By curtis blandon (152.163.188.68) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

Hi my name is curtis blandon recording artist of "IN THE LONG RUN" and song writer of 'GLORIA GAYNOR'S SONG 'LETS MAKE A DEAL", i just want to say hi to everyone and to say that i love your web site please stop by and say hello @ www.curtisblandon.com.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.62) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 02:38 pm:

Hey Curtis,
great to hear from you,
I still have my copy of 'In the long run'which I first heard way back in 1972 at an all-nighter over here in the uk.
And it still sounds as good today.
Mel(andthensome).

By curtis blandon (152.163.188.68) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 02:43 pm:

HI mel it's so great to hear from you your friend tony drake told me about this great site and mel you have made my day.thank you so much curtis blandon.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 03:19 pm:

Hi Curtis, welcome to Soulful Detroit !

Something I've often wondered - are you related to Richard Blandon of the Dubs ?

I'll make sure to visit your website.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

Curtis's site is excellent and contains some fantastic memories and photos from those days we all dream about.

"In the long run" is a great song written by Blandon and Blandon and produced by none other than Gene Chandler.

It's a privilege to have you on the forum Curtis.

Find the site from here
http://www.curtisblandon.com

By nikki (24.46.200.124) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 05:28 pm:

Curtis Blandon!


What an honor to have you here! I LOVE your voice! Below is one of your 45s that I am proud to own, and boy do I love "Soul"!!! Can you please tell me who the uncredited back-up group is on it? I met your brother Richard many years ago with the Dubs at a doowop show! You come from a very talented family!

In harmony,

Nikki
http://www.harmonytrain.com

P.S. I love your website!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 05:32 pm:

Curtis:
Tony Drake is one of my music biz mentors and a dear friend. I've also worked with Tony Bongiovi in the late 1990s. Your productions for Wand Records were classics.
Welcome to Soulful Detroit, my friend.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By stephanie (64.63.221.174) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 06:20 pm:

Hey Curtis
Another Northern Soul Legend!!! Welcome to the forum and your website is great!!! Tell us some stories about the early days when you have time..
Stephanie

By curtis blandon (205.188.209.38) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 08:22 pm:

HI GUYS you have made me the happiest guy in new york city to davie yes richard is my brother, to kevgo tony drake told me that you and he were friends,tony and i were members of the same group called the pleasures in 1968.the privilege is all mine. thank you all for your support.love Curtis Blandon.

By Mark Speck (65.57.20.39) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:49 am:

Hey Curtis, welcome aboard! I LOVE both "I Need You" and "In the Long Run".

Best,

Mark

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.104) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:55 pm:

Hey Curtis,
I forgot to mention another 45 I have.
On Tower Records called 'I need you'.
I will be going to your web-site.
once more,great to hear from you Curtis.
Mel.

By Eli (151.197.161.12) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 01:19 pm:

I once discovered a fellow named James Bunting who I changed to James Bounty because that is what I thought he said his name was due to his drawl!!
I produced a song called Prove Yourself a Lady which became somewhat of a Northern classic quite to my surprise.

In 1986 during one of my many London sojurns, I ran into Ian Levine who yelled up the stairs at the studio where I was recording and after hearing that I was there and proceded to say..(picture Ian's voice)
"Bobby..Bobby Eli..where is he I must tell him somethig"
"Bobby, you have a hit!!" So I said "what hit??"
And he said "Prove yourself a lady.its a smash!!!"
I said"Smash???? this is 1986 and I cut that song in '67!!sure took a long time to catch on!!"
He then explained the whole Northern thing to me
and so I then understod its appeal.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.28) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 01:35 pm:

Hey Bobby,
and what a record,
that James Bounty will go down in my all time greatest ever rare soul dancers,if I ever had the nerve to name such a list.
Mel.

By Eli (151.197.161.12) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 02:03 pm:

Hey Mel!!
Go ahead and start naming!!!

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 03:00 pm:

Wow, Mr Blandon, never gone, never forgotten! Thanks for dropping in! I will check the web site out!

Bobby - I was playing 'Prove yourself' this very day and explaining the records importance in the history of Northern Soul to a gentleman on the train from Hull to Kings Cross! He was 27 and now influenced, he will be checking the record shops out accordingly. Those female's backing were certainly cracking!!

By Eli (141.151.63.121) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 05:49 pm:

They were the Swans/Mello-Moods as well as the Universals on the male bcg.vocals.

By curtis blandon (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 08:34 am:

I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of the great Edwin Star whom passed away in england,my deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.a true fan.curtis

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 01:52 pm:

Mr Blandon, in true British fashion, can I ask you to share any memories you have about the 'In the long run' session? We just love the trivia around our favourite songs. Even if you had sandwiches outside in reception before you did the vocals, it is of interest! I would like to know things like, what made you write the song/how long did it take, what were the inspirations behind its compositions/who were your heroes that inspired you to sing/where did you learn to sing/how many takes for the instrumental and vocal/are there any outakes/do you have an original single release and is it on the wall in your home? That type of thing is of great importance. It gives these songs a further meaning for me.

By PJ (68.120.71.237) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 03:21 pm:

HEY CURTIS!! Good to see you in this forum.. I've been out of touch for a while but wanted say I'm happy to know you! Always a fan and friend.. PJ