By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

One of the greatest labels to come out of Detroit
in the late 60's, that I love til this day is the Hot Wax / Invictus label. My favorite are too
many but I'll named them anyway, lol.

1) Everything Good Is Bad- 100 Proof
2) Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed - 100 Proof
3) I've Come To Save You - 100 Proof
4) She's Not Just Another Woman - 8th Day
5) I Can't Fool Myself- 8th Day ( B Side)
6) You've Got To Crawl Before You Walk- 8th Day
7) It's Instrumental To Be Free- 8th Day (B Side)\
8) Free Your Mind - The Politicians (same as
Instrumental to be free)
9) Stop The World And Let Me Off- The Flaming
Ember
10)Westbound 9#- The Flaming Ember
11)Mind, Body & Soul- The Flaming Ember
12)Band Of Gold- Freda Payne
13)The Easiest Way To Fall- Freda Payne
14)Deeper And Deeper- Freda Payne
15)Unhooked Generation- Freda Payne
16)Bring The Boys Home - Freda Payne
17)Stick Up- The Honey Cone
18)V.I.P.- The Honey Cone
19)Want Ads- The Honey Cone
20)Don't Count Your Chickens- Honey Cone
21)Why Can't We Be Lovers- Holland-Dozier-Holland (really Lamont Dozier)
22)You Got Me Dangling On A String- Chairman of
The Board
23)Chairman of The Board- Chairman of The Board
24)Give Me Just A Little More Time- Chairman of
The Board
25)Finders Keepers- Chairman of The Board
26)Everybody's Got A Song To Sing- Chairman of
The Board
27)Working On A Building of Love- Chairman of The
Board
28)The Day I Found Myself- Honey Cone
29)Crumbs Off The Table- Glass House
30)While Your Out Looking For Sugar- Honey Cone
31)One Man's Leftover Is Another Man's Feast-
100 Proof
32)Too Many Cooks Spoil The Soup- 100 Proof
33)Bless You- Chairman Of The Board
34)Girls It Ain't Easy- Honey Cone
35)Rock Me In The Cradle- Freda Payne
36)Woman's Love Rights- Laura Lee
37)Rip Off - Laura Lee
38)Crumbs Off The Table- Laura Lee
39)Since I Fell For You- Laura Lee
40)Everything's Tuesday- Chairman Of The Board

This all I could think of.

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

Do any Soulful Detroiters have any favorite
Hot Wax / Invictus songs from the label ?????

Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:28 pm:

When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me- Chairmen of the Board (B side)
Breakdown & Come In out of The Rain - Parliament (Steve Mancha guest vocals)

Thats a pretty thourough list ya got there, I'm an Invictus/Hot Wax fan myself

SteveK.

By ErikT.O. (64.228.114.159) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

8th Day 'See The Light' & it's semi-instrumental b-side... 100 Proof 'Too Many Cooks', 'Baby Don't Leave Me' (also 8th Day? I have it on an Invictus comp cd which is excellent, 'Progressively Funky'... Cheba- by the Politicians? dang mem'ry...

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

Thanks Steve !

Take care,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

The Honey Cone - "Want Ads" & "Stick UP"
Freda Payne - "Band Of Gold"
Flaming Ember - "Mind Body & Soul", "Westbound #9"

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 07:45 pm:

I'm on my way to a better place/Chairman of the Board. Just something about it......

By MotownForever (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 08:29 pm:

Great thread Mike. Invictus/Hot Wax & Music Merchant are probably my 2nd favorite labels (right behind Motown of course!). Without trying to repeat the wonderful selections you've listed, here were some of my other favs from the I/HW/MM labels:

