By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.89) on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 12:24 pm: |
After corresponding earlier with Steve regards a Chris Clark track,I Thought that I would do an item regards this fine songstress.As always if anything is in-correct,any in-put would be most appreciated.Various info is taken from some clippetts from the great Sharon Davies and yours truly.One of the reasons also for this article is because Chris Clark turned out to be the one and only Connie Clark that Recorded one of the most finest dancers on the british Rare/Northern Soul scene.My Sugar Baby and after hearing it in 1973 at an all-nighter I practically dived off the top balcony of the club to hit the dancefloor.Both sides,vocal and instrumental,truly opened the Key to my happiness on the dancefloor.Okeh lets go,Chris entered her first talent show aged 9.Winning first prize,after this she wanted to pursue a singing career.She entered another contest and won again,she then joined a group but the name ,Im afraid I dont know.Aged 16 she had a soulful voice,enabling to pick up new chords in no time.At college she took to folk singing,which thankfully didnt last long as her gutsy voice in the quiet folk songs didnt work.So she went for the Blues,and perfected a natural style.And her very first major booking was as a nightclub blues singer,which became a regular feature.This enabled her to get other bookings on the circuit.During the summer she worked as a life guard and in the winter months as an Air force maternity ward Nurse,but every evening all year round she kept up her singing appearances.Aged 18,Chris went to L.A.With an instrumental actwhich had a slapstick act.She left the group and alone she went to Seattle,after travelling from club to club,town to town,and group to group she returned to Los Angelas and found herself a manager,who arranged an audition with Motown and eventually things began to happen for her.Her Debut single was on V.I.P.Records,do right baby,do right(25031)which didnt do much for her,but it got people taking an interest in the white girl that could certainly sing.Then she cut Loves gone bad(25038)which was regarded as a masterpiece of its time.(There you go Steve,what do I know about music)But her 3rd track was considered as a classic Motown track,I Wanna go back there again,which in later years was known as the chris clark song.Now well known throughout the record circles as The White Negress.Ater a while she changed labels and went to Motown.Around 1967.Around 1968 she released an album after cutting 3 more singles.The album was called Soul Sounds (stml11069:M664)and this showed everyone what this lady was all about.Later on she recorded for a company called Weed(this may be in-correct)apparantly the sounds she cut were great and very diverse from her Motown days.Which if this is correct,is now a deletion.After all this,around 1970/72 she decided to quit singing.Why she packed in I do not know but this truly great talent surely would of gone on to much greater things.The last that I heard anything about her she was working in the background for Motown,such as organising shows,locations etc.So thats it,What is there to say but,Chris many many thanks for all those great sounds you did record.And if you truly are Connie Clark I will never forget that night when My Sugar Baby hit the Speakers and almost had me preforming as swallow dive from the casino top balcony and ending up in a hospital ward.If anyone knoews Chris or her whereabouts, i for one would appreciate it if she got to know that theres one crazy brit,that still flips when he hears her voice.Thanks for the memories,CHRIS CLARK.mel.
By Common (209.2.55.115) on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 12:44 pm: |
Hello Mel,
Don't forget Chris Clark, along with Suzanne DePase, was nominated for "Lady Sings The Blues" in the best screenplay category. Just my 2 cents! :o)
Peace!
By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.103) on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 01:04 pm: |
Common,many thanks friend.MEL.
By Nish (170.224.224.102) on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 06:51 pm: |
WHOA!!!! Not that Chris Clark isn't one of my favorite singers already, but if she is Connie Clarke singing "MY SUGAR BABY," she has seriously become my IDOL! Prior to this, I never thought it sounded like Miss CC, I mean I never said "hmm... sounds similar to Chris Clark." The timbre of the voice doesn't really fit, but on the other hand it would fit her pattern of interpreting Frank Wilson songs. The mystery of Connie Clark makes for an interesting wild goose chase.
Nevertheless, whether it's Chris Clark's vocals on "My Sugar Baby" or not, she has a great body of work that places her in the cream of the Motown lady crop. My favorites are "Don't Be Too Long" and "I Want To Go Back There Again." I wonder where Ms. Clark is, and if she knows that there are people out here that would DEFINITELY support her if she decided to return to the stage!
