By DJ (130.156.140.2) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 01:48 am:

Teena Marie
Taylor Dayne
Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block)
Christina Aguilera
Justin Timberlake
Daryl Hall (with Temptones and Hall & oates)
Bill Deal
Felix Cavelerie
Gary Puckett
Johnny Maestro

By John Lester (213.123.124.21) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 03:57 am:

Dusty Springfield

By LG NIlsson (212.247.9.242) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 04:33 am:

Bill Medley (Righteous Brothers)
Joe Cocker
Michael McDonald
Steve Winwood
Chris Clark

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 06:38 am:

Does Michael Jackson qualify for this thread?

By fayette (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 06:59 am:

ann murray
toni tennille
annie lennox
leader of average white band
simply red
boy george

By Wonder B (80.13.241.117) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 07:41 am:

Hamish STUART (AWB) has the best voice I have heard from a white guy! LOL
Listen to 'Person To Person' or 'Love of Your Own'....

By TonyRussi (68.18.33.86) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 07:55 am:

"Blue-Eyed Soul" to me would be Dusty Springfield,Mitch Ryder,Rightous Brothers,CHRIS CLARK,Felix(of the Rascals),The Dovells,and Steve Alaimo.Steve Alaimo & Harry Wayne Casey(K.C. & the Sunshine Band) produced some great Soul records in the 70's.

By medusa9e (66.73.7.148) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 08:09 am:

Well, I guess U all have named most of them except~
Remy Shand
Lulu (To Sir With Love)
Bobby Caldwell (What you wont do for love)
Tom Jones
Michael Bolton
Michael McDonald
Kenny Loggins
Player (baby come back)
Ambrosia (Your the biggest part of me)
can't think of anymore at this point and time, maybe later on~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 09:20 am:

Gee this looks familiar....
....Wayne Cockrine (sp?) of the C. C. Riders
Bob Seger
Teegarden OR VanWinkle--it was Dave V. who sang, wasn't it?
The lead singer of The Buckinghams
Corky Siegel

By john dixon (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 10:30 am:

doug, when I think of "Kind Of A Drag", "Don't You Care", or "Susan", I hear a good but obviously Caucasion pop singer. Were you thinking of some other examples that portray this singer in a different manner?
For me, the most thoroughly, convincingly black sounding white guy is the criminally underrated (late)Eddie Hinton.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 10:34 am:

Has anyone ever heard the Shangri-Las version
of the Ikettes' "I'm Blue"?

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 10:46 am:

John....
.....as much as Gary Puckett.
The problem with a thread like this (it's happened before) is that you're dealing with a "feeling" and how it's precieved by the listener. In the case of the Buckinghams, it to me is the whole "sound" that would place them above, say The Union Gap. I get the same "feeling", for example, when I listen to early post Kweskin Maria Muldaur.
I guess it's the Michael Boulton problem all over again.

Besides, they do a dynamite job on "I Go Crazy".

By john dixon (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 11:40 am:

doug, I forgot about "Mercy Mercy Mercy" where I can definately see what you mean regarding the 'feel' aspect.

We could no doubt start an entertaining thread on "Bad Blue-Eyed Soul" and put Gary Puckett and M.B. at the top of the list.

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 11:56 am:

John....
....again it's a subjective arguement. I won't defend Michael Bolton, but I can understand why people would put him on the list. It's what you the listener like.
Anyone mention Rod Stewart yet? If not, I will.`

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:09 pm:

HEY SOULPUSS: FIRST WE'D BETTER FIGURE OUT WHETHER MICHAEL FALLS INTO THE MALE OR FEMALE CATAGORY BEFORE WE BEGIN TO CONSIDER RACIAL ANCESTORY!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

Elton John
Teena Marie
Righteous Brothers
Felix Cavaliere & Eddie Brigatti (Rascals)
Hamish Stuart & Alan Gorrie (Average White Band)
Lydia Pense (Cold Blood)
The horn section of Tower of Power (Emilio & company can sing their a---- off, too).
Remy Shand
Terry Kath (lead guitarist of Chicago 1968-1978; sang lead on "Make Me Smile" & "Colour My World")
Wayne Cochran
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels
Timi Yuro (of "Hurt" fame)
Lisa Stansfield
Allison Moyet
The Style Council
Richard Darbyshire (lead singer of Living In A Box)
Go West
Boy George & Culture Club
George Michael
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Len Barry
Laura Nyro
Carole King
Ellie Greenwich

..and most of what was on Medusa9e's list

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.153) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

This is a perennial thread that seems to bloom every 3 months or so. As usual , I will add:

Van Morrison

Regards,
Ken

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

Dan Penn - that's him singing harmony with James Carr on Penn's classic 'Dark End of the Street". I thought for years it was Carr double-tracked.

SteveK

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

And...let's not forget Gino Vannelli !!

By medusa9e (66.73.11.65) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 02:23 pm:

yesss, I just wanna STOP and wonder what happened 2 Gino Vannelli

By john dixon (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 02:51 pm:

Yeah, Dan Penn! Good one SteveK.

By TonyRussi (68.18.33.86) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 03:04 pm:

I tell you, I was never a Country Music fan until the early 90's and I flipped over some of their Soulful vocals(and good songs with good words & melodies...and real muscians!) Mark Chesnutt, Sammy Kershaw & George Strait are 3 of my favorites.

By Wonder B (80.11.231.19) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 08:15 pm:

1Wicked, so glad to see you here... yes indeed you mentioned one hell of a singer... Gino Vanelli escaped me for some reason when I thought about this topic but he's indeed worthy of every praise he can get... 'Nightwalker' (if I had to choose one of his records) will always be among my favourite albums...

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 09:08 pm:

Well guess there's no body left except Dr. John, Rick Askey, & Billy Vera when he did those great duets with Judy Clay.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 09:09 pm:

Wonder B
I like People Gotta Move

Stephanie

By 1wicked (24.126.64.120) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 11:08 pm:

Wonder B...welcome to Soulful Detroit (a therapy group for former "S-P'ers") LOL (inside joke !!)
Considering your vast knowledege of R&B...I hope you have the time to visit and post often.

Folks...Wonder B won't toot his own horn...but he is huge lover of R&B, an amazing R&B scholar and historian, and as long as Air France is in business, no record store from coast to coast is safe if they have Classic Wax that he wants !

By Gabriel (80.182.201.221) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 03:57 am:

my best....

mariah carey
britney spears
heather nova
diana krall

By Wonder B (217.128.245.5) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 09:05 am:

1Wicked.... My face is red from one ear to the other... Don't you think you are overdoing it a little LOL (except for the record store part LOL I am digging deeper and deeper! LOL)
You're right about that SP'er therapy too... I couldn't help but notice that Mike Chancellor of Soul is here too... LOL

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 10:20 am:

I was thinking about this all day at work. It's better than bun, mustard, onion, pickle, burger, cheese--scratch that, no cheese--tomato, lettuce, mayo, bun.......
I mentioned the Buckinghams, and John Dixon rightly called me out on it. And looking at other lists brought out the same thought that there's "something" in some groups and singers that, although it isn't "soul", has a certain almost unidentifiable "soulful" quality about it. In The Buckinghams, it's the arrangements, and the way certain phrases are sung ("Oh, I'll always love you" in "Kind Of A Drag", with the bleading horns behind it for example) that touch a note with me, where as Gary Puckett, although he probably has a more "soulful" voice, doesn't quite make that leap. Tony Jo White makes it for me, Crazy Elephant doesn't, although the voice is there. Bolton doesn't have the voice or phrasing, but occasionaly hits the mark. Kev mentioned Terry Kath of Chicago, which would be a good example of the type of performance I'm talking about stretched over a whole song, as with Ides Of March, who in "Vheicle" put the whole package together, and never did it again.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it.....