Not Enough Love To Satisfy - 100 Proof
Are You Man Enough, Are You Strong Enough - Honey Cone
Something New About You - Silent Majority
It's Better To Have Loved & Lost - Honey Cone
New Breed Kinda Woman - Holland & Dozier
Love Factory - Eloise Laws
Mama's Little Baby Loves Lovin' - Brotherly Love
You've Got The Love - Jus' Brothers
We've Got To Find A Way Back To Love - Freda Payne
If I Can't Fly - Honey Cone
Slipping Away - Holland-Dozier
Sittin' On A Time Bomb - Lee Charles
Can't Get Enough Of You - Tyrone Edwards
I'm So Glad - Brian Holland
90 Day Freeze (On Her Love) - 100 Proof
Cherish What Is Dear To You - Freda Payne
Don't Leave Me Starvin' For Your Love - Holland-Dozier
Driveway - 100 Proof
Eeny Meeny Miney Mo - 8th Day
Pay To The Piper - Chairman Of The Board
I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore - Tyrone Edwards
I Shall Not Be Moved - Barrino Brothers
I'm Not My Brother's Keeper - Flaming Ember
If You Want To Try Love Again (Remember Me)- Laura Lee
Livin' High Off The Goodness Of Your Love - Barrino Brothers
Love Machine - Politicians
Love & Liberty - Laura Lee
Mother Misery's Favorite Child - Freda Payne
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - Honey Chile
Playing Games - Glass House
Stay With Me - Eloise Laws
Stealing Moments From Another Woman's Life - Glass House
Take Me With You - Honey Cone
The Day You Leave - Smith Connection
Things Will Be Better Tomorrow - Jus' Brothers
Through The Memory Of My Mind - Freda Payne
Trapped In A Love - Barrino Brothers
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right - Freda Payne
V.I.P. - Scherrie Payne
Wedlock Is A Padlock - Laura Lee
Well Worth Waitin' For Your Love - Barrino Brothers
Why Can't We Be Lovers - Lamont Dozier
Women Can't Live By Bread Alone - Honey Cone
You Brought The Joy - Freda Payne
You're The Only Bargain I Got - Jones Girls
You've Been My Rock - Warlock
Somebody's Always Messin' Up A Good Thing - Honey Cone

By RD (63.188.33.69) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 08:31 pm:

Y'all missed "Frightened Girl" by Silent Majority.

By dvdmike (12.84.12.110) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 08:35 pm:

The Silent Majority also recorded as The Formations & The Corner Boys. The group members were Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellmon, Victor Drayton and Reginald "Buddy" Turner. Together, they wrote a number of songs, most notably, "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You".

By stephanie (204.30.139.157) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 09:07 pm:

I LOVE Dont Leave Me Starvin for your Love that record got a lot of play in Washington DC it should have been a much bigger hit!!!! There is a group that sounded like the Flaming Ember does anyone remember them they had a minor hit with a song called Waiting Line and their name was Spyders Gang.

My mom used to play Westbound number 9 every weekend when she had too much of the bubbly..LOL
Now that I think about it she had a lot of 45's on the Invictus label I guess she knew good music and didnt know a thing about Detroit.
Stephanie

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 09:51 pm:

Hello everyone. Those records bring back memories because I played guitar on most of them. We recorded some of them at Tera Shirma but we did a lot of them at the Tower Theatre Studios owned by HDH on Grand River and Meyers. I used to record two sessions at Motown during the day, play two hours at their Producers Workshop and then head over to Tower Studios for sessions that began at 9:30pm or 10:00pm. Those were the days. I really enjoyed working for HDH. They knew how to write great songs and produce great records.

Dennis

By recordboyusa (67.34.73.196) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 11:40 pm:

Lots of faves on the labels, but if I had to pick just one, it would be......

"SHADES OF GREEN" by the Flaming Ember.

Jerry Plunk NAILED it.


Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By Mark Speck (65.56.216.208) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 12:32 am:

Everything I could think of has been mentioned. I'll add "Sliced Tomatoes" by the Just Brothers and "The Music Box" by Ruth Copeland.

Best,

Mark

By RD (63.188.33.218) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 01:16 am:

DvdMike, the Formations included Eddie Brooks who dropped out when Atkins, Bellmon, Turner and Drayton became the Corner Boys then Silent Majority and Hot Ice.

