Soulful DetroitArchives - July 2004 � Leon Bryant Previous Next

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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 389
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.223.151.165
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 3:57 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does anyone else on the forum enjoy the singer Leon Bryant's recordings? He released two excellent LP's in the early 80's ("Leon Bryant" & "Finders Keepers") on the De-Lite label and he appears to have disappeared afterwards.

I first discovered Leon after I found an mp3 copy of his hit 1981 single 'Mighty Body (Hotsy Totsy)'. I was so impressed with this single that when I saw my local record store had a twofer cd consisting of both of his albums I picked it up. The best 10 bucks I've spent in ages! This man could sing his behind off and the songs are great! I've had the cd for over a year now and I can't take it out of my cd player.

My favorite songs are 'Mighty Body (Hotsy Totsy)', 'Come And Get It', 'Just The Way You Like It', 'Something More', 'Finders Keepers', 'Your Kind Of Lovin', and 'Someone Like You'. Leon also appeared with the girl group Coffee on a hit remake of Marvin Gaye's 'If This World Were Mine' that was released in 1982, several months before the Cheryl Lynn & Luther Vandross version.

What ever happened to Leon Bryant? It's a shame that he didn't have more commercial success. He was a hell of a singer! I recommend his two albums to anyone that enjoys early 80's Soul.
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David Meikle (david_meikle)
5-Doyen
Username: david_meikle

Post Number: 314
Registered: 3-2004
Posted From: 82.1.160.213
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 6:44 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You are absolutely correct Rod.

I played these 2 albums to death when I first bought them. But it's been a few years now....

Must dig them out because I don't think you have mentioned one of my fav songs. Tho "Just the way you like it" is coming back to me as I write.

A joyous and uplifting song.

Many thanks
David
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Rodmann (rodmann)
5-Doyen
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 393
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.223.151.165
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 7:51 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What's Up David. 'Just The Way You Like It' is a great tune! Definitely one of the best from his two albums. The lyrics to 'Just The Way You Like It' and 'Come And Get It' are pretty darn suggestive but they're good tunes. LOL. I wish more people knew about this man's work.

After I started this topic I did a little research and I now see that the supposed twofer CD that I have is not quite complete. I've always thought that 15 tracks was a little skimpy for two full albums. As it turns out that there are a handful of tracks from the first album "Leon Bryant" that didn't make it onto the "two albums on one" CD. The twofer CD that I have should really be labeled a Best Of collection.
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Wonder B (wonder_b)
6-Zenith
Username: wonder_b

Post Number: 660
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 80.14.7.160
Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 4:58 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

yes Leon Bryant disappeared just as he came along... too bad...*Hope you like this one Rodmann...

lb

Wonder B
If you mess with the 'fro, you gotta go!
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Rodmann (rodmann)
6-Zenith
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 416
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.223.151.165
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 3:21 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Wonder! That's Leon alright. Great pic! Have you ever actually heard his recordings or do you just happen to have pics of everyone? LOL.

David, why do you suppose Leon wasn't more successful? Did his label De-Lite put all of their promotion into Kool & The Gang? Or were there just bad choices in the songs that were picked as singles? I'm not sure what songs were singles (besides 'Hotsy Totsy') but I just don't get how this man got overlooked. Songs like 'Someone Like You' and 'Just The Way You Like It' would've fit in perfectly on early 80's light-R&B radio formats.
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mike s (mike_s)
4-Laureate
Username: mike_s

Post Number: 131
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 6:37 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The last I heard of Leon was when he turned up as producer/arranger of a re-formed Intruders group in 1984.
The title track Who Do You Love was a club and radio hit in the UK. This group featured only Eugene "Bird" Daugherty of the originals.
Leon is also listed as the group's manager.
The album was recorded in New York and came out in the States on El Cee.
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Rodmann (rodmann)
6-Zenith
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 419
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.223.151.165
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 7:35 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thank you Mike. Now that you mention it I do remember reading somewhere (allmusic.com maybe?) that Leon did some work with The Intruders. Thanks for reminding me. I had no idea that he also acted as their manager for a time.
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Wonder B (wonder_b)
6-Zenith
Username: wonder_b

Post Number: 663
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 80.11.101.131
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 9:28 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No Rodmann I have the pics AND the albums to go with them... LOL
I do have both L.Bryant LP's... It's just that after having been into record collecting for many years I became frustrated after a while not to know what certain artists looked like (many record sleeves don't show them...)
So I started a promo pic collection almost 20 years ago...
By the way there was another unkown band at the same time as L.B on the De-Lite label and the name of the band was MOTIVATION... (I don't have a pic of them! LOL) Do you remember that one?

Wonder B
If you mess with the 'fro, you gotta go!
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David Meikle (david_meikle)
5-Doyen
Username: david_meikle

Post Number: 327
Registered: 3-2004
Posted From: 81.130.211.124
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 10:14 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Rod

It is a mystery to me why these failed.

Sadly it looks like I sold them when I had a clear out several years ago.

David
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Rodmann (rodmann)
6-Zenith
Username: rodmann

Post Number: 425
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.223.151.165
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 9:29 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ok Wonder. That was a very wise decision to start a promo pic collection! There are so many artists like Mamie Galore, Big Dee Irwin, etc who's faces I would love to put with their excellent recordings. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful for all the excellent pics that you've shared with me on the forum. I just meant that you have pics of almost every artist that anyone can think of! LOL.

I have no idea who Motivation was. My knowledge of De-Lite Records goes no further than Kool & The Gang, Leon Bryant and the girl group Coffee.

Thanks David. I misunderstood your first post. I had no idea that you had the original albums by Leon on vinyl. For some reason I was under the impression that you had the "twofer" CD reissue like I have. Since you no longer have the albums David just let me know if you'd like for me to send you the tracks I have in mp3 form. :-)

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