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 10:38 am:

I've got a good one...Bobby Whitlock of Derick & the Dominos. (Eric Clapton's album from 1971). I think he's very soulful on his backing vocals on the album plus his shared lead with Eric (I Looked Away). I guess I should look for some of his solo work to see if he's the real deal.

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 10:48 am:

Doug,

I agree with you completely. David Clayton Thomas in B,S & T is also a great blue eyed soul voice.

Lars

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 10:57 am:

LG...
....speaking of B,S&T, Al Kooper was (is) the kind of guy who, although not "soulful", could occasionally absolutely nail it.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.49.239) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 11:50 am:

Heres one that I havent mentioned before,
The Enchantments
who recorded the stompin'
'Im in love with your daughter'pts 1 and 2
on The Faro label(no.620)

It actually has a picture of all the group on the label,about 9 of them in all.
Can anyone tell me anything about the group.

many thanks
mel.

By LA Soul (67.24.72.97) on Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 09:46 pm:

Taylor Dane???

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 10:46 pm:

Douglasm
I remember Kooper Sessions as a little girl!!! My brother had that album and that is how I learned about Eric Burdon and the Animals they were the first album I ever saw as a child sitting on those train tracks!!!! Im 41 now..
Stephanie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 01:48 pm:

Dang! How could I forget David Clayton-Thomas! Great singer.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By beebopman (67.37.78.60) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 10:38 pm:

Not sure if anyone mentioned this one, but the lead singer of the Brooklyn Bridge has a very soulful voice. Also the guy who sang "Crystal Blue Persuasion" Tommy Shondel. But, you guys have posted some great talents.

Beebopman

By Beebopman (67.37.78.60) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 10:43 pm:

As for female "Blue-eyd soul singers" I got to give props to Patsy Cline. I just finnished listening to one of her "Greatest Hits" cd's and she was phenomenal. Another is Mellisa ??

Beebopman

By Edgar (200.46.15.37) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 10:49 pm:

Dusty Springfield
Chris Clark
Dusty Springfield
Melissa Manchester
Dusty Springfield
Kiki Dee
Dusty Springfield.

By bassicray (152.163.188.68) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 11:09 pm:

Does anyone remember B.J. Thomas?...he sang with great feeling and voice control.

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 11:57 pm:

Yeah, I remember him coming to the Wagon Wheel in NYC to hear Sammy Ambrose sing in 1966.

By john dixon (205.188.209.109) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 06:52 am:

hey Beebopman,
That would be Tommy JAMES, whose group were known as the Shondells. You're right though, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was a great slice of soulful pop.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 08:21 am:

I think Sweet Cherry Wine was the bomb by Mr James and his Shondells too....
Stephanie

By the count (65.60.201.174) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 08:35 am:

HEY MEL,hate to do this here,but I responded to your e-mails and all 8ight returned back to me.E-Mail me your phone #,I dont kare if it is in liverpool,I'll kall ya.

Beebop,The Brooklyn Bridge-Johnny Maestro,
also of original CRESTS.

"COUNT"

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (212.159.50.136) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 10:57 am:

Count,
my head is totally done in man,
the things I have tried to mail you and nothing happens.
I am going A.W.O.L for a while Count,
to just cool off or my fist or the computer will go through the window.
Thanks for staying in there Count,
hope to be in touch shortly.
Take it easy man.
Mel(doing a Tony Hestor&down in the dumps)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 11:08 am:

Tommy James' "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is one of my Top 5 most favorite records. He also wrote & recorded the original "Sugar On Sunday" which was covered by the Clique.

Other additions to the blue-eyed soul list would be the following UK acts from the 1980s:

Rick Astley ("Never Gonna Give You Up")
Spandau Ballet ("True")
The Blow Monkeys featuring Dr. Roberts("Digging Your Scene")

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By john dixon (152.163.188.68) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 12:00 pm:

"Crystal Blue Persuasion" always takes me back to the age I was when it was a hit--15 years old. It conjures up a feeling I had at the time that everything I wanted was just beyond my grasp. In a fireworks analogy, I felt like a great big shiny new rocket with a flame just inches from my fuse. That's because I could drive in the daytime but not yet at night and all I cared about was to be part of the club; to drive at night and go on dates (with parking and heavy make out sessions hopefully to follow). Between 15 and 16 was the longest year in my life. It's a song for the ages but for that reason alone I will always love "Crystal Blue Persuasion". I was just achin' for that "new vibration".

As Stephanie reminded, "Sweet Cherry Wine" was great too. And "Crimson And Clover".

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

The other thing about TJ&TS's was Tommy's ability to blend the "pop" 3 minute song with the emerging "psycho-delyc" sound and pull it off. A true Nuggett style artist.

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

John;
I hear ya ; we must be the same age

Steve K

By the arthritic douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 12:44 pm:

Now now. You guys make me feel old.....

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 01:09 pm:

Tommy James did a live gig at the Bitter End years ago which was absolutely dynamite! Tommy looked great, sounded great and the band (they used the name the Shondells although it wasn't the original group) had the songs down tight & cold! The CD is available under the name Greatest Hits Live and is a well-recorded album (especially "Crystal Blue Persuasion" with that fat Hammond B-3 organ!).
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 07:31 pm:

During the mid-1960s....

One of the most (dance) 'movin', blue-eyed 'sensations' that had surfaced on the 'pop' scene for just only a brief period of time....

His name was... well, wait a minute.

Just click on below, listen to this one 'track' and then you'll know who it is that I'm talking about....

Back in 1965, this 'cat' was so cool, he was so smoooth, that he would 'move' to the 'groove' as he sang it, and it probably was just as good of a 'move' as was 'like' James Brown, or even Jackie Wilson....

But this one cat definately was, "blue-eyed" soul!
http://www.showgigs.com/royhead/2239song1.htm

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 07:36 pm:

And oh, by the way... before you click 'on' the above link, just make sure your volume is turned right up!

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 08:06 am:

That thing is only 2:07? Jeez, what a song. George Thorogood also does a killer version of it.
There's an Elvis knockoff by an Elvis clone I've always liked. Terry Stafford's (?) version of "Suspicion".
And how 'bout Tony Joe White.

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 08:42 am:

One blue eyed guy I have always liked is Bobby Darin. He was kind of a mystery! He started out as a real rocker in the 50's with "Splish Splash" and one of my all time favourites in the R&R gengre "Queen Of The Hop". Then he sang pop, soul, country, folk and jazz during the 60's. Everything with class! His last label was Motown! He died 1973. Whatever he sang he did it with a piece of soul.

Lars

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 11:05 am:

I have a clip of Roy Head from the Shindig! show doing "Treat Her Right". This man had moves like there was no tomorrow (not as smooth as my man Jackie Wilson but pretty damn close..).