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 06:56 pm: |
Nish:
Chris Clark is in Los Angeles working in the film industry. She married a director in the mid 1970s (thus breaking poor Berry Gordy's heart)and left the label soonafter.
KevGo
By Nish (170.224.224.134) on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 07:12 pm: |
Thanks Kevgo.
Poor BG, talk about love gone bad. BAD pun, BAD BAD pun!
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 10:40 am: |
Nish:
Bad pun indeed!
KevGo
By P.J. (204.215.200.202) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 11:21 am: |
Weed was a Motown label. Chris' album (C.C. Rides Again) was the only album issued on Weed. The white label promo of this album boldly reads Weed A trademark of Motown Record Corp. Weed's slogan was 'All you favorite artists are on Weed.' Most of the songs were cover versions of non-Motown hits of the era, although 'Can I See You In the Morning' , 'How About You' and 'You've Made Me So Very Happy' were from the Motown catalogue.
By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.72) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 12:08 pm: |
Many thanks P.J.When I found out about the Weed Label I thought someone was getting mixed up with the herb,rather than the Label.Cheers.MEL.
By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.33) on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 12:25 pm: |
Nish,regards Chris Clark being Connie Clark I read it a while ago in an interview with the mighty Frank Wilson.The tracks this guy alone has done and been involved with is second to none,and what an absolute gem my sugar baby is.I put this right up there with the Robby Lawsons and the Jimmy Macks of this world.MEL.
By M.McLeanTech (66.218.60.128) on Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 05:36 am: |
I remember first time that I met Chris Clark. Berry was utterly excited about her. All I saw was her fantastic hourglass figure. I was going crazy with my X-Ray eyes.
She was very impressive, with her blond hair, like Kim Novak, and her gifted ability to impress, with her beautiful figure.
I stood around the control room when the recording sessions happened. It used to be proper for me to drop in on any session. I took it for granted. I thought nothing of it.
I don't remember what Chris Clark did, during the recording session, because I felt the need to split, and go down stairs and get back to work on the "WHATEVER" project that was in the works.
As usual, sex was all turned upside down in this case of Chris Clark.
Chris Clark was one mind blowing good looking lady! She did things to my loins as did Eliibeth Taylor. She has a monster figure.
Does anyone remember what it felt like to long for a woman, who was right in front of you, wearing a tight black scurt? You knew, as you looked at her figure, that everything that you lusted for was encapsulated in her gown. When that gown was sexy, you were a dead man.
I read all this stuff about deep voice. Hah!
Chris Clark was a drop dead beauty long before she made a recording. I remember: I could not understand How Berry could work with her and be so professional and detached. To me, She was a Kim Novak!
Oh Hell!
Everytime I try to express myself, I make a fool of myself.
It is the hope of the children that we once were, and now they have made fools of us all, as they seek our help, that we pray that the Kim Novac like qualities of Chris Clark can be remembered. As far as the voice is concerned, I will take Ketty Lester, with her "Love Letters" in an instant.
It just blows my mind that a lady that had such a fantastic body, Etc. would have such an image of being a blues singer.
What is the difference between a blues singer and a symphony concert?
It depends on the conductor.
Mike
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 03:03 pm: |
Mike:
Thank you for the VERY detailed story of Chris Clark. I remember seeing the picture of her in the Hitsville USA boxed set and reading about her in Berry's autobiography - she definitely gave Kim Novak, Dusty Springfield & May Britt (remember her?) a run for the money! Last I read she got married and is working in the film industry - would you have any updated info on her? Thanks!
KevGo
By wk (12.27.0.104) on Thursday, December 12, 2002 - 04:22 pm: |
old thread but i thought i'd add this funny tidbit: weed records was a little known motown subsidiary that only released one record, the chris clark lp. supposedly their motto was 'your favorite artists are on weed'.
By TonyRussi (68.18.34.83) on Friday, December 13, 2002 - 03:48 pm: |
Where is Chris Clark from?I had the 45's "Do Right Baby" & "Loves Gone Bad" & I don't beleive I knew she was white until I got the LP.I Just bought the 45's cause they were MOTOWN.
