By MEL&THEN SOME9 (195.219.7.69) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

Progressing from the back rooms of Joe Van Battles and Bernie Besmans premises,
And also the R&B of Devorah Browns Fortune Label,
Lets go to the Lupine Record Label owned by Robert West and from this label emerged Wilson Pickett.

Wilson Pickett was born in Pratville,Ala,on march 18th 1941.
He and his family moved to Detroit when he was in his early teenage years.Here he continued singing Gospel music both in groups and as a soloist.His reputation began to spread and reached the ears of the then leader of the group The Falcons,Willie Schofield.

Willie got Wilson to join the Falcons late in 1961.
It was early in 1962 that Wilsons gospel wailing was to combine with Robert Wards piercing guitar to the record of 'I Found a Love'which shot into the hot 100 and the R&B top 10-pure church sound.
The band supporting him were the Ohio Untouchables who were later to be re-named as the Ohio Players.

A couple more Lupine 45s were similar being raw in its sound.But they lacked the cohesion of the above hit,so Wilson was to go on a solo venture on the Correc-Tone label.

Unfortunatley for Wilson he was to be cut on a pair of indifferent items,titled 'Let me be your boy'with 'My heart belongs to you' on the flip.Although I personally rate 'Let me be your boy'and still have it on a M.G.M.(UK)label,it didnt go down to well.And it was released on 3 different labels:
Correc-Tone Records(no.501).
Verve Records(no.10378).
Cub Records(no.9113).

This was due to the fact that M.G.M.had bought the master.

It was after this that Wilson returned to the group The Falcons,who had now joined the Atlantic Record fold.
He joined up with Eddie Floyd,Joe Stubbs,Mack Rice and Ben Night for the rest of the year of 1962.

This is all I know (more or less)regards Wilson Pickett's Detroit beginnings,as after this he went solo again to record on the Double L Label owned by Lloyd Price and Harold Logan.

After the Label folded Wilson went back to record for Atlantic,this was around 1964.

I would appreciate any info regards anything else that relates to Wilson Picketts early days in Detroit.
(All info from old material etc and apologise for any errors)
Many Thanks
Mel(andthensome).

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 08:33 pm:

I believe that Robert West was Eddie Floyd's uncle. West had Flick, Contour and Lu Pine.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.69) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 08:36 pm:

Fury13
many thanks for that,appreciated.
mel.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.74) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

Mel,

I have got some Falcons & Wilson Pickett stuff on Lu-Pine. There are five different Detroit addresses and one Las Vegas address on the labels! They seem to have moved along a lot! This Wilson Pickett solo release has the Vegas address.



I have also got the original Corret-Tone you have got on UK MGM. It looks like this if you haven't seen it yet.



The Falcons also did some great recordings on the Big Wheel label. I am not sure if Wilson was with them at the time.

Here's my favorite Falcons release. Pure Motown magic!



Anybody here know more about this Falcons recording? Lead singer? Musicians? Producer? Arranger? Recording studio? Time of recording and release? The label doesn't tell it all to say the least...

Lars

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.83) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 02:48 pm:

Lars,
Total Magic Scans(andthensome).
I used to have the above Falcons 45 also,along with 'you talk to much' by Eddie(cant recall name)always forgetting it.
And I am sure I had Betty Lavette on Big Wheel(no.?)I think it was around the 1969ish number.As well as Betty on Lupine,which I may still have upstairs.
The Labels look un-touched Lars.
Fantastic stuff,
many thanks for your time,
Mel.

By RD (63.188.33.187) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 02:57 pm:

The Falcons on Big Wheel were originally the Fabulous Playboys (Daco, Apollo and Contour Records) the last names of the members are credited as songwriters on "I'm a Fool (I Must Love You)." Carlis Munro, who later sang with 100 Proof Aged in Soul, was their lead singer. This same lineup first recorded on Federal Records as the Ramblers. Info courtesy of Soul Harmony Singles.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.74) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 03:01 pm:

Mel,

Eddie King is his name... and I have not seen Betty Lavette on Big Wheel... but on Lu Pine... yes! Her name is spelled Betty Lavett without the ending "e" on my Lu Pine 123.

... and thanks RD for the info on Falcons on Big Wheel.