As for Bobby Darin, his interest in Motown began in the early 1960s when Raynoma Gordy opened the New York City office of Jobete Music - according to her autobiography Bobby was the first to welcome her & the company to the Big Apple. His self-titled album on Motown (which I believe was his last) was a fine piece of work and worth a lot in the collector's community (it is sadly out of print).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 11:54 am:

Kev,

Thanks for the info about Bobby Darin's early Motown connection. I did not remember that... but I have red the book! I'm getting too old...

I think this is all he did for Motown (CD's not included!)

BOBBY DARIN MOTOWN Singles

Motown 1183 A
Bobby Darin Melodie Apr-71
Motown 1183 B
Bobby Darin Someday We'll Be Together Apr-71
Motown 1193 A
Bobby Darin Simple Song Of Freedom Nov-71
Motown 1193 B
Bobby Darin I'll Be Your Baby Tonight Nov-71
Motown 1203 A
Bobby Darin Sail Away May-72
Motown 1203 B
Bobby Darin Something In Her Love May-72
Motown 1212 A
Bobby Darin Average People Sep-72
Motown 1212 B
Bobby Darin Something In Her Love Sep-72
Motown 1217 A
Bobby Darin Happy (Love Theme From "Lady Sings The Blues") Nov-72
Motown 1217 B
Bobby Darin Something In Her Love Nov-72

BOBBY DARIN MOTOWN Albums:

MS-738 - Live at the Desert Inn [Unissued]
MS-738L - Finally - Bobby Darin [Unissued]
M-753L - Bobby Darin - Bobby Darin (1972)
M-813V1 - Darin 1936-1973 - Bobby Darin (1973)

Lars

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:06 pm:

REGARDING BOBBY DARRIN!!!...ASIDE FROM HIS MANY HIT RECORDINGS...BOBBY DARIN WAS...IN MANY PEOPLES MINDS...PERHAPS THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER TO EVER LIVE...DURING HIS PRIME!!!...IT'S BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT EVEN THE GREAT SAMMY DAVIS JR. REFUSED TO FOLLOW BOBBY ON STAGE DURING A NYC BENEFIT PERFORMANCE!!!...HE WAS THE "TOAST" OF NEW YORK...BUT ALSO...BY MANY ACCOUNTS...AN EXTREMELY MOODY INDIVIDUAL!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:45 pm:

Stu:
Bobby's "moodiness" as you probably know was the result of a few things.

He had a weak heart and his bloodstream lacked the white cells to ward off infections. When his doctors told him he wouldn't live to see eighteen (and he was nine at the time), you can bet this did a number on him.

As a result, Bobby lived every day as if it was his last - he was always "in tune, on time" and didn't tolerate mediocrity. Yes, he pissed off session musicians when they didn't play the right parts or an instrument was out of tune. Yes, he may have driven a few record execs crazy because he wanted to record a mileu of genres rather than remaining status quo. He held a standard of excellence and wanted to accomplish a lot during his short years - heaven helped the "slow-poke" who crossed his path.

Kevin Spacey announced on a talk show early this year that he & Bobby's estate have finally agreed on making a film on Bobby's life with Spacey starring as Mr. Darin (a long overdue project in my opinion). Hopefully, the film will bring to life what indeed drove Bobby Darin to be, next to his dear friend Sammy Davis Jr., one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:46 pm:

A few days ago, I mentioned songs that had a certain "feeling" to them. Caught another one on the radio today. I'm not saying The Vougues are a "soulful" sound, but
"Five O'Clock World"
hits the same mark as some of the Buckinghams stuff.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

Mel,

Have you thought about setting up a remote
e-mail account?
My e-mail account is set up through Yahoo and the only problem I've ever had with it was when I didn't check the account for
two weeks and found that it had "overflowed"
with messages and some head been returned as
undeliverable. The equivalent of the postman not being able to get any more mail through the
letterbox. Other than that - no problems at all.

If you can access the SD website without any problems you should be able to access Yahoo
the same.

Try it at www.yahoo.co.uk

You can even set up multiple accounts for
different purposes, e.g. melanthensome1,
melanthensome2, etc ..

Davie

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:51 pm:

THANKS FOR THE TAKE KEV!!!...THAT FILM YOU MENTIONED HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR OVER 20 YEARS!!!...AN ASIDE TO HIS MOODINESS!!!...A CERTAIN UPSTART SINGER THAT I KNEW AS A KID...PARENTS INVESTED SOME MONEY TO GET HIM RECORDED...MET BOBBY DARIN BACKSTAGE IN MIAMI!!!...YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THIS 20 YEAR OLDS BUBBLE GOT BURST...WHEN AFTER MEETING HIS "IDOL"...BOBBY DARRIN...THIS...TO BE KEPT NAMELESS HOPEFULL...WAS TOLD BY BOBBY DARIN..."NICE TO MEET YOU KID...NOW WOULD YOU GO AND SHINE MY SHOES"!!!...TRUE STORY!!!...STUBASS

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 03:05 pm:

This Bobby Darin single was not released in the States, but the track was included in the �Darin 1936-1973� album.



Stubass, funny you mentioned Sammy Davis� he also recorded for Motown. I don�t think many people know about this. He even did a tribute to Detroit!



Lars

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 03:11 pm:

LARS: VERY COOL!!!...STU

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 03:40 pm:

Here's an interesting bit of Bobby Darin trivia -
he was one of the first people outside of Detroit
to record a Berry Gordy song. One of his early albums includes a version of "Actions Speak Louder
Than Words" which just might pre-date Mabel John's
version - I'd have to check the dates.


Davie

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 03:47 pm:

Another 'blue-eyed' spinoff from the 1950s Elvis sound-a-like masse was this one 'obscure' Rock & Roll legend, and he went by the name of RAL DONNER....

"GIRL OF MY BEST FRIEND"
-Ral Donner
-GONE Records; 5102
-released date: February, 1961

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT (Until You Lose It)"
-Ral Donner
-GONE Records; 5108
-release date: June, 1961

Ral Donner was gifted with that distinct 'Elvis' sound, and, he sounded so close... many then, were confused into thinking this was actually "The King" when these hits were released, way back when, and that was back in 1961....

These were two great (and yet, not quite 'rockabilly') songs, beautifully sung by Donner... I have both of these numbers in my vinyl '45 collection-- but the two above I have, were re-issued at one time many years ago on the ROULETTE record label.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

Laura Nyro !

Her "Been On A Train" is as intense as Nina Simone.

Davie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 04:25 pm:

Lars:
Damn...you scare me, dude! Gonna have to bring you to the states to work for HW at Universal Music Group...
Sammy recorded one album for Motown - "Something For Everyone" in 1970 and had planned on launching a label with Gordy called Ecology. The album flopped & the label never happened.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 05:34 pm:

Kev,

In the late 70�s I was actually asked to work for Motown in Sweden� but I stayed in the Radio business�



One single was probably released on the Ecology label. This is not my record. I have never seen a real copy.

Lars

By Scratcher (65.133.219.143) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 06:01 pm:

The Ecology label released one single by Sammy Davis Jr. in 1971 entitled "In My Own Lifetime" b/w "I'll Begin Again." The Ecology project was dropped when Sammy and Berry had a falling out.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 06:31 pm:

So we see, Scratcher... (check out Lars' scan..)
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 07:43 pm:

Douglasm,
And according to the 'home page' of the website, Roy Head took "Treat Her Right" all the way to the number 2 position... on *both* the 'pop' and 'R&B' charts in 1965!