By John Lester (217.41.77.188) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 02:30 am:

Motown Forever....Tyrone Edwards-I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore? Where do you have that? Do you mean Ty Hunter in Glass House? This is an under rated classic that just got lost - one of my all time favourite songs.

May I remind Soulful Detroiters that Brenda Holloway recorded enough material for an album at Invictus. Keep your fingers crossed for a release!

Let me add -
I Dont See Me In Your Eyes Anymore-Glass House or Brotherly Love
Tricked and Trapped by a Trick Trapper/I Can't Find Myself/Elmo James/So Glad You're Mine - Chairmen of the Board
All the King's Horse/Better To Have Loved And Lost - Honey Cone
Get Your House in Order- Lee Charles
If I Could See The Light/One's Man's Leftovers /Somebody's been Sleeping-100 Proof
Robot In A Robot's World/I'm Not My Brothers's Keeper- Flaming Ember
Everything Good Is Bad-Politicians/100 Proof
Don't Let It Rain On Me - Scherrie Payne via Glass House
Only Bargain I've Got/Come Back/- Jones Girls
The Fox - Glass House..the lovely Scherrie Payne yet again
The whole of the "Contact" album by Freda Payne was a masterpiece and the General Johnson LP was just as good.

By Livonia Ken (206.148.224.164) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 07:01 am:

Most of my favorites have been listed. I will go on record as prefering the Laura Lee version of "Crumbs off the Table" over the better known Glass House version. The tracks a bit funkier, and when Ms. Lee asks "What you been doin'/Who You been wooin'", I feel strangely compelled to answer and beg for mercy.

Regards,
Ken

By TonyRussi (68.18.226.42) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 08:20 am:

I also loved the Hot Wax/Invictus/Music Merchant labels.My record collection is filled with thos 45's & quite a few of the LPs. I loved "Love Machine" by McKinley Jackson & the Politicians, it was actually a hit here in Orlando and I really dig "90 Day Freeze" 100 Proof.One of my very favorite tracks is "I Don't Need Nothing Old(But Money)" by Laura Lee & Ken I also prefer the Laura Lee version of "Crumbs off the Table" which I think was done quite a bit later then the Glass House(Scherrie Payne) track.All the singers, muscians, producers & writers were wonderfully talented people and I so wanted them to succeed & take Detroit to the next level.

By R&B (138.238.41.145) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 08:28 am:

SHE'S NOT JUST ANOTHER WOMAN IS ONE OF THE FUNKIEST JAMS OF ALL TIME,AND WANT ADS JUST MAKES ME WANNA DANCE!

By Rich (162.33.235.220) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 08:55 am:

Unbelieveable, Y'all forget the greatest Invictus cut of All-Time, hands down - IMHO: The Life & Death suite (w/White Rose-Life&Death-Morning Glory) by Chairman of the Board. Matter of fact that's one of the greatest albums cuts by anybody anywhere, period!

Other great ones include:
Crumbs Off the Table / You Can't Beat My Rockin / I Need It Bad as You - Laura Lee

Finders Keepers / Skin I'm In / Party All Night Long - Chairman of the Board

The Good Book - 8th Day

Hijack Ya / Lady By Day - Holland-Dozier

I'm Bugging Your Phone - Smith Connection

Mother Misery - Freda Payne

The entire Osmium Album + Come in Out of the Rain / Red Hot Mama / Breakdown - Parliament

Bar-B-Que Ribs - "I forget the name"

& Most of the Politicians album (I forget the song titles)

Peace

By BCNYC (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 09:34 am:

Did anyone mention "Girls It Ain't Easy" by the Honey Cone? It was used in one of the deepest film placements I've ever seen -- "Mi Vida Loca," a heartbreaking film about West Coast female gangs. Brilliant, true, perfect choice.

And just have to say that 8th Day's "You've Got to Crawl" would have done Sam and Dave or Wilson Pickett proud. Especially the way they call for the breakdown in the story line of the lyric. Textbook songwriting, right there.