By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, December 13, 2002 - 04:09 pm: |
I love the stories about Berry Gordy and Chris Clark. Supposedly he was "seeing" her at the time he was going with Diana Ross. I was told a hysterical story (by someone I cannot mention) of Diana visiting Berry while he was with Chris and Chris having to hide in a closet while Diana was there.
By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.31) on Friday, December 13, 2002 - 04:50 pm: |
The lucky so and so.........
By John R. (152.163.188.68) on Sunday, December 15, 2002 - 09:49 am: |
Tony:
I believe Chris Clark is from California.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 04:07 pm: |
Cleo:
That Berry...what a sly dog...
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 05:31 pm: |
I was in L.A. on business for Motown once and had to go to Chris's house in the Hollywood Hills. Quite the pad that Berry bought her.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 11:36 am: |
Ralph:
Tell us more! Tell us more!
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 01:14 pm: |
Kevin,
To tell you the truth I don't remember much about it. I don't even remember why I was up there that day. I remember the house was quite nice though. You have to give Berry his props. He treated his women well.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 03:42 pm: |
Ralph:
If only I had Berry's black book...
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 06:21 am: |
I have thoroughly strained my eyes looking at that teeny picture of Chris on the "Cellarful Of Motown" CD sleeve. Her cut on Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You" is one of the strongest tracks of the 40 song set. To have been left in the Motown vaults all these years is a head scratcher indeed; it sounds so much like a hit record. Does anyone have a picture of Chris that they could post here? I know that all the guys on the forum would REALLY appreciate it!
By LG Nilsson (213.89.29.210) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 03:08 pm: |
OK Guys & Dolls here she comes in full color...
Does anyone know if "I Want To Go Back There Again" is released on any CD. I have got the 45 and the "Soul Sounds" album, but i have never seen the track on any CD yet... (Want it for the radio station)
PS If you want to listen to "The Monday Soul Party" at VINYL 107 in Stockholm... it just started, local time 9.00pm. At 11.45pm you can hear Frank Wilson - "Do I Love You"... VINYL 107 Just press the "Lyssna Live" button and lean back..
Lars
By soulie dave uk (62.254.64.5) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 03:35 pm: |
Wow! No wonder she broke Berry's heart when she left Motown. Thanks for sharing the picture.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 03:36 pm: |
Boy, what a beauty...damn, Berry had good taste...
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By Edgar (200.46.12.41) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 03:38 pm: |
Footlight Records sells the bootleg Marginal CD made in Belgium called "Soul Sounds", which includes the album and tracks from "CC Rides Again". The sound is not good, but if you care for, well, it was there a couple of weeks ago...
By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 04:18 pm: |
Thanks LG, definately Kim Novak-ish. Yowsa!
By Deke (12.229.234.28) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 11:52 am: |
Well, since the Chris Clark project is still fairly clear in 'Cellar Of Memories", I'll go there next on my thread. I'll try to get it started this weekend. It's a fun story.
Easy,
Deke
By stephanie (199.183.160.139) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 02:23 pm: |
Loves Gone Bad ...Bad taste in my mouth!!!!!!
Stephanie
By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 12:59 pm: |
I love her hair!
By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 04:57 pm: |
yeah, when that photo was taken, Dusty Springfield was walking around bald and mighty pissed off!
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 05:13 pm: |
Stephanie:
Do I detect a bit of jealousy here? A shade of green that could match a dollar bill? What did poor Ms. Clark ever do to make you feel this way?
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By stephanie (207.94.145.239) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 05:26 pm: |
Oh Kev
Im not jealous of Chris Clark at all I was just joking!!!! Im not a big fan of hers but I do like Loves Gone Bad and I dont think its top ten material but definitely top 40. I know I may get slammed for this but I dont think she's a great singer. Dusty Springfield can blow her away at anytime.
Now I will say this if HDH was writing her stuff and she had been pushed she could have been what the brits call Dusty Springfield
'the white negress of Motown'
Stephanie
By Kris Peterson (68.32.81.180) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 05:47 pm: |
Guys-
Didn't Chris Clark have something to do with the movie "Lady Sings The Blues"? I saw her name on the credits.Kris Peterson
By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 06:38 pm: |
She and Suzanne de Passe co-wrote the script.