By Buddy (67.249.57.15) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 10:02 pm:

He hasn't really been a national or international act -- though Charly Records issued an album of his Instant and Alon 45s -- but I nominate Skip "Hoochie Coochie Man" Easterling from Slidell, Louisiana.

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 04:29 am:

HI Lars, KevGo',
Two of my favorites from Bobby Darrin... one was from 1959, and the other Darin hit was released in 1960:

"DREAM LOVER"
-Bobby Darin
-ATCO Records; #6140
-released: 1959

"BEYOND THE SEA"
-Bobby Darin
-ATCO Records; #6158
-released: 1960

But of course of all Darin's big 'hits', my favorite was....


BEYOND THE SEA

Somewhere, beyond the sea
somewhere, waiting for me
my lover stands on golden sands
and watches the ships that go sailin'

Somewhere, beyond the sea
she's there, watchin' for me
If I could fly like birds on high
then straight to her arms
I'd go sailin'

It's far beyond the stars
it's near beyond the moon
I know, beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon

We'll meet, beyond the shore
we'll kiss, just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again, I'll go sailin'

I know, beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet (I know we'll meet) beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again, I'll go sailin'

no more sailin'
so long sailin'
bye bye sailin'...


I think "Beyond The Sea", sorta of had that close semblance to that 'Tony Bennet' and 'big band' sound, all wrapped in it-- personally, I think on this one, that was Bobby Darin singing at his best!

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 05:41 am:

Jim,

The French singer/composer Charles Trenet originally recorded �Beyond the sea� 1946 as �La Mer�� but it was composed as early as 1938� and Benny Goodman introduced the song in America 1948. The more I think about it� Bobby Darin was an amazing artist. He had 41 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. His last big hit was �If I Were A Carpenter�. It peaked at no. 8, 1966. That song was also a hit single by the Four Tops (peaked at no. 20, 1968).

It looks like Bobby Darin was searching for a music identity� and never found it. He tried everything and was fantastic in any genre� even musical! He had one Billboard Hot 100 no. 1 hit: �Mack The Knife� in 1959. Great artist!

Lars

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.61) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:18 am:

Davie,
thanks for that I will look into it.
mel.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 01:28 pm:

Lars:
Bobby did find his "identity" when "Mack The Knife" went to #1 and helped him earn two Grammy awards. He was ready to shed himself of the rock & roll image because he considered it too confining. He knew that going "pop" would be more beneficial for him financially (he was a Las Vegas headliner while Sinatra & the Rat Pack ruled the city) and artistically (he was the true "producer" of his Atlantic sessions even though Ahmet Ertegun & company were listed in the credits). By being a "pop" singer (as in popular music, not rock & roll) he was able to travel through more genres successfully than others could, from big band ("Beyond The Sea") to country/folk ("Things").

The only time he may have diverted from this path was when he became a folk singer a la Dylan in the late 1960s - full mustache & beard, no toupee, blue jeans (this is when he discovered that his mother was really his grandmother and his "older sister" was his true mom who was a teen when Bobby was born). He was on a "soul-searching" path for a time until he tried to present this then-new look at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. When the audience walked out on him he knew he had to go back to what made his successful in the first place. Other than that occurrance, Bobby Darin had a true musical identity that he maintained until he died in 1973.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 01:31 pm:

Didn't David Ruffin have a song called "Action
Speaks Louder Than Words" on Tri-Phi long before
going to Motown and joining the Temptations?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 01:47 pm:

Randy:
David Ruffin recorded "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" for the Checkmate label in the early 1960s.

CHECKMATE 1003
DAVID RUFFIN
Action Speaks Louder Than Words/You Can Get What I Got
Produced by (Roquel) Billy Davis

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 02:14 pm:

Randy,

I'd forgotten about that - I haven't heard them but the David Ruffin track is apparently the same
song as the one Bobby Darin did. The Darin version
is three years earlier than the Ruffin one.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 02:20 pm:

I did hear (only once!) the Ruffin record and he
sounded GREAT!!!! Thanks again, Kevin! And since
this thread is on blue-eyed soul singers, weren't
the Valideers (check spelling) who originally
did Greetings This Is Uncle Sam a white group?

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Geez... you guys-- just amazing.
Thank you Lars and Kevin for adding to that.

Again, it's just amazing... that anything that can possibly be 'learned', well... no need to go elsewhere, because it can be 'learned' right here.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 03:50 pm:

Randy, yes The Valadiers were Motown's first white group. When they first auditioned for Berry
Gordy they were a mixed group - Gordy told them
to come back when they were either all-white or
all-black.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

Jim:
Thank you for the kind words.

Randy:
The Valideers did record "Greetings..This Is Uncle Sam" before the Monitors hit with theirs in 1966.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Scratcher (65.132.78.130) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 04:17 pm:

It's spelled Valadiers and the members are all still around and in good shape with the exception of Marty Coleman whose alive but saddled with demons. I believe he's the only one still in Detroit. Stuart Avig had been living in Detroit but might have recently moved to get closer to his new work with two other members of the Valadiers--they're beverage salesmen, or some type of similar sales, and spend a lot of time on the road. I hear they're interested in getting back together for weekend and occassional shows--anybody interested?

Stuart, by the way, is still a helluva singer. He can do Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson...anybody. I have an unreleased tape he recorded, on one song he does an electrifying rendition of "Lonely Teardrops."

Ironically, "Greetings...," which never became a big hit by either group, was the biggest record for both the Valadiers and the Monitors. The Isley Brothers does a nice version of "Greetings This Is Uncle Sam," too.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 06:47 pm:

Thanks Scratcher for the update!

White groups and artist on Motown is an interesting subject. Chris Clark had a �black� sound on her VIP and Motown recordings. I was very surprised when I saw the cover of her album �Soul Sounds� the first time. �Greetings� by the Valadiers is a �white� sound to me� but still it is a great pop ballad. I was very happy when I found this single many years ago!



Another great �blue eyed� sound is Mike & The Modifiers� only Motown release:



Motown pop at its best! This should have been a hit!

Lars

By Patrick (68.74.28.161) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 08:33 pm:

Steve Winwood
Terry Kath

By Scratcher (65.132.78.64) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:15 pm:

Lars, "Greetings..." was written by the Valadiers. They don't know who P. Bennent is; nobody does. The credits was later updated to Brian Holland, Robert Bateman and Ronald Dunbar--neither, according to the Valadiers, had anything to do with writing the song. If you check B.M.I. the mess has been somewhat straightened out. The writing is now credited to: Stuart Avig, Martin Coleman, Jerry Long and Art Glasser--the Valadiers, along with Brian Holland, Ronald Dunbar and BrianBert (?). BrianBert was the business name of Robert Bateman and Brian Holland, so I guess B. Holland gets two credits. If you're counting that makes seven writers (eight if you count B. Holland twice) credited to writing "Greetings This Is Uncle Sam." Who knows what the individual percentages per writer are and don't assume it's split equally seven or eight ways cause it's probably not. The Valadiers had a fifth member when they signed with Motown who probably should be credited with writing a piece of "Greeetings.." too; he quit soon after they signed but was included in their early publicity picture.