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.101) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 09:47 am:

A great yet to be mentioned ballad is 100 Proof Aged in Soul's "Since You've Been Gone". Another great Steve Mancha vocal and a nice little solo bass spot in the middle.

Regards,
Ken

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 09:54 am:

Rich;
Good choices - that Chairmen of the Board album really holds together well. Most of Osmium, too.

Steve K

By Eli (151.197.38.252) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 10:36 am:

My personal faves are:

Im not my brothers keeper
Westbound #9
Crumbs off the table
Lovin on borrowed time (F. Payne)
Band of gold
Want ads
Stick up
One monkey dont stop no show
While youre out looking for sugar
Patches

By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 11:30 am:

Chancellor:

I love Freda Payne's "Cherish What is Dear to You While It's Near to You." After all these years, I can still sing that song. Invictus was an incredible label. Although to be honest, at times I was not always fond of some of the mixes on some of the hits to come out of the company. I always wondered how some of the songs would have sounded had they had Motown's best mixers and engineers. Just my opinion and some of the great people on this forum may disagree.

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 11:50 am:

As mentioned before on a previous Invictus session we had on the forum, there is a piano that does not sound right, on many of their records. I think I grilled it to death a few months ago. However, I am still fascinated at their material and output. There should be an Invictus roadshow..immediately!

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 12:50 pm:

Hey Cleo,
I would love to hear you sing Freda's, "Cherish
What Is Dear To You". Her "Contact" LP is an
absolute smoker !!! The two mixes that I'm
disapointed in was, "Want Ads", "Deeper And
Deeper", and " One Monkey Don't Stop No Show".
The LP mixes of these songs, are what I'm
refering to. I much perfer, the mono 45 mixes,
because they have more punch to em'. The funny
thing too was the song, " She's Not Just Another
Woman", featured on the 100 Proof LP, "Somebody's
Been Sleeping". When released in early 1971 as a
single, it was by the 8th Day, instead of the
100 Proof !!! I thought that was so weird.
But all-n-all, the Hot Wax / Invictus LP's are
all smokers !!!!

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)
www.chancellorofsoul.com

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 03:33 pm:

What, nobody mentioned Tyrone Edwards' brilliant
"Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" !

Does anybody know who he is ? - it seems to be his only record and it's a stunner.

In terms of great tracks compared to number of
tracks released I've a feeling Hot Wax / Invictus
has an even higher standard than mighty Motown
itself - I've nearly everything on the labels
and it's hard to find a bad track.

Hot Wax freaks who don't know the albums should check out Greg Perry's solo albums on Casablanca
and RCA - great stuff !

By TonyRussi (68.18.226.42) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 03:39 pm:

"Too Many Cooks..." & "Ive Come To Save You" by 100 Proof sound like different tracks then the same songs by 8th Day....are the members interchangeable ect. I thought Joe Stubbs was lead on 100 Proof?

By MotownForever (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 07:39 pm:

John Lester:

Oops! - I meant to type Ty Hunter instead of Tyrone Edwards on "I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore." I get too excited when it comes to Motown & I/HW/MM! :o)

By RD (63.188.33.252) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 08:18 pm:

Steve Mancha and Joe Stubbs sang lead for 100 Proof. "She's Not Just Another Woman" featured Steve Mancha on lead and was recorded and first released on 100 Proof Aged In Soul's debut album. 100 Proof...had a hit on the charts "Somebody's Been Sleeping" and people at Invictus/Hot Wax thought "She's not...was a hit and too hot to keep under wraps so they put the song out as by 8th Day who didn't even exist at the time. Melvin Davis, a solo act with Invictus, was recruited for the group along with others as the song was running up the chart.

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 06:50 am:

These are very interesting lists. I only recognize about half the cuts you guys are putting up here. Now I practically grew up with Chairman Of The Board; General Johnson and crew may have been from Georgia but we always considered them a Carolina show band and I've seen their great stage show many times. Just a few months ago, in the used CD bin of my local record store, I found "Holland Dozier Holland Solid Gold Vol.2" that includes other artists and cuts that have been listed above. The quality of this material is very high; cuts like "One Monkey.." I remember from the radio but others are brand new to me.