Lars

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 03:02 pm:

If memory serves me correct, "I'm a Fool.." is the later incarnation of the Falcons - including Carlis "Sonny" Monroe, James Gibson, Alton Holowell and Johnny Alvin. As I understand it, the original group disbanded in 1963 and (I believe) Robert West owned the 'Falcons' name, so (George Treadwell-style?) he recruited a new line-up to fill the vacancy.

By Marc Forrest (145.243.194.67) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 09:26 am:

"Tears In Vain/Holding On" is the title of Betty Lavettes Big Wheel 45.

By Mark Speck (64.156.66.159) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 12:41 am:

According to the liner notes of one of the Detroit Gold LPs that Solid Smoke released many years ago, the Big Wheel Falcons went on to become the Firestones, who recorded a couple of sides for Carla.

Best,

Mark

By acooolcat (61.30.125.2) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 09:12 am:

That's true Mark, but I'm pretty sure the Firestones' 45 was released on the Moira label, not Carla.
Graham

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 09:22 am:

Congratulations to Wilson Pickett. He is 62 years young today, March 18! We are playing his music all day at VINYL 107 in Stockholm, Sweden!

Lars

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:03 am:

Yes,

One 45 on Moira:

Moira 102 A Firestones "I Just Can't Wait"
Moira 102 B Firestones "Buy Now Pay Later Plan"

Lars

By David Meikle (213.122.212.14) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 03:59 am:

Lars

Can your station be picked up on the WorldWideWeb?

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 05:08 am:

I was persuaded some 30 years ago by Keith Rylatt to buy that Falcon's 45 "I'm A Fool (I Must Love you)" with Tony Clark's "A Wrong Man". Best 75p I have ever spent in my life!!

"Tears In Vain" on Betty credits Clarence Paul - which is why I bought it...known from the version on the ex-little to the then now-big Stevie Wonder

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 05:59 am:

David,

There's no problem to listen to the station on the Worldwide Web... Listen live to the number one Swedish oldies radio station! Just click on the "Lyssna Live" button under the title-streaming window on the VINYL 107 site.

You will hear, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Supremes, CCR, Elvis Presley, Four Tops and all other great artists from the "golden era". Our slogan is "VINYL 107 - The best music from the 60's".

Every Monday evening, local time 9.00pm (21.00) to 12.00pm (24.00) is Monday Soul Party! Then you can even hear "Do I Love You" by Frank Wilson, "A Bird In The Hand" by The Velvelettes, "In The Basement" by Sugar Pie DeSanto & Etta James, "Stop" by Howard Tate and lot's of other stuff we normally don't play.

The DJ's speak Swedish and the website is in Swedish... so you are in for a big challenge... but if you are patient enough you will even find a picture of me...

VINYL 107 Website

Oldies forever

Lars

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 06:06 am:

Lars

You play "A Bird in the Hand".....count me in!

Yeah yeah yeah

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 06:20 am:

John,

I know you are a big Velvelettes fan. I have got the UK CD with four more tracks than the US copy! Great Motown compilation! So now I am waiting for "The Complete Satintones" Motown CD... and Elgins... Eric & The Vikings... and a "Complete Falcons" would be great too!

Lars

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.14) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 09:03 am:

John,
I'll give you a pound for the Tony Clark(hee,hee)
many thanks to everyone for the great info.
And all the best to 'the wicked pickett' on his birthday.
Mel.

By anne (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 09:22 am:

The falcons-Vocal group from detroit. Eddie Floyd,Mack Rice/Joe Stubbs (brother of Four Tops member Levi Stubbs and Willie Schofield. Wilson
Pickett join the Falcons in 1961.Just to give
credit where due.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 09:52 am:

I'M RIGHT PROUD OF YA MEL,EVEN MY MULES ARE A SMILIN BOUT THIS ONE YESSIR THAT PICKETT FELLER HE HAD HIM A FEW BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS YESSIR,YER DONE DID GOOD MEL,YER DONE DID GOOD.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.81) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 01:59 pm:

SSccHHuuucccks R&B,
Yerrr to darn'tootin' Kind!
lawdy miss clawdy,
now ahm'a gonna have a slug o'tha' hooch
an'toast to ya R&B,yessirree'bob.