The late Mike Valvano was an interesting guy. He had so many interesting accounts and was so involved with Motown that he should have wrote a book. Berry relocated him to a southwestern state, I believe New Mexico (almost like an exiled but he like it, and stayed 30 years).

By Captian radio (67.84.0.234) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:16 pm:

Paul Himmelstein (He sang with the 50's vocal group "The Heartbreaker)

By Captain Radio (67.84.0.234) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:17 pm:

Paul Himmelstein (He sang with the 50's vocal group "The Heartbreakers")

By Greg C. (207.103.134.9) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 09:52 pm:

Rare Earth
Chris Clark
Teena Marie
Remy Shand
Average White Band
Chris Peterson
Lisa Keith
Wild Orchid
Righteous Brothers
Reflections
Carrie McDowell
Good 2 Go
Lisa Stansfield

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 04:04 am:

Scratcher,

Many thanks for the info about "Greetings". I didn't know that story... very interesting! ...but I will not write all those names on my original single (:o)

So... how can a name end up on a record that nobody know nothing about?

Lars

By Eli (141.151.84.28) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 09:11 am:

The Sons of Robinstone!!!!

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 10:59 am:

Big Al Anderson - check out "You're Just Laughin' Inside" from his pre NRBQ solo album.
He sings like Ray Charles and plays guitar like Teenie Hodges on it - a classic

SteveK

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 11:02 am:

Scratcher:
Wow...thanks for the background on "Greetings.."
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Eli (151.197.219.91) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

Rhodes, Chalmers and Rhodes. The Hi Records backing vocal crew are white!!

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

Bobby,

Good one ! - I've had George Jackson's "Aretha,
Sing One For Me" on constant repeat plays for the last week - RCR are great on that.

And what about all those white back up singers on
sessions held at Muscle Shoals - Jeannie Greene,
Hershel Wigginton, Sandy Posey (yes, the "Single
Girl" herself who can be heard on some Percy
Sledge tracks).

Davie

By Scratcher (65.132.77.210) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 01:44 pm:

Lars, you asked me a question that the Valadiers and the people they talked to at Motown--at the time--don't even know. I have no way of knowing why J. Bennent was credited on the label as the songwriter of "Greetings..." Maybe, it was a secretarial error. I can't remember seeing that name credited on any other Motown song.

If you have the time you should check some of the writer's credits on some early Tamla/Motown releases (on the actual record labels) with what's logged into B.M.I. or Ascap. Mind you neither B.M.I. or Ascap has anything to do with the official copyright, which you can also check from the copyright office, also online.

Take what you read on record labels with a grain of salt because it doesn't necessarily have to be the truth.

By Eli (151.197.219.91) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 04:13 pm:

In the south, in general, a geat deal of the musicians and singers on soul records were and are of the "caucasian persuasion"
Must be somethin' in the water, I reckon!!!

By Caleb (64.157.79.43) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

How about the guy from Rare Earth,Pete Rivera-he had some soul.

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 05:59 am:

Thanks again Scratcher,

I have been looking around on the web. BMI, and other places about "Greetings". Now I am even more confused! Found this:

GREETINGS BMI Work #509489
Songwriter/Composer
AVIG STUART, BERT BRIAN, COLEMAN MARTIN, DUNBAR RONALD, GLASSER ART, HOLLAND BRIAN,LIGHT JERRY


Greetings (this is Uncle Sam) [Robt. Bateman, Lawrence Horn, The Valadiers, Ronald Dunbar] publ. Jobete
The Valadiers; H-849; 08/61; prod. Berry Gordy Jr; v1 - promo
10/61 Miracle-06[1] A ZTSC-84119
Note: shows P. Bennett as (sole) writer,shown as "Greetings" on some pressings
05/62 Motown-M603 Motown Hits Vol. 1 XCTV-82863/4
Note: replaces Bateman, Horn with Holland as writer
07/64 Tamla-T256 A collection of 16 original big hits Vol. 2 R4RM-6742/3
05/66 Tamla-TS256 A collection of 16 original big hits Vol. 2 T4RS-6083/4
The Valadiers; H-915; 08/61; prod. Berry Gordy Jr; v2 - stock
10/61 Miracle-06[2] A
Note: shown as "Greeting (this is Uncle Sam)", shows Valadiers-Dunbar-Holland-Bateman as writers
The Monitors; DM-AC-IL-181301; 02/66; prod. Wm. Stevenson, Henry Cosby
02/66 VIP-25032[1] A
02/66 VIP-25032[2] A
12/67 Motown-M666 A collection of 16 original big hits Vol. 8 UR4M-1774/5
12/67 Motown-MS666 A collection of 16 original big hits Vol. 8 UR4S-1779/80
12/68 Soul-SS714 Greetings ... we're the Monitors
The Isley Brothers
05/72 [UK]MFP-50014 Tamla Motown present the Isley Brothers
Note: replaces writers with Cecchino-Costenzo

... as you say Scratcher, this is a real mess... We need Perry Mason and Sherlock Holmes here!

Lars

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 11:46 am:

The Monitors� 45 single with writer credits:



�on the Monitors� Soul-714 album are Bateman, Horn, Dunbar & Valadiers credited�
� and here is the Isley Brothers European MFP/Tamla-Motown release with once again other writers:



Lars

By Scratcher (65.132.76.74) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 12:29 pm:

Lars, I forgot about Horn being listed on some credits. If you talk to any of the Valadiers they'll tell you that they brought the song to Motown finished. The song sounds like it a hit everyone wanted a piece. You have to remember it came out before Motown began hitting on all cylinders.

Cechinno-Constenza's "Greetings" is also listed in B.M.I. and was published by a Motown publisher, Stone Agate. It also has an earlier B.M.I. work number than the other one.


Songwriter/Composer Current Affiliation CAE/IPI BMI Work #509487
CECCHINO ROBERT CHARLES BMI 5666590
COSTANZO RICHARD BMI 62702104
Publishers
STONE AGATE MUSIC BMI 218351583


GREETINGS BMI Work #509489
Songwriter/Composer Current Affiliation CAE/IPI #
AVIG STUART NA 0
BERT BRIAN BMI 2955698
COLEMAN MARTIN BMI 6493493
DUNBAR RONALD BMI 8810796
GLASSER ART NA 0
HOLLAND BRIAN BMI 14285503
LIGHT JERRY NA 0
Publishers
STONE AGATE MUSIC BMI 218351583

By Brother Love (12.65.144.81) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 05:45 pm:

Anyone hip to the history of singer/songwriter David Lasley, talk about Blue Eyed Soul. He was lead singer for Detroit's own Utopias, lead singer for the group Rosie who recorded for RCA and many solo recordings in his own right. How many Blue Eyed Soul singers recorded for Philly Groove or have sung background for just about everybody in the music industry from Aretha Frankin to Luther Vandross. How about a man that has written for the likes of Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Dusty Sprinfield and Antia Baker just to name a few. I can't think of to many Blue Eyed Soul singers that can claim all these credits to their name.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.52.26) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 07:40 am:

Brother Love,
are we talking
Utopias on La Salle Records(no.0072)
and
'girls are against me/I want to go back to my dream world'?
mel.

