By Aba21 (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 01:06 pm:

I have a question regarding the Fantastic Four. Is there a compilation cd on them anywhere. The Whole World Is A Stage, You Gave Me Something and Goddess of Love were three great songs. What ever happened to them?

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 01:21 pm:

Hi Aba21!
I did a complete feature with interviews on those guys, but I can't do an summary at the moment. I'll do it later in a couple of weeks. Perhaps my Detroit gal can help me here in the first place.

Best regards
Heikki

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 01:49 pm:

Their "Best of the Fantastic Four" album, which contains the three songs you mention, was issued on CD by Motown about ten years ago. It MIGHT
still be available, check Amazon or one of the
other on-line dealers - other tahn that you could try searching e-bay.

All four Westbound albums are available as UK
releases from Ace Records
see www.Acerecords.co.uk

James Epps, their lead singer, died Sept. 2000.

By medusa9e (66.73.6.221) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 07:57 pm:

Well, unfortunately, the leader Sweet James (Epps), passed away last year. His Funeral was here N Detroit. The Fantastic Four performed a few shows B4 Sweet James passed.
He was one helluva singer.
Haven't heard of anything from them since.

By :oD (64.12.97.7) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 12:16 am:

I read about when they fought Magneto. Sorry to hear that their leader passed. I always thought his name was Reed, though.
Are they back on Saturday morning?

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 09:38 am:

Hi Aba21!
Now there's some time to get back to the Fantastic Four.

As Davie already mentioned their four Westbound albums ('75 - '78) should be available, as well as the re-release of their '69 Best Of compilation, originally on Soul. Also their Motorcity cd, Back In Circulation ('91), shouldn't be too hard to find, but that's not one of the albums I'm crazy about (too high nrg techno for me). On that album on some of the tracks Sweet James Epps is backed by the Lovetones and Billy Griffin, not the original Fantastic Four boys.

By the end of the 90s Ian Levine still recorded the Carstairs with two of the former FF guys on lead vocals: Cleveland Horne (on It Really Hurts Me Girl and He Who Picks The Rose) and Paul Scott (on Stick By Me, Baby; earlier cut by the Salvadors for Wise World in '67).

After their B.Y.O.F. album (on Westbound in '78) for a moment there were two sets of Fantastic Four touring and performing, but in the 80s the group became pretty much inactive, although some of the members tried to pursue solo careers. James Epps had two great singles released: Love At First Sight/Searching on Motor Pool in '83 and High On The Hill/Be Right There on Hollywood Bound in '88. There are also many unreleased tracks by him in the can, produced by the late Lawrence Perry.

In 1995 they re-grouped in the line-up of James Epps, Paul Scott, Cleveland Horne and Wayne Dixon (Wayne for only about one year), and a little later Joe Pruitt joined them too. Then came the tragic year of 2000. First Cleveland passed away in April (a heart attack), and then Sweet James died in September (also a heart attack).

Of the long-standing members the brothers, Ralph and Joe Pruitt, and Paul Scott are still there, and today some of them with a couple of new members are working their way back to the limelight, and we should hear about them soon, hopefully.

The original line-up in 1964 was Ralph Pruitt (the initiator), Sweet James, William Hunter and Joseph Pruitt, but William was soon to be replaced by Wallace "Toby" Childs.
(all the information from # 4/2001, Soul Express).
Best regards
Heikki

By Aba21 (208.191.121.196) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

Thank you so much for that information. I have those original lps youmentiond including the one on the Soul label. I wanted to find something in cd form and if I don't I will just transfer the lp to a cd. They had such a great sound and I always wiondered where they went. Thanks for your time and efforts!!

Aba21

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 02:20 pm:

Heikki,

That Motorcity CD is harder to come by than you might think - I have yet to find a copy.

Something I would like to see is if somebody could identify who's who in the group photo in the
final part of the Golden World webisode - James
Epps is easy to spot but I'd like to be able to put names to the faces.

Aba21,

There's a brilliant track by the group on a CD
called "Motown Sings Motown Treasures" - a version
of Marvin and Tammi's "If This World Were Mine"
which was to have been included in the shelved
"How Sweet He Is" album. Keep a look out for it
- there are some great tracks on it, all golden era material.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.50.22) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:00 pm:

Davie or anyone,
do you know anything about these Hitsville acetates?
Are they on any cd's?
with thanks

'Dont tell me I'm crazy'

'I Feel Like I'm falling in love again'

'Just call me'

mel.

By MotownForever (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:05 pm:

Mel:

"Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" will be released on the forthcoming 'Motown Connoisseurs, Vol. 2." "I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again" (great song BTW) wasn't included on 'The Best Of' CD issued in the early 90's. I'd love to get that song myself on CD! Not sure about "Just Call Me."

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (212.159.50.22) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:10 pm:

MotownForever,
Many Many thanks.
Still cant get over the superb
'cant stop looking for my baby'by the group.
The vocals are just outasite.
'another 2 dollar broom
thats never seen a room 'etc,
sheer magic.
Another gem for me is the flip to 'win or lose'
another amazing sounding track titled
'I've got to have you'.
mel.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:15 pm:

Mel,

"Feel Like .." was their first single as Motown
artists - Soul 35058 (3/69)

"Don't Tell Me .." is probably the same song that
Edwin Starr recorded - I'm waiting in anticipation for "Motown Connoisseurs 2" although
what I'd really like is a two CD set of all the
tracks in the Motown vaults. The FF deserve it !