Maybe you Invictus lovers can suggest where I should go next in catching up--"HDH Solid Gold Vol. 1" sounds like a good idea if it's still in print. In fact I like the idea of some sort of compilation to get an overview of the label's artists since so much of this is unfamiliar material to me. All informed suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 09:11 am:

Nobody seems to know anything about Lee Charles (Neely). As well as recording for the likes of Mercury/Blue Rock ("Standin On The Outside" being a classic), Bamboo (more classic sides), Wand, Brunswick (?) & HW/Invictus, he was also employed as a member of Jerry Butler's writers workshop.

Someone who had such a high profile in the biz in Chicago & then Detroit can't have disappeared (he died a few years back apparently) without leaving at least some info about himself.

Anybody here know anything ??

By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.101) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 10:20 am:

John,
Those HDH Solid Gold releases are some of the better sounding CDs of Invictus/Hot Wax stuff I have heard. They are not exactly a complete overview of the hits (some of the bigger ones like "Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed" are left off), but they offer a good cross section of the various artists (no Parliament, though). They were mastered for CD by John Matousek, who was the credited mastering engineer on what seemed like the first billion or so Motown CDs in the 80s.

Regards,
Ken

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 11:28 am:

Hey Gang:

I remember seeing Mi Vida Loca years ago and Brian Chin is right - their use of "Girls It Ain't Easy" in the burial scene at the end was indeed poignant. Which brings me to what I consider to be one of the best albums Invictus/Hot Wax released - the Honey Cone's "Soulful Tapestry." This record brings back so many memories of my childhood from the early 1970s & remember seeing the Honey Cone on American Bandstand perform "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show." The album featured the big hits "Want Ads", "Stick Up" ("...boom-boom-shaka-lacka-bomp-bomp-bomp-bomp...")and "One Monkey.." Great record which deserves its own CD release.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By TonyRussi (68.18.226.42) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 03:04 pm:

"Unhooked Generation" by Freda Payne was the 1st Invictus 45 I bought(Thats still my fave Freda track)& "Girls It Ain't Easy" by Honey Cone was the 1st Hot Wax 45 I bought.My faves by Honey Cone are "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" & "Sitting On a Time Bomb" Great 70's SOUL.I sold my Barrino Brothers LP to a guy in Japan for BIG bucks.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 03:46 pm:

Tony:
"Sittin' On A Time Bomb" was indeed the bomb!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By brown9165 (63.10.157.114) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 06:48 pm:

Hi, Dennis who played with you on the invictus
hotwax session. They were great sessions.

By TonyRussi (68.18.226.42) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 09:35 am:

Hey Dennis Coffey, the guitars were always super bad on those Invictus/Hot Wax tracks...I'm sure its you on the Laura Lee stuff...right?Does anyone know who the female background singers were on most of the sessions, especially "You've Got To Save Me" by Laura Lee.?

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:22 am:

brown ;
If you click on one of the "Archives Past" or "Old", there's an "Invictus: thread. Bob Babbitt details the session musicians.

Steve K.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.29) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:03 am:

I dig everything by The Chairman of the Board,my fave being ''Chairman of the board''not sure if that was on Invictus?
My fave Hot Wax track is ''one mans leftovers,is another mans feast''.
I liked Love factory by Eloise Laws on Music Merchant,and also Sliced Tomatoes,(thanks for the wake up call Davie G.)and thanks to Davie am starting to listen to there various other sides.
As Steve mentions above,theres a good Invictus thread in the archives where a few of us mention all the outstanding artists involved.
Mel.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 03:15 pm:

Tony,

The Jones Girls were used as studio backup singers at Hot Wax / Invictus but I've no idea
exactly which tracks they're on.