By Scratcher (65.132.77.192) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 09:54 am:

Lars, the more I think about it I bet the "Greetings" by Cecchino and Constanza is a different song with the same title and who ever added the credits to that compilation you posted looked it up and saw it was published by Stone Agate and assumed they had the right song and writers. Cecchino and Constanza wrote many songs for Stone Agate I discovered, none of which, I've heard.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 10:52 am:

Scratcher,

I agree with you that the Cecchino and Constanza "Greetings" must be another song. But the one the Isleys are singing is the Valadiers one!... so someone mixed things up again at MFP this time...

Lars

By Scratcher (65.134.147.208) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 06:51 pm:

Right Lars, the wrong names were typed on the label. I know the Isley's are singing "THE" "Greetings...," I've heard it.

By WaltBaby (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 07:14 am:

I just jumped on this thread this morning and I like many of the choices (i. e. Lydia Penske, etc.) I wanted to see if anyone would mention Renee Geyer. This was one soulful young woman. Does anyone remember her album on Polydor back in the seventies? I discovered that she has a rather lengthy discography, most of which is issued in Australia.

By Eli (141.151.57.133) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 10:54 am:

Brother Love,
Unbeknownst by most, the Sons Of Robinstone recorded a bunch of songs for Philly Groove including the song Pollution written by Sigler and Hurtt and it was listed in Cash Box magazine in a Philly Groove ad, but it was never released.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 03:46 pm:

Scratcher, Lars

I had a look at the BMI lists for Cecchino and
Costanzo to see if I recognised any of their
titles. Costanzo's list doesn't ring any bells
but I can tell you who Cecchino is - he's probably
better known as Beau Charles one of the pair of
brothers who fronted the Knickerbockers. If you
don't recall them they were a New Jersey quartet
who moved to the west coast and had a big hit with
"Lies" in '65 - probably one of the best Beatles
imitation records ever. It doesn't really add
anything to the "Greetings" saga but an interesting find nonetheless.

By Brother Love (12.65.96.182) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 05:15 pm:

Hey Mel,
In anwswer to your guestion, yes David Lasley sang lead on the super rare The Utopias single on La Salle, they also recorded for Fortune and HI-Q Records that were all Detroit based labels. You can get more info on David at http://www.davidlasley.com

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.79) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 05:20 pm:

Brother Love.
appreciated.
mel.

By Brother Love (12.65.96.83) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

WaltBaby, I have to agree with you Renee Geyer is a must for this list. Have you check out her last CD "Sweet Life", it was issued in Australia, talk about some soul. The track Heaven (The Closest I'll Get) was resently coverd on the new Bettye Lavette CD "A Woman Like Me". What about her album "Moving Along" from 1977 on Mushroom Records that was produced and arranged by Motown vet Frank Wilson, she did a great cover of The Supremes song Touch and it is now available on CD. All together I have seven of her solo albums and she hits the mark when it comes to Blue Eyed Soul.

By Tony B. (212.56.114.168) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 05:12 pm:

My ears are very good "blue-eyed" soul detectors, but I'm Stepping Out Of The Picture by Johnny Maestro and It'll Never Be Over For Me by Timi Yuro fooled 'em.

Another Northern Soul song that I think is very good is Double Life by Jerry Fuller.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 05:22 pm:

Timi Yuro's first hit, "Hurt" is the one I think fooled a lot of folks, too, into thinking she had a "permanent tan".

As for Johnny Maestro, if anyone can find the 2-record set of "The Isley Bros. Live At Yankee Stadium" (released in 1969), check out Johnny & the Brooklyn Bridge's tribute medley to Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions (takes up an entire side). Johnny & company do a soulful turn on this platter.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.94) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 05:54 pm:

Tony B
I was never taken by the j.maestro or timi yuro.
Jesus,
thats the trouble with the rare/northern scene,a lot around the 1976 era was just played for the fast and furious beat,
thus disregarding who the hell was on it.
I could list a hundred pure crap(andthensome).

But will hold my hands up and say I have always liked the Challenge(no.59329)record by
Jerry Fuller.

mel(such a troubled life)

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 08:52 am:

Mel, that's exactly why I never call myself a
"northern" fan - I don't want people to think
that the soul records I like are in any way connected to stuff like "Footsee".

Some of the records played are good pop records
but my abiding impression of the "Soul" deejays
who played them is that they had cloth ears and
knew nothing about the records they were playing.

I've nothing against good pop records - I've got
plenty of them - just don't label them "soul".

By Charmedes (142.165.97.123) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 10:23 pm:

Rita Pavone's "Eyes of Mine" - an all but forgotten tour de force was the first example in my understanding of the term "blue eyed soul" to really get my attention.

By Mark (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 10:39 pm:

My favorite Blue Eyed Soul Singers are:

Michael McDonald
Darryl Hall
Ambrosia (Your The Only Woman and How Much I Feel are my shits)
Kenny Loggins
Remy Shand

By Mark (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

Teena Marie is black to me so I cannot call her Blue Eyed Soul....LOL...

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:01 pm:

I don't know whether this particular song from 1965 could be inserted under the phrase "blue-eyed soul", but when I heard "LIAR, LIAR" by the Castaways for the very first, geez... you couldn't even begin to try to convince me that those cats in that group were all actually "white"-- because that particular 'Castaways' record sounded too much like you might have heard it as well-- thinking like it was just another plain 'R&B' record hit!

By Musicchef (68.104.25.189) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:09 pm:

How can you guys mention Felix without mentioning Eddie Brigati from the Rascals ? *ruler smack*

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:46 pm:

I DON'T KNOW HOW I END UP IN ALL THESE WIERD SITUATIONS...BUT THEY'RE ALL TRUE!!!...I SOMETIMES AMAZE MYSELF AT ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE "TRIPPED OVER" IN MY LIFETIME IN UNEXPECTED PLACES!!!...SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO L.A...I NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY UNTIL I FOUND AN APARTMENT...SO I MOVED INTO THE HOLIDAY INN IN BURBANK...WHO HAD A MONTHLY RENTAL DEAL!!!...ONE DAY...I WAS TAKING MY LAUNDRY DOWN TO THE LAUNDRY ROOM...AND STARTED TALKING WITH THIS GUY WHO WAS IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM!!!...TALKED ABOUT L.A. AND STUFF LIKE THAT!!!... HE SAID THAT HE WAS DOING MUSIC...AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT...BUT NEVER ASKED EACH OTHER OUR NAMES!!!...AS I WAS LEAVING...I SAID SOMETHING LIKE NICE TO MEET YOU...AND HE RETURNED MY GREETING WITH...MY NAME IS BOBBY CALDWELL...AND SINCE I KNEW THE NAME...WE TALKED ABOUT A PROJECT THAT HE WAS DOING!!!..SEEMED LIKE A NICE...LEVEL HEADED DUDE!!!...STUBASS

By Des (81.152.238.53) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 06:47 am:

Since this thread was resurrected by Stu/Jim and musicchef,it made me read everything and prompted this input :
Lewis Taylor
Kenny Thomas
Clive Griffin and
John Martyn
All Brits and,give or take the odd weak track,have produced and are producing very fine "blue-eyed soul".
There'll be more but right now I gotta get back to work.
Des

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 11:29 am:

My personal best, all-time "blue-eyed" favorite?
Why, it was by the ever 'ohh sooooo' Righteous Brothers with their big WKNR (Detroit) hit in the early part of 1966, with "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration".

