By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 02:28 pm:

ANY INFO ON LEOLA JILES. SHE HAD SINGLES ON WARNER BROS., A&M.

There is a Leola & Lovejoys on Tiger "It's mighty nice". Is this the same Leola.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 03:52 pm:

Soulpuss,

She was the lead singer for the Apollas who had
about eight singles between 65 - 68 on Loma and
Warner Brothers.

I doubt there's any connection with Leola and the
Lovejoys - they seem to have been an East Coast
group while all the Apollas records are from
L.A.

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Thanks Davie you cleared up an old mystery of mine.

By recordboyusa (67.34.73.196) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 12:01 am:

Leola was a goddess! "Under The Influence Of Love". "Mr. Creator", "Lock Me In Your Heart". "You're Absolutely Right", "Open The Door Fool" etc.

Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 06:15 am:

Hi Recordboyusa: Thanks for the Limestoner link. Where on this link could I find more info on Leola Jiles. I just had a brief glance. It looks very, very interesting.

By Brother Love (12.65.120.127) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 04:09 pm:

Just to set the record straight Leola Jiles is the same Leola with The Love Joys. Her first single was "He Ain't No Angel/Wait 'Round The Corner", released as Tiger 101 in 1963. The second single issued was "It's Mighty Nice/Payin'(For The Wrong I've Done", Tiger 105 and released in 1964. The first single was issued under the name Leola & The Love Joys while the second came out under the name The Love Joys. All four of these tracks can be found on the CD Leiber & Stoller Present The Daisy/Tiger Records Story issued this year on the US label Sundazed 11080. It's a shame that in the liner notes the writer did not identify Leola as the same Leola who recorded with The Apollas, as well as a solo recording artist, but then people who write liner notes don't always know all the facts. As a member of The Apollas there were eight singles issued on the Loma/WB labels as well as the solo single "Keep It Coming/Why Was I Born", WB 7015 in 1967. She also recorded a very soulful ballad that was never released called "I've Got Use To Loving You", WB Demo 15540 and I have to say it has to be the most moving song she ever recorded. After leaving The Apollas Leola recorded two singles with the group Love Salvation, "Carry Me/Spread A Little Love" Bell 166 and "I Believe/Cee Cee Rider", Bell 254, they were both issued on Bell Records in 1972. Her final solo project, "To Make A Long Story Short/He Called Me Baby" came out in 1973 as A&M 1458. Leola now resides in Pittsburg, CA where she has lived for many years.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 04:24 pm:

I love the Loma label. I love the Apollas. Sixties dreamsville.

By Brother Love (12.65.138.250) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 03:20 am:

David, thanks for the classic Apollas WB press shot, pictured (Left to right are Ella Johnson, Leola Jiles & Billie Barnum). Ella also sang with Leola in The Lovejoys and in the group Love Salvation. Billie who is sister to music legend H. B. Barnum went on to sing with Blackberries along side Cydie King and former Ikette Venetta Fields, they recorded two singles on A&M and sang backup for the rock group Humble Pie. To this day Billie is still very active in the world of music singing on countless recording sessions, TV shows and live preformances. She has never stopped working in the music industry and is an active member of the wonderful organization called The Society of Singers which helps singers who have fallen on hard times and just need a helping hand.

By RD (63.188.32.195) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 03:29 am:

Brother Love, a friend of mine who you might know, Walter Johnson (Big Walt), raves to me about Billie Barnum all the time. Johnson works with H.B.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.25) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 04:51 am:

The Apollas,
David said it all
sixties dreamsville!!!!!!!!!!
mel.

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 06:30 am:

Thanks to all who ran with this thread. Leola certainly has strong pipes. Her voice is straight from church. I especially dig her A&M single.

I also note that "It's mighty nice" was produced by Clint Ballard- Big M Prod.

By drewj (195.93.50.9) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:56 pm:

Leola can be heard (and seen!) singing 'Mr Creator' on the Ian Levine straight to video documentry 'The strange world of Northern Soul' from a couple of years ago, along with several other artists I never dreamed I would see performing their sixties classic songs!

Drew

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 01:01 pm:

Drew, "Mr. Creator" is a great song. I only recently discovered it. It's written by Valerie Simpson & Nick Ashford, isn't it? Is the documentary you mention only available in UK?

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 02:11 pm:

Brother Love,

Thanks for the info. on the Lovejoys - do you know who else was in the group apart from Leola and Ella ?

About Leola's solo records - is "He Called Me Baby" the same song that was a hit for Ella Washington ? - her's was a country ballad written by Harlan Howard

Uptight, yes it's an Ashford - Simpson song also
recorded by Candy and the Kisses around '66 but
unissued at the time.

By stillsoulin (81.132.163.8) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

thanks for this thread guys, you have just added a few more to my wants list, i did not know leola had recorded anything other than the apollas singles,i just love her voice. once again thanks for the info, this is why i love this forum.
rob hurcomb.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

Hi Rob
It's great to have you on board.
David

By DrewJ (195.93.50.9) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 02:04 am:

Hi Uptight, not sure on its availability now as it was limited at the time, however, apparently its due for a DVD release in an extended form.

Davie - I think you are referring to a demo of Mr Creater recorded by Valarie Simpson and later incorrectly credited to Candy and the Kisses when it finally got a release in the late 80's. This was later cleared up on a later release.

By Uptight! (24.55.6.144) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 08:53 am:

Thanks, Drew. You mean a 1960s demo of Valerie Simpson singing "Mr. Creator" was released in the 1980s under the name Candy & The Kisses? Must have been a "boot," huh?

Notice how Leola Jiles sings it totally Val Simpson style--probably just as the demo instructed.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.22) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 08:57 am:

Its not a bad version either.
MEL.

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 09:01 am:

Mel, I would love to hear Val's.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.22) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 09:31 am:

Uptight,
A mate of mine put it on tape for me about a year ago.
He must of got hold of a Acetate somehow.

Personally,
I think the apollas version is the one(for me anyhow)but then again I have had most of the Apollas 45s for years now.Another great rare soul group.
MEL.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 10:26 am:

Drew,

Looks as if your info is more up to date than
mine : - )

By Brother Love (12.65.127.121) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 03:38 pm:

Davie, yes it is the same song that Ella Wastington recorded.

Drew, please let us know if and when that DVD comes out. It's sad to say that Leola had to fly her self out to L.A. and pay for a hotel room out of her pocket. She had been told that she would be reimbursed for her expenses connected with the fliming of the documentry, not only was she not reimbursed she was never was sent a copy of her preformance.

By drewj (195.93.50.9) on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 06:38 pm:

Hmmm. I didn't know that bit! Well, I'm afraid its sad to say it, but thats Ian Levine for you!

Drew