By TonyRussi (68.18.226.42) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

Thanks Davie, I have the Jones Girls 45 on Music Merchant "Come Back". I just love the backgrounds on that Laura Lee track "You've Got To Save Me" kinda sounds like a choir & could be 'cause Laura Lee was very active in gospel(and still is I think).

By Mark Speck (65.57.16.101) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 02:49 am:

John, when did Lee Charles ever record for Mercury/Blue Rock? "Standing On the Outside" was done for the Revue label.

Best,

Mark

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

Mark,

Can't say I remember Lee Charles ever being on
Blue Rock - I'll check when I get home.

Are you maybe thinking of Bamboo ? - that was
distributed by Mercury.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.205.79) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 05:40 pm:

Hi everyone. I remember some of the funk brothers playing on the Tera Shirma Sessions but at Tower Studios, I remember Sylvester on Keyboards, Zack on Drums, Jerry on Congos, Peanut on bass, Ray Parker, and myself on guitars. I also remember Mackinnly Jackson and Tony Camillo doing arrangements. There were probably others, but these are the ones I remember at this time.

Dennis

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 02:11 am:

RE: Lee Charles; I was mixing up the red Mercury label with the red Revue label.

Too many other Chicago artists on Mercury / Blue Rock and I just went into 'automatic' mode. My mistake.

Anyone know much of anything about him ???
I was listening to a 70's LP from Jackie Wilson this weekend and that contains a song co-written by Lee (and some by Sam Dees) -- THE voice exercising on great songs, what perfection.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 09:43 am:

Tony,

I played "You've Got To Save Me" to refresh my memory - I see what you mean about a "choir".

You're right - the backups on that track are in fact by the Meditation Singers the gospel group
Laura sang with before she went "secular". I
think the group's leader was Laura's adopted
mother but I'm no gospel expert.

If I remember rightly HDH let Laura sing on one
of their early seventies albums and to return the
favour the group sang backup on "... Save Me"

By TonyRussi (68.18.226.42) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 10:34 am:

Thanks Davie.I always thought the backgrounds on that track sounded different.That and "Touch Me Jesus" by Darlene Love & the Blossoms are my favorite gospel recordings.

By Mark Speck (65.58.50.97) on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 10:37 pm:

Bamboo was distributed by Scepter/Wand. The other Gene Chandler-owned label, Mr. Chand, was distributed by Mercury.

As for Lee Charles, it seems to be a mystery about the guy--if he did anything prior to his debut on Dakar or after the last-known song of his on Invictus. Fortunately, he left us with a legacy of great tunes.

Best,

Mark

By Greg C. (209.71.79.216) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Under My Wings-Smith Connection (The Best!!!)
Let Love Flow-Brenda Holloway
Who's It Gonna Be?-Honey Cone
Living High Off The Goodness Of Your Love-Barrino Brothers
I Need It Just As Bad You-Laura Lee
Mama's Little Baby Loves Lovin'-Brotherly Love
I've Been A Winner, I've Been A Loser, I've Been In Love-Smith Connection
You've Got The Love To Make Me Over-Just Brothers
Come Back-Jones Girls
Cherish What Is Dear To You (While It's near To You)-Freda Payne
Mother Misery's Favorite Child-Freda Payne
Everything Good Is Bad-100 Proof (Aged In Soul)
Since I Fell For You-Laura Lee
Everybody's Tippin-Danny Woods
Men Are Getting Scarce-Chairmen of the Board
V.I.P.-Scherrie Payne
Suddenly It's Yesterday-Freda Payne
Hypontic Music-Harrison Kennedy

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 01:25 am:

Isn't "Ive Come To Save You" the track that sounds more like an old Groovesville Steve Mancha cut than an Invictus recording (the cut I am thinkin of was used as the B side to a UK Hot Wax (?) 45, but my brain is mush these days so I may be mixing tracks up).

By Marc (213.224.83.134) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

I have several records on the Hot-wax label
but my favorite is "Crumbs on the table" by Laura Lee