"(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" debuted on the WKNR playlist on February 23, 1966, as the "Key Song of the Week."

But according to the WKNR Music Guide listed for the following week, "Soul And Inspiration" then had jumped all the way to the #9 spot on March 2, 1966, thus making "Top 10" here in Detroit in record popularity and sales, here... back then.

On March 9, 1966, "Soul And Inspiration" had continued it's rise on WKNR holding on to the #2 spot and stopping just shy under the #1 song in Detroit at that time, with "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra, which had held on to the #1 slot on "Keener 13" at that time for three consecutive weeks.

And finally, on March 16, 1966--
The most popular record sold in Motown at the time, this according to the WKNR Music Survey Guides... was, by the Righteous Brothers with the (new) #1 song in Detroit, with "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration"....

The Righteous Brothers... and it was "Number One" right here, on "KEENER"!

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 11:45 am:

Lisa Stansfield comes to mind for me......

Lisa had the last #1 song by a non-black on the US R&B chart with "All Around The World." I don't even think that Eminem (UGH!! UGH!!) or Justin Timberlake (UGH!!) made it to #1, although I could be wrong. However, Eminem is not a singer and Timberlake is mostly packaging.....

By bad bob (166.70.26.214) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 02:54 pm:

any of you folks heard of a guy named frankie miller? also i'll add alex chilton while he was in the box tops

By ????????????? (81.174.193.221) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

One of Stu's kinfolk?
Mr Platonic.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 03:26 pm:

HUH????....

By SB (205.186.130.116) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 03:42 pm:

Hey ya'll. Did someone mention - Joe Cocker & Bonnie Raitt? I looked - but didn't see their names. And if I missed them - I apologize. I think they gots some soul for real.

Do you all remember the group "The O'Kaysions?" I have their "Girl Watcher", album. ("I'm a girl watcher - watching girls go by - my - my - my")

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 03:46 pm:

Let's not forget Scott Morgan!!!!

By Des (81.152.238.53) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 06:27 pm:

Don't know how I forgot Jess Roden.Coupla albums in the 70's that were excellent.Great version of "you can keep your hat on" on one of them.One of those albums also produced by Alain Toussaint - from memory.
Lee Kosmin had a good single or two in the vicinity of blue-eyed soul.
Bill LaBounty's eponymous album from 1982.
A number of tracks from Todd Rundgren in his great early 70's batch of albums - particularly the Medley on side 2 (Vinyl) of Wizard A True Star (I'm So Proud/Ooh Baby Baby/La La Means I love you/Cool Jerk ----- Excellent).Now available in fine remastered glory on Castle Music label.
Des

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 10:54 pm:

Hi MC5rules,
That's right... Scott Morgan had earned his place on this here "blue-eyed" soul thread with some rather due 'respect', whether it be before, during, or after the post-'Rational' years.

After all, "Respect", had earned him just that locally here in Detroit, because Morgan, while with the Rationals had 'cut' that very record a year after Otis Redding had released his own version (remember he wrote the song) on the R&B charts, in 1965, and the Rationals had released "Respect" one year earlier in 1966, before Aretha Franklin made it into an all-time #1 million seller in 1967.

Frankly, I'm very 'fond' of the Rationals with their version of their 1966 hit, "Respect"... it was a BIG "Keener" hit, and it was one of my all time '60s 'pop' favorites we were listening to while I had attended Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, in southwest Detroit, during it's release sometime (way back) in September... of 1966.

Almost everybody at Wilson JH, when "Respect" came out, seemed to have had a copy of that record at one time or another-- I've got two mint, pristine copies (Cameo Records) of my own still, in my vinyl record '45 collection!

Scott Morgan of the 'Rationals', like Mitch Ryder was with the 'Detroit Wheels', well this cat had lots of "blue-eyed' soul, nevertheless!

By mc5rules (204.39.210.187) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 01:28 am:

Jim:
Thanks for helping me make the case. I was so excited this past weekend, I finally scored a copy of the band's sole LP (on Crewe) -- and for only $5! I've seen it on eBay, but never for less than $25, and I never seemed to have the dough.

Now, if I can only score one of those Cameo 45s, I'll be set!

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 06:14 am:

mc5rules,
Hey my friend....

You just keep looking on eBay and those Cameo records, or, the original A2 records (Ann Arbor) with "Respect" by the 'Rationals' on the 'red' label will eventual surface there, it has from time to time, and I've seen them there on eBay... many, many a times!

I've also had seen their one 1968 '45 release, titled "I NEED YOU" by the 'Rationals as well, but this number was released on CAPITAL records, of two (mint) copies of which I also have, and it was a BIG Motor City 'fave' back then on WKNR and CKLW as well!

Also currently, for your information there is a Scott Morgan CD available and that one I've seen going up for bids on eBay, from time to time just the same.

So If you don't have that one (and I don't, at this time) you may be interested in trying to obtain that one as well-- thanks again for reminding us about the 'Rationals'-- oh, I remember seeing Scott Morgan on CKLW TV with Robin Seymour on "SWINGIN' TIME" singin' their version of "Respect", that was sometime during the fall of 1966!

Man, as I remember it, Morgan (singing lead) really had those teenagers hoppin'' with that number on local TV back when, as the 'Rationals' nearly brought the entire studio 'house' down with that one on CKLW-TV Channel 9, with Scott Morgan... right there on "Swingin' Time"!

By Allen (24.24.196.115) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 09:07 am:

Both of Teena Marie's parents are Caucasian. Her mother is still alive. Her father died a year or so before I met her. From what I remember, he was of Portuguese decent. Hence her song "Portuguese Love".

Teena's appreciation of black music/culture is genuine and a result of her living with a black family while she was growing up in Venice, CA.

That part of Los Angeles is and has for a long time been very integrated. When I told her how racially segregated and polarized Detroit was, she couldn't believe it. She told me she'd look at the Motown label thinking Detroit was like Paris. Full of art and culture and progressive people.

When I told her I had no white friends growing up, except one fella who's family were the last white family to move out of our block busted neighborhood, she found that almost impossible to believe.

I also told her I'd never been to, or known about any of the many small lakes in southeastern Michigan. She asked why. I told her we weren't allowed in those neighborhoods. She almost cried.

Allen

By soulkikker (195.18.123.98) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:24 am:

Of course Dusty was the UK's nr. 1 blue eyed soul singer (she also had a great love for Motown in particular), but how about Lulu.
I think Lulu made some great, very soulful records, like her version of Shout, and songs like Take your mama for a ride (to name just these two).She's also recorded at Muscle Shoals.
So let's hear it for Lulu !

By Eddie Welk, Champagne Music drinker (12.47.224.12) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:37 am:

Well, The Sparklers were a very soulful vocal group on my cousin Larry's TV show.
The Sparklers, Taylor Dane, and Gary Puckett are my all time favorite blue eye soul singers.
No other people poured such soulfulness into their singing.

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:37 am:

What about The Vancouvers behind Bobby Taylor on "Does Your Mama Know About Me" loved that record back in the day, still do!!
S.S.

By brown8644 (166.107.76.3) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:42 am:

Hey, how about Rick Ashley.

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:55 am:

You mean Rick Astley? He's great!!

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

I did mention him futher back on this thread at an earlier date.
S.S.

