderful tongue in cheek lyrics. It would have went over BIG TIME if it weren't for the idiots at Casablanca Records that fumbled the ball. Anyone can hear that it's a smash. Handsome, 'The Phone's Been Jumping All Day' must be one hell of a record if you think it sounds better than 'The Fruit Song! I'm anxious to hear it! Thanks again everyone for sharing all of this info on Jeannie's recording career. I can't wait until my funds are a little better this summer and I can afford to go out and buy some of these singles I've never heard by this wonderful vocalist. | ||
Heikki (heikki) 2-Debutant Username: heikki Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 62.248.149.27 |
Hi Ron, and thank you very much for that information. It's really appreciated. All seems to match, since L.J. was born in January 1952 and Jeannie was a couple of years younger. Best regards Heikki | ||
Soul-Brother (soulbrother) 3-Pundit Username: soulbrother Post Number: 49 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.234.156.171 |
Many Biographies/Discographies of the artists featured on my webpage have been easier than others to create. Others have needed help from fellow lovers of our music. The Jeannie Reynolds page was one such project ..after discussions by members of the SoulfulDetroit Forum I have added some of the above info and scans with acknowledgements..if anyone wishes anything to be removed..it will be done without any problem. Check it out and let me know www.soulcellar.co.uk Link: Great Voices |