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.50.22) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

I second that Davie,
a great group without a doubt.
mel.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

Don't Tell Me.. is a drop-dead-gorgeous midtempo number, that's just dying to be reissued. Paul or Jo - or whoever compiled the MC2 set - deserves a round of applause for unearthing it officially at last!

By LG Nilsson (213.89.29.129) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

Many thanks for the information about unreleased recordings and acetates...

...but it looks like it�s time for...

... All the fantastic Fantastic Four released singles

RIC-TIC



Their first release�

119 Girl, Have Pity / (I�m Gonna) Live Up To What She Thinks 1966
121 Can't Stop Looking For My Baby / Just The Lonely 1967
122 The Whole World Is A Stage / Ain't Love Wonderful 1967
128 You Gave Me Something (And Everything's Alright) / Romeo And Juliet's "I Don't Wanna Live Without You (Play)" 1967
130 To Share Your Love / As Long As I Live (I Live For You) 1967
134 Goddess Of Love / As Long As The Feeling Is There 1968
136 Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing / Goddess Of Love 1968
137 No Love Like Your Love / Man In Love 1968
139 I've Got To Have You / Win Or Lose (I'm Going To Love You) 1968
144 I Love You Madly / I Love You Madly (instr.) 1968



Their rare 45�

SOUL



Their first Motown Recording�

35052 I Love You Madly / I Love You Madly (instr.) 1968
35058 I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again / Pin Point It Down 1969
35065 Just Another Lonely Night / Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long As You Want Me 1969
35072 On The Brighter Side Of A Blue World / I'm Gonna Carry On 1970

EASTBOUND



Their second Eastbound release�

609 If You Need Me, Call Me / I Had This Whole World To Choose From (And I Chose You) 1973
620 I'm Falling In Love (I Feel Good All Over) / I Believe In Miracles (I Believe In Love) 1973

WESTBOUND 1



Their new �Papa Was A Rolling Stone� sound�

5009 Alvin Stone (The Birth & Death Of A Gangster) / I Believe In Miracles 1975
5017 Have A Little Mercy / County Line 1976
5030 They Took The Show On The Road / Don't Risk Your Happiness On Foolishness 1976
5032 Hideaway / They Took The Show On The Road 1976

WESTBOUND 2



Their disco sound�
55403 I Got To Have Your Love / Ain't I Been Good To You 1977
55408 Mixed Up Moods And Attitudes / Disco Pool Blues 1978
55417 Sexy Lady / If This Is Love 1978
55419 B.Y.O.F. (Bring Your Own Funk) / If This Is Love 1979

I am glad to say that I�ve got them all. But a complete Motown/Ric-Tic CD and a complete Eastbound/Westbound CD with all their album trax and unreleased songs would be very welcomed.

Lars

By Scratcher (65.132.77.38) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

I played the Alvin Stone Birth of a Gangster album to death. It only had six songs but each was a powerhouse. I liked the early stuff on Ric Tic..."The Whole World Is A Stage," "You Gave Me Something"... Their best Motown tracks are still unreleased, the singles Motown released with the exception of "I Love You Madly," were so, so. I didn't care for the disco stuff on Westbound, other than a couple tunes, it wasn't the FF to me.

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 07:51 pm:

Mel;
I gotta agree about "Can't Stop Looking for my Baby" - what a great GREAT song !! I've always thought 'man, if they'd only bring those background vocals on the chorus out front' so that the chorus came on stronger, maybe that would help make the song as popular as it deserves to be.

SteveK

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.42) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 12:21 am:

Right-on Steve
(andthensome).
mel.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.42) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 12:24 am:

Scratcher,
I agree
The disco stuff in any form really for me personally,
no matter who it is
is'nt my forte.

Lars
nice one mate.

mel.

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.42) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 12:43 am:

ps
Thanks Ritchie.
mel.

By John Lester (213.123.128.210) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 03:02 am:

Ritchie...........

It was Richard Searling who compiled MC2 and I have to say that I think this compilation is one of the best ever to be issued. There is something for most of us - and that includes me!

By (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 08:03 pm:

I believe the photo on the Golden World site of the FF are from left to right: James, Joe Pruitt (2nd tenor & baritone) Ralph Pruitt (1st & 2nd tenor, and finally Wallace "Toby" Childs (baritone/bass).

By StingBeeLee (155.139.50.14) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 09:53 am:

We have an oldies/pop/big band station called CKWW based in Canada but we get it here in Detroit. They played a record called "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" by I think the Four Freshmen? Anyway, I remembered I had the Fantastic Four 45 at home and decided to give it a play. My jaw dropped. I did not know the Fantastic Four could sing a song like that. The same thing happened when I played "Just another Lonely Night" Wow! Who are the girls that sang background on "Love is a many..." and their other Ric Tic Records?

By Heikki (62.248.149.198) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 06:01 am:

Hi Aba21!
I forgot one thing. Lars already compiled a fine singles discography with some label pictures for this forum (above), but if you go to
http://www.soulexpress.net
and scroll down to the very bottom, you'll find Editorial Columns and articles and a complete FF discography with albums as well. Well, complete and complete...those many unreleased cuts are not included.
Best regards
Heikki