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:35 pm:

Hi Jim!
Soul And Inspiration was like an earth-quake for me in 1966. At that point I was 16 and I remember I was the only one in our school
raving about the Righteous Brothers - for the rest of my class it was the Beatles and other groups coming out of Great Britain, and also some popular Finnish artist during that time. I even did a presentation on the Righteous Brothers in our class, playing You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', Just Once In My life, Unchained Melody and The White Cliffs Of Dover. The only one, who paid attention, was my English teacher, who was about twenty years older than me. So does that make me ahead of my time?
Anyway, with that record, I think, Bill Medley proved that he was a competent producer and most probably produced some of those sides that Phil Spector put his name on and that caused their break-up (Phil and the Righteous Brothers).
The Righteous Brothers and their Bring Your Love To Me (the fuller version that was released in Scandinavia) were the ones that turned me into soul and made me dig deeper.
I still have a soft spot for those guys.
Best regards
Heikki

By Vonnie (67.40.203.32) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:44 pm:

I hope that I have not repeated what someone else has written. I have a couple of fav's, Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker.

Vonnie

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

Hello Heikki,

Thank you... thanks for adding your thoughts on the 'Righteous Brothers' and how their 'soul' unique sound... had made an impact early on, in your young teen life.

If I may ask, are you from Europe, there somewhere... as you had mentioned an artist being from Finland?

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 12:31 pm:

Hi Jim!
Please contact me on
heikki.suosalo@pp.inet.fi
and I'll send you some more material to get aaquainted with.
And also David Miekle, sorry I forgot, please give me your address.
Heikki

By Musicchef (68.104.25.189) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 01:24 pm:

Speaking of Righteous Brothers... Here's a shot of them receiving their Gold Record award for "Soul and Inspiration"



Da Chef

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:55 pm:

Hey Heiki, I'll be doing just that!

And MusicChef, thanks for including that 'righteous' shot of the blue-eyed 'bros' above... and by the way, have any idea who the man is in the middle is presenting that award record plaque to Bill Medley & Bobby Hatfield?

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 03:16 pm:

SoulPuss,
Just saw it and what did you say?
..."Does Michael Jackson qualify for this thread"???

HA-HAHHHH!!!

By Musicchef (68.104.25.189) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

that's prolly some guy who worked for Verve back in the "day"...

Da Chef

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 05:28 pm:

"Soul and Inspiration" had alot of SOUL! Love that one!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 01:01 am:

My brother just called me, woke me up, to tell me what a great concert Joe Cocker had tonight. I have no idea who this guy is. The guitar player, my brother's colleague was elated.

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 09:22 am:

Not had time to check every message above, has anyone mentioned the lead singer of the Hit Pack (who was he ??), he sounds great on "Never Say No To Your Baby".
ALSO did Dean Parrish get a mention under this thread. He went down so well on his recent UK visit that 2 different UK NS promoters are fighting to fetch him back here for further shows THIS YEAR !!!!

By Vonnie (205.188.209.109) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 10:49 am:

Angel Sis Detroit,

I mentioned Joe Cocker in my above post. IMO his voice has always had a raspy soulfulness, puncuated by his spasmodic movements.

Vonnie

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 11:21 am:

Vonnie - Yes, Joe Cocker does have that in his voice. I had to go and listen to the clips just to get a feel for what my brother was so excited about. They went to Lansing,probably an hour and a half away from here, just to see Cocker. He told me how Cocker moves, and based on that, I believe I may have seen him on TV on one occasion.
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?sourceid=00401402267380752254&ean=731454160629&bfdate=07-14-2003+11:21:38

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 03:37 pm:

JSmith:
Dean Parrish was mentioned in another thread here in the Forum.

I do enjoy his song "Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks".

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SB (205.186.128.45) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 04:46 pm:

How could we forget the "Bee Gees?" They have to be one of my all time favorite groups ever.

STUBASS - the below quote is for you. Err - um - see if you notice a name that you are most fond of. LOL!


"It was easy, amid the sheer beauty of their records, to overlook the range of their influences that went into their sound � the Bee Gees may have been making pop/rock, but their underlying sounds came from a multitude of sources, including American country music and soul music. Indeed, one of the group's biggest hits, "To Love Somebody," had been written for Otis Redding to record, but the Stax/Volt singing legend didn't live long enough to record it himself. At this point in their history, they were most comfortable deconstructing elements in the singing and harmonies of black American music and rebuilding them in their style, as the Beatles had done with the music of the Shirelles and various Motown acts."


http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70307121504&sql=Bttouakok5m3v

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 05:39 pm:

He may not be a household name...but there's this guy who once did R&B and now does gospel...and he's a vocal double for Stevie Wonder. His name is Jon Gibson...and he's off the hook !

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 11:38 am:

Thought...
....has anyone mentioned John Kay of Steppenwolf? Every so often he could reach into that gruff voice of his and pull out a blue eyed gem in the Chuck Berry mold. "Berry Rides Again" off their first LP shows it off to the hilt, and although not "soul" in the traditional sense, I think it and he deserve at least a mention.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 11:48 am:

Doug:
I dig Steppenwolf's version of Don Covay's "Sookie Sookie" and their "Magic Carpet Ride" was funky in a hard-rocking way.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Eli (172.144.221.15) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 01:01 pm:

Did anyone mention Johnny Maestro??
I dont think that his eyes were blue, though, they may have been dark brown, capice???@#$%^&*(

By MmeCadillac (198.208.6.35) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 01:48 pm:

John Kay immediately brings to mind Paul Rodgers (Bad Company).

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 01:53 pm:

OK, calling John Kay and Paul Rodgers "blue-eyed soul" singers is where I draw the line! Who's next, Geddy Lee?

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 02:23 pm:

mc5rules.....
.....you comment is noted and understood, and harkens back to the arguement about The Buckinghams. I can see where people would have a problem with Kay and Rodgers (even I qualified my endorcement), but "soul" is where you or I find it. That's why some people like Michael Whats His Name, and some don't, and its the diversity of opinion that makes threads like this very interesting.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 02:35 pm:

mc5rules:
What did Sir Sylvester of Stewart used to say - "different strokes for different folks"...

I read where Doug was coming from and I agree that Steppenwolf can get down & funky on certain tracks (see my post). Doug is right on when he said "soul is where you or I find it." I hear as much soul coming from certain British pop productions of the late 1960s to early 1970s as I do from Philly or Motown (ya want examples - let's see: The Foundations, Edison Lighthouse featuring Tony Burrows, Dusty Springfield).

You may not agree and that's fine but no one here has a right to "draw the line" just because one doesn't hear soul where another person might.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 02:45 pm:

Kev...
....i don't think mc5rules was throwing down the gauntlet. It's all in how you feel about the music, and for him (her?) it isn't there in the two artists mentioned. Fair enough.

doug

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 02:59 pm:

Right on...that's what I was saying. I love Steppenwolf as much (probably more) as the next guy. But those guys are outside the paramaters of what I call soul...

Really, though, I was just trying to get in a dig at Geddy Lee (who secretly IS my favorite blue-eyed soul singer).

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 02:12 am:

Others who should have got a mention (& may have in all of the above posts).....
Motown connected..... Reuben Howell....U Can't Stop A Man...(even a white one).
ALSO George Soule.
SOME 60's Charlie Rich cuts were very B.E.S. (the UK mod / soul club fave "Love Is After Me" for instance).